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Crop plant varieties exhibit diverse reactions when subjected to wastewater irrigation in terms of seed germination, seedling development, and overall productivity. Magneto-priming, which involves treating seeds with an appropriate magnetic field, is gaining popularity as the preferred technique due to its effectiveness and environmentally friendly characteristics for improving seed vigour, growth, and plant yield. In this study, magneto-primed and non-primed broccoli seeds were irrigated with distilled or wastewater and kept under observation for a 10-day period to record seedling growth. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the impact of magneto-priming on broccoli seeds with a homogeneous stationary magnetic-field strength of 5.9 mT for 1 h. They were irrigated with two types of water: distilled and wastewater. Another test was performed to evaluate the effect of 1-h and 2-h magneto-priming on seed germination when seeds were irrigated with wastewater. From the results, the broccoli seedlings irrigated with distilled water grew higher and heavier than the ones irrigated with wastewater, probably due to the significant amounts of salts in organic wastewater. Nonetheless, the saline effect of wastewater was ameliorated when seeds were previously magneto-primed. All the germination parameters of broccoli seeds irrigated with wastewater were significantly reduced when seeds were magneto-primed for both periods.

Abstract Clinical reasoning (CR) is an area of active interest since faults in the diagnostic process can result in errors and possibly delays in care or even patient harm. The purpose of this scoping review was to collect information from the medical literature on approaches utilized to teach and assess CR in dermatology, identify gaps, and prepare a proposal on how to enhance the speciality's ability to develop trainee CR skills. We conducted a review of the published literature (1990–2020) from four databases. The initial search yielded 780 papers, and 42 relevant CR publications met inclusion criteria. Demographic, thematic content, theoretical frameworks, continuum of authenticity, competency/milestone, and assessment/educational intervention data were recorded by two screeners. Trainees at different educational levels from 17 different countries have been assessed in the dermatology literature. Most publications were of a single intervention, appeared underpowered, and had small sample sizes. Only two publications examined work‐based assessments (use real patients/stimuli). Knowledge‐based studies were the dominant theoretical framework with no studies exclusively focused on process‐based CR interventions. Simulation was well represented with 23 (55%) investigations. Rigorous studies that examine CR teaching and assessment in dermatology are lacking. Evidence‐based best practices for use of work‐based assessments, especially direct observation, need to be developed/adapted for dermatology and validated. Dermatology training programs would benefit from longitudinal data on trainee CR development, process‐based CR educational programs, metacognition CR exploration specific to skin disease diagnosis, and studies that yield practical recommendations on how to structure multi‐faceted assessments that assess CR.

Summary: Inflammasomes are multiprotein signaling complexes that activate the innate immune system. Canonical inflammasomes recruit and activate caspase-1, which then cleaves and activates IL-1β and IL-18, as well as gasdermin D (GSDMD) to induce pyroptosis. In contrast, non-canonical inflammasomes, caspases-4/-5 (CASP4/5) in humans and caspase-11 (CASP11) in mice, are known to cleave GSDMD, but their role in direct processing of other substrates besides GSDMD has remained unknown. Here, we show that CASP4/5 but not CASP11 can directly cleave and activate IL-18. However, CASP4/5/11 can all cleave IL-1β to generate a 27-kDa fragment that deactivates IL-1β signaling. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the sequence identity of the tetrapeptide sequence adjacent to the caspase cleavage site regulates IL-18 and IL-1β recruitment and activation. Altogether, we have identified new substrates of the non-canonical inflammasomes and reveal key mechanistic details regulating inflammation that may aid in developing new therapeutics for immune-related disorders.

The rural population is potentially exposed to several environmental risks. Environmental risk management is a recurring challenge in rural educational communities that are far from large urban areas. Assessing and identifying the knowledge on prevention and response to environmental risks and natural disasters is fundamental for planning and designing educational programs for communities to face disasters. This article presented the practical application of a participatory methodology to obtain information about the knowledge and experience in the prevention and attention of environmental threats and natural disasters in the rural school Las Huacas, village of Quintana, municipality of Popayán, in the region of Cauca, Colombia. The diagnosis methodology consisted of three phases: preparatory, fieldwork and analytical. The participatory diagnosis allowed the construction of instruments and tools for social interaction, the conduction of dynamic workshops and the systematisation of the collected information. The results evidenced the lack of knowledge on environmental disasters and how parents and children must face them. The absence of communication facilities implied a high degree of vulnerability, which was compensated with the awareness, commitment and participation in the processes led by the educational community. The next challenge is the participatory construction of a scholar environmental risk-management plan supported on appropriated information and communication technologies. Contribution: This article presents the practical application of a participatory methodology to obtain information about the rural context and the knowledge and experience in the prevention and attention of environmental threats and natural disasters in a rural school in Cauca, Colombia.

Background:. The objective of this investigation was to create and validate five-point photonumeric scales which assess static and dynamic forehead lines. Methods:. Two different novel five-point photonumeric scales for the assessment of static and dynamic forehead lines were developed. Moreover, a photoguide was created, including subjects from both sexes, all age groups, and different Fitzpatrick skin types. A total of 11 raters from all over the world were involved in the digital validation, whereas four raters performed a live validation. Results:. The Croma Static Forehead Lines–Assessment Scale showed almost perfect inter and intra-rater agreement in both the digital and the live setting with inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.86 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82–0.89] in the first digital rating and 0.82 [95% CI: 0.78–0.86] in the second digital rating. The Croma Dynamic Forehead Lines–Assessment Scale showed almost perfect inter and intra-rater agreement in the digital setting with inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.83 [95% CI: 0.79–0.86] in the first digital rating and 0.80 [95% CI: 0.75–0.84] in the second rating and almost substantial agreement in the live setting. Conclusions:. The Croma Static Forehead Lines–Assessment Scale and the Croma Dynamic Forehead Lines–Assessment Scale have excellent inter and intra-rater agreements to be justifiably used in the clinical and study setting, both digitally and live across ethnic groups.

Intestinal barrier immaturity, or “leaky gut”, is the proximate cause of susceptibility to necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates. Exacerbated intestinal immune responses, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and heightened barrier injury are considered primary triggers of aberrant intestinal maturation in early life. Inordinate host immunity contributes to this process, but the precise elements remain largely uncharacterized, leaving a significant knowledge gap in the biological underpinnings of gut maturation. In this study, we investigated the fecal cytokine profile and gut microbiota in a cohort of 40 early preterm infants

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) coupled to robotic assistive devices have shown promise for the rehabilitation of stroke patients. However, little has been reported that compares the clinical and physiological effects of a BCI intervention for upper limb stroke rehabilitation with those of conventional therapy. This study assesses the feasibility of an intervention with a BCI based on electroencephalography (EEG) coupled to a robotic hand orthosis for upper limb stroke rehabilitation and compares its outcomes to conventional therapy. Seven subacute and three chronic stroke patients (M = 59.9 ± 12.8) with severe upper limb impairment were recruited in a crossover feasibility study to receive 1 month of BCI therapy and 1 month of conventional therapy in random order. The outcome measures were comprised of: Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), motor evoked potentials elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), hand dynamometry, and EEG. Additionally, BCI performance and user experience were measured. All measurements were acquired before and after each intervention. FMA-UE and ARAT after BCI (23.1 ± 16; 8.4 ± 10) and after conventional therapy (21.9 ± 15; 8.7 ± 11) were significantly higher (p < 0.017) compared to baseline (17.5 ± 15; 4.3 ± 6) but were similar between therapies (p > 0.017). Via TMS, corticospinal tract integrity could be assessed in the affected hemisphere of three patients at baseline, in five after BCI, and four after conventional therapy. While no significant difference (p > 0.05) was found in patients’ affected hand strength, it was higher after the BCI therapy. EEG cortical activations were significantly higher over motor and non-motor regions after both therapies (p < 0.017). System performance increased across BCI sessions, from 54 (50, 70%) to 72% (56, 83%). Patients reported moderate mental workloads and excellent usability with the BCI. Outcome measurements implied that a BCI intervention using a robotic hand orthosis as feedback has the potential to elicit neuroplasticity-related mechanisms, similar to those observed during conventional therapy, even in a group of severely impaired stroke patients. Therefore, the proposed BCI system could be a suitable therapy option and will be further assessed in clinical trials.

We report a case of disseminated Cladophialophora bantiana phaeohyphomycosis with cerebral and pulmonary disease in a 69-year-old renal transplant recipient. The patient presented with confusion, low-grade fever and progressed quickly to a comatose state. Imaging revealed multiple small brain abscesses and a right pulmonary nodule. Cultures of bronchial washings and biopsy of the right pulmonary nodule grew C. bantiana, a highly neurotropic fungus with a high mortality rate. He was treated with Isavuconazonium sulfate (Isavuconazole) and Liposomal Amphotericin B along with reduction immunosuppressive therapy. His neurologic status remained unimproved despite treatment with dual antifungal therapy for two months. The patient eventually died from respiratory failure 79 days after his initial presentation, C. bantiana has been reported in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Its neurotropism has been reported and described in the literature with C. bantiana responsible for 50 % of the reported cases of fungal brain abscess. However, reports of pulmonary and cerebral involvement are exceedingly rare. Our patient was immunocompromised and succumbed to cerebral involvement.

Photovoltaic (PV) electricity is widely used because of its positive environmental impact. To properly feed this energy into the grid, an electronic power converter, known as a PV inverter, is needed, which may or may not use a transformer. This article details the analysis and design of a transformerless photovoltaic inverter topology for grid-connected applications. This converter offers high efficiency, a low number of elements, and negligible leakage current, which makes it a good alternative for this application. The converter has been validated through an experimental prototype and compared with other topologies with similar characteristics.

In the crystalline state of the title solvate, C18H13NO3·C4H8O, hydrogen-bonding interactions between hydroxyl groups on a phenoxazine backbone and the tetrahydrofuran solvent are observed that suggest the ability for this compound to act as a chelating ligand. The O...O donor–acceptor distances for this hydrogen bonding are 2.7729 (15) and 2.7447 (15) Å. The three-ring backbone of the phenoxazine bends out of planarity by 18.92 (3)°, as computed using mean planes that encompass each half of the three-ring structure, with the central N and O atoms forming the line of flexion. In the crystal, a π–π stacking arrangement exists between inversion-related molecules, with a centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.6355 (11) Å. In the disordered tetrahydrofuran solvate, all atoms except oxygen were modeled over two positions, with occupancies of 0.511 (8) and 0.489 (8).

Introduction: COVID-19 is an emerging disease with global incidence, which exhibits a greater number of complications in patients with comorbidities, mainly in those with a history of cardiovascular disease. Objective: to describe the implications of COVID-19 in the cardiovascular system. Method: A review of the literature was conducted in the MEDLINE, SciELO, JAMA and Elsevier databases, recovering 35 articles, which were taken as the basis for the present review. The combination of terms using search formulas was used to retrieve articles. Development: COVID-19 can be variable in correspondence with the presentation form and accompanying symptoms, as well as the recipient's immune response. SARS-CoV-2 binds to cells through the viral spike structural protein that binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor from viral receptors; therefore, hypertensive patients or those with other cardiovascular conditions have a higher risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. Among the cardiovascular diseases associated with infection by a coronavirus, myocarditis, arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction and heart failure stand out. Conclusions: the main cardiovascular implications in patients with COVID-19 are arrhythmia, thromboembolic disease, myocarditis, heart failure of acute onset and myocardial infarction, which condition a more serious picture of the disease. The inflammatory response, hemodynamic changes secondary to the viral process, as well as hypoxemia, constitute mechanisms of negative impact on cardiovascular health, leading to the development of acute cardiac injury.

Nucleotide pools need to be constantly replenished in cancer cells to support cell proliferation. The synthesis of nucleotides requires glutamine and 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate produced from ribose-5-phosphate via the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (ox-PPP). Both PPP and glutamine also play a key role in maintaining the redox status of cancer cells. Enhanced glutamine metabolism and increased glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) expression have been related to a malignant phenotype in tumors. However, the association between G6PD overexpression and glutamine consumption in cancer cell proliferation is still incompletely understood. In this study, we demonstrated that both inhibition of G6PD and glutamine deprivation decrease the proliferation of colon cancer cells and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, we unveiled that glutamine deprivation induce an increase of G6PD expression that is mediated through the activation of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2). This crosstalk between G6PD and glutamine points out the potential of combined therapies targeting oxidative PPP enzymes and glutamine catabolism to combat colon cancer.

Stroke is a leading cause of motor disability worldwide. Upper limb rehabilitation is particularly challenging since approximately 35% of patients recover significant hand function after 6 months of the stroke’s onset. Therefore, new therapies, especially those based on brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and robotic assistive devices, are currently under research. Electroencephalography (EEG) acquired brain rhythms in alpha and beta bands, during motor tasks, such as motor imagery/intention (MI), could provide insight of motor-related neural plasticity occurring during a BCI intervention. Hence, a longitudinal analysis of subacute stroke patients’ brain rhythms during a BCI coupled to robotic device intervention was performed in this study. Data of 9 stroke patients were acquired across 12 sessions of the BCI intervention. Alpha and beta event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) trends across sessions and their association with time since stroke onset and clinical upper extremity recovery were analyzed, using correlation and linear stepwise regression, respectively. More EEG channels presented significant ERD/ERS trends across sessions related with time since stroke onset, in beta, compared to alpha. Linear models implied a moderate relationship between alpha rhythms in frontal, temporal, and parietal areas with upper limb motor recovery and suggested a strong association between beta activity in frontal, central, and parietal regions with upper limb motor recovery. Higher association of beta with both time since stroke onset and upper limb motor recovery could be explained by beta relation with closed-loop communication between the sensorimotor cortex and the paralyzed upper limb, and alpha being probably more associated with motor learning mechanisms. The association between upper limb motor recovery and beta activations reinforces the hypothesis that broader regions of the cortex activate during movement tasks as a compensatory mechanism in stroke patients with severe motor impairment. Therefore, EEG across BCI interventions could provide valuable information for prognosis and BCI cortical activity targets.

Low power grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) generation systems increasingly use transformerless inverters. The elimination of the transformer allows smaller, lighter and cheaper systems, and improves the total efficiency. However, a leakage current may appear, flowing from the grid to the PV panels through the existing parasitic capacitance between them, since there is no galvanic isolation. As a result, electromagnetic interferences and security issues arise. This paper presents a novel transformerless single-phase Current Source Inverter (CSI) topology with a reduced inductor, compared to conventional CSIs. This topology directly connects the neutral line of the grid to the negative terminal of the PV system, referred as common mode configuration, eliminating this way, theoretically, the possibility of any leakage current through this terminal. The switches control is based on a hysteresis current controller together with a combinational logic circuitry and it is implemented in a digital platform based on National Instruments Technology. Results that validate the proposal, based on both simulations and tests of a low voltage low power prototype, are presented.

La Estación Biológica Senda Darwin (EBSD) constituye un centro de investigación inmerso en el paisaje rural del norte de la Isla de Chiloé (42º S), donde fragmentos del bosque siempreverde original coexisten con praderas de uso ganadero, turberas de Sphagnum, matorrales sucesionales, plantaciones de Eucalyptus y otras formaciones de origen antropogénico. Desde 1994 hemos realizado estudios de largo plazo centrados en algunas especies de plantas (e.g., Pilgerodendron uviferum D. Don) y animales (e.g., Aphrastura spinicauda Gmelin, Dromiciops gliroides [Thomas]) catalogados como amenazados o escasamente conocidos y en ecosistemas nativos de importancia regional y global (e.g., turberas de Sphagnum, bosque Valdiviano y Nordpatagónico). Las investigaciones han considerado las respuestas de las especies y de los ecosistemas frente al cambio antropogénico del paisaje y cambio climático, así como los efectos de diferentes formas de manejo. Este escenario es semejante al de otras regiones de Chile y Latinoamérica lo que da generalidad a nuestros resultados y modelos. En este período, investigadores asociados a la EBSD han producido más de un centenar de publicaciones en revistas nacionales e internacionales y 30 tesis de pre y postgrado. Entendiendo el papel clave de los seres humanos en los procesos ecológicos de la zona rural, la EBSD ha desarrollado un programa de educación ecológica y vinculación del avance científico con la sociedad local y nacional. La integración de la EBSD a la naciente red de Sitios de Estudios Socio-Ecológicos de Largo Plazo en Chile consolidará y fortalecerá la investigación básica y aplicada que realizamos para proyectarla hacia la siguiente década.Senda Darwin Biological Station (SDBS) is a field research center immersed in the rural landscape of northern Chiloé island (42º S), where remnant patches of the original evergreen forests coexist with open pastures, secondary successional shrublands, Sphagnum bogs, Eucalyptus plantations and other anthropogenic cover types, constituting an agricultural frontier similar to other regions in Chile and Latin America. Since 1994, we have conducted long-term research on selected species of plants (e.g., Pilgerodendron uviferum) and animals (e.g., Aphrastura spinicauda, Dromiciops glirioides) that are considered threatened, poorly known or important for their ecological functions in local ecosystems, and on ecosystems of regional and global relevance (e.g., Sphagnum bogs, North Patagonian and Valdivian rain forests). Research has assessed the responses of species and ecosystems to anthropogenic land-use change, climate change, and the impact of management. During this period, more than 100 scientific publications in national and international journals, and 30 theses (graduate and undergraduate) have been produced by scientists and students associated with SDBS. Because of our understanding of the key role that humans play in ecological processes at this agricultural frontier, since the establishment of SDBS we have been committed to creative research on the communication of science to society and ecological education. The integration of SDBS to the nascent Chilean network of long-term socio-ecological research will consolidate and strengthen basic and applied research to project our work into the next decade.

Infections after cardiovascular surgery are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. This paper described the study of risk factors associated with development of infections. This is a prospective study, setting in a Hospital JP Garrahan, a tertiary and referral center of Buenos Aires, Argentina. All patients with cardiac surgeries between 1/11/01 to 1/1/ 2002 were included. The median age of p was 30 months (r: 1-212 m), 184 p (53%) were boys, 21% (75) had underlying disease, being the genetic disorders or undernutrition the most frequent, 56 p (16%) had previous surgery, 36 p (10%) had received previous antibiotics and 30 (9%) of them had previous infection, An ASA score higher than or equal to 3 was found in 308 p (88%). Median hospital stay before surgery was 1 day (r1-120 d), 88 p (25%) nedeed inotropic support with epinephrine, 147 p (42%) needed mechanical ventilation during a median time of 4 days (r: 1-66d).Drainage with thorax opened was done in 339p (97%) for a median time of 2 days (r:1-7d). Total hospital stay was between 1 and 120 days (median 5 days). Postsurgical infections developed in 38 of 350p (11%). Superficial wound infection in 4 p (1%), 5 p (1.5%) had deep infection, 3p (1%) had mediastinitis and 26 p (7.5%) had other nonsurgical infections Eleven p (3%) died. By multivariate study underlying diseases (p

Las redes sociales virtuales atraen a diferentes usuarios por las múltiples potencialidades e impactos característicos de esta sociedad tecnológica. El propósito de este estudio es identificar las redes sociales virtuales más usadas por los jóvenes, los motivos personales de uso y la relación de su utilización con la percepción de soledad y las habilidades de autoexpresión en escenarios sociales. En particular, se evalúan las diferencias de tales usos en función de la edad, el nivel de escolaridad y el género. En el estudio participaron 251 jóvenes adultos españoles con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 40 años (X = 26.33, D.T. = 5.91) contactados a través de un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se observó que el uso de las redes sociales virtuales se ve aumentado en los participantes con bajas habilidades sociales, altos niveles de soledad y más jóvenes. Destacan los motivos de aburrimiento y evasión o escape para usar los espacios digitales y se registra una tendencia en los jóvenes de la generación Z (18 a 28 años) a utilizar más las redes sociales virtuales, en comparación con los de la generación Y (29 a 40 años). Como conclusiones, se señala la conveniencia de controlar el uso problemático de las redes sociales virtuales y de entrenar las habilidades sociales para mejorar las relaciones interpersonales.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of faricimab compared with other anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents in treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients.Methods and analysis A systematic review (SR) was conducted up to January 2023. Network meta-analyses (NMA) were performed, including sensitivity and subgroup analyses for naïve population. Outcomes included changes in visual acuity (Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] letters), anatomical changes, frequency of injections and adverse events. The Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis framework were used for the SR and the certainty of evidence, respectively.Results From 4128 identified records through electronic databases and complementary searches, 63 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) met the eligibility criteria, with 42 included in the NMA. Faricimab showed a significant reduction in the number of annual injections compared with most fixed and flexible anti-VEGF treatment regimens, while showing no statistically significant differences in visual acuity through ETDRS letter gain, demonstrating a comparable efficacy. Retinal thickness results showed comparable efficacy to other anti-VEGF agents, and inferior only to brolucizumab. Results also showed that more patients treated with faricimab were free from post-treatment retinal fluid compared with aflibercept every 8 weeks, and both ranibizumab and bevacizumab, in the fixed and pro re nata (PRN) assessed schedules. Faricimab showed a comparable safety profile regarding the risk of ocular adverse events and serious ocular adverse events (SOAE), except for the comparison with brolucizumab quarterly, in which faricimab showed a significant reduction for SOAE risk.Conclusion Faricimab showed a comparable clinical benefit in efficacy and safety outcomes, with a reduction in annual injections compared with fixed and flexible anti-VEGF drug regimens, representing a valuable treatment option for nAMD patients.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023394226.

Abstract Background Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) constitutes a tool with great research potential due to its advantages over in vivo and in vitro models. Despite its important contribution to lung reconditioning, this technique has the disadvantage of incurring high costs and can induce pulmonary endothelial injury through perfusion and ventilation. The pulmonary endothelium is made up of endothelial glycocalyx (EG), a coating of proteoglycans (PG) on the luminal surface. PGs are glycoproteins linked to terminal sialic acids (Sia) that can affect homeostasis with responses leading to edema formation. This study evaluated the effect of two ex vivo perfusion solutions on lung function and endothelial injury. Methods We divided ten landrace swine into two groups and subjected them to EVLP for 120 min: Group I (n = 5) was perfused with Steen® solution, and Group II (n = 5) was perfused with low-potassium dextran-albumin solution. Ventilatory mechanics, histology, gravimetry, and sialic acid concentrations were evaluated. Results Both groups showed changes in pulmonary vascular resistance and ventilatory mechanics (p

AbstractMaize (Zea Mays L.) is one of the cereals most consumed worldwide, not only because of food uses but also because of its industrial uses. Physical processes are used when transforming maize industrially, particularly thermal processes are employed. Because of this, it is necessary to enhance the industrial procedures that constitute the grain processing chain. The additional information that allows advances in procedures and techniques in commodities like cereals gives an advantage to the food industry. The processes that involve temperature are benefiting of thermal properties knowledge. Therefore, maize thermal properties of each component are studied. Three standard varieties of maize seeds (GSV2, SLP, and P6) were thermally characterized. Photopyroelectric and open photoacoustic cell techniques were employed for characterization. The maize analyzed components were pericarp, endosperm (floury and vitreous), and germ. The outer maize layer’s pericarp presents the lowest thermal conductivity for GSV2 and P6 samples, whereas the P6 sample components have similar thermal conductivity values. The obtained results show a thermal impedance between some of the maize components. The presented information can be used to improve the maize thermal process transformation.

IntroductionUp to 80% of post-stroke patients present upper-limb motor impairment (ULMI), causing functional limitations in daily activities and loss of independence. UMLI is seldom fully recovered after stroke when using conventional therapeutic approaches. Functional Electrical Stimulation Therapy (FEST) controlled by Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) is an alternative that may induce neuroplastic changes, even in chronic post-stroke patients. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of a P300-based BCI-controlled FEST intervention, for ULMI recovery of chronic post-stroke patients.MethodsA non-randomized pilot study was conducted, including 14 patients divided into 2 groups: BCI-FEST, and Conventional Therapy. Assessments of Upper limb functionality with Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), performance impairment with Fugl–Meyer assessment (FMA), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and spasticity through Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were performed at baseline and after carrying out 20 therapy sessions, and the obtained scores compared using Chi square and Mann–Whitney U statistical tests (𝛼 = 0.05).ResultsAfter training, we found statistically significant differences between groups for FMA (p = 0.012), ARAT (p

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy occurring between ages 10 and 19 (Loredo-Abdlá et al., 2017; Belitzky, 1985; Kaplanoglu et al., 2015), and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality for both mother and child. Several factors have been identified with increased risk of a teenage pregnancy, including incomplete sexual education awareness and increased exposure at a young age. In addition, an earlier onset of sexual intercourse, or coitarche, has been linked to a higher risk of teenage pregnancy. Early menarche, defined as first menstruation before the age of 12 has been previously identified as a risk factor for an earlier coitarche, possibly linking an early menarche with a higher incidence of teenage pregnancy. This study aims to compare and determine the relationship between the incidence of teenage pregnancy with early menarche and coitarche in a low income setting. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, Main Outcome, Measures: A cross sectional review of electronic records of women admitted for delivery in a second level center in northeastern Mexico, being a low-income setting, where 814 teenage and 1474 adult mothers were included. Results: Primigravid teenagers had earlier menarche and coitarche than adult counterparts and opted for postpartum contraception more frequently. Linear regression analysis revealed significant unadjusted beta coefficients between age at first pregnancy and coitarche (0.839) and menarche (0.362). Menarche and coitarche had a significant linear regression association of 0.395. Conclusion: We found amongst primigravid patients that teenagers had earlier menarche and coitarche than adults, which in turn correlated to their age at their first pregnancy.

Renewable energy sources in DC microgrids require high-performance conversion systems to increase their capacity and reliability. Among other characteristics in conversion systems, the current ripple is a characteristic that must be considered since it affects the performance of PV panels and batteries. In this paper, a high-voltage-gain DC–DC boost converter for performing current ripple elimination that is based on a variable inductor is proposed. The topology is composed of a diode–capacitor voltage multiplier and a modified cascaded boost converter. To achieve voltage regulation, a reduced-order switched model is obtained considering the switched capacitor’s dynamics. To address the inductance variation and external disturbances, the H∞ control theory is adapted to systematically design a robust proportional–integral (PI) controller. Details of the working principles and the sizing of passive components are presented. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the input current ripple of the proposed converter can be removed in both transitory and steady states.

Neurodegenerative disorders are a critical affection with a high incidence around the world. Currently, there are no effective treatments to solve this problem. However, the application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and antioxidants in neurodegenerative diseases has shown to be a promising tool due to their multiple therapeutic effects. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of a combination of resveratrol (RSV) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the proliferation and differentiation of MSC and the protector effects in induced damage. To characterize the MSCs, we performed flow cytometry, protocols of cellular differentiation, and immunocytochemistry analysis. The impact of RSV + CoQ10 in proliferation was evaluated by supplementing 2.5 and 10 μM of RSV + CoQ10 in a cellular kinetic for 14 days. Cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase levels (LDH) were also analyzed. The protective effect of RSV + CoQ10 was assessed by supplementing the treatment to damaged MSCs by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+); cellular viability, LDH, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated.. MSCs expressed the surface markers CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105 and showed multipotential ability. The combination of RSV + CoQ10 increased the proliferation potential and cell viability and decreased LDH levels. In addition, it reverted the effect of MPP+-induced damage in MSCs to enhance cell viability and decrease LDH and ROS. Finally, RSV + CoQ10 promoted the differentiation of neural progenitors. The combination of RSV + CoQ10 represents a potential treatment to improve MSCs capacities and protect against neurodegenerative damage.

In this work, Curcuma longa L. extract has been used in the synthesis and direct coating of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles ~12 nm, providing a surface layer of polyphenol groups (–OH and –COOH). This contributes to the development of nanocarriers and triggers different bio-applications. Curcuma longa L. is part of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae); the extracts of this plant contain a polyphenol structure compound, and it has an affinity to be linked to Fe ions. The nanoparticles’ magnetization obtained corresponded to close hysteresis loop Ms = 8.81 emu/g, coercive field Hc = 26.67 Oe, and low remanence energy as iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs). Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles (G-M@T) showed tunable single magnetic domain interactions with uniaxial anisotropy as addressable cores at 90–180°. Surface analysis revealed characteristic peaks of Fe 2p, O 1s, and C 1s. From the last one, it was possible to obtain the C–O, C=O, –OH bonds, achieving an acceptable connection with the HepG2 cell line. The G-M@T nanoparticles do not induce cell toxicity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells or HepG2 cells in vitro, but they can increase the mitochondrial and lysosomal activity in HepG2 cells, probably related to an apoptotic cell death induction or to a stress response due to the high concentration of iron within the cell.

Reliability is a very important issue in power electronics; however, sometimes it is not considered, studied, or analyzed. At present, renewables have become more popular, and more complex setups are required to drive this type of system. In the specific case of inverters in photovoltaic systems, the user’s safety, quality, reliability, and the system’s useful life must be guaranteed. In this paper, the reliability of a full bridge inverter is predicted by calculating metrics such as failure rates and Mean Time Between Failures. Reliability is obtained using different types of structures for SiC MOSFETs: serial systems, active parallel redundant systems, and passive parallel redundant systems. Finally, the reliability study shows that a system with a passive parallel redundant structure is more reliable and has a higher useful life compared to the other structures.

Resumen Introducción: Los acontecimientos vitales estresantes (AVE), se consideran como acontecimientos discretos que surgen en un momento exacto de la vida y que afectan la salud física y mental de quien los vive. Objetivo: Identificar el nivel de estrés, conocer los AVE que más predominan, y determinar la relación entre las variables sociodemográficas y laborales y los AVE. Métodos: Estudio con enfoque cuantitativo, tipo de estudio descriptivo, transversal y correlacional con una muestra de 60 mujeres trabajadoras de un mercado. Muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, para el análisis de los datos se utilizó estadística descriptiva (frecuencias y porcentajes) e inferencial (Rho de Spearman). Se aplicó un cuestionario ad hoc para las variables sociodemográficas y laborales y la Escala de Estrés o Reajuste Social de Holmes y Rahe. Resultados: Presencia de estrés en nivel severo, moderado y leve, y los AVE que más predominaron son de tipo laboral, de salud y hogar/familia. Conclusiones: Los AVE que predominaron son de tipo laboral, de salud y hogar/familia

Se determinó el fenómeno de agrietamiento en una unión soldada de acero inoxidable austenítico 304, con espesor de 5 mm y soldado con electrodo E 308L-16 de 4 mm de diámetro. Se realizó corte de la plancha del área afectada, donde se analizó mediante microscopía óptica y de dureza las zonas del cordón de soldadura, generadas por el ciclo térmico de soldadura. Se determinó que, el fenómeno de agrietamiento en el material está asociado a la precipitación de la fase sigma, la cual ocurre a través de los límites de granos a temperaturas entre 500 y 850 ºC y la formación de carburos del tipo M23C6. Las zonas de la unión estuvieron precedidas por la formación estructura de austenítica con dendritas esqueléticas y con un 6 % de ferrita-δ, lo cual predice que bajo estas condiciones no debe existir el fenómeno del agrietamiento. La dureza incrementó desde 201,7 HV en el metal base, hasta 262,5 HV en la zona afectada por el calor y hasta 284,5 HV en la fundida.

AC-DC conversion is required in many applications, and in some of them isolation is strictly required, certainly while maintaining characteristics such as a high power factor and low input current THD. In this paper, an AC-DC converter, comprising a full-bridge diode rectifier and a dual-active-bridge (DAB) converter, is utilized to fulfill these characteristics. The used modulation makes the converter behave as a resistive load, maintaining the output voltage constant while achieving a high power factor and low input current THD. The operation of the converter is simple, as only two voltage sensors are required, and no inner current loop is utilized. A low-power prototype was experimentally tested to corroborate the proposal.

Objective: During the SARS-CoV-2 state of alarm (SoA), a 30–70% reduction was observed in the number of visits to Pediatric Emergency Departments (ED), as well as frequent delay in diagnosis or difficulty accessing healthcare services. Here we evaluate modifications observed in pediatric healthcare activity during the SoA. Study design: Descriptive retrospective observational study of the hospital pediatric activity. Method: We compared the use of pediatric healthcare services during the SoA (March 11th – June 25th, 2020) versus the use during the equivalent periods of years 2018 and 2019, in the “Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil de Canarias” (Mother and Child University Hospital of the Canary Islands). Results: The number of patients visiting the pediatric ED decreased by 66.75% on average (95%CI: -65.6; - 67.7; p

Photovoltaic systems are a technology for the generation of electrical energy that is constantly increasing thanks to current technological advances and that contributes to sustainable development. The main stages of photovoltaic systems are the conversion stage, using an inverter, and filtering. These systems may be considered as a mature and growing technology; however, regarding its reliability, there exists some uncertainties, and they are related to the operation, incidents, and its potential failures, due to the number of elements, the environment, and the operating nominal values. For this reason, this article presents a comparative analysis of the reliability of single-phase transformerless photovoltaic inverters used to inject active power into the grid. This evaluation is carried out under the same design specifications for all the inverters analyzed; the study is made using a mission profile considering the IEC TR 62380 standard, where the events and environmental operating conditions are defined, and numerical simulations. This work is aimed at providing suggestions to improve the quality of the photovoltaic system also considering reliability.

Introduction: Liver transplantation is a standardized treatment for the management of chronic liver failure, as well as, in selected cases of unresectable tumors and acute liver failure. Transplant programs show improvements that impact in the whole survival, however, bile duct complications remain the main cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant programs worldwide. Material and methods: For statistical purposes, the liver transplant program activity has been divided into 2 Phases, the first one from 2009 to 2017 and the second from 2018 to the present. The files of patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included. Results: Throughout the program there is a record of 22 transplants, according to the division mentioned in two Phases, with a total of 9 transplants in 9 years in Phase 1 and 12 transplants in 2 years in Phase 2. With 33% (3) of complications for Phase 1 and 25% (3) for Phase 2.In all patients the management was endoscopic. Conclusions: Bile duct complications are associated with identifiable risk factors, however, the patient's evolution is multifactorial. Both the decrease in the frequency of complications and the effectiveness in their management show improvement according to the establishment of the multidisciplinary team of Liver Transplantation.

The increasing use of photovoltaic systems entails the use of new technologies to improve the efficiency and power quality of the grid. System performance is constantly increasing, but its reliability decreases due to factors such as the uncontrolled operation, the quality of the design and quantity of components, and the use of nonlinear loads that may lead to distortion in the signal, which directly affects the life of the system globally. This article presents an analysis of the reliability of a single-phase full-bridge inverter for active power injection into the grid, which considers the inverter stage with its coupling stage. A comparison between an L filter and an LCL filter, which comprise the coupling stage, is made. Reliability prediction is based on metrics, failure rate, mean time between failures, and total harmonic distortion. The analysis and numerical simulation are performed. Finally, filter considerations are suggested to extend the reliability of the inverter in a photovoltaic system.

Background: Wetlands in Neotropics harbor high fungal diversity, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE). This study describes the interaction of plant roots with AMF and DSE in a freshwater wetland belonging to a hotspot of biodiversity. Hypothesis: Differential root colonization between arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte fungi is influenced by plant species and abiotic conditions in a freshwater wetland. Studied species: Plant species colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte fungi. Methods: Properties of soils and the water column, floristic composition, root colonization by AMF and DSE, and molecular identification of AMF inside roots were studied. Results: Soils were Gleysol and flooded during the rainy season. Most of identified plant species were herbaceous, with Cyperus articulatus and Mimosa pigra as the dominant species. Seven of 8 analyzed plant species exhibited differential co-colonization between AMF and DSE. Repeated sampling for one year under flooding/dry conditions demonstrated that C. articulatus and M. pigra were mainly associated with DSE and AMF, respectively. A positive correlation between dissolved O2 in the water column and fungal colonization was observed in C. articulatus. Glomerales and Archaeosporales were molecularly identified inside roots containing arbuscules of M. pigra. Conclusions: Findings highlight differential coexistence between AMF and DSE in plant roots; fungal colonization was influenced by flooding/dry conditions in a neotropical wetland; the community of AMF inside arbusculated roots of M. pigra includes at least four clades.

Background: Osteopetrosis is a heterogeneous group of diseases that are characterized by increased bone density due to abnormalities in osteoclast differentiation or function, which result in a lack of bone resorption. Case reports: Two patients with osteopetrosis onset since the first months of life, with facial dysmorphia, blindness, deafness, hepatosplenomegaly, hypotonia, neurodevelopmental retardation and bicytopenia. Bone radiographs showed osteosclerosis. They were assessed by different specialists prior to definitive diagnosis. Genetic analysis determined mutations in the TCIRG1 gene. Patient 1 had a homozygous mutation for p.Ile720Alafs*14 identified, which hasn’t been previously reported. Patient 2 had a compound heterozygous mutation: the first one, p.Phe459Leufs*79, and the second one, p.Gly159Argfs*68, none of which has been previously reported as far as we know. Conclusion: The only therapeutic option for patients with osteopetrosis is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which should be carried out in the course of the first 3 months of life, before neurological damage occurs. Although osteopetrosis diagnosis is relatively simple, it is delayed owing to the lack of clinical suspicion.