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Abstract Background Behavioral or mental health disorders are common in children, adolescents, and young adults. Medication use is increasingly common, with few data describing drug-drug combinations in ambulatory settings. The objectives of this study were to describe the pharmaco-epidemiology of behavioral and mental health (BMH) medications among children, adolescents, and young adults in New York Medicaid and assess the prevalence of contraindicated drug pairs within this population. Methods This observational cross-sectional study evaluated New York State Medicaid managed care and fee-for-service enrollees under 21 years of age dispensed BMH medications in 2014. Main outcomes included number of members with prescriptions filled; number filling > 1 medication prescription concurrently for ≥ 30 days (polypharmacy), and number and nature of potentially contraindicated drug pairs. Results Of 2,430,434 children, adolescents, and young adults, 422,486 (17.4%) had a visit associated with a BMH diagnosis and 141,363 (5.8%) received one or more BMH medications. With 84 distinct medications evaluated, polypharmacy was common, experienced by 53,388 individuals (37.8% of those with a prescription filled), generating 11,115 distinct drug combinations. 392 individuals filled prescriptions for a contraindicated pair of ≥ 2 BMH medications for 30 days or longer. With ≥ 1 day overlap, 651 were exposed to contraindicated medications. The most common contraindicated pairs increased potential risk for prolonged QT interval and serotonin syndrome (n = 378 and n = 250 patients, respectively). Most combinations involved ziprasidone (3247.1 per 10,000 ziprasidone prescriptions filled). Conclusions With nearly 6% of members dispensed a BMH medication, contraindicated drug pairs were uncommon. However, any of those combinations represent a potential risk. Clinicians should attend to the balance of potential risks and benefits before contraindicated pairs are dispensed. The methodology described could serve as a basis for monitoring such rare instances and might reduce harm.

Abstract Background A psychometric study of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES III) has been conducted in Spanish-speaking countries from the perspective of the classical test theory. However, this approach has limitations that affect the psychometric understanding of this scale. Objective Accordingly, this study used the item response theory to investigate the psychometric performance of the items. Furthermore, it evaluated the differential performance of the items for Colombia and Chile. Method For this purpose, 518 health science students from both countries participated. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used. Results The study results revealed that the cohesion and adaptability items presented adequate discrimination and difficulty indices. In addition, items 5, 8, 13, 17, and 19 of cohesion indicated differential functioning between students from both countries, with Chilean students exhibiting a greater discriminatory power. Further, the Colombian group exhibited a greater discriminatory power for item 18 of adaptability. Conclusions The study concluded that the items of FACES III indicated adequate psychometric performance in terms of their discriminative capacity and difficulty in Chile and Colombia.

Sulitnya untuk mendapatkan solar subsidi dan mahalnya harga solar non-subsidi menyebabkan kelompok usaha kecil dan menengah (UKM) menghadapi masalah dalam usaha mereka terutama yang menggunakan motor penggerak berbahan bakar solar. Untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut maka perlu dicari bahan bakar alternatif untuk menggantikan bahan bakar solar. Minyak goreng bekas (jelantah) sangat potensial sebagai pengganti solar. Limbah minyak goreng sangat banyak terdapat di masyarakat karena terus berkembangnya usaha rumah tangga yang menggunakan minyak goreng. Limbah minyak goreng bekas ini jika tidak dimanfaatkan akan menyebabkan pencemaran lingkungan. Melalui reaksi esterifikasi maka minyak jelantah dapat diubah menjadi biodiesel yang dapat digunakan untuk menggerakkan mesin diesel. Tujuan pelatihan ini adalah untuk memberikan bimbingan dan praktek kepada anggota UKM. Kharisma membuat biodiesel dari minyak goreng bekas (jelantah). Metode yang digunakan dalam pelatihan ini adalah ceramah, diskusi, dan demonstrasi. Reaktor yang digunakan berkapasitas 30 liter minyak goreng bekas (jelantah). Hasil dari pelatihan ini menunjukkan bahwa anggota UKM. Kharisma telah terampil mengoperasikan alat pembuat biodiesel (reaktor) dan mampu memproduksi biodiesel secara mandiri.

Objective: Despite the availability of various treatment options, a large proportion of patients with asthma have uncontrolled asthma in the United States. Consequently, the economic burden of suboptimal asthma control is anticipated to substantially grow in the next 20 years, adversely impacting patients' quality of life. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective treatments to achieve and maintain asthma control. The Global Initiative for Asthma recommends tiotropium as a controller medication for patients with asthma aged ≥6 years, based on evidence from several randomized controlled trials. However, more real-world data on the effectiveness of tiotropium are required to establish a broad picture of its use in everyday clinical practice.Methods: Herein, we present 3 case reports of patients diagnosed with uncontrolled or fixed obstructive asthma not responding to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or ICS + long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and/or leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs).Results: All 3 patients were prescribed tiotropium, irrespective of their age. Tiotropium improved lung function and quality of life, as indicated by the forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio and the Asthma Control Test score. Furthermore, the addition of tiotropium reduced the use of rescue medication. Conclusions: Hence, the results from these case reports highlight that tiotropium could be an effective and safe add-on treatment option for patients across a range of age groups with uncontrolled or fixed obstructive asthma receiving prior ICS or ICS + LABA and/or LTRA therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of wastewater remains a challenge, particularly in developing countries. The potential use of constructed wetlands to treat wastewater is promising but their contaminant removal efficiencies, particularly in a tropical country such as Zimbabwe, are not fully understood. A pilot-scale study was undertaken in Zimbabwe to evaluate the efficiency of vertical-flow constructed wetlands planted with Typha latifolia in the treatment of domestic wastewater. Four pilot subsurface vertical-flow constructed wetland units (measuring 1 m × 1 m × 1.1 m) were built from concrete. The units were filled with waste rock from a nickel mine. Three units were planted with Typha latifolia while the fourth one was left unplanted, acting as the control. Each unit was loaded with wastewater at a rate of 220 dm3/day. Physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters were analyzed during the winter season. Physico-chemical and bacterial contaminant concentrations were significantly lower in the effluent than in the influent, and the system achieved maximum removals for BOD5, COD, TDS, TSS, nitrates, phosphates, phosphate pentoxide, phosphorus, and E. coli of 56.01%, 82.87%, 30.61%, 90.40% 17.26%, 35.80%, 36.19%, 40.64%, and 90.28%, respectively. The study shows that constructed wetland systems can be successfully established for the removal of physical, chemical, and microbial contaminants from domestic wastewater.

Summary: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted mental health disorders, affecting both individuals with pre-existing conditions and those with no prior history. However, there is limited evidence regarding the pandemic's impact on mental health visits to primary care physicians. The International Consortium of Primary Care Big Data Researchers (INTRePID) explored primary care visit trends related to mental health conditions in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Norway, Peru, Singapore, Sweden, and the USA. Methods: We conducted an interrupted time series analysis in nine countries to examine changes in rates of monthly mental health visits to primary care settings from January 1st, 2018, to December 31st, 2021. Sub-group analysis considered service type (in-person/virtual) and six categories of mental health conditions (anxiety/depression, bipolar/schizophrenia/other psychotic disorders, sleep disorders, dementia, ADHD/eating disorders, and substance use disorder). Findings: Mental health visit rates increased after the onset of the pandemic in most countries. In Argentina, Canada, China, Norway, Peru, and Singapore, this increase was immediate ranged from an incidence rate ratio of 1·118 [95% CI 1.053–1.187] to 2.240 [95% CI 2.057–2.439] when comparing the first month of pandemic with the pre-pandemic trend. Increases in the following months varied across countries. Anxiety/depression was the leading reason for mental health visits in most countries. Virtual visits were reported in Australia, Canada, Norway, Peru, Sweden, and the USA, accounting for up to 40% of the total mental health visits. Interpretation: Findings suggest an overall increase in mental health visits, driven largely by anxiety/depression. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the studied countries adopted virtual care in particular for mental health visits. Primary care plays a crucial role in addressing mental ill-health in times of crisis. Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant #173094 and the Rathlyn Foundation Primary Care EMR Research and Discovery Fund.

Los hongos productores de Ocratoxina A (OTA) en el cacao son un problema de seguridad alimentaria que afecta la calidad organoléptica del chocolate y a la salud humana. Dado que las cepas de Bacillus spp resultan ser efectivos controladores biológicos, el objetivo de este trabajo fue inhibir el crecimiento de hongos productores de OTA. Para ello, se ensayó el antagonismo in vitro de dosis de 100 y 200 µL de Bacillus spp contra hongos aislados de granos de cacao en proceso de fermentación: Aspergillus spp y Penicillium sp. Los resultados de este estudio demuestran que la cepa de B. subtilis 31BMC y B. licheniformis E-44 disminuyeron significativamente el crecimiento por aislados de Aspergillus spp y Penicillium sp, inhibiendo su crecimiento en un 74,43% y 81,52%, transcurridos tres días, respectivamente. Las cepas de Bacillus spp demostraron ser efectivas en la inhibición in vitro de hongos productores de OTA en granos de cacao.

This article presents an in-depth analysis of three advanced strategies to tune fractional PID (FOPID) controllers for a nonlinear system of interconnected tanks, simulated using MATLAB. The study focuses on evaluating the performance characteristics of system responses controlled by FOPID controllers tuned through three heuristic algorithms: Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), and Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA). Each algorithm aims to minimize its respective cost function using various performance metrics. The nonlinear model was linearized around an equilibrium point using Taylor Series expansion and Laplace transforms to facilitate control. The FPA algorithm performed better with the lowest Integral Square Error (ISE) criterion value (297.83) and faster convergence in constant values and fractional orders. This comprehensive evaluation underscores the importance of selecting the appropriate tuning strategy and performance index, demonstrating that the FPA provides the most efficient and robust tuning for FOPID controllers in nonlinear systems. The results highlight the efficacy of meta-heuristic algorithms in optimizing complex control systems, providing valuable insights for future research and practical applications, thereby contributing to the advancement of control systems engineering.

This study is dedicated to advancing practical and experimental knowledge within sustainable construction and enhancing community productivity, focusing on cattail schoenoplectus californicus, Cyperaceae fibers in Imbabura, Ecuador. The research aims to meticulously analyze and understand cattail fibers’ physical and mechanical properties, characteristics, and potential applications through extensive laboratory testing. The study strives to contribute significantly to the ongoing discussions surrounding sustainable building materials by offering a rich repository of scientific data and insights from our in-depth investigations. Furthermore, we delve into biotechnology and biomimicry, seeking inspiration from the natural world to innovate our construction methodologies. Our exploration also encompasses the technical dimensions of a building, artisanal craftsmanship, eco-conscious design principles, and the evaluation of seismic strength within architectural, structural, and acoustical design frameworks. Through this comprehensive approach, we aspire to illuminate new pathways for employing cattail in sustainable construction practices.

Cellulolytic bacteria have gained worldwide interest due to their ability to secrete thermostable enzymes with multiple uses. In this study, cellulolytic bacteria were isolated from local hot springs on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar and screened using0.1% Congo red. Strains LB-4, LB-6 and LB-8 were found to have high cellulolytic indices of 1.8, 2.0 and 1.5, respectively. These strains were preliminarily identified based on morphology, gram’s reaction, and biochemical characteristics. They were rod-shaped, stained blue and possibly belong to a genus of motile Bacillus. The isolates were further subjected to homology analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. BLAST search showed strains LB-4, LB-6 and LB-8 to be 99.13%, 98.26% and 98.91% identical to Bacillus subtilis, Bacillussp., and Bacillus licheniformis in the NCBI GenBank, respectively. The cellulolytic activity of each strain was evaluated using submerged fermentation that was terminated by the dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. The optimum cellulase activity of the bacteria strains were observed after 24 hr at pH 7 and 40ºC while utilizing 1% CMC as a carbon source and 1% yeast extract as a nitrogen source. It can be concluded that cellulolytic bacteria were screened and identified from Lubimbi hot springs and the cellulase activity of each strain was optimized for different fermentation conditions. These strains have potential use in the pre-treatment of crop residues for biogas production.

El paper presenta una novedosa estrategia de control de Micro-redes aisladas, basado en el control jerárquico y control droop modificado. Esta estrategia robusta permite mejorar la estabilidad de voltaje y su comportamiento transitorio. Se implementa una Micro-red de referencia con dos fuentes fotovoltaicas con valores nominales. Lo que permite verificar el desempeño de la estrategia propuesta comparando con un controlador PI convencional. El constante avance de la tecnología requiere una gran cantidad de energía, por ello se ha propuesto la inclusión de fuentes de energía renovable (RES) cerca de los centros de carga. Estas RES son implementadas también en sectores donde el sistema eléctrico convencional no es capaz de llegar, de esta manera se garantiza el abastecimiento de energía eléctrica a toda la población. Sin embargo, la implementación de estos nuevos sistemas implica retos de control para que su funcionamiento sea correcto, indiferente que la Micro-red funcione de forma conectada o aislada a la red convencional.

Collaborative research causes problems for research assessments because of the difficulty in fairly crediting its authors. Whilst splitting the rewards for an article amongst its authors has the greatest surface-level fairness, many important evaluations assign full credit to each author, irrespective of team size. The underlying rationales for this are labour reduction and the need to incentivise collaborative work because it is necessary to solve many important societal problems. This article assesses whether full counting changes results compared to fractional counting in the case of the UK's Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. For this assessment, fractional counting reduces the number of journal articles to as little as 10% of the full counting value, depending on the Unit of Assessment (UoA). Despite this large difference, allocating an overall grade point average (GPA) based on full counting or fractional counting gives results with a median Pearson correlation within UoAs of 0.98. The largest changes are for Archaeology (r=0.84) and Physics (r=0.88). There is a weak tendency for higher scoring institutions to lose from fractional counting, with the loss being statistically significant in 5 of the 34 UoAs. Thus, whilst the apparent over-weighting of contributions to collaboratively authored outputs does not seem too problematic from a fairness perspective overall, it may be worth examining in the few UoAs in which it makes the most difference.

El presente documento muestra la realidad, desafíos y perspectivas de recuperación secundaria del reservorio “U Inferior” (UI) en el campo Sacha, localizado al flanco occidental del “Play Central” (Corredor Sacha-Shushufindi) del oriente ecuatoriano. El histórico de producción inició en el año 1972 con perforación de pozos, y años después, con proyectos de recuperación secundaria, se logró el incremento de la producción petrolera. La arenisca UI es uno de los principales reservorios productores del campo, se destaca por su alto volumen de reservas 3P y la presente oportunidad de recuperarlo a mediano plazo sin ser este el único reservorio productor con recuperación secundaria. La realidad del campo muestra que las intervenciones a las zonas productoras y la aplicación de técnicas de optimización de producción como fracturamiento hidráulico, producción commingled, estimulación matricial, cambio de zonas, perforación, entre otras, se han visto limitadas por las bajas presiones en los reservorios de la formación Napo; los cuales se encuentran depletados y con presencia de gas libre. Por ello, se generan retos adicionales en diferentes escenarios evaluados de incrementos de producción, para el manejo de los fluidos y sistemas de levantamiento artificial tradicionales. El desafío es buscar el desarrollo del campo bajo estas condiciones, mediante simulación, aplicando el método de Buckley-Leveret e implementando proyectos adicionales para recuperar la presión de la arenisca UI definiendo arreglos de inyección y repotenciación de facilidades existentes (actualmente limitadas), logrando así exponer los casos ideales ajustados a la realidad y mostrar el aumento de volumen de producción acumulada del campo bajo ciertas perspectivas a favor de los intereses del país.

Summary: Background: In this study, we compare management of patients with high-risk chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the United States to national and international guidelines and quality standards, including the COllaboratioN on QUality improvement initiative for achieving Excellence in STandards of COPD care (CONQUEST). Methods: Patients were identified from the DARTNet Practice Performance Registry and categorized into three high-risk cohorts in each year from 2011 to 2019: newly diagnosed (≤12 months after diagnosis), already diagnosed, and patients with potential undiagnosed COPD. Patients were considered high-risk if they had a history of exacerbations or likely exacerbations (respiratory consult with prescribed medication). Descriptive statistics for 2019 are reported, along with annual trends. Findings: In 2019, 10% (n = 16,610/167,197) of patients met high-risk criteria. Evidence of spirometry for diagnosis was low; in 2019, 81% (n = 1228/1523) of patients newly diagnosed at high-risk had no record of spirometry/peak expiratory flow in the 12 months pre- or post-diagnosis and 43% (n = 651/1523) had no record of COPD symptom review. Among those newly and already diagnosed at high-risk, 52% (n = 4830/9350) had no evidence of COPD medication. Interpretation: Findings suggest inconsistent adherence to evidence-based guidelines, and opportunities to improve identification, documentation of services, assessment, therapeutic intervention, and follow-up of patients with COPD. Funding: This study was conducted by the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute (OPRI) Pte Ltd and was partially funded by Optimum Patient Care Global and AstraZeneca Ltd. No funding was received by the Observational & Pragmatic Research Institute Pte Ltd (OPRI) for its contribution.

This article describes the development of an optimal and predictive energy management system (EMS) for a microgrid with a high photovoltaic (PV) power contribution. The EMS utilizes a predictive long-short-term memory (LSTM) neural network trained on real PV power and consumption data. Optimal EMS decisions focus on managing the state of charge (SoC) of the battery energy storage system (BESS) within defined limits and determining the optimal power contributions from the microgrid components. The simulation utilizes MATLAB R2023a to solve a mixed-integer optimization problem and HOMER Pro 3.14 to simulate the microgrid. The EMS solves this optimization problem for the current sampling time (t) and the immediate sampling time (t+1), which implies a prediction of one hour in advance. An upper-layer decision algorithm determines the operating state of the BESS, that is, to charge or discharge the batteries. An economic and technical impact analysis of our approach compared to two EMSs based on a pure economic optimization approach and a peak-shaving algorithm reveals superior BESS integration, achieving 59% in demand satisfaction without compromising the life of the equipment, avoiding inexpedient power delivery, and preventing significant increases in operating costs.

This paper presents a novel eight-step iterative algorithm for optimizing the layout of a neighborhood, focusing on the efficient allocation of houses to strategically placed facilities, herein referred to as ’points of interest’. The methodology integrates a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) approach with a heuristic algorithm to address a variant of the facility location problem combined with network design considerations. The algorithm begins by defining a set of geographic coordinates to represent houses within a predefined area. It then identifies key points of interest, forming the basis for subsequent connectivity and allocation analyses. The methodology’s core involves applying the Greedy algorithm to assign houses to the nearest points of interest, subject to capacity constraints. The method is followed by computing a Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) among these points to ensure efficient overall connectivity. The proposed algorithm’s iterative design is a key attribute. The most promising result of this approach is its ability to minimize the distance between houses and points of interest while optimizing the network’s total length. This dual optimization ensures a balanced distribution of houses and an efficient layout, making it particularly suitable for urban planning and infrastructure development. The paper’s findings demonstrate the algorithm’s effectiveness in creating a practical and efficient neighborhood layout, highlighting its potential application in large-scale urban planning and development projects.

This paper addresses the challenges in forecasting electrical energy in the current era of renewable energy integration. It reviews advanced adaptive forecasting methodologies while also analyzing the evolution of research in this field through bibliometric analysis. The review highlights the key contributions and limitations of current models with an emphasis on the challenges of traditional methods. The analysis reveals that Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, optimization techniques, and deep learning have the potential to model the dynamic nature of energy consumption, but they also have higher computational demands and data requirements. This review aims to offer a balanced view of current advancements and challenges in forecasting methods, guiding researchers, policymakers, and industry experts. It advocates for collaborative innovation in adaptive methodologies to enhance forecasting accuracy and support the development of resilient, sustainable energy systems.

This paper attempts to elucidate the transformative integration of computational techniques within power systems, underscoring their critical role in enhancing system modeling, control, and the efficient integration of renewable energy. It breaks down the two-sided nature of technological progress, highlighting both gains in operational efficiency and new challenges such as real-time processing, data management, and cybersecurity. Through meticulous analysis of query-based research patterns and mathematical frameworks, this study delves into the balancing act between specificity and breadth in scholarly inquiries while evaluating the impact and evolution of research trends through citation analysis. The convergence of interests and transient research trends is evident, particularly in Artificial Intelligence and optimization. This comprehensive narrative anticipates a sophisticated trajectory for power systems, advocating for continuous innovation and strategic research to foster sustainable, resilient, and intelligent energy networks.

La investigación tiene como objetivo aplicar los modelos CARE Y CANVAS para la construcción del Paisaje Cultural del Cacao en la provincia de Manabí, Ecuador. Se basó en un enfoque cualitativo y de corte transversal. Se realizaron dos talleres con participación de los sectores públicos y privados relacionados a la producción del cacao en la zona norte de Manabí en el Hotel Higuerón de la Escuela Superior Politécnica Agropecuaria de Manabí (ESPAM). Se reunió a 32 participantes durante los dos días de talleres (12 en diciembre de 2021 y 20 en enero de 2022 respectivamente) con una duración de cuatro horas por cada una. Los resultados más relevantes se dieron en la canalización de informaciones como la implementación de alojamientos alternativos (casas de huéspedes, camping y glamping); identificación importante en las vías de accesos (marítimos y aéreos); de recursos naturales (cascadas y ríos); de recursos culturales (gastronomía local); grupos de interés en el destino; establecimiento de alianzas estratégicas, etc. Se concluye que existe un gran potencial de atracciones turísticas para la creación del paisaje cultural del cacao en la provincia de Manabí, siempre y cuando, coexista apoyo del gobierno y del sector privado.

A bounded linear operator $T$ on a complex Banach space $\mathcal{X}$ is said to be full if $\overline{T\mathcal{M}}=\mathcal{M}$ for every invariant subspace $\mathcal{M}$ of $\mathcal{X}$. It is nearly full if $\overline{T\mathcal{M}}$ has finite codimension in $\mathcal{M}$. In this paper, we focus our attention to characterize full and nearly full operators in complex Banach spaces, showing that some valid results in complex Hilbert spaces can be generalized to this context.

El presente trabajo investigativo presenta el diseño y la implementación de un filtro activo de potencia (APF) híbrido, que tiene como objetivo lograr la corrección de los niveles de voltaje cuando estos son afectados por la integración de generación fotovoltaica dentro de la red de distribución eléctrica. Para alcanzar el objetivo propuesto, se hace uso de la técnica de control de modulación por vector espacial resultando en la reducción de armónicos de corriente y voltaje. El diseño propuesto se lo prueba en el sistema de prueba de la IEEE de 13 barras, en Simulink- MATLAB. El APF con la estrategia propuesta tiene excelentes resultados, y permite la inserción de sistemas energéticos fotovoltaicos en la etapa de distribución. Dependiendo la selección del APF de alto potencial se podrá determinar cuan significativa es la corrección sobre el perfil de voltaje, también se reflejará una reducción en las perturbaciones de carga y la compensación de los armónicos se verá mejorada.

El paper presenta el análisis de rendimiento de un Inversor Multinivel en Cascada D-STATCOM para reducir la distorsión armónica total, que basa su control en la estrategia del marco de referencia síncrono. La distorsión armónica es recurrente en las redes de distribución eléctrica actuales debido a la presencia de cargas no lineal, como electrodomésticos u otros dispositivos que tengan en sus componentes electrónica de potencia. El funcionamiento del sistema es evaluado antes y después de implementar la compensación. La simulación y análisis de los resultados de esta investigación está validado en el sistema de pruebas de la IEEE de 13 barras, en MATLAB y Simulink, alcanzando excelentes resultados en reducción del contenido armónico del sistema.

En el presente trabajo de investigación se propone un método de compensación de corrientes armónicas llamado Filtro de potencia activo unificado que tiene como fuente un arreglo de paneles solares junto con un convertidor elevador que por sus siglas en inglés es abreviado UAPF-PV, el cual está diseñado para poder funcionar en redes de distribución de baja tensión, con la finalidad de reducir la componente armónica de corriente. Este método utiliza dos tipos de filtro activos, uno de ellos es el filtro serie el cual usa transformadores, el principio es el de compensar los armónicos que están presentes en el voltaje. El siguiente tipo es el filtro de potencia paralelo, de esta manera compensa los armónicos de corriente. Se realizó el análisis en un sistema de 13 barras de la IEEE en el cual integra una carga no lineal en la 7ma barra del sistema mencionado. En este caso se analizaron las componentes de voltaje, corriente y la componente armónica total presente en la barra 7 del sistema y en la carga. Los resultados obtenidos fueron la disminución de armónicos de corriente y voltaje en la barra 7 del sistema, donde se pasó de tener un 13.5% a un 6% en el THDi IEEE 1159 y la resolución Nro. ARCERNNR -017/2020.

This research proposed an optimal control approach for a smart grid electrical system with photovoltaic generation, where the control variables are voltage and frequency, which aims to improve the performance through addressing the need for a balance between the minimization of error and the operational cost. The proposed control scheme incorporates the latest advancements in heuristics and hierarchical control strategies to provide an efficient and effective solution for the smart grid electrical system control. Implementing the optimal control scheme in a smart power grid is expected to bring significant benefits, such as the reduced impact of renewable energy sources, improved stability, reliability and efficiency of the power grid, and enhanced overall performance. The optimal coefficient values are found by minimizing the cost functions, which leads to a more efficient system performance. The voltage output response of the system in a steady state is over-damped, with no overshoot, but with a 5% oscillation around the target voltage level that remains consistent. Despite the complexity of nonlinear elements’ behavior and multiple system interactions, the response time is fast and the settling time is less than 0.4 s. This means that even with an increase in load, the system output still meets the power and voltage requirements of the system, ensuring efficient and effective performance of the smart grid electrical systems.

Se presenta la situación productiva del cacao en la provincia de Manabí (Ecuador), así como sus posibilidades de desarrollo regido por una política de revalorización cultural sostenible. Los productores de cacao, por lo general, desarrollan sus actividades en zonas rurales y periferias urbanas, las condiciones de vida muchas veces son precarias; el 90% de sus unidades productivas, denominadas fincas, con una extensión promedio de cinco hectáreas y su mantenimiento se caracteriza por ser de responsabilidad familiar. El objetivo de la presente investigación es identificar los diferentes grupos de productores, a partir de sus motivaciones, para el cultivo y producción del cacao en la zona centro norte de Manabí, Ecuador. El trabajo se dividió en dos etapas: (1) exploratoria, mediante la utilización de datos provenientes de organismos oficiales, los mismos que fueron procesados con el software ARC GIS; (2) trabajo de campo utilizando un cuestionario con escala de Likert. La muestra está conformada por 196 productores de cacao. El diseño de investigación es flexible, de enfoque cuantitativo y cualitativo; de carácter exploratorio. Existen dos grandes conjuntos de productores. El primer conjunto de productores relacionado con la simple comercialización del cacao y el segundo conjunto de productores que muestra una significante apropiación del producto como reflejo de la cultura local. Se vislumbra un contexto positivo para las iniciativas en torno al turismo agrario.

The current study is a pioneer work of an improved technical risk assessment, where alternative solutions are proposed of how lives may be better saved during a potential tsunami impact in the coastal cities of Manta and Salinas in the central coast of Ecuador. As Ecuador has been already the target of several tsunamis during recorded history, further tsunami impacts are rather the rule than the exception. Due to short times between generation and impact of tsunamis and due to long distances to natural elevated safe sites, alternative solutions may be more required such as close-by buildings with certain heights. Those potential shelters as result of vertical evacuation needed to be evaluated for their seismic resistance as well as their resistance towards a tsunami. Both qualifications have been examined by the application of the Modified Italian Methodology in order to calculate the seismic vulnerability index (SVI) and subsequently also in order to determine the tsunami vulnerability index (TVI). In this respect we evaluated 18 buildings of such characteristics in Manta and further 99 in Salinas. Unfortunately, although many buildings stand the applied evaluations, due to the fact that almost all edifices are of private property, both entrance and stairs remain limited for the general public. Therefore, we propose that given regulations need to improve in order to allow the access to the general public during a tsunami emergency within an evacuation plan besides the implementation of an efficient early alert system. Corresponding author: ttoulkeridis@espe.edu.ec

Currently, the most common measurement of empathy is obtained using scales that offer a continuum between a minimum and a maximum value. The objectives of this study were to establish a norm and estimate cut-off points that would make it possible to assess the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) version for Health Professions students (HPS-version), and to determine its psychometric properties in Chilean physical therapy students. A secondary analysis was done on a data set from three schools of physical therapy ([ n = 850], 412 women [48.5%], and 438 men [51.5%]), applying confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and hierarchical cluster analysis. A CFA replicated the original three-factor model of empathy with sufficiently fit the data. A hierarchical cluster analysis yielded four categories for the level of empathy: high, medium-high, medium-low, and low. Multi-group analyses supported the assumption of a gender-invariant factor structure. Results confirmed the reliability of the global scale (α = .835), and the Perspective Taking (α = .732), Compassionate Care (α = .842), and Walking in Patient’s Shoes (α = .686) dimensions. The instrument made it possible to establish four ordinal categories in the level of students’ empathy. We conclude that the HPS-version of the JSE has adequate psychometric properties; namely validity, reliability, and cut-off points that justify administering it to Chilean physical therapy students.

The paper presents the design and control strategy of an isolated DC microgrid, which is based on classical control techniques, predictive control and iterative algorithms. The design control parameters are maximum overshoot, settling time and voltage ripple. The strategy is designed to operate in two different modes, end-users minimum and maximum demand scenarios, and this is achieved through the incorporation of network dynamic loads. The control methodology developed allows to obtain a fast response of the design set points, and an efficient control for disturbance rejection. The simulation results obtained satisfy the proposed design guidelines by obtaining a maximum overshoot of 4.8%, settling time of 0.012 seconds and a voltage ripple of 0.1 percentage. The implemented system simulation was developed in Matlab-Simulink software.

This paper is a research article for finding the optimal control of smart power substations for improving the network parameters and reliability. The included papers are the most essential and main studies in the field, which propose a different approach to reach the best performance in electrical power systems. The parameters for improvement are the ability for tracking of the reference signal, stabilizing the system, reducing the error in steady state and controlling the behavior in transient state. The research focuses with the reaching a better transient stability considering voltage and frequency dynamic parameters. The optimal model for the control is focused on minimizing energy consumption but maintaining the controllable parameters, exploring some optimization techniques to find the optimal control, with of aim of minimizing the response time, the energy consumption, and maximizing the reliability by means of improving the controller to be more robust.

Objective: Black individuals remain underrepresented in disordered eating research, despite evidence that both Black men and women present with disordered eating behaviors. Culturally-informed theoretical frameworks suggest that these behaviors may be linked to race-related sociocultural experiences, such as aspects of racial identity. While studies have focused on racial identity commitment, the association between attitudes toward one's racial identity and disordered eating remains underexplored. The present study examines whether positive attitudes toward one's Blackness and Black culture are associated with disordered eating., Method: In a cross-sectional online sample of Black men and women (N = 458), we measured self-reported attitudes toward Blackness (i.e., centrality and private regard) and disordered eating behaviors (i.e., purging, binge eating, excessive exercise, and drive for thinness)., Results: In pre-registered linear regression models, private regard was negatively associated with purging and binge eating. Across all models, centrality was not associated with disordered eating. On average, Black women reported greater drive for thinness whereas Black men reported higher excessive exercise scores., Discussion: This is the first study to demonstrate associations between racial attitudes and disordered eating among Black men and women. Our findings affirm unique correlates of disordered eating among Black people and suggest that positive attitudes toward one's Blackness and Black culture may be a protective factor against the development of disordered eating., (© 2024 The Author(s). International Journal of Eating Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disease modulated by autoantibodies that inflame and destroy the myelin sheath encasing neuronal axons, impairing proper axonal conduction and function. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, making these drugs particularly exciting prospects in the treatment of MS. While the exact mechanism remains unclear, GLP-1 receptor agonists may modulate inflammatory responses by targeting GLP-1 receptors present on immune cells such as macrophages, monocytes, and lymphocytes. In animal models, GLP-1 agonists have been shown to significantly delay the onset and severity of experimental autoimmune encephalopathy symptoms, as well as to increase nerve myelination and brain weight. In further experiments using animal models of nerve crush injury, specimens given GLP-1 agonists reported a significant increase in the rate and density of nerve regeneration compared to controls. Thus, GLP-1 agonists show promise as both prophylactic and symptomatic treatment for MS and may provide further utility in the treatment of other autoimmune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative conditions., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Kaye et al.)

This study examined the experiences returning citizens (RCs) have in participating in different reentry programs and how these experiences may lead to improved well-being and quality of life (QOL). We conducted 14 semi-structured interviews with RCs participating in employment-oriented reentry programs. The interviews focused on participants' reentry programming experience and areas affecting their well-being (e.g., housing, education, financial stability). QOL was enhanced for RCs when they were able to access stable housing, develop supportive relationships, have a job that permitted them the resources needed to live independently, and increase their perceptions of self-efficacy and social capital. While reentry programs maintain a focus on employment for RCs, housing, healthy relationships, and opportunities for increasing self-efficacy and social capital are tied to well-being and QOL among RCs. Reentry programs have the potential to influence a variety of factors at multiple levels that shape well-being and QOL, and in turn employment and recidivism, among RCs., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Community Psychology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Coral reefs are highly diverse ecosystems that thrive in nutrient-poor waters, a phenomenon frequently referred to as the Darwin paradox 1 . The energy demand of coral animal hosts can often be fully met by the excess production of carbon-rich photosynthates by their algal symbionts 2,3 . However, the understanding of mechanisms that enable corals to acquire the vital nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus from their symbionts is incomplete 4-9 . Here we show, through a series of long-term experiments, that the uptake of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus by the symbionts alone is sufficient to sustain rapid coral growth. Next, considering the nitrogen and phosphorus budgets of host and symbionts, we identify that these nutrients are gathered through symbiont 'farming' and are translocated to the host by digestion of excess symbiont cells. Finally, we use a large-scale natural experiment in which seabirds fertilize some reefs but not others, to show that the efficient utilization of dissolved inorganic nutrients by symbiotic corals established in our laboratory experiments has the potential to enhance coral growth in the wild at the ecosystem level. Feeding on symbionts enables coral animals to tap into an important nutrient pool and helps to explain the evolutionary and ecological success of symbiotic corals in nutrient-limited waters., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Quantitative reconstructions of hydrological change during ancient greenhouse warming events provide valuable insight into warmer-than-modern hydrological cycles but are limited by paleoclimate proxy uncertainties. We present sea surface temperature (SST) records and seawater oxygen isotope (δ 18 O sw ) estimates for the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO), using coupled carbonate clumped isotope (Δ 47 ) and oxygen isotope (δ 18 O c ) data of well-preserved planktonic foraminifera from the North Atlantic Newfoundland Drifts. These indicate a transient ~3°C warming across the MECO, with absolute temperatures generally in accordance with trace element (Mg/Ca)-based SSTs but lower than biomarker-based SSTs for the same interval. We find a transient ~0.5‰ shift toward higher δ 18 O sw , which implies increased salinity in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre and potentially a poleward expansion of its northern boundary in response to greenhouse warming. These observations provide constraints on dynamic ocean response to warming events, which are consistent with theory and model simulations predicting an enhanced hydrological cycle under global warming.

Examination of screening guideline concordance can help clinics and institutions identify and understand disparities within their own practices. We conducted a study to examine whether screening completion rates within a student-run free clinic (SRFC) reflected, exacerbated, or narrowed population-level disparities in outcomes by race/ethnicity and primary language. We compared completion rates for cervical cancer (n = 114), diabetic retinopathy (n = 91), colorectal cancer (n = 114), and breast cancer (n = 63) by race/ethnicity (Black, n = 37; Hispanic, n = 133; white, n = 54; other, n = 29) and primary language (English, n = 106; Spanish, n = 136; other, n = 11) among patients at Shade tree clinic (STC), an SFRC in Nashville, TN. There were no differences in screening completion rate by race/ethnicity, and Spanish-speaking patients had slightly higher rates of cervical cancer screening [91% (95% confidence interval 84-97%)] than English-speaking patients [72% (57-86%)]. Overall screening rates were comparable to national averages, and in the case of screenings performed within clinic-cervical cancer [82%; (75-89%)] and diabetic retinopathy screening [86% (79-92%)]-exceeded national averages and/or affiliated academic medical center goals. These findings extend the existing literature supporting the ability of SRFCs to provide effective care by also demonstrating one measure of equity in clinic processes, providing a framework for future studies of equity within SRFCs and traditional primary care practices., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Despite good evidence of impaired innate antiviral responses in asthma, trials of inhaled interferon-β given during exacerbations showed only modest benefits in moderate/severe asthma. Using human experimental rhinovirus infection, we observe robust in vivo induction of bronchial epithelial interferon response genes 4 days after virus inoculation in 25 subjects with asthma but not 11 control subjects. This signature correlated with virus loads and lower respiratory symptoms. Our data indicate that the in vivo innate antiviral response is dysregulated in asthma and open up the potential that prophylactic rather than therapeutic interferon therapy may have greater clinical benefit., Competing Interests: Competing interests: HF and LL report no competing interests. DJJ reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis outside the submitted work. MR and AnS report personal fees from AstraZeneca outside the submitted work. AC reports personal fees from Novartis, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Philips, Sanofi, Stallergenes Greer, and AstraZeneca outside the submitted work. SJ, PAW and RW are GlaxoSmithKline employees. MRE is a Virtus Respiratory Research employee. SLJ personal fees from Virtus Respiratory Research, Myelo Therapeutics, Bayer, Synairgen, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Gerson Lehrman Group, resTORbio, Bioforce, Materia Medical Holdings, PrepBio Pharma, Pulmotect, Virion Health, Lallemand Pharma, and AstraZeneca outside the submitted work; in addition SLJ is an author on patents relating to use of interferons in treatment of exacerbations of airway disease., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Addressing sexual trauma in the context of HIV care is essential to improve clinical outcomes and mental health among women in South Africa. Women living with HIV (WLH) report disproportionately high levels of sexual trauma and have higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) may be difficult for traumatized women, as sexual trauma compounds the stress associated with managing HIV and is often comorbid with other mental health disorders, further compromising care engagement and adherence. ART initiation represents a unique window of opportunity for intervention to enhance motivation, increase care engagement, and address the negative effects of trauma on avoidant coping behaviors. Mental health interventions delivered by non-specialists in low- and middle-income countries have potential to treat depression, trauma, and effects of intimate partner violence among WLH. This study will examine the effectiveness of Improving AIDS Care after Trauma (ImpACT +), a task-shared, trauma-focused coping intervention, to promote viral suppression among WLH initiating ART in a South African clinic setting., Methods: This study will be conducted in Khayelitsha, a peri-urban settlement situated near Cape Town, South Africa. Using a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation design, we will randomize 350 WLH initiating ART to the ImpACT + experimental condition or the control condition (three weekly sessions of adapted problem-solving therapy) to examine the effectiveness of ImpACT + on viral suppression, ART adherence, and the degree to which mental health outcomes mediate intervention effects. ImpACT + participants will receive six once-a-week coping intervention sessions and six monthly maintenance sessions over the follow-up period. We will conduct mental health and bio-behavioral assessments at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months, with care engagement data extracted from medical records. We will explore scalability using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)., Discussion: This trial is expected to yield important new information on psychologically informed intervention models that benefit the mental health and clinical outcomes of WLH with histories of sexual trauma. The proposed ImpACT + intervention, with its focus on building coping skills to address traumatic stress and engagement in HIV care and treatment, could have widespread impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities in sub-Saharan Africa., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04793217 . Retrospectively registered on 11 March 2021., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

This study explored how leaders of Black churches active in the fight against HIV conceptualised sex and sexuality when describing HIV interventions within their institutions. We analysed interviews with pastors and identified three frames through which leaders understood and communicated about sex and sexuality: (1) an evasive frame , in which participants avoided discussing behaviours and populations that have historically been disparaged within the church by emphasising involuntary risk exposure; (2) an agentic frame , which recognised sexual behaviour that differed from heteronormative conduct; and, (3) a pluralist frame , which allowed individuals to maintain their own beliefs about appropriate sexual conduct. Participants used frames to engage in a range of HIV interventions while upholding stigmatising beliefs about sexual behaviour and identity.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection remains prevalent among the marginalized and drug using population in the United States. Testing for HIV is an important and cost-effective way to reduce HIV prevalence. Our objective was to determine if there is a difference in the number of HIV testing by injection status among users of illicit drugs and if a person's social network characteristics is a contributing factor. Using a cross-sectional design and negative binomial regression models, we assessed HIV testing behavior of people who use non-injected drugs (PWND) compared to people who use injected drugs (PWID). In an analytic sample of 539 participants, PWND tested for HIV 19% less compared to PWID, PR (95% CI) = 0.81 (0.66, 0.98), p  = 0.03. Other contributing factors of testing were education, condomless sex, STIs, heroin use, and participant's sex network. The interaction term between PWND and emotional support in relation to HIV testing was significant, 1.33 (1.03, 1.69), p =0.03. These findings suggest HIV testing behavior differed by injection status, and this relationship may be dependent on emotional support. To exert a greater impact on the HIV epidemic, interventions and policies encouraging HIV testing in PWND, an understudied at-risk sub-population, are warranted.