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Superior mesenteric artery syndrome, or Wilkie's syndrome, is one of the rarest gastrointestinal disorders known to medical science. It is characterized by the vascular clamp of the third portion of the duodenum, between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. It presents as an uncommon cause of upper intestinal obstruction. Imaging is required, preferably with a contrast-enhanced CT or an MRI; conservative management is preferred, leaving surgery for the most complex cases.We present the case of a 34-year-old man with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and a history of substantial weight loss after hospital admission for aspiration pneumonia. He underwent an abdominal CT scan that showed enlargement of the stomach, the second and third parts of the duodenum; without observing masses, the patient received conservative management with a nasojejunal feeding tube. At the outpatient reevaluation, 1 month postdischarge, he became asymptomatic and had progressive weight gain.

Abstract Although Down syndrome (DS) is considered a risk factor for hemodynamic instabilities (mainly pulmonary hypertension–PH) following surgery for congenital cardiac communications, many DS patients do surprising well postoperatively. We prospectively analyzed perioperative factors for a possible correlation with post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) inflammatory reaction and postoperative PH in pediatric subjects. Sixty patients were enrolled (age 3 to 35 months), 39 of them with DS. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters (anatomical and hemodynamic) were computed preoperatively. Pulmonary and systemic mean arterial pressures (PAP and SAP) were assessed invasively intra and postoperatively. Immediate postoperative PAP/SAP ratio (PAP/SAPIPO) and the behavior of pressure curves were selected as primary outcome. Serum levels of 36 inflammatory proteins were measured by chemiluminescence preoperatively and 4 h post CPB. Of all factors analyzed, peripheral oxygen saturation (O2Sat, bedside assessment) was the only preoperative predictor of PAP/SAPIPO at multivariate analysis (p = 0.007). Respective values in non-DS, DS/O2Sat ≥ 95% and DS/O2Sat

We explore the utility of estimating the density of calls of baleen whales for better understanding acoustic trends over time. We consider as a case study stereotyped ‘song’ calls of Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia) on their Antarctic feeding grounds over the course of a year-long, continuous recording from 2014. The recording was made in the Southern Ocean from a deep-water autonomous hydrophone moored near the seafloor in the Eastern Indian sector of the Antarctic. We estimated call density seasonally via a Monte-Carlo simulation based on the passive sonar equation, and compared our estimates to seasonal estimates of detection rate, which are commonly reported in acoustic studies of Antarctic blue whales. The resulting seasonal call densities at our Antarctic site were strongly influenced by seasonally varying noise levels, which in turn yielded seasonal differences in detection range. Incorporating the seasonal estimates of detection area into our analysis revealed a pattern of call densities in accord with historic (non-acoustic) knowledge of Antarctic blue whale seasonal distribution and migrations, a pattern that differed from seasonal detection rates. Furthermore, our methods for estimating call densities produced results that were more statistically robust for comparison across sites and time and more meaningful for interpretation of biological trends compared to detection rates alone. These advantages came at the cost of a more complex analysis that accounts for the large variability in detection range of different sounds that occur in Antarctic waters, and also accounts for the performance and biases introduced by automated algorithms to detect sounds. Despite the additional analytical complexities, broader usage of call densities, instead of detection rates, has the potential to yield a standardized, statistically robust, biologically informative, global investigation of acoustic trends in baleen whale sounds recorded on single hydrophones, especially in the remote and difficult to access Antarctic.

Abstract Information on population structure and connectivity of targeted species is key for proper implementation of spatial conservation measures. We used a combination of genomics, biophysical modelling, and biotelemetry to infer the population structure and connectivity of Atlantic meagre, an important fisheries resource throughout its distribution. Genetic samples from previously identified Atlantic spawning locations (Gironde, Tejo, Guadalquivir, Banc d’Arguin) and two additional regions (Algarve and Senegal) were analysed using genome-wide SNP-genotyping and mitochondrial DNA analyses. Biophysical models were conducted to investigate larval dispersal and connectivity from the known Atlantic spawning locations. Additionally, thirteen fish were double-tagged with biotelemetry transmitters off the Algarve (Portugal) to assess movement patterns and connectivity of adult individuals. This multidisciplinary approach provided a robust overview of meagre population structure and connectivity in the Atlantic. Nuclear SNP-genotyping showed a clear differentiation between the European and African populations, with significant isolation of the few known Atlantic spawning sites. The limited level of connectivity between these subpopulations is potentially driven by adults, capable of wide-ranging movements and connecting sites 500 km apart, as evidenced by tagging studies, whilst larval dispersal inferred by modelling is much more limited (average of 52 km; 95% of connectivity events up to 174 km). Our results show sufficient evidence of population structure, particularly between Africa and Europe but also within Europe, for the meagre to be managed as separate stocks. Additionally, considering the low degree of larvae connectivity, the implementation of marine protected areas in key spawning sites could be crucial towards species sustainability.

This contribution shows a geometric optimal control procedure to solve the trajectory generation problem for the navigation (generic motion) of mechanical systems with revolute joints. The mechanical system is analyzed as a nonlinear Lagrangian system affected by dry friction at the joint level. Rayleigh’s dissipation function is used to model this dissipative effect of joint-level friction, and regarded as a potential. Rayleigh’s potential is an invariant scalar quantity from which friction forces derive and are represented by a smooth model that approaches the traditional Coulomb’s law in our proposal. For the optimal control procedure, an invariant cost function is formed with the motion equations and a Riemannian metric. The goal is to minimize the consumed energy per unit time of the system. Covariant control equations are obtained by applying Pontryagin’s principle, and time-integrated using a Finite Elements Method-based solver. The obtained solution is an optimal trajectory that is then applied to a mechanical system using a proportional–derivative plus feedforward controller to guarantee the trajectory tracking control problem. Simulations and experiments confirm that including joint-level friction forces at the modeling stage of the optimal control procedure increases performance, compared with scenarios where the friction is not taken into account, or when friction compensation is performed at the feedback level during motion control.

The dairy industry is classified, worldwide, as one of the main wastewater-generating industries. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of parameters on the percentage of turbidity (TB) removal and chemical oxygen demand (COD), using as pretreatment a combined coagulation process using a biocoagulant composed of chitosan and Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage (OFI): chitosan-mucilage (Q-M from 1 to 9), and an electrocoagulation process with operational variables of biocoagulant dose (0.025, 0.05 y 0.1 g/L), current density (30, 40 y 50 mA/cm2), and time (10, 15 y 20 minutes). A monopolar glass reactor with aluminum electrodes was assembled by applying the response surface approach methodology. Additionally, using the Box–Behnken mathematical model for the removal of TB and COD, the effects and interactions of the factors and experimental design levels (considering control formulations using triplicates) were evaluated. An analysis of variance was performed to evaluate model responses and optimal conditions. The experimental results showed that the formulation of the compound biocoagulant Q-M-5 in doses of 0.99 g/L achieves 98.44% turbidity removal and 81.72% chemical oxygen demand removal. The dose of the compound biocoagulant has a significant positive effect as does the current density of 30 mA/cm2 and time of 19.05 min; that is, its efficiency in removing turbidity and chemical oxygen demand increases when using these parameters. It is concluded that the use of the biocoagulant composed of chitosan and Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage (Q-M-5) as the primary treatment of whey wastewater provides evidence for the literature, showing that it is also a low-cost, ecological, and easy-to-apply natural coagulant.

Pelletizing and torrefaction increase biomass energy density, generating a more homogeneous fuel with lower moisture, enabling it to burn in equipment with high energy efficiency. This work evaluated the quality of pellets made from wood particles that had been densified and torrefied in an extruder-type system. Particles of the Pinus sp. wood were torrefied at 200, 250, and 300 °C for six minutes and then compacted to produce pellets. The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of these pellets were evaluated and compared with standard ones. Torrefaction modified the pellets properties by increasing ash, fixed carbon, higher heating value, and the energy density, while reducing the volatile matter and equilibrium moisture content. The mechanical durability of the pellets was lower than that defined by the European, German, and American standards. The torrefaction pre-compaction route with torrefied particles at a temperature of 300 °C was the most efficient for energetic use, compared to the in natura biomass. The latter has negative aspects such as great variation in size (length and diameter) and density besides high moisture content.

This research presents a cooperation strategy for a heterogeneous group of robots that comprises two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and one Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) to perform tasks in dynamic scenarios. This paper defines specific roles for the UAVs and UGV within the framework to address challenges like partially known terrains and dynamic obstacles. The UAVs are focused on aerial inspections and mapping, while UGV conducts ground-level inspections. In addition, the UAVs can return and land at the UGV base, in case of a low battery level, to perform hot swapping so as not to interrupt the inspection process. This research mainly emphasizes developing a robust Coverage Path Planning (CPP) algorithm that dynamically adapts paths to avoid collisions and ensure efficient coverage. The Wavefront algorithm was selected for the two-dimensional offline CPP. All robots must follow a predefined path generated by the offline CPP. The study also integrates advanced technologies like Neural Networks (NN) and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) for adaptive path planning for both robots to enable real-time responses to dynamic obstacles. Extensive simulations using a Robot Operating System (ROS) and Gazebo platforms were conducted to validate the approach considering specific real-world situations, that is, an electrical substation, in order to demonstrate its functionality in addressing challenges in dynamic environments and advancing the field of autonomous robots.

Abstract Background Pulmonary vascular abnormalities pose a risk for severe life-threatening hemodynamic disturbances following surgical repair of congenital cardiac communications (CCCs). In the distal lung, small airways and vessels share a common microenvironment, where biological crosstalks take place. Because respiratory cells infected by viruses express a number of molecules with potential impact on airway and vascular remodeling, we decided to test the hypothesis that CCC patients carrying viral genomes in the airways might be at a higher risk for pulmonary (and systemic) hemodynamic disturbances postoperatively. Methods Sixty patients were prospectively enrolled (age 11 [7–16] months, median with interquartile range). Preoperative pulmonary/systemic mean arterial pressure ratio (PAP/SAP) was 0.78 (0.63–0.88). The presence or absence of genetic material for respiratory viruses in nasopharyngeal and tracheal aspirates was investigated preoperatively in the absence of respiratory symptoms using real-time polymerase chain reaction (kit for detection of 19 pathogens). Post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) inflammatory reaction was analyzed by measuring serum levels of 36 inflammatory proteins (immunoblotting) 4 h after its termination. Postoperative hemodynamics was assessed using continuous recording of PAP and SAP with calculation of PAP/SAP ratio. Results Viral genomes were detected in nasopharynx and the trachea in 64% and 38% of patients, respectively. Rhinovirus was the most prevalent agent. The presence of viral genomes in the trachea was associated with an upward shift of postoperative PAP curve (p = 0.011) with a PAP/SAP of 0.44 (0.36–0.50) in patients who were positive versus 0.34 (0.30–0.45) in those who were negative (p = 0.008). The presence or absence of viral genomes in nasopharynx did not help predict postoperative hemodynamics. Postoperative PAP/SAP was positively correlated with post-CPB levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (p = 0.026), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (p = 0.019) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (p = 0.031), particularly in patients with virus-positive tracheal aspirates. Conclusions Patients with CCCs carrying respiratory viral genomes in lower airways are at a higher risk for postoperative pulmonary hypertension, thus deserving special attention and care. Preoperative exposure to respiratory viruses and post-CPB inflammatory reaction seem to play a combined role in determining the postoperative behavior of the pulmonary circulation.

Barrier islands in tropical regions are prone to coastal flooding and erosion during hurricane events. The Yucatán coast, characterized by karstic geology and the presence of barrier islands, was impacted by Hurricane Gamma and Hurricane Delta in October 2020. Inner shelf, coastal, and inland observations were acquired simultaneously near a coastal community (Sisal, Yucatán) located within 150 km of the hurricanes' tracks. In the study area, Gamma moved slowly and induced heavy rain, mixing in the shelf sea, and strong winds (>20 m s−1). Similar wind and wave conditions were observed during the passage of Hurricane Delta; however, a higher storm surge was measured due to wind setup and the drop ( mbar) in atmospheric pressure. Beach morphology changes, based on GPS measurements conducted before and after the passage of the storms, show alongshore gradients ascribed to the presence of coastal structures and macrophyte wracks on the beach face. Urban flooding occurred mainly on the back barrier associated with heavy inland rain and the coastal aquifer's confinement, preventing rapid infiltration. Two different modeling systems, aimed at providing coastal flooding early warning and coastal hazard assessment, presented difficulties in forecasting the coastal hydrodynamic response during these seaward-traveling events, regardless of the grid resolution, which might be ascribed to a lack of terrestrial processes and uncertainties in the bathymetry and boundary conditions. Compound flooding plays an important role in this region and must be incorporated in future modeling efforts.

Summary: Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease with substantial mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunctions. SBMA is caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Activating or increasing the NAD+-dependent deacetylase, SIRT3, reduced oxidative stress and death of cells modeling SBMA. However, increasing diminished SIRT3 in AR100Q mice failed to reduce acetylation of the SIRT3 target/antioxidant, SOD2, and had no effect on increased total acetylated peptides in quadriceps. Yet, overexpressing SIRT3 resulted in a trend of motor recovery, and corrected TCA cycle activity by decreasing acetylation of SIRT3 target proteins. We sought to boost blunted SIRT3 activity by replenishing diminished NAD+ with PARP inhibition. Although NAD+ was not affected, overexpressing SIRT3 with PARP inhibition fully restored hexokinase activity, correcting the glycolytic pathway in AR100Q quadriceps, and rescued motor endurance of SBMA mice. These data demonstrate that targeting metabolic anomalies can restore motor function downstream of polyQ-expanded AR.

Abstract Due to the complex nature of pain and the participation of physical, cognitive, psychological and behavioral aspects, pain management has several approaches. The use of medicinal plants in developing countries is quite expressive. Seeking new options for the treatment of emerging or debilitating diseases. Therefore, the present study seeks to elucidate the effects of the monoterpene, citronellal, differentiating its activity by isomers (R)-(+) and (S)-(-) citronellal. The study used several methods to evaluate the effects of citronellal isomers on motor coordination, nociceptive response, and the involvement of opioid, glutamatergic, and transient receptor pathways. The methods included rota-rod, hot-plate, and formalin tests, as well as the use of specific inhibitors and agonists. Data were analyzed using inferential statistics with a 95% confidence level. Both isomers did not significantly affect the motor coordination of the studied animals. The isomer (S)-(-) citronellal showed better results in relation to its structural counterpart, managing to have an antinociceptive effect in the formalin and hot plate tests with a lower concentration (100 mg/kg) and presenting fewer side effects, however, the this study was not able to elucidate the mechanism of action of this isomer despite having activity in studies with substances that act on specific targets such as glutamate and capsaicin, its activity was not reversed with the use of antagonists for pathways related to nociception. While the (R)-(+) citronellal isomer, despite showing total activity only at a concentration of 150 mg/kg, was able to determine its mechanism of action related to the opioid pathway by reversing its activity by the antagonist naloxone, being this is a pathway already correlated with nociception control treatments, however, it is also related to some unwanted side effects. In this way, new studies are sought to elucidate the mechanism related to the isomer (S)-(-) citronellal and a possibility of use in other areas related to the treatment of pain or inflammation.

Abstract This study aimed to analyze the phytochemical profile of essential oil obtained from the leaves of Coriandrum sativum L., and its antifungal activity against Candida spp. The research consisted of an in vitro study including collecting the vegetable product, analysis of its macronutrients, extraction, and chemical analysis of the essential oil, and assaying antifungal activity through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), with growth inhibition kinetics, and the product’s effects on multi-species Candida biofilm. Nitrogen (47.08 g Kg-1), phosphorus (5.3 g Kg-1) and potassium (50.46 g Kg-1) levels were within the normal range. The major constituents were octanal, decanal, dec-(2E)-enal, and dodecanal. The MIC and MFC of the product evaluated against 11 tested Candida strains ranged from 31.25 to 250 μg/mL. There was inhibition of fungal growth during 24 hours of exposure at the 3 concentrations tested (250, 125, and 62.5 μg/mL). The concentration of 80 mg/mL promoted the greatest reduction in multispecies biofilm (70% reduction in biofilm). Coriandrum sativum L. essential oil extract is principally constituted of alcohols and aldehydes and presents fungicidal activity against Candida spp. in its in planktonic and biofilm forms.

COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out in the Philippines but the supply remains limited; there is a need to optimize the distribution. In this study, we developed a COVID-19 agent-based model for Quezon City, a COVID-19 hotspot in the country. This model, in conjunction with a multi-objective linear programming model for equitable vaccine distribution, was then used to simulate four vaccination scenarios. Experiments were conducted with the front-line workers always added to the groups: mobile workers, elderly and low-income. Main results are: prioritizing the mobile workers minimizes infections the most (by 4.34%), while prioritizing the low-income groups minimizes deaths the most (by 1.93%). These results demonstrate that protecting the population with the most interactions (mobile workers) effectively reduces future infections. On the other hand, protecting the most vulnerable population (low income and elderly) decreases the likelihood of death. These results may guide the policy-makers in Quezon City.

Line transect aerial surveys are widely used for estimating abundance of biological populations, including threatened species. However, estimates obtained with data collected from aircraft are often underestimated because of visibility bias and bias in estimating group sizes from a fast-moving platform. An assessment of multiple sources of bias in aerial surveys were carried out in Brazilian coastal waters by experiments on multiple survey platforms (i.e., boat, airplane and helicopter). These studies focused on evaluating visibility bias (perception and availability bias) and potential differences in the estimation of group sizes from different types of platforms used in franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) abundance surveys. The ultimate goal was to develop correction factors to improve accuracy of estimates of density and population size for this threatened dolphin. Estimates of density and group sizes computed from boats were assumed to be unbiased and were compared to estimates of these quantities obtained from an airplane in the same area and period. In addition, helicopter surveys were conducted in two areas where water turbidity differed (clear vs. murky waters) to determine surfacing-diving intervals of franciscana groups and to estimate availability for aerial platforms. Abundance computed from the aerial survey data underestimated the true abundance by about 4-5 times, with ~70% of the total bias resulting from visibility bias (~80% from availability bias and ~20% from perception bias) and ~30% from bias in estimates of group size. The use of multiple survey platforms in contrasting habitats provided the opportunity to compute correction factors that can be used to refine range wide abundance estimates of the threatened franciscana given certain assumptions are met. Visibility bias and group size bias were substantial and clearly indicate the importance for accounting for such correction factors to produce unequivocal population assessment based on aerial survey data.

Background: Evidence suggests lungs as the organ most affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The literature on previous coronavirus infections reports that patients may experience persistent impairment in respiratory function after being discharged. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of restrictive pattern, obstructive pattern and altered diffusion in patients post-COVID-19 infection and to describe the different evaluations of respiratory function used with these patients. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in five databases. Studies that used lung function testing to assess post-infection COVID-19 patients were included for review. Two independent reviewers analysed the studies, extracted the data and assessed the quality of evidence. Results: Of the 1973 reports returned by the initial search, seven articles reporting on 380 patients were included in the data synthesis. In the sensitivity analysis, we found a prevalence of 0.39 (CI 0.24–0.56, p

Es un hecho innegable que la tuberculosis es una enfermedad eminentemente contagiosa y que se propaga con facilidad; que si no se le detienen en su marcha progresiva, irá multiplicándose cada día el número de sus víctimás.

PSMA expression occurs in epithelial cells in both normal and hyperplastic prostates. In adenocarcinoma, it is present in greater intensity, especially in the more aggressive ones. This made it possible to develop diagnostic tools with greater specificity for detecting prostate cancer metastases like the 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. Several benign neoplasms with increased marker uptake have been described in the literature. Such false-positives are usually associated with soft tissue injuries, abnormal vascular proliferation, neurogenic injuries, thymomas and adenomas. In the present work we present a case report that exemplifies the above.

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar los efectos de la aplicación del Programa de Enriquecimiento Instrumental (PEI) de Reuven Feuerstein sobre un grupo de jóvenes infractores en proceso de resocialización de la Fundación El Faro del municipio de San José de Cúcuta, Colombia. Corresponde a un estudio cualitativo de nivel descriptivo enmarcado en la orientación epistemológica del paradigma interpretativo. En el estudio participaron diez jóvenes en proceso de resocialización con diversas características y limitaciones; para la intervención y recolección de información se utilizaron los instrumentos de relaciones virtuales, comparaciones y relaciones espaciales del PEI junto al diario de campo. Los resultados presentados desde la perspectiva cualitativa muestran un conjunto de cambios en las estructuras cognitivas de los jóvenes sujetos a intervención, es decir, sobre las funciones cognitivas y las operaciones mentales, aunque algunos factores limitaron la mediación como el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y el ambiente del centro de rehabilitación. La evidencia permite concluir que son significativas las potencialidades del programa cognitivo y la Experiencia de Aprendizaje Mediado -EAM- como se señalan en otros estudios sobre los diferentes ámbitos de aplicación de la teoría de la Modificabilidad Estructural Cognitiva.

Abstract Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors, but meningioma metastases are rare. Accordingly, the clinical workup, diagnostic testing, and molecular classification of metastatic meningioma is incompletely understood. Here, we present a case report of multiply recurrent meningioma complicated by liver metastasis. We discuss the patient presentation, imaging findings, and conventional histopathologic characterization of both the intracranial lesion and the metastatic focus. Further, we perform multiplatform molecular profiling, comprised of DNA methylation arrays and RNA-sequencing, of six stereotactically-guided samples from the intracranial meningioma and a single ultrasound-guided liver metastasis biopsy. Our results show that DNA methylation clusters distinguish the liver metastasis from the intracranial meningioma samples, and identify a small focus of hepatocyte contamination with the liver biopsy. Nonetheless, DNA methylation-based classification accurately identifies the liver metastasis as a meningioma with high confidence. We also find that clustering of RNA-sequencing results distinguishes the liver metastasis from the intracranial meningiomas samples, but that differential gene expression classification is confounded by hepatocyte-specific gene expression programs in the liver metastasis. In sum, this case report sheds light on the comparative biology of intracranial and metastatic meningioma. Furthermore, our results support methylation-based classification as a robust method of diagnosing metastatic lesions, underscore the broad utility of DNA methylation array profiling in diagnostic pathology, and caution against the routine use of bulk RNA-sequencing for identifying tumor signatures in heterogeneous metastatic lesions.

The manuscript presented herein documents the findings of filaria nematodes in 5 keel-billed toucans, and one emerald toucanet, originated from 2 private aviaries in Mexico City during two years. The birds displayed ruffled feathers, depression, inability to perch, convulsions, and sudden death. Furthermore, thickened wall of the aortic and brachiocephalic arteries, with connective tissue proliferation and chondroid metaplasia were observed. Molecular characterization matched Filarioidea sp (Nematoda: Spirurida: Filarioidea). To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first documented report of filariae Filarioidea sp. causing mortality in ramphastids in Mexico. This manuscript may contribute to expand current knowledge of filariasis and the health risks and livability of wild birds. Keywords: Aulacorhynchus prasimus, Birds, Filarioidea, Filariasis, Molecular characterization, Ramphastids, Ramphastos sulfuratus

Abstract Background The presentation of clinical leptospirosis has been historically associated with animal workers, slaughterhouse workers and medical veterinarians. This association has shifted to be related to flooding events and outdoor activities; few cases are related to high-risk factors found in immunosuppressed patients. Scarcely a handful of cases have serological evidence of immune response against Leptospira serovar Bratislava representing serogroup Australis, a serovar associated with poor reproductive performance in swine and horses, and recently with cats. Case presentation Herein, we describe a rare clinical presentation of disseminated Leptospira infection in an immunosuppressed 65-year-old woman. She was admitted to the emergency room with fever, bacteraemia, bilateral uveitis and pulmonary involvement. The patient denied outdoor activities; she only had wide exposure to faeces and urine from cats living in her home. Her medical history included idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) diagnosed at the age of 18. She did not respond to medical treatment, and a splenectomy was performed. At age 60, she was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), and was treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) –Imatinib. The patient voluntarily discontinued the treatment for the last 6 months. After extensive workup, no microorganisms were identified by the commonly used stains in microbiology. The diagnosis was performed through dark-field microscopy, microagglutination test (MAT), Leptospira genus-specific PCR, the IS1500 PCR for identification of pathogenic species, and 16S based sequencing for the genus identification. Conclusion Immunosuppressed patients may acquire uncommon infections from ubiquitous microorganisms. In this case, serology evidence of exposure to Leptospira serovar Bratislava by MAT and the presence of the Leptospira genus were identified. It should be on mind for the diagnosis in otherwise healthy patients, and thoroughly search on splenectomised patients exposed to animals. Additionally, this report highlights the usefulness of PCR for diagnosis of this potentially life-threatening illness.

Population growth and new consumer needs, among other factors, have lead to growing energy demand, without a concomitant increase in energy generation. This way, reduction and rationalization of energy consumption, especially by residential users, have become a global concern generating a need for developing techniques for efficient management and distribution of the available energy. Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) techniques have provided valuable information about energy consumption for power generation companies as well as consumers. Such information is important for making decisions related to sustainable use of energy resources. This study proposes an automated system based on Artificial Neural Network for performing some of the NILM tasks. A stacked neural network was developed to extract features of power signals of appliances to identify those in operation during a given period. This information is then used to disaggregate individual appliance loads through the total aggregate signal, and consumption is calculated through numerical integration. The system was tested using real data from two databases about appliances with On/Off, multi-level, and variable consumption patterns collected in low frequency. The performance metrics, resulting from identification and disaggregation tasks, demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed system.

Introducción: Hacer el diagnóstico y tratar a portadores del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana ha llevado a identificar mayor prevalencia de esa infección y, por lo tanto, de un mayor riesgo de transmisión de este virus. Objetivo: Conocer la tendencia en México de los nuevos casos de portadores de infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) en el periodo 2003-2017. Métodos: Se analizaron pacientes asegurados en el IMSS. Se obtuvieron datos de 42 181 casos recién diagnosticados y se analizaron las variaciones relacionadas con el sexo y la edad. Se obtuvieron las tasas estandarizadas por edad por 100 000 personas. Resultados: El cambio porcentual anual promedio más alto en hombres se documentó en adolescentes varones (13.0, IC 95 % = 9.9, 16.1). Se registraron tendencias heterogéneas en las mujeres, con una disminución total significativa (–2.2, IC 95 % = –3.4, –1.0), pero también se observaron tendencias crecientes en algunos grupos. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que en el IMSS, la epidemia de la inmunodeficiencia humana adquirida se concentra en hombres, con tendencia creciente particularmente en adolescentes.

There is scarce information about the relationships between postoperative pulmonary hemodynamics, inflammation, and outcomes in pediatric patients with congenital cardiac communications undergoing surgery. We prospectively studied 40 patients aged 11 (8–17) months (median with interquartile range) with a preoperative mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 48 (34–54) mmHg who were considered to be at risk for postoperative pulmonary hypertension. The immediate postoperative pulmonary/systemic mean arterial pressure ratio (PAP/SAPIPO, mean of first 4 values obtained in the intensive care unit, readings at 2-hour intervals) was correlated directly with PAP/SAP registered in the surgical room just after cardiopulmonary bypass (r=0.68, p0.40 and a heightened immediate postoperative serum level of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (quartile analysis) were shown to be predictive of significant postoperative cardiopulmonary events (respective hazard ratios with 95% CIs, 5.07 (1.10–23.45), and 3.29 (1.38–7.88)). Thus, the early postoperative behavior of the pulmonary circulation and systemic inflammatory response are closely related and can be used to predict outcomes in this population.

In 2015, emergent cases of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) were reported in Tinum, Yucatan, Mexico. As part of an eco-epidemiological study to characterize the elements that trigger Leishmania infection in that area, we conducted a field study to investigate the occurrence of Leishmania infection in wild rodents. From November 2019 to February 2020, rodents were caught from three sites located in the municipality of Tinum, Yucatan. For each specimen, clinical signs suggestive of Leishmania infection were recorded. Samples from the tail, liver, and spleen were taken for the identification of Leishmania DNA by PCR. Twenty rodents belonging to two species were caught including Heteromys gaumeri (55%, 11/20) and Ototylomys phyllotis (45%, 9/20). Fifty-five percent of the animals presented white spots on the tail, 15% had splenomegaly, and 5% had hepatomegaly. Fifty-five percent (11/20) of the animals were found infected by Leishmania. Heteromys gaumeri was caught in all trapping sites and was the most infected species (63.6%, 7/11). The percentage of infection for O. phyllotis was 44.4% (4/9). Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana was identified as the infecting species in two H. gaumeri. This study provides, for the first time, evidence of Leishmania infection in wild rodents from the Yucatan state. Heteromys gaumeri and O. phyllotis may be involved in the transmission cycle of L. mexicana in this emergent focus; however, further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm their role as primary reservoirs.

The recent advances in precision agriculture are due to the emergence of modern robotics systems. For instance, unmanned aerial systems (UASs) give new possibilities that advance the solution of existing problems in this area in many different aspects. The reason is due to these platforms’ ability to perform activities at varying levels of complexity. Therefore, this research presents a multiple-cooperative robot solution for UAS and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) systems for their joint inspection of olive grove inspect traps. This work evaluated the UAS and UGV vision-based navigation based on a yellow fly trap fixed in the trees to provide visual position data using the You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithms. The experimental setup evaluated the fuzzy control algorithm applied to the UAS to make it reach the trap efficiently. Experimental tests were conducted in a realistic simulation environment using a robot operating system (ROS) and CoppeliaSim platforms to verify the methodology’s performance, and all tests considered specific real-world environmental conditions. A search and landing algorithm based on augmented reality tag (AR-Tag) visual processing was evaluated to allow for the return and landing of the UAS to the UGV base. The outcomes obtained in this work demonstrate the robustness and feasibility of the multiple-cooperative robot architecture for UGVs and UASs applied in the olive inspection scenario.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are a suitable solution for monitoring growing cultures due to the possibility of covering a large area and the necessity of periodic monitoring. In inspection and monitoring tasks, the UAV must find an optimal or near-optimal collision-free route given initial and target positions. In this sense, path-planning strategies are crucial, especially online path planning that can represent the robot’s operational environment or for control purposes. Therefore, this paper proposes an online adaptive path-planning solution based on the fusion of rapidly exploring random trees (RRT) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithms applied to the generation and control of the UAV autonomous trajectory during an olive-growing fly traps inspection task. The main objective of this proposal is to provide a reliable route for the UAV to reach the inspection points in the tree space to capture an image of the trap autonomously, avoiding possible obstacles present in the environment. The proposed framework was tested in a simulated environment using Gazebo and ROS. The results showed that the proposed solution accomplished the trial for environments up to 300 m3 and with 10 dynamic objects.

Alternative therapies for cancer treatment have been developed using bioactive compounds such as betulinic acid (BA). The objective of this study was to investigate the bioactivity of BA in its free form and compare it with its nano-encapsulated form under a skin carcinogenesis protocol in a genetically modified murine model. K14E6 and FVB mice were divided into four groups to be treated with free BA and with betulinic acid nanoemulsion (BANE). Lecithin enriched with medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) was employed as an emulsifier to prepare the nanoemulsions with a mean droplet size of 40 nm. Skin tumors were induced by exposure to DMBA and TPA directly to the transgenic mice. Tumor development was completely inhibited by BANE and by 70% with free BA. This was validated by histological sections and the gene expression of the Cdk4 and Casp8 genes.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are becoming more attractive in diverse applications due to their efficiency in performing tasks with a reduced time execution, covering a larger area, and lowering human risks at harmful tasks. In the context of Oil & Gas (O&G), the scenario is even more attractive for the application of UAS for inspection activities due to the large extension of these facilities and the operational risks involved in the processes. Many authors proposed solutions to detect gas leaks regarding the onshore unburied pipeline structures. However, only a few addressed the navigation and tracking problem for the autonomous navigation of UAS over these structures. Most proposed solutions rely on traditional computer vision strategies for tracking. As a drawback, depending on lighting conditions, the obtained path line may be inaccurate, making a strategy to force the UAS to continue on the path necessary. Therefore, this research describes the potential of an autonomous UAS based on image processing technique and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) strategy to navigate appropriately in complex unburied pipeline networks contributing to the monitoring procedure of the Oil & Gas Industry structures. A CNN is used to detect the pipe, while image processing techniques such as Canny edge detection and Hough Transform are used to detect the pipe line reference, which is used by a line following algorithm to guide the UAS along the pipe. The framework is assessed by a PX4 flight controller Software-in-The-Loop (SITL) simulations performed with the Robot Operating System (ROS) along with the Gazebo platform to simulate the proposed operational environment and verify the approach’s functionality as a proof of concept. Real tests were also conducted. The results showed that the solution is robust and feasible to deploy in this proposed task, achieving 72% of mean average precision on detecting different types of pipes and 0.0111 m of mean squared error on the path following with a drone 2 m away from a tube.

Environmental changes triggered by deforestation, urban expansion and climate change are present-day drivers of the emergence and reemergence of leishmaniasis. This review describes the current epidemiological scenario and the feasible influence of environmental changes on disease occurrence in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. Relevant literature was accessed through different databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google, and Mexican official morbidity databases. Recent LCL autochthonous cases, potential vector sandflies and mammal hosts/reservoirs also have been reported in several localities of Yucatan without previous historical records of the disease. The impact of deforestation, urban expansion and projections on climate change have been documented. The current evidence of the relationships between the components of the transmission cycle, the disease occurrence, and the environmental changes on the leishmaniasis emergence in the state shows the need for strength and an update to the intervention and control strategies through a One Health perspective.

# Background This study aimed to determine the efficacy of an evidence-based peer and mHealth delivered systems navigation intervention for increasing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV care behaviors among young trans women. # Methods The “Brilhar e Transcender” (BeT) pilot study was conducted between 19 September 2019 and 26 November 2020 in a trans-affirming public health clinic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling through outreach and referral. Twenty-seven were screened for inclusion and 18 participants completed the study and were included in this analysis. Participants were recruited through community outreach. All participants identified as trans women, were aged 18-24 years old, lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and were not on PrEP or not engaged in HIV care. Over the course of three months, participants developed a systems navigation plan and were engaged in three peer-navigator sessions, asynchronous digital interactions in between sessions, and received automated information they could use to address services access barriers. We measured HIV testing, PrEP use and HIV care outcomes. HIV care engagement included linkage to care, visit attendance, antiretroviral therapy use, and/or undetectable viral load for those living with HIV. # Results All young trans women without HIV (n=13) were regularly tested for HIV and engaged in PrEP by the end of the intervention. All participants living with HIV (n=5) were engaged in HIV care, but one participant had a detectable viral load post intervention. # Conclusions The BeT intervention demonstrated preliminary efficacy for improving HIV prevention and care behaviors among young trans women in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) setting. A trial is planned for implementation to establish efficacy with a large sample of young trans women and a comparator group.

Abstract The mesoeucrocodylian record from the Bauru Group (Paraná Basin, Brazil) comes from three formations: Adamantina (Late Turonian–Early Maastrichtian), Presidente Prudente (Early Campanian–Early Maastrichtian) and Marília (Maastrichtian). These records are restricted to the Early Coniacian–Early Maastrichtian. Here, we report a new crocodyliform record from the Bauru Group, which was the first of the Araçatuba Formation, from a new locality of Coronel Goulart district, in Álvares Machado municipality. Coronelsuchus civali gen. nov. et sp. nov. comprises two related specimens - FFP PG 13 and FFP PG 14 recovered close to each other and on the same muddy sandstone level. We perform a phylogenetic analysis with 392 characters (five new added) and 88 taxa. Our analyses supported the new clades: Sphagesauria, Sphagesaurinae and Caipirasuchinae. Our phylogenetic results suggest C. civali as a basal Sphagesauria. Regarding the Crocodyliform Assemblage Zones (CAZ), the new species is correlated to the CAZ 1, together with small sphagesaurians, Caryonosuchus and itasuchids. The C. civali reveals an older appearing (pre-Turonian) and diversification of Sphagesauria. The specimens also expand the stratigraphic range for Notosuchia in the Bauru Group.

This paper presents a new approach to electrical appliance identification for non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM). In the proposed method a set of autoassociative neural networks is trained so that each one is tuned with the characteristics of a particular electrical appliance. Then, the autoassociative neural networks are set up in a competitive parallel arrangement in which they compete with one another when a new input vector is entered and the closest recognition is accepted to identify the given electrical appliance. The system is trained to recognize specific types of electrical appliances and use the transient power signal obtained from the on/off events for each electrical appliance. To test the proposed method, three public datasets were used, they are, the reference energy disaggregation dataset (REDD), the United Kingdom recording domestic appliance-level electricity (UK-DALE) and the Tracebase dataset containing real residential measurements are used. The accuracy and F-score obtained for the three datasets show the applicability of the proposed method for NILM systems.

The aim of this work is the design of an adaptive controller based on Mamdani-type fuzzy inference systems. The input control is constructed with saturation functions’ fuzzy-equivalents, which works as the adaptive scheme of the controller. This control law is designed to stabilize the error system to synchronize a pair of chaotic nonhomogeneous piecewise systems. Finally, an illustrative example as numerical evidence is developed.

Distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) generation is becoming more popular. Similarly, the number of electronic loads has increased along with the need to improve power quality. The PV-Shunt Active Filter (PV-SAF) is a system capable of injecting the PV power generated in the electrical grid and eliminating harmonics of current and reactive power of the local installation load. In the single-stage topology, the PV array is connected directly to the SAF DC bus, without the need for an intermediate DC-DC converter. In this paper, a three-phase single-stage PV-SAF system is evaluated in partial shading conditions. For this, a Global Maximum Power Point Tracking (GMPPT) technique capable of quickly tracking the point of maximum power even in the presence of several peaks in the power-voltage curve of the PV array is proposed. A night-time mode is implemented for the system operation when there is no PV generation. The instantaneous power theory and the adaptive hysteresis band current controller are used to control the SAF currents. The results obtained through an experimental prototype show that the PV-SAF system with the control strategies adopted is capable of simultaneously injecting into the grid the maximum power of the PV system and compensating harmonics and reactive power.

Este trabalho propõe uma técnica de controle híbrida Proporcional Integral - Linear Quadratic Gaussian (PI-LQG) para o Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM). Na técnica proposta, adiciona-se o filtro de Kalman ao controlador Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) com ação integral, formando o controlador LQG, tal combinação torna o sistema mais robusto e menos suscetível a ruídos de processo e de medição. Ao se utilizar um controlador híbrido, as matrizes de ponderação para projetar os ganhos do controlador LQR e do filtro de Kalman são de menor ordem, facilitando a sintonia dos controladores. Para a validação da técnica proposta, são utilizadas duas técnicas de controle para comparação: PI tradicional e PI-LQR com ação integral. Os resultados são obtidos via simulação, no software PSIM, e experimentalmente.

Polymer and surfactant flooding are widely applied processes in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in which viscous polymers or surfactants aqueous solutions are introduced in oil reservoirs to rise the recovery of the remaining oil. In this regard, one of the challenges of EOR practices is the use of efficient but low-cost viscosifier and surfactant polymers. This work is aimed at synthesizing a polyglycerol derived from the biodegradable and nontoxic monomer, glycerol, and evaluating the effect of its copolymerization on rheological and interfacial properties, which were tested in water and brine for the former and in the water/oil system for the last properties. The copolymers were synthesized using a polyglycerol backbone, acrylic acid, lactic acid, and oleic acid. The chemical structure of copolymers was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The viscosity and the interfacial tension (IFT) of polymeric solutions were tested. Thus, the viscosity and surface performance of the prepared polymer solutions in distilled water and brine were analyzed according to the structure of the synthesized polymers. The results showed that the synthesized polymers modified water viscosity and surface tension between water and oil. The developed polymers could be candidates for applications in enhanced oil recovery and related applications.

The possibility of using thiocyanate to determine iron(II) and/or iron(III) in water-acetone mixture has been re-examined as part of a systematic and comparative study involving metallic complexes of pseudohalide ligands. Some parameters that affect the complete oxidation of the ferrous cations, their subsequent complexation and the system stability have been studied to optimize the experimental conditions. Our results show the viability and potentiality of this simply methodology as an alternative analytical procedure to determine iron cations with high sensitivity, precision and accuracy. Studies on the calibration, stability, precision, and effect of various different ions have been carried out by using absorbance values measured at 480 nm. The analytical curve for the total iron determination obeys Beer’s law (r = 0.9993), showing a higher sensitivity (molar absorptivity of 2.10x10 4 L cm -1 mol -1 ) when compared with other traditional systems (ligands) or even with the “similar” azide ion [1.53x10 4 L cm -1 mol -1 , for iron–III/azide complexes, in 70% (v/v) tetrahydrofuran/water, at 396 nm]. Under such optimized experimental conditions, it is possible to determine iron in the concentration range from 0.5 to 2 ppm (15-65% T for older equipments, quartz cells of 1.00 cm). Analytical applications have been tested for some different materials (iron ores), also including pharmaceutical products for anemia, and results were compared with atomic absorption determinations. Very good agreement was obtained with these two different techniques, showing the potential of the present experimental conditions for the total iron spectrophotometric determinations (errors < 5%). The possibility of iron speciation was made evident by using another specific and auxiliary method for iron(II) or (III).