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Employing 30 years of solar radiation dataset from Camagüey Actinometric Station, the climatology of the Surface Albedo was determined for two solar disk state (Sun and Squared Sun). The obtained mean value for all period is 0.21 with a median of 0.209 and standard deviation of 0.0422. The WMO Guide to Climatological Practices was employed to determine this climatology. The dataset has been subjected to a meticulous quality control process, taking into accounts the criteria of Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN). The annual and multiannual means was established, as well as, the monthly and hourly mean values for the entire sample. The frequency distribution was determined for different combinations of active surface and their relation with the albedo values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unfolding of a polyhedron consists of cutting the boundary of it along some of its edges in such a way that one can flatten out the remaining set in the plane in a single piece. An unfolding is a net if it does not overlap itself. No convex polyhedra has been found which does not have a net, though almost all of its unfoldings overlap. In the particular case of the Dodecahedron, we show by means of both theoretical and computational considerations that every unfolding is a net. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This article describes the development of culturally sensitive guidelines for an alcohol and tobacco use intervention model for Latino communities. Extensive research supports the fact that people who use alcohol also use tobacco. In fact, 80% to 95% of alcoholics smoke, with the heaviest alcohol consumers being the heaviest consumers of tobacco. Concurrent use of these substances poses numerous public health threats. The goals of this project are to increase the consistency of culturally appropriate treatment strategies for this population.Method: A consensus conference composed of nationally recognized experts in nicotine dependence, multiculturalism, treatment, research, and consumer advocacy were identified and convened.Results: The panel recommended and developed a community intervention model as a best practice for use in Latino communities. This consensually derived model incorporated promotores, or community health workers, as frontline interventionists. Following the consensus recommendations, the authors of this article describe how these models can be modified to address concomitant dependencies to alcohol and tobacco.Conclusion: The model presented is a promising and replicable approach to improve the health of nicotineand alcohol-dependent Latino adults. Alcohol treatment providers need to be aware of these promising intervention approaches. This community-based model has the potential for reaching countless individuals who may not otherwise be exposed to alcoholand tobacco-related interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact parameter model for the scattering of two heavy particles and a light one is studied. The asymptotic behavior of the transition probability is studied when the relative velocity of the heavy particles goes to zero. In particular, rigorous proof is given from first principles, within the context of the model, of the validity of Massey’s criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in supporting the formation of new meniscal tissue in a meniscal scaffold is not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of the meniscal tissue produced in a fibronectin (FN)-coated polyurethane (PU) meniscal scaffold after a meniscal injury was made in an experimental rabbit model., Methods: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were divided in two groups after performing a medial meniscectomy of the anterior horn. In group 1, the meniscal defect was reconstructed with a non-MSC supplemented FN-coated PU scaffold. On the other hand, the same scaffold supplemented with MSCs was used in group 2. The animals were sacrificed at 12 week after index surgery. A modified scoring system was used for histological assessment. This new scoring (ranging from 0 to 15) includes a structural evaluation (meniscal scaffold interface and extracellular matrix production) and tissue quality evaluation (proteoglycan and type I-collagen content)., Results: The meniscal scaffold was found loose in the joint in three cases, corresponding to two cases in group 1 and 1 case in group 2. No differences were observed between the groups in terms of the total score (7.0 ± 0.9 vs. 9.4 ± 2.6, p = 0.09). However, differences were observed in group 2 in which 2 out of the 5 scored items, scaffold integration (1 ± 0.0 vs. 1.9 ± 0.6, p = 0.03) and proteoglycan production (1.2 ± 0.3 vs. 2.4 ± 0.2, p = 0.001). A trend to a higher production of Type I-Collagen production was also observed in group 2 (1.1 ± 0.4 vs. 1.4 ± 0.7, p = 0.05)., Conclusion: In a rabbit model at 12 weeks, the adhesion of MSCs to a FN-coated PU scaffold improves scaffold integration, proteoglycan production and the characteristics of the new meniscal-like tissue obtained when compared to a non-supplemented scaffold. This fact could be a major step toward improving the adhesion of the MSCs to meniscal scaffolds and, consequently, the obtention of better quality meniscal tissue., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy (ESSKA).)

Introduction: Partial meniscectomy is one of the most common surgical strategy for a meniscal injury, but sometimes, patients complain of knee pain due to an overload in the ablated compartment. In these cases, implantation of tissue engineering scaffold could be indicated. Currently, two commercial scaffolds, based on collagen or polycaprolactone-polyurethane (PCL-PU), are available for meniscus scaffolding. In short term follow-up assessments, both showed clinical improvement and tissue formation. However, long-term studies carried out in PCL-PU showed that the new tissue decreased in volume and assumed an irregular shape. Moreover, in some cases, the scaffold was totally reabsorbed, without new tissue formation.Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) combined with scaffolds could represents a promising approach for treating meniscal defects because of their multipotency and self-renewal. In this work, we aimed to compare the behaviour of MSCs and chondrocytes on a PCL-PU scaffold in vitro . MSCs express integrins that binds to fibronectin (FN), so we also investigate the effect of a FN coating on the bioactivity of the scaffold., Methods: We isolated rabbit bone marrow MSCs (rBM-MSCs) from two skeletally mature New Zealand white rabbits and stablished the optimum culture condition to expand them. Then, they were seeded over non-coated and FN-coated scaffolds and cultured in chondrogenic conditions. To evaluate cell functionality, we performed an MTS assay to compare cell proliferation between both conditions. Finally, a histologic study was performed to assess extracellular matrix (ECM) production in both samples, and to compare them with the ones obtained with rabbit chondrocytes (rCHs) seeded in a non-coated scaffold., Results: A culture protocol based on low FBS concentration was set as the best for rBM-MSCs expansion. The MTS assay revealed that rBM-MSCs seeded on FN-coated scaffolds have more cells on proliferation (145%; 95% CI: 107%-182%) compared with rBM-MSCs seeded on non-coated scaffolds. Finally, the histologic study demonstrated that rCHs seeded on non-coated scaffolds displayed the highest production of ECM, followed by rBM-MSCs seeded on FN-coated scaffolds. Furthermore, both cell types produced a comparable ECM pattern., Conclusion: These results suggest that MSCs have low capacity attachment to PCL-PU scaffolds, but the presence of integrin alpha5beta1 (FN-receptor) in MSCs allows them to interact with the FN-coated scaffolds. These results could be applied in the design of scaffolds, and might have important clinical implications in orthopaedic surgery of meniscal injuries., Competing Interests: RT and SM have received funding from MBA for research projects in meniscal repair. The company is not financing the manuscript. There are no other competing interests., (© 2021 The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.)

Mutations in the SCN1A gene can result in syndromes associated with epilepsy, including the Dravet syndrome (DS). However, the prevalence of such mutations in these diseases varies widely between different studies, and has not been examined in Mexican patients with epilepsy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the frequency of SCN1A mutations (in the exon 26) in a cohort of Mexican patients with DS and refractory epilepsy (RE). We recruited 24 Mexican patients (14 males and 10 females), of which 15 were diagnosed with RE and 9 were diagnosed with DS. The SCN1A gene was sequenced to uncover mutations in exon 26. We detected 2 novel genotypes in 2 DS patients. One was a synonymous variant, c.5418 G > A (E1806E), and the other was a missense variant, c. 5324 T > C (L1775P). The missense mutation was predicted to be damaging with a score of 100% by the PolyPhen-2 program. The frequency of pathogenic variants was 4.17% in all the patients and 11.1% in DS patients, which, together with other publications, emphasize that specific and more severe phenotypes are associated with SCN1A mutations.

The appearance of untreated severe hydrocephalus with long-term survival is infrequent; here we report a case with these characteristics, mild neurological alterations and kidney and skeletal anomalies. A female patient showed severe hydrocephalus (initially mistaken with hydranencephaly) at 4 years old and left kidney ectopia (initially mistaken with renal agenesis); however, she was derived to the neurology service until she was 12 years old, when she began to present migraine and seizures. At 13 years old the patient was diagnosed with arrested hydrocephalus secondary to aqueduct stenosis, and the seizures worsen thereafter from atonic seizures to complex partial seizures (at 14 years old), presenting generalized seizures at 15 years old. At 17 years old, the seizures were more frequent despite the anticonvulsant treatment and also presented automations, she was also diagnosed with genu recurvatinn and scoliosis. The seizures finally diminished and partially controlled at 19 years old. Despite a cerebral mantle < 2.0 cm at the computer tomography, the patient always presented a satisfactory intellectual development. In this case, the relatively good and long evolution of the severe hydrocephalus is probably related with the late-onset of the disease that permitted a better development of the brain; however, the worsening of the seizures after the hydrocephalus arrested, suggests that arrest is not necessarily associated with a compensation and better evolution of the disease, at least at the beginning of the process. The presence of kidney ectopia and skeletal alterations did not associate with a known genetic disease, however a possible inheritance mechanism is not discarded.

Healthcare entities seeking to develop effective cost-accounting systems should take six steps to avoid potential pitfalls: Secure broad executive-level support for the effort. Ensure systems are in place to analyze the disparate data. Define measurable objectives to ensure that implementation achieves desired results. Give due consideration to implementation planning. Train support staff sufficiently to avoid underutilization. Develop a sufficiently broad base of staff support for the system.

The 9p trisomy is a relatively frequent disorder, while pure 9p trisomies are less frequent and usually derived from 9;22 translocations, duplications or 9p extra chromosomes. Here we report a patient with pure trisomy 9p derived from a terminal balanced unreciprocal translocation. The patient derived to the genetic service by psychomotor delay, presented at 2 years and 11 months: short stature, open anterior fontanelle, dysplastic ears, facial dysmorphisms, long and broad first toes with hypoplastic nails, central nervous system and skeletal alterations. The patient karyotype was: 46,XY,der(10)t(9;10) (p13.1;qter)mat while the mother karyotype was: 46,XX,t(9;10)(p13.1;qter). The presence of the subtelomeric region of 10q showed by FISH as well as the duplication of 9p subtelomere was further confirmed with multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for the subtelomeric region of all chromosomes. The mechanism of formation seems to be due to a telomere break in 10q leading to loss of telomeric functions, permitting the 9p fusion; this has been supported with molecular probes showing telomere shortening in interstitial telomeric repeats, which are unable to prevent chromosome fusion. This is one of the few cases reported with terminal translocations (not jumping) preserving the subtelomeric region and highlights the importance of subtelomeric probes in terminal arrangements, and the utility of molecular probes, such as MLPA in defining this kind of abnormalities. In the clinical context, the patient presented a high proportion of 9p trisomy features which is expected considering the large 9p segment involved and the presence of the critical region 9p22.