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It has been shown that the variability of the marginal capital product ratio is what determines the growth rate of economies according to Harrod's model; therefore, it is important to predict its behavior. This paper develops a methodology based on probabilistic random walk to predict the annual marginal capital product ratio of Colombia for the year 2017 based on information from the Penn World Table database from 1993 to 2016. It was found that this variable has underlying mathematical orders, which allows its prediction with an accuracy of 97.69%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This work evaluates a macroscopic system for the exploitation and distribution of shale gas. • Optimal decisions include both the water management and the gas supply chain. • The case study uses real information from various governmental agencies in Mexico. • Data has been processed through the geographic information system ArcGIS. • Even in an optimal scenario, water availability for some municipalities is compromised. This study presents a mathematical programming approach for evaluating the exploitation and distribution of shale gas from potential reserves at a national level, depending upon existing infrastructure and water availability. The study describes an MILP model that simultaneously integrates water management with the design and planning of the supply chain, from basins to distribution markets and fresh water supply from available watersheds. The model is applied to a case based on the potential exploitation of shale gas basins in Mexico. The parameters of the model are mostly taken from the databases of the country, processed through the geographic information system ArcGIS. The solution provides the optimal decisions for exploitation and distribution, as well as for freshwater source selection and optimal wastewater management. Water management strategies include disposal, wastewater treatment in municipal plants and onsite treatment. The negative impact of water consumption of the optimal exploitation systems is assessed based mainly on the estimation of the water stress index. Results show that the shale gas exploitation would favor the energy independence of the country, but the availability of freshwater for some municipalities would be compromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A Mixed-Integer programming model was developed to attain an optimal solution to the MSW management. • The model allocates the various types and amounts of wastes to different processes (recycling, composting and landfilling). • An LFG-to-energy system is designed by considering the dynamic behavior of the LFG generation in the landfill. • The model is applied to a case study in a municipality in Mexico. • Results confirm that LFG used to produce electricity reduces the economic burden of MSW management. Abstract A multi-period approach to municipal solid waste (MSW) management is proposed. The analysis includes the optimization of a MSW network considering waste reduction processes and landfilling. The optimization of the transportation of MSW to its potential destinations has been addressed using a direct-hauling system and an optimally allocated off-municipality transfer station. As the main component in the formulation, an optimal landfill gas (LFG) to energy design is obtained to improve the economics of the landfill operation; the design involves the installation of several harnessing technologies according to the annual increase or decay of the LFG flow rate. A case-study for a municipality in Mexico has been solved through the GAMS® modeling environment. The resulting mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model has been assessed through several scenarios. The results show that the installation of an LFG-to-electricity system and a materials recycling facility achieve the minimum overall cost of the MSW management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freud seems to explain the psychological behavior of the organized masses from the mental processes of the individual psyche. Under the Freudian considerations and in light of certain Lacanian findings, the present research work, the result of an investigation thesis of the Master's Degree in Psychoanalysis, Subjectivity, and Culture at the National University of Colombia, will characterize a new collective formation that has been growing from the 1980s and that seems to be radically different from the Freudian psychological mass. This is the Social Movements, so called by the most recent sociologists and scholars of collective psychology. This new collective formation appears to call into question the Freudian insights on group psychology, or it demands at least a new consideration of masses from the psychoanalytic contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a survey of rodents and ticks in Brazos County in east-central Texas to learn more about native fauna that may be involved in enzootic transmission of pathogens that can cause tick-borne diseases in this region. Our objectives were to describe the species richness and seasonal activity of rodents, as well as to document their infestation with ticks over time. We captured 5 rodent species over the course of 19 months: Sigmodon hispidus (Hispid Cotton Rat), Reithrodontomys fulvescens (Fulvous Harvest Mouse), Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed Mouse), Peromyscus gossypinus (Cotton Mouse), and Baiomys taylori (Northern Pygmy Mouse). We observed a large increase in Hispid Cotton Rat capture success in the fall of 2013, reflecting a characteristic population boom periodically exhibited by this species. Overall tick-infestation prevalence of rodents was low (2.3%), and was comprised of juvenile ticks of 2 species- Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast Tick) and Ixodes scapularis (Blacklegged Tick). The co-occurrence of tick vectors and rodent species that are known reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens underscores the importance of studies to assess tick-borne disease risk in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study curves of genus 3 over algebraically closed fields of characteristic 2 with the canonical theta characteristic totally supported in one point. We compute the moduli dimension of such curves and focus on some of them which have two Weierstrass points with Weierstrass directions towards the support of the theta characteristic. We answer questions related to order sequence and Weierstrass weight of Weierstrass points and the existence of other Weierstrass points with similar properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A curve defined over a finite field is maximal or minimal according to whether the number of rational points attains the upper or the lower bound in Hasse-Weil’s theorem, respectively. In the study of maximal curves a fundamental role is played by an invariant linear system introduced by Rück and Stichtenoth in [6]. In this paper we define an analogous invariant system for minimal curves, and we compute its orders and its Weierstrass points. In the last section we treat the case of curves having genus three in characteristic two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The exudate and seriated extracts from the aerial parts of Baccharis grisebachii (Asteraceae) which is recommended as a digestive and to relieve gastric ulcers in Argentina, showed activity as free radical scavengers and inhibited lipoperoxidation in erythrocytes. Assay-guided isolation led to seven p-coumaric acid derivatives and six flavonoids as the main active constituents of the crude drug. The activity towards the superoxide anion was mainly due to the flavonoid constituents. 5,7,4′-Trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone and quercetin presented high activity (64 and 79%) even at 12.5μg/ml. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of the extracts can be related with the p-coumaric acid derivatives drupanin, 4-acetyl-3,5-diprenylcinnamic acid and trans-ferulic acid O-hexan-3-onyl-ether which showed IC50 values in the range 28–40μg/ml. Both p-coumaric acid derivatives and flavonoids inhibited lipoperoxidation in erythrocytes. The highest activity was found for the p-coumaric acid derivatives 4-acetyl-3-prenyl-ethoxycinnamate, 3-prenyl-4-(4′-hydroxydihydrocinnamoyloxy)-cinnamate and trans-ferulic acid O-hexan-3-onyl-ether (69–82%) and the flavonoids 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone, quercetin, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,3′-dimethoxyflavone and 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxyflavone (64–84%) at 100μg/ml. The most active free radical scavengers measured by the DPPH decoloration assay were the p-coumaric acid derivatives drupanin and trans-ferulic acid O-hexan-3-onyl-ether (27–35% at 10μg/ml) and the flavonoid quercetin (97 and 23% at 10 and 1μg/ml, respectively). The results support the use of Baccharis grisebachii in Argentinian traditional medicine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A methodology for the machinability assessment of steel is proposed based on the direct measurement of cutting forces and surface roughness, along with the development of an aggregate machinability indicator. Experimental work for the verification of the validity of this testing scheme was carried out at different cutting condition combinations using three grades of steel, namely, 1018 (Low Carbon, Cold-Rolled Steel), 304 (Austenitic Stainless Steel), and 4140 (Low-Alloy Steel) and uncoated carbide inserts as the tool material. Mathematical models are developed for predicting the forces acting on the tool for different cutting conditions and materials. The test results show that the developed indicator provides a number of advantages: (1) an adequate estimate of a material’s machinability; (2) a cost effective method for machinability testing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigates the ring system of cyclobutenbriarein A, a C20-rearranged diterpene briarane from the Gorgonian Briareum asbestinum. Terpene metabolites of the gorgonians; Nucleophilic substitution of chorine to yield cyclobutenbriarein; Structural elucidation of diterpenes.

The labdane diterpene solidagenone 1 and its semisynthetic and biotransformations products 2–7 were assessed for gastroprotective effect in the HCl·EtOH-induced lesions in mice. At 100 mg/kg, solidagenone presented a statistically significant gastroprotective effect (P<0.05) comparable to lansoprazole at 20 mg/kg. The presence of the furan ring was required for the activity of solidagenone while hydroxylation at C-3 or C-6 afforded products with different activity associated with the stereochemistry. Solidagen-6β-ol 7 and 3α-hydroxysolidagenone 2 presented higher activity than solidagenone itself, while its epimers were inactive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Carcinoid tumors of the lung are rare neuroendocrine tumors that make up approximately 1 to 2% of all lung neoplasms. These tumors overexpress somatostatin receptors, and somatostatin analog therapy has become standard in the treatment of carcinoid tumors. In addition, radiolabeled somatostatin analogs have been used to diagnose and treat these lesions. We describe the case of a patient with a right lung mass diagnosed as a carcinoid tumor. The patient underwent complete resection of this tumor with the assistance of intraoperative detection with a handheld gamma probe after the administration of the radiolabeled somatostatin analog (111)In-pentetreotide. This approach allowed us not only to detect the tumor easily, but to scan the bed of the tumor after resection and to re-excise an area of increased radioisotope uptake that corresponded to the presence of residual tumor. We believe this to be the first reported case of bronchial carcinoid resected with the assistance of intraoperative gamma detection after the administration of a radiolabeled somatostatin analog. This technology allowed us to achieve a complete surgical resection with no residual tumor detected either pathologically or by somatostatin scanning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which analyzed the size structure and the functional composition of the Antarctic phytoplankton. Methods; Results; Discussion.

Focuses on research regarding the size structure of phytoplankton in the ocean. Mention of an experiment that uses an empirical model which relates the magnitude of mesoscale vertical motion to the slope of the size-abundance spectrum of phytoplankton in a frontal ecosystem; Methods; Suggestion that the mesoscale vertical motion controls the size structure of ocean phytoplankton.

Liver dysfunction is a frequent complication of jejunoileal bypass (JIB) surgery, a procedure commonly used until recently to treat morbid obesity. It has been suggested that liver failure in JIB patients is due to bacterial overgrowth and translocation from the bypassed intestine. Because invading microorganisms cause hepatic inflammation these experiments evaluated zinc, copper, and metallothionein (MT) in two experimental rat models of intestinal surgery to determine whether their distribution in plasma and tissues was similar to the highly characteristic pattern observed during an inflammatory response. In the JIB rat model 90 per cent of the small intestine was isolated from the flow of digesta but remained viable in the abdominal cavity. In the small bowel resection (SBR) model 90 per cent of the small intestine was removed and the remaining intestine was resected. Data collected 21 days after surgery showed decreased growth rate and plasma zinc in the SBR and JIB rats that was significantly improved by supplemental zinc. All other measures of zinc, copper, and MT metabolism in the SBR rats were similar to those of controls. In JIB rats, however, liver copper, MT protein, and MT mRNA were significantly elevated, and a high proportion of the intracellular zinc and copper was associated with MT. The pattern of zinc, copper, and MT distribution in systemic circulation and liver of JIB rats suggests hepatic inflammation superimposed on low zinc and copper status. Lack of a similar response in the SBR rats confirms the involvement of the bypassed intestinal segment and supports the hypothesis that bacterial overgrowth and translocation are responsible for liver inflammation and dysfunction in JIB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with stage II empyema often fail traditional medical management, frequently succumbing to the effective albeit morbid clutches of thoracotomy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been recently introduced as a viable and potentially less morbid alternative to open thoracotomy. We review our VATS experience in children with empyema, assessing surgical outcome. Between August 1996 and March 1999, 13 patients at our institution with stage II empyema that did not respond to conventional medical management underwent a modified VATS with decortication. Data from retrospective chart review reflects intraoperative findings and postoperative course, including average time to defervescence, removal of thoracostomy tube, and hospital discharge. VATS was completed in all 13 patients. All intraoperative cultures of pleural fluid and fibrinopurulent debris obtained at VATS showed no growth. The average time to defervescence was 2.2 days (range, 0-4 days) and to removal of thoracostomy tube 3.6 days (range, 2-5 days). Average total chest tube days in patients with pre-VATS thoracostomy (n = 6) was 14.5 days (range, 8-37 days) versus 3.1 days (range, 2-5 days) in patients (n = 7) who underwent primary VATS (t test, p < 0.05). The average time to surgical discharge after VATS was 5.8 days (range, 3 to 19 days). All patients were well on follow-up clinic visits without delayed complications. VATS can be performed safely and effectively in children with stage II empyema, thus avoiding the morbidity of open thoracotomy and decortication. Importantly, early application of VATS significantly relieves patients of unnecessary days of thoracostomy drainage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the treatment of a pulp bleaching effluent using Fenton-type reactions. Removal of adsorbable organochloride halides and toxicity; Degradation of 2-chlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol; Chemiluminescence measurements.

Describes the use of photocatalysis to degrade two bleaching effluents from Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus grandis wood processing. Organic matter oxidation; Improvement in biodegradability; Reduction in acute toxicity.

Provides information on a study on the size structure patterns of the phytoplankton community in the deep fluorescence maximum of the Alboran Sea. Methodology; Results and discussion.

Tumors of the scapula are an unusual clinical challenge. Partial or complete resection of the scapula, with its attached musculoaponeurotic tissue, is a seldom used technique for the treatment of primary bone and soft tissue tumors, as well as selected metastatic involvement of the scapula. Scapulectomy may allow wide margins of resection without amputation. The purpose of this study is to review our recent experience with scapulectomy. This study describes the recent experience with scapulectomy by the Section of Surgical Oncology and the Department of Orthopedics at Louisiana State Medical Center (New Orleans, LA). Between 1994 and 1998, 12 patients (between 16 and 79 years of age) underwent a resection of the scapula. Eleven of these patients had soft tissue tumors; one had a metastasis from a thyroid carcinoma. Six of these patients underwent a scapulectomy as a primary treatment, five for recurrence. Six patients also received postoperative radiation and/or chemotherapy. The follow-up ranged from 6 months to 4 years. There was no mortality or wound infection associated with scapulectomy. All patients had normal hand and wrist function after surgery. Three distant recurrences occurred, with no local or regional failures encountered during the follow-up period. Scapulectomy can result in excellent local tumor control. Whereas some loss of active shoulder motion may occur, hand, wrist and elbow function is preserved. Although maintenance of shoulder function should not take precedence over adequacy of resection, scapulectomy remains an excellent procedure for malignant disease that preserves hand, wrist, and elbow function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the isolation and characterization of planar polycyclics from the marine sponge Xestopongia. Four new metabolites and five known compounds; Determination of structures using nuclear magnetic resonance data; Absolute stereochemistry of chiral centers; Synthesis of polycyclic models of natural products; Ability to inhibit the activity of protein tyrosine kinase.

Examines the effect of intraluminal glutamine infusion on jejunoileal bypass (JIB) induced abnormalities in the plasma-liver profile in rats. Bacterial translocation; Decrease in plasma cholesterol levels; Plasma-liver profile and bowel histopathology.

Investigates the structure of onchidin B, a cyclic depsipeptide isolated from the pulmonate mollusc onchidium sp. Importance of natural products derived from marine organisms; Source of cyclodepsipeptides; Results of the isolation and structural analysis; Diasteroselective synthesis of hymo; Stereochemistry of onchidin B.

Explores the isolation and the structural elucidation of the first serinolipids from a marine organism extract. Isolation of didemniserinolipids A-C, unprecedented serinolipids from the Turnicate didemnum sp.; Isolation of 2-amino-1,3-propanediols linked to a hydroxylated alpha,beta-unsaturated acid.

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array offers regular observations of our Sun since 2016. After an extended period of further developing and optimizing the post-processing procedures, first scientific results are now produced. While the first observing cycles mostly provided mosaics and time series of continuum brightness temperature maps with a cadence of 1-2s, additional receiver bands and polarization capabilities will be offered in the future. Currently, polarization capabilities are offered for selected receiver bands but not yet for solar observing. An overview of the recent development, first scientific results and potential of solar magnetic field measurements with ALMA will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on an alkaloid protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, xestoxyclamine A, from the marine sponge Xestospongia sp. Pivotal mechanism in the regulation of fundamental processes; Development of selective, nontoxic PKC inhibitors; Impure mixtures yielded from reversed-phase HPLC of the active fraction.

The title compound (I) shows modest activity against leukemia cells (IC50 = 5 μg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which its editor provides information on the journal, including article submission requirements, the publication's interdisciplinary focus on Mexican issues, and its resulting from collaboration between the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS) and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).

Objective. To assess changes in antibiotic resistance of eight of the World Health Organization priority bug-drug combinations and consumption of six antibiotics (ceftriaxone, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin) before (March 2018 to July 2019) and during (March 2020 to July 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic in 31 hospitals in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Methods. This was a before/after study using routinely collected data. For antibiotic consumption, daily defined doses (DDD) per 100 bed-days were compared. Results. There were 23 405 priority bacterial isolates with data on antibiotic resistance. The total number of isolates increased from 9 774 to 13 631 in the periods before and during the pandemic, respectively. While resistance significantly decreased for four selected bug-drug combinations (Klebsiella pneumoniae, extended spectrum beta lactamase [ESBL]-producing, 32% to 24%; K. pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant, 4% to 2%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant, 12% to 8%; Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant, 23% to 9%), the level of resistance for Enterococcus faecium to vancomycin significantly increased (42% to 57%). There was no change in resistance for the remaining three combinations (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant; Escherichia coli, ESBL-producing; E. coli, carbapenem-resistant). Consumption of all antibiotics increased. However, meropenem consumption decreased in intensive care unit settings (8.2 to 7.1 DDD per 100 bed-days). Conclusions. While the consumption of antibiotics increased, a decrease in antibiotic resistance of four bug-drug combinations was observed during the pandemic. This was possibly due to an increase in community- acquired infections. Increasing resistance of E. faecium to vancomycin must be monitored. The findings of this study are essential to inform stewardship programs in hospital settings of Colombia and similar contexts elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the case of a small adult rhabdomyoma discovered in the left vocal cord from a laryngoectomy specimen performed for a squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx. Histological features; Dimension of the lesion.

Cancer/testis (CT) antigens are potential immunotherapeutic targets in cancer. However, the expression of particular antigens is limited to a subset of tumors of a given type. Thus, there is a need to identify antigens with complementary expression patterns for effective therapeutic intervention. In this study, we searched for genes that were distinctly expressed at a higher level in lung tumor tissue and the testes compared with other nontumor tissues and identified members of the VCX/Y gene family as novel CT antigens. VCX3A, a member of the VCX/Y gene family, was expressed at the protein level in approximately 20% of lung adenocarcinomas and 35% of squamous cell carcinomas, but not expressed in normal lung tissues. Among CT antigens with concordant mRNA and protein expression levels, four CT antigens, XAGE1, VCX, IL13RA2, and SYCE1, were expressed, alone or in combination, in about 80% of lung adenocarcinoma tumors. The CT antigen VCX/Y gene family broadens the spectrum of CT antigens expressed in lung adenocarcinomas for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the different tests proposed in the recent ChildCI framework, 1 1 https://github.com/BiDAlab/ChildCIdb%5fv1. proving its potential for generating a better understanding of children's neuromotor and cognitive development along time, as well as their possible application in other research areas such as e-Health and e-Learning. In particular, we propose a set of over 100 global features related to motor and cognitive aspects of the children interaction with mobile devices, some of them collected and adapted from the literature. Furthermore, we analyse the robustness and discriminative power of the proposed feature set including experimental results for the task of children age group detection based on their motor and cognitive behaviours. Two different scenarios are considered in this study: (i) single-test scenario, and (ii) multiple-test scenario. Results over 93% accuracy are achieved using the publicly available ChildCIdb_v1 database (over 400 children from 18 months to 8 years old), proving the high correlation of children's age with the way they interact with mobile devices. • Proposal of over 100 global features related to motor and cognitive aspects. • Usage of the largest and most diverse public dataset on the topic (ChildCIdb_v1). • Results of over 93% accuracy for the children age group detection task. • It seems to be a relationship between children's age and mobile device interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a novel children–computer interaction (CCI) approach for the task of age group detection. This approach focuses on the automatic analysis of the time series generated from the interaction of the children with mobile devices. In particular, we extract a set of 25 time series related to spatial, pressure, and kinematic information of the children interaction while colouring a tree through a pen stylus tablet, a specific test from the large-scale public ChildCIdb database. A complete analysis of the proposed approach is carried out using different time series selection techniques to choose the most discriminative ones for the age group detection task: (i) a statistical analysis and (ii) an automatic algorithm called sequential forward search (SFS). In addition, different classification algorithms such as dynamic time warping barycenter averaging (DBA) and hidden Markov models (HMM) are studied. Accuracy results over 85% are achieved, outperforming previous approaches in the literature and in more challenging age group conditions. Finally, the approach presented in this study can benefit many children-related applications, for example, towards an age-appropriate environment with the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 22-year-old pregnant woman was seen at 14 weeks of pregnancy for infective endocarditis with a vegetation of 15 mm and wide mobility, which affected the native mitral valve accompanied by severe valvular insufficiency. Antibiotic treatment was given for 4 weeks despite the embolism risk. Due to persistence of vegetation size and after considering the fetal and maternal risk, the surgical procedure was favored. We decided to perform valvuloplasty and removal of lesion at 18 weeks of pregnancy. Fetal protection techniques were used and a bioprosthesis was placed before attempting a repair. The postoperative follow-up was satisfactory, achieving a successful birth by cesarean section at 30 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In our search for potential anticancer agents, a series of 8- and 9-phenylamino-3,4-tetrahydro-phenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-triones with substituent variations at 6-, 8- and 9-positions were prepared using a highly efficient sequence involving: a) solar photoacylation reactions of benzoquinone with arylaldehydes, b) one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydrophenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-trione intermediates from acylhydroquinones and c) highly regiocontrolled acid-induced amination reaction of phenanthridinequinones with phenylamines. The members of this series were in vitro evaluated using the MTT colorimetric method against one normal cell line and three human cancer cell lines. The SAR analysis indicates that the location of nitrogen substituents on the quinone nucleus, the presence of methyl, phenyl, furyl and thienyl groups at the 6-position and the aromatization of the angular cycloaliphatic ring of the phenylamino-3,4-tetrahydrophenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-trione pharmacophore play key roles in the antitumor activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work evaluates linoleic acid peroxidation reactions initiated by Fe3+-reducing compounds recovered from Eucalyptus grandis, biotreated with the biopulping fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. The aqueous extracts from biotreated wood had the ability to reduce Fe3+ ions from freshly prepared solutions. The compounds responsible for the Fe3+-reducing activity corresponded to UV-absorbing substances with apparent molar masses from 3kDa to 5kDa. Linoleic acid peroxidation reactions conducted in the presence of Fe3+ ions and the Fe3+-reducing compounds showed that the rate of O2 consumption during peroxidation was proportional to the Fe3+-reducing activity present in each extract obtained from biotreated wood. This peroxidation reaction was coupled with in-vitro treatment of ball-milled E. grandis wood. Ultraviolet data showed that the reaction system released lignin fragments from the milled wood. Size exclusion chromatography data indicated that the solubilized material contained a minor fraction representing high-molar-mass molecules excluded by the column and a main low-molar-mass peak. Overall evaluation of the data suggested that the Fe3+-reducing compounds formed during wood biodegradation by C. subvermispora can mediate lignin degradation through linoleic acid peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following our studies on the gastroprotective effect and cytotoxicity of terpene derivatives, new amides were prepared from the diterpene 8(17)-labden-15,19-dioic acid (junicedric acid) and its 8(9)-en isomer with C-protected amino acids (amino acid esters). The new compounds were evaluated for their gastroprotective effect in the ethanol/HCl-induced gastric lesions model in mice, as well as for cytotoxicity using the following human cell lines: normal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5), gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS) and liver hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2). A dose-response experiment showed that at 25 mg/kg the C-15 leucyl and C-15,19-dileucylester amides of junicedric acid reduced gastric lesions by about 65.6 and 49.6%, respectively, with an effect comparable to lansoprazole at 20 mg/kg (79.3% lesion reduction). The comparison of the gastroprotective effect of 18 new amino acid ester amides was carried out at a single oral dose of 25 mg/kg. Several compounds presented a strong gastroprotective effect, reducing gastric lesions in the 70.9-87.8% range. The diprolyl derivative of junicedric acid, the most active product of this study (87.8% lesion reduction at 25 mg/kg) presented a cytotoxicity value comparable with that of the reference compound lansoprazole. The structure-activity relationships are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pinus taeda wood chips were treated with the biopulping fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora in soybean-oil-amended cultures. The secretion of oxalic acid and the accumulation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were significantly increased in soybean-oil-amended cultures. By contrast, the secretion of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes was not altered in the cultures. Biotreated wood samples were characterized for weight and component losses as well as by in-situ thioacidolysis. Residual lignins were also extracted from biotreated wood using a mild-non-razing extraction procedure. The lignins were characterized by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) spectroscopy. Soybean oil amendment in the cultures was found to affect lignin degradation routes; however, it inhibited depolymerization reactions detectable in the residual lignin that was retained in the biotreated wood. As a consequence, chemithermomechanical pulping of the biotreated samples was not improved by soybean oil amendment in the cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contour lines are very important features in the representation of quantitative relief over a wide range of scales. As scale is reduced, contour lines should be generalized. One of the generalization routines involves smoothing lineal features. Nevertheless, contour lines are a special class of lineal feature, as they represent a three-dimensional object. Accordingly the generalization should be conducted while taking into account all the contour lines over the map, bearing in mind the three-dimensional object that they represent. The algorithm presented in this paper smoothes the contour line irregularities that generate flat and erroneous triangles in a Delaunay triangulation. Smoothing is achieved by moving only the sharp vertex toward the baricenter of the flat triangle; in an iterative algorithm, this produces a smooth line that does not generate flat triangles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report two cases of extramedullary erythropoiesis within chronic subdural hematoma that caused diagnostic confusion. In both cases, the initial favored diagnosis by the submitting pathologists was that of a metastatic malignant tumor, including lymphoma, carci- noma, and malignant melanoma. In both cases, the sub- dural chronic hematoma contained cohesive clusters of small round blue cells with scant cytoplasm and round hyperchromatic nuclei. In both cases, some mitotic figures were identified. There was no gross or microscopic evidence of a meningeal mass lesion. The erythroblastic nature of the cells was confirmed using immunohisto- chemistry for CD43, glycophorin A, and erythropoietin A. It is important for surgical pathologists to be aware of this benign process and not to overinterpret it as either a primary or metastatic malignant tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies showed that the arterial baroreflex opposes the pressor response mediated by muscle metaboreflex activation during mild dynamic exercise. However, no studies have investigated the mechanisms contributing to metaborefiex-mediated pressor responses during dynamic exercise after arterial baroreceptor denervation. Therefore, we investigated the contribution of cardiac output (CO) and peripheral vasoconstriction in mediating the pressor response to graded reductions in hindlimb perfusion in conscious, chronically instrumented dogs before and after sinoaortic denervation (SAD) during mild and moderate exercise. In control experiments, the metaboreflex pressor responses were mediated via increases in Co. After SAD, the metaboreflex pressor responses were significantly greater and significantly smaller increases in CO occurred. During control experiments, nonischemic vascular conductance (NIVC) did not change with muscle metaboreflex activation, whereas after SAD NIVC significantly decreased with metaboreflex activation; thus SAD shifted the mechanisms of the muscle metaboreflex from mainly increases in CO to combined cardiac and peripheral vasoconstrictor responses. We conclude that the major mechanism by which the arterial baroreflex buffers the muscle metaboreflex is inhibition of metaboreflex-mediated peripheral vasoconstriction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 41-year-old male developed a hemothorax after sustaining a stab wound in the right chest. The patient was managed conservatively with thoracostomy tube drainage for 3 days and was subsequently discharged home. Two weeks later the patient returned to the hospital with pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath. Imaging studies revealed a right-sided pleural effusion and an enlarged cardiac silhouette, which was consistent with pericardial effusion as per ultrasonography. Thoracoscopic exploration revealed an enlarged heart, that following pericardiotomy drained 400 mL of frank blood. Subsequently, cardiac contractility improved, and no further bleeding was evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new strategy framed in the field of model predictive direct current control applied to surface permanent magnet synchronous generator (SPMSG) is presented. Compared to conventional space vector control systems, the proposed predictive strategy reduces the number of PI regulators and maintains the advantages of a fixed switching frequency. It also performs a faster response providing a smooth electromagnetic torque and smooth active and reactive power control. The dynamic performance of the proposed control is first analyzed by means of simulations in MATLAB Simulink environment and then compared with two other model predictive controls. Also, the performance of the control is analyzed in simulation using a simple model of an oscillating water column power plant. This application was chosen because it is a difficult case study that demands a fast torque control to handle the power take-off system. Later, the proposed method is tested in a customized SPMSG-based laboratory setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) started regular observations of the Sun in 2016, first offering receiver Band 3 at wavelengths near 3mm (100 GHz) and Band 6 at wavelengths around 1.25mm (239 GHz). Aims. Here we present an initial study of one of the first ALMA Band 3 observations of the Sun. Our aim is to characterise the diagnostic potential of brightness temperatures measured with ALMA on the Sun. Methods. The observation covers a duration of 48 min at a cadence of 2 s targeting a quiet Sun region at disc-centre. Corresponding time series of brightness temperature maps are constructed with the first version of the Solar ALMA Pipeline and compared to simultaneous observations with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Results. The angular resolution of the observations is set by the synthesised beam, an elliptical Gaussian that is approximately 1.400 × 2.100 in size. The ALMA maps exhibit network patches, internetwork regions, and elongated thin features that are connected to large-scale magnetic loops, as confirmed by a comparison with SDO maps. The ALMA Band 3 maps correlate best with the SDO/AIA 171 Å, 131 Å, and 304Å channels in that they exhibit network features and, although very weak in the ALMA maps, imprints of largescale loops. A group of compact magnetic loops is very clearly visible in ALMA Band 3. The brightness temperatures in the loop tops reach values of about 8000-9000K and in extreme moments up to 10 000 K. Conclusions. ALMA Band 3 interferometric observations from early observing cycles already reveal temperature differences in the solar chromosphere. The weak imprint of magnetic loops and the correlation with the 171, 131, and 304 SDO channels suggests, however, that the radiation mapped in ALMA Band 3 might have contributions from a wider range of atmospheric heights than previously assumed, but the exact formation height of Band 3 needs to be investigated in more detail. The absolute brightness temperature scale as set by total power measurements remains less certain and must be improved in the future. Despite these complications and the limited angular resolution, ALMA Band 3 observations have a large potential for quantitative studies of the small-scale structure and dynamics of the solar chromosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between obesity and intra/post–operative complications of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 21,356 patients who underwent TLH and who were included in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database in 2016. Body mass index (BMI) was stratified according to the World Health Organization classifications (normal: 18.5–24.9 kg/m2; overweight: 25.0–29.9 kg/m2; obese I: 30–34.9 kg/m2; obese II: 35–39.9 kg/m2; obese III: ≥40 kg/m2). The primary outcome was the presence of intra/post–operative complications. Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in odds of complications in Obese I compared with normal weight (OR: 0.8; 95% CI 0.7–0.9). The subpopulations with increased odds of complications included postmenopausal patients (OR: 1.3; 95% CI 1.1–1.4); black patients (OR: 1.4; 95% CI 1.2–1.6); or patients with chronic hypertension (OR: 1.3; 95% CI 1.2–1.5), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 1.9; 95% CI 1.3–2.8), disseminated cancer (OR: 2.8; 95% CI 1.8–4.2), and/or bleeding disorders (OR: 4.2; 95% CI 3.0–5.9). Conclusions: While obesity is a risk factor for developing comorbidities and increased surgical morbidity, it appears that a moderately high BMI may be protective in recovery. These findings support the "obesity paradox," suggesting a counterintuitive benefit of adipose tissue when undergoing physiologic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the study "Pembamide, a N-Methylated Linear Peptide From a Sponge Cribrochalina sp." by C. Urda and colleagues is presented.