Search

Abstract Background In tissues and organisms, the coordination of neighboring cells is essential to maintain their properties and functions. Therefore, knowing which cells are adjacent is crucial to understand biological processes that involve physical interactions among them, e.g. cell migration and proliferation. In addition, some signaling pathways, such as Notch or extrinsic apoptosis, are highly dependent on cell–cell communication. While this is straightforward to obtain from membrane images, nuclei labelling is much more ubiquitous for technical reasons. However, there are no automatic and robust methods to find neighboring cells based only on nuclear markers. Results In this work, we describe Nfinder, a method to assess the cell’s local neighborhood from images with nuclei labeling. To achieve this goal, we approximate the cell–cell interaction graph by the Delaunay triangulation of nuclei centroids. Then, links are filtered by automatic thresholding in cell–cell distance (pairwise interaction) and the maximum angle that a pair of cells subtends with shared neighbors (non-pairwise interaction). We systematically characterized the detection performance by applying Nfinder to publicly available datasets from Drosophila melanogaster, Tribolium castaneum, Arabidopsis thaliana and C. elegans. In each case, the result of the algorithm was compared to a cell neighbor graph generated by manually annotating the original dataset. On average, our method detected 95% of true neighbors, with only 6% of false discoveries. Remarkably, our findings indicate that taking into account non-pairwise interactions might increase the Positive Predictive Value up to + 11.5%. Conclusion Nfinder is the first robust and automatic method for estimating neighboring cells in 2D and 3D based only on nuclear markers and without any free parameters. Using this tool, we found that taking non-pairwise interactions into account improves the detection performance significantly. We believe that using our method might improve the effectiveness of other workflows to study cell–cell interactions from microscopy images. Finally, we also provide a reference implementation in Python and an easy-to-use napari plugin.

Abstract Due to their versatility and the high biomass yield produced, cultivation of phototrophic organisms is an increasingly important field. In general, open ponds are chosen to do it because of economic reasons; however, this strategy has several drawbacks such as poor control of culture conditions and a considerable risk of contamination. On the other hand, photobioreactors are an attractive choice to perform cultivation of phototrophic organisms, many times in a large scale and an efficient way. Furthermore, photobioreactors are being increasingly used in bioprocesses to obtain valuable chemical products. In this review, we briefly describe different photobioreactor set‐ups, including some of the recent designs, and their characteristics. Additionally, we discuss the current challenges and advantages that each different type of photobioreactor presents, their applicability in biocatalysis and some modern modeling tools that can be applied to further enhance a certain process.

Abstract Introduction and objectives: Hemodynamically unstable patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are eligible for systemic thrombolysis (ST). However, catheter-directed therapy (CDT) and surgical thrombectomy (SUT) can also be considered with less clinical evidence. Limited information exists regarding the best reperfusion therapy in this setting. Our objective was to perform a descriptive analysis of different reperfusion therapies in acute pulmonary embolism and determine their safety and efficacy profile. Methods: Retrospective analysis from a prospective single-centre registry of patients admitted with a diagnosis of PE from 2006 through 2021 who required reperfusion therapy. We analyzed the in-hospital outcomes and at 14-day follow up. Results: A total of 50 out of 399 patients admitted with a diagnosis of PE received reperfusion therapies and were included in our analysis. Mean age, 64.5 (53-72), 46% female. This was the reperfusion strategy applied: ST (44%), CDT (42%) and SUT (14%). All patients had right ventricular dilatation and high troponin levels. The overall in-hospital mortality was 18%. Major and minor bleeding rates among the different reperfusion methods were 9.0% vs 4.7% vs 57.4%; P = .001), and 18.1% vs 9.5% vs 14.2%; P = NS), respectively. The 14-day follow-up showed that only CDT and SUT reduced the pulmonary artery systolic pressure while ST and CDT were associated with a reduced right ventricular diameter and an improved right ventricular function. Conclusions: High mortality rates were found in this population with acute PE. No differences were seen regarding effectiveness seen among the different reperfusion strategies used. CDT and SUT may be considered as alternative reperfusion methods especially if ST is contraindicated.

RESUMEN Introducción y objetivos: Los pacientes con tromboembolia pulmonar (TEP) aguda hemodinámicamente inestables son candidatos para recibir trombolisis sistémica (TS); sin embargo, el tratamiento guiado por catéter (TGC) y la trombectomía quirúrgica (TQ) también se pueden considerar, aunque con menor nivel de evidencia. Existe información limitada respecto a cuál es el mejor método de reperfusión en esta población. El objetivo es realizar un análisis descriptivo de las distintas terapias de reperfusión en la TEP aguda y determinar su efectividad y seguridad Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de un registro prospectivo unicéntrico de pacientes ingresados con TEP aguda entre los años 2006 y 2021, que requirieron tratamiento de reperfusión. Analizamos la evolución intrahospitalaria y en el seguimiento a 14 días. Resultados: De 399 pacientes con TEP, 50 recibieron tratamiento de reperfusión y fueron incluidos en el análisis. La edad media era de 64,5 años (rango: 53-72) y el 46% eran mujeres. Los métodos de reperfusión fueron TS en el 44%, TGC en el 42% y TQ en el 14%. Todos presentaron dilatación del ventrículo derecho y elevación de las troponinas. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue del 18%. Las tasas de sangrado mayor en los grupos de TS, TGC y TQ fueron del 9,0%, el 4,7% y el 57,4% (p = 0,001), y las de sangrado menor fueron del 18,1%, el 9,5% y el 14,2% (p no significativa), respectivamente. Durante el seguimiento a 14 días, solo el TGC y la TQ lograron una reducción de la presión sistólica en la arteria pulmonar, y con la TS y la TGC hubo una reducción de los diámetros del ventrículo derecho y una mejoría de su función. Conclusiones: En esta población de pacientes con TEP aguda encontramos altas tasas de mortalidad intrahospitalaria. No se observaron diferencias en términos de efectividad entre los distintos tratamientos de reperfusión. El TGC y la TQ podrían considerarse métodos de reperfusión alternativos, en especial cuando la TS está contraindicada.

The Campanian Anacleto Formation holds an abundant and diverse ichnofossil and body-fossil vertebrate record. Despite the striking diversity of this record, pterosaur fossils had never been described from the unit. Here, we report four pterosaur manus tracks from fluvial red beds cropping out in the Área Natural Protegida Municipal Paso Córdoba (Río Negro Province, northern Patagonia, Argentina). Tracks are longer than wide, tridactyl with digit impressions of different lengths (I < II < III), anteriorly directed and laterally asymmetrical. Being on loose slabs and lacking direct examination of pes morphology, the material is classified as undetermined pterosaur tracks. The new find represents the first occurrence of pterosaurs from the lower–middle Campanian of Argentina and one of the few evidences from South America for this time interval. In addition, it is one of the few ichnological pterosaur records from Gondwana, thus shedding light on the palaeobiogeography of this clade during the latest Cretaceous. Pterosaur tracks from the Anacleto Formation allow us to integrate the body-fossil record from the unit and to add a new component, along with birds, to the flying archosaur fauna coexisting with non-avian dinosaurs, notosuchians, chelonians, squamates and mammals in the Campanian of northern Patagonia.

Background: Hospital bed saturation has been one of the problems to solve during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, not every patient who is admitted requires close monitoring or specific therapeutics. Mild cases could be managed in the outpatient setting. Objective: Our study aimed to analyze the accuracy of the oxygen saturation/respiratory rate (sat/RR) index, NEWS2, CURB65, and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) scores to predict supplemental oxygen requirement and prolonged hospital stay in patients with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: A prospective cohort study in an academic medical center. We compared the values of these scores according to the occurrence or not of each outcome. When differences between groups were statistically significant, the discriminatory capacity of the score for that outcome was analyzed. Results: We included 271 patients. Of them, 11.07% required supplemental oxygen, showing significantly higher values of NEWS2 score and qSOFA score, and lower values of Sat/RR index. About 38% presented prolonged hospital stay, with significantly higher values of NEWS2 score and lower values of sat/RR index. The ROC curve area under the curve (AUC) of sat/RR index to discriminate the requirement of supplemental oxygen was 0.72 (CI 95% 0.61-0.84). The ROC curve of NEWS2 and qSOFA for the same outcome was 0.75 (95% [95% CI 0.65-0.85]) and 0.66 (95% CI 0.57-0.76), respectively. The ability of the Sat/RR index to discriminate the requirement of prolonged hospitalization showed an AUC of 0.67 (95% [95% CI 0.60-0.73]). The NEWS2 score showed an AUC of 0.63 (CI 95% 0.56-0.70) for the same outcome. Conclusions: sat/RR index and NEWS2 score have a good capacity to discriminate patients at risk of clinical worsening, being the Sat/RR index simpler and easier to calculate.

Cattle concentrated animal feeding operations (feedlots), whose number has grown considerably in the last years, generate large volumes of wastewaters with a high organic load. The wastewaters are formed by rainfall-runoff of the accumulated manure and may contain hormones and antibiotics, which hampers the use of biological treatments. In this work, the feasibility of continuous separation of the suspended colloidal organic matter and nutrients to clarify the liquid and recover the solid is studied. A flocculation sedimentation system using a decentralized lamella settler is proposed, optimized and further tested in the field. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation is used to analyze the motion of the liquid and suspended inertial particles representing the formed flocs, for optimizing the settler. The simulations helped in the design of the bench-scale unit tested in the field. The clarified liquid was characterized to analyze its use for fertigation. The proposed treatment allowed excellent removal of organic matter (~98% chemical oxygen demand, and almost complete turbidity) and phosphorus (~95%). Organic nitrogen was partially removed (~70%) and ammonia nitrogen mostly remained in the liquid. Spectral characterization of the clarified liquid suggests that the remaining organic nitrogen is related to soluble protein-like compounds.

La acumulación de estiércol de ganado vacuno sobre la superficie de los corrales en actividades de engorde a corral o feedlot genera grandes volúmenes de efluentes que pueden afectar la calidad del agua superficial y subsuperficial. El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar y sintetizar información disponible sobre aspectos involucrados en el manejo actual de los efluentes de feedlots en la provincia de Buenos Aires, destacando los efectos ambientales y poniendo en evidencia debilidades y futuras acciones que se podrían implementar. Se describen los efectos de esta actividad sobre la calidad de los cuerpos de agua y se analizan las reglamentaciones vigentes, haciendo especial referencia a los criterios y/o a los niveles de vertido propuestos en ellas. Este análisis pone en evidencia ciertos vacíos e incongruencias, así como también la necesidad y oportunidad de ajustar y ampliar las reglamentaciones. Por último, se propone un esquema operativo utilizado para enmarcar el análisis de diferentes aspectos involucrados en el manejo de los efluentes de los feedlots. El esquema identifica cuatro componentes definidos a partir de la elaboración de un Plan de Manejo de Nutrientes (PMN) y de la determinación de un Criterio de Control de Efluentes (CCE).

Los tumores germinales extragonadales representan entre el 1 y 2.5% de los tumores de células germinales (TCG), siendo el mediastino la segunda localización en frecuencia luego de las gónadas. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 29 años de edad que consulta por tos irritativa de cinco meses de evolución. Se realizaron radiografía, tomografía computada (TC) y resonancia magnética (RM) de tórax y ecografía testicular. Los hallazgos por imágenes, sumados a la presencia de marcadores tumorales elevados (alfa-fetoproteína y gonadotrofina coriónica humana), confirmaron el diagnóstico de TCG extragonadal, avalado posteriormente por la cirugía y la anatomía patológica.The prevalence of extragonadal germ cell tumors is only 1- 2.5% of all germ cell tumors. The mediastinum is the second most common site affected. We present the case of a 29 years old male pacient, with a persistent cough dating back to five months. We performed chest X-R, thorax CT and MRI and testicular US. The findings of this images besides the presence of elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human gonadotropin confirm the diagnosis of extragonadal germ cell tumor.

En este artículo se analiza un aspecto específico de dos de las más importantes teorías éticas contemporáneas para la fundamentación racional de las normas morales: el prescriptivismo universal de R.M. Hare, y la ética discursiva del filósofo alemán Karl-Otto Apel. Teniendo en cuenta la necesidad de establecer siempre una mediación entre la ética universal de principios, y los contextos históricos concretos de las comunidades que aplican dichas normas, se aborda esta última cuestión en las teorías de ambos filósofos. En el caso de Hare, además de la dificultad propia del formalismo que adopta, no puede dar cuenta de los problemas en cuestión en la medida en que, por un lado, la incorporación del utilitarismo que para este requerimiento propone no está justificada y, por el otro lado, con el procedimiento de las transferencias interpersonales es difícil conocer los deseos e intereses de las personas por la imposibilidad de ocupar el lugar del otro. En relación con Apel, el autor considera que, aunque propone una tesis más coherente, en realidad no tiene en cuenta adecuadamente los problemas de justificación de las decisiones y de la aplicación de los principios en las situaciones históricas. Lo antes mencionado plantea la necesidad de considerar la viabilidad de complementación con la concepción habermasiana de la ética discursiva.This article studies one specific aspect of two of the most important contemporary ethical theories for the rational foundation of morals norms: R. M. Hare's universal prescriptivism, and the discursive ethics of the German philosopher Karl-Otto Apel. In this way, and bearing in mind the necessity of always establishing a mediation between the universal ethics of principles, and the concrete historical contexts of the communities which apply the aforementioned norms, this last question is studied in the theories of both philosophers. In Hare's case, besides the inherent difficulty of the formalism he adopts, he cannot account for the problems indicated, inasmuch as, on the one hand, the incorporation of the utilitarianism that he proposes for this request is not justified and, on the other hand, with the method of interpersonal transferences, it is difficult to get to know the people's desires and interests, because of the impossibility of putting oneself in the other's place. As regards Apel, although he proposes a more coherent thesis, he does not in fact appropriately take into account the problems of the justification of decisions, and of the application of principles to historical situations. All these issues, pose the necessity of considering the feasibility of complementation with Habermas's conception of discursive ethics.

La teoría de la democracia deliberativa, como la ética del discurso, constituye una derivación teórica del enfoque de la racionalidad discursiva. Teniendo en cuenta el autor consultado, esta teoría política se relaciona de un modo específico con el punto de vista moral. El caso de Apel, y algunos de sus discípulos, la poítica se concibe como una rama de la ética, lo cual afecta el estatus conceptual de aquella teoría. En este sentido este artículo analiza la relación entre la democracia deliberativa y la ética del discurso. Se trata de una tarea pendiente, porque para algunos de los exponentes de esta teoría ética, ella parece asumir el rol de conductor y guía exclusivo de las decisiones políticas, que implica una reducción de la Filosofía política al campo de la ética.

BackgroundFew studies have examined robotic surgery from a programmatic standpoint, yet this is how hospitals evaluate return on investment clinically and fiscally. This study examines the 10-year experience of a robotic program at a single academic institution.Study designAll robotic operations performed at our institution from August 2005 to December 2016 were reviewed. Data were collected from the robotic system and hospital databases.ResultsA total of 3485 robotic operations were performed. Yearly case volume nearly quadrupled. There have been 37 robotic-trained surgeons in 5 specialties performing 53 different operations. Rate of conversion to open was 4.2%. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class increased over time, with ASA class 3 increasing from 20% of patients to 45% of patients. Average case time in 2005 was 453 min, but decreased by 46% to 246 min by 2007, then remained relatively stable (range 226-247). Operating efficiency improved, with room time and case time decreasing by 9% in the past 4 years. Average cost for robotic supplies was $1519 per case. Additional costs per case related to equipment and contracts totaled an average of $11,822. Average length of stay (LOS) for robotic cases was 3.3 days, compared to 3.0 days for laparoscopic and 7.0 for open. Cost per day for admission after robotic surgery was 1.7 times greater than the cost of open or laparoscopic surgery. Total admission costs of robotic operations were 1.5 times those of laparoscopic surgery, but less than open operations. Readmissions following robotic cases were lower than open (15% v 26%, p

La teoría de la democracia deliberativa constituye una de las propuestas filosófico-políticas más importantes de los últimos años para la reconstrucción normativa del Estado democrático de derecho, y que, al igual que la ética del discurso, constituye una derivación teórica del enfoque de la racionalidad discursiva. Ahora bien, una cuestión que es necesario analizar es qué tipo de relación se plantea entre ambas teorías. Esta es una tarea pendiente, porque para algunos de los exponentes de tal teoría ética, ella parece asumir el rol de conducir y guiar de un modo exclusivo las decisiones políticas, lo cual implica una reducción de la Filosofía política al campo de la ética olvidando que dicha Filosofía, si bien presupone la ética, tiene sus propios principios. El presente artículo analiza entonces esta teoría política desde un punto de vista interno, señalando los problemas que podrían seguirse a partir de abordar filosóficamente el cuestión de la política democrática exclusivamente desde la perspectiva de la ética del discurso.The theory of deliberative democracy is one of the most important philosophical-political proposals in the last years for the Normative reconstruction of the democratic State of Law, and, as the Discourse Ethics, constitutes a theoretical derivation of the perspective of discursive rationality. In this respect, is necessary to analyze what kind of relation there is between both theories. This one is a hanging task, because for some of its exponents the ethical theory seems to assume the role of driving and guiding, in an exclusive way, the political decisions, which implies a reduction of the political Philosophy to the field of the ethics. But, even when presupposes ethics, politics has his own rules. The present article analyzes this political theory from an internal point of view, indicating the problems that might follow from one philosophical approaching to the issue of the democratic politics exclusively from the perspective of the Discourse Ethics.