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This paper proposes a robust non-linear generalized path-loss propagation model, the Extended Weighted ABG (EWABG), which efficiently allows generating a path-loss propagation model by combining several available path-loss datasets (from measurements campaigns) and other previously proposed state-of-the-art 5G path-loss propagation models. The EWABG model works by integrating individual path-loss models into one single model in the least-squares sense, allowing to extend knowledge from frequencies and distances covered by path-loss datasets or path-loss propagation models. The proposed EWABG model is the first non-linear extension of the common ABG-based approach, which surpasses the non-uniformity problem between the low and high 5G frequencies (as most measurements campaigns have taken place in low frequencies). The EWABG also addresses the problem of removing outlier measurements, a step not included in previous propagation path-loss models. In this case, we have compared the most recent techniques for avoiding outliers, and we have adopted the Theil-Sen method, due to its strong robustness demonstrated in the experiments carried out. In addition, the proposed model specifically considers non-linear attenuation by atmospheric gases, in order to improve its estimations. The good performance of the proposed EWABG model has been tested and compared against recent 5G propagation path-loss models including the ABG and WABG models. The exhaustive experimentation carried out includes the 5G non-line-of-sight environment in different 5G scenarios, UMiSC, UMiOS and UMa. The proposed EWABG obtains the best accuracy, specially in noisy environments with outliers, reporting negligible increment error rates (with respect to the non-outliers situation), lower than 1%, compared to the ABG and WABG.

In the last years, our society’s high energy demand has led to the proposal of novel ways of consuming and producing electricity. In this sense, many countries have encouraged micro generation, including the use of renewable sources such as solar irradiation and wind generation, or considering the insertion of electric vehicles as dispatchable units on the grid. This work addresses the Optimal active–reactive power dispatch (OARPD) problem (a type of optimal power flow (OPF) task) in microgrids considering electric vehicles. We used the modified IEEE 57 and IEEE 118 bus-systems test scenarios, in which thermoelectric generators were replaced by renewable generators. In particular, under the IEEE 118 bus system, electric vehicles were integrated into the grid. To solve the OARDP problem, we proposed the use and improvement of the Canonical Differential Evolutionary Particle Swarm Optimization (C-DEEPSO) algorithm. For further refinement in the search space, C-DEEPSO relies on local search operators. The results indicated that the proposed improved C-DEEPSO was able to show generation savings (in terms of millions of dollars) acting as a dispatch controller against two algorithms based on swarm intelligence.

Las personas adolescentes son susceptibles a los cambios que introdujo la revolución tecnológica. Desde temprana edad incorporan el uso de las TICs en su cotidianidad, convirtiéndose en uno de los principales medios para comunicarse, socializar y explorar, en ocasiones en condiciones peligrosas. Así, empiezan a establecer sus primeras relaciones de pareja en las que en ocasiones trasladan al espacio virtual comportamientos que son expresiones de la violencia estructural de género. Los avances en la comprensión de esta forma de violencia son limitados, es por ello que con este artículo se busca visibilizar los alcances y vacíos en el reconocimiento de la violencia de género en línea (VGL), por medio de la revisión de fuentes secundarias y tomando como referencia las líneas de investigación y abordajes normativos y formativos en tres países: Costa Rica, México y España. Esta investigación se realiza en el marco del proyecto “Tecnologías y violencia de género en las relaciones de pareja de adolescentes” del Instituto de Estudios de la Mujer, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (UNA). Dentro de los hallazgos se evidencia que la violencia de género en línea es un problema que se reconoce recientemente, aunque en la región latinoamericana no ha ido acompañado de la definición de políticas públicas claras que orienten su abordaje.

NK cells have unique attributes to react towards cells undergoing malignant transformation or viral infection. This reactivity is regulated by activating or inhibitory germline encoded receptors. An impaired NK cell function may result from an aberrant expression of such receptors, a condition often seen in patients with hematological cancers. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer worldwide and NK cells have emerged as crucial targets for developing immunotherapies. However, there are important gaps concerning the phenotype and behavior of NK cells during emergence of ALL. In this study we analyze the phenotype and function of NK cells from peripheral blood in pediatric patients with ALL at diagnosis. Our results showed that NK cells exhibited an altered phenotype highlighted by a significant reduction in the overall expression and percent representation of activating receptors compared to age-matched controls. No significant differences were found for the expression of inhibitory receptors. Moreover, NK cells with a concurrent reduced expression in various activating receptors, was the dominant phenotype among patients. An alteration in the relative frequencies of NK cells expressing NKG2A and CD57 within the mature NK cell pool was also observed. In addition, NK cells from patients displayed a significant reduction in the ability to sustain antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Finally, an aberrant expression of activating receptors is associated with the phenomenon of leukemia during childhood.

In this paper we propose a novel path-loss model, the Weighted ABG (WABG), which suitably allows integrating or combine different available datasets, or previously proposed 5G propagation path-loss models from the state-of-the-art. Our proposal is therefore a new ABG-based approach which integrates other existing models, leading to the best possible approximation in least-square sense, considering different weighting policies. We evaluate the performance of the WABG in several 5G scenarios, and we carry out a complete comparison of the proposed method against several recently published ABG models, showing that the WABG obtains the best results in terms of model's accuracy.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly with type 16, causes a growing fraction of oropharyngeal cancers, whose incidence is increasing, mainly in developed countries. In a double-blind controlled trial conducted to investigate vaccine efficacy (VE) of the bivalent HPV 16/18 vaccine against cervical infections and lesions, we estimated VE against prevalent oral HPV infections 4 years after vaccination.A total of 7,466 women 18-25 years old were randomized (1∶1) to receive the HPV16/18 vaccine or hepatitis A vaccine as control. At the final blinded 4-year study visit, 5,840 participants provided oral specimens (91·9% of eligible women) to evaluate VE against oral infections. Our primary analysis evaluated prevalent oral HPV infection among all vaccinated women with oral and cervical HPV results. Corresponding VE against prevalent cervical HPV16/18 infection was calculated for comparison. Oral prevalence of identifiable mucosal HPV was relatively low (1·7%). Approximately four years after vaccination, there were 15 prevalent HPV16/18 infections in the control group and one in the vaccine group, for an estimated VE of 93·3% (95% CI = 63% to 100%). Corresponding efficacy against prevalent cervical HPV16/18 infection for the same cohort at the same visit was 72·0% (95% CI = 63% to 79%) (p versus oral VE = 0·04). There was no statistically significant protection against other oral HPV infections, though power was limited for these analyses.HPV prevalence four years after vaccination with the ASO4-adjuvanted HPV16/18 vaccine was much lower among women in the vaccine arm compared to the control arm, suggesting that the vaccine affords strong protection against oral HPV16/18 infection, with potentially important implications for prevention of increasingly common HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov, Registry number NCT00128661.

Abstract Microalgae like Chlamydomonas are beneficial organisms employed as biological stimulants to improve plants’ growth, fruit quality, and stress tolerance. In the current study, the effects of Chlamydomonas sp. foliar spraying (0, 20, and 40 ml L−1) were assayed on Camarosa strawberry plants under salinity stress (0, 40, and 80 mM NaCl). The results showed that the foliar application of Chlamydomonas extract influenced strawberry’s morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics under salinity stress. Foliar treatment of Chlamydomonas extract with and without salinity stress increased the leaf number and leaf area, the leaf relative water content, and photosynthetic pigments content. Moreover, the foliar application of Chlamydomonas extract decreased lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content and, on the other hand, enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and peroxidase), phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins content under salinity stress. For instance, the highest total antioxidant capacity was found in the plants foliar treated with 40 ml L−1 of Chlamydomonas algae extract under 80 mM salinity stress, which increased by 102.4% compared to the controls, as well as the highest total phenolic compounds and anthocyanin’s content were 30.22, and 7.2% more than the control plants, respectively. Overall, the foliar application of Chlamydomonas algae extracts, especially at a concentration of 20 ml L−1 enhanced the strawberry’s growth, yield, and physiological traits under saline conditions. The results with more detailed evaluations will be advisable for the pioneer farmers and extension section.

Abstract At the molecular level, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is frequently categorized as PAM50 basal-like subtype, but despite the advances in molecular analyses, the clinical outcome for these subtypes is uncertain. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are master regulators of genes involved in hallmarks of cancer, which makes them suitable biomarkers for breast cancer (BRCA) diagnosis and prognosis. Here, we evaluated the regulatory role of lncRNA SOX9-AS1 in these subtypes. Using the BRCA-TCGA cohort, we observed that SOX9-AS1 was significantly overexpressed in basal-like and TNBC in comparison with other BRCA subtypes. Survival analyzes showed that SOX9-AS1 overexpression was associated with a favorable prognosis in TNBC and basal-like patients. To study the functions of SOX9-AS1, we determined the expression levels in a panel of nine BRCA cell lines finding increased levels in MDA-MB-468 and HCC1187 TNBC. Using subcellular fractionation in these cell lines, we ascertained that SOX9-AS1 was located in the cytoplasmic compartment. In addition, we performed SOX9-AS1 gene silencing using two short-harping constructs, which were transfected in both cell models and performed a genome-wide RNA-seq analysis. Data showed that 351 lncRNAs and 740 mRNAs were differentially expressed in MDA-MB-468 while 56 lncRNAs and 100 mRNAs were modulated in HCC1187 cells (Log2FC 1.5, p.adj value

Abstract Rationale In-stent reocclusion after endovascular therapy has a negative impact on outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to tandem lesions (TL). Optimal antiplatelet therapy approach in these patients to avoid in-stent reocclusion is yet to be elucidated. Aims To assess efficacy and safety of intravenous tirofiban versus intravenous aspirin in patients undergoing MT plus carotid stenting in the setting of AIS due to TL. Sample size estimates Two hundred forty patients will be enrolled, 120 in every treatment arm. Methods and design A multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled (aspirin group), assessor-blinded clinical trial will be conducted. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria will be randomized at MT onset to the experimental or control group (1:1). Intravenous aspirin will be administered at a 500-mg single dose and tirofiban at a 500-mcg bolus followed by a 200-mcg/h infusion during the first 24 h. All patients will be followed for up to 3 months. Study outcomes Primary efficacy outcome will be the proportion of patients with carotid in-stent thrombosis within the first 24 h after MT. Primary safety outcome will be the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Discussion This will be the first clinical trial to assess the best antiplatelet therapy to avoid in-stent thrombosis after MT in patients with TL. Trial registration The trial is registered as NCT05225961. February, 7th, 2022.

En el 2008, el nivel educativo medio superior mexicano fue objeto de una reforma educativa que buscó asentar un modelo curricular basado en competencias. Para lograr lo anterior, se consideró central el cambio de las prácticas de enseñanza de los docentes. Desde una perspectiva estructural constructivista, se usó el concepto de habitus académico para realizar una aproximación sobre los cambios y persistencias en las prácticas de enseñanza comúnmente empleadas por los docentes, y la manera en cómo estas son percibidas por los estudiantes. Por medio del Paquete Estadístico para las Ciencias Sociales (SPSS por sus siglas en inglés), se empleó el cálculo de medias, además de pruebas de correlación para el procesamiento de la información procedente de 1033 estudiantes de recién ingreso —en el 2018— a trece facultades de la Universidad Veracruzana. Se presentan los resultados en dos secciones analíticas, exposición e incorporación. En la primera se detalla que la mayoría de los estudiantes fueron expuestos a prácticas educativas de tipo tradicional. En la segunda se describe la relación de esas prácticas con la forma en que los estudiantes clasifican y jerarquizan las prácticas de enseñanza. Considerando la información expuesta, se discuten los resultados tratando de dar cuenta tanto de los cambios como de las persistencias del habitus en el bachillerato. Se identifica una relación positiva entre el uso frecuente de prácticas de instrucción y de evaluación, con la forma en que los estudiantes clasificaban y jerarquizaban valorativamente las prácticas educativas.

BackgroundRecurrent genetic alterations contributing to leukemogenesis have been identified in pediatric B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL), and some are useful for refining classification, prognosis, and treatment selection. IKZF1plus is a complex biomarker associated with a poor prognosis. It is characterized by IKZF1 deletion coexisting with PAX5, CDKN2A/2B, or PAR1 region deletions. The mutational spectrum and clinical impact of these alterations have scarcely been explored in Mexican pediatric patients with B-ALL. Here, we report the frequency of the IKZF1plus profile and the mutational spectrum of IKZF1, PAX5, CDKN2A/2B, and ERG genes and evaluate their impact on overall survival (OS) in a group of patients with B-ALL.MethodsA total of 206 pediatric patients with de novo B-ALL were included. DNA was obtained from bone marrow samples at diagnosis before treatment initiation. A custom-designed next-generation sequencing panel was used for mutational analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for OS estimation.ResultsWe identified the IKZF1plus profile in 21.8% of patients, which was higher than that previously reported in other studies. A significantly older age (p=0.04), a trend toward high-risk stratification (p=0.06), and a decrease in 5-year Overall Survival (OS) (p=0.009) were observed, although heterogeneous treatment protocols in our cohort would have impacted OS. A mutation frequency higher than that reported was found for IKZF1 (35.9%) and CDKN2A/2B (35.9%) but lower for PAX5 (26.6%). IKZF1MUT group was older at diagnosis (p=0.0002), and most of them were classified as high-risk (73.8%, p=0.02), while patients with CDKN2A/2BMUT had a higher leukocyte count (p=0.01) and a tendency toward a higher percentage of blasts (98.6%, >50% blasts, p=0.05) than the non-mutated patients. A decrease in OS was found in IKZF1MUT and CDKN2A/2BMUT patients, but the significance was lost after IKZF1plus was removed.DiscussionOur findings demonstrated that Mexican patients with B-ALL have a higher prevalence of genetic markers associated with poor outcomes. Incorporating genomic methodologies into the diagnostic process, a significant unmet need in low- and mid-income countries, will allow a comprehensive identification of relevant alterations, improving disease classification, treatment selection, and the general outcome.

Cell models are indispensable tools in biotechnology when investigating the functional properties of organic compounds. The emergence of various additives designed to enhance animal production has introduced the need for in-depth evaluations, which are often hindered by the complexities of in vivo testing. In this study, we harnessed cell-based models to scrutinize the impact of Solergy as a regulator of cellular metabolism with a particular focus on its modulation of glycogen and antioxidant effects. Our experiment was designed to include assessments of the influence of Solergy on the viability of both terrestrial and aquatic vertebrate cell models, which revealed the benign nature of Solergy and its lack of adverse effects. Furthermore, we examined the capacity of Solergy to modulate intracellular ATP concentrations and enhance glycogen accumulation. Notably, the antioxidant potential of Solergy and its ability to mitigate cellular aging were evaluated within the same cellular frameworks. The outcomes of our investigation suggest that Solergy is a potent metabolic regulator that elevates cellular activity while exerting an antioxidant effect. Importantly, our study demonstrates that Solergy does not induce changes in membrane oxidation. These findings indicate the potential of using Solergy to regulate glycogen synthesis, intracellular ATP concentrations, and oxidative stress in production animals. The multifaceted effects of this additive, which acts as both a metabolism enhancer and an antioxidant, open doors to the creation of custom diets tailored to meet specific production needs while maintaining stable production parameters.

The utilization of treated wastewater can enhance the crops’ irrigation efficacy by offering an extra source of water and nutrients for agricultural purposes. This methodology helps alleviate the pressure on conventional water resources and can be a sustainable strategy to address the challenges of water scarcity. However, it is essential to ensure that wastewater is properly treated to meet quality and safety standards before its application to agricultural crops. This study focuses on exploring the reuse of wastewater from microalgae production and its impact on Pelargonium × hortorum growth during two seasons (autumn and spring). The established treatments were as follows: tap water (control 1); 100% IW—inlet wastewater (control 2); 100% OW—outlet from the reactor; 75% OW + 25% W—75% outlet from the reactor and 25% tap water; and 50% OW + 50%W—50% outlet from the reactor and 50% tap water. Irrigation with wastewater in autumn did not have a significant negative effect (p > 0.05) on plant height, plant diameter, leaf dry weight, roots, or total dry weight, and it was comparable to the control in all applied percentages. On the other hand, wastewater irrigation during spring had a meaningful positive (p < 0.05) impact on plant growth compared to the control. These wastewater resources have a high concentration of nutrients, making them a valuable source of essential and/or beneficial elements. The levels of nutrients such as NO3− range from 144.08 ppm to 82.10 ppm, PO43− ranges from 14.14 ppm to 7.11 ppm, and K+ ranges from 36.83 ppm to 29.71 ppm. Therefore, the obtained results support the viability and effectiveness of using wastewater after microalgae production in agriculture to reduce water demand, mitigate water pollution, and substitute chemical fertilizer input, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices. These results, with more detailed evaluations, would be applicable to other related plant species and are even applicable to the commercial production sectors.

IntroductionAcute leukemias (AL) are the main types of cancer in children worldwide. In Mexico, they represent one of the main causes of death in children under 20 years of age. Most of the studies on the incidence of AL in Mexico have been developed in the urban context of Greater Mexico City and no previous studies have been conducted in the central-south of the country through a population-based study. The aim of the present work was to identify the general and specific incidence rates of pediatric AL in three states of the south-central region of Mexico considered as some of the marginalized populations of Mexico (Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Oaxaca).MethodsA population-based study was conducted. Children aged less than 20 years, resident in these states, and newly diagnosed with AL in public/private hospitals during the period 2021-2022 were identified. Crude incidence rates (cIR), standardized incidence rates (ASIRw), and incidence rates by state subregions (ASIRsr) were calculated. Rates were calculated using the direct and indirect method and reported per million children under 20 years of age. In addition, specific rates were calculated by age group, sex, leukemia subtype, and immunophenotype.ResultsA total of 388 cases with AL were registered. In the three states, the ASIRw for AL was 51.5 cases per million (0-14 years); in Puebla, it was 53.2, Tlaxcala 54.7, and Oaxaca de 47.7. In the age group between 0-19 years, the ASIRw were 44.3, 46.4, 48.2, and 49.6, in Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Oaxaca, respectively. B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was the most common subtype across the three states.ConclusionThe incidence of childhood AL in the central-south region of Mexico is within the range of rates reported in other populations of Latin American origin. Two incidence peaks were identified for lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemias. In addition, differences in the incidence of the disease were observed among state subregions which could be attributed to social factors linked to the ethnic origin of the inhabitants. Nonetheless, this hypothesis requires further investigation.

BackgroundA heterogeneous geographic distribution of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases has been described, possibly, related to the presence of different environmental factors. The aim of the present study was to explore the geographical distribution of childhood ALL cases in Greater Mexico City (GMC).MethodsA population-based case-control study was conducted. Children

BackgroundAdvances in the understanding of the pathobiology of childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have led towards risk-oriented treatment regimens and markedly improved survival rates. However, treatment-related toxicities remain a major cause of mortality in developing countries. One of the most common adverse effects of chemotherapy in B-ALL is the hematologic toxicity, which may be related to genetic variants in membrane transporters that are critical for drug absorption, distribution, and elimination. In this study we detected genetic variants present in a selected group genes of the ABC and SLC families that are associated with the risk of high-grade hematologic adverse events due to chemotherapy treatment in a group of Mexican children with B-ALL.MethodsNext generation sequencing (NGS) was used to screen six genes of the ABC and seven genes of the SLC transporter families, in a cohort of 96 children with B-ALL. The grade of hematologic toxicity was classified according to the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0, Subsequently, two groups of patients were formed: the null/low-grade (grades 1 and 2) and the high-grade (grades 3 to 5) adverse events groups. To determine whether there is an association between the genetic variants and high-grade hematologic adverse events, logistic regression analyses were performed using co-dominant, dominant, recessive, overdominant and log-additive inheritance models. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.ResultsWe found two types of associations among the genetic variants identified as possible predictor factors of hematologic toxicity. One group of variants associated with high-grade toxicity risk: ABCC1 rs129081; ABCC4 rs227409; ABCC5 rs939338, rs1132776, rs3749442, rs4148575, rs4148579 and rs4148580; and another group of protective variants that includes ABCC1 rs212087 and rs212090; SLC22A6 rs4149170, rs4149171 and rs955434.ConclusionThere are genetic variants in the SLC and ABC transporter families present in Mexican children with B-ALL that can be considered as potential risk markers for hematologic toxicity secondary to chemotherapeutic treatment, as well as other protective variants that may be useful in addition to conventional risk stratification for therapeutic decision making in these highly vulnerable patients.