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The synthesis of copper citrate complex supported on acid-activated vermiculite was investigated with a view to preparing an efficient, mild, robust and recyclable catalyst for the Biginelli reaction. The new catalyst was characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Copper citrate supported over activated vermiculite (AAVrm-Cu2) showed good catalytic activity in the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones. The catalyst can be separated easily from the reaction mixture by filtration and retains its catalytic activity for up to five cycles of reaction with no apparent decrease in yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, Europe will adopt a no-discards policy in fisheries. This entails the landing of captured species unless strong evidence is provided supporting their survival and recovery after fishing. Thus, research on this topic is gaining momentum. Bottom-trawling, as a non-selective fishing method, is characterized by a high proportion of discards including vulnerable key species, such as demersal sharks. Their survival may also depend on capture depth. By paralleling onboard and laboratory experiments with the small-spotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula , we offer a robust experimental design to assess the survival of discarded sharks. Catsharks were captured by bottom-trawling at two depths (shallow ~89 m and deep ~479 m). Blood samples were collected following trawl capture and analyzed for stress biomarkers (lactate, osmolality, phosphate, urea). During recovery in onboard tanks, behavior was video-recorded and fish were re-sampled after 24 h. A second experiment was conducted in laboratory facilities to simulate air-exposure after trawling and to analyze the physiological recovery. Our results showed that 95.7% of the animals survived 24 h after trawling. We confirmed that trawling elicited acute stress responses in catshark but that they managed to recover. This was demonstrated by lactate concentrations that were 2.6 mM upon capture, but recovered to assumed baselines after 24 h (0.2 mM). Non-invasive video monitoring revealed behavioral differences with depth, whereby those captured at 89 m depth required longer to recover than those captured at 479 m depth. Implementation of standardized survival studies by fishery managers can benefit from holistic physiological approaches, such as the one proposed here. • Physiological recovery and survival rates of a bottom-trawled shark were evaluated. • A new methodology for discard survival evaluation in bottom-trawling fisheries is described. • The lesser-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) shows high survival and recovery rates. • This holistic approach may pave the way for the evaluation of commercial fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of tannin supplementation of steers during the feedlot finishing phase. In Trial 1, 96 Holstein steers (478 ± 6.5 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of level of supplemental condensed tannin (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6% of dry matter basis) on growth performance. Supplemental tannin increased (6.5%,P = 0.05) weight gain, gain efficiency (5.5%,P = 0.04), and tended to increase dietary net energy (3.2%,P = 0.06). In Trial 2, 96 Holstein steers (392 ± 4 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of tannin sources on growth performance. Treatments consisted of a steam-flaked corn diet supplemented with (1) no supplemental tannin, (2) 0.6% condensed tannin, (3) 0.6% hydrolysable tannin, and (4) a blend of 0.3% condensed and 0.3% hydrolysable tannin. Tannin supplementation tended to increase average daily gain (ADG, 6.8%,P = 0.08) and dry matter intake (DMI, 4%,P = 0.04). It is concluded that tannin supplementation promotes greater DMI, and hence, ADG of steers during the finishing feedlot phase. The basis for this effect on feed intake is not certain, but is apparently independent of potential tannin effects on metabolizable protein supply. Source of supplemental tannin (condensed vs. hydrolysable) have minimal effects on overall growth performance response to supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The electrochemical behavior of ASTM F75 alloy was analyzed in a sodium chloride solution at pH values of 5, 7, and 9 and temperatures of 37 and 42 °C. The tests were performed in samples corresponding to two different regions of a hip prosthesis. Polarization curves showed that as pH increased the passivity range decreased. However, according to the complementary potentiodynamic-potentiostatic-potentiodynamic technique performed, the increase in the anodic current density was due to a change in the chromium oxidation state from Cr+3 to Cr+6 to form CrO4−2, and not to localized corrosion. On the other hand, neither the microstructure nor the temperature had influence on the electrochemical response of ASTM F75. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test showed that as pH increased, the passive film became more compact and thicker. However, its resistance decreased and the electrical double layer became more disordered, promoting diffusion processes of charged species. These results are in agreement with those obtained in the polarization curves, which showed an increase in the dissolution of the passive film, caused by the change in the chromium oxidation state, as pH increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labor induction is an elementary procedure in obstetrics that is applied in an important group of patients to successfully interrupt pregnancy due to maternal and perinatal risks. In this work, a new method that allows to approach with effectiveness the oxytocin response is briefly exposed, after the use of Misofar® in facilitator function to induce labor, shortening the latency in early break of membranes and conditioning the cervical structures in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia to obtain a better response. This new tool is at medical community disposal for the maternal and perinatal benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out during 2014, aimed at exposing the direct and indirect costs related to the cesarean section. In the analysis the elements for a cost card were integrated such as: materials, manpower and other expenses; also, the breakdown of each of its components was made and it was obtained that the cost of a cesarean section without complications and with a duration of 30 minutes was $545.62. For the cesarean sections with these characteristics an approximate extrapolation of the expenses in the country for the same year was carried out. It was concluded that is necessary the strict control of this operation since the elevation of its indicator increases the costs that could be used in other necessities in the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection is the most common and severe cause of morbidity and mortality in burn patients. Immunosuppression, lost of skin and longer survival of this population has increased the frequency of fungal infections. Fusarium species cause a broad spectrum of infections. More than 50 species of Fusarium have been identified, Fusarium solani is the most frequent. The clinical form of fusariosis depends largely on the immune status of the host. Superficial and localized disease occurs mostly in immunocompetent patients and invasive and disseminated disease affects immunocompromised patients. Prognosis is poor, especially among immunocompromised and neutropenic patients. Treatment options include voriconazole, posaconazole and the lipid formulations of amphotericine B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the introduction in the 60s of the birth-control pills, their components have been modified, with the purpose of improving their security and tolerance without losing their effectiveness. The main innovations are related to the introduction of new progestogens with less adverse effects and more additional benefits, as well as with the emergence of a preparation with natural estrogen and the use of new beginning rules and hormone free interval regimen. Taking into account the above-mentioned an up-to-date documentation about the risk of venous thromboembolism in those who consume these medications was carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A descriptive, prospective and longitudinal study of all preterm births whose cause was the chorioamnionitis, assisted in "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba was carried out, during 2013-2015, with the purpose of determining its incidence and impact in prematurity. The average maternal age of women that presented chorioamnionitis was 28.6 years, while the mean gestational age was 32.3 weeks; as long as, the genital infection was the predominant risk factor (74.0 %), followed by anemia (70.1 %) and the premature rupture of membranes (55.8 %), and the average birth weight was 1 753 grams. It was concluded that prematurity continues being one of the main health problems, and that there is a tendency to diminish chorioamnionitis incidence and mortality due to this cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mott-Schottky analysis and electrochemical and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were performed on passive films formed on low-C 13CrNiMo stainless steel with different applied heat treatments. Heat treatments render particular microstructural features of the alloy with a significant impact on the ability of the passive films to afford adequate protection against localized corrosion. A lower level of retained austenite in the substrate renders thinner passive films. Phosphates coexist with oxidized Fe(III) compounds as the prevailing species in the anodic layers. Mo was only detected in the oxide film formed on the sample with a higher retained austenite content. Passive layers behave as n-type semiconductors with two types of donors, namely, shallow-level and deep-level states. The observed flat band potential V≅ -0.425 ± 0.005 V vs. standard calomel electrode (SCE) is independent of the thermal treatment of the alloy but under potential bias conditions at the corrosion potential the occurrence of the cathodic reaction on the oxide surface is hindered on the sample with higher retained austenite in its microstructure as compared to the sample with lower retained austenite content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-eclampsia constitutes a disease characteristic of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period, characterized by its association to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The following literature review is based on the new diagnosis approaches for this clinical entity, exposed by important scientific organizations, those that repeal the proteinuria dependence and propose the use of other tests for it. In this document these new tools that facilitate a better diagnosis of the pre-eclampsia and other ways of hypertension in the pregnancy-postpartum stage are within the reach of the medical community, which will allow reducing the diagnosis error and achieving an early intervention that will lead to better maternal and perinatal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The syndrome Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome or angiosteo hypertrophy syndrome is a strange congenital disease characterized by the presence of a nevus in the right member and big varicose veins. The case report of a pregnant woman with this syndrome is presented, who underwent the cesarean section at 37.4 weeks, without perioperative complications, in "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" Teaching General Hospital in Santiago de Cuba. After an exhaustive clinical exam to the newborn, it was determined that he didn't present the clinical manifestations of this disorder. The patient's consent was obtained for the case presentation and images taking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dry and moist diets at weaning on growth, survival and incidence of cannibalism in the Amazon catfish Pseudoplatystoma punctifer. Three moist diets (MCD: moist commercial diet; MCPD: moist commercial peptide enriched diet; BLD: bovine liver enriched diet) and a dry diet (CDD: commercial dry diet) were used to feed fingerlings reared in 40‐L tanks (30‐L water volume; three replicates per treatment; stocking density: initial 1500 larvae per tank, from 18 days post‐fertilization, dpf (17 days post‐hatch, dph) onwards 210 juveniles per tank; photoperiod 0L:24D) in a recirculation water system (27.9 ± 0.5°C). Fish were fed Artemia nauplii at 20% of the larval biomass from 4 to 19 days post‐fertilization (dpf) and then weaned onto the four experimental diets within 3 days in the moist diets and within 6 days in the dry diet. At 33 dpf, feeding of groups fed the moist diets was switched to the dry diet within 2 days. Results showed higher (58.6 ± 10%) and lower (4.7 ± 0.7%) survival rates in BLD and CDD groups, respectively, the latter showing the highest occurrence of type II cannibalism. Although weaning was achieved in all dietary groups, the moist diets MCD and MCPD showed better growth results both in terms of total length and wet weight. This study showed that, among the tested diets, the moist diets seem to be more adequate for early juvenile P. punctifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT It has been shown that the combination of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images can improve the discrimination of diseased tissue. The fusion of dissimilar imaging data for classification and segmentation purposes, however, is not a trivial task, as there is an inherent difference in information domains, dimensionality, and scales. This work proposed a multiview consensus clustering methodology for the integration of multimodal MR images into a unified segmentation aiming at heterogeneity assessment in tumoral lesions. Using a variety of metrics and distance functions this multiview imaging approach calculated multiple vectorial dissimilarity-spaces for each MRI modality and it maked use of cluster ensembles to combine a set of unsupervised base segmentations into an unified partition of the voxel-based data. The methodology was demonstrated with simulated data in application to dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and diffusion tensor imaging MR, for which a manifold learning step was implemented in order to account for the geometric constrains of the high dimensional diffusion information. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 56-67, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The venous air embolism constitutes an episode of uncommon identification in Obstetrics, but it establishes the necessity of a diagnosis for its catastrophic manifestation in some cases. The emergence of this entity is related to multiple invasive procedures and to surgical interventions, especially in the caesarean section due to the predisposing elements, which indicates the necessity of a systematic control during this operation. The aim of this work was to offer an updating on the topic, as an informative tool which facilitates the performance of the medical staff linked to the obstetric care. To such effects, aspects related to the prevention of the clinical entity, the diagnostic means for their identification and the therapeutic limits are approached, as part of the actions to reduce the morbidity and maternal mortality, and to achieve a safe maternity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This work aims to build a comprehensive isotopic ecology with the ultimate purpose of assessing long-term human diet decision-making by means of stable isotope analysis. We present a set of δ13Ccollagen and δ15Ncollagen isotopic values on the main faunal resources from the forest and steppe areas of the Aisén region (Central-Western Patagonia, Chile), in order to characterise their isotopic ranges and assess their consumption by past hunter-gatherer populations. Two sets of bioarchaeological remains are used for this comparison; a 10 200-9700 cal year bp assemblage from Baño Nuevo cave and a 1600-300 cal year bp assemblage gathered at different locations throughout Aisén. Isotopic signals from both assemblages indicate diets based on the consumption of protein provided by terrestrial mammals from steppe environments and no long-term signature of forest-resource consumption. On the other hand, the earlier group shows values that may indicate a wider dietary breadth, although this observation is preliminary. These results further suggest that the use of forests and the resources they provided, although visible through the zooarchaeological record (i.e. taxa represented at sites), must have been discontinuous and, perhaps, marginal in comparison with steppe regions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the cost of grains, the replacement of grains by co-products (i.e. DDGS) in feedlot diets is a common practice. This change produces diets that contain a lower amount of starch and greater amount of fibre. Hypothetically, combining feed grade urea (U) with slow release urea (Optigen) in this type of diet should elicit a better synchrony between starch (high-rate of digestion) and fibre (low-rate of digestion) promoting a better microbial protein synthesis and ruminal digestion with increasing the digestible energy of the diet. Four cannulated Holstein steers (213±4 kg) were used in a 4x4 Latin square design to examine the combination of Optigen and U in a finishing diet containing different starch:acid detergent fibre ratios (S:F) on the characteristics of digestive function. Three S:F ratios (3.0, 4.5, and 6.0) were tested using a combination of U (0.80%) and Optigen (1.0%). Additionally, a treatment of 4.5 S:F ratio with urea (0.80% in ration) as the sole source of non-protein nitrogen was used to compare the effect of urea combination at same S:F ratio. The S:F ratio of the diet was manipulated by replacing the corn grain by dried distillers grain with solubles and roughage. Urea combination did not affect ruminal pH. The S:F ratio did not affect ruminal pH at 0 and 2 h post-feeding but, at 4 and 6 h, the ruminal pH decreased as the S:F ratio increased (linear, p<0.05). Ruminal digestion of OM, starch and feed N were not affected by urea combination or S:F ratio. The urea combination did not affect ADF ruminal digestion. ADF ruminal digestion decreased linearly (p = 0.02) as the S:F ratio increased. Compared to the urea treatment (p<0.05) and within the urea combination treatment (quadratic, p<0.01), the flow of microbial nitrogen (MN) to the small intestine and ruminal microbial efficiency were greater for the urea combination at a S:F ratio of 4.5. Irrespective of the S:F ratio, the urea combination improved (2.8%, p = 0.02) postruminal N digestion. As S:F ratio increased, OM digestion increased, but ADF total tract digestion decreased. The combination of urea at 4.5 S:F improved (2%, p = 0.04) the digestible energy (DE) more than expected. Combining urea and Optigen resulted in positive effects on the MN flow and DE of the diet, but apparently these advantages are observed only when there is a certain proportion of starch:ADF in the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many sipunculan species use empty gastropod shells or polychaete tubes as a resource to keep them safe from predation. Nonetheless, little is known about the extent to which the availability of this resource is involved in the distribution of these species. We examined shelter availability and sediment granulometry as factors to explain the distribution of shell-dwelling and/or tube-dwelling sipunculans. For this purpose, artificial sampling units with different sediment granulometry and different shelter availability were deployed at two localities. Four species have been reported, being three of them usually dwellers of vacant gastropod shells or polychaete tubes: Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) muelleri, Phascolion (Phascolion) strombus strombus and Phascolion (Phascolion) caupo. Shelter availability was the main factor explaining the distribution and abundance of shell/tube-dwelling sipunculans. Samples in which shelter were added had an abundance of A. (A.) muelleri ten times higher than samples in which shelters were removed (p<0.01). Moreover, sipunculans selected preferably as shelter Ditrupa arietina tubes over gastropod shells. A strong linear correlation between body width and shelter internal diameter was found for A. (A.) muelleri (r=0.796, p<0.001). On the other hand, differences between localities were detected. However, these differences are not linked with the studied variables (shelter availability and granulometry), and have to be explained by other factors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study was conducted in a 1-hectare field of maize, Zea mays L., near Río Bravo, Tamaulipas during the fall growing seasons of 2011 and 2012. The objective was to document the competitive displacement of the crambid stalkborers Diatraea lineolata (Walker) and D. saccharalis (F.) by Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), after the invasion of the latter species from Western México into this area during the early 1980's. All larvae collected by sampling fields and adults emerging from pyramid cages were identified as E. loftini during both years. According to previous studies in the same region, D. lineolata and D. saccharalis were the only corn stalkborers during the 1970's, with dominance of the former species. During the 1980's, after invasion by E. loftini, the three species coexisted, with D. lineolata still dominating. This study showed E. loftini is now the dominant stalkborer species in this agroecosystem. Although the displacement by E. loftini is evident, D. linelolata and D. saccharalis are not likely to be extint from this area, but rather they probably were not abundant enough to be detected by the sample size used in this study. Factors probably related to the displacement of D. lineolata and D. saccharalis by E. loftini are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Close coexistence of domestic species with wild rodents in modified ecosystems makes relevant the effort to study the role that they may play in the maintenance of different Leptospira serovars. The aim of this study was to define the antileptospiral antibodies distribution in wild rodents and three domestic species that share the same habitat in an endemic area of bovine leptospirosis at the NE Mexico. Antileptospiral antibodies were determined in rodents, bovines, equines and dogs. Using the Microscopic agglutination test, antibodies were identified in the sera of 220 bovines, 24 horses, six dogs and 24 wild rodents. Sera from all the species were assayed against the 12 Leptospira serovars most frequent in Mexico, except those from the rodents which were tittered against only seven (important in these animals). All species reacted against one or more serovars, only 52% of the bovines were positives against: Hardjoprajitno strain H89 (45.5%), Hardjoprajitno (33.1%), Wolffi (28.6%) and Tarassovi (9%); 70.8% of equines were positive against: Tarassovi (41.6%), Hardjoprajitno (29.1%), Wolffi (12.5%) and Hardjoprajitno strain H89 (12.5%). All the dogs were positive against Icterohaemorrhagiae strain Palo Alto, Portland-vere strain Sinaloa and Canicola, and only 66.6% were positive against Icterohaemorrhagiae strain RGA. None of the dogs were positive to the Sejroe serogroup serovars. The seropositivity of the rodents was 50% against the following serovars: Grippotyphosa (14%), Tarassovi (12%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (37%), and Canicola (4%) but negative against Pyrogenes, Wolffi and Hardjoprajitno strain H89. Statistical Cluster, Principal Components and Discriminant Analysis grouped dogs with horses and horses with cattle, with respect to the serovars Hardjoprajitno, Hardjoprajitno H89 strain and Tarassovi. Dogs and rodents were not grouped with the valued serovars associated with cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study the limitations for overcoming the longitudinal piston error in a femtosecond tiled-grating compressor using nonlinear measurements like second harmonic generation. In particular, we observe the influence of this error when developing high-power laser experiments such as high-order harmonic generation. The generation of nonlinear processes with femtosecond pulses compressed in tiled-grating systems is studied. Special attention is paid to the role of the longitudinal piston error which is the most difficult to overcome in the compressor alignment. A complex spatio-temporal structure is expected to appear due to that misalignment. Both second harmonic generation in nonlinear crystals and high-order harmonic generation in gases are studied and a strong dependence with piston error is found, thus leading to a sub-micron modulation in the generated signal. In particular, the high sensitivity of the high-order harmonics to the longitudinal position allows one to use this processes for the accurate alignment of the compressor to few tens of nanometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better predict and follow treatment responses in cancer patients, there is growing interest in noninvasively characterizing tumor heterogeneity based on MR images possessing different contrast and quantitative information. This requires mechanisms for integrating such data and reducing the data dimensionality to levels amenable to interpretation by human readers. Here we propose a two-step pipeline for integrating diffusion and perfusion MRI that we demonstrate in the quantification of breast lesion heterogeneity. First, the images acquired with the two modalities are aligned using an intermodal registration. Dissimilarity-based clustering is then performed exploiting the information coming from both modalities. To this end an ad hoc distance metric is developed and tested for tuning the weighting for the two modalities. The distributions of the diffusion parameter values in subregions identified by the algorithm are extracted and compared through nonparametric testing for posterior evaluation of the tissue heterogeneity. Results show that the joint exploitation of the information brought by DCE and DWI leads to consistent results accounting for both perfusion and microstructural information yielding a greater refinement of the segmentation than the separate processing of the two modalities, consistent with that drawn manually by a radiologist with access to the same data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High resolution alpha spectrometry (AS) is commonly applied for the determination of actinides and other alpha-emitting nuclides in many applications. Electrodeposition is the standard procedure for preparing α-particle sources usually made of a thin and uniform radioactive deposit onto a metallic substrate. Natural U sources prepared by the Hallstadius method are known to contain co-deposited Pt from the anode. In this sense, the main aim of this work is to conclusively review the behaviour of Pt and U in the electrodeposition process and their distribution in the resulting deposit, factors that are responsible for the thickness and uniformity of the sources. In addition to new scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) data, the electrodeposited surface has been analyzed using both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and synchrotron radiation Grazing Incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD). The results concerning morphology of the deposit, surface roughness, topography and surface structure obtained from sources prepared at different electrodeposition times agree with the AS results concerning electrodeposition yield and spectral resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was estimating the remote influence of waste dispersed from a large off-shore fish farm complex (6197tonyear−1) on the near-shore Posidonia oceanica meadow (26–27mdeep) located at a distance of 3km. Measurements of isotopic nitrogen content in epiphytes and seagrass leaf tissues, epiphyte biomass, shoot size, herbivory pressure, shoot density and seagrass meadow cover, performed in this meadow (FA area) were compared with those obtained in an undisturbed control meadow (CA area) to evaluate: (1) the remote influence of waste and (2) the impact of such influence on seagrass condition. In addition, δ15N measurements in particulate organic matter of natural and anthropogenic origin were used in a single-isotope mixing model to elucidate the relative contributions of these sources to the isotopic N signal measured in epiphytes and leaf tissues. Total tissue N content was similar between meadow areas, but δ15N signatures were significantly higher in the FA area than in the CA area both in epiphytes and seagrass leaf tissues. Results from the mixing model, together with available information on local currents and previous studies, support the conclusion that the dispersion of farm wastes over large areas (spanning kilometres) are responsible for the elevated δ15N signatures found in the FA meadow area. Despite this, no changes in meadow structure were detected and only some changes at the level of seagrass community (epiphytes abundances and herbivores activity) could be interpreted at the light of nutrient-induced effects in the FA area. Results from this study indicate that concentrating aquaculture facilities in off-shore areas is a strategy not totally exempt of environmental risk on near-shore sensitive habitats such as seagrass meadows. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although the thermoelastic damping is a direct consequence of thermodynamic relations, its influence in macroscopic systems can be considered as negligible. This is not the case in microscopic devices, where this effect can be, for instance, one of the main causes that limit the quality factor of MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) resonators. Besides showing why it is important to introduce the thermoelastic damping in the design of MEMS, we present simulation results that demonstrate the differences that appear when a realistic nonlinear analysis is considered instead of using a linear approximation. Thus, we show how the nonlinearities due to large displacements impact the oscillation frequency as well as the decay time of displacements and energy for a MEMS cantilever. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The cattle production systems in the dry land region of Michoacan have a close relationship with silvopastoral management practices. A wide range of natural forage resources are being used by the families who lead the administration and utilization of them. This paper defines the characteristics of the different systems, the kind of local forage resources and external feed inputs and their nutritional quality in order to find better strategies of cattle feed practices in the farmers units. The project was made in farm communities of the Tuzantla municipality in the dry land region of Michoacan State. The methodological process began with surveys applied to rural producers during the 2007 production cycle to recollect information. 41 feed samples of 200 to 300g were analyzed to define their chemical composition using Wendee's method. The main results show that the region holds a medium scale cattle system for meat production with loose housing and mobile herds, in an area of 250 to 260 ha of land and 86 cattle heads. The milk production, 9.2 l/cow/day is used to produce cheese, in which 101 of milk is used to make 1 kg of cheese. There were six main ingredients identified in the diets and the producers used two basic diets with a chemical composition of 10.2-13.9% crude protein, 7.9- 11.8% crude fiber, 62.8-67.9% nitrogen free extract, 1.4-5% ether extract and 1.9-8.8% ashes. This study concludes that the producers cover the nutritional requirements using high amounts of concentrates and they use forages only to satisfy the needs of consumption. Therefore a system used to balance the feed components to optimize the resources is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper analyses the ventilation airflow pattern in a two-bedded hospital room. The whole space of the room is divided in modules by means of curtains and internal partition walls. This configuration has many advantages from the point of view of comfort and medical assistance, but it implies an important restriction as far as ventilation is concerned. The ventilation system consists of an induction unit placed inside the hall ceiling blowing into the room and an exhaust fan in the bathroom. Numerical model solves mass, momentum and mean age of air equations assuming isothermal and stationary flow. Ventilation is evaluated analysing the age of air and the velocity fields inside the room. The results with the initial architectural design of the room show a very deficient ventilation at the patients site. Alternative configurations have been studied, allowing for correct ventilation without renouncing to the assistance advantages. Finally, the optimum configuration of the room is provided, regarding both the comfort of the patients and the cost of execution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective, To obtain IgY antibodies against synthetic peptides of NR3A and NR3B subunits of the rat NMDA receptor, to recognize and follow the expression of these subunits in rat brain extract at different ages. Materials and methods. By using Entrez data base and ClustalW-PBIL program for sequence alignment two peptides against NR3A and NR3B subunits of the NMDA receptor were designed, Once synthesized by SSPS-fmoc method, peptides were then inoculated into 16-week-old chickens (Gallus gallus, var. Hy Line Brown). After 57 days specific IgY was purified and confronted with postnatal and adult rat brain extract. Results. Both subunits NR3A and NR3B were detected and their expression was related to rat age. The level of expression of NR3A was higher in postnatal rat brain extract; no marked differences in expression of NR3B were found for either age. Conclusions. This is the first research using native protein for recognition of the NR3 subunit of the NMDA receptor It shows the antibody specificity and contributes to understanding the receptor's functions and its relation to spatial memory regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a new approach to the microfabrication of permanent optical waveguide arrays inside fused silica induced by focusing infrared femtosecond laser pulses with microjoule energy. These arrays consist of waveguides limited by void-like damage zones with very loose coupling among adjacent guides, thus allowing the excitation of a single one. The proposed method shows the possibility of using created void-like structures for both the fabrication of integrated optical devices as well as for the control of previously induced refractive index change regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Interaction of intense ultrashort laser pulses (120 fs at 795 nm) with polymer based composites has been investigated. We have found that carbon filled polymers exhibit different ultrafast ablation behaviour depending on whether the filling material is carbon black or carbon fiber and on the polymer matrix itself. The shape and dimensions of the filling material are responsible for some geometrical bad quality effects in the entrance and inner surfaces of drilled microholes. We give an explanation for these non-quality effects in terms of fundamentals of ultrafast ablation process, specifically threshold laser fluences and material removal paths. Since carbon fiber reinforced polymers seemed particularly concerned, this could prevent the use of ultrafast ablation for microprocessing purposes of some of these materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work we present the spatial control of the linear susceptibility (χ 1 ) in Lithium Niobate crystals by means of infrared (800 nm) femtosecond interaction. Diffraction gratings have been performed on the surface (relief) and inside (phase) of these samples by femtosecond laser writing. Also we have performed a spatial control of the quadratic susceptibility (χ 2 ) by direct writing of a pattern of ferroelectric domains on the surface of z cut substrates by using the second harmonic femtosecond pulses (400 nm). Finally, efficient photonic devices for second harmonic generation via quasi phase matching could be obtained following the experimental procedure presented in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semimembranosus and Semitendinosus muscles (one day after slaughter) were used to study intermittent thermal treatments of 4-20 and 4-25° C as an alternative method to reduce ageing time and improve beef tenderness. A number of samples thermostated at 4° C were used as the basis for comparison. The evolution of muscle tenderness with storage time was measured by the compression method using an INSTRON 4442 machine at 20% deformation. At the end of the thermal treatment process, weight loss in muscle was determined and a sensory evaluation of meat was carried out. It was found that intermittent thermal treatment reduced the ageing time by 50-70% in relation to studies done at 4° C. However,muscle weight loss was elevated, varying from 10 to 15% compared to 5% observed on the samples treated at 4° C. The results of the sensory evaluation indicated that meat tenderness treated at 4-20 and 4-25° C was comparable to samples treated at 4° C (p < 0.10). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite petrels including some of the most well-studied seabird species (e.g. Manx shearwater I Puffinus puffinus i and short-tailed shearwater I Ardenna tenuirostris i ), our knowledge of the life history of many others is quite limited (e.g. population status or distribution; Rodríguez I et al i ., [15]). To seabirds, islands are essential in their life cycle as most seabird breeding colonies are located on islands (Spatz I et al i ., [21]). Seabirds, particularly petrels and shearwaters (hereafter petrels), are among the most threatened avian groups, mainly due to predation by introduced invasive species on their breeding grounds and interactions with fisheries at sea (Dias I et al i ., [7]; Rodríguez I et al i ., [15]). [Extracted from the article]

A patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and systemic lupus erythematosus arising after rubella vaccination was initially treated with plasmapheresis, corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins, with partial response. After shift to rituximab, most clinical symptoms improved markedly, emphasizing the possible role of this monoclonal antibody in conventional therapy-resistant cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed electrical characterizations by current-voltage measures at room temperature in human DNA samples extracted of sanguineous cells in patients with Acquired Inmunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and were compared with DNA samples of healthy people. All samples present a semiconductor behavior. Nevertheless, differences in the points of change of concavity, voltages of rupture and jump current were observed in plots obtained in DNA samples with HIV and without HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Renal graft thrombosis is an important cause of early graft loss. In a case-controlled analysis including only thrombosed kidneys and their counterparts from the same donors, we found that the right kidney as opposed to the left kidney was the only risk factor for early graft vascular thrombosis. No other recipient, donor, or perioperative factor was significantly associated with the complication. Our findings suggested that implantation of a right kidney might be followed by prophylactic anticoagulant or antiaggregant therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, we present an optical characterization of channel waveguides fabricated by means of femtosecond laser writing on Nd:YAG substrates. These guiding structures show a refractive index increment of about 1×10−3 which allows TE propagation. By pumping with a CW solid-state laser at 532nm reaching the 2G9/2 and 4G7/2 manifolds of Nd3+ ions, we have explored the emission band corresponding to 4F3/2→4I9/2 optical transitions (peaked at 890nm). From data, we have found that emission showed similar characteristics for waveguide and bulk. On the other hand, the lifetime corresponding to the 4F3/2 metaestable level was determined to be 240μs for bulk and waveguide. Summarizing, we have made suitable channel waveguides in Nd:YAG crystals, by fs interaction, with similar spectroscopic properties to those of the bulk, a fact that boosters the photonics application of these devices. For the first time to our knowledge, a direct index increment waveguide made by interaction with ultra-short intense pulses in YAG crystals has been performed. This fabrication procedure can be an efficient tool to make several optical circuits in active materials by means of the one-step, fast and low-cost processing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

miRNAs are involved in the development of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We aimed to evaluate modifications by prolonged-release pirfenidone (PR-PFD) on key hepatic miRNAs expression in a MAFLD/NASH model. First, male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into groups and fed with conventional diet (CVD) or high fat and carbohydrate diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. At the end of the eighth week, HFD mice were divided in two and only one half was treated with 300 mg/kg/day of PR-PFD mixed with food. Hepatic expression of miRNAs and target genes that participate in inflammation and lipid metabolism was determined by qRT-PCR and transcriptome by microarrays. Increased hepatic expression of miR-21a-5p, miR-34a-5p, miR-122-5p and miR-103-3p in MAFLD/NASH animals was reduced with PR-PFD. Transcriptome analysis showed that 52 genes involved in lipid and collagen biosynthesis and inflammatory response were downregulated in PR-PFD group. The expression of Il1b, Tnfa, Il6, Tgfb1, Col1a1, and Srebf1 were decreased in PR-PFD treated animals. MAFLD/NASH animals compared to CVD group showed modifications in gene metabolic pathways implicated in lipid metabolic process, inflammatory response and insulin resistance; PR-PFD reversed these modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a new arc-length control procedure for tracing the equilibrium curve of brittle fracture problems modeled with a phase field approach. The balance equations of this model are solved with a staggered strategy. The control equation of the arc-length procedure determines the displacement increments during the mechanical stage. The arc-length parameter is interpreted as imposing a given increment of the driving force appearing into the micro-force balance equation. The innovative technique consisting of applying the control equation to the displacement degrees of freedoms (DOFs) of the mechanical stage offers an enhancement over earlier arc-length strategies that focused on controlling the damage DOFs in the micro-force balance equation stage. This advancement enables the phase field approach to handle and simulate a broader range of problems, as demonstrated in this paper. The arc-length parameter is stepwise adjusted to yield a pre-established maximum damage increment in each staggered scheme step. As a consequence, the crack tip advance can be strictly controlled in every step holding bounded the pseudo-time integration error, even using an explicit staggered strategy. This procedure entails moderate computational costs for tracing the complete equilibrium curve, including unstable responses, limit points, snap-backs, etc., with the subsidiary advantage that lack of convergence has never been detected in the tests presented in this paper. Additionally, line search techniques have not been necessary. The proposed arc-length procedure is easily implemented in standard finite element codes, and according to our numerical experiments, it does not significantly increase the computational burden of the original explicit staggered strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Air as a fluid is present in different spaces. It is likely to contain different pollutants, including pathogenic microorganisms, which, due to environmental factors, are dispersed in the hospital environment, where they are responsible for causing diseases in vulnerable populations. In addition to being considered a risk to health, nosocomial diseases generate very high treatment costs, ranging from 13 to 15 million pesos per illness during treatment. Objective: To determine the microbiological quality of the air in bathrooms, corridors, reception and storage of one optical clinic in Colombia. Methods: An initial visit to the clinic was carried out for a microbiological sampling of air with the MASS 100 equipment, based on a sampling route designed according to the ISO 14644 technical standard, in addition to the relative humidity and velocity percentage measurements of the wind for two weeks. Bacterial characterization was verified using a Vitek automated system. Results: It was identified that 64% of the sampling sections are above the limit established by the ISO 14644 standard of colony forming units (CFU) for clean areas. This study identified 14 bacterial genera, such as Staphylococcus (26.3%), Pantoea (10.5%), and Sphingomonas (5.3%). Conclusions: Although there is a high number of CFU in the clinic's air in the present study, most of these genera are saprophytic and opportunistic bacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case report of a 29 year-old patient is described with a pregnancy of 24 weeks and a history of chronic hypertension, so that she went to the emergency Department of "Tamara Bunke Bider" Teaching Gynecological and Obstetrical Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, due to her high values, migraine, epigastralgia and vomits. A overadded preeclampsia was diagnosed and, because of the worsening signs, it was decided to make a laparotomy. A hemoperitoneo and a rupture in hepatic right lobe were found, thus, a hepatic tamponing was carried out which was then retired. The patient required intensive cares in "Saturnino Lora Torres" Teaching Clinical-Surgical Provincial Hospital and the evaluation of a multidisciplinary team due to the emergence of complications: acute respiratory failure syndrome, abdominal wall abscess, hepatic abscess and presumed ileofemoral thrombosis. Her clinical course was favorable and she was discharged alive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent findings have shown that microbial nitrogen flow and digestible energy of diets are increased when urea is combined with a slow-release urea (SRU) in diets with a starch to acid detergent fibre ratio (S:F) 4:1. This affect is attributable to enhanced synchrony between ruminal N availability for microbial growth and carbohydrate degradation. To verify the magnitude of this effects on lamb performance, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of combining urea and a SRU in diets containing S:F ratios of 3:1, 4:1, or 5:1 on performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs. For that, 40 Pelibuey?Katahdin lambs (36.65±3 kg) were assigned to one of five weight groupings in 20 pens (5 repetition/treatments). The S:F ratio in the diet was manipulated by partially replacing the corn grain and dried distiller's grain with solubles by forage (wheat straw) and soybean meal to reach S:F ratios of 3:1, 4:1 or 5:1. An additional treatment of 4:1 S:F ratio with 0.8% urea as the sole source of non-protein nitrogen was used as a reference for comparing the effect of urea combination vs. conventional urea at the same S:F ratio. There were no treatment effects on dry matter intake (DMI). Compared the urea combination vs urea at the same S:F ratio, urea combination increased (p<0.01) average daily gain (ADG, 18.3%), gain for feed (G:F, 9.5%), and apparent energy retention per unit DMI (8.2%). Irrespective of the S:F ratio, the urea combination improved the observed-to-expected dietary ratio and apparent retention per unit DMI was maximal (quadratic effect, p≤0.03) at an S:F ratio of 4:1, while the conventional urea treatment did not modify the observed-to-expected net energy ratio nor the apparent retention per unit DMI at 4:1 S:F ratio. Urea combination group tended (3.8%, p = 0.08) to have heavier carcasses with no effects on the rest of carcass characteristics. As S:F ratio increased, ADG, G:F, dietary net energy, carcass weight, dressing percentage and longissimus thoracis (LM) area increased linearly (p≤0.02). Combining urea and a slow-release urea product results in positive effects on growth performance and dietary energetics, but the best responses are apparently observed when there is a certain proportion (S:F ratio = 4:1) of starch to acid detergent fibre in the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have evaluated the possible phototoxicity of an orange-based diet on sheep in a controlled environment. The phototoxic effect of psoralens, potent phototoxic furocoumarins, contained in oranges could be manifested either as a perioral contact phototoxicity or as a postingestion phototoxic effect. This research has especial relevance in the region of Valencia, Spain, where sheep are occasionally fed large quantities of these agricultural by-products and where sunlight is constant year-round. Ewes were randomly allocated to two groups, one to be fed a maintenance diet ( n = 9), and the other to receive, after a brief adaptation period, solely oranges ( n = 6). The ewes were placed in an external enclosure and fed this diet for 2 months. At approximately 3-week intervals, the ewes were subjected to thorough clinical and dermatological examination. Skin biopsies were obtained on two different occasions. All procedures were carried out under the guidelines of the local ethics committee. The sheep on the orange diet showed weight loss and a debilitated condition. However, during the study, no clinical or pathological signs of oral or systemic photodermatitis were observed. Funding: Self-funded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of an immune dysregulation in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis. We compared CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte populations in a group of dogs with ehrlichiosis and a group of healthy dogs. Thirty-seven dogs with natural canine ehrlichiosis (Group A) and 15 unaffected dogs (Group B) were included in the study. The study of lymphocyte populations was made by flow cytometr y. Monoclonal antibodies against CD3, CD4 and CD8 were used. Results obtained in this study show an inversion in the CD4:CD8 ratio in the blood of dogs with ehrlichiosis when compared with the CD4:CD8 ratio in blood from control dogs. In healthy dogs, the number of CD4 T lymphocytes was greater than CD8 T lymphocytes. However, in dogs with ehrlichiosis, the number of CD8 T lymphocytes was greater than CD4 T lymphocytes. The percentage of CD4 T lymphocytes was lower in dogs with ehrlichiosis than in healthy dogs, but significant differences were not found between both groups. However, mean value of the percentage of CD8 T lymphocytes (with respect to lymphocyte population) in dogs with ehrlichiosis (45.81 ± 20.90%) was significantly higher ( P = 0.001) than in healthy dogs (25.41 ± 13.63%). These results confirm the presence of an alteration in the T lymphocyte subpopulations of dogs with ehrlichiosis, suggesting the presence of an immune dysregulation. Funding: Self-funded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance signals convey information about tissue microstructure and cytoarchitecture. In the last years, many models have been proposed for recovering the diffusion signal and extracting information to constitute new families of numerical indices. Two main categories of reconstruction models can be identified in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (DMRI): ensemble average propagator (EAP) models and compartmental models. From both, descriptors can be derived for elucidating the underlying microstructural architecture. While compartmental models indices directly quantify the fraction of different cell compartments in each voxel, EAP-derived indices are only a derivative measure and the effect of the different microstructural configurations on the indices is still unclear. In this paper, we analyze three EAP indices calculated using the 3D Simple Harmonic Oscillator based Reconstruction and Estimation (3D-SHORE) model and estimate their changes with respect to the principal microstructural configurations. We take advantage of the state of the art simulations to quantify the variations of the indices with the simulation parameters. Analysis of in-vivo data correlates the EAP indices with the microstructural parameters obtained from the Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) model as a pseudo ground truth for brain data. Results show that the EAP derived indices convey information on the tissue microstructure and that their combined values directly reflect the configuration of the different compartments in each voxel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic antimicrobials are critically important in veterinary healthcare, and resistance is a major concern. Antimicrobial stewardship will be important in maintaining clinical efficacy by reducing the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial skin infections are one of the most common reasons for using systemic antimicrobials in dogs and cats. Appropriate management of these infections is, therefore, crucial in any policy for responsible antimicrobial use. The goals of therapy are to confirm that an infection is present, identify the causative bacteria, select the most appropriate antimicrobial, ensure that the infection is treated correctly, and to identify and manage any underlying conditions. This is the second of two articles providing evidence-led guidelines to help practitioners address these issues. The first article (VR, January 19, 2013, vol 172, pp 72-78) discussed the use of clinical signs, cytology and culture in diagnosis. This second article covers the rationale for topical and systemic antimicrobial therapy, including choice of first-, second- and third-line drugs, the dose, duration of therapy, compliance and identification of underlying predisposing conditions. In addition, there is guidance on cases of therapeutic failure and environmental hygiene. These guidelines should help veterinarians avoid the development and propagation of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic antimicrobials are critically important in veterinary healthcare and resistance is a major concern. Antimicrobial stewardship will be important in maintaining clinical efficacy by reducing the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial skin infections are one of the most common reasons for using systemic antimicrobials in dogs and cats. Appropriate management of these infections is therefore crucial in any policy for responsible antimicrobial use. The goals of therapy are to confirm that an infection is present, identify the causative bacteria, select the most appropriate antimicrobial, ensure that the infection is treated correctly, and to identify and manage any underlying conditions. This is the first of two articles that will provide evidence-led guidelines to help practitioners address these issues. This article covers diagnosis, including descriptions of the different clinical presentations of surface, superficial and deep bacterial skin infections, how to perform and interpret cytology, and how to best use bacterial culture and sensitivity testing. The second article, to be published in a subsequent issue of Veterinary Record, will discuss therapy, including choice of drug and treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]