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European countries are affected by various levels of seismic hazard, including many areas with medium to high seismicity. Heavy damage over large areas has been observed in past earthquakes in these countries, particularly in masonry buildings located in historical centers, confirming the need for enhancing the current knowledge on the seismic vulnerability of these constructions, so more informed technical and political decisions towards the mitigation of the risk can be taken. However, the characterization of building stocks for engineering purposes is still an open issue due to the enormous amount of resources that such a project would require. Nevertheless, the availability of virtual images and maps represents an outstanding opportunity for having remote approaches to urban environments. The role of on-site inspections can be complemented or even substituted by means of these remote approaches, provided it is complemented with suitable approaches. The use of these resources is not new, but the critical assessment of their capabilities and limitations deserves a critical discussion. The present paper aims at assessing the opportunities offered by web-based mapping platforms in the context of seismic vulnerability assessment of masonry buildings in old urban areas. After evaluating the advantages and shortcomings of some of the most popular web-based mapping services, an explanatory application to a set of 39 buildings located in the historic center of the city of Leiria (Portugal) is presented and critically discussed, contrasting the results obtained by using on-site and remote inspections. Two different seismic vulnerability assessment approaches are applied and analyzed herein, confirming that web-based mapping platforms can represent an efficient and cost-effective complement to traditional field surveys when the large-scale seismic vulnerability of old urban areas is of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the product of doctoral research and aims to introduce the discussion and analysis of Ubuntu and traditional African philosophy as a contribution to thinking about the fragmentation of democracy in Latin America, giving way to the role that African movements and organizations have in assuming a political and ethical struggle to build a relational democracy as a necessary proposal to the crisis of liberal democracy. The methodology consists of a bibliographic review of literature and intellectuals from the social sciences and African thought to highlight a trend that is not only framed in the questioning of the democratic model in force in Latin America, but also provides some clues for the construction of a community society project in the region, based on relational ontology. It concludes that, in the crisis of the Western political model, the struggles of Afro-descendant movements must transcend the logic of strengthening liberal democracy, to propose the ethical path of Ubuntu as a route to deconstruct the political and societal structures in place, promoting a message of humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A few years to date the issue of judicial reform has become relevant in the international context. This is not explained if not in terms of the processes of democratic transition and economic reform experienced in different latitudes. A good system of justice is defined in terms of different variables. If the sentence comes late it has no relevance and the disciplinary mechanisms become counterproductive when employed to infringe the independence of judges. This paper provides a series of reflections on the interplay between four components necessary for configuration a good system of justice: independence, impartiality, transparency and accountability; as well as providing the reader with a conceptual and operational vision of the same, from the theoretical framework of the school of law and economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific publications are a basic tool for the development of any scientific community and at the same time, one of the most important ways to learn about the research results, stimulating exchange and debate among specialists in related topic. The National Center for Animal and Plant Health insists on reaching a qualitatively higher stage in their Journals Salud Animal and Protección Vegetal, and for this purpose, a Communication Strategy was designed. The pourpose is based on the model López Viera, 2003 establishing an action plan aimed at fulfilling the objectives, is proposed. To this end, questionnaires were applied with respect to the communication management of two scenarios: the internal public and the external one, and a diagnostic related to the main problems in the communication management was carried out. The assessment of cross-checking, from a triangulation with the survey applied to such scenarios and the diagnostic results, showed new opportunities in the pourpose to be present in new international databases, communication management in the Journals and implemented the Editorial Management System Open Journal System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay examines the positions of Xavier Abril, Emilio Adolfo Westphalen, and José María Arguedas in the context of the discussions of the avant-garde, indigenismo and socialism that sought the renewal of the Peruvian imaginary between 1925 and 1940. The framework of the analysis intends to capture the complexity of the influences of José Carlos Marátegui's discourse in the debate, abandoning the contrast of the "Andean" and "West" categories and proposing a reading that emphasizes three other premises: authenticity, territoriality and modernity. In this sense, this work examines the relationship between Abril and Westphalen (1930-34), showing their image of Lima as a primitive space and a cultural wasteland in contrast to Europe and studying, among other texts, an unpublished manifesto. This paper then addresses the intellectual relationship between Westphalen and Arguedas at the end of the 1930s, showing how their representation of Lima as a hostile place was complemented by the proposal of an indigenous subject capable of the artistic modernity. This mapping of Lima's cultural scene of the time will explain how, according to these intellectuals, being primitive or modern depended on the authenticity of the artistic/intellectual pursuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Erwinia amylovora (Ea) was determined in 2006 and 2007 in 180 samplings of flowers chosen at random in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico from four 60 tree blocks, being each and every single one of them chosen during cv. Golden Delicious apple tree flowering. Each block represented a different decision to make, with regards to the use of antibiotics: climate variables, Ea presence in stigmas, climate + Ea variables in stigma and witness. Results obtained from six cv. Golden Delicious orchards located in Canatlan, Durango, Mexico, were validated in 2008. It was indicated by these results that in both 2006 and 2007, Ea was detected in 90% of the samplings, determining that Ea management based on bacteria presence, derived in unnecessary antibiotic application, thus. The Ea presence was detected in 2008 on 100% of the orchards and samplings performed in Canatlán, Durango, Mexico. The decision concerning antibiotics application was made upon climate variables, obtaining similar damage levels to the levels registered in Chihuahua, Mexico. Consequently, it was confirmed that the Ea presence was consistent in apple production systems on the Northern and Central region of Mexico, which epidemics rely more on climatic conditions and handling provided by the producer than on the inoculums availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect derived from irrigation type, organic mulch and fungicide sprays during the 2006 and 2007 cycles over the moldy core damage on the Red Delicious apple cultivar was evaluated in an orchard located in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. The experimental plot consisted in five lines of 21 trees each. The irrigation type for the first 11 trees of each line was modified to subsurface drip irrigation, which was originally performed by microsprinklers, leaving the 10 trees left with the original irrigation type. Organic mulch treatments were located over these last plots, performing Bacillus subtilis, steroidal saponine and kresoxim methyl aspersions to both irrigation types. The results indicated that the irrigation type set the highest differences among treatments with regards to the damage revealed. Neither the presence nor absence of organic mulch reached to modify the damage intensity, and the fungicide aspersions revealed inconsistent effects in both cycles. It is considered that the effect derived from the irrigation type is due to water impact on the soil surface where the fungi inoculum is located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se describe un caso de miositis osificante localizada en un perro de raza Weimaraner, macho, de ocho años de edad. El animal fue originalmente remitido con diagnóstico presuntivo de hernia. La lesión era un nódulo subcutáneo firme con 5 cm de largo por 3 cm de ancho, localizada en los músculos del perineo derecho. Después del estudio radiológico la lesión fue interpretada como una neoplasia originada de vértebras coccígeas. Su dureza se constató durante el procedimiento quirúrgico para eliminar la neoformación. La lesión se extirpó parcialmente y la muestra se remitió a patología. La masa era dura, bien delimitada, vascularizada y con tejido muscular a su alrededor. El estudio histopatológico reveló osificación heterotópica con zonas de atrofia, degeneración y necrosis muscular, alternando con zonas de osificación trabecular en la periferia, limitadas por abundante tejido conectivo fibroso. Estos hallazgos son característicos de la miositis osificante localizada. Este caso constituye el primer informe de esta condición patológica en un perro en México, similar a la miositis osificante localizada en humanos [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of myositis ossificans circumscripta in an eight-year-old, male, Weimaraner dog, is described. The animal was originally submitted with presumptive diagnosis of hernia. The lesion was a firm, subcutaneous nodule, 5 cm long by 3 cm width, localized in the right perineum muscles. After the radiologic study the lesion was interpreted as a neoplasm from coccygeal vertebrae. The surgical procedure to eliminate the neoplastic tissue confirmed its hardness. Excision was not complete and the sample was submitted to pathology. The mass was hard, well circumscribed, vascularized and surrounded by muscle tissue. The histopathological study revealed a heterotopic ossification with zones of atrophy, degeneration and muscle necrosis, alternating with zones of trabecular ossification toward the periphery, limited by abundant fibrous connective tissue. These findings are characteristic of myositis ossificans circumscripta. This case represents the first report in a dog in Mexico, of a condition resembling the myositis ossificans circumscripta in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackground:Because of their anti-inflammatory effects and suppression of the immune system, glucocorticoids have been widely used in otolaryngologic disorders and perioperative conditions. Objective:The objective of the present study was to determine the incidence of adverse effects after the administration of glucocorticosteroids in patients affected by diverse inner ear disorders. Methods:One hundred and sixty-three patients affected by sudden sensorineural hearing loss, 39 with progressive sensorineural hearing loss and 16 with fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss were subjected to glucocorticosteroid therapy with 6-methylprednisolone at a starting dose of 1 mg/kg body weight per day; this therapy was tapered during the next 21–28 days. In 20 patients with profound hearing loss (>70 dB), 3 boluses of prednisolone-21-hydrogen-succinate (500 mg per day) were administered. After receiving the boluses, these patients continued with the oral 6-methylprednisolone scheme. Results:Mild adverse effects were observed in 16 patients (7.01). Only 2 patients (0.9) with sudden sensorineural hearing loss showed severe complications: peptic ulcer and avascular necrosis of the femoral heads. Conclusions:The low percentage of severe adverse effects observed in the present study validates the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of inner ear disorders although we should not underestimate these rare complications.Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Area-preserving twist maps have at least two different (p, q)-periodic orbits and every (p, q)-periodic orbit has its (p, q)-periodic action for suitable couples (p, q). We establish an exponentially small upper bound for the differences of (p, q)-periodic actions when the map is analytic on a (m, n)-resonant rotational invariant curve (resonant RIC) and p/q is ‘sufficiently close’ to m/n. The exponent in this upper bound is closely related to the analyticity strip width of a suitable angular variable. The result is obtained in two steps. First, we prove a Neishtadt-like theorem, in which the n-th power of the twist map is written as an integrable twist map plus an exponentially small remainder on the distance to the RIC. Second, we apply the MacKay–Meiss–Percival action principle.We apply our exponentially small upper bound to several billiard problems. The resonant RIC is a boundary of the phase space in almost all of them. For instance, we show that the lengths (respectively, areas) of all the (1, q)-periodic billiard (respectively, dual billiard) trajectories inside (respectively, outside) analytic strictly convex domains are exponentially close in the period q. This improves some classical results of Marvizi, Melrose, Colin de Verdière, Tabachnikov, and others about the smooth case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se presenta un resumen de la tesis "Sistema de Gestión de Calidad para Propiedad Intelectual en un Centro de Investigación Agropecuario," por Rafael Ramírez Mirabal.

Aim: VEGF and AFP mRNA determinations in the blood are promising prognostic factors for patients with HCC. This study explores their potential prognostic synergy in a cohort of HCC patients evaluated for potentially curative therapies. Methods: One hundred twenty-four patients with a diagnosis of HCC were prospectively enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria were: (a) histological diagnosis of HCC and assessment of tumour grade and (b) determination of AFP mRNA status and VEGF levels in the blood before therapy. Results: At baseline evaluation, 40% of the study group had AFP mRNA in the blood (AFP mRNA positive), and 35% had VEGF>23 pg ml-1 (VEGF positive). Surgery was performed in 58 patients (47%), 54 (43%) had tumour ablation, and 12 had chemoembolisation (10%). Median follow-up and survival of the study group were 19 and 26 months (range, 1 to 60), respectively. The association of AFP mRNA and VEGF proved to be prognostically more accurate than their single use in discriminating the risk of death (ROC curve analysis) and survival probability (Cox analysis). In particular, we identified 3 main molecular stages (p<0,0001): both negative (3-year survival = 63%), one positive (3-year survival = 40%), both positive (3-year survival = 16%). Multivariate analysis identified BCLC staging, surgery, and molecular staging as the most significant survival variables. Conclusions: The preoperative determination of AFP mRNA status and VEGF may potentially refine the prognostic evaluation of HCC patients and improve the selection process for potentially curative therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this document was to describe three cases of cattle with posterior paralysis and nerve lesions caused by huinar consumption (Melochia pyramidata), in Colima, Mexico. In September 2017, three cases of cattle with incoordination, ataxia, paralysis posterior, prostration, and death were presented, with suspicion of bovine paralytic rabies. Complementary studies of hematology, necropsies, histopathology, and immunofluorescence were performed, and M. pyramidata plants were collected for the detection of alkaloids. Leukocytosis was detected by neutrophilia and normocytic normochromic anemia. The macroscopic findings were the presence of edema in multiple organs. Histopathologically the brain, cerebellum, spinal and oblongata cord, as well as peripheral nerves, presented axonal degeneration and areas of demyelination. Negative to the rabies virus by immunofluorescence and without histological lesions. Three types of alkaloids were determined in M. pyramitada. The report of these cases can help to identify the toxic flora of the region and to consider this plant as a differential diagnosis of bovine paralytic rabies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients show evidence of chronic inflammation with mononuclear cell activation which is mainly caused by uraemia itself and is exacerbated by haemodialysis. Small fragments of bacterial DNA (DNAb) are ubiquitous contaminants, which are capable of passing through dialyser membranes causing the stimulation of cells of the immune system. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether DNAb contamination may have an effect on apoptosis of activated monocytes from CKD-5 patients. Methods. To test the ability of DNAb to stimulate the inflammatory response, mononuclear cells from 10 chronic kidney disease patients who had not begun haemodialysis (ND-CKD-5) and 10 patients undergoing regular dialysis (HD) were cultured in the presence and absence of DNAb. Ten healthy subjects were used as controls. Results. The percentage of IL-1β cells was higher in HD patients than in ND-CKD-5 (33.9 ± 3.0% vs 20.0 ± 2.3%, P P vs 12.3 ± 2.6%, P vs 14.6 ± 2.9%, P Conclusions. DNAb enhances cytokine production and promotes the survival of inflammatory mononuclear cells from CKD patients. These results strongly suggest that DNAb fragments play an important role in maintaining chronic inflammation in patients on haemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic-like structures similar to xenomas containing ovoid or piriform organisms were observed in brain and kidney of a one-month-old rabbit. Different dyes such as H&E, PAS, toluidine blue and trichrome blue were tested. Trichrome blue yielded the best results in terms of specificity, resolution and confirmation of microsporidia spores. This dye is easily adaptable to paraffin-embedded samples by not requiring additional equipment; it is rapid, cheap and could be used as a confirmatory technique for other microsporidiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se observaron estructuras quísticas similares a xenomas con organismos ovoides o piriformes en encéfalo y riñón de un conejo de un mes de edad. Se probaron diferentes tinciones, como HE, PAS, azul de toluidina y azul de tricromo. El azul de tricromo proporcionó los mejores resultados en cuanto a especificidad, resolución y confirmación de esporas de microsporidios. Este colorante es fácilmente adaptable a cortes desparafinados por no requerir de equipo adicional; es rápido, económico y podría utilizarse como técnica confirmatoria para otras microsporidiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity, abundance, and geographic distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in recent sediments serve as bioindicators to specific regions' environmental conditions and productivity. We present dinoflagellate cysts assemblages from 53 superficial sediment samples from the upper Gulf of California (uGC) obtained in July 2016 and February 2017. Forty-seven species were identified, of which twenty-seven are considered heterotrophic (Het) and twenty autotrophic (Aut). Ten species of this last group are potentially toxin producers (PTxS). The total concentration (Tot) of cysts in all the samples was 3481 cysts/g in 2016 and 4223 cysts/g in 2017. Aut represented 59%, Het 41%, while the PTxS represented ∼36.5% of the Tot cysts. The higher abundance of the Aut is likely to manifest the local high sea surface temperature and salinity. The increase in the Tot of cysts in the 2017 set was related to a Gymnodinium catenatum harmful algal bloom. Copepod eggs abundance was 7137 eggs/g in 2016 and 6555 eggs/g in 2017. The Aut Gymnodinium spp., Spiniferites spp., Operculodinium spp, and the Het Protoperidinium americanum , Quinquecuspis concreta , Selenopemphix nephroides , Brigantedinium spp., and Echinidinium spp., were typical in both seasons but differed on their concentrations between each season. The cysts distribution between both sampling periods reflects local currents and the sediment dynamics of the uGC, and the high species diversity in this area reflects the elevated primary productivity in this area. • Total cyst concentration was 3481 cysts/g in July 2016 and 4223 cysts/g in February 2017 samples. • 47 species were identified, slightly dominated by autotrophic taxa (59%). • Differences in geographic distribution between autotroph and heterotroph cysts. • Affinity of the distribution of dinoflagellate cysts with environmental factors. • Presence of potentially toxic species in surface sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multilobular tumor of bone (MTB) is considered as a slow-growth malignant tumor, which generally occurs on the cranium and facial bones of dogs, although it has been reported in other domestic animals. This study presents two cases of MTB in dogs. The first case was manifested in an 8-year-old male Bull Terrier, while the second one affected a 5.5-year-old female German Shepherd. Both animals were submitted for post-mortem examination. MTB diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. The aim of this report was to describe the main clinical-pathologic features of MTB, such as its slow, diffuse and deforming growth pattern, as well as the histomorphological image peculiarities that are unmistakable from other tumors such as chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma, that should be considered as differential diagnoses. Up to date, this is the first report of canine MTB in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El tumor multilobular óseo (TMO) es considerado como tumor maligno de crecimiento lento, que ocurre generalmente en el cráneo y en los huesos faciales del perro, aunque también se ha registrado en otras especies animales. Aquí se presentan dos casos de TMO en perros. El primero ocurrió en un Bull Terrier, macho, de ocho años de edad, el segundo en Pastor Alemán, hembra, de 5.5 años. Ambos animales fueron remitidos para su examen post-mortem. El tumor multilobular óseo fue confirmado por histopatología. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir las principales características clínico-patológicas del TMO en perros, como su crecimiento lento, difuso y deformante, al igual que las peculiaridades histomorfológicas de la imagen, que son inconfundibles con otros tumores; por ejemplo, condrosarcoma y osteosarcoma, que deben considerarse dentro de los diagnósticos diferenciales. Éste es el primer informe de TMO canino en México. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El objetivo en esta investigación epidemiológica fue determinar la frecuencia de anticuerpos contra Neospora caninum en ganado lechero y productor de carne en la zona noreste de México. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo con 44 hatos bovinos pertenecientes a diferentes localidades de Coahuila, Nuevo León y Tamaulipas. En el estudio se analizaron 591 muestras de ganado bovino. Para la detección de anticuerpos contra Neospora caninum se utilizó un producto comercial. En Coahuila se observó una frecuencia de 45%; en Nuevo León, 40%; y en Tamaulipas, 16%. La frecuencia en la región noreste de México fue de 36%. Los resultados obtenidos del presente estudio permitieron establecer la existencia de animales seropositivos al protozoario Neospora caninum, en el noreste de México. La evidencia serológica fue advertida tanto en producción de leche como de carne. Tales datos indican que deben aumentarse los esfuerzos en el área zoosanitaria relacionada con las campañas de control y erradicación de las enfermedades para tener adecuadas condiciones y alcanzar mejores niveles de producción en la zona de estudio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective in this study was to determine the frequency of antibodies against Neospora caninum in dairy and beef cattle from northeastern Mexico. A total of 44 farms belonging to different counties of the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas were sampled. Five hundred ninety one samples were included. A commercial kit was used for screening antibodies against Neospora caninum. A frequency of 45% was found in the state of Coahuila, 40% in Nuevo Leon, and 16% in Tamaulipas. The frequency for the northeastern region was 36%. These results indicated that dairy and beef cattle are positive for the protozoon Neospora caninum in serology tests. Thus, zoo sanitary programs are needed for control and eradication of this disease and thereby improve production in northeastern Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]