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Introducción: El Objetivo fue evaluar los efectos sobre la resistencia aeróbica de un programa de ejercicio físico basado en la marcha nórdica para la mejora de la condición física en adultos mayores. Metodología: La población se compuso de 29 sujetos, los cuales realizaron un programa de marcha nórdica de doce semanas de duración, con un mínimo de dos sesiones semanales. Se llevaron a cabo dos mediciones; una previa y otra posterior, mediante prueba de esfuerzo. Resultados: La población mostró mejoras significativas en cuanto a la intensidad alcanzada durante la prueba de esfuerzo. Así mismo se observaron aumentos significativos (p

The space of holomorphic foliations of codimension one and degree $d\geq 2$ in $\mathbb{P}^n$ ($n\geq 3$) has an irreducible component whose general element can be written as a pullback $F^*\mathcal{F}$, where $\mathcal{F}$ is a general foliation of degree $d$ in $\mathbb{P}^2$ and $F:\mathbb{P}^n\dashrightarrow \mathbb{P}^2$ is a general rational linear map. We give a polynomial formula for the degrees of such components., Comment: This is a pre-print of an article published in Bulletin of the Brazilian Mathematical Society, New Series (206). The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00574-020-00206-9

The aim of this work is to characterize the di erences in the respiratory rhythm obtained through three video based methods by comparing the obtained respiratory signals with the one obtained with the gold standard method in adult population. The analysed methods are an RGB camera, a depth camera and a thermal camera while the gold standard is an inductive thorax plethysmography system (Respiband system from BioSignals Plux). 21 healthy subjects where measured, performing 4 tests for each subject. The respiratory rhythm and its variability was obtained from the four respiratory signals (3 video methods and gold standard). The signal acquisition was performed with custom and proprietary algorithms. To characterize the respiratory rhythm and its variability obtained with the di erent video sources and gold standard, the instantaneous frequency, Bland-Altman plots and standard deviation of the error between video methods and the gold standard have been computed. The depth and RGB camera present high agreement with no statistical di erences between them, with errors when comparing with the gold standard in the range of mHz. The thermal camera performs poorly if compared with the two other methods, nevertheless it cannot be discarded directly because some errors produced by the subjects head movement could not be corrected. From these results we conclude that the depth and RGB camera, and their respective acquisition algorithms) can be used in controlled conditions to measure respiration rhythm and its variability. The thermal camera on the other hand, although it can not be discarded directly, performed poorly if compared with the other two methods. Further studies are needed to con rm that these methods can be used in real life conditions.

Manual classification of horticultural products contributes to postharvest losses but technology and emerging algorithms offer solutions to reduce such losses. A practical fruit classification of banana (Musa acuminata AA Group 'Lakatan') using machine learning is developed based on tier-based classification instead of classifying individually (“finger”) for practical purpose. Fruit were classified into extra class, class I, class II and reject class, and compared using three widely-used machine learning classifiers – artificial neural network, support vector machines and random forest. Given only four features of banana tier, the red, green, blue (RGB) color values and the length size of the top middle finger of the banana tier, all three models performed satisfactorily. The highest classification accuracy of 94.2% was achieved using random forest classifier. In addition, ignoring the reject class, which cannot be easily predicted using only the given features, at least 97% accuracy can be achieved in all other three classes. Non-invasive tier-based classification is a practical postharvest technique that can be applied not only for banana but also for other fruit and horticultural products.

In this work, the numerical simulation of the non-isothermal steady co-extrusion fiber spinning with flow-induced crystallization is explored. The model is based on the formulation originally proposed by China et al. in which Newtonian and Phan-Thien-Tanner (PTT) fluids are considered the core and the skin layer, respectively. The polymeric flow rate fraction, Deborah dimensionless number and the PTTs parameters on the temperature, the velocity and the crystallization profiles are analyzed. The numerical results show: the temperature profile is sensitive to the polymeric layer flow rate and the deformation parameters (shear thinning and extensional), the tensile stress induced crystallization parameter has a strong influence at the onset of the process, increasing drastically temperature and crystallinity.

We extend to metrizable locally compact groups Rosenthal's theorem describing those Banach spaces containing no copy of $l_1$. For that purpose, we transfer to general locally compact groups the notion of interpolation ($I_0$) set, which was defined by Hartman and Ryll-Nardzewsky [25] for locally compact abelian groups. Thus we prove that for every sequence $\lbrace g_n \rbrace_{n, Comment: To appear in J. of Functional Analysis

A numerical solution for axis-symmetrical fluid flow through a smooth constriction using the alternating direction implicit finite volume method and the fractional-step-method is presented. The wall is modelled with a smooth contraction mapped by a sinusoidal function and the flow is supposed to be axis-symmetric. A pressure boundary condition is set at the inlet and the resulting pressure gradient field drives fluid flow which is always in laminar regime. This study presents results for a non-Newtonian fluid using the Ostwaldde Waele constitutive model. Moreover, a transient network representing three different microstructures, immersed in the fluid, is evolved by viscous dissipation and an isothermal process is considered. The time dependent evolution of the transient network is represented by a set of kinetic equations with their respective forward and reversed constants. The numerical predictions show that, at a fixed Reynolds number, the viscous dissipation and the grade of structure restoration or breakage is influenced by constriction severity due to the energy generated during fluid flow. A 50% reduction in transversal section generates secondary flow downstream and vortex shedding, whereas a 10% and 25% constrictions presents a thin boundary layer and no secondary flow near the constricted wall.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar la persistencia inicial al tratamiento con corticosteroides y beta-2 agonistas de larga duracion (CSI/LABA) segun el tipo de dispositivo inhalador (MDI o DPI) para el tratamiento del asma y la EPOC. Material y metodos Estudio observacional multicentrico. Se incluyeron sujetos en tratamiento inicial con CSI/LABA durante 2007-2011, y con un periodo de seguimiento de 3 anos. Se confeccionaron 2 grupos de estudio (asma, EPOC) y 2 subgrupos segun el tipo de dispositivo inhalador (MDI o DPI). Las principales medidas fueron: sociodemograficas, comorbilidad, adherencia (ratio de posesion del medicamento, RPM), medicacion, exacerbaciones y uso de los recursos y sus costes (directos, indirectos). Se utilizaron modelos multivariantes para la correccion de las variables. Significacion estadistica: p Resultados Se selecciono a 2.082 sujetos asmaticos (MDI: N = 566, 27,2%; DPI: N = 1.516, 72,8%). Los pacientes con dispositivos MDI mostraron un mayor grado de persistencia (32,5 vs. 27,8%; p = 0,037), adherencia al tratamiento (RPM: 83,1 vs. 80,5%; p Conclusiones Los dispositivos MDI (tratamiento inicial con CSI/LABA) pueden asociarse a un mayor grado de persistencia en el tratamiento, tanto en asma como en EPOC, con menores tasas de exacerbaciones y consumo de recursos sanitarios y costes.

Los factores de riesgo que pueden llegar a desencadenar la muerte precoz son bastante conocidos. Entre ellos la hipertensión y la obesidad parecen los más destacados, especialmente cuando se unen al propio envejecimiento. Distintos autores han demostrado que el ejercicio físico, aun realizado en edades tardías de la vida, resulta igualmente beneficioso para combatir estos factores de riesgo, estando exento de riesgos si se practica de forma adecuada. Nosotros hemos estudiando los beneficios de un «programa de ejercicio físico y dieta adecuada» en dos grupos de pacientes con edades comprendidas entre los 60-64 y los 65-69 años, sobre factores de riesgo como la hipertensión, la obesidad, el estreñimiento y el insomnio. En conjunto se han obtenido nuevamente resultados que aconsejan seguir su práctica. Sin embargo, parámetros como la tensión arterial diastólica se muestran más difíciles de corregir en el grupo de más edad, mientras que el sobrepeso se corrigió con mayor facilidad en el grupo de más edad.

We provide some characterizations of precompact abelian groups $G$ whose dual group $G_p^\wedge$ endowed with the pointwise convergence topology on elements of $G$ contains a nontrivial convergent sequence. In the special case of precompact abelian \emph{torsion} groups $G$, we characterize the existence of a nontrivial convergent sequence in $G_p^\wedge$ by the following property of $G$: \emph{No infinite quotient group of $G$ is countable.} Finally, we present an example of a dense subgroup $G$ of the compact metrizable group $\mathbb{Z}(2)^\omega$ such that $G$ is of the first category in itself, has measure zero, but the dual group $G_p^\wedge$ does not contain infinite compact subsets. This complements Theorem 1.6 in [J.E.~Hart and K.~Kunen, Limits in function spaces and compact groups, \textit{Topol. Appl.} \textbf{151} (2005), 157--168]. As a consequence, we obtain an example of a precompact reflexive abelian group which is of the first Baire category.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a complex chronic pain state with a prevalence of almost 10% in the general population. Pharmacological options for NP are limited and slightly effective, so there is a need of developing more efficacious NP attenuating drugs. Activation of the type 1 lysophosphatidic acid (LPA(1)) receptor is a crucial factor in the initiation of NP. Hence, it is conceivable that a functional antagonism strategy could lead to NP mitigation. Here we describe a new series of LPA(1) agonists among which derivative (S)-17 (UCM-05194) stands out as the most potent and selective LPA(1) receptor agonist described so far (E(max)=118%, EC(50)=0.24 μM, K(D)=19.6 nM; inactive at autotaxin and LPA(2–6) receptors). This compound induces characteristic LPA(1)-mediated cellular effects and prompts the internalization of the receptor leading to its functional inactivation in primary sensory neurons and to an efficacious attenuation of the pain perception in an in vivo model of NP.

Mountain ecosystems face many challenges related to global change. Most high-altitude grasslands in the Pyrenees, despite representing valuable assets recognised in the European conservation heritage, are at risk due to the decline of traditional extensive ranging. This research intends to quantify economically the loss of the provisioning service of high-quality food for livestock of an upland area on the western side of the range. The area is experiencing degradation due to the expansion of the native tall-grass Brachypodium rupestre, favoured by disruption of traditional grazing and anthropogenic fire regimes. We implement the substitution economic approach and use floristic and husbandry data to determine that the loss of food rations for livestock results in an unitary cost of 107 (sic).ha(-1).year(-1), amounting to 21146 (sic) for the whole degraded area, according to the most conservative estimate. The study also finds evidence that the decline in grassland value is closely associated with the digestibility to herbivores of B. rupestre during the growing season. This approach may be an effective tool to raise awareness of the problem among local and regional stakeholders and encourage further environmental actions to prevent the degradation. The project was financially supported by the INTERREG SUDOE Program (European Regional Development Fund, Open2preserve Project-SOE2/P5/E0804), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2011-29746) and the UPNA's PhD programme to M. Duran (2017-2021).

A subgroup G of a product \(\prod \limits _{i\in \mathbb {N}}G_i\) is rectangular if there are subgroups \(H_i\) of \(G_i\) such that \(G=\prod \limits _{i\in \mathbb {N}}H_i\). We say that G is weakly rectangular if there are finite subsets \(F_i\subseteq \mathbb {N}\) and subgroups \(H_i\) of \(\bigoplus \limits _{j\in F_i} G_j\) that satisfy \(G=\prod \limits _{i\in \mathbb {N}}H_i\). In this paper we discuss when a closed subgroup of a product is weakly rectangular. Some possible applications to the theory of group codes are also highlighted.

To provide a description of the frequency and main features of the episodes of voluntary total fasting (VTF) taking place in Spanish prisons.Information on the episodes of VTF reported between 04/01/2013 and 03/31/2014 was gathered. Once the appropriate informed consent was given, other data on social, demographic, penitentiary and clinical aspects were collected. A descriptive study of such variables together with a bivariate analysis was then carried out by means of standard statistical techniques and binary logistic regression models. IBM SPSS Statistics v.20 software was used for this purpose. This study was approved by an accredited Clinical Research Ethics Committee.354 episodes of VTF took place among an average population of 29,762 prisoners. Therefore, the incidence rate was 11.9 VTF episodes per ‰ inmates-year. Informed consent (IC) was given in 180 cases (50.8%). 114 were of Spanish nationality and the average age was 38.7 years old (95% CI 37.2-40.1). The median duration of the episodes was 3 days (IQR 1-10), ranged between 1 and 71 days. The main reason was a disagreement on the decisions of treatment groups (57 cases, 31.7%). The average weight loss was 1.3 kg (70.8 vs. 69.5; p 0.0001) and 0.7 of the BMI (24.5 vs. 23.8; p 0.0001). 60 prisoners (33.3%) lost no weight at all and only 8 (4.4%) lost over 12% of the basal weight (8.5 kg). Ketone smell was identified in 61 cases (33.9%) and ketonuria in 63 (35%).Only one third of those who go on hunger strike in prison actually fast. Revindicative episodes of voluntary total fasting are somewhat common in Spanish prisons, but rarely are they carried out rigorously and entail a risk for those who fast.

Let G be a metric group and let A u t ( G ) denote the automorphism group of G. If A and B are groups of G-valued maps defined on the sets X and Y, respectively, we say that A and B are equivalent if there is a group isomorphism H : A → B such that there is a bijective map h : Y → X and a map w : Y → A u t ( G ) satisfying H f ( y ) = w [ y ] ( f ( h ( y ) ) ) for all y ∈ Y and f ∈ A . In this case, we say that H is represented as a weighted composition operator. A group isomorphism H defined between A and B is called separating when for each pair of maps f , g ∈ A satisfying that f − 1 ( e G ) ∪ g − 1 ( e G ) = X , it holds that ( H f ) − 1 ( e G ) ∪ ( H g ) − 1 ( e G ) = Y . Our main result establishes that under some mild conditions, every separating group isomorphism can be represented as a weighted composition operator. As a consequence we establish the equivalence of two function groups if there is a biseparating isomorphism defined between them.

Let X and K be a Cech-complete topological group and a compact group, respectively. We prove that if G is a non-equicontinuous subset of C H o m ( X , K ) , the set of all continuous homomorphisms of X into K, then there is a countably infinite subset L ⊆ G such that L ‾ K X is canonically homeomorphic to βω, the Stone–Cech compactifcation of the natural numbers. As a consequence, if G is an infinite subset of C H o m ( X , K ) such that for every countable subset L ⊆ G and compact separable subset Y ⊆ X it holds that either L ‾ K Y has countable tightness or | L ‾ K Y | ≤ c , then G is equicontinuous. Given a topological group G, denote by G + the (algebraic) group G equipped with the Bohr topology. It is said that G respects a topological property P when G and G + have the same subsets satisfying P . As an application of our main result, we prove that if G is an abelian, locally quasiconvex, locally k ω group, then the following holds: (i) G respects any compact-like property P stronger than or equal to functional boundedness; (ii) G strongly respects compactness.

The biolipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an essential modulator of innate immunity, cell migration, and wound healing. It is released locally upon acute tissue injury from endothelial cells and activated thrombocytes and, therefore, may give rise to acute post-traumatic pain sensation via a yet elusive molecular mechanism. We have used an interdisciplinary approach to address this question, and we find that intradermal injection of S1P induced significant licking and flinching behavior in wild-type mice and a dose-dependent flare reaction in human skin as a sign of acute activation of nociceptive nerve terminals. Notably, S1P evoked a small excitatory ionic current that resulted in nociceptor depolarization and action potential firing. This ionic current was preserved in “cation-free” solution and blocked by the nonspecific Cl− channel inhibitor niflumic acid and by preincubation with the G-protein inhibitor GDP-β-S. Notably, S1P3 receptor was detected in virtually all neurons in human and mouse DRG. In line with this finding, S1P-induced neuronal responses and spontaneous pain behavior in vivo were substantially reduced in S1P3−/− mice, whereas in control S1P1 floxed (S1P1fl/fl) mice and mice with a nociceptor-specific deletion of S1P1−/− receptor (SNS-S1P1−/−), neither the S1P-induced responses in vitro nor the S1P-evoked pain-like behavior was altered. Therefore, these findings indicate that S1P evokes significant nociception via G-protein-dependent activation of an excitatory Cl− conductance that is largely mediated by S1P3 receptors present in nociceptors, and point to these receptors as valuable therapeutic targets for post-traumatic pain., The authors thank K. Braun, T. Martha, and M. Doblander for expert technical assistance. This work was supported by la Generalitat Valenciana and the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (A.V.F.M.), the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant 535055 to R.V.H., the Intramural Research Programs of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to R.L.P., and the Austrian Research Funding Agency FWF Project Grants P20562, P25345, and SPIN to M.K.

Combining ideas of Troallic and Cascales, Namioka, and Vera, we prove several characterizations of \textit{almost equicontinuity} and \textit{hereditary almost equicontinuity} for subsets of metric-valued continuous functions when they are defined on a \v{C}ech-complete space. We also obtain some applications of these results to topological groups and dynamical systems., Comment: 27 pages

To assess the initial treatment persistence with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-2 adrenergic bronchodilators (ICS/LABA) depending on the inhaler device used (pMDI or DPI), for the treatment of asthma and COPD.An multicenter observational study. Subjects in initial treatment with ICS/LABA during 2007-2011 were included, and a follow-up period of 3 years. 2 groups of study (asthma, COPD) and 2 subgroups were prepared according to the device type inhaler (pMDI or DPI). The main measurements were: sociodemographic, comorbidity, adherence (rate possession medication -RPM-), persistence, drugs, exacerbation rates, resources use, and their costs (direct and indirect costs). Multivariate methods were used for the variables correction, with significance level of P.05.The study included 2,082 asthma patients (pMDI: N = 566, 27.2%; DPI = 1,516, 72.8%). Patients with MDI devices showed a higher degree of persistence (32.5 vs. 27.8%; P=.037), treatment adherence (RPM: 83.1 vs. 80.5%; P.001), fewer exacerbations (17.7 vs. 24.9%; P=.001) and lower health care costs (2,583 vs. 2,938 EUR; P = 0.042). 1,418 patients with COPD also were analyzed (pMDI: N = 524, 41.9%; DPI: N = 824, 58.1%) were analyzed. Patients with MDI devices also showed a higher degree of persistence (31.5 vs. 24.8%; P=.005), treatment adherence (RPM: 83.3 vs. 80.1%; P= .001), less exacerbations (40.1 vs. 48.2%; P=.002) and lower health care costs (3,922 vs. 4,588 EUR; P=.021).pMDI devices (as ICS/LABA initial treatment) are associated with higher treatment persistence either in asthma or COPD, with lower exacerbation rates, and use of health resources and cost.

Continental freshwater, irrespective of its origin, natural or artificial, may contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation. Because of the decline of natural aquatic habitats, an increasing concern exists about the role of water ponds as spots of biological richness. Amphibians are strongly at risk since the loss of aquatic habitats, among other factors, causes the isolation of their populations. The implementation of livestock ponds as artificial wetlands may be an effective measure for enhancing amphibian decaying communities. This policy assumes that managing ponds for wildlife conservation purposes joins livestock welfare requirements, but this hypothesis has not been specifically studied. The purpose of this research is to evaluate this premise in the Urbasa-Andia Natural Park, a high-valuable environmental area that holds a relevant amphibian community and has an extended grazing history. We analyse the relationship between the amphibian assemblages present and the design and attributes of a variety of drinking points previously chosen by embodying a high environmental heterogeneity of water resources. The results of this study indicate that the quality of the water stored varies largely along the season, degrading severely in summer because of the wading of animals (in unfenced ponds) and the low water recharge. The contamination, caused by increased enteric microorganisms and dissolved N, is likely to affect livestock more severely than amphibian populations, since the sensitive breeding stage of many amphibians occurs before the loss of water quality. Although the quality of the water is essential, and mammals (wild and domestic) have an influence on it, other factors that are less considered by environmental managers emerge as main drivers of amphibian assemblages, such as hydroperiod, predator occurrence and the environmental quality of the surrounding habitat.

Summary Background Imported cases of malaria constitute an important public health problem in many countries, even in those with autochthonous cases, where disease could be acquired in these areas and then seen in non-endemic regions. Non-immune populations are susceptible to complications due to malaria infection, particularly in malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum . However, Plasmodium vivax the predominant Plasmodium spp. in Venezuela can also lead to severe malaria. Methods We reviewed retrospectively cases of malaria to identify the clinical features of those imported cases diagnosed at two institutions in Margarita Island (a non-endemic area), Venezuela, in an 8-year period. We conducted a retrospective observational study to identify the clinical and epidemiological features among hospitalized patients at Hospital Central and Hospital Agustin Hernandez with malaria acquired at malaria-endemic locations. Results We identified eighteen imported cases of malaria confirmed by thin and thick peripheral blood smears at these two institutions over an 8-year period. The mean age of diagnosis was 27 years. P. vivax was responsible for the majority of cases. All patients presented with fever, 89% with malaise, 78% with chills, and 67% with myalgia, among others symptoms. Mean haemoglobin levels on admission were 8.1 g/dL (100% 3 (89% had platelets below 150,000); and a mean total leukocyte count: 3.4 × 10 3 cells/mm 3 (78% had leukopenia). Thirty nine percent of patients required blood transfusions. Two fatalities were identified (CFR = 11%), one associated to severe malaria due to P. falciparum and the other due to a complicated case of P. vivax malaria. Discussion Imported cases of malaria due to P. vivax and P. falciparum in the studied population are associated with significant hematological complications. These findings illustrate the importance of educating non-immune populations about the malaria risk and prevention strategies; and from a pubic health perspective, the need to develop further malaria prevention strategies at a national level.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the fourth cause of mortality and morbility in the developed world. Patients with COPD experience a progressive deterioration of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A new model of severity classification, the body mass index, bronchial obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise (BODE) index, has recently been proposed. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between HRQOL and the BODE index, and the predictive ability of BODE on HRQOL measurements. Methods: Two HRQOL questionnaires were administered, namely the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), in a sample of 67 patients with severe COPD. Results: Pearsonś correlation coefficient analysis shows a positive correlation between the BODE index and the total scores of the specific ( P < 0.001), and general HRQOL ( P < 0.001); the analysis shows a significant correlation between the BODE index and the subscales of symptoms, activity and impact of SGRQ ( P < 0.001) and the subscales energy and physical mobility of the NHP ( P < 0.001). The regression analysis shows that the BODE index is a significant predictor of HRQOL, explaining 46,1% of the total score of the SGRQ ( P < 0.001) and 14.8% of the total score of the NHP ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: The BODE index is good at predicting the worsening of HRQOL in patients with severe COPD. Chronic Respiratory Disease 2008; 5: 7—11

This work compares several fiducial points to detect the arrival of a new pulse in a photoplethysmographic signal using the built-in camera of smartphones or a photoplethysmograph. Also, an optimization process for the signal preprocessing stage has been done. Finally we characterize the error produced when we use the best cutoff frequencies and fiducial point for smartphones and photopletysmograph and compare if the error of smartphones can be reasonably be explained by variations in pulse transit time. The results have revealed that the peak of the first derivative and the minimum of the second derivative of the pulse wave have the lowest error. Moreover, for these points, high pass filtering the signal between 0.1 to 0.8 Hz and low pass around 2.7 Hz or 3.5 Hz are the best cutoff frequencies. Finally, the error in smartphones is slightly higher than in a photoplethysmograph

This work proposes a systematic procedure to report the differences between heart rate variability time series obtained from alternative measurements reporting the spread and mean of the differences as well as the agreement between measuring procedures and quantifying how stationary, random and normal the differences between alternative measurements are. A description of the complete automatic procedure to obtain a differences time series (DTS) from two alternative methods, a proposal of a battery of statistical tests, and a set of statistical indicators to better describe the differences in RR interval estimation are also provided. Results show that the spread and agreement depend on the choice of alternative measurements and that the DTS cannot be considered generally as a white or as a normally distributed process. Nevertheless, in controlled measurements the DTS can be considered as a stationary process.

Objective The objective of this study was to describe tissue procurement activity performed during 10 years (2004–2014) by trained medical students in a large university hospital. Methods In this study, third to sixth year medical students were trained as in-hospital Tissue Coordinators (Tc) to perform tissue procurement activity on a 24/7 schedule supervised by an on-call senior Transplant Coordinator (sTC) in a large university hospital. Tc duty consisted of detection, initial evaluation of all hospital deaths, donor's family approach for tissue donation, and retrieval logistics organization, including corneal tissue retrieval after training and certification. They also assist sTC in organ procurement activity. Results A total of 18,931 deaths were prospectively evaluated, 79% of whom (n = 14,879) presented medical contraindications for tissue donation. Of the remaining 4052 (21%) potential tissue donors (PTD), 2522 (62%) were not converted into real donors, mostly due to family refusal (66%; n = 1650) followed by detection system failure and other logistical issues (34%; n = 872). A total of 2814 corneal units, 225 skin donations, 327 muscleskeletal tissue donations, 91 blood vessels donations, and 177 heart valve donations were obtained from the remaining 1530 (38%) real donors. Tissue potentiality increased from 19% to 43% throughout the study period as a consequence of the fluctuating acceptance criteria used by tissue banks depending on tissue demand. Conclusions The tissue donation program performed by trained students was successful in achieving a high and sustainable tissue donation rate in a large university hospital.

Sludge management arises as a relevant problem after being accumulated in primary ponds of septage treatment plants. One of the most attractive options for sludge disposal is its use in agriculture and then specific guidelines regarding hygienic quality must be fulfilled. This study aimed at evaluating the storage time needed to inactivate Ascaris eggs and Salmonella in sludge accumulated in a primary pond treating septage. Raw septage exhibited very low concentrations of viable Ascaris eggs, thus experiments with Ascaris suum eggs spiking were conducted. The concentration of Ascaris eggs in the solids accumulated at the bottom of the pond was 20 eggs/g of total solids (g TS) at the time of pond closure. Although it decreased, some eggs remained viable (0.59 mean viable eggs/g TS) up to 20 months of in-pond storage of the biosolids. Salmonella survival was studied after developing an analytical method that inhibited the native flora. Sludge was seeded with Salmonella enteritidis . An equation adequately describing Salmonella die-off in biosolids subjected to 115 days of in-pond storage/dewatering, was found to be represented by the regression: y = log MPN Salmonella/g TS = 6.67· t −0.086 , with t = storage time elapsed in days. The initial concentration was 7.0 × 10 6 MPN/g TS and the removal efficiency was 99 %.

Waste stabilization ponds (WSP) are an often-used option to treat faecal sludges collected from on-site sanitation systems. Since agricultural use is one of the most attractive options for sludge disposal, specific guidelines on the hygienic sludge quality must be fulfilled, such as for viable helminth eggs and Salmonella sp. Although Salmonella isolation methods are well known for other types of samples, they are not suitable for faecal sludge. The reason can be attributed to the co-existence of a native bacterial sludge flora masking Salmonella development, especially if this bacteria is present at low concentrations. In order to select the best methodology for Salmonella recovery from septage sludge, different culture media were assayed at different incubation periods and temperatures. The proposed methodology for Salmonella recovery from sludge can be summarised as follows: (1) enrichment in Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth at 43°C, 48 hours, and (2) isolation in XLD agar at 40°C, 24 hours. Identification of suspected colonies by biochemical tests: TSI, LIA, urease and serological confirmation with Group O Antigen.

The magnitude and duration of dopamine (DA) signaling is defined by the amount of vesicular release, DA receptor sensitivity, and the efficiency of DA clearance, which is largely determined by the DA transporter (DAT). DAT uptake capacity is determined by the number of functional transporters on the cell surface as well as by their turnover rate. Here we show that inhibition of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase with LY294002 induces internalization of the human DAT (hDAT), thereby reducing transport capacity. Acute treatment with LY294002 reduced the maximal rate of [(3) H]DA uptake in rat striatal synaptosomes and in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells stably expressing the hDAT (hDAT cells). In addition, LY294002 caused a significant redistribution of the hDAT from the plasma membrane to the cytosol. Conversely, insulin, which activates PI 3-kinase, increased [(3)H]DA uptake and blocked the amphetamine-induced hDAT intracellular accumulation, as did transient expression of constitutively active PI 3-kinase. The LY294002-induced reduction in [(3)H]DA uptake and hDAT cell surface expression was inhibited by expression of a dominant negative mutant of dynamin I, indicating that dynamin-dependent trafficking can modulate transport capacity. These data implicate DAT trafficking in the hormonal regulation of dopaminergic signaling, and suggest that a state of chronic hypoinsulinemia, such as in diabetes, may alter synaptic DA signaling by reducing the available cell surface DATs.

There is evidence to suggest that dopamine (DA) oxidizes to form dopamine ortho-quinone (DAQ), which binds covalently to nucleophilic sulfhydryl groups on protein cysteinyl residues. This reaction has been shown to inhibit dopamine uptake, as well as other biological processes. We have identified specific cysteine residues in the human dopamine transporter (hDAT) that are modified by this electron-deficient substrate analog. DAQ reactivity was inferred from its effects on the binding of [(3)H]2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-beta-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane (beta-CFT) to hDAT cysteine mutant constructs. One construct, X5C, had four cysteines mutated to alanine and one to phenylalanine (Cys(90)A, Cys(135)A, C306A, C319F and Cys(342)A). In membrane preparations 1 mM DAQ did not affect [(3)H]beta-CFT binding to X5C hDAT, in contrast to its effect in wild-type hDAT in which it reduced the B:(max) value by more than half. Wild-type cysteines were substituted back into X5C, one at a time, and the ability of DAQ to inhibit [(3)H]beta-CFT binding was assessed. Reactivity of DAQ with Cys(90) increased the affinity of [(3)H]beta-CFT for the transporter, whereas reactivity with Cys(135) decreased the affinity of [(3)H]beta-CFT. DAQ did not change the K:(D) for [(3)H]beta-CFT binding to wild-type. The reactivity of DAQ at Cys(342) decreased B:(max) to the same degree as wild-type. The latter result suggests that Cys(342) is the wild-type residue most responsible for DAQ-induced inhibition of [(3)H]beta-CFT binding.

Spike-based motor control is very important in the field of robotics and also for the neuromorphic engineering community to bridge the gap between sensing / processing devices and motor control without losing the spike philosophy that enhances speed response and reduces power consumption. This paper shows an accurate neuro-inspired spike-based system composed of a DVS retina, a visual processing system that detects and tracks objects, and a SVITE motor control, where everything follows the spike-based philosophy. The control system is a spike version of the neuroinspired open loop VITE control algorithm implemented in a couple of FPGA boards: the first one runs the algorithm and the second one drives the motors with spikes. The robotic platform is a low cost arm with four degrees of freedom. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-10639-C04-02/01 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-37868-C04-02/01

The effect of several aliphatic aldehydes on lipid peroxidation was evaluated by measuring the oxygen uptake rate, thiobarbituric acid-reactive products formation and the emitted visible chemiluminescence intensity. Measurements were carried out in brain homogenates and erythrocyte plasma membrane and liver microsomal fractions. In all systems studied, aldehydes (25 mmol/L) (e.g. acetaldehyde, 2,2-dimethylpropanal), increased the intensity of the luminescence associated with the oxidation process. In contrast, aldehyde incorporation decreased TBARS production and the rate of oxygen uptake. The increased luminescence intensity is explained in terms of secondary reactions of aldehyde derived free radicals. These results clearly indicate that extreme care must be exercized in the intepretation of chemiluminescence data in the presence of aldehydes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Summary Background Surgical site infection (SSI) after colorectal procedures represents a measurable quality indicator of a healthcare system. There is an increasing interest in comparing SSI rates between different hospitals and countries: however, the variability of the data regarding the incidence of SSI makes this comparison difficult. For the purposes of evaluation, data collection must be standardized and must include reliable post-discharge surveillance (PDS). Aim To determine impact and risk factors for PDS SSI after elective colorectal surgery. Methods VINCat is a nosocomial infection surveillance programme in Catalonia, Spain. Between 2007 and 2011, 52 hospitals joined the programme. Hospitals performed active, prospective, standardized surveillance of elective colorectal resection. PDS was implemented by a multimodal approach and was mandatory within the first 30 days after surgery. Findings During the study period, 13,661 elective colorectal procedures were included. SSI was diagnosed in 2826 (20.7%) patients, of whom 22.5% during PDS; of these, 52% required readmission. Patients with PDS SSI were younger (odds ratio: 1.57; 95% confidence interval: 1.29–1.91), predominantly female (1.40; 1.16–1.69), had more frequently undergone endoscopic procedures (1.56; 1.30–1.88) and had more incisional SSI (1.88; 1.54–2.28) than patients with in-hospital SSI. Conclusion SSI rates in elective colorectal procedures at VINCat hospitals were inside the higher range of those reported by other national programmes. PDS SSI increased the overall rate of SSI, had a significant clinical impact, and accounted for almost a quarter of SSI. Younger age and laparoscopic procedures were the most relevant risk factors. Standardized multimodal PDS should be implemented for hospitals performing surveillance of colorectal surgery.

Objetivos: Evaluar la eficacia de un programa de intercambio de jeringuillas (PIJ) en una prision para reducir la prevalencia de infecciones asociadas al uso de drogas intravenosas, y conocer la aceptacion del programa por internos y funcionarios del centro penitenciario. Material y metodos: Estudio observacional con cortes transversales al inicio, 6 y 12 meses y 10 anos de desarrollo del programa. Se realizaron entrevistas a los usuarios del programa y encuestas a muestras accidentales de funcionarios en los distintos cortes, y a una muestra aleatoria de internos a los 10 anos. Se registraron diariamente los indicadores de actividad del programa, y se valoro la prevalencia de infeccion por VIH, hepatitis B y C al inicio y a los 10 anos. Para el analisis estadistico utilizamos la prueba ji-cuadrado con la correccion de Yates en caso necesario. Resultados: Durante estos diez anos se suministraron 15.962 jeringuillas a 429 usuarios (media de 20,2 usuarios/mes), recuperandose 11.327 (70,9%). La prevalencia de infeccion por VIH paso del 21% en 1999 al 8,5% en 2009, la de VHC del 40% al 26,1% (p

The notion of locally quasi-convex abelian group, introduced by Vilenkin, is extended to maximally almost periodic non-necessarily abelian groups. For that purpose, we look at certain bornologies that can be defined on the set rep(G)rep(G) of all finite dimensional continuous representations on a topological group G in order to associate well behaved group topologies (dual topologies) to them. As a consequence, the poset of all Hausdorff totally bounded group topologies on a group G is shown to be isomorphic to the poset of certain special subsets of rep(Gd)rep(Gd). Moreover, generalizing some ideas of Namioka, we relate the structural properties of the dual topological groups to topological properties of the bounded subsets belonging to the associate bornology. In like manner, certain type of bornologies that can be defined on a group G allow one to define canonically associate uniformities on the dual object View the MathML sourceGˆ. As an application, we prove that if for every dense subgroup H of a compact group G we have that if View the MathML sourceHˆ and View the MathML sourceGˆ are uniformly isomorphic, then G is metrizable. Thereby, we extend to non-abelian groups some results previously considered for abelian topological groups.

To evaluate the effectiveness of NEPs in prison to reduce the prevalence of infections associated with intravenous drug use and to know more about acceptance of the program by inmates and staff.cross-sectional observational study at baseline, 6 and 12 months and 10 years of program development. Interviews were conducted with program users, as well as random sample surveys of officials at the various cuts, and a random sample of inmates from the centre after10 years. Activity indicators of the program were recorded continuously, and the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV at baseline and after 10 years was evaluated. For the statistical analysis, the chi-square test was used with the Yates correction when necessary.In ten years we have supplied a total of 15,962 syringes to 429 users, (average 20.2 users/month), and 11,327 (70.9%) were returned. The prevalence of HIV infection decreased from 21% in 1999 to 8.5% in 2009, HCV prevalence from 40% to 26.1% (p0.01), finding no significant differences in the prevalence of HBsAg +. Most of the inmates and civil servants believe that the program did not increase intravenous drug use and improves hygienic living conditions in prison.After ten years of development of the NEP, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of HIV and HCV in the prison population at the centre, and the program is accepted as beneficial by most of the inmates and staff participating in the survey.

Longtemps apres sa mort, Newman a continue d'exercer une influence sur les ecrivains et les penseurs dans plusieurs domaines. Il a explore les elements historique, pluraliste et personnaliste de la verite. Sa predication a Oxford a connu une grande resonance spirituelle sur ses auditeurs

Murine leukaemia P388 and L1210 cell sublines with varying degrees of resistance to the anthracycline daunomycin (DNM) have been used to monitor (i) intracellular accumulation of DNM, (ii) expression of the drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein (pgp) and (iii) cytoplasmic pH changes. Drug-resistant L1210/65 cells (65-fold resistance), overexpress pgp, and display decreased intracellular accumulation of DNM and identical intracellular pH as compared to the parental drug-sensitive L1210 cell line. On the other hand, moderately drug-resistant P388/20 cells (20-fold resistance), which also exhibit a decreased intracellular drug accumulation with respect to drug-sensitive P388/S cells, display only moderate pgp-encoding mdr1 gene transcription without detectable levels of pgp protein, and undergo cytoplasmic alkalinisation (up to approximately 0.2 pH units). A further increase in the level of drug resistance (P388/100 cells, 100-fold resistance), results in a more pronounced decrease in drug accumulation, significant pgp expression and slightly higher intracellular alkalinisation. Alterations in the degree of protonation of DNM have been shown previously to influence processes such as the rate of uptake and the intracellular accumulation of the drug. On this basis, we propose that the changes in intracellular pH, observed at low levels of drug resistance (P388/20 cells), could constitute an early cellular response aimed at decreasing the intracellular accumulation of ionisable anti-neoplastics. As the level of resistance increases (P388/100), the cells seem to require more efficient mechanisms of defense against the drug, such as that represented by the expression of pgp. Since there is no apparent correlation between the extent of the changes in intracellular pH and the level of pgp expression in DNM-resistant P388 cell sublines, it is suggested that these two cellular responses contributing to drug resistance could operate independently.

The scrapie prion protein (PrPsc) requires the cellular prion protein (PrPc) for its propagation and replication. In this work we studied the expression and localization of the PrPc in the central nervous system (SNC) of the rat, mouse, cat, cow and human, using immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques to understand more about prionopathies and Alzheimer's disease (EA).For the immunohistochemistry study we used human, cat, rat and cow samples to analyse frontal, temporal and occipital cortex, as well as the hippocampus and the thalamus. For the Western blot analysis we used mouse, cat, cow and human brain samples.We observed a decrease in the amount of PrPc in the SNC in a rostrocaudal shift in the species mentioned above. We observed inhibitory cells in the cat cortex. The Western blot analysis showed a similar pattern of expression in the different species studied with a preponderance of the diglycosylated band, in relation to the other bands observed in the analysis.These data suggest that in prionopathies PrPsc could be transmitted and could be replicated in and from the areas with most expression of PrPc. Similarly, a higher amount of this protein (PrPc) in some brain areas could explain some histopathological aspects of EA.Our findings support the hypothesis of a retrograde transport of PrPsc in the SNC. PrPc could be related to the pathophysiology of EA.

In an effort to develop a tritiated dopamine transporter radioligand with higher affinity than the widely used [ 3 H]WIN 35,428, we have synthesized [ 3 H]2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)tropane ([ 3 H]MFZ 2-12). Unlabeled MFZ 2-12 and the N -demethylated intermediate (MFZ 2-13) inhibited dopamine uptake by the human dopamine transporter with IC 50 's of 1.1 and 1.4 nM, respectively. The N-nor-intermediate (MFZ 2-13) was treated with CT 3 I resulting in [ 3 H]MFZ 2-12; S.A.=80 Ci/mmol). [ 3 H]MFZ 2-12 reversibly bound with a K D of 2.8 nM to human dopamine transporter expressed heterologously in EM4 cells.

When the anthracycline daunomycin (DNM) is incorporated into isolated plasma membranes from P388 murine leukemia cells, the drug partitions between ‘deep’ and ‘surface’ membrane domains. Such domains have been characterized on the basis of: (1) fluorescence resonance energy transfer between 1,6-diphenylhexa-1,3,5-triene or 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene as energy donors, which are well known in their positioning within the membrane, and daunomycin as the energy acceptor, and (2) quenching of the fluorescence of the membrane-associated drug by the water-soluble quencher iodide. The distribution of DNM between the two plasma membrane domains is different depending on the cellular phenotype. Thus, in membranes from drug-sensitive cells, DNM is preferentially confined to ‘surface’ domains, while in membranes from drug-resistant cells, the drug distributes more homogeneously between ‘surface’ and ‘deep’ domains. Experiments using artificial lipid vesicles suggest that differences in the relative levels of certain lipids in the plasma membranes from drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cells, namely phosphatidylserine and cholesterol, are partly responsible for the observed differences in the distribution of DNM. Since drug-membrane interactions are important in anthracycline cytotoxicity, it is possible that our observations on a different membrane distribution of daunomycin, may be related to the different sensitivity to the drug exhibited by these cells., This work has been partly supported by Grants PB87-07qO (to J.M.G.-R.) and PB87-0791 (to J.A.F.) from the DGICT of Spain.

Freeze-fracture studies of daunomycin-sensitive and daunomycin-resistant P388 cell lines, reveal a significant increase in the numerical density of intramembrane particles at both, the protoplasmic and the exoplasmic leaflets of the plasma membrane from the drug-resistant cells. Such change in plasma membrane architecture is not accompanied by overexpression of P-glycoproteins. Furthermore, drug-sensitive cells exhibited an increased number of exo-endocytotic images when compared to drug-resistant cells. Our observations suggest that there are global changes in the structural organization of the plasma membrane, which are related to the acquisition of the cellular drug-resistant phenotype.