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This paper presents and tests a one-node method for implementing smart grid functions to operate residential loads. The proposed method is developed based on adjusting the power demands of residential loads to achieve a desired load-demand profile at the supply node. A desired load-demand profile is set based on operating thermostatically controlled appliances (TCAs) in the target residential loads. Smart grid functions are implemented to operate TCAs so that thermal energy is stored during the daily off-peak-demand hours. This stored thermal energy is discharged during daily peak-demand hours in order to reduce power demands of residential loads during these hours. The command power assigned to each TCA controller (set to implement smart grid functions) is initiated using a modified-profile for residential load hosting these TCAs. The one-node method is implemented and tested for a university campus that has 45 buildings. Each building has central central heating units and water heaters, and some buildings have central air conditioner units. Tests are performed for different seasons, where power demands of campus buildings are controlled by peak-demand management (as a smart grid function). Test results show the accuracy and simplicity of the one-node method to assign command values for each building to ensure reduced power losses and improved voltage.

El desprendimiento de retina exudativo (DRE) es una rara complicación que afecta al 1% de preeclampsias, aumentando su incidencia cuando se asocia con síndrome de HELLP.

Revisar la fisiopatología de la enfermedad hepática crónica asociada a la cirugía de Fontan, sus cambios histológicos y sus manifestaciones radiológicas.

A comparative investigation of nanostructural and photoluminescence properties (PL), functionalization, cytotoxicity and cell uptake of Y2O3:Eu3+,Bi3+nanoparticles (NPs) fabricated by sol–gel (SG) and combustion synthesis (CS) is reported in this work. A detailed analysis by X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of pure crystalline cubic phase of Y2O3and transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of spheroidal NPs by SG, while CS resulted in NPs with irregular morphology. The photoluminescence analysis of Y2O3: Eu3+,Bi3+demonstrated red emission from Eu3+upon near-UV excitation via energy transfer from Bi3+→Eu3+. The Y2O3:Eu3+, Bi3+(4%, 0.1%) produced by SG approach presented the strongest red emission when excited under 254 and 330 nm excitation-wavelength with quantum yield value of 76% and 22% respectively. SG synthesized Y2O3:Eu3+, Bi3+(4%, 0.1%) NPs were successfully functionalized with folic acid (FA) for cellular internalization. Cytotoxicity assay and flow cytometry studies of the FA functionalized Y2O3:Eu3+, Bi3+(4%, 0.1%) NPs in various cancer cells showed good biocompatibility and cellular uptake. Our findings suggest the applicability of sol gel synthesized Y2O3:Eu3+, Bi3+(4%, 0.1%) NPs for cancer cells bioimaging.

Realizar una comparación indirecta ajustada de la eficacia relativa de enzalutamida y apalutamida en pacientes con cáncer de próstata no metastásico resistente a la castración (CPRCnm) con alto riesgo de progresión a enfermedad metastásica.

Evaluar las instalaciones y servicios en los comedores comunitarios e identificar percepciones y propuestas del personal y beneficiarios respecto al programa, en Tizimín, Yucatán, México.

To describe the preparation of topical endotracheal mitomycin C and the clinical outcomes of four patients with recurrent and severe laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) treated with adjuvant topical mitomycin C.

Open reduction of the prominence at the femoral head-neck junction in femoroacetabular impingement has become an established treatment for this condition. We report our experience of arthroscopically-assisted treatment of femoroacetabular impingement secondary to paediatric hip disease in 14 hips in 13 consecutive patients (seven women, six men) with a mean age of 30.6 years (24 to 39) at the time of surgery. The mean follow-up was 2.5 years (2 to 4).Radiologically, 13 hips had successful restoration of the normal geometry and only one had a residual deformity. The mean increase in the Western Ontario McMasters Osteoarthritis Index for the series at the last follow-up was 9.6 points (4 to 14). No patient developed avascular necrosis or sustained a fracture of the femoral neck or any other complication.These findings suggest that femoroacetabular impingement associated with paediatric hip disease can be treated safely by arthroscopic techniques.

In navigated total hip arthroplasty, the pelvis and the femur are tracked by means of rigid bodies fixed directly to the bones. Exact tracking throughout the procedure requires that the connection between the marker and bone remains stable in terms of translation and rotation. We carried out a cadaver study to compare the intra-operative stability of markers consisting of an anchoring screw with a rotational stabiliser and of pairs of pins and wires of different diameters connected with clamps. These devices were tested at different locations in the femur. Three human cadavers were placed supine on an operating table, with a reference marker positioned in the area of the greater trochanter. K-wires (3.2 mm), Steinman pins (3 and 4 mm), Apex pins (3 and 4 mm), and a standard screw were used as fixation devices. They were positioned medially in the proximal third of the femur, ventrally in the middle third and laterally in the distal portion. In six different positions of the leg, the spatial positions were recorded with a navigation system.Compared with the standard single screw, with the exception of the 3 mm Apex pins, the two-pin systems were associated with less movement of the marker and could be inserted less invasively. With the knee flexed to 90° and the dislocated hip rotated externally until the lower leg was parallel to the table (figure-four position), all the anchoring devices showed substantial deflection of 1.5° to 2.5°. The most secure area for anchoring markers was the lateral aspect of the femur.

Phytotoxicity-based extraction and fractionation were employed to separate allelochemicals contained in an extract of Lethariella canariensis. Twelve phenolic substances were isolated from the phytotoxic fraction “Letharal” of the thalli. These were identified by spectroscopic methods, physicochemical constants, and HPLC chemical correlation, and determined to be atranol (2), chloroatranol (3), hematommic acid (4), chlorohematommic acid (5), methyl hematommate (6), methyl chlorohematommate (7) (new compound), ethyl hematommate (8), ethyl chlorohematommate (9), methyl β-orsellinate (10), atranorin (11), chloroatranorin (12), and (+)-usnic acid (13). Further identification and quantification of these allelochemicals in the environment were conducted by HPLC. Several phenolic compounds showed moderate antimicrobial activity. The cytostatic activity of the polyphenols was investigated on U937 and HL-60 cells. All compounds were assayed, with the exception of 10. The “Letharal” mixture decreased cell viability in both cell lines. Protection against lipid peroxidation was investigated using brain homogenates. Compounds 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, and Letharal decreased H2O2/Fe+2induced lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner, while 10and 13were unable to protect tissue against oxidative stress.

A novel way to implement a color image filter is introduced here. The quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) framework is adopted due to its adequacy to implement highly parallel systems. The principle behind the new design is explained in detail, and simulation results are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents an important problem for the dialysis population due to its high prevalence and the long-term development of chronic liver disease, particularly following renal transplantation.

Seven cases of colonic stenosis due to an infectious, parasitic or ischemic origin are reported. Particular emphasis is laid on the need for an early differential diagnosis from Hirschsprung's disease.

In the first part, we study the precipitation equilibrium of two well known surfactants (Na-lauryl sulfate and dodecyl type LAS) with calcium ion, by means of developing the sulfonate precipitation boundary diagrams. Certain pH and temperature conditions have been selected.In the second part, the builder factor in these equilibria was included and a practical equation was developed. This equation allows us to know the rainimuiti builder concentration to avoid the precipitation of calcium salts inside the washing vessel using any builder. Theoretical and experimental data have been compared.

In a prospective study sixty-eight patients consecutively diagnosed as having AIDS or advanced ARC who were started on zidovudine therapy were followed up for a median period of 725 days. In the 20 patients who had a baseline p24 antigen level above 20 pg/ml, there was a statistically significant trend towards reduction of the p24 antigen levels after the first month of treatment. The median time of survival of the 68 patients was 702 days and the median symptom-free period was 510 days. Treatment with zidovudine significantly reduced the p24 antigen levels. However, the life expectancy and the symptom-free period were not statistically different in the patients with p24 antigen levels always below or with levels always above two arbitrarily chosen cut-off points of 20 pg/ml and 50 pg/ml, respectively.

The relative rate of calcium transport into platelets from essential hypertensive patients and healthy normotensive donors was measured using the metallochromic indicator arsenazo III and recording net decrease in optical density per 5 minutes (O.D.U./ 5 min). When platelets from essential hypertensive patients were suspended in the patient's own serum, calcium was transported more rapidly than when suspended in normal sera (0.0166 vs 0.0113 O.D.U./ 5 min, P < 0.01) indicating that the difference is due to a circulating factor. When platelets from healthy normotensive volunteers were suspended in the donor's own serum or in a pool of normal sera, the relative rate of transport was lower than in the case of platelets from hypertensives suspended in the pool of normal sera (0.005 vs 0.0113 O.D.U./ 5 min, P < 0.01) which suggests a membrane alteration rendering the platelets from hypertensives more permeable to calcium. It was observed that the increase of calcium entry was inhibited by verapamil.The nature of these circulating and membrane-associated factors is at present unknown, but the circulating factor was capable of increasing the membrane permeability to calcium in normal human platelets (from 0.0057 to 0.011 O.D.U./5 min, P < 0.01) and even in rat liver mitochondria, an effect that was inhibited by ruthenium red.

Abstract: The bethylidCephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem is an ectoparasitoid that prefers to oviposit on the prepupae and pupae of the coffe berry borerHypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). It has the ability to distinguish unparasitized from parasitized hosts and rarely lays more than one egg per host. The mechanism of this host discrimination byC. stephanoderis was investigated under laboratory conditions. For this, parasitoid eggs that had been deposited on host pupae were removed and pupae were then offered (individually and collectively) to individual female wasps. A total of 92% of individually offered hosts and 93% of collectively offered hosts were not parasitized. It is concluded thatC. stephanoderis recognizes a marking pheromone deposited into or onto the host, preceding, during, or after oviposition which enables female parasitoids to avoid self and conspecific superparasitism.

An improved and simplified method of genotyping was developed for classifying hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolates into the five common genotypes, i.e., I/1a, II/1b, III/2a, IV/2b, and V/3a, by PCR with genotype-specific primers deduced from the core gene. Sense and antisense primers, specific for each of the five common genotypes, were designed by comparison of 319 core gene sequences from HCV isolates of various genotypes from genetic groups 1 to 9. In the first round of PCR, a sequence of 433 bp representing nucleotides 319 to 751 was amplified with universal primers. The second round of PCR was performed with respective sense and antisense primers in two separate reactions, one for the amplification of genotypes I/1a and II/1b and the other for the amplification of genotypes III/2a, IV/2b, and V/3a. The specificity of genotyping was confirmed with a panel of 191 serum samples containing HCV isolates whose core gene sequences were known: 110 serum samples infected with HCV of the five common genotypes and 81 serum samples infected with HCV of other genotypes. The use of sense and antisense primers for genotype II/1b (primers 389 and 492) abolished the cross-reaction of the antisense primer for genotype II/1b (primer 133) with some HCV isolates of genotype I/1a found by our original method. The new method was used for genotyping 130 HCV isolates from Spain, 53 from Brazil, 106 from China, and 30 from Macau. A total of 329 bp of the NS5b region (nucleotides 8279 to 8607) of five isolates from Spain and five isolates from Macau which could not be classified as any of the five common HCV genotypes or genotype 2c were sequenced, and the sequences were compared with those of HCV isolates of known genotypes; two isolates from Spain were deduced to be of genotype 4d and one was deduced to be of genotype 1d, while the remaining two isolates from Spain had novel genotypes in genetic group 2; however, all five isolates from Macau were of genotype 6a.

In surveys of coffee plantations in Chiapas, Mexico from 1983 to 1985 to assess the distribution and damage caused by the coffee berry borer, prior to parasite introduction levels of infestation were greatest near the Guatemalan border and varied with altitude, the borer was most numerous between 500-1000 m above sea level, corresponding to a mean annual temperature of 23 to 25 °C. Many berries are left on the tree and ground after harvest and high levels of attack were found in both places.