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Resumen La inyeccion de gel de acido hialuronico estabilizado (NASHA®-based gel) se utilizo en Europa para el aumento de volumen mamario entre 2006 y 2012. Fue un relleno biodegradable, que requeria de un proceso minimamente invasivo para su administracion, manteniendo el volumen mamario durante 12-24 meses. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con diagnostico de sospecha de lesion mixoide mamaria. Tras la exeresis quirurgica del tumor y el analisis histopatologico se insiste a la paciente sobre sus antecedentes. Esta refiere que hace 13 anos se sometio a un aumento de volumen mamario mediante la inyeccion de gel de acido hialuronico. Los tumores mixoides de mama requieren de exeresis quirurgica para su tratamiento. Su presentacion mas frecuente es como parte del sindrome de Carney. Por ello, la inyeccion de gel de acido hialuronico debe ser tenida en cuenta en el diagnostico diferencial de estas lesiones ya que, a pesar de considerarse biodegradable puede persistir radiologicamente hasta 13 anos despues de su administracion.

Resumen Introduccion La cirugia bariatrica tiene como objetivo la reduccion del peso y la resolucion de las comorbilidades asociadas a la obesidad. Los estudios que valoran la evolucion del perfil lipidico comparando gastrectomia vertical (GV) y bypass gastrico (BP) a medio-largo plazo son escasos. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar y comparar la variacion del perfil lipidico con cada tecnica a 60 meses. Metodologia Estudio observacional de cohortes analiticas retrospectivo que recogio 100 pacientes distribuidos en 2 grupos, 50 intervenidos mediante BP y 50 mediante GV. Se determino el colesterol total (CT), las lipoproteinas de baja densidad (LDL), las lipoproteinas de alta densidad (HDL) y los trigliceridos (TG) preoperatoriamente a 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 y 60 meses. Tambien se evaluo la perdida ponderal y la resolucion de dislipemias segun la tecnica. Resultados De 100 pacientes, 95 completaron el seguimiento. A los 60 meses, el CT y las LDL se redujeron significativamente en el grupo BP (167,42 ± 31,22 y 88,06 ± 31,37 mg/dl, respectivamente), mientras que el grupo GV no obtuvo diferencias. Ambas tecnicas mostraron un aumento del HDL (BP: 62,69 ± 16,3 mg/dl versus GV: 60,64 ± 18,73 mg/dl), sin hallar diferencias entre los 2 procedimientos. Los TG disminuyeron en ambos grupos (BP: 86,06 ± 56,57 mg/dl versus GV: 111,09 ± 53,08 mg/dl), siendo superiores los resultados del bypass (p Conclusion El BP obtuvo mejores resultados en cuanto a reduccion del peso y la resolucion de hipercolesterolemia comparado con la gastrectomia vertical a medio-largo plazo. Mientras que el BP mejoro todos los parametros del perfil lipidico, la gastrectomia vertical solo lo hizo con las HDL y los trigliceridos.

Bariatric surgery aims to reduce weight and resolve the comorbidities associated with obesity. Few studies have assessed mid/long-term changes in lipid profile with sleeve gastrectomy versus gastric bypass. This study was conducted to assess and compare changes in lipid profile with each procedure after 60 months.This was an observational, retrospective study of analytical cohorts enrolling 100 patients distributed into two groups: 50 had undergone gastric bypass (GBP) surgery and 50 sleeve gastrectomy (SG) surgery. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured before surgery and at 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. Weight loss and the resolution of dyslipidemia with each of the procedures were also assessed.Ninety-five of the 100 patients completed follow-up. At 60 months, TC and LDL levels had significantly decreased in the BPG group (167.42 ± 31.22 mg/dl and 88.06 ± 31.37 mg/dl, respectively), while there were no differences in the SG group. Increased HDL levels were seen with both procedures (BPG: 62.69 ± 16.3 mg/dl vs. SG: 60.64 ± 18.73 mg/dl), with no difference between the procedures. TG levels decreased in both groups (BPG: 86.06 ± 56.57 mg/dl vs. SG: 111.09 ± 53.08 mg/dl), but values were higher in the BPG group (P .05). The percentage of overweight lost (PSP) was higher in the BPG group: 75.65 ± 22.98 mg/dl vs. the GV group: 57.83 ± 27.95 mg/dl.Gastric bypass achieved better mid/long-term results in terms of weight reduction and the resolution of hypercholesterolemia as compared to sleeve gastrectomy. While gastric bypass improved all lipid profile parameters, sleeve gastrectomy only improved HDL and triglyceride levels.

Resumen Objetivos Conocer la prevalencia de enfermedad renal cronica (ERC) y determinar los factores asociados al deterioro de la funcion renal en poblacion asistida en atencion primaria. Pacientes y metodo Estudio transversal y multicentrico realizado en los pacientes basales del estudio IBERICAN (identificacion de la poblacion espanola de riesgo cardiovascular y renal). Se considero ERC a un filtrado glomerular estimado (FGe) Resultados Se incluyeron 7.895 pacientes (edad media 57,9 ± 14,8 anos; 54,5% mujeres). El 14,4% (IC 95%: 13,6-15,1) presentaba ERC; en hombres un 16,1% (IC 95%: 14,9-17,3) y en mujeres un 12,9% (IC 95%: 11,9-14,0). Se observo un aumento continuo de la prevalencia con la edad (24,8% ≥ 65 anos) y con la agregacion de FRCV. Las variables que mas se asociaron a la probabilidad de padecer ERC fueron hipertrofia ventricular izquierda (OR: 1,95; p Conclusiones Catorce de cada 100 pacientes incluidos en el estudio IBERICAN presenta ERC. La prevalencia de ERC afecta a la cuarta parte de pacientes ≥ 65 anos y aumenta exponencialmente con la agregacion de FRCV.

Objectives To review, analyze, and present the available evidence on the usefulness of point-of-care pulmonary ultrasound in the diagnosis and monitoring of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), aiming to facilitate its potential inclusion into pediatric clinical reference guidelines. Source of data A non-systematic research was carried out in the MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS, and SciELO databases, from January 1985 to September 2019. The articles that were considered the most relevant were selected. Synthesis of data CAP is a relevant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatrics and its clinical management remains a major challenge. The systematic use of chest X-ray for its diagnosis is controversial because it exposes the child to ionizing radiation and there are interobserver differences in its interpretation. Recently, the use of point-of-care pulmonary ultrasound by the pediatrician has been presented as an alternative for the diagnosis and monitoring of CAP. A great deal of evidence has disclosed its high sensitivity and diagnostic specificity, with the advantages of no ionizing radiation, relatively low cost, immediate results, portability, and the possibility of repetition according to the requirements of disease evolution. Moreover, its use can help rule out possible bacterial etiology and thus prevent inappropriate antibiotic treatments that favor bacterial resistance. Conclusions Point-of-care ultrasonography represents an opportunity to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of CAP. However, as an operator-dependent technique, training is required for adequate image acquisition, correct interpretation, and integration with clinical data for correct decision-making.

Objective The structure of the semantic network is constructed and organized during childhood development. Previous publications have hypothesized that neurodegenerative diseases would lead to a disruption of this network reversing the steps acquired in childhood. Semantic Dementia (SD) is a subtype of frontotemporal lobe degeneration in which the main symptom is a specific loss of semantic memory. We aimed to describe the sequential acquisition of concepts in 3-8 years old children evaluated through the production of drawings and, in parallel, their progressive loss in SD patients. Methods 104 children between 40 and 96 months categorized into tertiles according to their age, 21 SD patients categorized into tertiles according to their score on a category fluency task and 34 healthy volunteers were asked to draw 12 items with, a priori, different age of acquisition and familiarity, belonging to four different semantic categories. We employed the drawings of the healthy volunteers to build a scoring scheme. We considered that a concept was acquired in children when 50% or more of its features were present in their drawings, and it was lost in patients when more than 50% were missing. Results Those concepts which the children were able to acquire earlier, according to our scoring scheme, tended to remain in patients with more advanced SD. While the items that children acquired later, were, in general, those that the SD patients lost at earlier disease stages. Conclusion The patterns of concept acquisition in children were the mirror image of the loss in patients with SD. Our study supports the hypothesis that the sequence of concept acquisition in childhood is reversed in SD patients.

Several histogram equalization methods focus on enhancing the contrast as one of their main objectives, but usually without considering the details of the input image. Other methods seek to keep the brightness while improving the contrast, causing distortion. Among the multi-objective algorithms, the classical optimization (a priori) techniques are commonly used given their simplicity. One of the most representative method is the weighted sum of metrics used to enhance the contrast of an image. These type of techniques, beside just returning a single image, have problems related to the weight assignment for each selected metric. To avoid the pitfalls of the algorithms just mentioned, we propose a new method called MOPHE (Multi-Objective Pareto Histogram Equalization) which is based on Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) approach combining different metrics in a posteriori selection criteria context. The goal of this method is three-fold: (1) improve the contrast (2) without losing important details, (3) avoiding an excessive distortion. MOPHE, is a pure multi-objective optimization algorithm, consequently a set of trade-off optimal solutions are generated, thus providing alternative solutions to the decision-maker, allowing the selection of one or more resulting images, depending on the application needs. Experimental results indicate that MOPHE is a promising approach, as it calculates a set of trade-off optimal solutions that are better than the results obtained from representative algorithms from the state-of-the-art regarding visual quality and metrics measurement.

Medical imaging help medical doctors provide faster and more efficient diagnoses to their patients. Medical image quality directly influences diagnosis. However, when medical images are acquired, they often present degradations such as poor detail or low contrast. This work presents an algorithm that improves contrast and detail, preserving the natural brightness of medical images. The proposed method is based on multiscale top-hat transform by reconstruction. It extracts multiple features from the image that are then used to enhance the medical image. To quantify the performance of the proposed method, 100 medical images from a public database were used. Experiments show that the proposal improves contrast, introducing less distortion and preserving the average brightness of medical images.

Background and objective Neuronal populations involved in the regulation of food intake, particularly the orexigenic (appetite-stimulating) hormone ghrelin, are found in the hypothalamus. Changes in plasma ghrelin levels have been observed following different bariatric surgery procedures, but the results from different studies are contradictory. Much remains unknown regarding the role of ghrelin in the weight loss process following bariatric surgery. Our objective was to describe the behavior of fasting ghrelin levels, comparing the changes occurring between 2 different surgical techniques (gastric bypass versus vertical sleeve gastrectomy) and their correlation with weight loss. Patients and method A prospective, observational, analytic cohort study of 54 patients (27 for each surgical technique) with a 12-month follow-up period. We analyzed demographic data, anthropometric data, comorbidities, weight loss and evolution of fasting ghrelin. Results The behavior of acylated ghrelin was similar with the 2 surgical techniques, with no significant differences between gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy. With both procedures, there was an increase in acylated ghrelin on day 5 and a subsequent decrease, and levels then gradually increased to reach values at 12 months that were higher than those reported preoperatively. This increase in ghrelin levels did not affect weight loss, since one year post-surgery, 30% weight loss was achieved with both types of surgery. Conclusions We observed an increase in fasting acylated ghrelin levels at one year of follow-up with both surgical techniques, with 30% weight loss.

Resumen Antecedentes y objetivo En el hipotalamo existen poblaciones neuronales involucradas en la regulacion de la ingesta, destacando la ghrelina como hormona orexigena (estimula el apetito). Despues de los diferentes procedimientos de cirugia bariatrica se han observado cambios en los niveles plasmaticos de ghrelina, siendo los resultados de los estudios contradictorios. Existen muchas lagunas en cuanto al papel que desempena la ghrelina en el proceso de perdida de peso despues de cirugia bariatrica. Nuestro objetivo es describir el comportamiento de ghrelina en ayunas, comparando los cambios acontecidos en 2 tecnicas quirurgicas (bypass gastrico versus gastrectomia vertical) y su correlacion con la perdida ponderal. Pacientes y metodo Estudio observacional de cohortes analiticas prospectivo, donde se incluyen 54 pacientes (27 por cada tecnica quirurgica) y un periodo de seguimiento de 12 meses. Se analizaron datos demograficos, datos antropometricos, comorbilidades, perdida ponderal y evolucion del comportamiento de ghrelina en ayunas. Resultados Con ambas tecnicas quirurgicas el comportamiento de ghrelina acilada fue similar, sin diferencias significativas entre bypass gastrico y gastrectomia vertical. Con ambos procedimientos se produce un ascenso de ghrelina acilada al 5.o dia y caida posterior, para luego ir ascendiendo hasta alcanzar valores superiores a los preoperatorios a los 12 meses. Este aumento en los niveles de ghrelina no afecta a la perdida ponderal, ya que al ano de la cirugia con las 2 tecnicas quirurgicas se alcanza un 30% de perdida de peso. Conclusiones Observamos un incremento de los niveles de ghrelina acilada en ayunas al ano de seguimiento con ambas tecnicas quirurgicas, cuando existe una perdida ponderal del 30%.

Introduction and objectives Paroxysmal and asymptomatic episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) can be the cause of previously diagnosed cryptogenic stroke. Guidelines recommend monitoring in this setting, although the optimum duration and method remains unknown. We aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of a sequential monitoring approach using external and internal loop recorders for detecting AF in patients with cryptogenic stroke after a complete diagnostic evaluation. Methods A total of 119 patients were enrolled. A 24-h Holter was performed in all patients. An ambulatory external loop recorder was scheduled in patients without evidence of AF on Holter, followed by ambulatory internal loop recorder implantation in cases without evidence of AF at this point. Results AF was identified in 43 of 119 patients (36%). The rate of detection was 15.1% at 6 months, 24.3% at 12 months, 35.3% at 24 months, and 36.1% at 36 months. AF was detected in 21/112 patients (18.75%) with the external loop recorder, and in 17/80 (21%) with internal loop recorder. Conclusions A standardized sequential monitoring strategy in patients in whom an embolic source is suspected detects AF frequently, allowing a reduction in insertable loop recorder implantation as in 60% of cases AF is detected using non-invasive methods.

In infrared images, the pixels representing the objects are hidden in a large number of background pixels with low contrast. Several effective contrast enhancement techniques exist in the state of the art today, however they cause the noise level added to the images to increase. The improvement of contrast is an indispensable procedure for the analysis of infrared images, due to the scarce temperature difference between the objects and the background, captured by the surveillance systems using infrared sensors. Therefore, a contrast enhancement algorithm for infrared imaging based on histogram equalization using clipping is presented in this article. The proposed algorithm divides the histogram into 4 subhistograms, then each subhistogram is modified with a cut limit based on the size of the subhistogram in order to limit the improvement of the contrast. The experimental results prove that the algorithm improves the contrast of infrared images by 99%, especially the contrast between the objects and the background of the infrared images preserving the mean brightness and decreasing the aggregate noise level of them. With the proposed algorithm, the background of the infrared image is restricted while the objects are visually contrasted.

This research seeks to discover how the organisational form (franchising vs. vertical integration) of 305 supermarkets belonging to a Spanish franchise chain influences unit-level performance measured through three key performance indicators commonly used in the retail literature: sales per square metre, sales per employee, and service quality scores. Additionally, we assess the moderating role of the manager's gender in each individual supermarket. We have analysed the research questions using multivariate analyses, with a panel dataset that includes quarterly establishment-level data covering the period from January 2017 to December 2019. We have found that franchised supermarkets record higher sales both per square metre and per employee than vertically integrated ones. This positive effect of franchising is lower in establishments run by females than in those run by males. The findings also reveal that franchised supermarkets record lower service quality scores than their company-owned counterparts, and this negative effect is again lower in establishments managed by females than in those managed by males.

We establish existence, uniqueness as well as quantitative estimates for solutions to the fractional nonlinear diffusion equation, $\partial_t u +{\mathcal L}_{s,p} (u)=0$, where ${\mathcal L}_{s,p}=(-\Delta)_p^s$ is the standard fractional $p$-Laplacian operator. We work in the range of exponents $0, Comment: 47 pages, 3 figures New section on mass conservation added to this version

In this paper, a new 2D lactate electrochemical biosensor was developed. It was based on the incorporation of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets, obtained by an exfoliation method, onto the surface of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode, together with lactate oxidase enzyme (LOx). For the sensor construction, conditions regarding the exfoliation solvent type, as well as both the size and amount of MoS2, were optimized. The biosensor platform (GC/MoS2/LOx) was topographically characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the charge transfer process occurring at the electrode interface was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The GC/MoS2/LOx biosensor was applied to the determination of lactate in presence of hydroxymethylferrocene (HMF) as a redox mediator. Electrocatalytic effect of the system MoS2/LOx was evaluated by comparing the cyclic voltammetric biosensor response with those obtained for biosensors incorporating only one of the components (MoS2 or LOx) onto the electrode surface. Biosensors containing both components exhibit the best electrocatalytic response. From the calibration curve obtained at +0.30 V, the following analytical parameters were obtained: linear concentration range from 0.056 to 0.77 mM, high sensitivity (6.2 μA mM−1), good detection limit (17 μM) and reproducibility (RSD = 4.7%).

Objective To identify factors associated with poor anticoagulation control with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) among outpatients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) attended in Neurology and Internal Medicine in Spain. Methods Cross-sectional and multicenter study, from the ALADIN database, of outpatients with NVAF treated with VKA and attended in Internal Medicine and Neurology in Spain. Rates of anticoagulation control were determined with the direct and Rosendaal methods, considering data from the 6 months before the inclusion. Results Out of 1337 patients included in the ALADIN study, 750 were taking VKA, and complete information about INR values in the last 6 months was available in 383 patients. Mean scores of Charlson Index, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED were 1.94 ± 1.54; 3.10 ± 1.26; 4.63 ± 1.54, and 2.20 ± 0.90, respectively. 46.2% and 47.0% of patients had an adequate anticoagulation control according to the direct and Rosendaal methods, respectively. Inadequate anticoagulation control according to the direct method was associated with diabetes (OR: 2.511; 95% CI: 1.144–5.659), prior labile INR (OR: 35.371; 95% CI: 15.058–83.083) and the determination of >6 INR controls in the last 6 months (OR: 4.747; 95% CI: 2.094–10.759), and according to the Rosendaal method, with prior labile INR (p Conclusions Despite the high thromboembolic risk, only a little more than a half of patients were well controlled. Factors associated with poor anticoagulation control were diabetes, labile INR, >6 INR controls and HAS-BLED.

Resumen Objetivo Identificar los factores asociados con el mal control de la anticoagulacion con antagonistas de la vitamina K (AVK) en pacientes con fibrilacion auricular no valvular (FANV) atendidos en consultas de Neurologia y Medicina Interna de Espana. Metodos Estudio transversal, multicentrico, anidado en el estudio ALADIN, de sujetos con FANV, tratados con AVK, atendidos en consultas de Medicina Interna o Neurologia de Espana. El grado de control de la anticoagulacion se estudio mediante el metodo directo y el de Rosendaal, considerando los 6 meses previos a la inclusion. Resultados De los 1.337 pacientes incluidos en ALADIN, 750 estaban tratados con AVK, con informacion completa sobre el INR de los ultimos 6 meses en 383 pacientes. Las puntuaciones medias del indice de Charlson, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc y HAS-BLED fueron 1,94 ± 1,54; 3,10 ± 1,26; 4,63 ± 1,54 y 2,20 ± 0,90, respectivamente. El 46,2% y el 47,0% de los pacientes presentaban un control adecuado de la anticoagulacion por los metodos directo y Rosendaal, respectivamente. El control inadecuado de la anticoagulacion se asocio por el metodo directo con diabetes (OR: 2,511; IC 95%: 1,144-5,659), antecedentes de INR inestable (OR: 35,371; IC 95%: 15,058-83,083) y la realizacion de > 6 controles en los ultimos 6 meses (OR: 4,747; IC 95%: 2,094-10,759), y por el metodo de Rosendaal, con los antecedentes de INR inestable (p Conclusiones Pese al alto riesgo tromboembolico, solo estaban bien controlados algo mas de la mitad. Los factores asociados al mal control de la anticoagulacion fueron la diabetes, INR inestable, > 6 controles de INR y el HAS-BLED.

Traditional sources of protein in fish feed for salmonids, such as fishmeal, face sustainability problems. Therefore, ingredients not attractive for human consumption are increasingly being considered for the development of future feeds. However, it is uncertain how this alternative range of ingredients will affect fish growth, quality and consumer opinion. In this experimental study, we tested a new fish feed on Arctic charr, containing a protein mixture from the Baltic Sea and yeast, all ingredients unattractive for human consumption. This feed comprised of sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and herring (Clupea harengus), blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), in a ratio of three parts to the whole. Fish fed with this feed grew 11.5% less than the control group. The digestibility and microscopy analysis of the faeces suggested a lower digestibility of the test feed, presumably caused by the fish's inability to utilize the nutrients from the yeast cells. Consumers' perceptions of the final product were evaluated through a sensory evaluation, indicating no differences in scores of fillet quality between the two treatments. Potential implications of these results are discussed in context of feed composition, quality and other factors including species biology and season, which are relevant topics in the discussions on feed sustainability. Statement of relevance Evaluating a feed mix unattractive for human consumption.

Background The dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is commonly associated with miosis in Bernard-Horner syndrome (BHS). The presence of mydriasis is exceptional but can occur in the context of Pourfour du Petit syndrome (PDPS), a rare entity opposite of BHS accompanied by eyelid retraction and hyperhidrosis and caused by hyperactivity of the sympathetic cervical chain. Aim To report on a case of PDPS as the first manifestation of an ICA dissection. Method A 54-year-old man presented with isolated left mydriasis with no other abnormalities in the examination. Six months later, he suffered an ischemic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery territory secondary to a left ICA dissection. Results The initial study with Intracranial computed tomographic angiography and brain magnetic resonance imaging ruled out compressive cause of the third cranial nerve or structural lesion in the midbrain. The absence of hypersensitivity to Pilocarpine discarded postganglionic parasympathetic involvement. Conclusions In the presence of unilateral mydriasis and once common causes are ruled out an imaging examination of the supra-aortic trunks should be completed, since it could represent the first sign of carotid pathology in the context of PDPS.

Carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) press imprinted films are proposed for class-selective electrochemical detection of ortho-diphenols (o-diphenols) and mono-phenols (m-phenols) antioxidants. In order to optimize the sensor construction, different surface immobilizations of CBNPs electroactive films on a PMMA support were assayed by using different amounts of CBNPs dispersions. The best sensor in terms of selectivity, sensitivity and stability was obtained when 30 mL of a CBNPs dispersion (0.50 mg/100 mL in 1,2-dichloroethane) were transferred onto PMMA substrates applying a pressure of 4.6 ton. The electrodes were characterized by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) to explore their electrical properties. The effective transfer of CBNPs on the PMMA support and the CBNPs film conductivity have been evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) confirming that the carbon black film is effectively imprinted on the polymer surface and that retains its good conductivity. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy have been employed to investigate the CBNPs composition and the CBNPs electrode surface, respectively. CBNPs electrodes exclusively supported the o-diphenols and m-phenols sensing, at low detection potentials (+0.100 and +0.560 V, respectively) and with negligible surface fouling (peak intensity RSDs, E and LV acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTQ2014-58643-R and BIO2016-79618-R, respectively), and the NANOAVANSENS program (S2013/MIT-3029) from the Community of Madrid. The Authors acknowledge the financial contribution of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Project “Materiali nanostrutturati per sistemi (bio)chimici sensibili ai pesticidi”. This research has also been financed by the “Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) under projects MAT2016-80394-R (FJP), MAT2014-54231-C4-1-P (LV).

Within the area of stock market prediction, forecasting price values or movements is one of the most challenging issue. Because of this, the use of machine learning techniques in combination with technical analysis indicators is receiving more and more attention. In order to tackle this problem, in this paper we propose a hybrid approach to generate trading signals. To do so, our proposal consists of applying a technical indicator combined with a machine learning approach in order to produce a trading decision. The novelty of this approach lies in the simplicity and effectiveness of the hybrid rules as well as its possible extension to other technical indicators. In order to select the most suitable machine learning technique, we tested the performances of Linear Model (LM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Random Forests (RF) and Support Vector Regression (SVR). As technical strategies for trading, the Triple Exponential Moving Average (TEMA) and Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) were considered. We tested the resulting technique on daily trading data from three major indices: Ibex35 (IBEX), DAX and Dow Jones Industrial (DJI). Results achieved show that the addition of machine learning techniques to technical analysis strategies improves the trading signals and the competitiveness of the proposed trading rules.

The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids by formation of urea adducts from three different sources was studied to elucidate the formation of ethyl carbamates in the course of these procedures. Two different methodologies were performed: with ethanol at high temperature and with hexane/ethanol mixtures at room temperature. It was proved that the amount of urethanes generated at high temperature was higher than at room temperature. Besides, subsequent washing steps of the PUFA fraction with water were efficient to remove the urethanes from the final products. The methodology at room temperature with 0.4 mL ethanol and 3 g urea provided good relationship between concentration and yield of the main bioactive PUFA, with the lowest formation of ethyl carbamates in the process., This work has been supported by the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid: ALIBIRD, project number S2013/ABI-2728.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Mitragyna speciosa and its extracts are called kratom (dried leaves, extract). They contain several alkaloids with an affinity for different opioid receptors. They are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases, as a substitute by opiate addicts, and to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms. Apart from their medical properties, they are used to enhance physical endurance and as a means of overcoming stress. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms underlying the effects of kratom on restraint-stress-induced analgesia which occurs during or following exposure to a stressful or fearful stimulus. Methods To gain further insights into the action of kratom on stress, we conducted experiments using restraint stress as a test system and stress-induced analgesia as a test parameter. Using transgenic mu opioid-receptor (MOR) deficient mice, we studied the involvement of this receptor type. We used nor-binaltorphimine (BNT), an antagonist at kappa opioid receptors (KOR), to study functions of this type of receptor. Membrane potential assay was also employed to measure the intrinsic activity of kratom in comparison to U50,488, a highly selective kappa agonist. Results Treatment with kratom diminished stress-induced analgesia in wildtype and MOR knockout animals. Pretreatment of MOR deficient mice with BNT resulted in similar effects. In comparison to U50,488, kratom exhibited negligible intrinsic activity at KOR alone. Conclusions The results suggest that the use of kratom as a pharmacological tool to mitigate withdrawal symptoms is related to its action on KOR.

We prove the existence of an infinite number of internal (shape) modes of sine-Gordon solitons in the presence of some inhomogeneous long-range forces, provided some conditions are satisfied., Comment: 10 pages

Resumen: Introducción: La ecografía a pie de cama es cada vez más utilizada por los pediatras que tratan a niños críticos. El objetivo del estudio es describir la disponibilidad, el uso y la formación específica existente para esta técnica en las UCIP de nuestro entorno. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal multicéntrico mediante una encuesta en línea. Resultados: Se identificaron 51 UCIP en nuestro país, el 64,7% respondió a la encuesta. El 53,1% dispone de ecógrafo propio, el 25% lo comparte con otras unidades ubicándose en la unidad y el 21,9% dispone de él pero está ubicado en otra unidad. La disponibilidad de ecógrafo no se relacionó con el tamaño, la complejidad asistencial o el número de ingresos anuales. El 35% emplea la ecografía diariamente; esto se relacionó con la ubicación del ecógrafo en la unidad (p = 0,026), con la realización de trasplantes (p = 0,009), la disponibilidad de ECMO (p = 0,006) y con el número de ingresos anuales (p = 0,015). El 45,5% tiene menos del 50% de sus médicos con formación específica; el 18,2% ha formado a todos sus médicos. La presencia de más del 50% de médicos formados se asoció con mayor utilización a diario (p = 0,033) y con su uso para evaluar la función cardiaca (p = 0,033), la volemia (p = 0,004) o la presencia de líquido intraabdominal (p = 0,021). Conclusiones: La ecografía a pie de cama es una técnica frecuentemente disponible en las UCIP españolas. La formación específica para su uso es hasta el momento heterogénea pero debe servir para potenciar su implantación. Abstract: Introduction: Point-of-care (bedside) ultrasound is being increasingly used by paediatricians who treat critically ill children. The aim of this study is to describe its availability, use, and specific training in Paediatric Intensive Care Units in Spain. Material and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre study was performed using an online survey. Results: Of a total of 51 PICUs identified in our country, 64.7% responded to the survey. Just over half (53.1%) have their own ultrasound machine, 25% share it, with other units with the usual location in the PICU, and 21.9% share it, but it is usually located outside the PICU. Ultrasound machine availability was not related to size, care complexity, or number PICU admissions. The ultrasound was used daily in 35% of the units, and was associated with location of the machine in the PICU (P=.026), the existence of a transplant program (P=.009), availability of ECMO (P=.006), and number of admissions (P=.015). 45.5% of PICUs has less than 50% of the medical staff specifically trained in bedside ultrasound, and 18.2% have all their medical staff trained. The presence of more than 50% of medical staff trained was associated with a higher rate of daily use (P=.033), and with specific use to evaluate cardiac function (P=.033), intravascular volume estimation (P=.004), or the presence of intra-abdominal collections (P=.021). Conclusions: Bedside ultrasound is frequently available in Spanish PICUs. Specific training is still variable, but it should serve to enhance its implementation.

This study aimed to review current evidence on the results obtained after implementation of repositioning manoeuvres in the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). To do this, a search was made of Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL and PubMed databases for articles published from January 2010 to May 2016. Inclusion criteria consisted of studies in patients with BPPV treated with a repositioning manoeuvre, and with pre- and postintervention results. Seventeen studies were obtained. The main results indicate that the posterior semicircular canal is usually the most affected site and that BPPV is more common in men than in women and during the sixth and seventh decades of life; the main test used is the Dix-Hallpike test and the most widely used manoeuver is the Epley manoeuvre, which seems to be the most effective. However, guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV should be protocol-based, considering that the condition sometimes resolves spontaneously, there may be involvement of other semicircular canals, and certain movements may be contraindicated in some patients. There is a need for studies with higher methodological quality.

We present a case of iliopsoas abscess secondary to inflammatory bowel disease associated to glycogen storage disease 1b in a 12-year-old boy. To the best of our knowledge, a similar case has not been reported in medical literature.

[EN] High electron mobility III-V semiconductors like InGaAs are excellent candidates for sub-10 nm n-metal-oxide-semiconductor (nMOS) devices. One of the critical challenges in downscaling III-V devices is achieving low-resistance contacts by forming low-defect, ultra-shallow junctions, This work was financially supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (Grant numbers TEC2016-78433, MAT2017-85089-C2-1-R) and by CSIC (Grant number 201880E058). P.T. acknowledges support from CSIC Research Platform on Quantum Technologies PTI-001.

International audience; We report the indirect detection of an induced magnetic field in the ionosphere of Mars and its effects on the electron density behaviour. The observations were made by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) aboard Mars Express, in its Active Ionospheric Sounding mode. During several orbits on June 2006, the ionosphere showed an unusual behaviour, characterised by a compression of the plasma above the main ionospheric peak as observed by the topside total electron content, the plasma scale height, and the local plasma in the Mars Express surroundings. The compression was most likely due to an induced magnetic field originating from the solar wind and measured by the MARSIS antennas, which was able to penetrate into the ionosphere. In particular, for several profiles, the density distribution can be clearly defined by two different plasma scale heights, which indicates a transition region between both of them. From the balance of magnetic and thermal plasma pressures and from a comparison with a numerical model of the Martian ionosphere, the hypothesis of a penetrating induced magnetic field down to a transition altitude around 150 km is confirmed. This compressed ionosphere has also been compared with data from other orbits in the same location and at the same time period, i.e. 18.5 days of difference between first and last orbits, where there is no measured induced magnetic field, and the orbits show a clearly different behaviour.

We consider a model of fractional diffusion involving the natural nonlocal version of the $p$-Laplacian operator. We study the Dirichlet problem posed in a bounded domain $\Omega$ of ${\mathbb{R}}^N$ with zero data outside of $\Omega$, for which the existence and uniqueness of strong nonnegative solutions is proved, and a number of quantitative properties are established. A main objective is proving the existence of a special separate variable solution $U(x,t)=t^{-1/(p-2)}F(x)$, called the friendly giant, which produces a universal upper bound and explains the large-time behaviour of all nontrivial nonnegative solutions in a sharp way. Moreover, the spatial profile $F$ of this solution solves an interesting nonlocal elliptic problem. We also prove everywhere positivity of nonnegative solutions with any nontrivial data, a property that separates this equation from the standard $p$-Laplacian equation., Comment: 21 pages

We consider the natural time-dependent fractional p -Laplacian equation posed in the whole Euclidean space, with parameters p > 2 and s ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) (fractional exponent). We show that the Cauchy Problem for data in the Lebesgue L q spaces is well posed, and show that the solutions form a family of non-expansive semigroups with regularity and other interesting properties. As main results, we construct the self-similar fundamental solution for every mass value M , and prove that general finite-mass solutions converge towards that fundamental solution having the same mass, and convergence holds in all L q spaces. A number of additional properties and estimates complete the picture.

We report on the development of an electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of ponceau 4R (P4R) and tartrazine (TR) dyes in non-alcoholic beverages. The sensor is based on the sequential modification of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode with WS2 and diamond nanoparticles (DNP). First, we have performed a computational study to select, among several eco-friendly solvents, the most adequate for exfoliating the 2D nanomaterial from bulk WS2. From this study, four solvents (triacetin, triethyl citrate, dimethylisosorbide and ethanol/water) were preselected for obtaining WS2 dispersions that were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The sensors obtained with these WS2 dispersions and DNP were tested for the determination of both dyes, finding the best results for ethanol/water. We have verified that the presence of both nanomaterials gives rise to an enhancement in the response with respect to both the bare GC and the sensor containing only one of them. The response consists of a pair of peaks corresponding to P4R (+0.69 V) and TR (+0.96 V) and a peak at around +0.2 V, coming from both dyes. After optimizing the initial potential in differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) measurements, we found that when −0.30 V is applied, the peak at +0.2 V is only due to P4R. This lower potential value is more adequate than that at +0.69 V to perform the determination of P4R. As a result of the capability to determine P4R at a low potential together with the synergistic effect between both nanomaterials, which leads to improved sensitivities, our methodology allows the simultaneous determination of both dyes with good analytical properties.

In the current work, ultrasound irradiation is used to obtain nanocomposite materials by assembling fibrous clay minerals (sepiolite or palygorskite) and nanocellulose (cellulose nanofibers, CNF), which can be directly produced from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) through high-shear mechanical and sonomechanical treatments in the presence of the silicate. In this process, the ultrasound energy, evaluated from 1 to 50 kJ, produces the fibrillation from the outer layers of MCC together with partial disintegration of the amorphous regions, leading to high aspect ratio cellulose nanofibers with diameter below 100 nm and variable length around 1 μm. In the presence of sepiolite, a stable gel is formed due to the homogeneous dispersion of both organic and inorganic components, even at very low applied energies like 1 kJ. The generated biohybrid gels can be processed by solvent casting as self-standing films, which show an increase in the Young's modulus with respect to films of sonicated MCC alone, with the best results of 3.0 GPa for sepiolite loadings around 20–35% w/w. The ultrasound treatment produced also a strong decrease in the hydrophilicity of MCC when the applied energy was higher than 20 kJ, as determined from the corresponding water sorption isotherms. However, the applied energy does not affect the water sorption capacity of the nanocomposites containing sepiolite, showing similar isotherms for a given composition independently of the applied energy. The main difference among those nanocomposites is due to the sepiolite content, and thus, the isotherms corresponding to compositions with 20% w/w of sepiolite are closer to that of MCC alone. Those samples with low sepiolite loadings and prepared at applied energies of 20 kJ or higher also showed better water vapor transmission rates (WVTR). These results confirm that an optimal loading of 20% w/w sepiolite provided the lowest value of WVTR (286 g/m2 day) in comparison to nanocomposites with higher sepiolite content, while keeping good mechanical properties (Young's modulus of 2.8 GPa). This is an easy methodology for preparation of nanocellulose/fibrous clay minerals composite materials that allows the further incorporation of other functional nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes, to obtain in this case biohybrid materials provided with electrical conductivity.

Graphene Oxide (GO) is considered an ideal candidate for the fabrication of hydrogen gas (H2 (g)) sensors due to its excellent capabilities for direct wiring, thanks to the presence of functional groups, which provide an opportunity to modify its chemical functionalities. In this study, we have fabricated a H2 (g) sensor based on the precise positioning of GO flakes across sputtered aluminium-doped ZnO (AZO) electrodes on a glass substrate using a positive dielectrophoretic force (DEP). GO flakes assembly was performed between AZO electrodes gap of 4 μm and optimized by controlling the DEP parameters. A chemical reduction using a solution of 10 mM sodium borohydride was used to enhance the conductivity of the GO flakes up to two orders of magnitude. The arrangement of the GO flakes, the efficiency of the reduction process, the morphology and the surface potential of these was analyzed by Atomic Force and Kelvin Probe Microscopies. A reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) work function in the range of 4.7–4.9 eV was obtained. Moreover, the H2 (g) response of rGO/AZO sensor was studied by two types of tests. First test consists of a single 10 min exposure of pure H2 (g), collecting the IV directly data in order to obtain the sensitivity of the rGO to be of ∼100 % at 1 V. Second test consists of a batch of different time exposures to analyze the stress performance and the saturation level of the sensor. Finally, the impact of the ambient conditions on our sensor sensitivity was studied.

Chirostoma estor estor, commonly known as whitefish, is an important species that lives in some Mexican lakes and is endangered due to overexploitation. This work proposes a new computational model for water quality assessment in freshwater intensive culture tanks using fuzzy logic, and an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The most critical parameters for whitefish culture, namely dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, total ammonia, and non-ionized ammonia, were measured. Using measurements from real cultured tanks, different situations were studied to define importance parameter weights. As a result, an index concerning good or bad water quality conditions was obtained. Chirostoma farms were assessed using the proposed index to detect potential undesirable situations, improving water management for a constant growth, reproduction and survival of this important fish.