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Abstract To analyse mortality associated to emergency admissions on weekends, differentiating whether the patients were admitted to the Internal Medicine department or to the hospital as a whole. Retrospective follow-up study of patients discharged between 2015 and 2019 in: (a) the Internal Medicine department (n = 7656) and (b) the hospital as a whole (n = 83,146). Logistic regression models were fitted to analyse the risk of death, adjusting for age, sex, severity, Charlson index, sepsis, pneumonia, heart failure and day of admission. Cox models were also adjusted for the time from admission until normal inpatient care. There was a significant increase in mortality for patients admitted in weekends with short stays in Internal Medicine (48, 72 and 96 h: OR = 2.50, 1.89 and 1.62, respectively), and hospital-wide (OR = 2.02, 1.41 and 1.13, respectively). The highest risk in weekends occurred on Fridays (stays ≤ 48 h: OR = 3.92 [95% CI 2.06–7.48]), being no significative on Sundays. The risk increased with the time elapsed from admission until the inpatient department took over care (OR = 5.51 [95% CI 1.42–21.40] when this time reached 4 days). In Cox models patients reached HR = 2.74 (1.00–7.54) when the delay was 4 days. Whether it was Internal Medicine or hospital-wide patients, the risk of death associated with emergency admission in WE increased with the time between admission and transfer of care to the inpatient department; consequently, Friday was the day with the highest risk while Sunday lacked a weekend effect. Healthcare systems should correct this serious problem.

Abstract Background To investigate the incidence of non-cancer mortalities and prognostic factors associated with competitive causes of death in a homogeneous cohort of patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy and systemic treatment. Methods This study included 284 patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy and systemic treatment between 2005 and 2017. The cumulative incidence of death associated with tumour, second tumours, treatment, side effects and comorbidity was calculated. A Fine and Gray regression model was used to investigate factors associated with cancer and competitive mortality. Results The cumulative incidence of tumoral death at 5 and 10 years were 35 and 47% respectively, whereas the cumulative incidence of competitive mortality were 10 and 12% respectively. In the multivariate analysis, age and comorbidity were independent factors for non-cancer mortality. Patients with a high risk of non-cancer mortality presented a cumulative incidence of 17.3% at 5 years and 18.4% at 10 years. Conclusions This study demonstrated a high incidence of competing mortality in older patients with comorbidities. Non-cancer deaths should be considered when selecting patients for combination therapies and in the study design ofclinical trials.

Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) combine geographic information with citizen or community participation to integrate local knowledge with issues related to natural resource management, territorial planning, and environmental pollution that are fundamental to decision-making. However, the current challenge is involving and educating the population to succeed in the PGIS. For this reason, a PGIS system was implemented to identify areas with higher solid waste accumulation and to determine the accuracy of the reports made by the trained population. A participatory platform was implemented using ArcGIS (Online, Desktop, Survey123, Web App Builder, and Experience Builder) for daily reporting of areas contaminated by solid waste. The information obtained for two months was used to generate Kernel density maps, which made it possible to identify the most contaminated regions of the city. A total of 2778 areas contaminated by solid waste were reported during the evaluation period, where 53 % (1486) presented a low level of contamination (area less than 1 m2), 16 % (442) had a medium level of contamination (area equal to 1 m2) and 31 % (850) reported a high level of contamination (area greater than 1 m2). The results allowed the generation of Kernel density maps showing 24 areas classified as 'Extremely High'. Saturdays and Sundays reported higher contamination concerning the other days of the week. The accumulation of contaminants is mainly in the water bodies located in the study area.

Se han descrito hasta ochos estructuras anatómicas causas de compresión del nervio mediano en su recorrido, siendo muy raras las originadas por un proceso supracondíleo y ligamento de Struthers, que desde un punto de vista anatómico hay que diferenciarlo de la Arcada de Struthers, aunque no descrita por este autor, y sitio de compresión del nervio cubital en el codo. En el síndrome de Struthers, a diferencia de la compresión del nervio mediano en otras localizaciones, el tratamiento quirúrgico inicial consigue la desaparición de la sintomatología neurológica en menos de un mes.

En la zona de canteras de Valdeinfierno, en el sector de Batallones-Malcovadeso, parte centro-meridional de la Cuenca de Madrid, se ha reconocido una serie de depósitos carbonáticos que presentan geometría dómica y estructura interna columnar. Dentro de estos depósitos de carbonato se distinguen dos unidades. La inferior (U2) es mayoritariamente dolomítica y de estructura brechoide, y petrográficamente consiste en dolomicritas con cemento calcítico. La superior (U3) está formada tanto por dolomita como por calcita, y se caracteriza por el desarrollo de morfologías columnares de aspecto travertínico. Petrográficamente, los depósitos de esta unidad consisten en caliza con texturas alveolar y biogénica. Entre las columnas de carbonato se distinguen abundantes masas arcillosas. Hacia la base de estas unidades carbonáticas se sitúa una unidad detrítica (U1), formada por arenas feldespáticas y a su techo se dispone un conjunto lutítico con alguna intercalación carbonática de composición dolomítica (Unidad U4) y, por encima de estas lutitas, un conjunto calizo (Unidad U5). Las arcillas presentes en la unidad U3 tienen una composición (sepiolita > esmectita trioctaédrica ± illita) netamente diferente a las de la unidad U4 (esmectita dioctaédrica > illita ± caolinita). La composición isotópica de los carbonatos de las unidades U2 y U3, así como de los niveles carbonatados de la unidad U4, es bastante similar en el caso de la dolomita, con valores δ13C que oscilan entre –6,21 y –7,78‰ y entre –3,23 y –4,05‰ para el δ18O. Por otro lado, desde un punto de vista de su composición isotópica, se diferencian los carbonatos de la unidad 4 y del techo de la unidad 2, exclusivamente calcíticos, en los que los valores de δ13C oscilan entre –8,07 y –11,75‰, y los de δ18O entre –5,27 y –7,35‰. La calcita existente en los niveles dolomíticos presenta valores intermedios entre los dos grupos anteriores. Los rasgos de la sucesión sedimentaria y los resultados analíticos obtenidos indican una fase de expansión lacustre en la zona estudiada con un cambio en la química de las aguas, todo ello favorecido por la entrada de aguas subterráneas a través de surgencias.

El polvo de aluminio (pAl) es un residuo peligroso procedente de la metalurgia secundaría del aluminio. Con objeto de reducir la reactividad del mismo, en el CENIM se ha desarrollado un proceso de estabilización/solidificación mediante su fraguado con yeso. En este trabajo se presenta el estudio del comportamiento térmico del pAl estabilizado con el yeso, con el fin de establecer la influencia del residuo en las reacciones de hidratación/deshidratación del yeso durante el proceso del fraguado, a saber: deshidratación parcial del sulfato cálcico dihidrato, deshidratación del hemihidrato, deshidratación del hidróxido de aluminio y transformación de anhidrita soluble en anhidrita insoluble. Asimismo se ha estudiado la cinética asociada a cada una de las reacciones anteriormente mencionadas mediante Calorimetría Diferencial de Barrido.

Wildfire represents a significant threat to ecosystems and communities in the Department of Amazonas, Peru, causing losses in biodiversity and land degradation and affecting socioeconomic security. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of burned areas (BAs) from 1986 to 2023 to identify recurrence patterns and their impact on different types of land use and land cover (LULC). Landsat 5, 7, and 8 satellite images, processed by Google Earth Engine (GEE) using a decision tree approach, were used to map and quantify the affected areas. The results showed that the BAs were mainly concentrated in the provinces of Utcubamba, Luya, and Rodríguez de Mendoza, with a total of 1208.85 km2 burned in 38 years. The most affected land covers were pasture/grassland (38.25%), natural cover (forest, dry forest, and shrubland) (29.55%) and agricultural areas (14.74%). Fires were most frequent between June and November, with the highest peaks in September and August. This study provides crucial evidence for the implementation of sustainable management strategies, fire prevention, and restoration of degraded areas, contributing to the protection and resilience of Amazonian ecosystems against future wildfire threats.

En este trabajo se estudia la variabilidad composicional (mineralógica y geoquímica) y textural de la capa principal de bentonita (saponita) del depósito de Yuncos (Toledo), en el sector suroccidental de la cuenca de Madrid. Desde un punto de vista sedimentológico se han diferenciado en la capa bentonítica dos episodios: uno inferior (1) caracterizado por litofacies de lutitas masivas, que muestran lateralmente microfacies brechoides-bioturbadas (columna A) a intraclásticas con «glébulas» y materia orgánica (columnas B y C), y otro episodio superior (11) constituido por lutitas laminadas-Iajeadas con ooides calcíticos, que muestra un escaso desarrollo en las columnas estudiadas. El primer episodio se interpreta como depósitos de encharcamiento palustre somero sobre facies de «mud-flat» lacustre, y el segundo como correspondiente a depósitos en pequeños encharcamientos rellenando depresiones sobre la bentonita del episodio inferior que es parcialmente removilizada. De los datos texturales se infiere que la columna A corresponde a la zona con mayor grado de somerización, mientras que la C es la que presenta rasgos de un mayor período de encharcamiento, siendo la B transicional entre ambas. Mineralógicamente se observa una disminución progresiva en el contenido de minerales heredados (cuarzo, feldespatos, illita-mica) en la dirección A-C, que coincide con un incremento en la proporción de fracción arcilla en las granulometrías. La arcilla está constituida fundamentalmente por saponita, con illita abundante en la columna A y sepiolita mejor desarrollada en la zona transicional (columna B). Estas características se reflejan en el comportamiento geoquímico, con A12O3, K2O, Fe2O3, Na2O y TiO2 decreciendo en la dirección A-C (correlación positiva), mientras que MgO es su antagonista (correlación negativa). Los elementos traza, especialmente Ba, Nb, Pb, V y Zn, siguen también una evolución que, como en los elementos mayores, se relaciona con la proporción de minerales detríticos. Las diferencias observadas en la mineralogía, quimismo y texturas de la capa bentonítica se relacionan con: a) La posición respecto a la entrada de aportes. b) El grado de participación de procesos paleoedáficos vérticos durante episodios de somerización-exposición. Los estudios con SEM-EDAX han puesto de manifiesto la existencia de saponitas con rasgos texturales y composicionales diferentes, lo que sugiere dos generaciones: una asociada a procesos de transformación (Al/Mg > 0,3) y otra a neoformación (Al/Mg < 0,3).

Deep learning (DL) has recently emerged as an innovative tool to downscale climate variables from large-scale atmospheric fields under the perfect-prognosis (PP) approach. Different convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been applied under present-day conditions with promising results, but little is known about their suitability for extrapolating future climate change conditions. Here, we analyze this problem from a multi-model perspective, developing and evaluating an ensemble of CNN-based downscaled projections (hereafter DeepESD) for temperature and precipitation over the European EUR-44i (0.5∘) domain, based on eight global circulation models (GCMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). To our knowledge, this is the first time that CNNs have been used to produce downscaled multi-model ensembles based on the perfect-prognosis approach, allowing us to quantify inter-model uncertainty in climate change signals. The results are compared with those corresponding to an EUR-44 ensemble of regional climate models (RCMs) showing that DeepESD reduces distributional biases in the historical period. Moreover, the resulting climate change signals are broadly comparable to those obtained with the RCMs, with similar spatial structures. As for the uncertainty of the climate change signal (measured on the basis of inter-model spread), DeepESD preserves the uncertainty for temperature and results in a reduced uncertainty for precipitation. To facilitate further studies of this downscaling approach, we follow FAIR principles and make publicly available the code (a Jupyter notebook) and the DeepESD dataset. In particular, DeepESD is published at the Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF), as the first continental-wide PP dataset contributing to CORDEX (EUR-44).

Cancer whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing (cWGTS) has been challenging to implement in clinical settings. Here, the authors develop a workflow to deliver robust cWGTS analyses and reports within clinically-relevant timeframes for paediatric, adolescent and young adult solid tumour patients.

Se han estudiado diferentes procesos de alteración argílica avanzada en tobas dacíticas, ignimbritas riodacíticas y aglomerados andesíticos, observándose el desarrollo de procesos supergénicos posteriores que destacan por su influencia en la modificación de la cristalinidad y hábito de las fases silíceas y ferruginosas primarias. En los materiales tobáceos se desarrollan alteraciones masivas zonadas en la vertical. En las zonas inferiores se observan procesos de propilitización y silicificación (cuarzo, clorita, illita ± pirita) que evolucionan a paragénesis argílicas (illita, caolinita ± alunita) en las zonas intermedias y a materiales silíceos cuarzoaluníticos en las zonas superiores. En la transición entre las zonas intermedias y los horizontes silíceos se desarrollan aureolas ferruginosas y corazas limoníticas. En los materiales de tipo aglomerático e ignimbrítico se desarrollan alteraciones similares con carácter fisuralligadas a zonas de intensa fracturación. En las zonas fisurales predominan los procesos de removilización supergénica, observándose un mayor tamaño, grado de idiomorfismo y cristalinidad de agregados y cristales de cuarzo, en comparación con los niveles silíceos superiores de alteración masiva en las tobas. En los sectores de alteración masiva, las paragénesis argílicas con alunita, presentan importantes concentraciones de CI (0.4%), mientras que en las corazas ferruginosas se concentran Sb (30 ppm.) y As (500 ppm.). Este último también está presente en los horizontes silíceos (80 ppm.). Se discute un modelo genético en relación con la circulación hidrotermal de aguas marinas en consonancia con ambientes geoquímicos ligados a fuentes termales. Asimismo, se analiza la influencia de los procesos supergénicos y de meteorización responsables de la removilización de los elementos traza analizados (CI, As y Sb) junto con el Fe, así como de la evolución morfológica y de la cristalinidad de los materiales silíceos.

El análisis de la composición mineral de materiales arcillosos con sepiolita, pone de manifiesto variaciones significativas en el contenido de este mineral, con respecto a esmectitas e illitas, minerales terrígenos (cuarzo y feldespato) y carbonatos (calcita y dolomita) según la potencia de los materiales. La formación de sepiolita se relaciona con un proceso de silicificación, que controla el tipo de textura, el grado de cristalinidad y el tamaño de los agregados de sepiolita en función de la relación SiO22/MgO. La silicificación está favorecida por la presencia de CO3Ca, el carácter alternante de la tabla de agua, con mecanismos de disolución-precipitación, da lugar en las zonas más superficiales a suelos hidromórficos. En estos suelos la sepiolita se forma principalmente sobre lutitas verdosas ricas en saponita, con desarrollo de texturas glomerulares y laminares. En zonas más profundas se desarrollan texturas masivas de sepiolita, de tipo reticular sobre materiales arcillosos, y en forma de cémentos cuando predominan minerales terrígenos, ambos de carácter diagenético.

En el área estudiada, desde un punto de vista litológico se han diferenciado tres tramos: a) Lutítico. Lutitas verdes y rosáceas con intercalaciones samíticas e incipiente desarrollo de calcretas. la asociación de minerales de la arcilla es: esmectita-interestratificados (kerolitaestevensita)-sepiolita-illita-caolinita. b) Lutítico-calcáreo. Lutitas verdes y calcretas con un nivel samítico en la base del tramo. La asociación de minerales de la arcil1a es: esmectita-illita-paligorskita-sepiolita-eaolinita. c) Lutítico-dolomítico. Lutitas verdes y dolomicritas. La asociación de minerales de la arcilla es: esmectita-illita-paligorskita-sepiolita. Los resultados permiten establecer una génesis de sepiolita y paligorskita en relación con ambientes lacustres-palustres, donde los procesos edafodiagenéticos (carbonatación, dolomitización, silicificación, vertisolización) provocan la desestabilización de fases esmectíticas precursoras. De acuerdo con el carácter di o trioctaédrico de la esmectita se propicia la formación de paligorskita o sepiolita, respectivamente.

The increasing demand for high-resolution climate information has attracted growing attention to statistical downscaling (SDS) methods, due in part to their relative advantages and merits as compared to dynamical approaches (based on regional climate model simulations), such as their much lower computational cost and their fitness for purpose for many local-scale applications. As a result, a plethora of SDS methods is nowadays available to climate scientists, which has motivated recent efforts for their comprehensive evaluation, like the VALUE initiative (http://www.value-cost.eu, last access: 29 March 2020). The systematic intercomparison of a large number of SDS techniques undertaken in VALUE, many of them independently developed by different authors and modeling centers in a variety of languages/environments, has shown a compelling need for new tools allowing for their application within an integrated framework. In this regard, downscaleR is an R package for statistical downscaling of climate information which covers the most popular approaches (model output statistics – including the so-called “bias correction” methods – and perfect prognosis) and state-of-the-art techniques. It has been conceived to work primarily with daily data and can be used in the framework of both seasonal forecasting and climate change studies. Its full integration within the climate4R framework (Iturbide et al., 2019) makes possible the development of end-to-end downscaling applications, from data retrieval to model building, validation, and prediction, bringing to climate scientists and practitioners a unique comprehensive framework for SDS model development. In this article the main features of downscaleR are showcased through the replication of some of the results obtained in VALUE, placing an emphasis on the most technically complex stages of perfect-prognosis model calibration (predictor screening, cross-validation, and model selection) that are accomplished through simple commands allowing for extremely flexible model tuning, tailored to the needs of users requiring an easy interface for different levels of experimental complexity. As part of the open-source climate4R framework, downscaleR is freely available and the necessary data and R scripts to fully replicate the experiments included in this paper are also provided as a companion notebook.

Deep learning techniques (in particular convolutional neural networks, CNNs) have recently emerged as a promising approach for statistical downscaling due to their ability to learn spatial features from huge spatiotemporal datasets. However, existing studies are based on complex models, applied to particular case studies and using simple validation frameworks, which makes a proper assessment of the (possible) added value offered by these techniques difficult. As a result, these models are usually seen as black boxes, generating distrust among the climate community, particularly in climate change applications. In this paper we undertake a comprehensive assessment of deep learning techniques for continental-scale statistical downscaling, building on the VALUE validation framework. In particular, different CNN models of increasing complexity are applied to downscale temperature and precipitation over Europe, comparing them with a few standard benchmark methods from VALUE (linear and generalized linear models) which have been traditionally used for this purpose. Besides analyzing the adequacy of different components and topologies, we also focus on their extrapolation capability, a critical point for their potential application in climate change studies. To do this, we use a warm test period as a surrogate for possible future climate conditions. Our results show that, while the added value of CNNs is mostly limited to the reproduction of extremes for temperature, these techniques do outperform the classic ones in the case of precipitation for most aspects considered. This overall good performance, together with the fact that they can be suitably applied to large regions (e.g., continents) without worrying about the spatial features being considered as predictors, can foster the use of statistical approaches in international initiatives such as Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX).

The use of Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI) images in estimating chlorophyll-a (total and class-differentiated)a concentration is promising owing to Sentinel-3’s 21 bands. This was investigated for the case of Laguna de Bay (or Laguna Lake), Philippines. Field surveys were conducted on 13–17 November 2018 using FluoroProbe, a submersible fluorimeter capable of quantifying concentrations of spectral classes of microalgae. These were regressed with reflectance data obtained from 10-day composite Sentinel-3 reflectance images as well as ten empirical algorithms (indices) for OLCI. Compared to band reflectance, the 10 indices yielded stronger correlations, especially with R665/R709, R674/R709, and (1/R665-1/R709)xR754 with the following respective correlation values: −0.623, −0.646, and 0.628. Multiple regression results indicates that 48% of the variability of total chl-a concentration is explained by five explanatory (reflectance) variables (R412, R443, R560, R681, and R754) with RMSE of 2.814 μg/l. In contrast, the two indices R674/R754 and (1/R665-1/R709)xR754 accounted for about 46% of the variability of total chl-a concentration with RMSE of 2.475 μg/l. For diatoms and bluegreen microalgae, R560/R665 and (1/R665-1/R709)xR754 constitute the models with R2 of 0.21 and 0.435, and RMSE of 2.516 and 2.163 ug/l, respectively. Green microalgal concentration is jointly described by three indices: R560/R665, R674/R754, and R709-R754, with R2 = 0.182 and RMSE = 1.219 μg/l. From cryptophytes, the model comprising of R560/R665, (1/R665-1/R709)xR754, and R709-R754 produced an R2 = 0.289 and RMSE = 0.767 μg/l. It can be said that the empirical algorithms can be used for Sentinel-3 OLCI data providing acceptable estimations of total and spectral class-differentiated chl-a concentration.

Land use and land cover monitoring is an important component in the management of Laguna Lake watershed due to its impacts on the lake’s water quality. Due to limitations caused by cloud cover, satellite systems with limited revisit capability fail to provide sufficient data to more effectively monitor the land surface. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from MODIS image data were used to generate land cover maps for the years 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017. These were produced by classifying ISODATA classes using annual NDVI profiles, which resulted in land cover classes, namely, agricultural land, built-up, forest, rangeland, water, and wetland. The resulting maps were post-processed using multi-variate alteration detection (MAD), resulting in multi-temporal land cover maps with improved overall accuracies and kappa coefficients that indicate moderate agreement with ground truth data. Spatiotemporal hot spot analysis was also performed using NDVI data from 2001 to 2017 to identify vegetation hot spot areas, where clustering of low NDVI values were observed over the years. Results showed an increasing trend in built-up areas accompanied by decreasing trends in water and wetland areas, indicating impacts caused by land reclamation and expansion of residential subdivisions near the lakeshore. The decrease in total vegetation area from 2001 to 2017 could be attributed to conversion of land to built-up surface. Vegetated areas in identified hot spots decreased from 41% in 2001 to 19% in 2017. This suggests that vegetation cover in these hot spots was converted to non-vegetated surface during the time period studied.

Recently, Neutrosophy theory and its application in decision-making has became in a significant issue for the scientific community. In this paper, an extension of the PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Ecological and Legal) tech-nique adapted to the neutrosophic environment is proposed for decision making in management. The proposal is specially tailored for the dynamic analysis of the different factors in an uncertain environment. The framework developed for the extension of the PESTEL technique to the neutrosophic environment is compound for six fundamental activities. A system of recommendation is designed for practical purposes. A case study is developed for the use of the neutrosophic PESTEL to show the applicability of the technique. The paper ends with conclusions and recommendations for future work.

Resumen: Objetivo: Presentar una metodología para optimizar, a través de la Z’-Score de Altman para empresas privadas, la predicción de entrada en situación de concurso de acreedores (bancarrota) en empresas privadas del sector sanitario español. Método: El método propuesto consiste en la aplicación de los algoritmos genéticos (AG) para encontrar los coeficientes de la fórmula de la cadena de ratios propuestos por Altman en su versión para empresas privadas que optimicen la predicción en empresas privadas sanitarias españolas, maximizando la sensibilidad y la especificidad, y con ello reduciendo los errores de tipo I y tipo II. Con este propósito se ha utilizado una muestra de 5903 empresas del sector sanitario privado español obtenidas de las bases de datos de Sistema de Análisis de Balances Ibéricos (SABI) entre los años 2007 y 2015. Resultados: El modelo predictivo obtenido con los AG presenta mayor exactitud, sensibilidad y especificidad que el propuesto por Altman para empresas privadas, tanto con los datos de test como con todos los datos de la muestra. Conclusiones: El hallazgo más importante del presente estudio es establecer una metodología que logra identificar unos coeficientes optimizados para la Z de Altman, lo cual permite realizar una predicción más precisa de la bancarrota en las empresas sanitarias privadas españolas. Abstract: Objective: This paper presents a methodology to optimize, using Altman's Z-Score for private companies, the prediction of private companies of the Spanish health sector entering a situation of bankruptcy. Method: The proposed method consists of the application of genetic algorithms (GA) to find the coefficients of the formula of the chain of ratios proposed by Altman in the version of the score for private companies which optimize the prediction for Spanish private health companies, maximizing sensitivity and specificity, and thereby reducing type I and type II errors. For this purpose, a sample of 5,903 companies from the Spanish private health sector obtained from the database of the Iberian Balance Analysis System (SABI) between 2007 and 2015 was used. Results: The results show that the predictive model obtained with the AG presents greater accuracy, sensitivity and specificity than that proposed by Altman for private companies with both test data and all sample data. Conclusions: The most important finding of this study was to establish a methodology that can identify the optimized coefficients for the Altman Z-Score, which allows a more accurate prediction of bankruptcy in Spanish private healthcare companies. Palabras clave: Empresas sanitarias, Concurso de acreedores, Z-Altman, Predicción, Algoritmos genéticos, Keywords: Health companies, Bankruptcy, Z-Altman, Prediction, Genetic algorithms

Fresh products demand natural preservatives without solvent traces. Calcium-based extraction of bioactive compounds from eggplant peels (EP), could be used as an alternative solvent-free natural antimicrobial food preservative agent. In this study, we extracted bioactive compounds from EP using different calcium salts (CaSO4, CaCO3, and CaCl2) and evaluated the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity, and bactericidal activity against Salmonella Typhimurium. The EP extracts obtained using 1% CaCO3 exhibited the highest total phenolic content and pronounced antioxidant activity. All EP extracts decreased Salmonella concentration after 10 and 12 h. In infected-lettuce leaves, the 1% CaCO3 EP extract inhibited bacterial growth at similar levels as a commercial disinfectant. The main compound identified in this EP extract was the chlorogenic acid. The extracts from EP obtained using calcium salts, represent a natural novel alternative preservative agent for the food industry, with antioxidant properties and potentially positive effects on human health.

The production of vegetables on substrates has become a great alternative. Therefore, different substrates were evaluated in a greenhouse lettuce culture. A completely randomized block design (BCA) with three treatments was used as follows: T1: peat 30% coconut peat 70%, T2: peat 70% coconut peat 30% and T3: peat 50 % Coconut peat 50%, for a total of 9 experimental units each consisting of 10 plants. Every 8 days, during 32 days, the height of the plant, fresh and dry mass of leaves and root, leaf area and every 2 days, the SPAD units and the stomatal conductivity (SC) were determined. There were significant differences in the SPAD units in time for day 11 ddt with a value of 20.7. The SC presented the highest values in T3 and T2 with values of 354.2 and 366.2 mol m-2 s–1, respectively. T1 presented the highest value of stomatal resistance (RE) with 7.5 m2 s mol–1. The leaf area and height did not show significant differences. T2 at 15 days after transplant showed the highest values of fresh root mass (MFR), dry root mass (MSR) and fresh leaf mass (MFH) with 3.1 g, 0.106 g and 13.19 g respectively. In harvest, T3 showed 10% and 15% more production of MFH in lettuce than treatments T2 and T1, respectively.

Synthetic molecules that mimic the function of natural enzymes or molecules have untapped potential for use in the next generation of drugs. Cyclic compounds that contain aromatic rings are macrocyclic cyclophanes, and when they coordinate iron ions are of particular interest due to their antioxidant and biomimetic properties. However, little is known about the molecular responses at the cellular level. This study aims to evaluate the changes in immune gene expression in human cells exposed to the cyclophanes Fe2PO and Fe2PC. Confluent human embryonic kidney cells were exposed to either the cyclophane Fe2PO or Fe2PC before extraction of RNA. The expression of a panel of innate and adaptive immune genes was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Evidence was found for an inflammatory response elicited by the cyclophane exposures. After 8 h of exposure, the cells increased the relative expression of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin 1; IRAK, which transduces signals between interleukin 1 receptors and the NFκB pathway; and the LPS pattern recognition receptor CD14. After 24 h of exposure, regulatory genes begin to counter the inflammation, as some genes involved in oxidative stress, apoptosis and non-inflammatory immune responses come into play. Both Fe2PO and Fe2PC induced similar immunogenetic changes in transcription profiles, but equal molar doses of Fe2PC resulted in more robust responses. These data suggest that further work in whole animal models may provide more insights into the extent of systemic physiological changes induced by these cyclophanes.

Sexual cyberbullying is becoming a serious problem in today's society. In the workplace, this issue is more complex because of the power imbalance between potential perpetrators and victims. Preventing sexual cyberbullying in organizations is very important for a safety and respectful workplace. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards establish certain policies to be considered to create an organizational culture based on zero tolerance to sexual cyberbullying. The research aims to broaden knowledge about personality and sexual cyberbullying. Therefore, this paper proposes a crucial tool to explore potential sexual cyberbullying behaviour. This study analysed how personality traits, particularly those related to the Dark Triad (psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism), might influence this behaviour. Participants (N = 374) were Spanish young adults, using the convenience sampling to recruit them. The methodology focused on the use of structural equation modelling and ensemble classification tree. First, we tested the proposed hypotheses with structural equation method based on covariance using the Lavaan R-package. Second, for the ensemble of classification trees, we applied the package randomForest and Adabag (bagging and boosting) in R. Results proposed high levels of psychopathy and Machiavellianism are more likely to be related to sexual cyberbullying behaviours. Organizations could use the tool proposed in this research to develop internal policies and procedures for detection and deterrence of potential cyberbullying behaviours. By raising awareness about cyberbullying behaviour including its conceptualisation and measurement in training courses, organizations might build an organizational culture based on a respectful workplace without sexual cyberbullying behaviours.

El estómago intratorácico congénito es una condición sumamente rara y requiere reconocimiento oportuno y manejo médico y quirúrgico adecuado. Los principales diagnósticos diferenciales de esta condición son esófago corto congénito real y hernia hiatal. Presentamos el caso de un recién nacido con imágenes radiológicas altamente sugestivas de estómago intratorácico congénito. Hacemos énfasis en que la vigilancia perinatal ultrasonográfica juega un papel sumamente importante en la detección, el seguimiento y el manejo oportuno de pacientes como este.

Background: Blood transfusion is a valuable therapeutic tool for massive bleeding in spite of inherent risks and makes the difference between life and death. Rational use of blood components and particularly of red blood cells concentrates (RBC) request for surgery could minimize the transfusional reactions and financial burden for blood banks. Objective: To know the transfusion practice and the relationship between the request and use of RBC in programmed surgeries at the General Hospital of Mexico. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted and data analysis based in the number of RBC units required from the blood bank were compared with the number of RBC units transfused. Medical records, surgical notes, anesthesia worksheets, nursing and laboratory reports from a 6 months period, were reviewed. Results: During the studied period, 354 RBC were requested from the blood bank from different surgical specialties; with a total of 680 units. From these only 63 (9.2%) were transfused vs 617 (90.7%) that were not used and were returned to the blood bank. Conclusions: RBC requests were excessive compared to the real demand; this represents inadequate blood requests and elevated costs for the blood bank and the health system. There is a need to promote strategies through the institutional Transfusion Medicine Committee.

Introduction: The nationwide epidemiological research of transfusion-transmitted diseases is relevant since the information provided by blood banks makes possible the knowledge of the distribution and seroprevalence of diseases, it also allows the indirect verification of the effectiveness of vaccination programs. Objective: To determinate the national seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Mexican blood donors in the blood banks registered at the Ministry of Health (SSA) in a 13 year period. Materials and methods: Analysis of the monthly reports of blood banks (n = 555) sent to the National Center of Blood Transfusion (NCBT) and case detection of donors with HBV and HCV positive results (doubly reactive). Additionally, prevalence estimation for each serological marker was performed for the last year (2012) for each state. Results: A total of 19,096,294 and 18,617,288 monthly reports with results of serological tests for HBV and HCV were respectively found in a period of 13 years (2000–2012). A decrease of 5375 (prevalence = 0.47) to 2675 (prevalence = 0.15) HBV seropositive cases was observed. The serologic marker for HCV showed an increase of 8170 (prevalence = 0.69) to 10,217 (prevalence = 0.57) seropositive cases. A higher prevalence was identified for both viruses in the adjacent states of the north border of the countries northern border in the latest report (compared to the national average). Conclusions: A decrease in HBV prevalence to 0.15 in the 13 years period was observed, but the prevalence for HCV marker showed an increase to 0.57, this indicates that HCV remains a potential transfusion transmissible pathogen that needs effective and opportune treatment.

Introduction: Among the risks associated with hematopoietic stem cells transplantation of umbilical cord blood are bacterial infections. This becomes dangerous when bacterial sepsis is related to resistance to antibiotics commonly used to eliminate of this type infections. Among the widely used antibiotics are those of the β-lactam family. Among the genes responsible for the resistance are designated “bla genes” which encode for broad-spectrum lactamases. Its detection in the laboratory shown the importance in the manufacture of cord blood units. Objective: To correlate the antibiotic resistance in bacterial contaminants isolated from Umbilical Cord Blood Units (UCBU), with detection of genes encoding resistance of β-lactamics antibiotics. Materials and methods: Test of resistance to antibiotics was determined in 107 bacterial strains using disk diffusion method according to the recommendations of “The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)” and multiplex amplification by PCR of genes blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M were performed in order to detect genetic elements associated to antimicrobial resistance tested. Results: Broad-spectrum penicillins showed lower inhibitory activity on the tested strains. Gene detection by multiplex PCR of encoding antimicrobial resistance (β-lactamases) revealed the presence of bla–HSV, blaCTX-M and bla–TEM genes in most strains tested even when these genes have been reported in Enterobacteriaceae family members. Conclusions: The genotype detection encoding antibiotic resistance in isolates of UCBU clearly indicates the potential risk of sepsis difficult to eradicate in the patient, if present in a UCBU available for transplant. Additionally, the existence of these genes reveals horizontal transfer events of genetic material between bacteria. So the importance to realize this studies before transplant.

Introduction: The Umbilical Cord Blood Units (UCBU) for transplant are a therapeutic possibility for patients with a wide range of onco-hematologic disorders, especially in children. In Mexico, 48.5% of oncological diseases in children from 1 to 4 years old are leukemias; while in patients from 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 years of age lymphomas and leukemias are predominant and represent the second and third causes of death in these age groups, respectively. Therefore, is it necessary to have registries of UCBU to ensure the representation of the genetic diversity in Mexico in order to attend this requirement. Objective: To estimate the genetic diversity of HLA Class I (A, B) and Class II (DRB1) loci in cryopreserved UCBU of the Cord Blood Bank (CBB) at the National Center of Blood Transfusion (NCBT). Methods: HLA typing of 533 UCBU for transplant was performed at the Research Department (evaluated by “Los Angeles Ca. Inmunogenetics Center”). Class I HLA-A, HLA-B and Class II HLA-DRB1 typing was performed using medium resolution Sequence-Specific Primer (SSP). In cases of an ambiguity by SSP; Sequence-Specific Oligonucleotide (SSO) method was carried out. Results: 46.5% of the UCBU were obtained from Mexico City donors, 30.95% from the State of Mexico, 8.06% Puebla, 6.37% Morelos and 3.37% from Veracruz. The remaining UCBU 4.75% were represented by other states of the country. The most frequent loci for the HLA-A founded were *02/24, *02/68, *02/02, *02/30, *01/02, *02/31; for HLA-B, *35/39, *15/35, *35/40, *39/44, *07/35, *35/48, *39/40 and for HLA-DRB1, *04/08, *04/07, *04/15, *04/15, *04/03, *04/14. The genetic distances analysis showed that the top five populations analyzed in this study are significatively different from each other. Conclusions: The majority of the genotypes found suggest Amerindian and European origins and in a lesser proportion Oriental and African. The NCBT is therefore establishing agreements with different states of Mexico to promote the donation of UCBU in order to enrich the genetic diversity in the archives of the NCBT.

Introduction: Roseomonas is rarely involved in pathology but represents an important case of contamination when is associated to hematopoietic stem cells, having intrinsic resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics and the ability to gain new resistance factors. This is a report that follows a previous identification of contamination microorganisms in the cryopreserved Umbilical Cord Blood Units (UCBU) stored in the Cord Blood Bank (CBB) of the National Center of Blood Transfusion (NCBT) at Mexico City. Objective: Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Roseomonas genomospecies 5 isolated from UCBU. Materials and methods: Phenotypic enzyme diffusion tests in solid phase (proteases, amylases, hemolysins and lipases detection) and antimicrobials (for Gram negative bacteria) resistance tests were performed to determine the potential virulence and resistance of the strain isolated of the Umbilical Cord Blood Unit 2191. Additional PCR assays were performed to determine the presence of genetic elements associated to antimicrobial resistance: bla genes and Class 1 integrons. Also, a 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis was done on microbial strains isolated from UCBU. Results: Broad-spectrum penicillins, third generation cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones did not show inhibitory activity in the 2191 strain. We could only identify extracellular amylase activity. Gene detection by PCR of encoding antimicrobial resistance (β-lactamases) and Class 1 integrons revealed the presence of bla–HSV and bla–TEM variants in the 2191 strain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of Roseomonas genomospecies 5 in the 2191 UCBU (named 2191 strain). Conclusions: This is the first report on the isolation of Roseomonas genomospecies 5 in a UCBU for transplantation, an unusual bacteria isolated from umbilical cord blood, associated with a possible immunosuppression in the donor. Its presence in UCBU can be fatal in immunocompromised patients if it were used for transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC), due to the potential virulence of the strains and the resistance to antimicrobials commonly used.

The purpose of this study was to identify circulating biomarkers of recurrent non-infectious anterior uveitis (NIAU), and to address the anti-inflammatory effects of triglyceride containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA-TG). A prospective multicenter study was conducted in 72 participants distributed into: patients diagnosed with recurrent NIAU in the quiescence stage (uveitis group (UG); n = 36) and healthy controls (control group (CG); n = 36). Each group was randomly assigned to the oral supplementation of one pill/day (+) containing DHA-TG (n = 18) or no-pill condition (−) (n = 17) for three consecutive months. Data from demographics, risk factors, comorbidities, eye complications and therapy were recorded. Blood was collected and processed to determine pro-inflammatory biomarkers by bead-base multiplex assay. Statistical processing with multivariate statistical analysis was performed. The mean age was 50, 12 (10, 31) years. The distribution by gender was 45% males and 55% females. The mean number of uveitis episodes was 5 (2). Higher plasma expression of interleukin (IL)-6 was detected in the UG versus the CG (p = 5 × 10−5). Likewise, significantly higher plasma levels were seen for IL-1β, IL-2, INFγ (p = 10−4), and TNFα (p = 2 × 10−4) in the UG versus the CG. Significantly lower values of the above molecules were found in the +DHA-TG than in the -DHA-TG subgroups, after 3 months of follow-up, TNFα (p = 10−7) and IL-6 (p = 3 × 10−6) being those that most significantly changed. Signatures of circulating inflammatory mediators were obtained in the quiescent stage of recurrent NIAU patients. This 3-month follow-up strongly reinforces that a regular oral administration of DHA-TG reduces the inflammatory load and may potentially supply a prophylaxis-adjunctive mediator for patients at risk of uveitis vision loss.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and ROS-signaling pathways activation attack the eyes. We evaluated the oxidative stress (OS) and the effects of a daily, core nutritional supplement regimen containing antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids (A/ω3) in type 2 diabetics (T2DM). A case-control study was carried out in 480 participants [287 T2DM patients with (+)/without (−) diabetic retinopathy (DR) and 193 healthy controls (CG)], randomly assigned to a daily pill of A/ω3. Periodic evaluation through 38 months allowed to outline patient characteristics, DR features, and classic/OS blood parameters. Statistics were performed by the SPSS 24.0 program. Diabetics displayed significantly higher circulating pro-oxidants (p = 0.001) and lower antioxidants (p = 0.0001) than the controls. Significantly higher plasma malondialdehyde/thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (MDA/TBARS; p = 0.006) and lower plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC; p = 0.042) and vitamin C (0.020) was found in T2DM + DR versus T2DM-DR. The differential expression profile of solute carrier family 23 member 2 (SLC23A2) gene was seen in diabetics versus the CG (p = 0.001), and in T2DM + DR versus T2DM − DR (p < 0.05). The A/ω3 regime significantly reduced the pro-oxidants (p < 0.05) and augmented the antioxidants (p < 0.05). This follow-up study supports that a regular A/ω3 supplementation reduces the oxidative load and may serve as a dietary prophylaxis/adjunctive intervention for patients at risk of diabetic blindness.

An indirect effect of global warming is a reduction in the depth of the upper mixed layer (UML) causing organisms to be exposed to higher levels of ultraviolet (UVR, 280–400 nm) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm). This can affect primary and bacterial production as well as the commensalistic phytoplankton–bacteria relationship. The combined effects of UVR and reduction in the depth of the UML were assessed on variables related to the metabolism of phytoplankton and bacteria, during in situ experiments performed with natural pico- and nanoplankton communities from two oligotrophic lakes with contrasting UVR transparency (high-UVR versus low-UVR waters) of southern Spain. The negative UVR effects on epilimnetic primary production (PP) and on heterotrophic bacterial production (HBP), intensified under increased stratification, were higher in the low-UVR than in the high-UVR lake, and stronger on the phytoplanktonic than on the heterotrophic bacterial communities. Under UVR and increased stratification, the commensalistic phytoplankton–bacteria relationship was strengthened in the high-UVR lake where excretion of organic carbon (EOC) rates exceeded the bacterial carbon demand (BCD; i.e., BCD : EOC(%) ratio < 100). This did not occur in the low-UVR lake (i.e., BCD : EOC(%) ratio > 100). The greater UVR damage to phytoplankton and bacteria and the weakening of their commensalistic interaction found in the low-UVR lake indicates that these ecosystems would be especially vulnerable to UVR and increased stratification as stressors related to global climate change. Thus, our findings may have important implications for the carbon cycle in oligotrophic lakes of the Mediterranean region.

The Cu2+, Mn2+, and Fe3+ complexes of a 14 membered macrocycle were synthesized and their antioxidant capacities were evaluated against ABTS and DPPH radicals, with the objective of collecting insights into the biomimetic role of the central metal ions. The macrocycle, abbreviated as H2L14, is a derivative of EDTA cyclized with 1,4-diamine, and the moderately flexible macrocyclic frame permits the formation of [ML14·H2O] chelates with octahedral coordination geometries common among the metal ions. The metal complexes were characterized by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic methods, as well as thermogravimetric analysis; the octahedral coordination geometries with water coordination were optimized by DFT calculations. The antioxidant assays showed that [FeL14·H2O]+ was able to scavenge synthetic radicals with moderate capacity, whereas the other metal chelates did not show significant activity. The Raman spectrum of DPPH in solution suggests that interaction was operative between the Fe3+ chelate and the radical so as to cause scavenging capability. The nature of the central metal ions is a controlling factor for antioxidant capacity, as every metal chelate carries the same coordination geometry.

Global change, together with human activities, has resulted in increasing amounts of organic material (including nutrients) that water bodies receive. This input further attenuates the penetration of solar radiation, leading to the view that opaque lakes are more "protected" from solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) than clear ones. Vertical mixing, however, complicates this view as cells are exposed to fluctuating radiation regimes, for which the effects have, in general, been neglected. Furthermore, the combined impacts of mixing, together with those of UVR and nutrient inputs are virtually unknown. In this study, we carried out complex in situ experiments in three high mountain lakes of Spain (Lake Enol in the National Park Picos de Europa, Asturias, and lakes Las Yeguas and La Caldera in the National Park Sierra Nevada, Granada), used as model ecosystems to evaluate the joint impact of these climate change variables. The main goal of this study was to address the question of how short-term pulses of nutrient inputs, together with vertical mixing and increased UVR fluxes modify the photosynthetic responses of phytoplankton. The experimentation consisted in all possible combinations of the following treatments: (a) solar radiation: UVR &plus; PAR (280–700 nm) versus PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) alone (400–700 nm); (b) nutrient addition (phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N)): ambient versus addition (P to reach to a final concentration of 30 μg P L−1, and N to reach N:P molar ratio of 31); and (c) mixing: mixed (one rotation from surface to 3 m depth (speed of 1 m 4 min−1, total of 10 cycles)) versus static. Our findings suggest that under ambient nutrient conditions there is a synergistic effect between vertical mixing and UVR, increasing phytoplankton photosynthetic inhibition and excretion of organic carbon (EOC) from opaque lakes as compared to algae that received constant mean irradiance within the epilimnion. The opposite occurs in clear lakes where antagonistic effects were determined, with mixing partially counteracting the negative effects of UVR. Nutrient input, mimicking atmospheric pulses from Saharan dust, reversed this effect and clear lakes became more inhibited during mixing, while opaque lakes benefited from the fluctuating irradiance regime. These climate change related scenarios of nutrient input and increased mixing, would not only affect photosynthesis and production in lakes, but might also further influence the microbial loop and trophic interactions via enhanced EOC under fluctuating UVR exposure.

The cyclophanes 2,9,25,32-tetraoxo-4,7,27,30-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10, 24,27,30,33-octaaza-17,40-dioxa[10.1.10.1]paracyclophane (PO) and 2,9,25,32-tetraoxo-4,7,27,30-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10,24,27,30,33-octaaza[10.1.10.1]paracyclophane (PC) were coordinated with iron to form cationic binuclear Fe(III) Fe2PO and Fe2PC complexes, respectively. Their antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase mimetic activity, as well as their toxicity toward peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated. Both Fe2PO and Fe2PC are interesting biomimetics with antioxidant capacity similar to that of ascorbic acid that prevent mortality in cultured PBMCs, with the potential to have bioactive and protective functions in disease animal models.

To determine the case-fatality rate (CFR) at the end of the intensive phase of tuberculosis (TB) treatment, and factors associated with fatality.TB patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 were followed-up during treatment. We computed the CFR at the end of the intensive phase of TB treatment, and the incidence of death per 100 person-days (pd) of follow-up. We performed survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression, and calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).A total of 5,182 patients were included, of whom 180 (3.5%) died; 87 of these deaths (48.3%) occurred during the intensive phase of treatment, with a CFR of 1.7%. The incidence of death was 0.028/100 pd. The following factors were associated with death during the intensive phase: being >50 years (HR = 36.9;CI:4.8-283.4); being retired (HR = 2.4;CI:1.1-5.1); having visited the emergency department (HR = 3.1;CI:1.2-7.7); HIV infection (HR = 3.4;CI:1.6-7.2); initial standard treatment with 3 drugs (HR = 2.0;CI:1.2-3.3) or non-standard treatments (HR = 2.68;CI:1.36-5.25); comprehension difficulties (HR = 2.8;CI:1.3-6.1); and smear-positive sputum (HR = 2.3-CI:1.0-4.8).There is a non-negligible CFR during the intensive phase of TB, whose reduction should be prioritised. The CFR could be a useful indicator for evaluating TB programs.

The need to study the problems of social research from the new trends and paradigms more widespread and accepted today. The development of research techniques and analysis in search of objective criteria, quantification and coherence in social research where quantitative research whose epistemological, interactionist and dialectical raise the launching of a process that takes into account more widely complex situations, contradictions, the dynamics of the processes and points of view of the social partners.

El presente estudio se efectuó para determinar la existencia de diversidad genética dentro de una colección de germoplasma de aguacate (Persea americana Mill.) perteneciente al Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Campo Experimental Uruapan (CEFAP-Uruapan). Se investigó la relación parental entre 77 accesiones (231 plantas) de la raza Mexicana con el uso de siete ISSRs (Inter Simple Sequence Repeat microsatellites, en inglés). En total se detectaron 154 loci. El porcentaje de polimorfismo varió de 82.3 a 95.4, con un número de bandas entre 17 y 25 dentro de las accesiones. El análisis de similitud genética reveló la formación de dos grupos principales, uno con once subgrupos y el otro con tres subgrupos. La similitud genética fue más alta entre las accesiones 237 (Atlixco, Puebla) y XTC01 (Uruapan, Michoacán), mientras que las accesiones 532 (Atlixco, Puebla) y 369 (Chilchota, Michoacán) fueron las más disímiles. No se encontraron duplicados en los genotipos analizados. En general, el presente estudio demostró la utilidad del análisis mediante ISSRs para la determinación de diversidad genética en aguacate.

Se presenta la segunda parte del artículo de revisión sobre alergia al látex en trabajadores sanitarios en el que se recogen las medidas de prevención.The second part of the revision article about latex allergy in the healthcare workers are presented, in which preventive measures are collected.

This article aims to outline an analysis of the new face of the university professor in research processes. A creative and complex approach. Given the new and accelerated changes that society is undergoing and its constant reconfiguration, being educated today requires adapting culturally, socially, occupationally, professionally and personally to the speed of the current transformations, encrypted in new keys of production ideas and the encounter with the relationship with others. For this reason, the new role of the university professor must be framed by making, creating and improving scientific knowledge, by researching, by innovating in his daily context, assuming a constant critical-reflexive attitude. Hence, the interest in the incorporation of lived experiences to the new structures of knowledge, where a permanent dialogue prevails between how, where and with what to learn to develop and use what has been learned; evidencing the route through which strategies, methods and activities are oriented to allow social interaction to have greater presence and to favor the integration and recognition of the other. In the following pages, four categories are deployed that mark the path of this article: the role of the university professor in the present time, the new meanings of research in the transmodern sociocultural context, creative thinking, the complex, the simple and the simplified, as points for the transformation and the rupture of obsolete schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the business context, concern for the environment began to develop when pressure from the public administration and environmental awareness groups raised the specific requirements for companies. The Theory of Planned Behavior considers that people's conduct is determined by the intention of carrying out a certain behavior. Thus, the individual's intent is determined by three factors related to the desired outcome of the behavior: the Personal Attitude toward the Results, the Perceived Social Norms, and the Perceived Behavioral Control over the action. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to clarify the attitudes of the managers of Canarian small and medium-sized companies about taking environmental measures, and try to demonstrate whether there is a relationship between the proposed factors and the intention to take these measures.

Purpose. To review the proposed pathogenic mechanisms of age macular degeneration (AMD), as well as the role of antioxidants (AOX) and omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3) supplements in AMD prevention. Materials and Methods. Current knowledge on the cellular/molecular mechanisms of AMD and the epidemiologic/experimental studies on the effects of AOX and ω-3 were addressed all together with the scientific evidence and the personal opinion of professionals involved in the Retina Group of the OFTARED (Spain). Results. High dietary intakes of ω-3 and macular pigments lutein/zeaxanthin are associated with lower risk of prevalence and incidence in AMD. The Age-Related Eye Disease study (AREDS) showed a beneficial effect of high doses of vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, and zinc/copper in reducing the rate of progression to advanced AMD in patients with intermediate AMD or with one-sided late AMD. The AREDS-2 study has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin may substitute beta-carotene because of its potential relationship with increased lung cancer incidence. Conclusion. Research has proved that elder people with poor diets, especially with low AOX and ω-3 micronutrients intake and subsequently having low plasmatic levels, are more prone to developing AMD. Micronutrient supplementation enhances antioxidant defense and healthy eyes and might prevent/retard/modify AMD.

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and multiple daily injections (MDI) represent two strategies of intensive insulin therapy, obtaining a strict metabolic control. The importance of such rigorous metabolic control in reducing the frequency and severity of diabetes long-term complications was highlighted by the Diabetes Control and Complication Trial (DCCT).To review the experience in the use of ISCI at Hospital São João, comparing it with the therapeutic modality of MID, regarding metabolic control, weight and body mass index (BMI), microalbuminuria, frequency of adverse events, lipid profile and quality of life.This retrospective, observational study included 25 type 1 diabetic patients followed-up on Endocrinology outpatient at Hospital São João, receiving CSII for more than 3 months after they were treated with MDI also for a period exceeding 3 months. For both periods of treatment, clinical data were obtained on the quality of glycaemic control (assessed by the levels of glycated hemoglobin--A1c), lipid profile, weight and body mass index (BMI) and microalbuminuria. To evaluate the impact on quality of life we used the ADDQoL questionnaire. A questionnaire was also used to determine the frequency of adverse events (severe hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis).The sample of 25 subjects with mean age of 33.35 ± 9.59 years, with a duration of disease, on average, of 17.1 ± 8.15 years and receiving ISCI for an average of 2.48 ± 1 08 years, obtained a decrease of 1.1% (p = 0.001) on the median value of A1c between 3 and 6 months of treatment when compared to MDI, reduction sustained throughout the analyzed period. The variation of the daily insulin requirements after pump placement was 12.75 units of insulin (p = 0.015), equivalent to a decrease of 0.20 units/kg (p = 0.023). The median of the distribution of BMI decreased 0.48 kg/m2 (p = 0.507) during CSII. The parameters of lipid profile and microalbuminuria showed no trend upward or downward after institution of CSII. The score obtained in the ADDQoL questionnaire was greater with CSII, the difference between the medians of the score distribution, before and after pump placement, was 0.056 (p = 0.92). There was a subjective perception of reduced frequency of adverse events with ISCI.The introduction of CSII allowed optimization of metabolic control, reduction of the daily insulin requirements and achievement of a higher level of satisfaction with no change in lipid profile, no weight gain and without increasing the frequency of adverse events.