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Infrared thermography is gaining relevance in breast cancer assessment. For this purpose, breast segmentation in thermograms is an important task for performing automatic image analysis and detecting possible temperature changes that indicate the presence of malignancy. However, it is not a simple task since the breast limit borders, especially the top borders, often have low contrast, making it difficult to isolate the breast area. Several algorithms have been proposed for breast segmentation, but these highly depend on the contrast at the lower breast borders and on filtering algorithms to remove false edges. This work focuses on taking advantage of the distinctive inframammary shape to simplify the definition of the lower breast border, regardless of the contrast level, which indeed also provides a strong anatomical reference to support the definition of the poorly marked upper boundary of the breasts, which has been one of the major challenges in the literature. In order to demonstrate viability of the proposed technique for an automatic breast segmentation, we applied it to a database with 180 thermograms and compared their results with those reported by others in the literature. We found that our approach achieved a high performance, in terms of Intersection over Union of 0.934, even higher than that reported by artificial intelligence algorithms. The performance is invariant to breast sizes and thermal contrast of the images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell spheroids are an important three-dimensional (3D) model for in vitro testing and are gaining interest for their use in clinical applications. More natural 3D cell culture environments that support cell–cell interactions have been created for cancer drug discovery and therapy applications, such as the scaffold-free 3D Petri Dish® technology. This technology uses reusable and autoclavable silicone micro-molds with different topographies, and it conventionally uses gelled agarose for hydrogel formation to preserve the topography of the selected micro-mold. The present study investigated the feasibility of using a patterned Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel using the circular topography 12–81 (9 × 9 wells) micro-mold to form HeLa cancer cell spheroids and compare them with the formed spheroids using agarose hydrogels. PVA hydrogels showed a slightly softer, springier, and stickier texture than agarose hydrogels. After preparation, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed chemical interactions through hydrogen bonding in the PVA and agarose hydrogels. Both types of hydrogels favor the formation of large HeLa spheroids with an average diameter of around 700–800 µm after 72 h. However, the PVA spheroids are more compact than those from agarose, suggesting a potential influence of micro-mold surface chemistry on cell behavior and spheroid formation. This was additionally confirmed by evaluating the spheroid size, morphology, integrity, as well as E-cadherin and Ki67 expression. The results suggest that PVA promotes stronger cell-to-cell interactions in the spheroids. Even the integrity of PVA spheroids was maintained after exposure to the drug cisplatin. In conclusion, the patterned PVA hydrogels were successfully prepared using the 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds, and they could be used as suitable platforms for studying cell–cell interactions in cancer drug therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research occurred in the Andean region, one of the eight global centers of domestication of plant species grown for agriculture. The shores of Lake Titicaca (located between Peru and Bolivia), at 3800 meters above sea level, are recognized as the center of origin of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). In this region, complex societies have emerged, thanks to the development of water and soil management technologies. They have managed to overcome high mountain territories' extreme and variable climatic conditions. These societies have traditionally protected and preserved quinoa as food for present and future generations through their long-standing knowledge and cultivation practices. The fieldwork occurred in the context of Andean family farming, and our study analyzes nature-society dynamics with a chorematic approach and interviews with local communities. The interest of this work is the transformation of the landscape at the scale of the mountain agroecosystem to understand better the impacts of rural development policies. Chorematic modeling was applied to two periods, before and after 1970, a pivotal year in Peru for agriculture, to show how socio-spatial dynamics in the Andean environment are changing, particularly concerning the evolution of quinoa cultivation. The results show that wild quinoa relatives' distribution is strongly linked to the socio-spatial organization of the agroecosystem. Different species of wild quinoa relatives are maintained by villagers for their multiple foods, medicinal and cultural uses in natural areas, grazed areas, on edge, and also within cultivated fields. However, this management is changing under the pressure of global issues related to the international quinoa market, whose requirements imply reducing the presence of wild relatives in cultivated fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiloé, en su condición de ínsula, se expresa en una riqueza cultural fuertemente territorializada, capaz de defenderse de las invasivas influencias foráneas. Merece la pena destacar una de las vigas que sostiene su andamiaje cultural: el poder omnipresente de la religión. En este sentido, sobresalen los cementerios chilotes como un ejemplo claro de simbiosis cultural religiosa que se manifiesta en una arquitectura mortuoria singular que enriquece al espacio y paisaje religioso de cada localidad./Chiloé, in its condition of island, it's express in a cultural wealth, heavily territorialized, with a capacity of defense of the invaders foreign influences. It's worth while to highlight at one of the girders that supports its cultural scaffolding: the omnipresent power of the religion. In this sense, chilotes cemeteries project like a clearly example of cultural symbiosis that it's exposes in a singular mortuary architecture that riches at religious space and landscape of each settlement.

Al observar y conocer la historia fundacional de los distintos centros poblados de Chiloé es posible notar que la iglesia, en tanto objeto arquitectónico y simbólico, constituyó el centro a partir del cual evolucionaron las distintas localidades urbanas existentes en el archipiélago. Sin embargo, actualmente los efectos de la globalización y, en especial, de la expansión urbana, están atentando contra su nicho cultural, invadiendo espacios que involucran el desarrollo de expresiones religiosas que superan los límites de la iglesia como inmueble.In the foundational history of the different Chiloé towns it is possible to notice that the church –as much architectonic as symbolic object– constituted the center from which the development of the different urban settlements existing in the archipelago generated. However, today the effects of globalization and specially the urban development are attempting to this culture, invading cultural spaces that it involucrated in the development of religious expressions that surpass the limits of the church as property.

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Psicooncologia is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Los autores plantean un análisis FODA que busca valorizar la residencia de Pedro Montt, Presidente de Chile entre 1906 y 1910. La vivienda ha sobrevivido más de 100 años dando lugar a distintos programas y usuarios, pero ahora su mantenimiento requiere de una acción coordinada./The authors through a "FODA" type analysis demonstrate the patrimonial value of Pedro Montt's residency (president of chile from 1906 to 1910). The house has survived for over 100 years the change of use and dwellers, but now its maintenance requires a coordinated action.

Se indaga en uno de los edificios del Barrio Cívico, obra de René Aránguiz Saravia y Luis Muñoz Maluschka. Este último contribuyó al Barrio Cívico no sólo para efectos del mejor cumplimiento de las ideas de Karl Brunner y Carlos Vera, en su calidad de Jefe de la Sección de Urbanismo de la D.G.O.P., sino también desde algunas obra de arquitectura integrada al megaproyecto de diseño urbano del Barrio Cívico de Santiago en los años 1930./This article is about one of the buildings in the Civic Center of Santiago. This building was designed by René Aránguiz and Luis Muñoz. Muñoz was also the Chief of the Urbanism Department of the D. G. O. P. and contributed to the realization of the ideas of Karl Brunner and Carlos Vera, since this particular building is part of the Santiago Civic Center Mega project of 1930.

Background and Aim: The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in the world has brought different attitudes and perceptions among social strata. Nursing students being future first‐line healthcare workers are more at risk of being infected and exposed to various stressors from shared information. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and perception of COVID‐19 among nursing students and to estimate predictors of their risk perception. Methods: We conducted an online survey among undergraduate nursing students at three selected Japanese Universities. Data on knowledge, attitude, and perception toward COVID‐19 were collected using a structured questionnaire. We performed multiple logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with the risk perception toward COVID‐19 infection. Results: Of the 414 nursing students who participated in the study, 368 (90.4%) reported that the media including radio, television, internet, and/or social media were the main source of knowledge. Fever (96.1%) and dry cough (89.6%) were reported as the main symptoms. Regarding the attitude toward the treatment and preventive measures, almost 92.8% of participants recommended the use of vaccines. Being female appeared to be three times associated with the fear of getting infected (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:3.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21–7.58). Students who took part in extracurricular activities reported that they feared being infected with COVID‐19 (aOR:2.62; 95% CI:1.33–5.16). Other factors did not show an association. Conclusion: Knowledge and attitude of nursing students toward COVID‐19 were accurate for the majority of them, with the main source of information being the media. Practicing extracurricular activities and being female were associated with the fear of the disease. Efficient and controlled communication is needed during widespread disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Leivy Patricia González-Ramírez[sup.1,2] , Reyna Martínez-Arriaga[sup.1,2] , Erendira Camacho-Cárdenas[sup.2] , Azucena Del Toro-Valero[sup.2,3] , Antonio Oceguera-Villanueva[sup.3] , Livia Zagamé[sup.3] , Aída Araceli Silva-García[sup.4] and Adrián Daneri-Navarro[sup.2,5] Background There are [...]

Regulation of cell cycle progression is essential for cell proliferation during regeneration following injury. After appendage amputation, the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) regenerates missing structures through an accumulation of proliferating cells known as the blastema. To study cell division during blastema growth, we generated a transgenic line of axolotls that ubiquitously expresses a bicistronic version of the fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell-cycle indicator (FUCCI). We demonstrate near-ubiquitous FUCCI expression in developing and adult tissues, and validate these expression patterns with DNA synthesis and mitosis phase markers. We demonstrate the utility of FUCCI for live and whole-mount imaging, showing the predominantly local contribution of cells during limb and tail regeneration. We also show that spinal cord amputation results in increased proliferation at least 5 mm from the site of injury. Finally, we use multimodal staining to provide cell type information for cycling cells by combining fluorescence in situ hybridization, EdU clickchemistry and immunohistochemistry on a single FUCCI tissue section. This new line of animals will be useful for studying cell cycle dynamics using in situ endpoint assays and in vivo imaging in developing and regenerating animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Dexamethasone has been reported to reduce postoperative symptoms after different surgical procedures. We evaluated the efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in ameliorating postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and pain after mastectomy. Methods In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 70 patients scheduled for mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection were analyzed after randomization to treatment with 8 mg intravenous dexamethasone (n = 35) or placebo (n = 35). All patients underwent standardized procedures for general anesthesia and surgery. Episodes of PONV and pain score were recorded on a visual analogue scale. Analgesic and antiemetic requirements were also recorded. Results Demographic and medical variables were similar between groups. The incidence of PONV was lower in the dexamethasone group at the early postoperative evaluation (28.6% vs. 60%; p = 0.02) and at 6 h (17.2% vs. 45.8%; p = 0.03). More patients in the placebo group required additional antiemetic medication (21 vs. 8; p = 0.01). Dexamethasone treatment significantly reduced postoperative pain just after surgery (VAS score, 4.54 ± 1.55 vs. 5.83 ± 2.00; p = 0.004), at 6 h (3.03 ± 1.20 vs. 4.17 ± 1.24; p < 0.0005) and at 12 h (2.09 ± 0.85 vs. 2.54 ± 0.98; p = 0.04). Analgesics were required in more patients of the control group (21 vs. 10; p = 0.008). There were no adverse events, morbidity or mortality. Conclusions Preoperative intravenous dexamethasone (8 mg) can significantly reduce the incidence of PONV and pain in patients undergoing mastectomy with axillary dissection for breast cancer. Trial registration number NCT01116713

Games as a structured activity need authors who create them. Throughout history, the figure of the author has been unknown for different reasons. In ancient times, games were owned by the society as a whole; the birth of the printing press saw printers becoming publishers, illustrators and authors at the same time, while in the Industrial Age games were owned by manufacturers. This has changed recently. We started to realize about games' authorship through hobby games and eurogames, and finally modern games brought the author to the forefront of game creation in the twenty-first century. This article aims to shed some light on the role of board game authors, starting with a short historical approach on their role, and will hopefully serve as a basis for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present article analyzes La Chimba, the northern shore of the Mapocho River, an ideal location in which many native clans settled before the foundation of the city of Santiago de Chile. La Chimba --in Quechua language the other shore of the river--, was for a long time the northern boundary of the city of Santiago del Nuevo Extremo, an area marked by a history of diverse cultural and natural territorial development. This research analyzes the representation of La Chimba, based on the historical records ranging from the XVI to the XIX centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposed to adverse conditions, human creativity is superimposed. A sample of this virtue is the appearance of the azudas or wheels of water in agriculture. It was dominate the arid and semi-arid, environments achieving an efficient irrigation of fields for cultivation. In America, the examples on the use of water wheels are scarce. They exist as a reference for the implementation of azudas, in the central valley of Chile, in the O'Higgins Region, which have been considered as a sort of extension of the vernacular architecture of the town of Larmahue. Even if they have been recognized nationally and abroad, they have had to face natural disasters, legal abandonment, and what is worse, the lack of interest and resources to maintain them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Places of worship have traditionally benefited from a tax regime designed to ensure that the tax liability of immovable property does not deprive the Church of its assets. The definition of the tax system to be applied is complex because a number of legal provisions of different kinds must be taken into account, a situation that gives rise in turn to a certain level of legal uncertainty. A key provision in this regard is the 1979 Agreement on Economic Affairs reached between Spain and the Holy See (as well as the cooperation agreements established with other legally recognized religious creeds), which lists a core set of tax benefits to which the State cannot lay unilateral claim. At the same time, the tax system governing non-profit entities also applies to places of worship, a domestic provision that involves an improvement in tax status in terms of both content and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the pyrolysis under high pressure of hydrocarbons dispersed inside a nanosized silica matrix (Aerosil) was investigated. The samples consisted of hydrophobic nanometric silica powder terminated by methyl groups with carbon contents ranging from 0.7 to 4 wt%. The pyrolysis was carried out in the temperature range from 1000 to 1600 °C under high pressure (1.25 up to 7.7 GPa) to keep the two-dimensional distribution of carbon atoms originally at the silica grain boundaries. Evidences from Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy suggested that the resulting carbon nanostructures were actually graphene-like nanoflakes. The size of the nanostructures calculated from the ID/ IG ratio increased from 6 to 30 nm for processing temperatures increasing from 1000 to 1600 °C under pressure, respectively. The results revealed that the very good dispersion of the methyl groups inside the nanosize silica matrix, and the confinement under high pressure during the pyrolysis, played both a relevant role in the resulting carbon nanostructures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The powerful union between the architecture and its environment, between the church and its surroundings, proves to be as essential as the harmony of the churches facades, the quality of their interior space, the detail of their ornamentation or the treatment of exterior paving. The function of the church and its atrium, whether passive or active depending on the celebration of joy or suffering, has the strange power to affect the complex, provoking in the parishioner feelings of joy or sadness. There is no better demonstration that architecture, without man, without its living content, the inevitable cause and subject of its existence, is condemned to extinction. Chiloe's churches will continue to deserve universal recognition as long as they allow a portion of humanity to enjoy, with unshakable faith, the virtues of this heritage. Therefore, a model of spatial order is proposed with the church at its centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dexamethasone has been reported to reduce postoperative symptoms after different surgical procedures. We evaluated the efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in ameliorating postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and pain after mastectomy. Methods: In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 70 patients scheduled for mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection were analyzed after randomization to treatment with 8 mg intravenous dexamethasone (n = 35) or placebo (n = 35). All patients underwent standardized procedures for general anesthesia and surgery. Episodes of PONV and pain score were recorded on a visual analogue scale. Analgesic and antiemetic requirements were also recorded. Results: Demographic and medical variables were similar between groups. The incidence of PONV was lower in the dexamethasone group at the early postoperative evaluation (28.6% vs. 60%; p = 0.02) and at 6 h (17.2% vs. 45.8%; p = 0.03). More patients in the placebo group required additional antiemetic medication (21 vs. 8; p = 0.01). Dexamethasone treatment significantly reduced postoperative pain just after surgery (VAS score, 4.54 ± 1.55 vs. 5.83 ± 2.00; p = 0.004), at 6 h (3.03 ± 1.20 vs. 4.17 ± 1.24; p < 0.0005) and at 12 h (2.09 ± 0.85 vs. 2.54 ± 0.98; p = 0.04). Analgesics were required in more patients of the control group (21 vs. 10; p = 0.008). There were no adverse events, morbidity or mortality. Conclusions: Preoperative intravenous dexamethasone (8 mg) can significantly reduce the incidence of PONV and pain in patients undergoing mastectomy with axillary dissection for breast cancer. Trial registration number: NCT01116713 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work examines tax regime modifications the Catholic Church in Spain has experienced, since the passing of the Agreement on Economic Affairs, signed in 1979, up until the recent changes in the Spanish public financial model. The 1979 Agreement on Economic Affairs established certain tax benefits in favour of the Church, also usually known as «indirect financing». These benefits largely retain their relevance established in 1979 when they were agreed upon between the Spanish Government and the Holy See, but there has been a necessity to adapt them to the new reality of the current tax system. These circumstances explain the fact that today most of the benefit provisions have had to be referred to under different tax categories, while other tax references have become completely inapplicable; and still more benefits have had to be repealed because they were not allowed under European Community Law, a legal reality that had no relevance at the time the Agreement was signed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]