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In Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks there could be scenarios where absolutely all network nodes (including the base station) are mobile, becoming a very hard task to find a communication path between a sensor node and the base station due to many network variables are changing at each moment. In addition, there are delay-sensitive applications that require establishing communication paths as soon as possible to mitigate low network performance in terms of end-to-end delay, reducing, at the same time, the energy consumption of the network. For this reason, we propose a multiobjective mathematical optimization model for finding the optimal communication path between a source node and a sink (base station) considering hard scenarios where all network nodes are mobile and minimizing end-to-end delay and energy consumption. This mathematical model would offer significant advantages to evaluate new algorithms due to we could know how far or close are the algorithm results from the optimal values given by the mathematical model. In addition, we propose a prediction distributed routing algorithm based on Markov Chains that takes into account the network mobility in order to find as fast as possible a communication path between a source node and a sink with minimal energy consumption. We also propose a deep learning approach to predict future nodes’ distances in a mobile network to determine if future movements of nodes will cause communication disruptions in paths. Significant findings were obtained when the Markov Chains and Deep Learning approaches were compared in terms of predicting nodes mobility and reducing the delay and the energy consumption in the network. The performance of our prediction algorithms (Markov Chains and Deep Learning approaches) is evaluated against the mathematical model to determine how good it is. Finally, to analyze our prediction algorithms considering real online scenarios, we compared it against typical routing algorithms, obtaining promising results in terms of delay and energy consumption in all mobile node scenarios.

Internet of Things (IoT) networks have been integrated into industrial infrastructure schemes, positioning themselves as devices that communicate highly classified information for the most critical companies of world nations. Currently, and in order to look for alternatives to mitigate this risk, solutions based on Blockchain algorithms and Machine Learning techniques have been implemented separately with the aim of mitigating potential threats in IIoT networks. In this paper, we sought to integrate the previous solutions to create an integral protection mechanism for IoT device networks, which would allow the identification of threats, activate secure information transfer mechanisms, and it would be adapted to the computational capabilities of industrial IoT. The proposed solution achieved the proposed objectives and is presented as a viable mechanism for detecting and containing intruders in an IoT network. In some cases, it overcomes traditional detection mechanisms such as an IDS.

Purpose To describe the prognostic value of pulmonary artery (PA) trunk enlargement on the admission of in-hospital patients with severe COVID-19 infection by unenhanced CT image. Materials and methods In-hospital patients confirmed COVID-19 from January 18, 2020, to March 7, 2020, were retrospectively enrolled. PA trunk diameters on admission and death events were collected to calculate the optimum cutoff using a receiver operating characteristic curve. According to the cutoff, the subjects on admission were divided into two groups. Then the in-hospital various parameters were compared between the two groups to assess the predictive value of PA trunk diameter. Results In the 180 enrolled in-hospital patients (46.99 ± 14.95 years; 93 (51.7%) female, 14 patients (7.8%) died during their hospitalization. The optimum cutoff PA trunk diameter to predict in-hospital mortality was > 29 mm with a sensitivity of 92.59% and a specificity of 91.11%. Kaplan–Meier survival curves for PA trunk diameter on admission showed that a PA trunk diameter > 29 mm was a significant predictor of subsequent death (log-rank 29 mm was 28 days). Conclusion PA trunk enlargement can be a useful predictive factor for distinguishing between mild and severe COVID-19 disease progression.

In the health sciences, professionals must keep up to date to conduct their evidence-based practise. Hence, there is a growing need to share medical knowledge efficiently among healthcare professionals, patients, and undergraduate health science students. Infographics (text and image) are a hybrid element that serves to represent information in an attractive and meaningful visual format. Actually, with the use of the Internet and social networks, infographics have become a popular format for sharing medical information around the world.On the basis of a published literature review, we provide 12 tips in this article to make a successfully health-related infographic with the aim of assisting clinicians, educators, and researchers in their task of communicating and transforming complex information into a visual, attractive, didactic and shareable format.By following these basic recommendations, it is possible to improve the dissemination of scientific and health-related knowledge to different audiences who can benefit from infographics.

Cooperation between Telecommunications (Telco) operators has been limited both by regulation and competition in previous years. However, cooperation could not only allow an overall growth in quality of service (QoS) but also may benefit companies with under exploited nodes in their network infrastructure. This way, both fully deployed infrastructure by single Telco companies, as well as smaller companies with increasing service demand but low infrastructure deployment could potentially benefit from cooperation agreements. This article proposes a lexicographic mixed-integer linear optimization model for Telco cooperation composed by two phases: Phase 1 maximizes the number of services connected to the current infrastructure assuming cooperation between operators while Phase 2 minimizes the costs of connecting such services. We built a simple base scenario that allowed us to validate the intuition behind our model. Furthermore, to demonstrate the applicability of our lexicographic optimization model for cooperation between mobile operators, we present a real-world case study in a rural area in Colombia that allowed us to find the marginal costs of additional national roaming connections, as well as marginal profits under the cooperation schema. Our results could help mobile operators to benefit from cooperation and, since the model adapts to the local necessities of the company, cooperation could be restricted to any desired level.

Building a high-quality 3D face model is one of the important issues in computer graphics. High-fidelity 3D face model can be obtained through 3D reconstruction methods from measured data, but the reconstructed models are often flawed with missing measurement data. In order to improve the usability and robustness of the 3D face models, repair and optimization of the face model are critically important. The traditional solutions rely on geometric heuristics to complete repairing work. Considering the characteristics of the face, it is possible to utilize the semantic information to improve the quality of repairing process for the three-dimensional face models, thereby improving the accuracy of the repaired models. In this paper, we combine artificial intelligence and computer graphics methods, and proposes a feature extraction and matching of 3D face model method based on facial landmark detection. Our method combines the facial feature recognition algorithm of 2D facial image and the mapping relationship of 3D face mesh model, and realizes the function of semanticsegmentation and extraction of the 3D face model features. It can be used for the next step of 3D face mesh repair research.

In this paper, we propose a multi-objective mathematical optimization model that is the underlying support for the proposal of a new routing algorithm that aims to extend the lifetime in IoT networks for applications in critical energy environment. The network lifetime is evaluated for three approaches: the Hop Count approach, the Energy Consumption approach, and the Multiobjective approach based on Free Space Loss and the battery energy level of the IoT nodes. After this evaluation, we compared the different approaches in terms of how many transmissions were possible to do under a particular approach until none path cannot be found from an origin node to a destination node. Finally, we conclude that the Multi-objective method was the best strategy for extending the network lifetime since building short distance paths and considering battery level of the IoT nodes every time is, in the long run, a better strategy than just building paths considering nodes with a high battery level or building paths minimizing the number of network hops.

El Proyecto MapCom (www.mapcom.es) lanzó en 2017 una encuesta destinada al universo de investigadores en Comunicación censados como doctores en nómina en los centros universitarios españoles con grados y postgrados en las carreras de Comunicación, en sociedades científicas y en programas de doctorado, solicitándoles vía internet cumplimentar un formulario centrado en su experiencia investigadora. En este artículo se ofrecen los datos sobre las condiciones y rendimientos de su actividad Investigadora y de su estatus como investigador, obtenidos en aquella encuesta. Se preguntó sobre cuál era su valoración sobre las condiciones materiales (financiación, becas y contratos, burocracia, instalaciones), organizacionales (requisitos de las convocatorias, formación metodológica, redes científicas, capital humano) e institucionales (compatibilidad con la docencia, relación Universidad/ empresa, Agencias de Evaluación, Congresos, Revistas). De estos datos se desprende la tendencia a valorar negativamente las condiciones materiales, mientras que las condiciones organizacionales e institucionales recibieron valoraciones positivas y negativas diversas según los ítems. Los rendimientos recibieron valoraciones más positivas cuando se relacionaban con el corporativismo académico que cuando se vinculaban a la competencia científica. The MapCom Project (www.mapcom.es) launched a survey in 2017 aimed at researchers in the field of communication who were under contract as Doctors at Spanish universities with graduate or postgraduate Degrees in Communication, or research associations and doctorate programmes. It asked respondents to fill in an online form based on their research experience. In this article we present the data concerning the conditions and performance of the research activity and their status as researchers, obtained from that survey. Interviewees were asked how they rated the working conditions both in terms of material (funding, grants, contracts, red-tape, facilities), organisation (requirements of the call, teaching methodology, scientific networks, human capital) and institutions (compatibility with lecturing, relations between the unversity and the business world. Assessment Agencies, Congresses and Journals). The conclusion was that there was a tendency to have a negative evaluation of materials whereas, in terms of the organisation and institution, the evaluation was a mixture of positive and negative depending on the item considered. The evaluation of performance related to academic corporativism tended to be more positive than those related to scientific competencies.

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a single session of global postural reeducation (GPR) in postural sway in young adult university students who use data visualization screens. Methods A randomized controlled trial with 2 parallel groups was performed. Sixty-four subjects were randomized in the experimental group (12 men and 20 women) who underwent the GPR session, and a control group (13 men and 19 women) that did not receive any intervention was included. Center of pressure (COP) was assessed using a stabilometric platform, with eyes open and eyes closed before, immediately after, 48 hours after, and 7 days after intervention in both groups. Results In the interaction of time and gender, statistically significant differences were found for the area covered by COP (P = .020) and for the standard deviation (SD) in the mediolateral axis (P = .035). Considering the complete interaction time, gender, and group, statistically significant differences were found (P = .015) for the anteroposterior rate covered by COP and the SD in the anteroposterior axis (P = .033). In eyes closed condition, the intersubject analysis showed statistically significant differences for the interaction between group and gender for the variable mediolateral SD (P = .043). Considering the interaction of time with group, statistically significant differences were found for full length covered by COP (P = .017). Conclusions Changes in postural sway were observed after a single GPR session, mainly at 48 hours, with different behaviors between men and women.

Introducción: la lesión renal aguda es una complicación frecuente en pacientes con COVID-19 y su aparición es un potencial indicador de disfunción multiorgánica y de gravedad de la enfermedad. Objetivo: desarrollar, mediante un consenso de expertos, recomendaciones para la prevención, el diagnóstico y el manejo de la lesión renal aguda en pacientes con infección por SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 con base en la evidencia disponible. Materiales y métodos: a partir de una rápida revisión sistemática en las bases de datos EMBASE y PubMed y en los portales de algunas sociedades científicas, se formularon recomendaciones preliminares, las cuales fueron consultadas a un colectivo experto a través de una herramienta en línea. Se definió acuerdo respecto a las recomendaciones cuando se obtuvo aprobación en al menos el 70 %. La calidad de la evidencia se evalúo de acuerdo con el tipo de documento incluido y la fuerza de las recomendaciones se clasificó como fuerte o débil. Resultados: la consulta al colectivo de expertos tuvo lugar entre el 24 y 29 de mayo de 2020. El rango de acuerdo osciló entre 75,5 % y 100 % y 50 expertos clínicos declararon su conflicto de interés. Se lograron establecer recomendaciones para prevenir, diagnosticar y manejar la lesión renal aguda en pacientes con infección por SARS CoV2/COVID-19. Conclusiones: aunque la información disponible de buena calidad respecto a lesión renal aguda en paciente con COVID-19 es escasa, las recomendaciones aquí presentadas permitirán orientar la toma de decisiones clínicas y estratégicas alrededor de pacientes con esta complicación; de igual forma se garantizará un cuidado centrado en las personas y con altos estándares de calidad, y la generación de políticas de seguridad, salud y bienestar para los equipos multidisciplinarios de atención

Procedural urban scene generation can show a lot of insights about infrastructure, organization and development of a city, and find itself many applications in different fields. On the other hand, in many cases the available information from satellite images and terrestrial dataset is limited, leaving considerable blank spaces in the generated virtual city. How to fill the blank spaces in order to obtain a more realistic scene is thus an important problem to be solved by designers. Designers usually spent enormous time and effort to create three-dimensional (3D) urban models using 3D modeling software. Importing building models manually one by one to cover the blank spaces in a large urban setting can be labor-intensive and also means high cost of time. Enlightened by these observations, this study is aimed at the design and implementation of an algorithm focusing on 1) the identification and positioning of blank spaces in a virtual urban area and 2) the automatic filling of such blank spaces, importing 3D models of existing buildings from a database.

This paper presents the integration of procedural modeling and geographic information systems (GIS) for the development of a 3D city model (3DCM), which is basically a computerized digital model of a city. Through a procedural approach based on computer generated animation (CGA) on GIS, the result of this work is 3D virtual modeling of urban areas originally without enough information of urban installations. Our system is capable of 1) detecting areas lacking this type of information, 2) through a sequence of rules-based algorithmic steps, modeling a complete city or part of a city, resulting in a 3D virtual model of the selected area. The final output of our system generates a high-precision and more complete three-dimensional urban environment based on two-dimensional vector data and terrain data in GIS, driven by semantic rules.

Resumen Introduccion Los meningiomas son los tumores primarios mas frecuentes del sistema nervioso central y son de consulta frecuente en neurooncologia. Metodos Se realizo una revision bibliografica extensa y actualizada con el objetivo de favorecer el mejor abordaje de esta patologia. Resultados Los meningiomas son tumores extraaxiales originados a partir de las celulas de la aracnoides y representan el 36,4% de los tumores primarios intracraneanos. Los meningiomas pueden ser incidentales, pequenos y de lento crecimiento, o masas extensas y/o de crecimiento progresivo. La primera alteracion genetica descripta fue la perdida del cromosoma 22; en los ultimos anos se han descripto diversas mutaciones geneticas, tales como las mutaciones del promotor de transcriptasa reversa de la telomerasa (TERT), implicadas en la progresion maligna. Las neuroimagenes suelen tener caracteristicas distintivas en la tomografia computarizada y la resonancia magnetica. Por anatomia patologica se los clasifica en grados i , ii y iii de la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud y existen diversos subtipos con diferentes caracteristicas, evolucion y pronostico. La neurocirugia y el grado de reseccion son el pilar del tratamiento y el predictor de progresion. En pacientes seleccionados se podria considerar la embolizacion prequirurgica. La radioterapia puede ser adyuvante o como tratamiento unico en los irresecables; al igual que en los grados ii y anaplasicos. En relacion con la terapia farmacologica, solo bevacizumab, sunitinib y vatalinib han mostrado una potencial actividad clinica. Conclusiones Describimos en detalle las caracteristicas mas relevantes, la evaluacion y las opciones terapeuticas disponibles para pacientes con meningiomas.

Streptococcus iniae is an etiologic agent of streptococcal disease in tilapia and is one of several Streptococcus spp. that negatively impact worldwide tilapia production. Methods for the prevention and control of S. iniae include vaccines, management strategies, and antibiotics. A complimentary preventative approach may include selective breeding for disease resistance, but the potential for this is unknown in tilapia. This study was initiated to challenge Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) families for estimation of genetic parameters for resistance to S. iniae . A total of 143 full- and paternal half-sib families (avg. 176 g, sd = 50 g) were divided into two groups with each containing on average 9 fish per family. The challenge was designed with the intent to utilize fish injected with S. iniae (Group 1) as shedder fish to transfer the bacterium to cohabitated fish (Group 2). Tilapia from Group 1 were challenged by intraperitoneal injection with a volume containing 1.15 × 10 8 colony-forming units S. iniae per fish, and then cohabitated with tilapia from Group 2 in a single tank. Accumulated mortality at the end of the experiment was 60% for the fish challenged by injection and 6.4% for fish challenged by cohabitation. The results revealed high variation for mean survival of the families injected with S. iniae (range from 0% to 100%, CV 69%). The estimated heritability of post-challenge survival in Group 1 was 0.42 ± 0.07 on the observed binary scale and 0.58 ± 0.09 on the underlying liability scale, derived from fitting a linear animal model and a sire-dam threshold model, respectively. In summary, substantial additive genetic variation in resistance to S. iniae was observed when fish were challenged by injection, and this suggests promise for genetic improvement of tilapia for resistance to S. iniae through selective breeding. Statement of relevance This research suggests promise for genetic improvement of tilapia for resistance to Streptococcus iniae through selective breeding, thereby providing commercial fish farmers with a more resistant stock of tilapia as an additional management tool for reducing production losses due to Streptococcus spp.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the tips and the surface conditions of two types of needles with different quality and their possible alterations after performing different needling on human beings. A total of 160 needles from AguPunt brand were examined. Surface conditions (lumps and scratches) and tip of the needles after needling procedures in humans were tested using a JEOL JSM-6360LV microscopy device. Additionally, a group of physiotherapists assessed the use of both types of needles in clinical practice using a self-reported questionnaire. Both types of needles, after performing different needling on human beings, kept the needle tips well preserved although the dry needle (Type B) suffered very little deformation even touching the bone of the scapula 10 times versus acupuncture needle (Type A), which were deformed slightly. The surface conditions revealed irregularities and scratches in both types of needles but the tips of Type A suffered more damage after different procedures (Odds ratio = 0.04,95% CI:0.01–0.13, p

Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma shows high prevalence of lymph node metastasis at diagnosis, and despite the advances in treatment, the overall 5-year survival is still under 50%. Chemokine receptors have a role in the development and progression of cancer, but their effect in head and neck carcinoma remains poorly characterised. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of CCR1, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR7 and CXCR4 in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Methods Immunohistochemical expression of chemokine receptors was evaluated in a retrospective cohort of 76 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Clinicopathological associations were analysed using the chi-square test, survival curves were analysed according to the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard model was applied for multivariate survival analysis. Results The chemokine receptors were highly expressed in primary carcinomas, except for CCR1 and CCR3. Significant associations were detected, including the associations between CCR5 expression and lymph node metastasis (N stage, P = .03), advanced clinical stage (P = .003), poor differentiation of tumours (P = .05) and recurrence (P = .01). The high expression of CCR5 was also associated with shortened disease-free survival (HR: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.09-8.14, P = .05), but the association did not withstand the Cox multivariate survival analysis. At univariate analysis, high expression of CCR7 was associated with disease-free survival and low levels of CXCR4 were significantly associated with both disease-specific and disease-free survival. Conclusions These findings show that chemokine receptors may have an important role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression, regional lymph node metastasis and recurrence.

The communications infrastructure, especially mobile communications, has experienced a significant growth in voice and data traffic, largely due to the subscriptors rising, as well as the new services and / or applications implemented to provide the services required in a smart city. The main challenges generated by this continuous growth are related to capacity, coverage and interference in the access network. In addition to the technical challenges, the market dynamics bring on the need to propose technical strategies aimed to satisfy the users' expectations with regard to the acquired services. In this paper we presents a planning algorithm that select the best cooperation technique between base stations. The aim of this algorithm is that the operator not only improve the network resources utilization of the deployed infrastructure, but at the same time, results in an improvement in the perception of the quality of services by users.

This chapter discusses the findings of 40 interviews with informants 64–95 years old born and/or raised in Laredo, Texas, a small city on the US border with Mexico, where Mexican Americans have always been the demographic majority and where Spanish-language movies from the neighbouring country were profusely exhibited for decades. The study focuses on the memories of Mexican and Hollywood films among this group of respondents when they were children or teenagers. The chapter explores the way American and Mexican films interacted with their complex double ascription to the US and to Mexican linguistic and cultural features and were part of their complex strategies to navigate between their new American national identity and their still strong and pervasive Mexican cultural roots.

El artículo revisa el actual debate mexicano sobre las políticas de comunicación relacionadas con la promoción de la diversidad cultural a través de la televisión. Utilizando los conceptos de diversidad de fuente, de contenido y de exposición, el documento analiza las políticas de comunicación adoptadas o propuestas en México y las compara con las políticas actuales en Canadá y Estados Unidos. El documento concluye que las estrategias y metas actuales en México no estimulan la diversidad cultural en el contenido de los medios. Cuestiona la utilidad de las políticas diseñadas para regular la competencia y la propiedad en los medios y sugiere que México promueva un sistema mixto de medios masivos, con diferentes mandatos y modos de financiamiento.

This work shows analysis and design of a non-inverter asynchronous buck-boost dc-to-dc converter as a battery charger for an MPPT solar system. Circuit design, simulations and implementation are also shown for a solar panel with variable load.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare disability, quality of life and satisfaction outcomes between young people and elderly who were operated on for degenerative lumbar disease. A database of 263 patients undergoing lumbar surgery for degenerative conditions was collected. There were 74 patients who were 65 years old or above and 189 who were below 65 who had complete preoperative and 2-year postoperative HRQOL data measures: ODI, SF-36 and COMI. There were no significant differences in the outcomes between the two age groups (p > 0.05). An improvement from baseline in all quality of life measures in the two age groups was observed. A median improvement of 6.0 points was found in the ODI in the younger patients versus 12.0 in older ones. A median improvement in the SF36 physical component score of 6.95 was seen in the younger group while improvement was reported at 6.36 points in patients over 65. The SF36 mental component score improved by 4.48 points and 4.96 points, respectively. COMI improved a median of 1.2 points in both groups. In terms of satisfaction, 66.9 % of the younger patients were pleased or very pleased whereas this was found to be 59.7 % for the older group. Older patients can see substantial clinical improvement after degenerative lumbar disease surgery similar to that obtained in younger patients in terms of quality of life and satisfaction. The improvement in terms of the disability is greater for older patients. Thus, age should not be a contraindication for this procedure.

Summary Background Recent data suggest that varicella zoster virus (VZV)-associated complications of the central nervous system (CNS) are more common and diverse than previously thought. The main purpose of this article is to describe the clinical characteristics and the outcome of patients suffering from meningitis and encephalitis caused by VZV reactivation. Methods A retrospective case study of adult patients (≥16 years old) diagnosed with a VZV reactivation in the CNS was performed. The cases were identified by a qualitative PCR DNA assay of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at the Regional Hospital of Lugano between January 1, 2003 and July 31, 2010. Results Eleven out of 519 CSF samples (2.1%), submitted from patients with a clinical diagnosis of viral meningitis or encephalitis, were positive for VZV. A vesiculo-pustular skin eruption was observed in only five patients (45%). In six cases (55%), a systemic inflammatory syndrome was absent. The clinical outcome was favorable in eight patients (73%). Only one out of 11 patients (9%) died. The four patients with encephalitis had a less favorable prognosis: one patient recovered without residual neurological sequelae; two had a chronic neuropsychological handicap, speech difficulties, facial nerve palsy, and focal seizures; one patient died. We estimated an annual incidence rate of VZV infection of the CNS of 1.02/100 000 inhabitants for southern Switzerland. Conclusions Screening of CSF for VZV by PCR is recommended for all patients with encephalitis and for those with viral meningitis of unclear origin in order to better target antiviral treatment.

Resumen El tratamiento quirurgico de los tumores gliales del sistema nervioso central es un marcador pronostico y uno de los pilares respecto del tiempo libre de progresion y sobrevida del paciente. Sin embargo, el riesgo de secuelas neurologicas posquirurgicas aumenta con el grado de reseccion y localizacion del tumor. Basandonos en las caracteristicas de las neuroimagenes tumorales y posquirurgicas, confeccionamos esta guia para la planificacion prequirurgica, incluyendo algunos comentarios del acto quirurgico y el seguimiento posquirurgico, con el objetivo de clasificar y definir porcentajes de reseccion adecuadamente.

During the past couple years, several Chinese and Latin American research communities have established and strengthened notable collaborative ties, in the fields of urban computing, virtual reality and visualization. These endeavors culminate in 2016 as the Sino-Latin America Birds of a Feather (SLA-BOF) event at the International Conference on Virtual Reality and Visualization (ICVRV). In this event chairs' report, we present overview of the history, status quo and ongoing initiatives about such collaborations. We encourage more institutions to join this international joint effort.

Nowadays the number of users and services that must be guaranteed in cellular networks are growing, this up growth brings new challenges in terms of capacity, coverage and interference of the cells to this networks; for this reason it is necessary to search new alternatives that help us to meet all the requirements requested by both users and services provided. One alternative to solve the aforementioned problems, in the fourth generation networks, is the deployment of relay base stations; however, although the installation of these stations results in a clear improvement in terms of transmission capacity, quality of service (QoS), signal strength, increased transmission speed; brings a substantial increase in the costs of installation, and maintenance and operation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an optimization model that allows the selection of the optimal location of these stations taking into account the network parameters and the user and service requirements. In this paper, we proposed a model for selecting the relay stations for a fourth generation cellular network in order to provide users a reliable communication, ensuring the required bandwidth in voice, data and video services. The proposed model was implemented in the GAMS mathematical software in order to validate its work, as a result the model produced interesting results, giving solution to the raised problem.

Background Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with an increased risk of adverse diabetes outcomes. In Switzerland, a country with theoretical universal healthcare coverage, people without health insurance face barriers in accessing to and in receiving standard quality care. The Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) have implemented policies aiming at reducing these gaps. We compared quality of diabetes care and ambulatory healthcare services utilization among insured and uninsured diabetic patients. Methods This retrospective study linked health and administrative data of type 2 diabetic outpatients with at least one HbA1c test performed in 2012–2013 at HUG. Quality of care evaluation relied on processes (annual serum HbA1c, cholesterol and microalbuminuria tesing) and outcomes (HbA1c) assessment. Healthcare utilization was assessed by the number of ambulatory clinical and laboratory visits. Results were stratified by disease course (newly diagnosed versus prevalent diabetes). Results Of the 198 patients included, 80 (40.4 %) were uninsured. Both groups underwent annual testing of HbA1c, cholesterol, kidney function and microalbuminuria at comparably high rates and numbers of ambulatory visits did not significantly differ. After adjustments for age and sex, there were no significant differences in serum HbA1c between groups both in those with prevalent or with newly diagnosed diabetes. Initial medical intervention entailed comparable glycaemic improvement after 6 months in incident diabetes among insured and uninsured patients. Conclusions This study did not find any difference in quality of diabetes care between insured and uninsured patients in a public hospital enforcing health-equity policies for access to and for delivery of standard diabetes care. It highlights the frontline role of public hospitals in contributing to care delivery equity even in countries with theoretical universal healthcare coverage.

30 páginas En este trabajo se analiza la experiencia social histórica de asistencia al cine en Monterrey (Nuevo León, México) durante las décadas de 1930 a 1960, según entrevistas focalizadas con 28 informantes mayores de 65 años. En los resultados, se destaca la importancia histórica de las salas de cine, así como las películas y los actores estadounidense y mexicanos, en la vida personal, familiar y colectiva de Monterrey, dentro del contexto histórico de su transformación en una de las ciudades más grandes e industrializadas del país. The historical social experience of cinema attendance in Monterrey (Nuevo Leon, Mexico) during the period from 1930 to1960 is analyzed in this article, based on interviews with 28 informants who were over 65 years old. The results highlight the historical importance of movie theaters, American and Mexican films and screen stars in the personal, family and collective life of Monterrey, within the historical context of its transformation into one of the largest and most industrialized cities in the country.

With the improving capabilities of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for the prediction of aerodynamic performance, CFD tools are now being increasingly used for aerodynamic design optimization in the aerospace industry. In this article, an automated optimization framework is presented to address inviscid aerodynamic design problems. Key aspects of this framework include the use of the continuous adjoint methodology to make the computational requirements independent of the number of design variables, and computer-aided design-based shape parameterization, which uses the flexibility of non-uniform rational B-splines to handle complex configurations.

There has been a highly detrimental impact of the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) on black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) aquaculture in India. Currently, no cost-effective measures are available for controlling the disease. One alternative is to improve WSSV resistance through a selective breeding programme for disease-resistant shrimp, provided that genetic variation exists for this trait. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evidence for genetic variation in resistance to WSSV in P. monodon sourced from Indian populations. Post-larval shrimp (n=1950) from 54 full-sibling families were challenged with WSSV using WSSV-infected mince meat. The heritability was estimated using four different statistical models fitted to the resulting time to death data, including two linear models and two Weibull proportional hazard frailty models. None of the estimated heritabilities were significantly different from zero. We suggest three possible explanations for these results: there actually is very little variation between P. monodon in WSSV resistance and all individuals are highly susceptible to the disease; there is genetic variation in resistance to WSSV in P. monodon but we did not find it in our experiment because the level of challenge in the experiment was too high to allow genetic differences to be expressed; the variation is due to mutations conferring resistance, which are at a low frequency in the population, and we did not sample a broad enough genetic base to capture these mutations.

Coastal regions are vulnerable to storm surge and flooding due to tropical and extratropical storms. It is necessary to build robust resiliency of the coastal communities to these hazards. The main objectives of operational surge and inundation forecast and coastal warning systems are to protect life and to sustain economic prosperity. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States has initiated an integrated effort through pilot demonstration projects, and model-based ocean and coastal forecasting systems, to build improved operational warnings and forecasts capability for storm surge and inundation. This note describes the overall strategy and progress to date, with an emphasis on forecasting extratropical storm surge.

DOI: 10.2514/1.24859 A continuous adjoint approach to aerodynamic design for viscous compressible flow on unstructured grids is developed. Sensitivity gradients arecomputed using tools ofshapedeformation of boundaryintegrals. Theresulting expressions involve second-order derivatives of the flow variables that require numerical solvers with greater than second-order accuracy. A systematic way of reducing the order of these terms is presented. The accuracy of the sensitivity derivatives is assessed by comparison with finite-difference computations, and the validity of the overall methodology is illustrated with several design examples.

This paper presents the results of design, manufacturing, testing and validation of a medium and low voltage cable which has been blocked against the ingress of water and gas potentially occurring at water depths up to 3500 meters. Offshore umbilical and deepwater applications are considered. The power cable consists of a longitudinally blocked, stranded conductor which is surrounded by an insulating core of semi-conducting and insulating layers thereof. The conductor has an effective blocking system that includes strand seal compound or a combination with water swellable elements. For a given stranded conductor configuration, various blocking components were systematically studied using a specially modified manufacturing process developed to enforce a copper conductor that is able to provide satisfactory performance in the field and during the next manufacturing process stages. The result was a cable core capable of passing a longitudinal water penetration test at 400 Bar according to the conditions expected on the seabed at 3500 meters. This characteristic, provides a safety power cable for use in harsh, demanding applications, and is designed to allow a repair even during the unlikely event of external damage of the cable jacket that can be caused by fishing, extreme environmental conditions or heavy objects dropped from the surface. In addition, the electrical performance of the cable was verified following industry accepted cable standards, in tests such as partial discharge, step voltage and conductor resistance. Finally, the development of the new blocking system ensures that a power cable for water depths up to 3500 meters is able to support up to 400 bar of longitudinal pressure. The cable was successfully tested according to an umbilical cable validation protocol.

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN) is one of the most common network infrastructure that provides the technical characteristics to fulfill the requirements proposed by the Smart Cities. In order to obtain an efficient allocation and use of resources in such kind of infrastructures, the design of routing protocols that support Quality of Service (QoS) is fundamental. In this paper we propose a routing algorithm based on the Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA). This algorithm intends to build the most efficient routes by considering the shortest path, the energy consumption, the free space lost and QoS restrictions (delay and bandwidth) at the same time. As result, the designed routing protocol could be used in unicast or multicast transmission schemes, with or without restrictions and into centralized or decentralized environments.

The time is ripe to revisit capacity. Its role on international aid in the past decade nurtured the term, sharpening its means. It is still a common reference of public affairs in developing contexts, often imprecisely addressed. This paper updates the discussion by answering the question: what has been said about capacity? The review focuses on conceptual approaches relating directly to capacity. It presents a review of the literature, while taking on to show detail on the various streams nurturing the term. The review also discusses practical aspects of the term. Such as measuring capacity and its relation to other concepts: performance, capabilities and capacity development.

The issue of how to preserve and promote cultural diversity in Mexico has not been central in policy debates and regulations. However, scholars, politicians, and public officials increasingly are debating how to promote and maintain cultural diversity here. This article reviews the current Mexican debate on policies related to the promotion of cultural diversity through television, using the concepts of source, content, and exposure diversity. The article argues that current commercial strategies in Mexico do not stimulate cultural diversity in media content. Instead, it advocates a mixed system of media with different mandates and modes of financing.

In 1997, CENIACUA (Centro de Investigaciones para la Acuicultura en Colombia) in collaboration with AKVAFORSK (Institute of Aquaculture Research, Norway) initiated a family-based selection scheme in Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei to improve growth rate and survival in ponds and tanks. This paper reports results from a series of tests in which a total of 430 full-sib families (representing 204 paternal half-sib families) were tested for harvest weight and survival in standard commercial and intensive growing environments. The families originated from two selected lines. The estimates of heritability (h2±S.E.) for harvest weight for the two lines were 0.24±0.05 and 0.17±0.04, and the corresponding estimates for survival in pond/tanks were 0.04±0.02 and 0.10±0.02. Results showed a favorable correlation between the estimated mean full-sib family breeding values for harvest weight and pond/tank survival (0.42 in line 1 and 0.40 in line 2) indicating that selecting for growth will cause a positive correlated response in overall survival. The genetic correlations between body weights and pond/tank survival in different grow-out environments were high, demonstrating low genotype by farm interaction (GXE) for both traits.

We describe a case of trichinellosis diagnosed at the Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital of Lugano, in January 2009. This case was associated with a cluster of cases and was traced to the consumption of contaminated meat after a wild boar hunt in Bosnia.

OBJECTIVES: Although chemokines seem to be important in certain inflammatory disorders, little is known about the role of these proteins in chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Expression of selected CXC and CC chemokines and their receptors was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry in chronic hepatitis C. Tissue samples from normal liver and that of sustained responders were also evaluated. A comparative analysis between the histological grading and the intrahepatic expression level of chemokines was performed. RESULTS: The majority of liver-derived T lymphocytes expressed CXCR3 and CCR5 chemokine receptors, representing high enrichment over levels of CXCR3+ and CCR5+ T cells in blood from chronic hepatitis C. An intense intrahepatic expression of their respective ligands, the CXC chemokine Mig, and RANTES, was detected in the same patients studied, being restricted to the sinusoidal endothelium and to hepatocytes, respectively. A statistically significant association between the intrahepatic chemokine expression level and the inflammatory activity of chronic hepatitis C was found. Of note was the marked expression of both CXCR3 and its ligand Mig on endothelial cells from portal neovessels in chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS: Intrahepatic chemokine signaling could play a key role regulating significant pathological events during chronic hepatitis C, opening new avenues for therapeutic interventions based on chemokine activities.

Introduction: Fat grafting can be used to place fat in the face, hands, breasts, buttocks, calves, and genitals for cosmetic purposes. The procedure is also used to reconstruct some congenital abnormalities (such as hemifacial atrophy) or to correct selected traumatic facial defects; it may also be used in combination with other surgical procedures (facelifts) or as part of a facial rejuvenation program. We present a review of the steps for fat grafting performed at our center. We have experienced excellent cosmetic results using these techniques. Method and Materials: Of the 867 patients, 367 underwent facial fat transplant; 153 underwent bilateral augmentation mammaplasty by injection (BAMBI); 67 underwent fat injections to the buttock, calves, and other areas of the body; and 280 received fat grafts to the genitalia. Two hundred seventeen patients were men and 63 were women. The operations were performed as ambulatory procedures. Local anesthesia and intravenous (IV) sedation (midazolam plus fentanyl) were used. For all of our patients, we used a modification of the classic Klein formula. All of our patients were operated on under IV sedation. Results: Fat survival was approximately 70% at the end of 1 year. Of the 367 patients undergoing facial fat transplant, 65% were satisfied with the results, and 35% were not satisfied and required a touch-up procedure. Of the 153 undergoing BAMBI, 72% were satisfied with the results, and 28% were not satisfied and required touch-up procedures. Of the 67 patients undergoing fat transplant to the buttocks, calves, and other areas, 76% were satisfied, and 24% were not satisfied and required additional fat grafting. Of the 217 men undergoing genital fat transplant, 82% were satisfied with the results, and 18% were not satisfied. Of the 63 women undergoing genital fat transplant, 86% were satisfied with the results, and 14% were not satisfied. Absorption, infection, and embolism are the most common complications mentioned in the cases of fat injection. Out of 867 total fat transplant operations, absorption occurred after 1 procedure in an average of 30% of cases. In 5 cases, we saw some degree of infection, which was rapidly treated with antibiotics. We did not see any cases of fat embolism. We saw 2 cases of cysts in the dorsum of the hands and 2 in the breasts; these cysts were easily treated with triamcinolone injections. Discussion: When administered properly, autologous fat transplantation is an acceptable procedure resulting in highly satisfied patients. This satisfaction is mostly due to the fact that this process utilizes the patients' own tissue instead of a prosthetic or synthetic implant. Rejection or allergic reaction is not possible with autologous tissue.

Qualitative interviews, a methodology increasingly popular in media and communication studies, are not only useful for studying the meaning construction of different kinds of producers or audiences in the present. They are also useful for exploring past media experiences and for looking at the meaning and importance media had in the past for different types of publics by retrieving memories, feelings, and facts not taken into account in data collected by the media industries. To offer insight into the methodological issues and theoretical considerations media scholars need to address when using this technique, this chapter reports the use of focused interviews in a study on the screen culture of cinema-goers of Monterrey, Mexico, from the 1930s to the 1960s and discusses the methodological challenges of interpreting highly selective, subjective, and distorted-by-time memories of cinema-going in senior informants. Keywords: Film; memory; oral history; Mexico; qualitative interviewing; class

Cervicocephalic screw medialization is a rare complication after intertrochanteric fracture synthesis with a Gamma3-type intramedullary nail. Only 6 cases of intrapelvic penetration by Gamma3 lag screw have been described. We now describe 2 additional cases and a review of the literature.

The user's loyalty is a key component to be considered by the mobile telecommunication operator into a highly competitive environment with a continuous growth of mobile internet services. For this reason, we propose a methodology to support the network performance decision to provide mobile internet services based in the users perception. The correlation between the Quality of Service parameters and the Quality of Experience is the base of this methodology; we use two different neural network models to obtain the final correlation model. The model is proved gathering information of five different cells using a 3G modem and a 3G mobile phone (Android OS). In this work we are validating the model obtained only with gathering network performance parameters.

To evaluate the influence of epidemiological factors on the outcomes of surgery for degenerative lumbar disease in terms of quality of life, disability and chronic pain.A total of 263 patients who received surgery for degenerative lumbar disease (2005-2008) were included in the study. The epidemiological data collected were age, gender, employment status, and co-morbidity. The SF-36, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Core Outcomes Measures Index (COMI), and VAS score for lumbar and sciatic pain were measure before and 2 years after surgery. The correlation between epidemiological data and questionnaire results, as well as any independent prognostic factors, were assessed in the data analysis.The mean age of the patients was 54.0 years (22-86), and 131 were female (49.8%). There were 42 (16%) lost to follow-up. Statistically significant correlations (P.05) were observed between age, gender, co-morbidity, permanent sick leave, and pre-operative pain with changes in the ODI, COMI, physical and SF-36 mental scales, and lumbar and sciatic VAS. Linear regression analysis showed permanent sick leave and age as predictive factors of disability (β=14.146; 95% CI: 9.09 - 29.58; P.01 and β=0.334; 95% CI: 0.40 - 0.98, P.05, respectively), and change in quality of life (β=-8.568; 95% CI: -14.88 - -2.26; p.01 and β=-0.228, IC 95% CI: -0.40 - -0.06, P.05, respectively).Based on our findings, age and permanent sick leave have to be considered as negative epidemiologic predictive factors of the outcome of degenerative lumbar disease surgery.

The Web 2.0 evolution has renovated the way in which the producers and consumers of information interact. Online newspapers have allowed readers to express their views of the news being read, by publishing a comment. Recognizing that the aggregation of comments can produce valuable information about the topic being commented is the main contribution of the present work. It presents the development and the results of NOA, a web application intended to detect opinion tendencies, using sentiment analysis and NoSQL technology. It produces an aggregated, qualitative and quantitative tendency. NOA also diagnoses the quality of the comments from a Web source. It is tested on three online newspapers, gathering the information required to make a valuable opinion. Conclusions are withdrawn from the quality of the comments and the commenting culture in general.

Introduction. Outcome evaluation is an important aspect of the treatment of patients with degenerative lumbar disease. We evaluated the usefulness of the Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) in assessing people affected by degenerative lumbar disease in daily clinical practice.Methods. We evaluated 221 patients who had completed preoperatively and 2 years after surgery VAS pain, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and COMI. We calculated the change of scores and its sensitivity to change. The internal consistency of the COMI items and the correlation between the COMI scores and the scores of the other measurements were assessed.Results. Statistically significant differences were observed between the mean scores of the preoperative and 2 years questionnaires for nearly all measurements. COMI showed a good internal consistency, except for the preoperative pain subscale. The sensitivity to change was high for the total COMI and its pain and well-being subscales and moderate for the rest. The COMI demonstrated strong correlation with the other measurements.Conclusions. The COMI is a useful tool for assessing the patient-based outcome in the studied population. Given its simplicity, good correlation with the SF-36 and ODI and its good sensitivity to change, it could replace more cumbersome instruments in daily clinical practice.

A correction method for output functionals such as lift and drag derived from partially converged CFD solutions is examined, based on the adjoint method. This paper explores the viability of using non-fully converged CFD solutions to properly estimate the fully converged results via corrections involving the adjoint solution and the numerical flow residuals, both calculated from the non-converged solution. With this approach, computational times on complex geometries/conditions can be reduced, and the accuracy of the output functionals increased, in those cases for which fully converged flow solutions are not required (such as in design optimization). Nomenclature F = Inviscid flux vector h = characteristic length spacing of the computational grid h I = numerical output functional h R = numerical residual h R ψ = numerical adjoint residual h U = converged numerical flow solution N h U = numerical flow solution after N iterations N h h U ψ = converged numerical adjoint solution associated to flow solution N h U