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Purpose This study aimed to develop and validate new metrics to objectively assess the lipid layer thickness (LLT) through the analysis of grey intensity values obtained from the Placido disk pattern reflected onto the tear film. Methods Ocular surface parameters were measured using Oculus Keratograph 5 M in 94 healthy volunteers (43.8 ± 26.8 years). Subjects’ LLT was subjectively classified into 4 groups using an interferometry-based grading scale. New metrics based on the intensity of the Placido disk images were calculated and compared between groups. The repeatability of the new metrics and their diagnostic ability was analysed through receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. The level of agreement between the new objective tool and the existing subjective classification scale was analysed by means accuracy, weighted Kappa index and F-measure. Results Mean pixel intensity, median pixel intensity and relative energy at 5.33 s after blinking achieved the highest performance, with a correlation with LLT between r = 0.655 and 0.674 (p F-measure between 0.86 and 0.87. Conclusion The analysis of grey intensity values in videokeratography can be used as an objective tool to assess LLT. These new metrics could be included in a battery of clinical tests as an easy, repeatable, objective and accessible method to improve the detection and monitoring of dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction.

Purpose To assess the agreement on biometric data obtained using the Verion image-guided surgery system and the swept-source-OCT biometer IOL Master 700. Materials and methods All patients underwent biometry using the SS-OCT and the Image-Guide System. The comparison between instruments was assessed using the Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Level of Agreement (LoA) employing the Bland-Altman analysis. Results The image-based system produced significantly higher keratometry values, evidencing a low LoA between the SS-OCT and the image-based system, ranging from -1.30 D to 0.65 D (1.95 D), -1.04 D to 0.72 D (1.76 D), and -1.31 D to 0.65 D (1.96 D), respectively. The LoA for the Cylinder ranged from -0.46 D to 0.74 D (1.2 D) and from 0.82 to 0.94 mm for WTW. Conclusions In our study, the SS-OCT biometer and the Image-based System evidenced statistically significant differences in measuring the main biometric parameters except for the WTW.

To assess the effects on the spontaneous blinking pattern and blinking kinematics of cataract surgery.FISABIO Oftalmología Médica (FOM) eye hospital, Valencia, Spain.Observational, descriptive, clinical study.Patients with senile cataract were evaluated before (visit 1), and 1 month (visit 2) and 3 months (visit 3) after undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery. The blinking of patients was recorded for 90 seconds using an eye-tracking device. Blinks were analyzed by means of image analysis to obtain a non-invasive detailed description of blinking including blink rate, number of complete and incomplete blinks, percentage of incomplete blinks and kinematic parameters, including amplitude, closing, contact, opening and total durations and closing and opening speeds.A total of 50 patients were included in this study. The blink rate was significantly smaller at visit 3 compared to baseline (P = .03) and visit 2 (P = .001). Likewise, the number of complete blinks was significantly smaller, and the percentage of incomplete blinks significantly higher 3 months postoperatively compared to baseline (P = .02 and P = .01, respectively), while no differences were observed 1 month after surgery (P.05). Conversely, no differences in the number of incomplete blinks or any kinematic parameter were observed between visits (P = .12).Cataract surgery significantly altered the blinking pattern 3 months postoperatively, although kinematic parameters remained unvaried. Clinicians should be aware of potential alterations in blinking after phacoemulsification cataract surgery and the implications this may have on the ocular surface of patients.

The photonics platform has been considered increasingly promising for neuromorphic computing, due to its potential in providing low latency and energy efficient large-scale parallel connectivity. Phase change materials (PCMs) have been recently employed to introduce all-optical non-volatile memory in integrated photonic circuits, especially finding application as non-volatile weighting element in photonic artificial neural networks. Interestingly, these weighting elements can potentially be used as building blocks for large-scale networks that can autonomously adapt to their input, i.e. presenting the property of plasticity, similarly to the biological brain. In this work, we develop a computationally efficient dynamical model of a silicon ring resonator (RR) enhanced by a phase change material, namely Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST). We do so starting from two existing dynamical models (of a silicon RR and of a GST thin film on a straight silicon waveguide), but extending the optical equations to properly account for the high absorption and asymmetry in the ring due to the phase change material. Our model accounts for silicon nonlinear effects due to free carriers and temperature, as well as for the phase change of GST, whose energy efficiency and optical contrast can be enhanced by the RR resonant behaviour. We also restructure the optical equations so that the model can be efficiently employed in a modular way within a commercial software for system-level photonics simulations. Moreover, exploiting the developed model, we explore several design parameters and show that both speed and energy efficiency of memory operations can be enhanced by factors from six to ten. Also, we show that the achievable optical contrast due to GST phase change can be increased by more than a factor ten by leveraging the resonant properties of the RR, at the expense of higher optical loss. Finally, by exploiting the nonlinear dynamics arising in silicon RR networks, we show that a strong contrast is achievable while preserving energy efficiency.

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar el sentido de la acción social en la elección de carrera de estudiantes universitarios de las licenciaturas en: Administración, Medicina Humana y Sociología de la UNACH, se eligieron a estas licenciaturas porque el rigor de admisión varía, siendo el más alto el de Medicina y el más bajo el de Sociología. El análisis se realiza con base en el concepto de acción social planteado por M. Weber, P. Bourdieu y A. Giddens, indispensable para entender el problema de investigación planteado. Se utilizó una metodología cualitativa-neoestructuralista basada en observaciones directas, revisión documental y tres grupos de discusión constituidos de 7 a 12 estudiantes (Ibañez, 2001). Los elementos detonadores de la discusión al interior estos grupos fueron fotografías de la historia mundial y de México, personalidades del ámbito histórico y artístico nacional e internacional, que según los planes y programas de estudio de educación básica y media superior se revisaron en la escuela. El hallazgo principal en el caso estudiado, es que el sentido de la elección de carrera de los estudiantes es racional y está determinado por el origen de clase, el capital económico familiar, cultural y simbólico objetivado en el estatus de cada una de las carreras, más que por vocación o gusto.

To assess the effects of different condition-induced changes on current and novel ocular surface metrics.Eighty-four healthy volunteers (22.4 ± 2.6 years) participated in this study. The ocular surface and tear film response to (1) computer use, (2) contact lens insertion and (3) tear film instillation during computer use with contact lenses were assessed. Current metrics included the ocular surface disease (OSDI) questionnaire, 5-item dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5), bulbar redness, tear meniscus height (TMH) and non-invasive keratograph break-up time (NIKBUT). Novel metrics included the lipid layer thickness obtained from the intensity of the reflected Placido disk and the speed of tear film particles post-blink.Higher dry eye symptoms, TMH and bulbar redness, and lower values in metrics related to the intensity of the Placido disk pattern and to particle speed were found after the computer reading task (p 0.036). When a contact lens was fitted, lower TMH, NIKBUT and particle speed metrics were obtained (p 0.044). Mixed ANOVA revealed that artificial tears significantly ameliorated the effect of computer reading on OSDI, DEQ-5, NIKBUT, metrics related to the intensity of the Placido disk pattern and metrics related to particle speed (p 0.033).Computer use and contact lens wear worsened dry eye signs and symptoms, but artificial tears ameliorated this effect. Newly developed methods can serve as a tool to detect changes in the tear film triggered by different ocular surface-disturbing conditions.

The degradation of groundwater quality due to nitrate is a widespread issue in heavily agricultural areas and a major concern for public health. Improving knowledge of the intrinsic vulnerability of aquifers with respect to the actual contamination is crucial for adequate water management and for complying with the European directives aimed at protecting this valuable resource. In this study, we applied the well-established DRASTIC method to assess the intrinsic vulnerability of the Benalup aquifer, a detrital aquifer located in the southern Iberian Peninsula that supports important agricultural activity. The model was compared with in situ measurements of this ion, evidencing a lack of agreement between the most vulnerable zones and those that display higher nitrate concentrations. This fact should not be interpreted as an inadequacy in the vulnerability model, but as a result of several factors such as (i) the marked heterogeneity in land uses and the spatial variability in contaminant sources, (ii) the construction and exploitation characteristics of the water boreholes, (iii) the sampling procedure and depth to the water table, and (iv) transport and degradation processes within the porous medium. All these aspects can lead to discrepancies between the actual distribution of contamination and vulnerability models such as DRASTIC. All these factors should be carefully considered in the design of a sampling network in order to achieve a representative picture indicating the extent of contamination and the overall chemical quality of the system.

Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) is an alternative procedure to conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (CEMR) to treat large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps (LNPCL). In this multicenter randomized clinical trial, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of UEMR versus CEMR on LNPCL.We conducted a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial from February 2018 to February 2020 in 11 hospitals in Spain. A total of 298 patients (311 lesions) were randomized to the UEMR (n=149) and CEMR (n=162) groups. The main outcome was the lesion recurrence rate in at least one follow-up colonoscopy. Secondary outcomes included technical aspects, en bloc resection rate, R0 and adverse events, among others.There were no differences in the overall recurrence rate [9.5% UEMR vs. 11.7% CEMR; absolute risk difference -2.2% (CI 95%: -9.4% to 4.9%)]. However, considering the polyp sizes between 20 and 30 mm, the recurrence rate was lower for UEMR [3.4% UEMR vs. 13.1% CEMR; absolute risk difference -9.7% (CI 95%: -19.4% to 0%)]. The R0 resection showed the same tendency, with significant differences favoring UEMR only for polyps between 20 and 30 mm. Overall, UEMR was faster and easier to perform than CEMR. Importantly, both techniques were equally safe.UEMR is a valid alternative to CEMR of LNPCL and could be considered the first option of treatment for lesions between 20-30 mm due to its higher en bloc and R0 resection rates.

Generalized height-diameter at breast height (D) models are essential for the estimation of the timber stocks of a forest stand, as well as in the generation of base information to develop forest growth models, and as basic inputs in the development of forest management plans. Generalized models were developed to estimate total height (TH) based on the D and stand variables, of five Pinus species in forests under forest management of Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico. The data used come from a timber forest inventory, where n = 1041 sampling plots of 1000 m2 each were established based on a stratified-systematic sampling design. The species selected according to their relative abundance were: Pinus patula, Pinus oaxacana, Pinus ayacahuite, Pinus teocote and Pinus leiophylla. Five nonlinear equations were fitted using regression techniques to predict the TH of the trees under several silviculture regimes and forest management conditions. The statistical criteria of goodness of fit used were: adjusted coefficient of determination (R2adj), root mean square error (RMSE) and absolute average bias in the prediction (Ē). Likewise, the graphic analysis of the predictive capacity of the equations was considered. The D and the stand variables (quadratic mean diameter, dominant diameter and dominant height) for these species explained between 75 and 83% of the variability of the TH data. The predicting variables to apply the developed generalized models to estimate tree's total height require less sampling effort and are derived from conventional forest inventory data, which allows to reduce costs and time in field work.

Litterfall is an important component of forest biomass and nutrient cycling, and can have key impacts on soil fertility through its decomposition. However, the effect of forest management on litter...

La Sentencia 134/2021, de 24 de febrero, de la Sala de lo Contencioso-Administrativo del Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la Comunidad Valenciana, anula el apartado tercero.2 b) del anexo III de la Resolución del consejero de Educación de 1 de agosto de 2018, por la que se convocaba el programa de subvenciones públicas a la investigación y la innovación en la Comunidad Valenciana. La resolución examina la disposición cuestionada a la luz de ciertos datos estadísticos procedentes de convocatorias anteriores, que mostraban una situación de desigualdad de hecho de las investigadoras tanto en la solicitud como en la obtención de la subvención regulada por dicho apartado, y estima que su redacción incumplió la prescripción contenida en el artículo 11 de la Ley orgánica 3/2007, que regula las acciones positivas en favor de las mujeres, y, como consecuencia de dicha omisión o inacción, incurrió en una discriminación indirecta, prohibida por el artículo 6.2 de la citada ley orgánica, que justifica la declaración de nulidad del apartado impugnado.

A model-based optimisation method for the start-up of anaerobic co-digestion is presented. The algorithm optimises the time evolution of the organic loading rate (OLR), the blends of substrates corresponding to each OLR and the hydraulic retention time (HRT). These parameters are calculated based on the prediction of a dynamic co-digestion model, so as to track the methane production flowrate set as reference. The mixtures of substrates and the OLR are optimised sequentially with linear programming and a direct-search method, respectively. Initially, a simulated case-study (treating blends of gelatine, glycerine, and pig manure) is tested to verify the convergence of the algorithm. Then, two consecutive start-up experiments are performed at lab-scale to validate the proposed optimisation method. Blends of sewage sludge and pig manure are treated in a 14-litre CSTR at loading rates of 1.70–2.43 gVS/L d for 79 and 90 days at mesophilic conditions. The optimisation strategy satisfactorily computes the best OLR, blends and HRT for the entire operations, improving the biogas yield over traditional manual operation.

espanolAdolphe Gesche establecio el «principio de capacidad salvifica» —salutarite— como la tarea propia de la teologia. Esta debia ser capaz de proponer la inteligibilidad de los conceptos propios de la fe cristiana para redescubrir a Dios y la salvacion que solo el puede dar. El presente estudio expone dicho principio, su origen y significado, asi como su desarrollo en la obra Dieu pour penser. Muestra sus posibilidades —contra los limites de la existencia—, su fundamentacion —la filiacion—, su propuesta —la divinizacion— y su actualizacion —la revelacion—. EnglishAdolphe Gesche established the «salvific capacity principle» —salutarite— as the proper task of Theology. Theology had to be able to propose the intelligibility of the Christian faith concepts in order to rediscover God and the salvation that only he can give. This study presents this principle, its origin and meaning, as well as its development in Dieu pour penser. It shows its possibilities —against the existence limits—, its foundation —filiation—, its proposal —divinisation— and its actualisation —revelation—.

New NZP-type solid solutions, Na1+2xZr2–xNix(PO4)3 and Ca0.5+xZr2–xNix(PO4)3 with x = 0.10, 0.25, and 0.50, have been prepared by solid-state reactions. The synthesized samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. Crystal structure of the compound CaZr1.5Ni0.5(PO4)3 has been refined by full-profile X-ray diffraction analysis method, reliability factors is Rp = 4.78% and Rwp = 6.45%, respectively. Thermal expansion of the phosphates has been studied by high-temperature X-ray diffraction in the temperature range 25–700°C. The synthesized compounds have been shown to be intermediate- and low-thermal-expansion materials. Using SPS method we have produced ceramic samples with a high relative density (ρrel > 97%), based on phosphate powders. Strength characteristics (microhardness and fracture toughness) of the ceramics have been determined.

FBXW7 is one of the most frequently mutated tumor suppressors, deficiency of which has been associated with resistance to some anticancer therapies. Through bioinformatics and genome-wide CRISPR screens, we here reveal that FBXW7 deficiency leads to multidrug resistance (MDR). Proteomic analyses found an upregulation of mitochondrial factors as a hallmark of FBXW7 deficiency, which has been previously linked to chemotherapy resistance. Despite this increased expression of mitochondrial factors, functional analyses revealed that mitochondria are under stress, and genetic or chemical targeting of mitochondria is preferentially toxic for FBXW7-deficient cells. Mechanistically, the toxicity of therapies targeting mitochondrial translation such as the antibiotic tigecycline relates to the activation of the integrated stress response (ISR) in a GCN2 kinase-dependent manner. Furthermore, the discovery of additional drugs that are toxic for FBXW7-deficient cells showed that all of them unexpectedly activate a GCN2-dependent ISR regardless of their accepted mechanism of action. Our study reveals that while one of the most frequent mutations in cancer reduces the sensitivity to the vast majority of available therapies, it renders cells vulnerable to ISR-activating drugs.

The objective of our study is to determine the thickness of the pubovisceral fasciculus of the levator ani muscle and the area of the genital hiatus by means of three-dimensional perineal ultrasound, in pregnant women in the 2nd trimester, and to analyze the related maternal, perinatal and postpartum clinical variables. Furthermore, to compare the results of our study with two similar series previously published. An observational, prospective study of pelvic floor ultrasound was carried out, performed at week 20, whose delivery was attended in the obstetrics service of the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón de Madrid (HGUGM), during the period of August from 2021 to June 2022. Maternal, ultrasound, perinatal and postpartum clinical variables were collected from each participant. During the study period, a total of 54 patients were included in it. The mean gestational age at which the ultrasound was performed was 19.81 ± 0.91 weeks. In relation to the ultrasound variables, the mean thickness of the pubovisceral muscle was 0.87 ± 0.13 cm (95% CI, 0.64–1.38 cm), while, in the plane of minimum dimension of the genital hiatus, the hiatal area at rest was 13.41 ± 3.22 (95% CI, 4.60–18.78) cm2. There is a significant correlation between the age of pregnant women (over 35 years of age) and the increase in the area of the genital hiatus (r = 0.295, p = 0.031). 3D ultrasound of the pelvic floor performed at week 20 of gestation can to be an effective, non-invasive, reproducible and cheap tool in the prognosis of the development of labor and of possible subsequent perineal dysfunctions.

With more and more aspects of modern life and scientific tools becoming digitized, the amount of data being generated is growing exponentially. Fast and efficient statistical processing, such as identifying correlations in big datasets, is therefore becoming increasingly important, and this, on account of the various compute bottlenecks in modern digital machines, has necessitated new computational paradigms. Here, we demonstrate one such novel paradigm, via the development of an integrated phase-change photonics engine. The computational memory engine exploits the accumulative property of Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 phase-change cells and wavelength division multiplexing property of optics in delivering fully parallelized and colocated temporal correlation detection computations. We investigate this property and present an experimental demonstration of identifying real-time correlations in data streams on the social media platform Twitter and high-traffic computing nodes in data centers. Our results demonstrate the use case of high-speed integrated photonics in accelerating statistical analysis methods.