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Abstract A lensless compact arrangement based on digital in-line holography under Gabor’s regime is proposed as a novel contactless method to assess the profile of multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs) which are conformed by several diffractive rings. Diffractive MIOLs are a widely adopted ophthalmologic option for the correction of presbyopia in patients undergoing cataract surgery. The MIOL optical design might introduce non-negligible optical performance differences between lenses as well as the introduction of undesirable photic phenomena (such as halos and glare) affecting the vision of users. Therefore, the customized topographic control of each manufactured MIOL model, along with the advancement of optical simulation routines, is increasingly necessary to provide users with optimized performance of these implanted optics, as well as predictable and realistic expectations of their future vision with these solutions. In this manuscript, experimental results of the reconstruction of different smooth and highly edged diffractive profiles from a pair of commercially available MIOLs are presented. Besides, a study evaluating the convergence and robustness of the proposed iterative phase-retrieval routine based on a modified classical Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm is performed. These results provide experimental validation of the proposed technique for accurately measuring the optical profiles of MIOLs.

Background Bipolar disorder is highly prevalent and consists of biphasic recurrent mood episodes of mania and depression, which translate into altered mood, sleep and activity alongside their physiological expressions. Aims The IdenTifying dIgital bioMarkers of illnEss activity and treatment response in BipolAr diSordEr with a novel wearable device (TIMEBASE) project aims to identify digital biomarkers of illness activity and treatment response in bipolar disorder. Method We designed a longitudinal observational study including 84 individuals. Group A comprises people with acute episode of mania (n = 12), depression (n = 12 with bipolar disorder and n = 12 with major depressive disorder (MDD)) and bipolar disorder with mixed features (n = 12). Physiological data will be recorded during 48 h with a research-grade wearable (Empatica E4) across four consecutive time points (acute, response, remission and episode recovery). Group B comprises 12 people with euthymic bipolar disorder and 12 with MDD, and group C comprises 12 healthy controls who will be recorded cross-sectionally. Psychopathological symptoms, disease severity, functioning and physical activity will be assessed with standardised psychometric scales. Physiological data will include acceleration, temperature, blood volume pulse, heart rate and electrodermal activity. Machine learning models will be developed to link physiological data to illness activity and treatment response. Generalisation performance will be tested in data from unseen patients. Results Recruitment is ongoing. Conclusions This project should contribute to understanding the pathophysiology of affective disorders. The potential digital biomarkers of illness activity and treatment response in bipolar disorder could be implemented in a real-world clinical setting for clinical monitoring and identification of prodromal symptoms. This would allow early intervention and prevention of affective relapses, as well as personalisation of treatment.

Insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS-1 and IRS-2) are signaling adaptor proteins that participate in canonical pathways, where insulin cascade activation occurs, as well as in non-canonical pathways, in which phosphorylation of substrates is carried out by a diverse array of receptors including integrins, cytokines, steroid hormones, and others. IRS proteins are subject to a spectrum of post-translational modifications essential for their activation, encompassing phosphorylation events in distinct tyrosine, serine, and threonine residues. Tyrosine residue phosphorylation is intricately linked to the activation of the insulin receptor cascade and its interaction with SH2 domains within a spectrum of proteins, including PI3K. Conversely, serine residue phosphorylation assumes a different function, serving to attenuate the effects of insulin. In this review, we have identified over 50 serine residues within IRS-1 that have been reported to undergo phosphorylation orchestrated by a spectrum of kinases, thereby engendering the activation or inhibition of different signaling pathways. Furthermore, we delineate the phosphorylation of over 10 distinct tyrosine residues at IRS-1 or IRS-2 in response to insulin, a process essential for signal transduction and the subsequent activation of PI3K.

Insulin signaling plays an important role in the development and progression of cancer since it is involved in proliferation and migration processes. It has been shown that the A isoform of the insulin receptor (IR-A) is often overexpressed, and its stimulation induces changes in the expression of the insulin receptor substrates (IRS-1 and IRS-2), which are expressed differently in the different types of cancer. We study the participation of the insulin substrates IRS-1 and IRS-2 in the insulin signaling pathway in response to insulin and their involvement in the proliferation and migration of the cervical cancer cell line. Our results showed that under basal conditions, the IR-A isoform was predominantly expressed. Stimulation of HeLa cells with 50 nM insulin led to the phosphorylation of IR-A, showing a statistically significant increase at 30 min (p ≤ 0.05). Stimulation of HeLa cells with insulin induces PI3K and AKT phosphorylation through the activation of IRS2, but not IRS1. While PI3K reached the highest level at 30 min after treatment (p ≤ 0.05), AKT had the highest levels from 15 min (p ≤ 0.05) and remained constant for 6 h. ERK1 and ERK2 expression was also observed, but only ERK2 was phosphorylated in a time-dependent manner, reaching a maximum peak 5 min after insulin stimulation. Although no effect on cell proliferation was observed, insulin stimulation of HeLa cells markedly promoted cell migration.

Rhiniinae (Diptera, Calliphoridae) is a taxon of nearly 400 known species, many of them termitophilous. Approximatelly 160 valid species in 16 genera are Afrotropical, with over 60 of them occurring in South Africa. The taxonomy of this group is outdated, as most studies of the South African taxa were conducted 40 to 70 years ago (mostly by Salvador Peris and Fritz Zumpt). Published information on their biology and ecology is also scarce.An annotated checklist of 73 species of Rhiniinae for South Africa was developed, based on the holdings of sixteen entomological collections in Africa, Europe and North America. Over 3,700 specimens were examined, revealing nine new species records for South Africa (Cosmina undulata Malloch, 1926, Isomyia cuthbertsoni (Curran, 1938), Rhyncomya botswana Zumpt, 1974, R. tristis Séguy, 1933, Stomorhina apta Curran, 1931, S. malobana (Lehrer, 2007), Thoracites kirkspriggsi Kurahashi, 2001, Th. sarcophagoides Kurahashi, 2001 and Trichoberia lanata (Villeneuve, 1920)). We propose one new combination Eurhyncomyia metzi (Zumpt, 1981) comb. nov. (= Rhyncomya metzi Zumpt, 1981)). Additionally, evidence is presented to remove Rhyncomya viduella Villeneuve, 1927 stat. rev. from synonymy with Rhyncomya cassotis (Walker, 1849). Relevant novel biological and seasonality information, historical occurrence maps and high-definition photographs for each species are compiled.

BackgroundDepressive and manic episodes within bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) involve altered mood, sleep, and activity, alongside physiological alterations wearables can capture. ObjectiveFirstly, we explored whether physiological wearable data could predict (aim 1) the severity of an acute affective episode at the intra-individual level and (aim 2) the polarity of an acute affective episode and euthymia among different individuals. Secondarily, we explored which physiological data were related to prior predictions, generalization across patients, and associations between affective symptoms and physiological data. MethodsWe conducted a prospective exploratory observational study including patients with BD and MDD on acute affective episodes (manic, depressed, and mixed) whose physiological data were recorded using a research-grade wearable (Empatica E4) across 3 consecutive time points (acute, response, and remission of episode). Euthymic patients and healthy controls were recorded during a single session (approximately 48 h). Manic and depressive symptoms were assessed using standardized psychometric scales. Physiological wearable data included the following channels: acceleration (ACC), skin temperature, blood volume pulse, heart rate (HR), and electrodermal activity (EDA). Invalid physiological data were removed using a rule-based filter, and channels were time aligned at 1-second time units and segmented at window lengths of 32 seconds, as best-performing parameters. We developed deep learning predictive models, assessed the channels’ individual contribution using permutation feature importance analysis, and computed physiological data to psychometric scales’ items normalized mutual information (NMI). We present a novel, fully automated method for the preprocessing and analysis of physiological data from a research-grade wearable device, including a viable supervised learning pipeline for time-series analyses. ResultsOverall, 35 sessions (1512 hours) from 12 patients (manic, depressed, mixed, and euthymic) and 7 healthy controls (mean age 39.7, SD 12.6 years; 6/19, 32% female) were analyzed. The severity of mood episodes was predicted with moderate (62%-85%) accuracies (aim 1), and their polarity with moderate (70%) accuracy (aim 2). The most relevant features for the former tasks were ACC, EDA, and HR. There was a fair agreement in feature importance across classification tasks (Kendall W=0.383). Generalization of the former models on unseen patients was of overall low accuracy, except for the intra-individual models. ACC was associated with “increased motor activity” (NMI>0.55), “insomnia” (NMI=0.6), and “motor inhibition” (NMI=0.75). EDA was associated with “aggressive behavior” (NMI=1.0) and “psychic anxiety” (NMI=0.52). ConclusionsPhysiological data from wearables show potential to identify mood episodes and specific symptoms of mania and depression quantitatively, both in BD and MDD. Motor activity and stress-related physiological data (EDA and HR) stand out as potential digital biomarkers for predicting mania and depression, respectively. These findings represent a promising pathway toward personalized psychiatry, in which physiological wearable data could allow the early identification and intervention of mood episodes.

A Hybrid Quantum Genetic Algorithm with Fuzzy Adaptive Rotation Angle (HQGAFARA) is introduced in this work to determine the optimal placements for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) aimed at maximizing coverage in disaster-stricken areas. The HQGAFARA is a hybrid quantum fuzzy meta-heuristic that uses the Deutsch–Jozsa quantum circuit to generate quantum populations synergistically working as haploid recombination and mutation operators that take advantage of quantum entanglement, providing exploitative and explorative features to produce new individuals. In place of the conventional lookup table or mathematical equation, we introduced a fuzzy heuristic to adapt the rotation angle employed in quantum gates. The hybrid nature of this algorithm becomes evident through its utilization of both classical and quantum computing components. Experimental evaluations were conducted using two distinct test sets. The first set, termed the “best case”, represents conditions that are the most favorable for determining the UAV positions, while the second set, the “worst-case”, simulates highly challenging conditions for locating the UAV positions, thereby posing a significant test for the proposed algorithm. We carried out statistical comparative analyses, assessing the HQGAFARA against other hybrid quantum algorithms that employ different rotation angles and against the classical genetic algorithm. The experimental results demonstrated that the HQGAFARA performed comparably, if not better, to the classical genetic algorithm regarding precision. Furthermore, quantum algorithms showcased their computational prowess in experiments related to the convergence time.

BackgroundMany people attending primary care (PC) have anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout compounded by a lack of resources to meet their needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem, and digital tools have been proposed as a solution. ObjectiveWe aimed to present the development, feasibility, and potential effectiveness of Vickybot, a chatbot aimed at screening, monitoring, and reducing anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout, and detecting suicide risk in patients from PC and health care workers. MethodsHealthy controls (HCs) tested Vickybot for reliability. For the simulation study, HCs used Vickybot for 2 weeks to simulate different clinical situations. For feasibility and effectiveness study, people consulting PC or health care workers with mental health problems used Vickybot for 1 month. Self-assessments for anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) symptoms and work-related burnout (based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory) were administered at baseline and every 2 weeks. Feasibility was determined from both subjective and objective user-engagement indicators (UEIs). Potential effectiveness was measured using paired 2-tailed t tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank test for changes in self-assessment scores. ResultsOverall, 40 HCs tested Vickybot simultaneously, and the data were reliably transmitted and registered. For simulation, 17 HCs (n=13, 76% female; mean age 36.5, SD 9.7 years) received 98.8% of the expected modules. Suicidal alerts were received correctly. For the feasibility and potential effectiveness study, 34 patients (15 from PC and 19 health care workers; 76% [26/34] female; mean age 35.3, SD 10.1 years) completed the first self-assessments, with 100% (34/34) presenting anxiety symptoms, 94% (32/34) depressive symptoms, and 65% (22/34) work-related burnout. In addition, 27% (9/34) of patients completed the second self-assessment after 2 weeks of use. No significant differences were found between the first and second self-assessments for anxiety (t8=1.000; P=.34) or depressive (t8=0.40; P=.70) symptoms. However, work-related burnout scores were moderately reduced (z=−2.07, P=.04, r=0.32). There was a nonsignificant trend toward a greater reduction in anxiety-depressive symptoms and work-related burnout with greater use of the chatbot. Furthermore, 9% (3/34) of patients activated the suicide alert, and the research team promptly intervened with successful outcomes. Vickybot showed high subjective UEI (acceptability, usability, and satisfaction), but low objective UEI (completion, adherence, compliance, and engagement). Vickybot was moderately feasible. ConclusionsThe chatbot was useful in screening for the presence and severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and for detecting suicidal risk. Potential effectiveness was shown to reduce work-related burnout but not anxiety or depressive symptoms. Subjective perceptions of use contrasted with low objective-use metrics. Our results are promising but suggest the need to adapt and enhance the smartphone-based solution to improve engagement. A consensus on how to report UEIs and validate digital solutions, particularly for chatbots, is required.

El desempeño organizacional ha sido abordado desde distintas perspectivas; posee múltiples componentes o dimensiones que lo integran, y la elección de estos componentes dependerá del tipo e intereses de la organización que evaluar. Los estudios disponibles en México sobre desempeño de las organizaciones económicas en el medio rural solo ofrecen un balance general del estado financiero de estas, mas no reflejan el valor que reciben los socios por permanecer organizados. Así, el objetivo de este artículo fue incorporar una nueva perspectiva cuantitativa de medición del desempeño económico y analizar cuáles son los factores asociados a este. El universo de estudio fueron organizaciones de productores de giro agropecuario ubicadas en el estado de Guanajuato participantes en el programa «Comercialización innovadora»; la metodología consistió en calcular el valor agregado por la organización (VAO) como medida de desempeño, para lo cual se realizaron un análisis descriptivo, análisis de correlaciones (Pearson y Tau-b de Kendall), regresión lineal y ANOVA de un factor. Los resultados arrojaron que el VAO refleja el beneficio económico que reciben los socios por estar organizados, y que, de los factores asociados, el número de servicios ofrecidos por la organización es importante en la generación de VAO, así como la profesionalización de la estructura técnica.

This study aimed to evaluate the optical performance of a rotationally asymmetric intraocular lens (IOL) when it is decentered relative to the visual axis. The FEMTIS Comfort IOL (Teleon Surgical B.V., Spankeren, The Netherlands) was assessed using ray tracing software in the Atchison model eye at apertures of 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm. The metric used for assessment was the through-the-focus area under the modulation transfer function (TF-MTFa). Decentrations of 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm were considered. Our results indicated that the MTFa defocus curves exhibited significant differences depending on the direction of vertical decentration. Downward decentrations shifted the MTFa curve towards virtual vergences, resulting in improved optical quality at far distances but decreased optical quality at intermediate and near vision. Conversely, upward decentrations produced the opposite effect. Since, on one hand, this lens is fixed within the capsulorhexis during surgery, demonstrating excellent stability, and on the other hand, the precise centration of the capsulorhexis can be made accurately off the visual axis, these results provide surgeons with the opportunity to plan various clinical scenarios to optimize surgical outcomes with this IOL by selecting the optimal location for capsulorhexis centration in each patient.

The taxonomy and diversity of Fainia Zumpt, 1958, an exclusive Afrotropical genus, had not been reviewed recently. The genus included six nominal species, but the status of several of them was debated. Identification of most Fainia species depends on characters of the male terminalia; females are poorly known and, in several cases, are not adequately diagnosed. We conducted a taxonomic revision of the genus and generated identification tools. Based on the study of type material and specimens available in entomological collections in Africa and Europe, we recognise here three of the six species as valid (F. albitarsis (Macquart, 1846), F. elongata (Bezzi, 1908) and F. inexpectata Zumpt, 1973). We also provide an identification key to both sexes, redescriptions of the species, updated distribution records and high resolution photographs of males’ and females’ habitus and male terminalia. The description of Fainia kagerana Lehrer, 2007a nom. nud. is an invalid nomenclatural act in terms of ICZN Article 13.1.1. Based on examinations of their holotypes, F. sambura Lehrer, 2008 syn. nov. is proposed as a junior synonym of F. albitarsis; F. kirinyaga Lehrer, 2007b syn. nov. is proposed as a junior synonym of F. inexpectata; and Fainia giriama Lehrer, 2007b is moved from the genus Fainia to the genus Rhinia Robineau-Desvoidy, as Rhinia giriama (Lehrer, 2007b) comb. nov.. We propose two apomorphies that support the status of the subfamily Rhiniinae.

Abstract Background Given the limitation of pharmacological treatments to treat cognitive symptoms in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), cognitive remediation programs has been proposed as a possible procognitive intervention but findings are not conclusive. This study investigates the efficacy of an INtegral Cognitive REMediation (INCREM) that includes a combination of a Functional Remediation (FR) strategy plus a Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) in order to improve not only cognitive performance but also the psychosocial functioning and the quality of life. Methods A single blind randomized controlled clinical trial in 81 patients with a diagnosis of MDD in clinical remission or in partial remission. Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: INCREM (FR + CCT), Psychoeducation plus online games and Treatment As Usual (TAU). Intervention will consist in 12 group sessions, of approximately 110 min once a week. The primary outcome measure will be % of change in psychosocial functioning after treatment measured by the Functional Assessment Short Test (FAST); additionally, number of sick leaves and daily activities will also be recorded as pragmatic outcomes. Discussion To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled clinical trial using a combination of two different approaches (FR + CCT) to treat the present cognitive deficits and to promote their improvements into a better psychosocial functioning. Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT03624621. Date registered 10th of August 2018 and last updated 24th August 2018.

In this work, we analyze a proposal of a new intracorneal diffractive lens for presbyopia correction that could allow good, distance, intermediate and near vision. By using an adaptive optics visual simulator, we study the influence of two factors in the inlay performance: the spherical aberration (SA) and the potential errors of in thickness, induced in the manufacturing process. We show that the inlay through-the-focus imaging performance can be customized with the SA value, favoring either distance–intermediate or intermediate–near vision. Moreover, we found that with thickness variations of 10%, the inlay still maintains its trifocal nature.

Abstract Background Psychomotor agitation (PMA) is a state of motor restlessness and mental tension that requires prompt recognition, appropriate assessment and management to minimize anxiety for the patient and reduce the risk for escalation to aggression and violence. Standardized and applicable protocols and algorithms can assist healthcare providers to identify patients at risk of PMA, achieve timely diagnosis and implement minimally invasive management strategies to ensure patient and staff safety and resolution of the episode. Methods Spanish experts in PMA from different disciplines (psychiatrists, psychologists and nurses) convened in Barcelona for a meeting in April 2016. Based on recently issued international consensus guidelines on the standard of care for psychiatric patients with PMA, the meeting provided the opportunity to address the complexities in the assessment and management of PMA from different perspectives. The attendees worked towards producing a consensus for a unified approach to PMA according to the local standards of care and current local legislations. The draft protocol developed was reviewed and ratified by all members of the panel prior to its presentation to the Catalan Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health, the Spanish Society of Biological Psychiatry (SEPB) and the Spanish Network Centre for Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM) for input. The final protocol and algorithms were then submitted to these organizations for endorsement. Results The protocol presented here provides guidance on the appropriate selection and use of pharmacological agents (inhaled/oral/IM), seclusion, and physical restraint for psychiatric patients suspected of or presenting with PMA. The protocol is applicable within the Spanish healthcare system. Implementation of the protocol and the constituent algorithms described here should ensure the best standard of care of patients at risk of PMA. Episodes of PMA could be identified earlier in their clinical course and patients could be managed in the least invasive and coercive manner, ensuring their own safety and that of others around them. Conclusion Establishing specialized teams in agitation and providing them with continued training on the identification of agitation, patient management and therapeutic alternatives might reduce the burden of PMA for both the patient and the healthcare system.

Objective. We aimed to explore organ donation and transplantation in Mexico from the point of view of transplantation health professionals. Materials and methods. A qualitative study was carried out. Twenty six organ transplantation health professionals from seven states of Mexico participated. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted mainly in hospital settings. Critical discourse analysis was performed. Results. According to participants, living organ transplantation offers benefits for recipients as well as for donors. Several factors influence the field of transplantation negatively, among them the scarcity of resources that impedes the incorporation of new health personnel, as well as conflicts between transplantation teams with diverse health professionals and authorities. Conclusion. Besides increasing economic resources, transplantation health personnel should be sensitized to find solutions in order to avoid conflicts with different health professionals. Studies on organ donation and transplants also should include other social actors’ viewpoint.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular protist-like fungal pathogens that infect a broad range of animal species, including humans. This study aimed to assess the presence of zoonotic microsporidia (Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi) in organ meats of European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) consumed by humans in Spain. Between July 2015 and December 2018, kidney samples from 383 wild rabbits and kidney and brain tissues from 79 Iberian hares in southern Spain were tested by species-specific PCR for the detection of microsporidia DNA. Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection was confirmed in three wild rabbits (0.8%; 95% CI: 0.0–1.7%) but not in hares (0.0%; 95% CI: 0.0–4.6%), whereas E. intestinalis DNA was found in one wild rabbit (0.3%; 95% CI: 0.0–0.8%) and three Iberian hares (3.8%; 95% CI: 0.0–8.0%). Neither E. hellem nor E. cuniculi infection were detected in the 462 (0.0%; 95% CI: 0.0–0.8%) lagomorphs analyzed. The absence of E. hellem and E. cuniculi infection suggests a low risk of zoonotic foodborne transmission from these wild lagomorph species in southern Spain. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of E. intestinalis infection in wild rabbits and Iberian hares. The presence of E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis in organ meats from wild lagomorphs can be of public health concern. Additional studies are required to determine the real prevalence of these parasites in European wild rabbit and Iberian hare.

Background: Patients with schizoaffective disorder (SAD) suffer from cognitive impairment, which negatively influences their functionality. Cognitive remediation (CR) interventions have been shown to be effective in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), but evidence in SAD is limited so far. The aim of this study is to systematically review the published data on CR interventions, either in neurocognition or social cognition, in patients with SAD.Methods: We conducted a comprehensive, computerized literature search using terms related to CR interventions in psychotic and affective disorders, and particularly in SAD. Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Knowledge databases were used up to February 28th, 2018 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The search returned 2672 articles of which four were finally selected meeting the inclusion criteria.Results: Cognitive Enhancement Therapy, computerized Cognitive Remediation Therapy and Cognitive Training showed positive results in subsamples of patients with SAD regarding neurocognition and functioning in comparable terms to patients with schizophrenia as well as in a greater extent in quality of life. Benefits in social cognition were also described when Social Cognition Interaction Training was considered in patients with SAD.Conclusions: CR interventions seem to improve neurocognition and social cognition in patients with SAD as well as functioning and quality of life. However, further randomized controlled trials on CR interventions with an optimized design focusing on selected sample of patients with SAD are imperative.

El presente trabajo piloto tuvo como objetivo estudiar el proceso de bioacumulación de nutrientes y compuestos organoclorados en Eichhornia crassipes expuesta a efluentes de una fábrica de celulosa que vierte en aguas del Río Uruguay, cerca de la ciudad de Fray Bentos, Río Negro, Uruguay. Se caracterizaron los principales atributos del efluente, antes y después del cultivo con Eichhornia, así como también se estudiaron las concentraciones de los halógenos orgánicos en plantas control y en plantas sometidas al efluente. Se observaron cambios macroscópicos en la planta, los compuestos organoclorados se bioacumularon principalmente en las hojas, registrándose valores de 9,4 µg/g frente a 2,1 µg/g observados en la biomasa control. La remoción de nutrientes fue del orden del 90%. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que la fitorremediación con plantas flotables es un método potencialmente ventajoso para ser utilizado como tratamiento terciario en países tropicales y subtropicales para disminuir la concentración de compuestos orgánicos clorados recalcitrantes y como método de remoción de nitratos y fosfatos de efluentes de plantas de celulosa.

El objetivo del estudio fue comparar las propiedades psicométricas del test Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) en pacientes diagnosticados de esquizofrenia (n = 126) o trastorno bipolar I (n = 76). Además, el deterioro cognitivo se comparó con un grupo control (n = 83) empleando el SCIP y una batería neuropsicológica completa. El test SCIP es una escala que evalúa rápida y fácilmente el deterioro cognitivo en trastornos psiquiátricos graves. En términos de consistencia interna, estabilidad temporal, estructura dimensional y validez de criterio, el SCIP proporciona resultados al mismo nivel de fiabilidad y validez en pacientes con esquizofrenia o trastorno bipolar I. Además, demostró que el deterioro cognitivo diferencial entre los dos grupos de pacientes se produce solo en la memoria verbal, aunque el tamaño del efecto de esta diferencia es pequeño. Por último, y frente al grupo control, se confirma el deterioro cognitivo a todos los niveles en ambos grupos de pacientes utilizando tanto el SCIP como la batería neuropsicológica, lo que indica que el SCIP es una buena herramienta de detección para los déficits cognitivos en esquizofrenia y trastorno bipolar, y útil en la práctica clínica habitual para profesionales de la salud. © 2013 Asociación Española de Psicología Conductual. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L. Todos los derechos reservados.

Larvae of Hermetia illucens feed on different types of decomposing organic matter and their development depends on the quality and quantity of food ingested. In this study the effect of three artificial diets was analyzed, namely hen feed, meat meal and a mixture of these two diets. The effects of diet on ovarian development, size, mortality, duration of the larval and pupal stages and sex ratio were studied. Results indicate that the meat meal diet was the worst of the three diets in terms of percentage mortality and duration of the larval and pupal stages. We conclude that food ingested by the black soldier fly larvae determines both the physiological and morphological development of the adults.

In order to enhance the mass production of the house fly, Musca domestica, five aspects of its oviposition biology were analyzed. Oviposition substrate and the manner of its presentation, the composition of the diet of the adults, size of the pupae and numbers of flies in a cage were identified as critical. Females preferred to lay eggs on a substrate which was presented within a shelter and with increased linear edges against which the flies could oviposit. Different types of oviposition substrate resulted in comparable yields of eggs. The presence of an oviposition attractant (ammonia) in the manure was found to have a potentially positive effect on female fecundity. Egg yield increased when two protein sources (yeast and milk) were included in the adult diet. However, flies fed a mixture of sugar and yeast laid over 50% fewer eggs than those fed the same proportion of sugar and milk. The fecundity of flies decreased with increase in the number of flies per cage, but the highest total number of eggs per cage was obtained when the flies were most crowded (14.2 cm3 per fly). The size of the pupae did not significantly affect egg production.

Se revisaron 11 estudios en pacientes diabéticos del nivel primario de salud para conocer la prevalencia de hipertensión arterial en dicha serie entre los años 1986- 2000, registrándose un total de 1 126 pacientes diabéticos con una prevalencia de hipertensión arterial del 53,2 %. Es importante señalar como factor predictor de daño renal el estudio de la presencia de microalbuminuria en 60 pacientes diabéticos del nivel primario de salud y 60 pacientes diabéticos del nivel secundario, lo que demuestra la relación existente entre la hipertensión arterial y la presencia de microalbuminuria en una fase aún reversible de daño renal. Se discuten los fundamentos del tratamiento antihipertensivo en pacientes diabéticos y se recomienda el uso de los inhibidores del sistema renina angiotensina (SRA). El objetivo del tratamiento es lograr la reducción de la tensión arterial por debajo de 140/90, con un ideal de 120/80 para así reducir la morbimortalidad por enfermedad cardiovascular, cerebrovascular y renal.Diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Study at the primary health care level Eleven studies conducted among diabetic patients at the primary health care level were reviewed to know the prevalence of arterial hypertension in this series from 1986 to 2000. A total of 1 126 diabetic patients with a prevalence of arterial hypertension of 53.2 % were registered. It is important to stress the presence of albuminuria as a predictive factor of renal damage in 60 diabetic patients at the primary health care level and in 60 diabetic patients at the secondary level, which shows the relation existing between arterial hypertension and the presence of albuminuria at a still reversible stage of renal damage. The foundations of the antihypertensive treatment in diabetic patients are discussed and the use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors is recommended. The treatment is aimed at reducing arterial hypertension to values under 140 x 90 with an ideal of 140 x 80 so as to lower morbimortality from cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal disease.

The technology for biodegradation of pig manure by using houseflies in a pilot plant capable of processing 500-700 kg of pig manure per week is described. A single adult cage loaded with 25,000 pupae produced 177.7±32.0 ml of eggs in a 15-day egg-collection period. With an inoculation ratio of 0.4-1.0 ml eggs/kg of manure, the amount of eggs produced by a single cage can suffice for the biodegradation of 178-444 kg of manure. Larval development varied among four different types of pig manure (centrifuged slurry, fresh manure, manure with sawdust, manure without sawdust). Larval survival ranged from 46.9±2.1%, in manure without sawdust, to 76.8±11.9% in centrifuged slurry. Larval development took 6-11 days, depending on the manure type. Processing of 1 kg of wet manure produced 43.9-74.3 g of housefly pupae and the weight of the residue after biodegradation decreased to 0.18-0.65 kg, with marked differences among manure types. Recommendations for the operation of industrial-scale biodegradation facilities are presented and discussed.

OBJETIVO: determinar si el tratamiento continuo con litio influye en el desempeño cognitivo de un grupo de pacientes eutímicos con trastorno afectivo bipolar I. MÉTODO: se evaluó el desempeño cognitivo usando pruebas neurosicológicas de atención, memoria y función ejecutiva en 20 pacientes eutímicos con trastorno afectivo bipolar I que no tomaban medicación, 20 pacientes eutímicos con trastorno afectivo bipolar I quienes continuaban regularmente el tratamiento con carbonato de litio, y un tercer grupo de 20 pacientes control. RESULTADOS: no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos de pacientes con trastorno afectivo bipolar. Sin embargo, al compararlos con el grupo control, su desempeño en términos de memoria verbal, viso-verbal y asociación semántica medida fue menor. DISCUSIÓN: los pacientes con trastorno afectivo bipolar I muestran deficiencias en términos de memoria verbal y viso-verbal que no pueden ser atribuidos al tratamiento regular con carbonato de litio. Por el contrario, estas deficiencias podrían ser consideradas como características de rasgo de este trastorno.

En este trabajo se presenta uno de los usos que se puede dar a algunos indicadores ambientales; tal es el caso de la información descrita en el Sistema de Cuentas Económicas y Ecológicas de México (SCEEM) que, combinada con datos del Sistema de Cuentas Nacionales, posibilita obtener el índice de sustentabilidad propuesto por Pearce y Atkinson para el caso de México. A partir de los resultados obtenidos y bajo ciertos supuestos, se puede concluir que el crecimiento de la economía mexicana para el periodo de 1988-1996 fue "no sustentable".

Abstract Introduction: In Brazil, there is no valid instrument to measure subjective cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder. The present study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment (COBRA) in Brazilian bipolar patients. We further investigated the relationship between the COBRA, objective cognitive measures, and illness course variables. Methods: The total sample (N=150) included 85 bipolar disorder patients and 65 healthy controls. The psychometric properties of the COBRA (e.g., internal consistency, concurrent validity, discriminative validity, factor analyses, ROC curve, and feasibility) were analyzed. Results: The COBRA showed a one-factor structure with very high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.890). Concurrent validity was indicated by a strong correlation with the cognitive domain of the FAST (r=0.811, p