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Objective: To evaluate changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and z-height over 3 years based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) usage among children with new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1DM) from various Latin American centers. Study design: Data on z-height, CGM access, and HbA1c (%) were collected for Latin American children aged 6 months to 18 years with T1DM onset from 19 centers in a retrospective analysis of medical records, from 2020 to 2023. A 2-way ANOVA method with repeated measures and multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: We included 433 children (46.0% female) aged 8.7 ± 3.7 years; 199 (45.9%) used CGM. The mean HbA1c was significantly lower in years 1, 2, and 3 than at baseline in children with CGM, but not those without CGM. The z-height decreased significantly with the years in both groups. However, the CGM users showed a significantly greater height in years 2 and 3 than the nonusers. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CGM users exhibited a significantly lower incremental area under the curve (AUC) for HbA1c during follow-up than nonusers. Furthermore, a lower incremental AUC for HbA1c was associated with a smaller decremental AUC for z-height (R2 = 0.19). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that children with CGM were 80% more likely (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.1-0.6) to achieve an HbA1c of

The search for brighter emitting materials is essential to the development of OLED devices. Etheringtonet al. show how the presence of two regioisomers of a donor-acceptor-donor thermally-activated delayed fluorescence molecule affects the device efficiency, with one acting as a triplet quencher.

During the last few years, great interest has been given to research in organic solar cells. Apart from the low cost techniques needed for the production of the active layers, the plasticity of these types of materials offers an additional benefit compared to traditional silicon-based solar cells. However, the commercialization of organic photovoltaic technologies is limited by rapid degradation and low efficiency. Recently, the use of luminescent down-shifting (LDS) films has been explored as a tool for increasing the external quantum efficiency of organic-based devices. A previously observed superposition in the emission–absorption spectra of Kremer blue (Kb) and Coumarin 7 (C7) dyes suggests that an energy transfer process can take place among these molecules. Decay time photoluminescence measurements in K b 100 − x C 7 x samples were carried out to confirm a Föster resonance energy transfer process. An optimization process following the design of experiments methodology was carried out to adjust the optical properties of K b 100 − x C 7 x films for applications in the P 3 H T : P C 61 B M organic photovoltaic device. An increment of 18.6% in the short circuit current density (J s c ) of P 3 H T : P C 61 B M devices coated with a K b 92.5 C 7 7.5 LDS film was observed. A degradation test shows a rapid drop in the electric current density of devices without the LDS film, which we attribute to the so-called burn-in, widely reported in the literature. For devices coated with the K b 92.5 C 7 7.5 LDS film, no rapid drop in the electric current density was observed, suggesting that the use of the luminescent layer mitigates the photoinduced burn-in loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last years several numerical codes have been developed to analyse tsunami waves. Most of these codes use a finite difference numerical approach giving good results for tsunami wave propagation, but with limitations in modelling inundation processes. The HyFlux2 model has been developed to simulate inundation scenario due to dam break, flash flood and tsunami-wave run-up. The model solves the conservative form of the two-dimensional shallow water equations using a finite volume method. The implementation of a shoreline-tracking method provides reliable results. HyFlux2 robustness has been tested using several tsunami events. The main aim of this study is code validation by means of comparing different code results with available measurements. Another objective of the study is to evaluate how the different fault models could generate different results that should be considered for coastal planning. Several simulations have been performed to compare HyFlux2 code with SWAN-JRC code and the TUNAMI-N2. HyFlux2 has been validated taking advantage of the extensive seismic, geodetic measurements and post-tsunami field surveys performed after the Nias March 28th tsunami. Although more detailed shallow bathymetry is needed to assess the inundation, diverse results in the wave heights have been revealed when comparing the different fault mechanism. Many challenges still exist for tsunami researchers especially when concern to early warning systems as shown in this Nias March 28th tsunami.

On 29 September 2009 at 17:48:11 UTC, a large earthquake of magnitude 8 struck off-shore of the Samoa Islands and generated a large tsunami that destroyed several villages and caused more than 160 fatalities. This report first presents the characteristics of the earthquake and discusses the best estimations for the fault parameters, which are the necessary input data for the hydrodynamic tsunami calculations. Then, the assessment of the near-real time systems invoked by the Global Disasters Alert and Coordination System (GDACS)1 and the post-event calculations are performed, making comparisons with the observed tidal measurements and post-event survey. It was found that the most severely damaged locations are the Southern section of the Western Samoa Islands, Tutuila Isl in American Samoa and Niuatoputapu Isle in Tonga. This is in agreement with the locations indicated by the Red Cross as the most affected and with the results of the post-tsunami surveys. Furthermore, an attempt was made to map the inundation events using more detailed digital elevation models (DEM) and hydrodynamic modelling with good results. The flooded areas for which we had satellite images and post-tsunami surveys confirm the inundated areas identified correctly by the hydrodynamic model. Indications are given on the DEM grid size needed for the different simulations.

The Tohoku Tsunami of 11 March 2011 was successfully identified and classified as Red alert by the GDACS system only when reliable and more correct estimations of the originating event have been provided to the system by the international seismological networks. Nevertheless the early analysis of the event by the comparison of the scenario calculations with the sea level could give important information on the real extent and impact of the Tsunami. The paper describe the response of the GDACS system and identify the lessons learned that determined changes in the logic and the procedures of the Tsunami calculations strategy.

Following the developments in short- and medium-range weather forecasting over the last decade, operational flood forecasting also appears to show a shift from a so-called single solution or 'best guess' deterministic approach towards a probabilistic approach based on ensemble techniques. While this probabilistic approach is now more or less common practice and well established in the meteorological community, operational flood forecasters have only started to look for ways to interpret and mitigate for end-users the prediction products obtained by combining so-called Ensemble Prediction Systems (EPS) of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models with rainfall-runoff models. This paper presents initial results obtained by combining deterministic and EPS hindcasts of the global NWP model of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) with the large-scale hydrological model LISFLOOD for two historic flood events: the river Meuse flood in January 1995 and the river Odra flood in July 1997. In addition, a possible way to interpret the obtained ensemble based stream flow prediction is proposed.

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common neoplasia of female genital tract. The prognosis of early stage disease (FIGO I and FIGO II) is excellent: recurrence after surgery is less than 15%, most of which are reported within 3 years after primary treatment. Herein we report a case of late rectal recurrence from FIGO Ib endometrial adenocarcinoma. Patient had also familiar and personal history of colonic adenocarcinoma and previous findings of microsatellite instability (MSI); molecular analysis evidenced heterozygotic somatic mutation in MLH1 gene. Twenty-eight years after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoovariectomy, a rectal wall mass was detected during routine colonoscopy. Patients underwent CT scan, pelvic MRI, and rectal EUS with FNA: histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed differentiated carcinoma cells of endometrial origin. No neoadjuvant treatment was planned and low rectal anterior resection with protective colostomy was performed; histology confirmed rectal lesion as metastasis from endometrial carcinoma. Recurrence of early stage endometrial carcinoma after a long period from primary surgery is possible. It is important to keep in mind this possibility in order to set a correct diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm, including preoperative immunohistochemical staining, and to plan a prolonged follow-up program.

Success of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B is supported by highly sensitive PCR-based assays for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. Nucleic acid extraction from biologic specimens is technically demanding and reliable PCR results depend it. Performances of the fully automatic system COBAS AmpliPrep™/COBAS TaqMan™ 48 (CAP/CTM) (Roche, Branchburg, NJ) for HBV DNA extraction and real -time PCR quantification were assessed and compared with the end-point PCR COBAS AMPLICOR HBV Monitor (CAHBM, Roche). Analytical evaluation with a proficiency panel showed that CAP/CTM quantitated HBV DNA levels in one single run over a wide dynamic range (7 logs) with a close correlation between expected and observed values (r=0.976, interassay variability below 5%). Clinical evaluation as tested with samples from 92 HBsAg-positive patients, demonstrated excellent correlation with CAHBM (r=0.966, mean difference in quantitation: 0.36 log10 IU/ml). CAP/CTM detected 10% more viremic patients and longer period of residual viremia in those on therapy. In lamivudine (LAM)-resistant patients, reduction of HBV DNA after 12 months of Adefovir (ADF) was higher in the combination (LAM+ADF) schedule than in ADF monotherapy (5.1 vs. 3.5 logs) suggesting a benefit in continuing LAM. In conclusion,CAP/CTM can improve the management of HBV infection, the assessment of antiviral therapy and drug resistance, supporting further insights in the emerging area of drug resistance.