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Abstract This work introduces a novel family of boundary conditions for AdS3 General Relativity, constructed through a polynomial expansion in negative integer powers of the Brown-Henneaux central charge. The associated dynamics is governed by the Dym hierarchy of integrable equations. It is shown that the infinite set of Dym conserved charges generates an abelian asymptotic symmetry group. Additionally, these boundary conditions encompass black hole solutions, whose thermodynamic properties are examined.

Objective The main objective of this study is to develop an eHealth adoption model based on patients’ perceptions of public value dimensions and empirically apply the model to understand the adoption of a governmental health app by Jordanian patients. The study attempts to contribute to overcoming the narrow focus of contemporary theories such as UTAUT and, ultimately, to designing more effective implementation strategies in order to address the current delays in global eHealth adoption. Methods We conducted a quantitative survey of 430 Jordanian patients, utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) to process the empirical data. Specifically, we applied an SEM two-step approach that involved (a) evaluating the model-data fit through a review of the measurement model(s) and common method bias; and (b) analyzing the structural model. Results Our findings confirm that the proposed patients’ value scale is valid and reliable. Its five dimensions (hedonistic motivation, utilitarian motivation, social value, ethical public value, and public trust value) significantly correlate with patients’ public value, and the latter directly affects their use of eHealth apps, with habits mediating this relationship. Among the dimensions, hedonistic motivations tend to be prioritized over utilitarian ones. Ethical and trust values also play an essential role, particularly in how health technology handles patients’ data and upholds their dignity and self-esteem. Conclusions This study highlights the holistic nature of eHealth adoption by patients and the crucial role of public values in their use behavior. It provides useful insights for policymakers and developers.

Background and aim Increased mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic is not explained exclusively by COVID-19 infection and its complications. We analysed non-COVID-19 causes of mortality in a population analysis based on data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics.Methods Using monthly mortality data in Spain (January 2010–December 2020), we analysed deaths associated with cancer, blood, endocrine, mental, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive diseases and explored the COVID-19 impact using a difference-in-difference strategy. We calculated monthly interannual variations in mortality and computed percentage change in terms of the log of deaths in month h of year t minus the log of deaths in month h in the previous year t−1.Results In 2020 in Spain, mortality increased 17.9% compared with 2019. COVID-19 was the leading cause of death (n=60 358), followed by ischaemic heart disease (n=29 654). Throughout 2020, monthly interannual variations in cardiovascular mortality showed an average upward trend of 1.7%, while digestive, cancer and blood diseases showed a downward trend.Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain in 2020, excess mortality was primarily related to cardiovascular mortality while mortality associated with digestive, cancer and blood diseases was reduced.

La experiencia del historiador Adolfo Saldías como referente de la Unión Cívica Radical coincide con un momento de incipiente autonomización de los campos político e intelectual en la década de 1890. No obstante, existen escasos estudios dedicados a los intelectuales del primer radicalismo. A partir del análisis de su trayectoria en esos ámbitos (sus principales intervenciones públicas, su correspondencia privada y especialmente su etapa como director del principal periódico radical) se reconstruyen las distintas dimensiones e implicancias del compromiso político de Saldías. Al cotejar su caso con otros similares, se concluye que dicha fuerza política contó con figuras intelectuales destacadas a las que, sin embargo, no ubicó centralmente en su concepción política y su retórica partidaria.

This article explores the activism of Arab Mexicans during the transition from the sultanate of Abdülhamid II, known as the Hamidian regime, and the beginning of the rule of the Committee of Union and Progress, known as the Young Turks government. The paper discusses the activism of intellectuals, social network leaders, and associations that created affinity ties with the Ottoman government and French authorities. These activities aspired to consolidate the diplomatic protection of Ottomans in Mexico. The compilation of primary sources shows the spread of Ottomanism and Francophilia within the first generation of Arab Mexicans. These discourses of affinity are relevant elements to understanding the activism in the Great War and at the dawn of the Mandate system in the Mashriq.

BackgroundChildhood obesity is a growing concern worldwide. School-based interventions have been proposed as effective means to improve nutritional knowledge and prevent obesity. In 2023, Mexico approved a reform to the General Education Law to strengthen the ban of sales and advertising of nonessential energy-dense food and beverages (NEDFBs) in schools and surroundings. We aimed to predict the expected one-year change in total caloric intake and obesity prevalence by introducing the ban of NEDFBs sales in schools, among school-aged children and adolescents (6 to 17 years old) in Mexico.Methods and findingsWe used age-specific equations to predict baseline fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) and then estimated total energy intake (TEI) per day. The TEI after the intervention was estimated under 4 scenarios: (1) using national data to inform the intervention effect; (2) varying law compliance; (3) using meta-analytic data to inform the intervention effect size on calories; and (4) using national data to inform the intervention effect by sex and socioeconomic status (SES). We used Hall's microsimulation model to estimate the potential impact on body weight and obesity prevalence of children and adolescents 1 year after implementing the intervention in Mexican schools. We found that children could reduce their daily energy intake by 33 kcal/day/person (uncertainty interval, UI, [25, 42] kcal/day/person), reducing on average 0.8 kg/person (UI [0.6, 1.0] kg/person) and 1.5 percentage points (pp) in obesity (UI [1.1, 1.9] pp) 1 year after implementing the law. We showed that compliance will be key to the success of this intervention: considering a 50% compliance the intervention effect could reduce 0.4 kg/person (UI [0.3, 0.5] kg/person). Our sensitivity analysis showed that the ban could reduce body weight by 1.3 kg/person (UI [0.8, 1.8] kg/person) and up to 5.4 kg/person (UI [3.4, 7.5] kg/person) in the best-case scenario. Study limitations include assuming that obesity and the contribution of NEDFBs consumed at school remain constant over time, assuming full compliance, and not considering the potential effect of banning NEDFBs in stores near schools.ConclusionsEven in the most conservative scenario, banning sales of NEDFBs in schools is expected to significantly reduce obesity, but achieving high compliance will be key to its success.Why was this study done?- School-based interventions have been recognized as effective means to improve nutritional knowledge and prevent obesity-related diseases.- In December 2023, the Chamber of Representatives of Mexico approved an amendment that strengthens and updates the General Education Law (Article 75) and nutritional guidelines to ban the sales and advertising of nonessential energy-dense food and beverages (NEDFBs) in schools.What did the researchers do and find?- We used age-specific equations to predict baseline fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) and total energy intake (TEI) per day.- We used microsimulation modeling to predict body weight and obesity prevalence of children and adolescents 1 year after implementing the intervention in Mexican schools.- Our modeling study suggests that an important impact on obesity prevalence can be expected if the law is implemented and enforced as intended.What do these findings mean?- If successful, this law could serve as an example beyond Mexico on how to achieve changes in body weight through school food regulation.- An important limitation of our main scenario is that we assumed full compliance of schools with the law, yet lower compliance will reduce its impact. We also did not consider historical trends on obesity or NEDFBs consumed in schools during our 1 year simulation, and we considered only the ban impact inside schools, excluding effects near and outside schools.

There is few information regarding the identification of filamentous fungi present in sewage sludge, the importance of these microorganisms lies in the potential use they have in the food, pharmaceutical and agri-environmental industries as they are beneficial in the remediation of water, sludge and soil contaminated by Heavy metals and hydrocarbons also contribute to the adsorption of nutrients by crops. The use of residual sludge once decontaminated by these microorganisms can be used in agriculture as soil structure improvers, organic fertilizers and as an amendment to prevent soil erosion. The objective of this research was to characterize and identify fast and medium-growing filamentous fungi from sewage sludge. The residual sludge was collected directly from the thickness of the municipal water treatment plant of Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Subsequently, the fungi were isolated on agar plates and identified using morphological characters of the colonies and by PCR and diana sequences. The species identified were: Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Aspergillus terreus, Tylopilus porphyrosporus and Aspergillus fumigatus. Being the first report for Mexico of fungal species that grow in residual sludge from water treatment plants. The molecular characterization of the species of filamentous fungi found in sewage sludge will allow progress in research focused on knowing the advantages and biological and chemical mechanisms of these microorganisms for the development of biotechnological processes and products, with high agricultural potential and environmental.

The primary objective of this study was to conduct a cost–utility analysis of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors in real-world, comparing their use with standard care for managing cardiovascular disease. A multicenter prospective study was conducted across 12 Spanish hospitals from May 2020 to April 2022, involving 158 patients with hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study assessed health-related quality of life (QoL) using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. The cost–utility analysis evaluated the economic impact of PCSK9 inhibitors when used with standard care compared to standard care alone, calculating the incremental cost–effectiveness ratio (ICER). This study included 158 patients with an average age of 61 years, male (66.5%). For patients initiating PCSK9 inhibitors, the treatment cost was EUR 13,633.39, while standard therapy cost EUR 3638.25 over two years. QoL for PCSK9 inhibitors stood at 1.6489 over two years, compared to 1.4548 for standard therapy. The results revealed favorable cost–utility outcomes, with an ICER of EUR 51,427.72. Significant improvements were observed in the domains of mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression (p < 0.001). This study presents the first real-world cost–utility analysis of PCSK9 inhibitors, supporting their economic rationale and highlighting their benefits in clinical practice. Healthcare decision-makers can use these results to inform their decisions and reimbursement policies concerning PCSK9 inhibitors. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04319081.

Abstract Background Forecasting patient arrivals to hospital emergency departments is critical to dealing with surges and to efficient planning, management and functioning of hospital emerency departments. Objective We explore whether past mean values and past observations are useful to forecast daily patient arrivals in an Emergency Department. Material and methods We examine whether an integer-valued generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (INGARCH) model can yield a better conditional distribution fit and forecast of patient arrivals by using past arrival information and taking into account the dynamics of the volatility of arrivals. Results We document that INGARCH models improve both in-sample and out-of-sample forecasts, particularly in the lower and upper quantiles of the distribution of arrivals. Conclusion Our results suggest that INGARCH modelling is a useful model for short-term and tactical emergency department planning, e.g., to assign rotas or locate staff for unexpected surges in patient arrivals.

Objectives The aim of the study was to answer whether the central government has been more efficient than the regional governments or vice versa. Likewise, through the analysis of the data, the aim was to shed light on whether decentralisation has had a positive impact on the efficiency of the hospital sector or not.Design In this paper, we have used data envelopment analysis to analyse the evolution of efficiency in the last 10 Autonomous Regions to receive healthcare competences at the end of 2001.Participants For this study, we have taken into account the number of beds and full-time workers as inputs and the calculation of basic care units as outputs to measure the efficiency of the Spanish public sector, private sector and jointly in the years 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 for the last Autonomous Regions receiving healthcare competences.Results Of the Autonomous Regions that received the transfers at the end of 2001, the following stand out for their higher efficiency growth: the Balearic Islands (81.44% improvement), the Madrid Autonomous Region, which practically reached absolute efficiency levels (having increased by 63.77%), and La Rioja which, together with the Balearic Islands which started from very low values, improved notably (46.13%).Conclusion In general, it can be observed that the transfer of responsibilities in the health sector has improved efficiency in the National Health Service.JEL classification C14; I18; H21.

BACKGROUND: Although pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a scarcity of data demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and effectiveness of PR in reducing exacerbations. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study in 200 patients with COPD was conducted to determine the number of exacerbations 1 year before and after their participation in a PR program. Quality of life was measured using the COPD assessment test and EuroQol-5D. The costs of the program and exacerbations were assessed the year before and after participation in the PR program. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). RESULTS: The number of admissions, length of hospital stay, and admissions to the emergency department decreased after participation in the PR program by 48.2%, 46.6%, and 42.5%, respectively (P < 0.001 for all). Results on quality of life tests improved significantly (P < 0.001 for the two tests). The cost of PR per patient and the cost of pre-PR and post-PR exacerbations were €1867.7 and €7895.2 and €4201.9, respectively. The PR resulted in a cost saving of €1826 (total, €365,200) per patient/year, and the gain in QALYs was+0.107. ICER was −€17,056. The total cost was

Objectives The goal of this study is to analyse hospital costs and length of stay of patients admitted to psychiatric units in hospitals in a European region of the Mediterranean Arc. The aim is to identify the effects of comorbidities and other variables in order to create an explanatory cost model.Methods In order to carry out the study, the Ministry of Health was asked to provide data on access to the mental health facilities of all hospitals in the region. Among other questions, this database identifies the most important diagnostic variables related to admission, like comorbidities, age and gender. The method used, based on the Manning–Mullahy algorithm, was linear regression. The results were measured by the statistical significance of the independent variables to determine which of them were valid to explain the cost of hospitalization.Results Psychiatric inpatients can be divided into three main groups (psychotic, organic and neurotic), which have statistically significant differences in costs. The independent variables that were statistically significant (p

La contaminación atmosférica agrava las enfermedades respiratorias, vasculares y el cáncer. La incidencia de la contaminación atmosférica en zonas de los municipios Centro Habana y Cerro sobre las enfermedades respiratorias durante el trienio 2015-2017, es el objetivo principal del presente estudio. Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo del SO2, NO2 y material particulado menor de 10 micras. Se incluyeron valores de tendencia central, porcentaje de transgresión de concentraciones máximas admisibles (CMA), valores máximos y percentiles 90, 95 y 99. El PM10 es el mayor contribuyente al deterioro de la calidad del aire aun reduciéndose sus tenores. Los percentiles muestran al año 2015 con mayor presencia de PM10, NO2 y SO2, este último vuelve a superar la CMA en el percentil 99 en el año 2017. La estimación de riesgos asociados a altas concentraciones de SO2, NO2 y PM10, mostró que mejora la calidad del aire, pero persisten riesgos de salud, sobre todo para el PM10. El Área de Salud Abel Santamaría, fue la más afectada en indicadores de salud en el trienio. Se recomienda combinar los resultados del monitoreo de contaminantes atmosféricos con la vigilancia epidemiológica, evaluando funciones concentración-respuesta propias, e incorporar mediciones meteorológicas para conocer su influencia sobre los contaminantes a evaluar.

El artículo tiene como objetivo estudiar el impacto del fracaso empresarial en un sector categorizado por su nación receptora como extranjero y el papel del Estado-nación en materia de impartición de justicia frente a sus actores económicos. Para ello, se realiza un estudio de caso de cinco quiebras de empresas pertenecientes a la primera generación de arabófonos de México y Argentina. El artículo argumenta la utilidad de los conceptos de redes de sociabilidad y las conductas empresariales como herramientas capaces de abordar el fenómeno del fracaso desde distintas disciplinas historiográficas.

Research on the evolution of performance throughout a season in team sports is scarce and mainly focused on men’s teams. Our aim in this study was to examine the seasonal variations in relevant indices of physical performance in female football players. Twenty-seven female football players were assessed at week 2 of the season (preseason, PS), week 7 (end of preseason, EP), week 24 (half-season, HS), and week 38 (end of season, ES). Similar to the most common used conditioning tests in football, testing sessions consisted of (1) vertical countermovement jump (CMJ); (2) 20 m running sprint (T20); (3) 25 m side-step cutting maneuver test (V-CUT); and (4) progressive loading test in the full-squat exercise (V1-LOAD). Participants followed their normal football training procedure, which consisted of three weekly training sessions and an official match, without any type of intervention. No significant time effects were observed for CMJ height (p = 0.29) and T20 (p = 0.11) throughout the season. However, significant time effects were found for V-CUT (p = 0.004) and V1-LOAD (p = 0.001). V-CUT performance significantly improved from HS to ES (p = 0.001). Significant increases were observed for V1-LOAD throughout the season: PS-HS (p = 0.009); PS-ES (p < 0.001); EP-ES (p < 0.001); and HS-ES (p = 0.009). These findings suggest that, over the course of the season, female football players experience an enhancement in muscle strength and change of direction ability. However, no discernible improvements were noted in sprinting and jumping capabilities during the same period.

Background In Mexico, obesity prevalence among adults increased from 23% in 2000 to 36% in 2018, approximately. Mexico has not defined short- or long-term obesity goals, obscuring the level of effort required to achieve a relevant impact. We aimed to explore potential obesity goals for 2030 and 2040 in Mexico and to estimate the required caloric reductions to achieve them. Methods and findings We obtained anthropometric and demographic information on the Mexican adult population (age ≥20 years) from the Health and Nutrition Surveys conducted in 2000, 2006, 2012, 2016, and 2018 (n = 137,907). Each survey wave is cross-sectional, multistage, and representative of the Mexican population at the national, regional, and urban/rural levels. Obesity prevalence was projected for 2030 and 2040 by combining population projections of energy intake by socioeconomic status (SES) with a weight-change microsimulation model taking into account individual-level information on sex, age, physical activity, and initial body weight and height. If current trends continue, Mexico’s obesity prevalence is expected to increase from 36% (95% CI 35% to 37%) in 2018 to 45% (uncertainty interval [UI] 41% to 48%) in 2030 and to 48% (UI 41% to 55%) in 2040. Based on expert opinion, we identified 3 obesity goals scenarios: (1) plausible (38% in 2030 and 36% in 2040); (2) intermediate (33% in 2030 and 29% in 2040); and (3) ideal based on the average prevalence of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries (OECD; 19%). We estimated the caloric reductions needed to achieve the goal scenarios using the microsimulation model. Obesity was projected to increase more rapidly in the low SES (around 34% in 2018 to 48% (UI 41% to 55%) in 2040), than in the middle (around 38% to 52% (UI 45% to 56%)), or high SES group (around 36% to 45% (UI 36% to 54%)). Caloric reductions of 40 (UI 13 to 60), 75 (UI 49 to 95), and 190 (UI 163 to 215) kcal/person/day would be needed to reach the plausible, intermediate, and the ideal (OECD) average scenarios for 2030, respectively. To reach the 2040 goals, caloric reductions of 74 (UI 28 to 114), 124 (UI 78 to 169), and 209 (UI 163 to 254) kcal/person/day would be required, respectively. Study limitations include assuming a constant and sedentary physical activity level, not considering cohort-specific differences that could occur in the future, and assuming the same caloric trends under no intervention and the obesity goal scenarios. Conclusions To reach the 3 obesity goals in 2040, caloric reductions between 74 and 209 kcal/day/person would be needed in Mexico. A package of new and stronger interventions should be added to existing efforts such as food taxes and warning labels on non-nutritious food. Tonatiuh Barrientos-Gutiérrez and co-workers model anticipated changes in calories consumed per person needed to achieve population obesity goals in Mexico. Author summary Why was this study done? Mexico has one of the highest obesity prevalences worldwide. Efforts have been made to improve dietary habits, such as implementing taxes and warning labels on non-nutritious food and beverages. However, obesity prevalence in Mexico is still increasing. Mexico has not defined obesity goals to help track country-level advances and assess the effectiveness of public health policies. What did the researchers do and find? We projected the obesity prevalence in Mexico to 2030 and 2040. These predictions were estimated using a microsimulation model of body weight, informed by projections of energy intake by socioeconomic. We defined 3 obesity goals based on expert opinion and the average obesity prevalence from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries (OECD): plausible (38% in 2030 and 36% in 2040), intermediate (33% in 2030 and 29% in 2040), and ideal (19%). We estimated the caloric reductions needed to attain these goals. Obesity prevalence is expected to increase from 36% (95% CI 35% to 37%) in 2018 to 48% (uncertainty interval [UI] 41% to 55%) in 2040. To reach the obesity goals for 2040, caloric reductions of 74 kcal/person/day (UI 28 to 114), 124 kcal/person/day (UI 78 to 169), and 209 kcal/person/day (UI 163 to 254) would be needed for the plausible, intermediate, and ideal scenarios, respectively. These goals would require higher caloric reductions for people of low socioeconomic position than people of other socioeconomic levels. What do these findings mean? Defining obesity goals and estimating the required caloric reductions to achieve them are needed to assess the required impact of interventions and attain meaningful population health advances. The obesity challenge in Mexico is substantial and requires a comprehensive package of interventions to achieve obesity goals, addressing the mechanisms affecting poor diets and weight gain.

This study reported a theoretical-experimental analysis of dissimilar metals duplex stainless steel (DSS) grade 2205 and twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steel joined. Welded joints were performed in autogenous mode and using filler metal (ER2209) by the pulsed gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW-P) process. Critical weld regions were characterized metallographically using LOM and SEM. Microstructural changes such as the morphology and contents of ferritic and austenitic phases were correlated to the temperature ranges estimated numerically by a finite element (FE) model, which considered the variation of the percentage dilution in the fusion zone (FZ). The average variation between experimental and numerical results was up to 6.75%. SEM chemical analysis and line scanning analysis corroborated the diffusion of Al, Mn, Cr and Ni in the FZ of the autogenous joint. Small concentration gradients promoted a homogenous chemical composition of the ferritic and austenitic phases in the filler metal joint. The FZ exhibited an austenitic phase coarsening due to the elevated temperatures (1506°C–1803 °C, DSS 2205 side). Wetting problems were observed in both weldments producing prominent interfaces between the welded metal (WM) and the heat-affected zone (HAZ). Other weld defects such as underfilling, undercuts and lack of fusion were also detected. When a high TWIP steel volume was melted (filler metal joint), WM hardness increased compared to the autogenous joint. The hardness increment (2–5% in the DSS 2205) combined with the lack of fusion brought about the failure of the filler metal joint during the bend test.

La contaminación atmosférica incide en el estado del medio ambiente de las megaciudades, de ahí que se haya realizado este estudio observacional descriptivo en 2015-2017 en Centro Habana y Cerro, utilizando como resultados de la estación de monitoreo del aire del INHEM los contaminantes SO2, NO2 y material particulado menor de 10 micras (PM10). Objetivos: Describir la contaminación atmosférica en zonas de los municipios Centro Habana y Cerro para los contaminantes citados. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de los contaminantes incluyendo valores de tendencia central, porcentaje de transgresión de concentraciones máximas admisibles (CMA), valores máximos y percentiles 90, 95 y 99 y Coeficiente de Correlación de Spearman para la prueba de significación de Hipótesis H0. Se utilizó modelo de regresión lineal múltiple junto a las variables meteorológicas. Resultados: Los percentiles muestran al año 2015, como el de mayor contaminación atmosférica registrada, con mayor presencia de PM10, NO2 y SO2, este último vuelve a superar la CMA en el percentil 99 en el año 2017. Conclusiones: En 2015 se alcanzó la mayor contaminación atmosférica, siendo el PM10 el mayor contribuyente al deterioro del aire. Las cifras diarias de estos contaminantes se correlacionaron con las variables meteorológicas estudiadas. Recomendaciones: Incorporar mediciones meteorológicas en la estación del INHEM para conocer su influencia sobre los contaminantes a evaluar.

Abstract Objective This article examines what the adoption and use of advanced medical technologies – computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – by public hospitals depend on and to what extent. Methods From a sample of panel data for all public hospitals in the health service of Galicia (a subregion of the Galicia-North of Portugal Euroregion) for the 2010–2017 period, we grouped explanatory variables into inputs (resources), outputs (activities) and socio-demographic variables. Factor analysis was used to reduce as much as possible the number of analysed variables, discriminant analysis to examine the technologies adoption decision, and multiple regression analysis to investigate their use. Results Factor analysis identified motivators on adoption and use of CT and MRI medical technologies as follows: hospital inputs/outputs (Factor 1); radiology studies and adoption of CT by public hospitals (Factor 2); research/teaching role and big-ticket diagnostic and therapeutic (lithotripsy) technologies (Factor 3); number of transplants (Factor 4); cancer diagnosis/treatment (Factor 5); and catchment area geographical dispersion (Factor 6). Cronbach’s alpha of 0.881 indicated an acceptable degree of reliability of the factor variables. Regarding adoption of these technologies, Factor 1 is the most influential, explaining 37% of the variance and showing adequate global internal consistency, whereas Factor 2 is limited to 13% of the variance. In the discriminant analysis, values for Box’s M test and canonical correlations such as Wilks’s lambda for the two technologies underpin the reliability and predictive capacity of the discriminant equations. Finally, and according to the regression analysis, the factor with the greatest influence on CT and MRI use is Factor 2, followed by Factors 1 and 3 in the case of CT use, and Factors 3 and 5 in the case of MRI use. Conclusion CT and MRI adoption by public hospitals is mainly determined by hospital inputs and outputs. However, the use of both medical technologies is mainly influenced by conventional radiology studies and CT adoption. These results suggest that both choices – adoption and use of advanced medical technology – may be separate decisions as they are taken possibly by different people (the former by managers and policymakers and the latter by physicians).

Abstract We explored the neurophysiological activity underlying auditory novelty detection in antipsychotic-naive patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Fifteen patients with a non-affective FEP and 13 healthy controls underwent an active involuntary attention task along with an EEG acquisition. Time-frequency representations of power, phase locking, and fronto-parietal connectivity were calculated. The P3a event-related potential was extracted as well. Compared to controls, the FEP group showed reduced theta phase-locking and fronto-parietal connectivity evoked by deviant stimuli. Also, the P3a amplitude was significantly reduced. Moreover, reduced theta connectivity was associated with more severe negative symptoms within the FEP group. Reduced activity (phase-locking and connectivity) of novelty-related theta oscillations, along with P3a reduction, may represent a failure to synchronize large-scale neural populations closely related to fronto-parietal attentional networks, and might be explored as a potential biomarker of disease severity in patients with emerging psychosis, given its association with negative symptoms.

Este artículo propone intervenciones estructurales dirigidas a la reorganización del trabajo para evitar un repunte de casos de Covid-19, permitiendo la continuidad de la actividad económica. Se resume la evidencia disponible acerca de los ciclos de trabajo-confinamiento y la posible aplicación de ciclos de cuatro días de trabajo por tres de confinamiento (4x3) en el contexto mexicano. También se discuten otras intervenciones como la continuación del teletrabajo en algunos sectores y el escalonamiento de las jornadas de trabajo como medidas complementarias a los ciclos de trabajo-confinamiento. Esta discusión se da en el contexto de alta informalidad y escasos recursos para absorber una pérdida importante de la productividad por las empresas medianas y pequeñas en México. Se considera la necesidad de implementar apoyos para que personas y empresas puedan mitigar pérdidas en salarios y ganancias tanto del sector formal como informal.

Resumen: Antecedentes: La pandemia global de COVID-19 llega al continente americano en marzo del año 2020 y en menos de dos meses reúne a más de la mitad de los casos a nivel global. Objetivo: Caso clínico de una mujer embarazada con una presentación crítica de COVID-19 y embarazo a las 25 semanas de gestación, en el contexto del peak de la pandemia en Chile en el otoño del año 2020. Caso Clínico: El 20 de junio de 2020, una mujer de 34 años, con 25 semanas de embarazo, es trasladada desde Hospital de San Bernardo a Clínica Las Condes en Santiago, Chile, con un cuadro de 10 días de evolución de COVID-19, que evoluciona a una situación crítica con insuficiencia respiratoria severa. Ingresa a unidad de cuidados intensivos para ventilación mecánica. Las imágenes de radiología simple y de tomografía axial computarizada de tórax demuestran una neumopatía bilateral con imágenes características opacidades en vidrio esmerilado, asociado a engrosamiento intersticial, imágenes descritas previamente como características para COVID-19. La paciente permanece en unidad de cuidados intensivos en ventilación mecánica por siete días, con evolución favorable posterior, mejoría del cuadro séptico y alta después de 22 días de hospitalización. El parto ocurre en forma espontánea a las 38 semanas, la madre y el recién nacido evolucionan en buen estado general. El examen histopatológico placentario demuestra compromiso inflamatorio vellositario y los exámenes de anticuerpos en sangre del recién nacido demuestran la presencia de anticuerpos del tipo IgG e IgM. Se trata de uno de los pocos casos demostrados reportados de transmisión transplacentaria vía sanguínea de SARS-CoV-2 de la madre al recién nacido. Summary: Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic reaches the American continent in March 2020 and in less than two months it brings together more than half of the cases globally. Objective: The clinical case of a 25-week pregnant woman with a critical presentation of COVID-19 and pregnancy at 25 weeks of gestation, is presented in the context of the peak of the pandemic in Chile in the fall of 2020. Clinical case: On June 20, 2020, a 34-year-old woman, 25 weeks pregnant, is transferred from Hospital de San Bernardo to Clinica Las Condes in Santiago, Chile, with a ten-day evolution of a COVID-19 that evolves to critical with severe respiratory failure. She is admitted to the intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation. Chest computerized axial tomography images demonstrate bilateral pneumopathy with characteristic images of ground-glass opacities, associated with interstitial thickening, images previously described as characteristics for COVID-19. The patient remains in the intensive care unit on mechanical ventilation for seven days, with subsequent favorable evolution, improvement of the septic condition, and discharge after 22 days of hospitalization. Delivery occurs at 38 weeks, the mother and the newborn evolve in good general condition. The placental histopathological examination demonstrates villous inflammatory involvement, and the newborn's blood tests show the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies. It is one of the few reported cases of transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from the mother to the newborn.

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Linnaeus) is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world. Still, there are phytopathogenic bacteria that cause a decrease in the yield or can kill the plant, like Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst), Xanthomonas vesicatoria (Xv), Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs ) and Agrobacterium tumefeciens (At). Synthetic chemical fungicides are primarily used to control plant pathogenic bacteria, but their rapid growth makes them resistant to control. This research work is aimed at assessing the in vitro antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract of Magnolia tamaulipana Vazquez leaves against Rs, Pst, Xv, Cmm, and At, as well as obtaining information about this plant species' chemical composition. The extract inhibited the growth of the five phytopathogenic bacteria that were tested. The growth inhibition rate ranged between 8.22 and 100%. The inhibitory concentration, IC50(90), required to inhibit 50 (90%) of Pst, Xv, Cmm, and At bacterial growth, was 34.71 (39.62), 23.09 (441.88), 64.75 (176.73) and 97.72 (535.48) ppm, respectively. The phytochemical analysis detected the presence of phenols, tannins, terpenes, saponins. M. tamaulipana ethanolic extract has antimicrobial properties and it must be considered a new control agent.

Abstract Background The relative lack of flexibility of parametric models has led to the development of nonparametric regression techniques based on the family of generalized additive models. However, despite the potential advantages of using Generalized Additive Model (GAM) in practice many models have, until now, not been sufficiently explored in health economics problems. It could be interesting to calculate a new flexible hospital production function by means of a GAM including interactions and to compare it with the classic model Cobb-Douglas in the prediction of the behavior of productive factors. Method The flexible model considered has been the AM including the beds-facultative interaction. The covariates “Hospital”, being a categorical variable and “Year” being a continuous variable, have also been included in the model. Based on the estimation of the model penalized thin plate splines will be used to represent smoothed functions. In this configuration, the smoothed parameters will be estimated via REML. Results Cobb-douglas model fits well for the production functions of the more general clinical and surgical services, while the GAM adjusts better in the case of more specialized medical services. Conclusions Generalized Additive Models are more flexible than parametric models, providing a better fit in the presence of non-linear relationships and thus allowing more accurate prediction values. The results of this study suggest that AM is a promising technique for the areas of research and application in health economics.

Background: Magnolia alejandrae is a critically endangered species and endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental in northeastern Mexico. The abiotic requirements for its germination, such as light and temperature, are unknown. Hypotheses: White light and temperature fluctuations will promote the germination of M. alejandrae and seeds from site with higher humidity will have increased germination percentage. Study species: Magnolia alejandrae. Study sites and dates: El Farallón in the Jaumave municipality and Los San Pedros in the Güémez municipality, Tamaulipas, Mexico. May-June 2019. Methods: Four light-quality treatments (white, red, far-red and darkness) were evaluated, along with two temperature treatments: constant (18/18 ºC) and fluctuating temperatures (8/18 ºC) and two populations (El Farallón and Los San Pedros) on the germination of M. alejandrae. We used twenty seeds of the study species per experimental unit with five repetitions for each treatment. Results: Light quality influenced the germination of M. alejandrae seeds, having the highest germination (76 %) under white light, followed by 45 % under red light, 9 % under far-red and 5 % in darkness, demonstrating that the seeds of this species are neutral photoblastic. Temperature fluctuation (8/18 °C) enhanced germination of M. alejandrae more than constant temperature (18/18 °C). Conclusions: M. alejandrae seeds respond differentially to light quality and temperature, which has important implications in the reforestation and conservation of the species.

Introduction. This study assesses the impact of an electronic physician-to-physician consultation program on the waiting list and the costs of a Pulmonology Unit. Materials and Methods. A prepost intervention study was conducted after a new ambulatory pulmonary care protocol was implemented and the capacity of the unit was adopted. In the new model, physicians at all levels of healthcare send electronic consultations to specialists. Results. In the preintervention year (2019), the Unit of Pulmonology attended 7,055 consultations (466 e-consultations and 6,589 first face-to-face visits), which decreased to 6,157 (3,934 e-consultations and 2,223 first face-to-face visits; 12.7% reduction) in the postintervention year (all were e-consultations). The mean wait time for the first appointment was 25.7 days in 2019 versus 3.2 days in 2021 (p

Purpose: Heating of gradient coils and passive shim components is a common cause of instability in the B0 field, especially when gradient intensive sequences are used. The aim of the study was to set a benchmark for typical drift encountered during MR spectroscopy (MRS) to assess the need for real-time field-frequency locking on MRI scanners by comparing field drift data from a large number of sites. Method: A standardized protocol was developed for 80 participating sites using 99 3T MR scanners from 3 major vendors. Phantom water signals were acquired before and after an EPI sequence. The protocol consisted of: minimal preparatory imaging; a short pre-fMRI PRESS; a ten-minute fMRI acquisition; and a long post-fMRI PRESS acquisition. Both pre- and post-fMRI PRESS were non-water suppressed. Real-time frequency stabilization/adjustment was switched off when appropriate. Sixty scanners repeated the protocol for a second dataset. In addition, a three-hour post-fMRI MRS acquisition was performed at one site to observe change of gradient temperature and drift rate. Spectral analysis was performed using MATLAB. Frequency drift in pre-fMRI PRESS data were compared with the first 5:20 minutes and the full 30:00 minutes of data after fMRI. Median (interquartile range) drifts were measured and showed in violin plot. Paired t-tests were performed to compare frequency drift pre- and post-fMRI. A simulated in vivo spectrum was generated using FID-A to visualize the effect of the observed frequency drifts. The simulated spectrum was convolved with the frequency trace for the most extreme cases. Impacts of frequency drifts on NAA and GABA were also simulated as a function of linear drift. Data from the repeated protocol were compared with the corresponding first dataset using Pearson's and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: Of the data collected from 99 scanners, 4 were excluded due to various reasons. Thus, data from 95 scanners were ultimately analyzed. For the first 5:20 min (64 transients), median (interquartile range) drift was 0.44 (1.29) Hz before fMRI and 0.83 (1.29) Hz after. This increased to 3.15 (4.02) Hz for the full 30 min (360 transients) run. Average drift rates were 0.29 Hz/min before fMRI and 0.43 Hz/min after. Paired t-tests indicated that drift increased after fMRI, as expected (p < 0.05). Simulated spectra convolved with the frequency drift showed that the intensity of the NAA singlet was reduced by up to 26%, 44 % and 18% for GE, Philips and Siemens scanners after fMRI, respectively. ICCs indicated good agreement between datasets acquired on separate days. The single site long acquisition showed drift rate was reduced to 0.03 Hz/min approximately three hours after fMRI. Discussion: This study analyzed frequency drift data from 95 3T MRI scanners. Median levels of drift were relatively low (5-min average under 1 Hz), but the most extreme cases suffered from higher levels of drift. The extent of drift varied across scanners which both linear and nonlinear drifts were observed.

Poster presented at the International Leucaena Conference, 1‒3 November 2018, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Abstract Background There are few data available about childhood tuberculosis (TB) in rural hospitals in low-income countries. We assessed differences in epidemiological characteristics and treatment outcomes in children with TB aged 0–4 versus 5–14 years in rural Ethiopia. Methods For this retrospective cross-sectional study, we analyzed childhood TB registers from a rural Ethiopian hospital. We collected data on the number of cases, type of TB, and treatment outcomes using standard definitions. By means of binary and logistic regression analyses, data were compared from 1998 to 2015 in children aged under 5 versus those aged 5–14 years. Results We included 1282 TB patients: 583 (45.5%) were under 5 years old, and 699 (54.5%) were aged 5–14 years. More than half (67.2%, n = 862) had pulmonary TB (PTB), which was more common in younger children (82.5%, 481/583) than in older ones (54.5%, 381/699; p

Application of the Flusurge 2.0 methodology to predict the needs of conventional hospital treatment, intensive care, and respiratory support resources as a consequence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in several countries. Different countries of the following continents have been selected: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania. Variables: Total population and age distribution; Number of COVID19 infections; Number of deaths from COVID19; Number of non-ICU hospital beds; Number of ICU beds; Number of ventilators. Method: The proposed possible scenario planning is based on the application of FluSurge 2.0 Software, developed by The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security (CHS/CDC). Saturation of conventional hospitalization is expected in India, Uganda, Nepal, and Haiti; there is a forecast of saturation for ICU beds in all sample countries except Turkey. Ventilator saturation is expected in all countries of the sample except Argentina, Austria, Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Poland, Turkey and the USA. The model shows, for a percentage greater than 50% of the countries, difficulties related to the saturation of their ICU units, and the use of ventilators.

Uno de los aspectos que caracteriza el sistema educativo español es la creciente importancia que se le otorga a la enseñanza de otros idiomas, aparte de la lengua mayoritaria y otras lenguas cooficiales. Por otro lado, la realidad educativa actual se singulariza por la diversidad existente en el aula, incrementando la complejidad que ya conlleva el aprendizaje de una segunda lengua. El presente estudio analiza las opiniones, creencias y actitudes de estudiantes universitarios sordos y con hipoacusia en torno al proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de la lengua inglesa durante las etapas de enseñanza obligatoria, a través de la realización de entrevistas en profundidad, en las que se abordaba la relevancia del aprendizaje de la lengua inglesa y las principales experiencias relatadas sobre los aspectos didácticos de los que fueron participes. Los resultados exhibieron las condiciones básicas que deben concurrir durante el aprendizaje de la lengua inglesa en el que se cuente con alumnado con pérdida auditiva, con el fin de ofrecer una educación de calidad que favorezca el éxito académico.

Avocado bronze mite (ABM), Oligonychus punicae Hirst (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) has potential for development in several plant species of agricultural importance. ABM is one of the most economically important pests in avocado cultivars, causing major damage to fruit and defoliation. At present, the control of ABM depends mainly on agrochemicals. Therefore, it is necessary to find alternatives to agrochemicals that can help minimize environmental impact and health risks for humans and mammals. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of different concentrations (5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 µg/mL) of ethanolic powdered extract of M. tamaulipana leaves against adult ABM females. The different concentrations of M. tamaulipana extract did not cause mortality of O. punicae. Females treated with 5 and 1000 µg/mL of the extract showed a decrease in the number of eggs laid per female at 24 (5.17 and 1.27), 48 (5.07 and 1.17), and 72 h (4.97 and 0.80), compared to the control treatment (5.20, 6.60 and 6.87), respectively, which led to a reduction in the growth rate. Percentage of feeding damage decreased with the increasing concentration of the extract. The ethanolic powdered extract of M. tamaulipana leaf has potential to control O. punicae.

At least 59 maize races (Zea mays L.) have been registered in Mexico. The feeding damage caused by insects and mites to maize crops generates up to ~30% of maize yield losses. Spider-mite-resistant plants are needed. The red spider mite, Tetranychus merganser Boudreaux (Acari: Tetranychidae), is distributed in the United States, China, Mexico, and Thailand. It is considered a potential pest in Mexican agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance mechanisms (antixenosis and antibiosis) of 11 native maize populations, representative of each race of maize grown in Tamaulipas, Mexico, to T. merganser under laboratory conditions. The aim was also to obtain information on the chemical composition and some morphological characteristics of these maize races and to identify resistant maize races for incorporation into a breeding program. Antixenosis was assessed by non-preference for oviposition and feeding. Antibiosis was measured by growth rate (ri). The presence of secondary metabolites in the 11 maize races were different. In the 11 maize races, quantitative analysis of total phenol concentration, total flavonoid concentration, and antioxidant capacity were significantly different. The multivariate analysis of variance showed that there is evidence of antixenosis noted by maize race differences in egg laying and percentage feeding damage but not of antibiosis noted by growth rate. Red spider mites laid significantly more eggs on the Celaya (24 h: 25.67 ± 17.04, 48 h: 42.67 ± 26.86, 72 h: 49.33 ± 28.54) race than on Raton (24 h: 7.00 ± 5.00, 48 h: 12.67 ± 8.02, 72 h: 14.67 ± 9.29) and Elotes Occidentales × Tuxpeño (24 h: 9.67 ± 5.85, 48 h: 15.33 ± 10.69, 72 h: 17.67 ± 10.97) races. However, the growth rate and mortality of T. merganser in the 11 corn races were similar. The Vandeño (24 h: 11.67 ± 2.89, 48 h: 27.67 ± 7.64, 72 h: 30.00 ± 18.03) and Tabloncillo × Tuxpeño (24 h: 18.33 ± 7.64, 48 h: 25.00 ± 8.66, 72 h: 25.00 ± 8.66) races were the most resistant to red spider mite damage, whereas the most susceptible race was Celaya (24 h: 26.67 ± 15.28, 48 h: 48.33 ± 29.30, 72 h: 65.00 ± 30.00). Further analysis by PCA at 24, 48, and 72 h found the Celaya race positively correlated to growth rate and oviposition of T. merganser and to a lesser extent with the percentage of feeding damage, suggesting that the Celaya race was most susceptible to T. merganser. At 24 h, the Vandeño race was most resistant, given a negative correlation to growth rate and oviposition by T. merganser. The PCA at 48 and 72 h noted the Elotes Occidentales × Tuxpeño race was most resistant to red spider mite, with negative relationships to growth rate and oviposition and, to a lesser extent, to feeding damage. This resistance is due to the differences in both its morphological characteristics and the secondary metabolites present in their leaves.

Existen sobradas evidencias que muestran la incidencia negativa de la presencia de material particulado (polvo) en la atmosfera en la salud de las personas, los ecosistemas y el patrimonio cultural. En el presente trabajo se muestran los resultados experimentales desarrollados en diversas localidades de La Habana donde se desarrollaron mediciones del Material Particulado menor de 10 y 2,5 micras (PM10 y PM2,5) durante el periodo del 2015 al 2017. En todas las estaciones y puntos de monitoreo se sobrepasa la concentración máxima admisible diaria, según la NC 1020:2014. La relación que existe entre los valores de las concentraciones del material particulado con las variables meteorológicas y las diversas masas de aire asociadas a los diferentes tipos de situaciones sinópticas tienen gran importancia para conocer el comportamiento de este contaminante vinculado a muchos problemas actuales de la protección del medioambiente. En la estación de San Miguel del Padrón (SMP) las concentraciones horarias y diarias promedio más elevadas ocurrieron asociadas a las emisiones del flujo vehicular y algunas fuentes industriales ubicadas en la región inmediata circundante. Las concentraciones máximas admisibles (Cma) horarias y diarias en esta estación se superan, sobre todo en el segundo periodo de estudio desde noviembre de 2016 a octubre de 2017 con 54 y 13 horas y para 45 y 21 días para el PM10 y PM2,5 respectivamente. Se recomienda continuar los estudios complejos sobre calidad del aire en la ciudad.

El yacimiento arqueológico de La Mosquita o Paraje de San Miguel se ubica en un valle secundario sobre la margen izquierda del río Ebro, en el término municipal de Villalaín (Burgos). El conjunto arqueológico está articulado en torno a la cueva de La Mosquita, espacio claramente antropizado a lo largo del tiempo mediante la colocación de hasta 9 cistas excavadas en el geológico y el retallado de una cabecera y altar, que provocan un cambio de orientación. Asimismo, se han estudiado elementos claramente precristianos como pinturas rupestres, donde destaca un antropomorfo con un tocado de cuernos. Junto a estos elementos, en el exterior de la cueva se han localizado otras tumbas excavadas en las paredes del farallón rocoso donde se ubica todo el conjunto. A partir del estudio de las mismas se ha podido otorgar una cronología absoluta al conjunto, que permite ahondar en la ocupación eremítica en el valle del Ebro.

A través de más de 100 referencias bibliográficas, de distintos países y en distintos idiomas, este artículo pretende 1) clarificar la definición de bullying y de acoso escolar; 2) abordar los roles que tienen lugar en el mismo (acosado, acosador, grupo de iguales, escuela, familia y sociedad/políticos/medios de comunicación); 3) presentar datos de la prevalencia del acoso escolar en distintos países y en distintos entornos culturales y, por último, 4) ofrecer un resumen de las propuestas de actuación generales en las que parecen coincidir todos los expertos sobre el tema.

BackgroundIn October 2019, Mexico approved a law to establish that nonalcoholic beverages and packaged foods that exceed a threshold for added calories, sugars, fats, trans fat, or sodium should have an "excess of" warning label. We aimed to estimate the expected reduction in the obesity prevalence and obesity costs in Mexico by introducing warning labels, over 5 years, among adults under 60 years of age.Methods and findingsBaseline intakes of beverages and snacks were obtained from the 2016 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey. The expected impact of labels on caloric intake was obtained from an experimental study, with a 10.5% caloric reduction for beverages and 3.0% caloric reduction for snacks. The caloric reduction was introduced into a dynamic model to estimate weight change. The model output was then used to estimate the expected changes in the prevalence of obesity and overweight. To predict obesity costs, we used the Health Ministry report of the impact of overweight and obesity in Mexico 1999-2023. We estimated a mean caloric reduction of 36.8 kcal/day/person (23.2 kcal/day from beverages and 13.6 kcal/day from snacks). Five years after implementation, this caloric reduction could reduce 1.68 kg and 4.98 percentage points (pp) in obesity (14.7%, with respect to baseline), which translates into a reduction of 1.3 million cases of obesity and a reduction of US$1.8 billion in direct and indirect costs. Our estimate is based on experimental evidence derived from warning labels as proposed in Canada, which include a single label and less restrictive limits to sugar, sodium, and saturated fats. Our estimates depend on various assumptions, such as the transportability of effect estimates from the experimental study to the Mexican population and that other factors that could influence weight and food and beverage consumption remain unchanged. Our results will need to be corroborated by future observational studies through the analysis of changes in sales, consumption, and body weight.ConclusionsIn this study, we estimated that warning labels may effectively reduce obesity and obesity-related costs. Mexico is following Chile, Peru, and Uruguay in implementing warning labels to processed foods, but other countries could benefit from this intervention.

Este estudio muestra los resultados de un trabajo de observación indirecta de la labor de los docentes de las aulas hospitalarias del área de oncología pediátrica del Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla. La asistencia a distintas sesiones del aula, así como la entrevista a la docente responsable de la misma, nos ha permitido realizar un análisis detallado de este entorno escolar único. Asimismo, el trabajo se completa con una revisión bibliográfica que facilitó el conocimiento exhaustivo del contexto normativo para este tipo de aulas escolares y de los aspectos pedagógicos y psicológicos a considerar en el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje.

In this paper, we first use the information we have on the patients of an oncology day hospital to distribute the treatment schedules they have in each of the visits to this centre. To do this, we propose a deterministic mathematical programming model in such a way that we minimise the duration of the waiting room stays of the total set of patients and taking into account the restrictions of the circuit. Secondly, we will look for a solution to the same problem under a stochastic approach. This model will explicitly consider the existing uncertainty in terms of the different times involved in the circuit, and this model also allows the reorganisation of the schedules of medical appointments with oncologists. The models are complemented by a tool that solves the problem of assigning nurses to patients. The work is motivated by the particular characteristics of a real hospital and the models are used and compared with data from this case.

Introduction Cutaneous anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which typically presents with ulcers after contact with animals or animal products, and is rarely seen in high-income countries but is common in those with low- and middle-incomes. Objective. The aim of this study is to show the main clinical characteristics of cutaneous anthrax in endemic areas. Material and methods The study describes the main clinical characteristics of cutaneous anthrax in eight patients (six female and two male, age range 1 – 56 years) admitted to the rural General Hospital of Gambo, West Arsi Province of Ethiopia from 2010–2013. Results In all cases, lesions began as an erythematous papule located on exposed sites (n=7 head; n=1 thigh) and subsequently became a necrotic black eschar surrounded by an edematous halo. Two patients presented with painful ipsilateral adenopathy near the black eschar. Four patients developed a malignant pustule on the suborbital region of the face. Patients responded positively to treatment, and the lesions resolved, leaving eschars. However, one patient suffered the loss of an eyeball, and another died 12 hours after starting treatment. Conclusions Physicians working in rural areas of resource-poor settings should be trained in the clinical identification of cutaneous anthrax. Early antibiotic treatment is essential for decreasing morbidity and mortality.

BACKGROUND:The future burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) depends on numerous factors such as population ageing, evolution of societal trends, behavioural and physiological risk factors of individuals (e.g. smoking, alcohol use, obesity, physical inactivity, and hypertension). This study aims to assess the burden of NCDs in Europe by 2050 under alternative scenarios. METHODS:This study combines qualitative and quantitative forecasting techniques to examine how population health in Europe may evolve from 2015 to 2050, taking into account future societal trends. Four scenarios were developed (one business-as-usual scenario, two response scenarios and one pessimistic scenario) and assessed against 'best' and 'worst'-case scenarios. This study provides quantitative estimates of both diseases and mortality outcomes, using a microsimulation model incorporating international survey data. FINDINGS:Each scenario is associated with a different risk factor prevalence rate across Europe during the period 2015-2050. The prevalence and incidence of NCDs consistently increase during the analysed time period, mainly driven by population ageing. In more optimistic scenarios, diseases will appear in later ages, while in the pessimistic scenarios, NCDs will impair working-age people. Life expectancy is expected to grow in all scenarios, but with differences by up to 4 years across scenarios and population groups. Premature mortality from NCDs will be reduced in more optimistic scenarios but stagnate in the worst-case scenario. INTERPRETATION:Population ageing will have a greater impact on the spread of NCDs by 2050 compared to risk factors. Nevertheless, risk factors, which are influenced by living environments, are an important factor for determining future life expectancy in Europe.

Background: Early psychosocial interventions targeting cognitive and functional outcomes in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis are a research priority. An even greater need is the identification of effective interventions in underserved populations. Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) is a psychosocial intervention with demonstrated efficacy in chronic schizophrenia and first episode psychosis, but remains to be evaluated in pre-illness phases. The aim of this study was to describe the development and implementation of an ongoing pilot randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of group-based, manualized CCT, as compared to recreational therapy (RT), for Latino participants at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) in both the United States and Mexico. It is hypothesized that, in comparison to those receiving RT, participants receiving CCT will show significant improvements in neurocognitive performance and functional capacity (co-primary outcomes) and self-rated functioning and clinical symptoms (secondary outcomes).Methods: Latino CHR participants aged 12–30 years will be included in the study. Both CCT and RT will be delivered in either Spanish or English, depending on group preference. Additionally, all assessments will be administered in participants’ preferred language. A comprehensive assessment of neurocognitive and functional performance and clinical symptomatology will be performed at baseline, mid-intervention (4 weeks, 8 weeks), post-intervention (12 weeks) and 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome measures are neurocognition and functional capacity, as assessed by the MATRICS (Measurement and Treatment Research in Cognition in Schizophrenia) Consensus Cognitive Battery and the University of California, San Diego Performance-Based Skills Assessment-Brief, respectively. Furthermore, secondary outcomes measures will be used to examine change in clinical symptoms and self-reported functioning in response to CCT versus RT.Discussion: The evaluation of a novel treatment such as CCT in CHR youth will provide empirical support for a low risk, comprehensive cognitive intervention that could have important implications for public health if it improves neurocognition and functioning.

Las emisiones de los contaminantes principales por las fuentes fijas en La Habana y su dispersión provocan el deterioro de la calidad del aire, por lo tanto su estudio es necesario y urgente, si se tiene en cuenta que esta ciudad presenta la mayor población del país y fuentes contaminantes de consideración. Se identificaron las fuentes fijas principales y se realizaron los inventarios de emisiones en los 15 municipios, lo cual es una herramienta efectiva en la gestión ambiental. Se modelaron a nivel local la dispersión de estos contaminantes y se identificaron las localidades más afectadas según los contaminantes principales. Los resultados obtenidos son de gran utilidad para las autoridades ambientales en sus tareas de regulación y de interés para las actividades de ordenamiento territorial.

En el estudio de eclosión de Artemia franciscana a nivel de laboratorio, tuvo como objetivo determinar el tipo de tratamiento que se adapta a condiciones de laboratorio brindando buenos resultados para la eclosión del crustáceo Artemia (Artemia franciscana Kellogg). La metodología utilizada consistió en la toma de datos en el laboratorio evaluando los siguientes tratamientos: Toma de pH; Toma de temperatura; Salinidad y Medición de Sobrevivencia. Una vez establecido el ensayo se procedió a colocar los huevo de Artemia, dejándolos por un periodo de 48 horas para iniciar el proceso eclosivo del crustáceo. El manejo que se aplicó en el estudio consistió en tomar datos de temperatura y del pH para llevar un control y seguimiento a la eclosión de Artemia; así como el control de la alimentación a base de una dieta de pastilla de alga Spirulina máxima triturada. De acuerdo al análisis estadístico realizado con metodología de DUNCAN, correlación de Pearson y procesado en el programa estadístico INFOSTAT indican que la mejor eclosión se registró en el tratamiento D con un 65.40 % dando pautas de ser el tratamiento que mejor se adaptó a las condiciones de laboratorio. La sobrevivencia de los otros tratamientos es positiva y adaptable a condiciones de laboratorio donde es recomendable utilizar recipientes con mayor capacidad de almacenamiento de agua. Recomendándose para futuros cultivos de Artemia llevar a cabo el manejo ya implementado en el Laboratorio de Ciencias Biológicas de la Universidad Nacional Agraria para un mayor rendimiento en la sobrevivencia del estudio y seguir proporcionando información para la eclosión de dicho crustáceo que representa una opción alimenticia de bajo impacto a productores pesqueros del país.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of cutaneous disorders in children under 5 years old who attended a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 26 to February 20, 2015 in children under 5 years old who attended Gambo Rural Hospital in West Arsi of the Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Results: A total of 324 children were included (59.6% male) whose median age was 16.4 months. In total, 147 children [45.4%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 40.0%–50.8%] under 5 years had a skin problem, of which 101 (68.7%) consulted for that reason. The other 46 (31.3%) consulted for a general health problem and the dermatological condition was a secondary finding during the physical exploration. In 93 children (28.7%; 95% CI: 20%–33.8%), it was the main disease, and in 54 children (16.5%; 95% CI: 13.0%–21.1%) it was concomitant with other diseases. The most common dermatological disease was scabies (n = 44, 13.6%; 95% CI: 10.3%–17.7%). Impetigo was diagnosed in 32 children (9.9%; 95% CI: 7.1%–13.3%), of which 23 (71.9%) had complicated impetigo. Nineteen children (5.9%; 95% CI: 3.8%–9.0%) had eczema, 10 (3.1%) had eczema associated to other conditions. The following most frequent skin problems were tinea (n = 9; 2.8%), infected wound and ulcer (n = 7; 2.2%), and burns (n = 6; 1.9%). Conclusions: Skin problems, mainly scabies, impetigo, and eczema were common in young children attended at a rural hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Children under 5 years should be examined thoroughly to rule out skin diseases, especially scabies.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a coronavirus that causes the pandemic Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is no current specific treatment for this new coronavirus. In this study, we employed a virtual screening repurposing strategy to search for potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors. The databases PDB, ChEMBL, BindingDB and DrugBank were queried with several filtering steps based on ligand-based and structure-based approaches. As a result, we obtained 58 molecules (37 from ChEMBL and 21 from DrugBank) that potentially inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. These molecules have on their chemical structure functional groups that favor stronger docking scores than the inhibitor N3. Several of these molecules are reported experimentally as SARS-CoV Mpro inhibitors. Hence, a combined virtual screening strategy allowed finding chemical compounds with a high potential for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.

Se realizó, durante tres años, una evaluación del desempeño y del balance económico-financiero de la producción de alimentos en la finca diversificada Guamá, ubicada en la Estación Experimental de Pastos y Forrajes Indio Hatuey, para determinar en qué medida la diversificación de la producción agrícola podría contribuir al incremento de la productividad. Para ello se introdujeron cuatro modalidades de comercialización: autoconsumo, mayorista, minorista y venta al turismo. La eficiencia económica en el tercer año de evaluación alcanzó un favorable costo por peso ingresado ($ 0,83) y una rentabilidad de $ 0,17 por cada peso gastado. Asimismo, la correlación salario medio-productividad permitió pagar los salarios y obtener un resultado financiero positivo en los períodos analizados. Se concluye que el fortalecimiento del manejo agrícola, a partir de un efectivo diseño espacial y temporal de estrategias agroecológicas diversificadas, podría ofrecer oportunidades para un mejor aprovechamiento de la tierra. Asimismo, el incremento de los ingresos de la finca por la venta mayorista y minorista de productos agrícolas podría ser una estrategia conveniente para lograr la rentabilidad. Estos resultados pueden servir como referente para considerar a las fincas diversificadas como un camino hacia el desarrollo sostenible.

Waiting time for elective surgery is a key problem in the current medical world. This paper aims to reproduce, by a Monte Carlo simulation model, the relationship between hospital capacity, inpatient activity, and surgery waiting list size in teaching hospitals. Inpatient activity is simulated by fitting a Normal distribution to real inpatient activity data, and the effect of the number of beds on inpatient activity is modelled with a linear regression model. Analysis is performed with data of the University Multi-Hospital Complex of Santiago de Compostela (Santiago de Compostela, Spain), by considering two scenarios regarding the elastiticity of demand with bed increase. If demand does not grow with an increase on bed capacity, small changes lead to drastic reductions in the waiting lists. However, if demand grows as bed capacity does, adding additional capacity merely makes waiting lists worse.

The presented report describes the epidemiology of potential rabies exposures and examines the utilization of anti-rabies vaccine in a rural area of Ethiopia during a period of 43 months. A total of 683 persons (51.1% females, 73% children) with animal- related bites were included in the retrospective, registry-based study. The most common site of exposure was the leg (66.8%). In children under 8 years of age the face was more often involved than in adults (9.5% vs. 4.8%; p=0.03). The main type of exposure was a bite with bleeding (66.3%) followed by contamination of mucous membranes with saliva (19.7%). The primary sources were dogs (93.4%) followed by cats (2.6%). Children under 15 years were more likely to be exposed to dogs (94.9%) than adults (88.7%) (p=0.01). The most common way of coming in contact with animals was ‘walking by’ (83.9%). Children came in contact with animals while ‘playing with’ (10.7%) more often than adults (1.1%) (p