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This paper provides a numerical assessment of the ductile fracture of the AA6101 and AISI 4340 alloys using the Lemaitre and Gurson models. The simulations were carried out to verify the evolution of the accumulated plastic strain at fracture, assuming the high range of the triaxiality ratio, applying monotonic tensile loads on smooth and notched cylindrical specimens. The numerical strategy was structured for the Lemaitre and Gurson models, from establishing a non-linear system of equations using an implicit integration algorithm and solving the non-linear equation system using the Newton-Raphson method. When assessing the numerical and experimental results, it was observed that the cumulative plastic strain at the fracture decreases with the increasing levels of the triaxiality ratio for both alloys and models. On the one hand, the Lemaitre model was more optimistic than the experimental results. On the other hand, Gurson's model proved to be more conservative in its prediction of ductile fracture. Regarding determining the fracture onset, in general, both models showed good predictive capacity. However, the numerical results for the aluminum alloy presented more in agreement with experimental data than for the AISI 4340 alloy. In the end, assuming the determination of the level of displacement at fracture, the Gurson's model has the best performance. In this sense, for a high level of triaxiality ratio, the Gurson porous material can be recommended to describe the mechanical behavior of the material at fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundStroke survivors who receive more rehabilitation therapy achieve better functional outcomes. The amount of rehabilitation that patients receive is, however, limited due to constraints of the healthcare system.ObjectiveTo assess whether EngageHealth, a mobile device application designed to deliver stroke rehabilitation exercises using asynchronous video recordings, increases the amount of outpatient rehabilitation in stroke patients and improves their upper extremity function and quality of life.DesignProspective single-arm study consisting of a 2-week pre-intervention phase without EngageHealth followed by a 4-week intervention period with EngageHealth.SettingAmbulatory care.ParticipantsTwenty-four stroke patients with upper extremity impairment were recruited at the Stanford Stroke Center outpatient clinic.InterventionsParticipants were instructed to use the EngageHealth application daily.Main outcome measuresAdherence, user experience, and change in the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer (UE-FM), Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (Neuro-QoL), and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS).ResultsOf 23 participants, five (22%) used the application for 17 days, six (26%) used the application for 9–16 days, and 12 (52%) used it < 9 days. Sixty-three percent of participants would recommend the application to other stroke survivors, with fifty percent indicating they would continue using the application, if available. During the pre-intervention phase, there were no changes in hand function. During the intervention period, participants improved by 4 points on the UE-FM (P < 0.01), and 15 points in the hand-function domain of SIS (P = 0.03). Videos of participants' exercises were successfully recorded, allowing the clinician to review videos of the participants' completed tasks asynchronously. In-depth interviews revealed that participants viewed the EngageHealth application favorably, and that their perceived usefulness of the exercises affected their motivation.ConclusionsUse of the EngageHealth application in the home environment may improve upper extremity function in subacute/chronic stroke patients. Additional support strategies should be implemented in future studies to improve adherence. These findings from a prospective single-arm study, support the design of a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of long-term use of the EngageHealth application.

Depression is a prevalent illness among the elderly, so psychotherapeutic interventions are needed to promote health and quality of life. This literature review aims to identify trials of any psychotherapeutic interventions aimed at reducing depressive symptoms in older adults. A systematic literature review with a meta-analysis will be carried out. The following databases will be searched: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MedicLatina, MEDLINE with Full Text, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. To minimize bias, four reviewers will independently assess the inclusion of studies. The fifth reviewer will be responsible for disaggregating inclusion and exclusion between two authors. The results of the analysis will be grouped in a table with the characteristics of the included studies, including author, year, sample, objectives, methods, assessment instruments, psychotherapeutic interventions, results, follow-up and a data compilation scheme. This scientific article is a systematic review protocol for which the data has already been extracted and is being analyzed. Examples of possible strategies to include cognitive restructuring and mental health programs for older adults in community settings. With this clear and direct identification of psychotherapeutic interventions, it will be clearer for mental health professionals to be able to intervene effectively to promote the mental health and well-being of older adults.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42023449190

Local knowledge (LK) is often overlooked in the decision-making process during landscape restoration process. In this study, we focus on the Zicuirán-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve as a case study. We propose a framework to incorporate LK into public policy instruments for implementing restoration interventions in Mexican protected natural areas (PNAs). Through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and informal talks, conducted with residents from two communities located in the buffer zone and the border area of the reserve, we gathered valuable insights regarding the following: (1) the inhabitants' LK of the ecology and contributions of tropical dry forest, (2) the socioeconomic and environmental issues identified by these communities in their localities, (3) ecological and socioeconomic actions suggested by the residents to recover the forest or halt its degradation, and (4) the role of institutions and local organizations in restoration and conservation processes. Our findings indicate that residents recognized changes in species distribution and identified native trees that are tolerant to drought. Moreover, they acknowledged the beneficial contributions provided by forests, including climate and water cycle regulation, oxygen supply, and raw materials. Local people also demonstrated their awareness of environmental and socioeconomic issues and proposed activities to reverse vegetation cover loss and halt forest degradation. While reforestation emerged as the primary solution for forest recovery, assisted natural regeneration and natural regeneration were also suggested. Based on our results, we propose a framework that emphasizes a robust knowledge exchange among stakeholders, for facilitating the inclusion of LK in an ecological restoration-based education program. It is crucial for Mexican public policy instruments operating in PNAs to consider local knowledge to enhance the effectiveness of ecological restoration.

Climate change projections suggest a precarious future for the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as the suitable climatic habitat of its exclusive overwintering host Abies religiosa (oyamel, Sacred fir, a conifer endemic to Mexico) inside the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) is expected to disappear by 2090. Since the upper elevation limit of A. religiosa is approximately 3,500 m and the summits of mountains within the MBBR are ca. 3,550 m, we tested the feasibility of establishing A. religiosa at four locations outside its current geographic range in the MBBR, on a geographically close volcano, Nevado de Toluca at 4000 (timberline, an extreme site), 3,800, and 3,600 m (to test species range expansion upward in elevation), and at 3400 m (a reference site, slightly lower than the upper elevation limit of A. religiosa). Using existing shrubs as nurse plants to protect the seedlings from extreme temperatures, at each site we planted five to eight populations, originating between 3,100 and 3,500 m within the MBBR. After three growing seasons in the field (6 years after sowing), we found that: (a) survival and height increment declined steeply with test site elevation; (b) even at the highest sites (3,800 and 4,000 m), survival was acceptable, at 68 and 44%, respectively, although the growth was very poor at 4000 m; (c) populations responded similarly to transfer; (d) transfer effects were best accounted for by annual dryness index; (e) to compensate for the expected 2.3°C increase in mean annual temperature or 0.009 √°Cmm−1 increase of annual dryness index from the reference period (1961–1990) to the decade centered in 2060, it would be necessary to shift populations approximately 500 m to higher elevations; and (f) upward transfers to compensate for the 2.3°C increase in mean annual temperature are expected to result in height increment and survival that are approximately 47 and 21% lower, respectively, than values expected at zero transfer distance. We conclude that the establishment of A. religiosa at 3600 and 3,800 m is feasible and that planted stands could eventually serve as overwintering sites for the Monarch butterfly under projected future climates.

Antecedentes: La nutrición mineral beneficia el comportamiento bioproductivo de los cerdos. Evaluar el efecto de inclusión de una pre-mezcla mineral elaborada a partir de fuentes naturales nacionales en dietas para cerdos híbridos YorkLand en crecimiento-ceba. Métodos: Se utilizaron 50 cerdos en crecimiento ceba (40±5 kg de peso vivo), hembras y machos castrados, distribuidos aleatoriamente en cinco grupos para ofrecer igual número de dietas experimentales. El grupo I recibió un concentrado elaborado con un núcleo proteico importado, harina de soya importada, harina de maíz amarillo de producción nacional, L-lisina y colina, sin la pre-mezcla mineral. Los restantes cuatro grupos recibieron un concentrado elaborado con harina de soya importada, harina de maíz amarillo de producción nacional, L-lisina y colina, con 0, 1, 2 y 3 % de inclusión de la pre-mezcla mineral, respectivamente. Se determinaron los minerales en suero sanguíneo, el incremento de peso vivo y la ganancia media diaria. Resultados: En los grupos I, III, IV y V fue superior (P

Antecedentes: El uso racional del agua y la aplicación de sistemas de tratamiento para las aguas residuales se presentan como alternativa para subsanar la contaminación de los ecosistemas acuáticos. El IHPLUS® activado constituye una alternativa para la biorremediación de fuentes hídricas contaminadas. Objetivo. determinar la toxicidad por exposición única del producto IHPLUS® activado en larvas de Artemia sp. Métodos: Se evaluó la toxicidad por exposición única del bioproducto IHPLUS® activado en larvas de Artemia sp. obtenidas de quistes incluidos en agua de mar artificial. Los grupos experimentales de larvas de Artemia sp. fueron expuestos por 24 horas a cinco concentraciones del producto en estudio y se compararon con un grupo control sin exposición. Se calculó la CL50 del bioproducto y se estudió la influencia de factores que pudieran ser los responsables de la toxicidad/mortalidad, estos fueron la presencia o ausencia de micro-organismos y el pH. Resultados: La CL50 del producto resultó 0,042% en agua de mar artificial, por lo que se clasifica como no tóxico para crustáceos. Se demostró que el IHPLUS® activado resultó tóxico a concentraciones superiores a 0,032% en larvas de Artemia sp., bajo las condiciones del ensayo. El pH resultó ser el factor responsable en la producción de la toxicidad del bioproducto en Artemia sp. Conclusión: El IHPLUS® activado resultó no peligroso para crustáceos de ambientes marinos. Palabras Clave: ambiente acuático, crustáceos, niveles tóxicos, pH, toxicidad (Fuente: MESH)

Este artigo tem como objetivo principal compreender a trajetória de construção dos Estudos Culturais Físicos (ECF) antes de sua institucionalização no meio acadêmico. A problemática central reside na escassez de informações disponíveis sobre os Estudos Culturais Físicos (ECF) em seu estágio inicial, antes de serem formalmente reconhecidos no contexto acadêmico. A metodologia adotada neste estudo consistiu em uma abordagem de pesquisa bibliográfica, conduzida por meio de leituras exploratórias. A partir dessas análises, considera-se que a concepção dos Estudos Culturais Físicos (ECF), advém de diversos acontecimentos históricos e sociais que possibilitaram a criação de uma nova abordagem na produção de conhecimento da Sociologia do Esporte norte-americana e que compreende a subjetividade do corpo/sujeito além da sua capacidade de performance no esporte/cultura física.

In this paper, we present the design, implementation, and evaluation of a secure sensing data processing and logging system. The system is inspired and enabled by the blockchain technology. In this system, a public blockchain is used as immutable datastore to log the most critical data needed to secure the system. Furthermore, several innovative blockchain-inspired mechanisms have been incorporated into the system to provide additional security for the system’s operations. The first priority in securing sensing data processing and logging is admission control, i.e., only legitimate sensing data are accepted for processing and logging. This is achieved via a sensor identification and authentication mechanism. The second priority is to ensure that the logged data remain intact overtime. This is achieved by storing a small amount of data condensed from the raw sensing data on a public blockchain. A Merkel-tree based mechanism is devised to link the raw sensing data stored off-chain to the condensed data placed on public blockchain. This mechanism passes the data immutability property of a public blockchain to the raw sensing data stored off-chain. Third, the raw sensing data stored off-chain are secured with a self-protection mechanism where the raw sensing data are grouped into chained blocks with a moderate amount of proof-of-work. This scheme prevents an adversary from making arbitrary changes to the logged data within a short period of time. Fourth, mechanisms are developed to facilitate the search of the condensed data placed on the public blockchain and the verification of the raw sensing data using the condensed data placed on the public blockchain. The system is implemented in Python except the graphical user interface, which is developed using C#. The functionality and feasibility of the system have been evaluated locally and with two public blockchain systems, one is the IOTA Shimmer test network, and the other is Ethereum.

El presente trabajo de implementación práctica muestra el diseño y la construcción de un prototipo de medidor digital domiciliar en el cual se puede visualizar las distintas variables en tiempo real como la tensión de la red, la corriente eléctrica, la potencia promedio, la energía consumida por la vivienda en kWh y el costo asociado de facturación mensual. El diseño del prototipo está dividido en tres etapas, la primera tiene que ver con el sistema de carga y alimentación del dispositivo, la segunda muestra el sistema de adquisición y acondicionamiento de las variables de entrada y la tercera tiene relación con el microcontrolador Arduino Mega 2560 encargado de la etapa de procesamiento, registro y almacenamiento de la información. La construcción del prototipo se la realiza en varias fases, en primer lugar el diseño práctico en el software Proteus 8 Professional para luego implementarlo en el protoboard y más adelante montarlo en la placa PCB, finalmente se acoplan estos módulos en una caja plástica con IP-65 la cual muestra en su vista frontal la pantalla de cristal líquido acoplada para mostrar las variables de salida del dispositivo terminado. El funcionamiento del prototipo está validado mediante comparación a través de varias pruebas de aplicación práctica en un caso de estudio real versus un medidor de energía convencional. Por último el prototipo resulta idóneo para sistemas de medición de energía domiciliar ya que se adapta a las necesidades de cada consumidor.

Evaluating plant functional traits helps to understand how plants respond to changing environmental conditions and resource availability associated with disturbance events. Livestock production is one of the primary drivers of tropical forest loss and degradation. Livestock alter environmental conditions within the forest by grazing, trampling and nutrient inputs, which in turn can influence species composition and functional traits of species. Understanding how livestock influence functional traits along a successional gradient is poorly understood. Here, we studied the effect of cattle grazing and fallow age on plant functional traits and soil nutrients in secondary and old-growth tropical dry forests. We analyzed plant functional traits of the most important species in successional and old-growth forest communities in both cattle present and cattle excluded plots. Our results showed the effects of cattle grazing and fallow age on plant functional traits, with fallow age explaining more variation than cattle grazing. In early succession, functional traits were associated with water conservation (thicker leaves, lower specific leaf area), and in later successional they were linked with sunlight conservation (larger height, higher specific leaf area). The presence of large fruits and seeds in advanced successional sites suggests high resource availability, which may help plants to successfully reproduce. Moreover, under cattle grazing some functional traits are associated with herbivory defense (high foliar dry weight and thick leaves). Even though N and C increased as succession advanced, the sites with cattle grazing had higher NH4 and NO3 concentrations as a result of fecal deposition. Plant functional traits responded to fallow age than to cattle grazing. Our study showed that cattle exclusion, as a management and biodiversity conservation strategy, contributes positively to soil nutrition. Thus, fallow age and cattle exclusion facilitate soil recovery and allows establishing species with suitable functional attributes for overcoming environmental filters in abandoned cattle fields.

Antecedentes: El uso de la biomasa comestible de Dichrostachys cinerea podría ser una alternativa eficaz para el control de parasitosis en animales. Objetivo. Evaluar la toxicidad a dosis límite de un extracto de legumbres, rebrote y hojas de planta adulta de D. cinerea en ratas. Métodos: Se utilizaron ratas adultas jóvenes de la especie Rattus norvegicus (variedad albina), de la línea o cepa Sprague Dawley (Cenp: SD), de ambos sexos, con un peso entre 150 y 200 g, consanguíneas y heteroxénicas. Se evaluaron tres extractos acuosos mediante maceración al 20% de biomasa vegetal de, rebrotes, hojas de planta adulta y legumbres, mediante el ensayo de toxicidad oral por dosis límite de 2000 mg / kg de masa corporal. Se controló la ocurrencia de mortalidad y la aparición de síntomas o signos de toxicidad. Se practicó necropsia y análisis macroscópico a los animales al final del estudio en busca de lesiones. Se empleó el paquete estadístico STATISTICA, versión 10 y se aplicaron los ensayos no paramétricos de Pares de Wilcoxon y U de Mann Whitney, para comparar el peso inicial y final por sexos y el incremento por sexos, respectivamente. Resultados: Las ratas de ambos sexos incrementaron su masa corporal, lo que demuestra la no influencia negativa por la administración del extracto. Se observó diferencias significativas en el incremento de peso entre hembras y machos, no se observaron lesiones macroscópicas o alteraciones patológicas relacionadas o achacables a la administración del producto. Conclusiones: El extracto acuoso de legumbres, rebrote y hojas de la planta D. cinerea, no resulta tóxico a dosis límite oral en ratas.

Climate change is predicted to lead to increasingly intense and hotter droughts, causing physiological weakness followed by forest decline in many regions of the world. Long- and short-range remote sensing (satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones) can sense drought-induced changes in vegetation. Although several studies have addressed forest decline events, none have analyzed the forest decline attributable to climate change using remote sensing in a concise manner. A bibliometric analysis was carried out to characterize the scientific production reported in the Web of Science repository. The search descriptors were a combination of keywords related to forest decline and remote sensing. The results showed 278 articles published between 1989 and 2021 in 92 journals, with an average annual increase of 31%. A total of 29 nodes and 220 scientific collaboration links were located, mainly led by researchers from USA, Germany and China. Keyword analysis using World-TreeMap reflected the association of different key forest decline phenomena such as drought stress and climate change. Although the use of satellite information to study and understand forest decline has been reported for just over three decades, the most notable feature of the present research was the limited role of drones with only 5 studies. This reveals an area of opportunity to take advantage of the main strengths of drones, i.e., spatial and temporal resolution, low cost compared to manned flights, and centimeter accuracy. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to increase studies to improve the use of multispectral sensors, thermal and LiDAR technology for long-term monitoring of forest decline related to climate change.

This comprehensive review aims to provide a practical guide for intensivists, focusing on enhancing patient care associated with nosocomial peritonitis (NP). It explores the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of NP, a significant contributor to the mortality of surgical patients worldwide. NP is, per definition, a hospital-acquired condition and a consequence of gastrointestinal surgery or a complication of other diseases. NP, one of the most prevalent causes of sepsis in surgical Intensive Care Units (ICUs), is often associated with multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria and high mortality rates. Early clinical suspicion and the utilization of various diagnostic tools like biomarkers and imaging are of great importance. Microbiology is often complex, with antimicrobial resistance escalating in many parts of the world. Fungal peritonitis and its risk factors, diagnostic hurdles, and effective management approaches are particularly relevant in patients with NP. Contemporary antimicrobial strategies for treating NP are discussed, including drug resistance challenges and empirical antibiotic regimens. The importance of source control in intra-abdominal infection management, including surgical and non-surgical interventions, is also emphasized. A deeper exploration into the role of open abdomen treatment as a potential option for selected patients is proposed, indicating an area for further investigation. This review underscores the need for more research to advance the best treatment strategies for NP.

Antecedentes: La leptospirosis ha sido poco estudiada en Ecuador y es altamente prevalente en provincias costeras del país. Identificar los patrones histopatológicos en el riñón y su asociación con la seroprevalencia a Leptospira spp. en cerdos del matadero municipal del cantón Portoviejo. Métodos: Se analizaron cortes histológicos de 420 riñones de cerdos sacrificados y se determinó la asociación entre las lesiones renales y la seroprevalencia a Leptospira. Se efectuaron pruebas de comparación de proporciones y un análisis de riesgo con el programa para análisis epidemiológico de datos tabulados EPIDAT versión 3.1. Resultados: Se evidencia la presencia de los serovares Australis, Bratislava, Icterohaemorrhagiae y Canicola circulantes en cerdos de matadero, con una seroprevalencia, factores que pueden ser un peligro potencial latente para los humanos susceptibles; que avala el alto porcentaje de lesiones por Leptospira spp. encontrada en los riñones de estos animales, evidencias que constituyen una alerta significativa de riesgo para los trabajadores que manipulan y trabajan con cerdos sacrificados en el matadero. Conclusiones: La glomerulonefritis, la nefritis tubular, la nefritis intersticial y la glomerulitis, aparecen en los riñones de cerdos asintomáticos seropositivos o no a Leptospira spp., lo que muestra el amplio patrón de lesiones por la infección en estos animales. Los cerdos que manifestaron nefritis intersticial tuvieron 3,5 veces más probabilidad de resultar positivos por MAT que los que no mostraban esta lesión. Palabras clave: anticuerpos, enfermedades de los animales, serología, tejidos, transmisión (Fuente: BVS)

Antecedentes: El uso de la biomasa comestible de Dichrostachys cinerea podría ser una alternativa eficaz para el control de parasitosis en animales. Objetivo. Evaluar la toxicidad a dosis límite de un extracto de legumbres, rebrote y hojas de planta adulta de D. cinerea en ratas. Métodos: Se utilizaron ratas adultas jóvenes de la especie Rattus norvegicus (variedad albina), de la línea o cepa Sprague Dawley (Cenp: SD), de ambos sexos, con un peso entre 150 y 200 g, consanguíneas y heteroxénicas. Se evaluaron tres extractos acuosos mediante maceración al 20% de biomasa vegetal de, rebrotes, hojas de planta adulta y legumbres, mediante el ensayo de toxicidad oral por dosis límite de 2000 mg / kg de masa corporal. Se controló la ocurrencia de mortalidad y la aparición de síntomas o signos de toxicidad. Se practicó necropsia y análisis macroscópico a los animales al final del estudio en busca de lesiones. Se empleó el paquete estadístico STATISTICA, versión 10 y se aplicaron los ensayos no paramétricos de Pares de Wilcoxon y U de Mann Whitney, para comparar el peso inicial y final por sexos y el incremento por sexos, respectivamente. Resultados: Las ratas de ambos sexos incrementaron su masa corporal, lo que demuestra la no influencia negativa por la administración del extracto. Se observó diferencias significativas en el incremento de peso entre hembras y machos, no se observaron lesiones macroscópicas o alteraciones patológicas relacionadas o achacables a la administración del producto. Conclusiones: El extracto acuoso de legumbres, rebrote y hojas de la planta D. cinerea, no resulta tóxico a dosis límite oral en ratas. Palabras clave: dosis límite, legumbre, planta, rebrote (Fuente: BVS)

Rising air temperatures are the main reason for the expected reduction in land suitability for coffee cultivation under climate change in Central America. One of the reasons farmers use shade trees is to create a cooler microclimate in coffee plantations located in warming areas; therefore, adjusting the shade levels could alleviate future high temperatures. Even though data on expected climatic changes are available, no studies have addressed the cooling potential of shading in coffee production systems. In this study, we use regional climate information (RCP 4.5) and a simple shade model to explore the potential of shading as an adaptation practice in the coffee areas in Central America. A model was developed to estimate the required shade levels for Coffea arabica L. based on mean air temperature. Modeled and observed shade data were compared. Results indicate that compared to 2000, an overall increment of 23 ± 18% of shading would be required to alleviate the warming conditions by 2050. The shading will be more beneficial to coffee areas at medium and high altitudes than to areas at low ones. Also, the number of coffee areas that require dense shade levels (shading > 60%) may double by 2050. This would lead to a boost in tree biomass (carbon content) but also increase the competition for the coffee plants and consequently affect coffee yields. Trade-offs between adaptation, mitigation, and productivity objectives are expected in the coffee areas in the future.

Motivation Retrocopies or processed pseudogenes are gene copies resulting from mRNA retrotransposition. These gene duplicates can be fixed, somatically inserted or polymorphic in the genome. However, knowledge regarding unfixed retrocopies (retroCNVs) is still limited, and the development of computational tools for effectively identifying and genotyping them is an urgent need. Results Here, we present sideRETRO, a pipeline dedicated not only to detecting retroCNVs in whole-genome or whole-exome sequencing data but also to revealing their insertion sites, zygosity and genomic context and classifying them as somatic or polymorphic events. We show that sideRETRO can identify novel retroCNVs and genotype them, in addition to finding polymorphic retroCNVs in whole-genome and whole-exome data. Therefore, sideRETRO fills a gap in the literature and presents an efficient and straightforward algorithm to accelerate the study of bona fide retroCNVs. Availability and implementation sideRETRO is available at https://github.com/galantelab/sideRETRO Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]