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Abstract Remote sensing technologies are experiencing a surge in adoption for monitoring Earth’s environment, demanding more efficient and scalable methods for image analysis. This paper presents a new approach for the Emirates Mars Mission (Hope probe); A serverless computing architecture designed to analyze images of Martian auroras, a key aspect in understanding the Martian atmosphere. Harnessing the power of OpenCV and machine learning algorithms, our architecture offers image classification, object detection, and segmentation in a swift and cost-effective manner. Leveraging the scalability and elasticity of cloud computing, this innovative system is capable of managing high volumes of image data, adapting to fluctuating workloads. This technology, applied to the study of Martian auroras within the HOPE Mission, not only solves a complex problem but also paves the way for future applications in the broad field of remote sensing.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are extremely important fatty acids for brain development in the fetus and early childhood. Premature infants face challenges obtaining these two fatty acids from their mothers. It has been reported that supplementation with triacylglycerols (TAGs) with an ARA:DHA (w/w) ratio of 2:1 may be optimal for preterm infants, as presented in commercial formulas such as Formulaid™. This study explored methods to produce TAGs with a 2:1 ratio (ARA:DHA), particularly at the more bioavailable sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone. Blending and enzymatic acidolysis of microalgae oil (rich in DHA) and ARA-rich oil yielded products with the desired ARA:DHA ratio, enhancing sn-2 composition compared to Formulaid™ (1.6 for blending and 2.3 for acidolysis versus 0.9 in Formulaid™). Optimal acidolysis conditions were 45 °C, a 1:3 substrate molar ratio, 10% Candida antarctica lipase, and 4 h. The process was reproducible, and scalable, and the lipase could be reused. In vitro digestion showed that 75.5% of the final product mixture was bio-accessible, comprising 19.1% monoacylglycerols, ~50% free fatty acids, 14.6% TAGs, and 10.1% diacylglycerols, indicating better bio-accessibility than precursor oils.

Pathogenic bacteria have several mechanisms to evade the host’s immune response and achieve an efficient infection. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a relevant cellular communication mechanism, since they can interact with other bacterial cells and with host cells. In this review, we focus on the EVs produced by some World Health Organization (WHO) priority Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria; by spore-producing bacteria; by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (a bacteria with a complex cell wall); and by Treponema pallidum (a bacteria without lipopolysaccharide). We describe the classification and the general properties of bacterial EVs, their role during bacterial infections and their effects on the host immune response. Bacterial EVs contain pathogen-associated molecular patterns that activate innate immune receptors, which leads to cytokine production and inflammation, but they also contain antigens that induce the activation of B and T cell responses. Understanding the many effects of bacterial EVs on the host’s immune response can yield new insights on the pathogenesis of clinically important infections, but it can also lead to the development of EV-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In addition, since EVs are efficient activators of both the innate and the adaptive immune responses, they constitute a promising platform for vaccine development.

Abstract We present the development of an electrochemical sensor towards melatonin determination based on the synergistic effect between MoS2 nanosheets and cucurbit[8]uril. For the sensor construction cucurbit[8]uril suspensions were prepared in water, and MoS2 nanosheets were obtained by liquid exfoliation in ethanol:water. The sensing platform was topographically characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy experiments allowed us to study the charge transfer process during melatonin oxidation. Moreover, stoichiometry of the resulting complex has also been determined. After the optimization of the sensor construction and the experimental variables involved in the Differential Pulse Voltammetric response of melatonin, detection limit of 3.80 × 10−7 M, relative errors minor than 3.8% and relative standard deviation lower than 4.4% were obtained. The proposed sensor has been successfully applied to melatonin determination in pharmaceutical and biological samples as human urine and serum, with very good recoveries ranging from 90 to 102%.

This paper presents a two-level hierarchical control method for the power distribution between the hybrid energy storage system (HESS) and the main dc bus of a microgrid for ultrafast charging of electric vehicles (EVs). The HESS is composed of a supercapacitor and a battery and is an essential part to fulfill the charging demand of EVs in a microgrid made up of a 220 VRMS ac bus, two dc buses of 600 V and 1500 V, respectively, and four charging points. A state machine defines the four operating modes of the HESS and establishes the conditions for the corresponding transitions among them, namely, charging the battery and the supercapacitor from the bus, injecting the current from the HESS into the 1500 V dc bus to ensure the power balance in the microgrid, regulating the bus voltage, and establishing the disconnection mode. The primary level of the control system regulates the current and voltage of the battery, supercapacitor, and dc bus, while the secondary level establishes the operating mode of the HESS and provides the appropriate references to the primary level. In the primary level, sliding mode control (SMC) is used in both the battery and supercapacitor in the inner loop of a cascade control that implements the standard constant current–constant voltage (CC-CV) charging protocol. In the same level, linear control is applied in the CV phase of the protocol and for bus voltage regulation or the current injection into the bus. PSIM simulations of the operating modes and their corresponding transitions verify the theoretical predictions.

IntroductionAn adverse proinflammatory milieu contributes to abnormal cellular energy metabolism response. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is closely related to an altered maternal inflammatory status. However, its role on lipid metabolism regulation in human placenta has not yet been assessed. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of maternal circulating inflammatory mediators ([TNF]-α, [IL]-6, and Leptin) on placental fatty acid metabolism in GDM pregnancies.MethodsFasting maternal blood and placental tissues were collected at term deliveries from 37 pregnant women (17 control and 20 GDM). Molecular approach techniques as radiolabeled lipid tracers, ELISAs, immunohistochemistry and multianalyte immunoassay quantitative analysis, were used to quantify serum inflammatory factors’ levels, to measure lipid metabolic parameters in placental villous samples (mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation [FAO] rate and lipid content [Triglycerides]), and to analyze their possible relationships. The effect of potential candidate cytokines on fatty acid metabolism in ex vivo placental explants culture following C-section a term was also examined.ResultsMaternal serum IL-6, TNF-α and leptin levels were significantly increased in GDM patients compared with control pregnant women (9,9±4,5 vs. 3,00±1,7; 4,5±2,8 vs. 2,1±1,3; and 10026,7±5628,8 vs. 5360,2±2499,9 pg/ml, respectively). Placental FAO capacity was significantly diminished (~30%; p

An alternative olive oil (OO) production process has been developed based on the combination of olive dehydration, followed by extraction with an expeller press. This procedure eliminates the utilization of water and avoids the malaxation stage. Hence, no water residues are generated. In this study, the mentioned alternative methodology was compared to conventional extraction methods. High extraction yields and oil recovery were obtained with our novel procedure. On the contrary, substantial percentages of by-products were generated with conventional methodology. The quality indexes (acidity and peroxide values) of the oils obtained by the combination of dehydration and expeller (dOO) were 0.4% of oleic acid and 3 meq O2/kg of oil, respectively. Furthermore, none of the applied processes affected the resulting OO’s fatty acid composition and lipid profile. Total phenolic content was up to four times higher for dOO than for other olive oils and it showed resistance to oxidation with an oxidative stability index about five times higher than that for conventional olive oils.

The interrelated effect of different slaughtering, drying and defatting methods of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on the lipid composition and properties of the fat was studied. Blanching and freezing were compared as slaughtering methods, oven or freeze-drying as drying methods, and mechanical pressing or supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as defatting methods.The different modes of slaughtering, drying, and defatting, along with both binary and ternary interactions caused significant effects on processes yields, lipid composition, moisture content and thermal properties. Thus, considering the defatting degree and the yield in total valued products (defatted meal plus fat), the combination of blanching, freeze-drying plus mechanical pressing was the worst option (51.2% and 87.5%, respectively). In contrast, the other combinations demonstrated better and comparable efficiency, although SFE is preferable for defatting (83.2% and 96.9%, respectively). The content of major fatty acids (lauric, palmitic and myristic acids) was significantly affected by the BSFL treatments, although with unsignificant impact on the total saturated fatty acids content. To preserve the integrity of the fat, the combination of blanching and oven-drying was preferred, as non-thermal methods of slaughtering and drying caused intense lipolysis, releasing free fatty acids (FFA) in the range of 18.6–23.5%. To achieve the lowest moisture content in the fats (≤0.1%), oven-drying with mechanical pressing were desired, regardless of the slaughtering method; while values > 1% were reached for freezing, freeze-drying and SFE. Both differences in FFA and moisture contents caused different thermal behaviors in the samples. Specially, the melting temperature was lower for samples with higher FFA and moisture contents, with a notable difference when freezing, freeze-drying and SFE were combined (14.5 °C vs 30.6 °C, as the mean value for the rest of samples). The different modes of processing did not affect the minor lipid compounds.Therefore, the modes employed for slaughtering, drying, and defatting of BSFL determine, either individually or in combination, the process yields, composition, and properties of the fat.

There is an urgent need of cleaner and energy-efficient technologies for future sustainable chemicals and fuels. Here the authors report the gas phase synthesis of long hydrocarbon chains from atomic carbon and molecular hydrogen precursors in an inert carrier gas, avoiding the use of metal catalysts.

The interrelation effect of slaughtering, drying, and defatting methods of BSFL on the oxidative quality of the derived fat was studied. Blanching and freezing were compared as slaughtering methods, followed by oven or freeze-drying for drying and mechanical pressing or SFE for defatting. The oxidative state and stability of the extracted fat and defatted meals were monitored immediately after their production, using peroxide value (PV) and Rancimat test, and over 24 weeks of storage. Slaughtering and drying methods had an independent effect on PV, with freezing and freeze-drying being the best methods. Mechanical pressing and SFE were comparable and superior to conventional hexane defatting. Interactions were observed between slaughtering and defatting, drying and defatting, and between all three factors. Generally, freeze-drying combined with any of the slaughtering and defatting methods resulted in the lowest PVs, with mechanical pressing being preferred. Freeze-drying plus mechanical pressing also produced the most stable fats during storage according to the evolution of PV, while the combination of blanching and SFE produced the least stable. A significant correlation was found between the PV at 24 weeks and the antioxidant activity of the fats. Contrary to storage assays, in accelerated Rancimat assays, freeze-dried samples were the least stable, which was partially attributed to the significant correlation with the acid values of the samples. Defatted meals followed a similar pattern to the extracted fat, except for worse oxidation for SFE defatting. Therefore, the different processing methods of slaughtering, drying, and defatting of BSFL differently affect lipid oxidation, with interactions between such successive steps.

Obese women are more likely to experience pregnancy complications. The distribution of fat, and more particularly the rise in visceral fat, is well established to be more closely linked to the onset of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome than obesity itself. We aim to examine the relationship between maternal visceral fat assessment in the first trimester and the appearance of adverse pregnancy outcomes. A prospective cohort study including 416 pregnant women was conducted. During the first trimester scan (11–13 + 6 weeks), all individuals had their visceral fat and subcutaneous thicknesses measured by ultrasonography. Blood samples were obtained, and maternal demographics and clinical information were documented. After delivery, the obstetric outcomes were evaluated. We contrasted two groups: one with healthy pregnancies and the other with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO), defined as the development of at least one of the following complications: gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, abnormal fetal growth, preterm delivery or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Median maternal age was 33 and 34 years old for the uncomplicated and adverse pregnancy outcomes groups, respectively. We found that women with adverse pregnancy outcomes had higher VFT (median 30 vs. 26.5 mm, p = 0.001) and SFT (median 18.9 vs. 17.1 mm, p = 0.03). However, the visceral/subcutaneous fat ratio was not statistically different between groups. Finally, we performed a subanalysis for metabolic and placental vascular dysfunction complications. After performing a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for maternal age, smoking, and mean arterial pressure, both the VFT (aOR 1.03, p < 0.001) and the ratio of visceral/subcutaneous fat (aOR 1.37, p = 0.04) were significantly associated with the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the associations of VFT and the VFT-to-SFT ratio were higher for the occurrence of gestational diabetes (aOR 1.07, p < 0.001; aOR 2.09, p = 0.001; respectively) and showed no relationships with placental complications. When conducting a first-trimester ultrasound assessment, sonographers may measure VFT without additional time or cost involved. Identification of pregnant women with increased VFT (>37 mm) may benefit from a close follow-up, especially for the development of gestational diabetes, independent of BMI.

The supercritical defatting of H. illucens was scaled up at 450 bar and 60 °C from a 270 cm3 extraction cell to a vessel five times larger. Then, eight different H. illucens larvae batches, with variable content of oil (16.80–29.17% w/w) and moisture (4.45–15.95% w/w) were defatted. The effect of these parameters on yield and oil composition was analyzed. The presence of moisture in the larvae batch, in the range of the values studied, had no negative effect on the oil recovery efficiency, which was mainly determined by the initial content of oil in the larvae samples. Furthermore, no differences were determined in the fatty acid profile of the oils recovered, which were rich in saturated fatty acids, mainly lauric acid (ca. 50% w/w). Minor lipids, such as squalene and phytosterols, were determined in all the oil samples. The moisture content in the oils extracted was in the range of 0.118–1.706% w/w. Therefore, some samples exceeded the limits recommended for volatile matter in edible fats and oils (0.2%, including moisture). Yet, concerning the oil peroxide index, values were much lower than those corresponding to the oil extracted using hexane.

Breast anomalies in broilers, especially wooden breast (WB) and spaghetti meat (SM), cause high economic losses to the poultry meat sector. In order to identify the parameters that have a causal effect and to reduce the incidence of these myopathies, 141,792 broilers were analyzed in a total of 1477 batches using a visual grading system. The relationship among productive parameters such as the feed conversion ratio, live weight, growth rate, and mortality, was evaluated. Effects due to skin color (white vs. yellow), broiler sex (male, female, and mixed groups), feed presentation (grain vs. mash), and veterinary treatments (treated vs. untreated) were also included in the statistical study. Live weight was observed to have a significant effect (p < 0.001) on WB incidence, which increased by 1.11 for each 100 g of weight. Weight did not significantly affect the incidence of SM. Males had a higher incidence of WB and a lower incidence of SM than females. The incidence of both myopathies varied between samples that turned out to be significantly affected by some of the variables considered in the model, such as grain feeding and the feed conversion ratio. Controlling these factors in the broiler production could help to reduce the incidence of WB and SM.

Anthropology very own historiography is extensive and considerable. Since 1935 it has been practiced trough history as an anthropological issue. However since the beginning, the deepest divergences surfaced interiorly and between fields. Most of the contributions were full of historical controversy, being as an evolutionary advance, then as pendulum movement, and finally as paradigmatic succession. In all cases there was a more extreme and personalized “plural” diversity. In the other hand, George Stoking Jr’s professional history procured to forge a canon that several followers took as historicist orthodox. Another turn to the screw given that the professional field remained divided a condition that far from changing it has endured. Some milieus even consider the disappearance of the so called unitary anthropology nomination. And the contribution of the presentist history continues to document the continuous divergence.

Background: Little is known about the relation between morbid obesity and duodenal transcriptomic changes. We aimed to identify intestinal genes that may be associated with the development of obesity regardless of the degree of insulin resistance (IR) of patients. Material and Methods: Duodenal samples were assessed by microarray in three groups of women: non-obese women and women with morbid obesity with low and high IR. Results: We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with morbid obesity, regardless of IR degree, related to digestion and lipid metabolism, defense response and inflammatory processes, maintenance of the gastrointestinal epithelium, wound healing and homeostasis, and the development of gastrointestinal cancer. However, other DEGs depended on the IR degree. We mainly found an upregulation of genes involved in the response to external organisms, hypoxia, and wound healing functions in women with morbid obesity and low IR. Conclusions: Regardless of the degree of IR, morbid obesity is associated with an altered expression of genes related to intestinal defenses, antimicrobial and immune responses, and gastrointestinal cancer. Our data also suggest a deficient duodenal immune and antimicrobial response in women with high IR.

In this paper, a portable exoskeleton for the rehabilitation of upper extremities of three degrees of freedom (DOF) is proposed. With these degrees of freedom, the exoskeleton provides the movements of flexion–extension and abduction–adduction of the arm and flexion–extension of the forearm. A robust generalized proportional integral (GPI) controller for trajectory tracking to provide smooth movements for rehabilitation with the exoskeleton is proposed. This controller only requires output measurements and is robust against different types of disturbances. Simulation results are presented in the MSC Adams® software environment in co-simulation with Matlab-Simulink® to show the controller’s performance against different types of disturbances. The results of a PID type controller are also contrasted with the results of the GPI controller.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and genotypic distribution of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in a sample of patients of Hassan II University Hospital (Morocco) due to nasopharyngeal pathologies and requiring a biopsy. We identified factors associated to the EBV infection. Methods: 112 patients were recruited (January 2012–October 2014). Biopsies were conducted for the molecular diagnosis of EBV. The data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, smoking and drug abuse, medical background and histologic diagnosis. The EBV diagnosis was performed via the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Results: 50% of patients were infected by EBV (98.2% with EBV type A compared to 1.8% type B). Most infected patients were ≥40 years(65.5%), male (59.6%) and in unfavorable socioeconomic circumstances. 83.3% of patients with lymphoma and 69.8% of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented concomitant EBV infections. 88.9% of patients who took drugs were infected by EBV compared to 47.7% of those who did not. In the multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.03; IC95% 1.02–1.06), smoking (OR 4.28; IC95%1.24–14.78) and having a malignant process (OR 6.96; IC95% 2.26–21.44) were significantly associated with EBV. Conclusions: Infection by EBV is related to several factors, such as advanced age, smoking, and suffering a malignant process. In subjects with malignant pathologies, positivity to EBV seems to be inferior to that found in other countries. Keywords: Epstein–Barr virus, Epidemiology, Outcomes, Carcinoma

A. Shah (2018). Nightmarch. Among India’s revolutionary guerrillas. Londres: Hurst. 256 pp.

The effect of electrical parameters (intensity and voltage) to obtain an effective water-bath stunning in a commercial poultry slaughterhouse was studied. A total of 390 broilers were randomly divided into six experimental groups according to the intensity (150 and 200 mA) and voltage (51-60, 61-80 and 81-100 V). Statistical analysis showed a significant (p

ObjectiveTo determine the prognostic value of cortisol, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), together with their ratios (cortisol/DHEA and cortisol/DHEAS), as independent predictors of mortality in septic patients.MethodsProspective cohort study of 139 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock. Adrenal hormones were determined within the first 24 hours of the septic process. To determine and compare the predictive ability of each marker for the risk of unfavorable evolution (in-hospital, 28-day and 90-day mortality), ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves were constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) was determined. As measures of association, adjusted odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression. Cortisol, DHEA and DHEAS results were compared to lactate, CRP, SOFA and APACHE II Scores.ResultsCortisol showed the best predictive ability, with AUCs of 0.758, 0.759 and 0.705 for in-hospital mortality, and 28-day and 90-day mortality, respectively; whereas AUCs for 28 days mortality for SOFA and APACHE II scores, and other biomarkers studied, such as Lactate or CRP, were 0.644, 0.618, 0.643 and 0.647, respectively. Associations between high cortisol levels (>17.5 μg/dL) and mortality were strong and statistically significant for in-hospital and 28-day mortality: adjusted ORs 10.13 and 9.45 respectively, and lower for long term mortality (90 days): adjusted OR 4.26 (95% CI 1.34-13.56), p trend 0.014. Regarding adrenal androgens, only positive associations were obtained for DHEAS and most of these positive associations did not yield statistical significance. Regarding Cortisol/DHEA and cortisol/DHEAS ratios, they did not improve the predictive ability of cortisol. The only exception was the cortisol/DHEAS ratio, which was the best predictor of mortality at 90 days (AUC 0.737), adjusted OR for highest cortisol/DHEAS ratio values 6.33 (95%CI 1.77-22.60), p trend 0.002.ConclusionBasal cortisol measured within the first 24 hours of the septic process was the best prognostic factor for in-hospital and 28-day mortality, even superior to the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) or Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores. The cortisol/DHEAS ratio was an independent predictor of long-term mortality.

We present a partial panoramic view of possible contexts and applications of the fractional calculus. In this context, we show some different applications of fractional calculus to different models in ordinary differential equation (ODE) and partial differential equation (PDE) formulations ranging from the basic equations of mechanics to diffusion and Dirac equations.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In the lungs, macrophages and neutrophils are the first immune cells that have contact with the infecting mycobacteria. Neutrophils are phagocytic cells that kill microorganisms through several mechanisms, which include the lytic enzymes and antimicrobial peptides that are found in their lysosomes, and the production of reactive oxygen species. Neutrophils also release extracellular vesicles (EVs) (100–1,000 nm in diameter) to the extracellular milieu; these EVs consist of a lipid bilayer surrounding a hydrophilic core and participate in intercellular communication. We previously demonstrated that human neutrophils infected in vitro with Mtb H37Rv release EVs (EV-TB), but the effect of these EVs on other cells relevant for the control of Mtb infection, such as macrophages, has not been completely analyzed. In this study, we characterized the EVs produced by non-stimulated human neutrophils (EV-NS), and the EVs produced by neutrophils stimulated with an activator (PMA), a peptide derived from bacterial proteins (fMLF) or Mtb, and observed that the four EVs differed in their size. Ligands for toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/6 were detected in EV-TB, and these EVs favored a modest increase in the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD80, a higher expression of CD86, and the production of higher amounts of TNF-α and IL-6, and of lower amounts of TGF-β, in autologous human macrophages, compared with the other EVs. EV-TB reduced the amount of intracellular Mtb in macrophages, and increased superoxide anion production in these cells. TLR2/6 ligation and superoxide anion production are known inducers of autophagy; accordingly, we found that EV-TB induced higher expression of the autophagy-related marker LC3-II in macrophages, and the co-localization of LC3-II with Mtb inside infected macrophages. The intracellular mycobacterial load increased when autophagy was inhibited with wortmannin in these cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that neutrophils produce different EVs in response to diverse activators, and that EV-TB activate macrophages and promote the clearance of intracellular Mtb through early superoxide anion production and autophagy induction, which is a novel role for neutrophil-derived EVs in the immune response to Mtb.

A variety of receptors perform the function of attenuating or inhibiting activation of cells in which they are expressed. Examples of these kinds of receptors include TIM-3 and PD-1, among others that have been widely studied in cells of lymphoid origin and, though to a lesser degree, in other cell lines. Today, several studies describe the function of these molecules as part of the diverse mechanisms of immune tolerance that exist in the immune system. This review analyzes the function of some of these proteins in monocytes and macrophages and as well as their participation as inhibitory molecules or elements of immunological tolerance that also act in innate defense mechanisms. We chose the receptors TIM-3, PD-1, CD32b, and CD200R because these molecules have distinct functional characteristics that provide examples of the different regulating mechanisms in monocytes and macrophages.

When the refractive index changes very slowly compared to the wave-length we may use the eikonal approximation to the wave equation. In the opposite case, when the refractive index highly variates over the distance of one wave-length, we have what can be termed as the anti-eikonal limit. This situation is addressed in this work. The anti-eikonal limit seems to be a relevant tool in the modelling and design of new optical media. Besides, it describes a basic universal behaviour, independent of the actual values of the refractive index and, thus, of the media, for the components of a wave with wave-length much greater than the characteristic scale of the refractive index.

Luego de un siglo de existencia institucional y profesional la antropología mexicana ha constituido una treintena de escuelas, facultades, institutos, colegios y centros de investigación, todos los cuales ofrecen estudios de licenciatura, maestría y doctorado. En apariencia, es una disciplina consolidada. Es preocupante, sin embargo, que mientras prevalece el desempleo de los jóvenes profesionales, la política científica haya tenido el efecto de crear una élite menos interesada en los “grandes problemas nacionales” que en reproducir más profesionales con futuro incierto. La supuesta “comunidad antropológica” está escindida en una antropología académica y una antropología gubernamental, y los esfuerzos por reunirlas son aún incipientes. La élite está preocupada también por su visibilidad internacional, ubicando a la antropología gubernamental (que en su época de oro dio fama internacional a la antropología mexicana) en un nivel inferior, pese a su producción constante de estudios, los que también contribuyen al desarrollo disciplinar.

Here, we report on the production of nanoripples on the surface of ZnO bulk substrates by ion beam erosion with 20 keV Ar+ ions at an oblique incidence (60°). The ripple patterns, analyzed by atomic force microscopy, follow a power law dependence for both the roughness and the wavelength. At high fluences these ripples show coarsening and asymmetric shapes, which become independent of the beam direction and evidence additional mechanisms for the pattern development. The shallow damaged layer is not fully amorphized by this process, as confirmed by medium energy ion scattering. A detailed study of the damage-induced changes on the optical properties was carried out by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry. Using a 3-layer model based on Tauc-Lorenz and critical point parameter band oscillators, the optical constants of the damaged layer were determined. The results showed a progressive reduction in the refractive index and enhanced absorption below the bandgap with the fluence.

Fundamento: las quemaduras en la embarazada constituyen un reto para el equipo multidisciplinario que se ocupa de su tratamiento. Estas lesiones en dependencia de su extensión, profundidad y el tiempo de gestación de las pacientes, pueden comprometer tanto la vida de la madre como la del feto. Objetivo: determinar la morbi-mortalidad por quemaduras en las embarazadas y la conducta seguida en dependencia del tiempo de gestación, en las pacientes atendidas con estas características en el Servicio de Caumatología del Hospital Universitario Manuel Ascunce Domenech de la ciudad de Camagüey desde el año 2001 hasta el 2010. Método: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal. El universo estuvo conformado por 585 mujeres que sufrieron quemaduras durante este período, la muestra no probabilística la conformaron 16 pacientes las cuales estaban en estado de gestación. Resultados: Se encontraban en el segundo trimestre de su embarazo siete gestantes para un 43.75 %, y del total de las lesionadas cuatro eran grandes quemaduras. El índice de menos grave representó el 50 % del total de las lesionadas. Con el 68.75 % de las embarazadas se siguió una conducta expectante. Conclusiones: La mayoría de las gestantes estaban clasificadas como menos graves. El estado materno al egreso fue satisfactorio en la totalidad de las pacientes, no así el estado fetal.

The dust aerosols floating in the atmosphere of Mars cause an attenuation of the solar radiation traversing the atmosphere that cannot be modeled through the use of classical diffusion processes. However, the definition of a type of fractional diffusion equation offers a more accurate model for this dynamic and the second order moment of this equation allows one to establish a connection between the fractional equation and the Ångstrom law that models the attenuation of the solar radiation. In this work we consider both one and three dimensional wavelength-fractional diffusion equations, and we obtain the analytical solutions and numerical methods using two different approaches of the fractional derivative.

The design and features of a Matlab’s application to support applied researches for serial time computing is presented. The input data can be from historical record coming from chemical and thermal processes and also it can be generated by simulation. Up to 8 signals, linearly normalized and distributed can be visualized on an axis Matlab’s object. By means of two cursors, the user can choose short windows of recorded signals. On this serial time sections, in this version, statisticians are computed and they facilitate the static modeling. They can be saved into an Excel file. It is an opened software application permitting to include new features. The Windows between 2 cursors command facilities the dynamic modeling. Its applicability is exemplified by times series from industry (from a 250 MW thermal power plant) and generated by simulation

BACKGROUND:The current live vaccinia virus vaccine used in the prevention of smallpox is contraindicated for millions of immune-compromised individuals. Although vaccination with the current smallpox vaccine produces protective immunity, it might result in mild to serious health complications for some vaccinees. Thus, there is a critical need for the production of a safe virus-free vaccine against smallpox that is available to everyone. For that reason, we investigated the impact of imiquimod and resiquimod (Toll-like receptors agonists), and the codon-usage optimization of the vaccinia virus A27L gene in the enhancement of the immune response, with intent of producing a safe, virus-free DNA vaccine coding for the A27 vaccinia virus protein. METHODS:We analyzed the cellular-immune response by measuring the IFN-γ production of splenocytes by ELISPOT, the humoral-immune responses measuring total IgG and IgG2a/IgG1 ratios by ELISA, and the TH1 and TH2 cytokine profiles by ELISA, in mice immunized with our vaccine formulation. RESULTS:The proposed vaccine formulation enhanced the A27L vaccine-mediated production of IFN-γ on mouse spleens, and increased the humoral immunity with a TH1-biased response. Also, our vaccine induced a TH1 cytokine milieu, which is important against viral infections. CONCLUSION:These results support the efforts to find a new mechanism to enhance an immune response against smallpox, through the implementation of a safe, virus-free DNA vaccination platform.

New methods for the production of colloidal Ga nanoparticles (GaNPs) are introduced based on the evaporation of gallium on expendable aluminum zinc oxide (AZO) layer. The nanoparticles can be prepared in aqueous or organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran in order to be used in different sensing applications. The particles had a quasi mono-modal distribution with diameters ranging from 10 nm to 80 nm, and their aggregation status depended on the solvent nature. Compared to common chemical synthesis, our method assures higher yield with the possibility of tailoring particles size by adjusting the deposition time. The GaNPs have been studied by spectrophotometry to obtain the absorption spectra. The colloidal solutions exhibit strong plasmonic absorption in the ultra violet (UV) region around 280 nm, whose width and intensity mainly depend on the nanoparticles dimensions and their aggregation state. With regard to the colloidal GaNPs flocculate behavior, the water solvent case has been investigated for different pH values, showing UV-visible absorption because of the formation of NPs clusters. Using discrete dipole approximation (DDA) method simulations, a close connection between the UV absorption and NPs with a diameter smaller than ~40 nm was observed.

Se presenta el diseño y las prestaciones de una aplicación desarrollada en Matlab®, orientada a dar soporte de cálculo para el tratamiento de los valores medios aproximados de intervalos de tiempo que resultan de la selección visual de series temporales que es el formato con el que se consideran a los registros industriales. Los datos de entrada pueden provenir de registros históricos de procesos industriales (termo-energéticos) ó de aquellos generados mediante simulación directa a través de la aplicación Simulink. El objetivo de este estudio es la monitorización de los diferentes estados cuasi-estacionarios (QSS) en una central térmica, a fin de poder identificar y realizar la diagnosis de posibles fallos. Pueden ser visualizadas hasta 8 señales linealmente normalizadas y distribuidas y el usuario, mediante dos cursores, puede seleccionar ventanas cortas de señales almacenadas. En esta versión, se computan datos estadísticos que facilitan el modelado estático, los cuales podrán ser exportados a un fichero Excel. Es una aplicación abierta, por lo que permite la inclusión de nuevas prestaciones. Un comando específico facilita el modelado dinámico y su aplicabilidad se demuestra con un ejemplo de análisis de series temporales provenientes de una central térmica de 250 MWe.

Reseña del libro de Elisabeth Mager Hois, Lucha y resistencia de la tribu kikapú, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Acatlán, UNAM, México, 2004.

Reseña del libro de Francisco Mendiola Galván, Las texturas del pasado. Una historia del pensamiento arqueológico en Chihuahua, México, Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia-Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (ENAH-INAH)/Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Colección ENAH Chihuahua), Chihuahua, 2008

En el número 7 de nuestra revista “IURISTANTUM”, me permití, con la benevolencia del Consejo Editorial que la preside, presentar un breve ensayo denominado “LA TEORÍA DEL ESTADO COMO DISCIPLINA ACADÉMICA”; ahora y con el afán de profundizar las ideas, me permito exponer al lector y estudioso del saber social in generse el presente análisis sobre tales temas, haciendo votos porque el mismo contribuya, en la medida de sus posibilidades, a difundir y explicar al modelo político humano de nuestros días y a la ciencia que le analiza y estudia.

Entre las diversas disciplinas, que forman parte del plan de estudios de la carrera de Licenciado en Derecho, se singulariza por sus requerimientos culturales las que hasta la fecha en la Facultad y Escuelas de Derecho de nuestro país, se denomina Teoría General del Estado.