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The proportion of damaged trees and the type caused by the selective thinning can have serious impacts on the ecological and economic sustainability of forests. So far, the damage caused by thinning operations in montane tropical forests is unknown. In this study, we try to quantify the damages caused by selective thinning in two types of humid montane forests in southern Ecuador. For this, we installed 52 permanent plots of 50 m x 50 m in two force types. In the valley forest (VF), we extracted an average basal area of 2.75 m² ha–1, in the ridge forest (RF) an average basal area of 0.8 m² ha–1 was extracted. For each felled tree, we counted and categorized the damage separated by large (>20cm DBH) and small ( 20 cm. The extracted basal area significantly influences the proportion of (TD) trees with DBH < 20 cm. In general, the proportion of temporarily damaged (TD) trees is greater than the proportion of permanently damaged (PD) trees in both types of forest. Considering only the heavily damaged trees we can conclude that the damage in total is acceptable.

En la presente investigación se simula el comportamiento de un deshidratador hibrido indirecto activo con las condiciones atmosféricas de la ciudad de Riobamba, debido a que existe la necesidad de deshidratar frutas y verduras que en tiempos de sobreproducción no alcanzan a llegar al mercado. Para ello, se desarrolla una metodología que permitirá tener una buena aproximación de la solución. Se parte del diseño del prototipo de deshidratador para luego someterle a un proceso de mallado. Una vez que se tiene una malla de buena calidad, se seleccionan los modelos físicos que se van a utilizar en la simulación. Posteriormente, se ingresan las propiedades físicas y condiciones de contorno que corresponden a las condiciones climáticas de la ciudad de Riobamba para su posterior simulación. Simulado el prototipo, se verifica que la curva de variables físicas que se desean calcular se ha estabilizado y las curvas de residuales estén por debajo del valor seteado, si cumple con estos dos pasos se puede determinar que la simulación es correcta. Para la validación de los resultados obtenidos en la simulación se utilizan datos de una investigación similar. Es necesario realizar la simulación para poder determinar si el deshidratador diseñado puede trabajar en el rango óptimo de temperaturas para la deshidratación.

The main objective of this study was to determine the heterogeneity of tropical mountain rain forests along a micro-altitudinal gradient scale, integrating species functional traits in the separation of communities. To achieve this, a forest area of 13 ha in the Biological Reserve of San Francisco was monitored. First, we performed non-metric multidimensional analyses, and afterwards, we looked for correlations between plot altitude and characteristics of the forest (basal area, the number of species, the number of trees ≥20 cm diameter at breast height, per hectare, the forest canopy opening) were associated. To determine which characteristics significantly influence the separation of forest “communities”, we used a multivariate canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Finally, we carried out the “Four Corners” analysis, combining abundance matrices, traits and environmental variables. We confirmed that the altitude and some associated characteristics are the key factors for the formation of two forest types. In addition, we determined that the inclusion of species functional traits confirms the separation of forest communities, and that elevation and its associated environmental variables function over relatively small areas and scales.

The electricity demand forecast allows countries to establish long-term plans and objectives for identifying gaps, selecting strategies, and designing the electric power system's architecture. Traditional models use GDP as the primary variable to forecast the electricity demand. The work presents an analysis of the relationship between electricity demand and economic growth, using regression methods with one or more variables. The GDP and sectoral GDP data was provided by Banco de la República de Colombia. The results validate the traditional model and offer alternative models that can relate the economy's different sectors with the electricity demand.Keywords: Energy Forecasting; Electricity Demand; Macroeconomics Indicator; Backward, Forward, and Stepwise methods.JEL Classifications: Q41, Q43, Q47.DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.11386

BACKGROUND: The extent to which health care systems have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide necessary cardiac diagnostic services is unknown.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the pandemic on cardiac testing practices, volumes and types of diagnostic services, and perceived psychological stress to health care providers worldwide.METHODS: The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations from baseline in cardiovascular diagnostic care at the pandemic's onset and 1 year later. Multivariable regression was used to determine factors associated with procedure volume recovery.RESULTS: Surveys were submitted from 669 centers in 107 countries. Worldwide reduction in cardiac procedure volumes of 64% from March 2019 to April 2020 recovered by April 2021 in high- and upper middle-income countries (recovery rates of 108% and 99%) but remained depressed in lower middle- and low-income countries (46% and 30% recovery). Although stress testing was used 12% less frequently in 2021 than in 2019, coronary computed tomographic angiography was used 14% more, a trend also seen for other advanced cardiac imaging modalities (positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance; 22%-25% increases). Pandemic-related psychological stress was estimated to have affected nearly 40% of staff, impacting patient care at 78% of sites. In multivariable regression, only lower-income status and physicians' psychological stress were significant in predicting recovery of cardiac testing.CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac diagnostic testing has yet to recover to prepandemic levels in lower-income countries. Worldwide, the decrease in standard stress testing is offset by greater use of advanced cardiac imaging modalities. Pandemic-related psychological stress among providers is widespread and associated with poor recovery of cardiac testing.

Background: The description of the general characteristics of patients treated in Intensive Care Units provides valuable information for the improvement of work in this service. Objective: to identify the characteristics and evolution of the patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit. Methods: descriptive study, with data from the DINUCIs registry, from 2015 to 2017. 300 patients admitted for more than 24 hours, at the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes General University Hospital, in Bayamo were included. Some of the variables analyzed were hospital stay, mortality, APACHE II index, risk factors, infections and place of origin. Results: the mean age was 43.3 years. 52% belonged to the female sex. The average of APACHE II was 11.3 + 6.0, and the average stay was 6.8 days. Mortality was 11.0%. Hypoalbuminemia (14.6%), immunosuppression (11.0%) and diabetes mellitus (9.3%) represented the most frequent risk factors. 31.3% received a central venous catheter and 19.3% received artificial mechanical ventilation. 47.0% of the patients presented an infection on admission, and 7.2% one related to health care. Conclusion: The population in the Intensive Care Unit, in its majority, was in the middle age of life, belonged to the female sex and presented a surgical entity. Hypoalbuminemia, immunosuppression, and diabetes mellitus were expressed more frequently and with temporal variations. Community-acquired infections upon admission have a high incidence. Mortality increased according to severity.

Introduction: Seric albumin constitutes one of the parameters used to predict the risk of complications in patients surgically intervened. Objective: To evaluate the utility of seric albumin as prediction factor of multiple failure of organs in patients with secondary diffuse peritonitis. Method: An observational, cohorts analytic study of 54 patients with secondary diffuse peritonitis was carried out, they were assisted in the Intensive Cares Unit of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes University General Hospital in Bayamo, Granma, during 2016. The marker variable of prediction was the multiple failures of organs that was evaluated with the Sequential scale Organ Failure Assessment. Results: In the 37.7 % of patients multiple failure of organs was developed; also, the average value of seric albumin at admission (standard deviation) was 30.3 g/L (+ 3.4) in patients with this disorder and 33.2 g/L (+ 4.1) without this disorder (p=0.012). The relative risk of multiple failure of organs was 1.9 (CI: 95 % 1.1-3.2) with albumin of 30 g/L or less. In the multivariate analysis seric albumin constituted an independent factor of multiple failure of organs along with APACHE II index; while the area under the curve receiving operator presented a value of 0.7 when the discriminative capacity of the albumin was considered to predict if the multiple failure of organs was not present and 0.2 to predict its development. Conclusions: Seric albumin is useful as prediction factor of multiple failure of organs in patients with secondary diffuse peritonitis.

Understanding the vulnerability of tree species to anthropogenic threats is important for the efficient planning of restoration and conservation efforts. We quantified and compared the effects of future climate change and four current threats (fire, habitat conversion, overgrazing and overexploitation) on the 50 most common tree species of the tropical dry forests of northwestern Peru and southern Ecuador. We used an ensemble modelling approach to predict species distribution ranges, employed freely accessible spatial datasets to map threat exposures, and developed a trait-based scoring approach to estimate species-specific sensitivities, using differentiated trait weights in accordance with their expected importance in determining species sensitivities to specific threats. Species-specific vulnerability maps were constructed from the product of the exposure maps and the sensitivity estimates. We found that all 50 species face considerable threats, with an average of 46% of species' distribution ranges displaying high or very high vulnerability to at least one of the five threats. Our results suggest that current levels of habitat conversion, overexploitation and overgrazing pose larger threats to most of the studied species than climate change. We present a spatially explicit planning strategy for species-specific restoration and conservation actions, proposing management interventions to focus on (a) in situ conservation of tree populations and seed collection for tree planting activities in areas with low vulnerability to climate change and current threats; (b) ex situ conservation or translocation of populations in areas with high climate change vulnerability; and (c) active planting or assisted regeneration in areas under high current threat vulnerability but low climate change vulnerability, provided that interventions are in place to lower threat pressure. We provide an online, user-friendly tool to visualize both the vulnerability maps and the maps indicating priority restoration and conservation actions. ispartof: GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY vol:26 issue:6 pages:3552-3568 ispartof: location:England status: published

The intention of the present investigation is to determine the existing relation between the climate organizational and the labor satisfaction perceived of the contracted ones and employees of the Peruvian Union of the South. There took part in the study 183 workers of the organization Adventist Peruvian Union of the South, to whom there was applied the instrument CL-SPC that measures the labor climate and the instrument SL-SPC to measure the labor satisfaction, both proposed by Sonia Palma Carrillo, of which a coefficient of 0,981 and 0,939 were obtained, respectively that indicate reliability. Before the obtained results, one concludes principally that, a relation exists between the climate organizational and the labor satisfaction, by means of the coefficient 0.692 (p-value 0,000) Also could verify that the physical and/or material conditions (0,558), administrative policies (0,603), social relations (0,569), personal development (0,537), I recover of tasks (0,370) and relation with the authority (0,652) there have significant relations, all with one p-value 0,000 with the climate organizational. Nevertheless, the relation between climate organizational and labor benefits and climate organizational is not significant (p-value 0.030) in the personnel of the Peruvian Union of the South.

This research simulated the behavior of an active indirect hybrid dehydrator with the atmospheric conditions of the city of Riobamba because there is a need to dehydrate fruits and vegetables that in times of overproduction do not reach the market. Develops a methodology that allows a good approximation of the solution. It starts with the design of the dehydrator prototype and then undergoes a meshing process, once a good quality mesh is obtained, the physical models that are going to be used in the simulation are selected, then the physical properties and conditions are entered. of contour that corresponds to the climatic conditions of the city of Riobamba, for its later simulation; After simulating the prototype, it is verified that the curve of physical variables to be calculated has stabilized and the residual curves are below the set value. If it complies with these two steps, it can be determined that the simulation is correct. For the validation of the results obtained in the simulation, data from a similar investigation are used. It is necessary to carry out the simulation to be able to determine if the designed dehydrator can work in the optimal range of temperatures for dehydration., En la presente investigación se simula el comportamiento de un deshidratador hibrido indirecto activo con las condiciones atmosféricas de la ciudad de Riobamba, debido a que existe la necesidad de deshidratar frutas y verduras que en tiempos de sobreproducción no alcanzan a llegar al mercado. Para ello, se desarrolla una metodología que permitirá tener una buena aproximación de la solución. Se parte del diseño del prototipo de deshidratador para luego someterle a un proceso de mallado. Una vez que se tiene una malla de buena calidad, se seleccionan los modelos físicos que se van a utilizar en la simulación. Posteriormente, se ingresan las propiedades físicas y condiciones de contorno que corresponden a las condiciones climáticas de la ciudad de Riobamba para su posterior simulación. Simulado el prototipo, se verifica que la curva de variables físicas que se desean calcular se ha estabilizado y las curvas de residuales estén por debajo del valor seteado, si cumple con estos dos pasos se puede determinar que la simulación es correcta. Para la validación de los resultados obtenidos en la simulación se utilizan datos de una investigación similar. Es necesario realizar la simulación para poder determinar si el deshidratador diseñado puede trabajar en el rango óptimo de temperaturas para la deshidratación.

Introduction: Data of characteristics of critically ill patients generally come from of European countries. Objective: To identify the clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic characteristics of patients treated in the intensive care unit. Methods: An observational, prospective study was carried out in the intensive care unit, in periods of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Patients admitted for more than 24 hours were included. The variables age, sex, origin and diagnosis of the patients, degree of severity, risk factors, community infections and those associated with health care were defined. Results: The patient's average age was 38.6 years (36.1-46.3) and 61.0 % belonged to female. APACHE II mean value and standard deviation was 8.9+6.4 and 1,2 + 2.1 for SOFA. Mortality was 7.0 %. Hypoalbuminemia (24.5 %) were the most important risk factor; 27.3 % of patients received a central venous catheter and 13.9 % mechanical ventilation. Community infections were developed by 54.0% of patients and 8.0 % acquired healthcare associated infections. Conclusions: The population it is characterized by being close to fourth decade, belonging to female sex, proceeding from operating room, clinical conditions, hypoalbuminemia and low values of APACHE II and SOFA scores. Mortality remains stable and the incidence of community infections is high.

La Amiloidosis es una enfermedad sistémica caracterizada por el depósito de sustancia amiloidea en los tejidos, lo que afecta su estructura y función. La afectación cardiaca puede verse de manera aislada o formando parte del daño sistémico. Se han descrito diferentes variedades pero solo dos pueden afectar el corazón, con características, tratamiento y pronóstico diferentes. Hasta hace poco, el diagnóstico positivo de Amiloidosis Cardiaca sólo era posible mediante biopsia, mientras el diagnóstico diferencial de ambos tipos requería algoritmos diagnósticos complejos. En los últimos tres años, un sinnúmero de artículos han validado el papel de la imagen cardiaca multimodal en el diagnóstico de esta entidad. En nuestro país se implementó el estudio de la Amiloidosis Cardiaca mediante la imagen multimodal en el 2019. En este artículo revisamos el papel actual de la imagen cardiaca en el estudio de esta entidad, a propósito del primer caso estudiado en nuestro centro con enfoque multimodal.

Introduction: liver cirrhosis has been confirmed as one of the most common diseases in Cuba. Infection and decompensated cirrhosis constitute the cause of hospitalization. Objective: to identify the most frequent health care-associated diseases in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. Method: a cohort study involving 90 hospitalized patients with cirrhosis was conducted at the Hospital General Provincial “Carlos Manuel de Céspedes” in Granma, from January 2017 through September 2020. The total patients underwent study were over 18 years old and both sex. Data were collected from patients´ hospitalization history. Chi-square test was utilized for statistical analysis and to measure its power (the relative risk), a P-value less than 0.05 was used. Results: most patients were male, decompensated with Child-Pugh class B. All hospitalized patients who underwent health care such as bladder catheter placement, central and peripheral venous approach, as well as endotracheal intubation, alcohol was considered the major etiological factor cause of cirrhosis. The main healthcare-associated infections observed in these patients were phlebitis, bacteremia, urinary tract infection and pneumonia. Conclusions: the healthcare-associated infections in order of frequency were phlebitis, bacteremia, pyelonephritis, pneumonia and cystitis.

RESUMEN Introducción: Se ha descrito una probable asociación entre la presencia de osteopenia/osteoporosis y el riesgo incrementado de cardiopatía isquémica. Objetivo: Determinar la posible asociación entre la presencia de síndrome coronario agudo y la densidad mineral ósea disminuida, así como la relación de ambas condiciones con algunos factores de riesgo cardiovascular y variables de la esfera reproductiva en mujeres en etapa de climaterio. Método: Se realizó un estudio transversal descriptivo con 72 mujeres (34 con síndrome coronario agudo y 38 sin síndrome coronario agudo), que fueron seleccionadas de bases de datos del Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular. La densidad mineral ósea se determinó mediante absorciometría dual de rayos X en columna lumbar. Las pruebas Chi cuadrado y U de Mann Whitney permitieron evaluar la posible relación entre variables. Resultados: El 55,9 % de las pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo y el 60,5 % de las mujeres sin síndrome coronario agudo tenían densidad mineral ósea disminuida. En las mujeres con densidad mineral ósea disminuida (n=42): 81 % presentaron obesidad abdominal, 78,6 % dislipoproteinemia, 83,3 % hipertensión arterial y 76,2 % refirieron el antecedente familiar de cardiopatía isquémica. Conclusiones: En las mujeres en etapa de climaterio estudiadas no se demostró asociación entre la presencia de síndrome coronario agudo y la densidad mineral ósea disminuida. Tampoco existió relación entre la presencia de síndrome coronario agudo y la densidad mineral ósea disminuida con factores de riesgo cardiovascular, ni con las variables de la esfera reproductiva.

Background: The impact of selective thinning on forest diversity has been extensively studied in temperate and boreal regions. However, in the tropics, knowledge is still poor regarding the impacts of this silvicultural treatment on functional diversity, especially in tropical mountain forests, which are considered to be highly biodiverse ecosystems and also endangered by human activities. By evaluating the changes on functional diversity by using different indicators, hypothesizing that selective thinning significantly affects (directly or indirectly) tropical mountain forests, this work promotes sustainable ecosystem use. Methods: A total of 52 permanent plots of 2500 m2 each were installed in a primary mountain forest in the San Francisco Biological Reserve to assess the impact of this silvicultural treatment. Selective thinning can be defined as a controlled process, in which trees that compete with ecologically and/or valuable timber species are progressively removed to stimulate the development of profitable ones, called potential crop trees (PCT). In doing so, the best specimens remain in the forest stand until their final harvest. After PCT selection, 30 plots were chosen for the intervention, while 22 plots served as control plots. The thinning intensity fluctuated between 4 and 56 trees ha&minus, 1 (average 18.8 &plusmn, 12.1 stems ha&minus, 1). Functional Diversity (FD) indices, including the community weighted mean (CWM), were determined based on six traits using the FD package implemented in R software. The difference between initial and final conditions of functional richness (FRic), functional divergence (FDiv), functional evenness (FEve), functional dispersion (FDis), and Rao quadratic entropy (RaoQ) was modeled using linear mixed models (LMM). As fixed factors, we used all the predictors inherent to structural and ecological forest conditions before and after the selective thinning and as a random variable, we used the membership to nested sampling units. Results: Functional Richness (FRic) showed significant changes after selective thinning, the other indexes (FEve, FDis, FDiv, RaoQ) were only influenced by predictors related to ecological conditions and characteristics of the community.

Para la construcción de las probetas soldadas por el proceso GMAW de la aleación de aluminio 5086-H116 se utilizaron velocidades de avance 300, 400, 500, 600 y 700 mm/min que están dentro del rango recomendado, las mismas que permitieron variar la energía aportada a la unión. De los resultados obtenidos en los diferentes ensayos se determinó que la velocidad de avance de la soldadura más adecuada es 500 mm/min (con una energía aportada de 335,34 J/mm); esta energía es la que permitió obtener las mejores propiedades mecánicas en la soldadura de la aleación 5086-H116 a un amperaje de 148 A. A este nivel de energía, se produce la menor pérdida de magnesio, el tamaño de las partículas de Al3Mg2 es más fino y se distribuyen de manera uniforme en la matriz α, lo que permite obtener las mejores propiedades mecánicas.

RESUMEN Se desarrolló un estudio descriptivo, transversal y prospectivo con el objetivo de caracterizar desde el punto de vista epidemiológico y clínico a los pacientes con pancreatitis aguda en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del hospital general universitario Carlos M. de Céspedes de Bayamo, Granma, Cuba, en el período comprendido desde el primero de febrero de 2015 hasta el 30 de septiembre de 2017. Se incluyeron 42 pacientes que cumplieron los criterios para el diagnóstico de la enfermedad. La pancreatitis aguda representó el 2,9 % de los ingresos y predominó en el grupo de edad 542 de 46 a 60 años (33,3 %). El 54,8 % de los pacientes pertenecieron al sexo femenino; y la raza negra/mestiza (69,0 %), el hábito de fumar (33,3 %) y la obesidad (28,5 %) se identificaron como los factores predisponentes más importantes. El 71,4 % de los enfermos tuvieron causa biliar y el 52,4 % una pancreatitis aguda leve; el perfil morfológico más frecuente fue la necrosis pancreática (50,0 %). El fallo orgánico transitorio se presentó en el 26,2 % de los pacientes y el persistente en el 21,4 %. La mortalidad fue de 16,7 %. De los pacientes que presentaron una forma grave de pancreatitis aguda el 77,8 % falleció; en aquellos con fallo orgánico se produjo la muerte en el 35,0 % y en el 33,0 % de los que desarrollaron una necrosis pancreática. El 100 % de los fallecidos tuvieron una forma grave de la enfermedad, fallo de órganos y necrosis pancreática. ABSTRACT A descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study was developed with the objective of characterizing patients with acute pancreatitis from an epidemiological and clinical point of view in the Intensive Care Unit at the general university hospital Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Bayamo municipality, Granma province, Cuba, from February 1, 2015 to September 30, 2017. Forty-two patients who met the criteria for diagnosis of the disease were included. Acute pancreatitis accounted for 2.9 % from all admissions and predominated in the age group of 46 to 60 years (33.3 %); 54.8 % of the patients were female; and the black/half-breed race (69.0 %), the smoking habit (33.3 %) and obesity (28.5 %) were identified as the most important predisposing factors; 71.4 % of patients had biliary causes and 52.4 % had mild acute pancreatitis; the most frequent morphological profile was pancreatic necrosis (50.0 %). Transient organ failure occurred in 26.2 % of patients and persistent failure in 21.4 %. The mortality was 16.7 %. Of the patients who presented a severe form of acute pancreatitis, 77.8 % died; in those with organ failure, death occurred in 35.0 % and in 33.0 % of those who developed pancreatic necrosis; 100 % of the deceased had a severe form of the disease, organ failure and pancreatic necrosis.

Composition, diversity, and structure of trees in tropical montane forests are responsive to ecological gradients and local succession. Those parameters are a result of ecological interactions between vegetation, environment, and location. This study identified floristic groups on mainly secondary forests and evaluated how the composition, diversity, and structure of trees correlate with climate, soil, and age since abandonment. We included in our models a measurement of spatial correlation, to explore the role of dispersion. For this purpose, we measured diameter and height of all trees with DBH ≥ 10 cm, in twenty-eight 500 m2 plots, in an elevation range between 2900 and 3500 m. We found 14 indicator species in three floristic groups. Group composition was explained by age since abandonment, which showed strong succession effects. Mean monthly precipitation and Manganese, but not spatial correlation, explained plant composition in these montane forests, suggesting a minor role of dispersion. Species richness and structure of the arboreal vegetation were influenced by interactions between age, precipitation, and soil nutrients concentration. We concluded that in fragmented landscapes, within the rugged region of southern Ecuador, it is possible to find different floristic groups that encompass high variation in their composition.

Prophylactic administration of antibiotics preceding cesarean delivery is the most effective measure taken for preventing postpartum infection. While obese women are at greater risk for infection than non-obese women, evidence-based recommendations for modifying dosing in these women are limited.The purpose of this study was to determine whether obese women undergoing cesarean delivery similarly reach adequate cefazolin concentrations within tissue and blood when weighing120kg and dosed 2g versus weighing ≥120kg and dosed 3g.We prospectively studied women ≥18 years old with body mass index ≥30kg/mWomen who received 2g (n=65) versus 3g (n=19) of cefazolin did not significantly differ by maternal or gestational age, race/ethnicity, pre-operative hemoglobin, estimated blood loss, fluid administration, duration of surgery, or timing of sample collections relative to cefazolin administration (Ps0.05). Dosage groups also did not differ in cefazolin concentration (median [interquartile range]) within adipose tissue following skin incision (5.30μg/g [3.00-9.60] vs. 6.35μg/g [3.90-8.40]; P=0.551), adipose tissue before skin closure (4.45μg/g [2.78-7.25] vs. 6.90μg/g [2.60-10.6]; P=0.342), myometrial tissue (13.1μg/g [8.60-19.6] vs. 15.7μg/g [10.8-21.7]; P=0.116), or maternal blood (41.6μg/mL [26.3-57.0] vs. 45.3μg/mL [36.7-68.3]; P=0.143). However, cord blood concentrations differed significantly (19.5μg/mL [13.7-28.5] vs. 27.9μg/mL [15.8-39.4]; P=0.032), and, in 3 of 5 sample types, group concentrations differed at the dosing cut-point of 120kg (Ps0.02). Within the range of MICs considered, differences in the odds of concentration inadequacy were not detected between dosage groups for any sample type. Across all patients, inadequate concentrations in one or more solid tissue types were observed in 1.19%, 17.9%, 59.5%, and 86.9% of patients, given the MICs of 1μg/g, 2μg/g, 4μg/g and 8μg/g, respectively. In adipose tissues, specifically, and both dosage groups, mean concentrations were significantly lower than the MIC of 8μg/g (Ps0.03). Concentrations in one or both blood sample types were inadequate for only 8.33% of patients, given the 8-μg/mL MIC.Adequate cefazolin concentrations were achieved in blood for the majority of our patients. However, concentration adequacy was not achieved in solid tissue for a nearly equally large proportion of patients. Larger scale studies for determining modified protocols for dosing and applying MICs are warranted.

We analyze the structure of diameter, richness, and diversity of the forests in the upper limit of the great Amazon basin located in the Ecuadorian territory of the Cordilleras del C&oacute, ndor and Cutuc&uacute, Our hypothesis was that the forests of the eastern mountain ranges are not homogeneous, but rather present differences in their structure, richness, and floristic diversity. Our main objective was to classify the types of forests based on the characteristics of the diameter structure and the species composition of the Amazonian forests of the eastern mountain ranges in southern Ecuador, and we determined the influence of critical edaphic, environmental, and geomorphological factors, For this we installed eight permanent plots of one hectare in homogeneous and well preserved forest stands, four plots in the province of Zamora Chinchipe and four in the province of Morona Santiago. We identified and measured all trees &gt, 10 cm at chest height and for each plot, soil samples, as well as environmental and slope data were taken. We performed an non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) analysis to evaluate changes in climatic and geomorphological gradients, and used the CCA analysis to assess the relationship between the composition of the species at the plot level and the edapho-climatic variables. Finally, we modeled the change in diversity ad species (Fisher&rsquo, s alpha) in relation to climatic, altitudinal, and geomorphological gradients using a GLM. We determined the existence of two different types of forest, the first called Terra Firme, characterized by the presence of a greater number of species and individuals per plot as compared to the second type of forest called Tepuy or Sandstone forest. Species richness was negatively correlated with the phosphorus content of the soil and the pH, annual average temperature, annual rainfall, and altitude. Terra Firme forests, settled in more stable and nutrient-rich climatic areas, were more diverse and Sandstone forests are poor in nutrients and develop in areas with greater seasonality.

1) Background: We analyzed the size structure, richness and diversity in eight permanent forest plots in the upper limit of the great Amazon basin located in the Ecuadorian parts of Cordilleras del Cóndor and Cutucú. Our hypothesis was that not all the forests of the eastern mountain ranges are homogeneous in characteristics, but rather present differences in their structure, richness and floristic diversity. In order to test this, our main objective was to classify the types of forests based on characteristics in diametric structure and species composition of the Amazonian forests of the eastern cordilleras in southern Ecuador, and also to determine the influence of critical edaphic-environmental and geomorphological factors. 2) Methods: Eight one-hectare permanent plots were installed in homogeneous and well-conserved forest stands. Four plots were located in the province of Zamora Chinchipe and four in the province of Morona Santiago. We identified and measured all trees> 10 cm at diameter breast height. For each plot, soil samples were taken, along with environmental and slope data. The multidimensional non-metric adjusted scaling (NMDS) was used to evaluate changes in climatic and geomorphological gradients. The relationship between the composition of the species at the plot level and the edaphoclimatic variables was tested using a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Finally, we modeled the change in species diversity (Fisher's alpha) in relation to the climatic gradients, altitudinal and geomorphological using a GLMM. 3) Results: Overall, we identified 517 species belonging to 76 families. We determined the existence of two different types of forest, the first one named Terra Firme, characterized by the presence of a larger number of species and individuals per plot, compared to the second type of forest, called Tepuy or Sandstones forest. Species richness was negatively correlated with soil phosphorus content and pH, mean annual temperature, annual precipitation and altitude. The CCA analysis showed differences in the species composition between the Terra Firme and Sandstone forests. The climatic seasonality and the concentration of cations in the soil influence the diversity of the Amazon forest communities of the southeastern cordilleras. The forests of Terra Firme, which are settled in more stable and nutrient-rich climatic areas, were more diverse. Sandstone forests are poor in nutrients and develop in areas with stronger seasonality

This paper serves as a guide to design a solar dehydrator by forced convection which is able to operate without power from the electricity grid, but only makes use of solar energy. This design aims to be the solution to the producers in the field. In this study, the solar dehydrator was divided into 4 fundamental parts which are: solar collector, dehydration chamber, fan, and photovoltaic panel. At the end of the research, a practical guide was obtained for the design of a solar dehydrator, taking into consideration the average global sunstroke of 4574.99 Wh/m2/day for Ecuador. To design a dehydrator in another country, it is important to make reference to this data. In conclusion, although it is necessary to have a dehydrator that is in excellent condition, adequate attention should also be given to the raw materials. La presente investigacion pretende ser una guia para disenar un deshidratador solar por conveccion forzada que sea capaz de funcionar sin energia de la red electrica, unicamente con energia solar, este diseno pretende ser la solucion a los productores del campo. Para esta investigacion se le dividio al deshidratador solar en 4 partes fundamentales que van a ser objeto de estudio las cuales son: colector solar, camara de deshidratacion, ventilador y panel fotovoltaico. Al finalizar la investigacion se obtiene una guia practica para el diseno de un deshidratador solar, tomando como referencia que Insolacion Global promedio para Ecuador es de 4574,99 Wh/m2/dia, si se requiere disenar un deshidratador en otro pais se deberia consultar este dato para continuar con el diseno, tambien se llega a la conclusion que para tener un buen producto deshidratado no solo es necesario tener un deshidratador en excelentes condiciones si no tambien darle la adecuada preparacion a nuestra materia prima.

This work verifies the legal technical compliance in matters of safety and health at work, as well as the identification and assessment of the most influential risk factors in the jobs of the Health Center of the Industrial Park - IESS of the city of Riobamba. Once the inspection in the work stations of the facilities and the analysis of the risk factors of work of each position through the Colombian Technical Guide (GTC45), the risk prevention plan was carried out in which it was proposed: Implement and adapt the infrastructure, work stations, procedure protocols, vertical safety signage and fire-fighting equipment, EPP's, emergency brigades and periodic follow-ups through verification sheets; generating as a result a reduction of the labor risk index by 27%, additionally the proposal of implementation and relocation of equipment and the formation of brigades in the modular health center improves the evacuation time from 17 to 6 minutes, that is, a reduction of 64.7%, concluding that the risk prevention plan is profitable to reduce labor risk considerably. El presente trabajo verifica el cumplimiento tecnico legal en materia de seguridad y salud en el trabajo, asi como la identificacion y valoracion de los factores de riesgos mas influyentes en los puestos de trabajo del Centro de Salud del Parque Industrial – IESS de la ciudad de Riobamba. Una vez realizada la inspeccion en los puestos de trabajo de las instalaciones y el analisis de los factores de riesgos de trabajo de cada puesto mediante la Guia Tecnica Colombiana (GTC45), se realizo el plan de prevencion de riesgos en el que se propuso: Implementar y adecuar la infraestructura, puestos de trabajo, protocolos de procedimiento, senaletica vertical de seguridad y equipos contra incendios, EPP´s, brigadas de emergencia y seguimientos periodicos mediante hojas de verificacion; generando como resultado una reduccion del indice de riesgos laborales un 27%, adicionalmente la propuesta de implementacion y reubicacion de equipos y la conformacion de brigadas en el modular del centro de salud mejora el tiempo de evacuacion de 17 a 6 minutos, es decir una reduccion del 64,7 %, concluyendose que el plan de prevencion de riesgos es rentable para disminuir considerablemente el riesgo laboral.

(1) Background: Neotropical montane forests represent one of the most diverse world ecosystems, however, they are also among the most threatened ones mostly due to deforestation. Our main goal is to classify and clarify the forest types based on the changes in basal area (BA), tree density, and species composition of montane forests in Southern Ecuador, and to determine the influence of critical environmental and geomorphological factors. (2) Methods: One hundred thirty-two temporary plots of 400 m2 were installed in homogeneous and well-conserved forest stands. We identified and measured all trees &gt, 10 cm diameter breast height (DBH). We modeled species diversity (Fisher&rsquo, s alpha) change in relation to climatic, altitudinal, and geomorphological gradients using GLM and Kruskall-Wallis analyses. The change in composition was determined using cluster analyses (BIOENV analysis followed by a LINKTREE procedure). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to analyze changes across climatic and geomorphological gradients. Finally, we used a SIMPER analysis to identify the species that contributed most to the floristic dissimilarity among the identified altitudinal forests types. (3) Results: The floristic groups were determined by altitude, temperature, and isothermality, but also some geomorphological variables and lithology were used. Plots located in low hills have higher alpha diversity compared to the high hills and dissected mountains. (4) Conclusions: Altitude is the most important factor responsible for the division of structural and floristic groups. In addition, those plots located on the whitish tuff have higher alpha value diversity compared with plots in andesitic tuffs. Precipitation on the wettest quarter (&gt, 839 mm) and isothermality (&gt, 90.5) are the most relevant climatic factors driving the floristic classification.

Introducción: La gammagrafía de perfusión miocárdica (GPM) es una técnica de utilidad demostrada en la detección de enfermedad arterial coronaria. La seguridad diagnóstica reportada varía en los trabajos publicados. En nuestro centro se introdujo su aplicación en el año 2009. El presente constituye el primer estudio desarrollado en nuestra institución con el objetivo de investigar el valor diagnóstico de la GPM versus el score de calcio y la prueba de esfuerzo, en el diagnóstico de enfermedad coronaria significativa. Método: Estudio analítico, prospectivo, con 50 pacientes consecutivos, en fase diagnóstica, que se realizaron una GPM de estrés, a quienes además se les realizó, el puntaje de calcio y la coronariografía invasiva. Se compararon los resultados de las pruebas diagnósticas en los grupos con (22 pacientes) y sin enfermedad coronaria significativa (28 pacientes). Se calculó la sensibilidad, especificidad, eficiencia, valores predictivos, razones de verosimilitud, porcentaje de aciertos y la concordancia respecto a la coronariografía invasiva, con un nivel de significación p

The paramo is a unique and severely threatened ecosystem scattered in the high northern Andes of South America. However, several further, extra-Andean paramos exist, of which a particular case is situated on the active volcano Sumaco, in the northwestern Amazon Basin of Ecuador. We have set an elevational gradient of 600 m (3200&ndash, 3800 m a.s.l.) and sampled a total of 21 vegetation plots, using the phytosociological method. All vascular plants encountered were typified by their taxonomy, life form and phytogeographic origin. In order to determine if plots may be ensembled into vegetation units and understand what the main environmental factors shaping this pattern are, a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis was performed. In addition, species turnover was quantified in order to appreciate the quantity and sort of species which are responsible for the similarity or dissimilarity between vegetation units. Therefore, a SIMPER similarity percentage analysis was conducted. We encountered 68 plant species belonging to 54 genera and 31 families, of which three are Ecuadorian endemics. The most frequent life forms were erect herbs, rosette and tussocks, whereas the least were cushions. At genus level, 44% of the Sumaco paramo flora was of tropical origin, followed by temperate (33%) and finally cosmopolitan (22%). The neotropical montane element was the most represented with 15 species, followed by the Austral-Antarctic with ten, wide temperate with another ten and cosmopolitan with seven. Regarding vegetation, four floristically distinct groups were segregated being lower gradient (3250&ndash, 3500 m a.s.l.) and high altitude (3500&ndash, 3800 m a.s.l.)

Few studies have analysed the effect of silvicultural treatments on tree growth in tropical montane forests (TMF). These forests have strong topographic gradients, which influence growth rates and can potentially interact with silvicultural treatments. The present study investigated the relative effects of silvicultural treatments and topography on growth rates at the tree level in a TMF. For this, we combined two distinct data sources: (1) field data from a silvicultural experiment in the Andes of southern Ecuador where liberation thinnings, i.e. the removal of the strongest crown competitors, were applied to potential crop trees (PCT) in 2004; and (2) topographic variables obtained from a high-resolution digital terrain model created from an airborne LIDAR survey. We fitted all data in a single linear mixed-effect model. Based on monitoring data from 174 released and 200 reference PCTs of 8 timber species, we calculated periodic annual increment (PAI) in DBH 6 years after the silvicultural treatment as our outcome variable. As topographic predictors, we used elevation and a topographic position index. To control for the by-species growth variability we included random intercepts for species and random slopes for the effect of treatment on species in our model. PAI was significantly influenced by the topographic predictors. Over the elevational gradient, growth rates declined on average by 0.73 mm a−1 per 100 m increase in elevation. For the topographic position, PCTs in valleys had an average PAI of 2.02 mm a−1 compared to 1.04 mm a−1 on ridges. The effect of the silvicultural treatment across all species was only marginally significant, but its effect size was nevertheless within the range, but at the lower end of values reported for other tropical forest ecosystems (reference trees: 1.35 mm a−1; released trees: 1.60 mm a−1). Between species, baseline growth rates as well as the treatment effect varied considerably. Best linear unbiased predictions of species effects suggested that 5 species responded positively to the silvicultural treatment, whereas 3 species showed no treatment effect. Overall, tree growth varied substantially as indicated by the large residual variance that remained unaccounted for in the model. Our findings indicate that positive effects of silvicultural treatments in TMF are likely to exist, but that they are possibly obfuscated by strong topographical gradients and large between-tree growth variability. Overall, our results suggest that “broad-brush” management prescriptions are not suited for sustainable forest management of TMF. Instead, granular and spatially explicit prescriptions that take the strong impact of topography on diameter growth as well as species-specific responses to silvicultural treatments into account should be favoured.

Research Highlights: The study determined that selective thinning causes different responses, the initial size of the tree released is an influential factor in the growth of species. The temporality of climate and physiological conditions of each species are influential in the growth. It is evident that the defoliation of certain species is an important factor that limits the growth of the species causing thinning to have a negative response. Background and Objectives: The objective is to analyze the behavior of nine timber species, respective to diametric growth after their liberation. This research aims to answer the following questions: (i) How do the selected tree species react to the liberation? (ii) Can the productivity of the trees (diametric growth) be enhanced by liberation? (iii) Are there other factors that influence the diametric growth of the released trees? Materials and Methods: The study was executed in the “Reserva Biológica San Francisco” were 488 trees were monitored, including nine timber species. Therefore, 197 trees were released (removal of competitors) and 251 trees served as reference. To check whether the initial DBH or other factors, like the selective thinning or climate conditions, determine the diameter growth a linear mixed model GLMM was applied. To adjust the linear mixed model a one-way Anova test was executed. Results: Timber species responded differently to the thinning in comparing to reference trees. Therefore, the species analyzed were separated into three groups (positive, negative, and no response to liberation). Conclusions: Liberation potentiates the growth of certain timber species that do not defoliate and considered semi-tolerant to shade. Precipitation and temperature affect all species, but in the defoliate species, it would not be convenient to release them or at least the evidence of these first three years does not show clear differences with control trees. Increase in trees released are higher in trees of the first two diametric classes in all species, this means that larger trees (i.e., older) release does not affect them in a positive way so release should occur in the youngest trees.

1) Background: Neotropical montane forests represent one of the most diverse ecosystems; however, they are also the most threatened for deforestation. Our main goal is to evaluate the change in Basal Area (BA), Density and Species Composition of montane forests in the southern Ecuador and to determine the influence on some critical ecological and geomorphological factors. 2) Methods: One hundred thirty-two temporary plots of 400 m2 each were installed; we identified and measured all trees> 10 cm DBH. We modeled species diversity (Fisher’s alpha) change in relation to climatic, elevational and geomorphological gradients with GLM and Kruskall-Wallis analyses. The change in composition was determined using Cluster Analyses (BIOENV analysis followed by a LINKTREE procedure). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to analyze changes across climatic and geomorphological gradients. Finally, we used SIMPER analysis to identify the species that contributed most to the dissimilarity among the different elevations. 3) Results: Formation of floristic groups was influenced by altitude, temperature and Isothermality; physiographic province, great landscape, geological landscape and lithology. Plots located in low hills have higher alpha diversity with respect to the high hills and dissected mountains. 4) Conclusions: The elevation is first hierarchical factor responsible of the division of structural and floristic groups. Plots located on the whitish tuff have a higher alpha value diversity compared with plots in andesitic tuffs. Wettest quarter (> 839 mm) and Isothermality (> 90.5) are the climatic factors that driven de floristic divisions.

We study a weakly coupled supercritical elliptic system of the form $$\begin{aligned} {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} -\Delta u = |x_2|^\gamma \left( \mu _{1}|u|^{p-2}u+\lambda \alpha |u|^{\alpha -2}|v|^{\beta }u \right) &{}\quad \text {in }\Omega ,\\ -\Delta v = |x_2|^\gamma \left( \mu _{2}|v|^{p-2}v+\lambda \beta |u|^{\alpha }|v|^{\beta -2}v \right) &{}\quad \text {in }\Omega ,\\ u=v=0 &{}\quad \text {on }\partial \Omega , \end{array}\right. } \end{aligned}$$ where $$\Omega $$ is a bounded smooth domain in $${\mathbb {R}}^{N}$$ , $$N\ge 3$$ , $$\gamma \ge 0$$ , $$\mu _{1},\mu _{2}>0$$ , $$\lambda \in {\mathbb {R}}$$ , $$\alpha , \beta >1$$ , $$\alpha +\beta = p$$ , and $$p\ge 2^{*}:=\frac{2N}{N-2}$$ . We assume that $$\Omega $$ is invariant under the action of a group G of linear isometries, $${\mathbb {R}}^{N}$$ is the sum $$F\oplus F^\perp $$ of G-invariant linear subspaces, and $$x_2$$ is the projection onto $$F^\perp $$ of the point $$x\in \Omega $$ . Then, under some assumptions on $$\Omega $$ and F, we establish the existence of infinitely many fully nontrivial G-invariant solutions to this system for $$p\ge 2^*$$ up to some value which depends on the symmetries and on $$\gamma $$ . Our results apply, in particular, to the system with pure power nonlinearity ( $$\gamma =0$$ ) and yield new existence and multiplicity results for the supercritical Henon-type equation $$\begin{aligned} -\Delta w = |x_2|^\gamma \,|w|^{p-2}w \quad \text {in }\Omega , \qquad w=0 \quad \text {on }\partial \Omega . \end{aligned}$$

For the construction of the specimens welded by the GMAW process of the aluminum alloy 5086-H116, advance speeds of 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 mm / min are used that are within the recommended range, the same as they allowed the energy contributed to the union. From the results obtained in the different tests, it was determined that the most suitable welding advance speed is 500 mm / min (with a contributed energy of 335.34 J / mm), this energy is the most suitable mechanical in the 5086-H116 alloy welding at an amperage of 148 A. At this energy level, the lowest loss of magnesium occurs; the particle size of Al3Mg2 is finer and easier distributed evenly on the α matrix, that allows obtaining the best mechanical properties., Para la construcción de las probetas soldadas por el proceso GMAW de la aleación de aluminio 5086-H116 se utilizaron velocidades de avance 300, 400, 500, 600 y 700 mm/min que están dentro del rango recomendado, las mismas que permitieron variar la energía aportada a la unión. De los resultados obtenidos en los diferentes ensayos se determinó que la velocidad de avance de la soldadura más adecuada es 500 mm/min (con una energía aportada de 335,34 J/mm); esta energía es la que permitió obtener las mejores propiedades mecánicas en la soldadura de la aleación 5086-H116 a un amperaje de 148 A. A este nivel de energía, se produce la menor pérdida de magnesio, el tamaño de las partículas de Al3Mg2 es más fino y se distribuyen de manera uniforme en la matriz α, lo que permite obtener las mejores propiedades mecánicas.