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Abstract Background Haemophilus influenzae is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that can cause severe respiratory tract and invasive infections. The emergence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) strains and unclear correlations between genotypic (i.e., gBLNAR) and phenotypic resistance are challenging empirical treatments and patient management. Thus, we sought to revisit molecular resistance mechanisms and to identify new resistance determinants of H. influenzae. Methods We performed a systematic meta-analysis of H. influenzae isolates (n = 291) to quantify the association of phenotypic ampicillin and cefotaxime resistance with previously defined resistance groups, i.e., specific substitution patterns of the penicillin binding protein PBP3, encoded by ftsI. Using phylogenomics and a genome-wide association study (GWAS), we investigated evolutionary trajectories and novel resistance determinants in a public global cohort (n = 555) and a new clinical cohort from three European centers (n = 298), respectively. Results Our meta-analysis confirmed that PBP3 group II- and group III-related isolates were significantly associated with phenotypic resistance to ampicillin (p

High-intensity ultrasound systems for medical therapy must be carefully designed, implemented, and applied to avoid tissue damage or injury considering stimulation and relaxation time, frequency, and intensity of ultrasound. Based on these concerns and considering a test three-layer animal tissue consisting of skin, muscle, and bone, we determined the frequency and intensity at which ultrasound effectively stimulates the test animal tissues. In addition, from these ultrasound frequencies and intensities, and taking care the critical temperature recommended to preserve the integrity of the human tissue and avoid any tissue injury, we determine the stimulation and relaxation times. For this purpose, we performed a multiphysics simulation that describes the spatial and temporal dynamics of the thermoacoustic effect of ultrasound applied to test animal tissues. To practically demonstrate this ultrasound behavior, we perform an experimental setup based on an electronic HITU device designed and implemented to freely adjust the ultrasound intensity and frequency, as well as the stimulation time of the test animal tissues. Finally, we conclude that, depending on the test tissue, an ultrasound therapy system should allow the selection of the intensity and frequency of applied ultrasound, as well as the stimulation time to avoid tissue injury, which can be considered by health ministries around the world.

Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) have been extensively researched for their enhanced biomedical characteristics, including biocompatibility, cell apposition, and growth morphology. However, there is a significant concern in metallic medical devices owing to micro-movements between implants and bone in aggressive environments due to wear and corrosion synergies, leading to adverse body responses and implant failure. In this study, TNTs on Commercially Pure titanium (C.P. Ti) with three different thickness layers were grown to correlate their corrosion and wear behavior. Initially amorphous after anodization, TNTs underwent annealing at 450 °C for 2 h to transform the distorted, into a crystalline structure. The characterization included X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and contact profilometry. Potentiodynamic polarization (PD) and tribocorrosion tests were conducted in Simulated Body Fluid Electrolyte (SBF). SEM micrographs showed TNT thickness layers of 314, 691, and 5280 nm, and X-ray Diffraction showed anatase transformation post-annealing. Results confirmed a significant influence of TNT thickness layers on corrosion and tribocorrosion properties, with higher current density obtained from PD for thicker TNTs layers, associated with surface fluorine content. During tribocorrosion, annealed samples demonstrated lower corrosion tendency, potential drop, and coefficient of friction. Morphology of worn surfaces and volumetric wear rate varied with TNT thickness layer and thermal treatment.

Ante los retos por la necesidad de fertilizantes para mantener la producción agrícola, ocurre naturalmente un proceso biológico de fijación de nitrógeno atmosférico por parte de un grupo de bacterias simbióticas que forman una asociación muy estrecha con plantas del grupo de las leguminosas, entre las que se encuentran las alfalfillas o tréboles silvestres (Melilotus spp.). Desde el punto de vista ecológico esta planta tiene una función muy importante por la buena capacidad de asociarse a bacterias nativas del suelo fijadoras de nitrógeno del género Sinorhizobium. Un aspecto fundamental es que esta especie vegetal puede crecer normalmente en suelos alcalinos, lo que le convierte aún más como doble importante, ya que, por un lado, fija nitrógeno y por el otro puede incorporarse como abono verde. Con ello, se mejoran las propiedades físico-químicas del suelo y, se incrementan los niveles de materia orgánica, condición que es muy pobre en las áreas de zonas áridas. Adicionalmente, esta especie puede resistir bajas temperaturas y crecer satisfactoriamente en invierno. Este documento presenta una síntesis del género Melilotus y su simbionte Sinorhizobium meliloti, así como su importancia como posible mejorador natural del suelo.

Abstract The problem of non-orthogonal state discrimination underlies crucial quantum information tasks, such as cryptography and computing protocols. Therefore, it is decisive to find optimal scenarios for discrimination among quantum states. We experimentally investigate the strategy for the optimal discrimination of two non-orthogonal states considering a fixed rate of inconclusive outcomes (FRIO). The main advantage of the FRIO strategy is to interpolate between unambiguous and minimum error discrimination by solely adjusting the rate of inconclusive outcomes. We present a versatile experimental scheme that performs the optimal FRIO measurement for any pair of generated non-orthogonal states with arbitrary a priori probabilities and any fixed rate of inconclusive outcomes. Considering different values of the free parameters in the FRIO protocol, we implement it upon qubit states encoded in the polarization mode of single photons generated in the spontaneous parametric down-conversion process. Moreover, we resort to a newfangled double-path Sagnac interferometer to perform a three-outcome non-projective measurement required for the discrimination task, showing excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction. This experiment provides a practical toolbox for a wide range of quantum state discrimination strategies using the FRIO scheme, which can significantly benefit quantum information applications and fundamental studies in quantum theory.

One of the phytopathogens that cause severe damage to jalapeño pepper is Leveillula taurica (Lév.) Arnaud, the causative agent of powdery mildew. Synthetic fungicides are currently employed for its control, contributing to adverse effects on human health and the environment. The main objective of this research was to identify the causal agent of powdery mildew and assess the efficacy of chitosan in powdery mildew control on jalapeño pepper. The following treatments were evaluated in laboratory and greenhouse conditions: T1 = 0.0125% chitosan, T2 = 0.0025% chitosan, T3 = 0.05% chitosan, T4 = 0.1% chitosan, T5 = 0.2% chitosan, T6 = tebuconazole 25% (1.8 mL/L water), and T7 = control (water). Symptomatology results indicated that L. taurica is indeed the causative agent of powdery mildew. Treatments T4 and T5 exhibited the lowest percentages of incidences and severity, hence achieving higher control efficacy in the laboratory (57.70 ± 3.85 and 65.39 ± 3.85) and greenhouse (56.67 ± 4.08 and 70 ± 8.16%) compared to T6 (control efficacy, 38.46 ± 0.00% in the laboratory and 50 ± 0.00% in the greenhouse). The chitosan derived from shrimp had a significant impact on the cell walls of L. taurica spores and mycelium. Consequently, chitosan emerges as a viable organic alternative to fungicides for controlling powdery mildew in jalapeño pepper.

Abstract Background Bacteria belonging to the genus Haemophilus cause a wide range of diseases in humans. Recently, H. influenzae was classified by the WHO as priority pathogen due to the wide spread of ampicillin resistant strains. However, other Haemophilus spp. are often misclassified as H. influenzae. Therefore, we established an accurate and rapid whole genome sequencing (WGS) based classification and serotyping algorithm and combined it with the detection of resistance genes. Methods A gene presence/absence-based classification algorithm was developed, which employs the open-source gene-detection tool SRST2 and a new classification database comprising 36 genes, including capsule loci for serotyping. These genes were identified using a comparative genome analysis of 215 strains belonging to ten human-related Haemophilus (sub)species (training dataset). The algorithm was evaluated on 1329 public short read datasets (evaluation dataset) and used to reclassify 262 clinical Haemophilus spp. isolates from 250 patients (German cohort). In addition, the presence of antibiotic resistance genes within the German dataset was evaluated with SRST2 and correlated with results of traditional phenotyping assays. Results The newly developed algorithm can differentiate between clinically relevant Haemophilus species including, but not limited to, H. influenzae, H. haemolyticus, and H. parainfluenzae. It can also identify putative haemin-independent H. haemolyticus strains and determine the serotype of typeable Haemophilus strains. The algorithm performed excellently in the evaluation dataset (99.6% concordance with reported species classification and 99.5% with reported serotype) and revealed several misclassifications. Additionally, 83 out of 262 (31.7%) suspected H. influenzae strains from the German cohort were in fact H. haemolyticus strains, some of which associated with mouth abscesses and lower respiratory tract infections. Resistance genes were detected in 16 out of 262 datasets from the German cohort. Prediction of ampicillin resistance, associated with bla TEM-1D, and tetracycline resistance, associated with tetB, correlated well with available phenotypic data. Conclusions Our new classification database and algorithm have the potential to improve diagnosis and surveillance of Haemophilus spp. and can easily be coupled with other public genotyping and antimicrobial resistance databases. Our data also point towards a possible pathogenic role of H. haemolyticus strains, which needs to be further investigated.

Considering pure quantum states, entanglement concentration is the procedure where, from N copies of a partially entangled state, a single state with higher entanglement can be obtained. Obtaining a maximally entangled state is possible for N=1. However, the associated success probability can be extremely low when increasing the system’s dimensionality. In this work, we study two methods to achieve a probabilistic entanglement concentration for bipartite quantum systems with a large dimensionality for N=1, regarding a reasonably good probability of success at the expense of having a non-maximal entanglement. Firstly, we define an efficiency function Q considering a tradeoff between the amount of entanglement (quantified by the I-Concurrence) of the final state after the concentration procedure and its success probability, which leads to solving a quadratic optimization problem. We found an analytical solution, ensuring that an optimal scheme for entanglement concentration can always be found in terms of Q. Finally, a second method was explored, which is based on fixing the success probability and searching for the maximum amount of entanglement attainable. Both ways resemble the Procrustean method applied to a subset of the most significant Schmidt coefficients but obtaining non-maximally entangled states.

Introduction: Urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) in patients with newly diagnosed end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a well-tolerated alternative to hemodialysis (HD). The primary aim of this study was to identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of ESRD patients, as well as the presurgical, surgical, and postsurgical factors associated with urgent-start PD complications. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study was performed on 102 patients with ESRD who merited urgent-start PD from January 2015 to June 2019. The primary clinical outcome measures were catheter leakage, dysfunction, and peritonitis, whereas the secondary outcomes were catheter removal, repositioning, and death. Statistical inferences were made with the χ2 or Fisher’s exact test and independent samples t tests. Results: One hundred two subjects (65 men, 63.7%) 56.2 ± 15.1 years old were included in this study; 64 of the subjects had diabetes and hypertension (62.7%). Catheter leakage occurred in 8 patients (7.8%), catheter dysfunction in 27 patients (26.5%), and peritonitis in 14 patients (13.7%); meanwhile, catheter removal occurred in 6 patients (5.9%), catheter repositioning in 21 patients (20.6%), and death in 3 patients (2.9%). Peritonitis was associated with younger age (i.e., 47.0 ± 16.8 vs. 57.6 ± 14.4 years; P = 0.014; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2–19.1; odds ratio [OR] 0.96; P = 0.018; 95% CI: 0.92–099), higher creatinine levels upon admission (i.e., 20.2 ± 9.8 vs. 14.1 ± 8.3; P = 0.014; 95% CI: −10.9 to −1.2), and heart failure (OR 4.79; P = 0.043; 95% CI: 1.05–21.88). Patients with abdominal hernia were 7.5 times more likely to have their catheter leak (OR 7.5; P = 0.036; 95% CI: 1.14–49.54). Catheter removal was associated with obesity (i.e., body mass index [BMI] of 31.6 ± 4.1 vs. 25.9 ± 4.9; P = 0.007; 95% CI: −9.8 to −1.6; OR 1.26; P = 0.013; 95% CI: 1.05–1.51) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease glomerular filtration rate (MDRD-GFR) (i.e., 2.5 ± 0.6 vs. 3.7 ± 2.3; P = 0.003; 95% CI: 0.5–1.9). Conclusion: Peritonitis was associated with younger age, higher creatinine levels upon admission, and heart failure; meanwhile, catheter removal was linked to obesity and lower glomerular filtration rate. Compared with previous reports, our study included patients in which PD was initiated shortly after catheter insertion, making the intervention a true urgent-start PD. This study contributes to the existing urgent-start PD literature by providing evidence that urgent-start PD with catheter opening within 72 hours has limited complications, making it a relatively safe option.

Melanoma metastasis from an unknown primary cancer has an incidence of 3.2% among melanoma patients. Furthermore, paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are rare, occurring in 1–3% of patients with malignancies. Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is one of the classic PNS and is characterized by acute or subacute onset of ataxia and/or presence of onconeural antibodies. A 61-year-old male with ataxia, vertigo, and headache later developed dysarthria, multidirectional nystagmus, hyperactive delirium, auditory hallucinations, psychomotor agitation, and myoclonus. Toxicological, metabolic, infectious, and autoimmune etiologies were assessed and reported negative. An osteolytic lesion was observed in the right iliac crest via computed tomography (CT). A positron emission tomography-CT reported increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake of a right iliac and right inguinal ganglion. After biopsy of the right inguinal ganglion, a BRAF mutation-positive melanoma metastasis from an occult primary cancer was diagnosed. Dermatologic, ophthalmologic, and endoscopic gastrointestinal assessment did not reveal a primary malignant melanoma. The patient’s movement disorders and neuropsychiatric symptoms improved with quetiapine, prednisone, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide. Oncological management was conducted with MAPK pathway inhibitors (i.e., dabrafenib and trametinib). Movement disorders associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms are complex to diagnose. PNS are rare and often associated with antibodies against neural antigens expressed by the tumor. The case presented above describes a patient with a BRAF-positive malignant melanoma metastasis from an occult primary associated with PCD – to the best of our knowledge, the first reported in the literature.

Regarding the problem of digital camera identification, many methods have been proposed, and for several of them, their effectiveness has been verified on the basis of disputed flat images. However, in real cases the disputed images are natural images, rather than flat images. In that case, several of the already proposed methods are not effective. Hence, in this paper, a method is proposed for the digital camera identification from natural images based on the statistical comparison between the residual noise in the natural disputed images and the fingerprint defined for the eligible digital cameras. In the reported case studies, the HDR database provided by the Communications and Signal Processing Laboratory of University of Florence is used to select a set of eligible digital cameras, and from this image database, for each digital camera, a set of disputed flat images, a set of disputed natural images, and a set of flat reference images were selected. Thus, the fingerprint of each digital camera was calculated from the probability density function (PDF) of the photo-response nonuniformity (PRNU) extracted from its reference images. Therefore, in order to identify the source digital camera of a natural disputed image, the Jensen–Shannon divergence (JSD) was implemented to statistically compare the PRNU-based fingerprint of each eligible source camera against the noise residual of that disputed image. The proposed method has a similar effectiveness to methods based on the peak-to-correlation energy or the Kullback–Leibler divergence when the disputed images are flat images and the PRNU is considered, but it is significantly more effective than those methods when the disputed images are natural images.

Encephalitis is a heterogeneous syndrome that is diagnosed through clinical assessment and the assistance of laboratory, neuroimaging and electroencephalographic workup. Over the past 10 years, autoimmune encephalitis has been more frequently recognized; however, most reports come from highly specialized hospital settings. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NDMAR) encephalitis has been associated with paraneoplastic encephalitis syndromes and was first recognized in 2005. We present the case of a 34-year-old male patient who debuted clinically with a headache associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms (i.e., visual and auditory hallucinations, anxiety, aggressiveness) and memory deficits, progressing to autonomic dysfunction (i.e., tachycardia and hypertension), seizures, and stupor with catatonic features. Initially, infectious, metabolic, and toxicological etiologies were excluded; followed by the assessment of immunological and paraneoplastic etiologies, yielding positive IgG levels for anti-NMDAR antibodies. The patient was treated successfully with systemic steroid therapy and therapeutic plasmapheresis, while mutism was the only sequela. Although large case series reporting on paraneoplastic and autoimmune anti-NMDAR encephalitis have been reported in the literature in recent years, this case is of particular importance due to the stepwise differential diagnosis and treatment management procedure that was used in a regional but not highly specialized hospital setting.

Introduction: Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is an inflammatory neurological disorder, often requiring a prompt medical evaluation. Among the diverse etiologies associated with OMS are autoimmune, infectious, paraneoplastic, and systemic diseases, and drug intoxication. Clinical Summary: The case of a 36-year-old female with a disabling holocranial headache, sudden loss of consciousness, aggressive behavior, vertigo, and a personal history of somatoform disorder and major depression is presented here. After hospital admission, the patient developed sudden stereotyped movements in all four extremities and oculogyric crises compatible with OMS. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis, viral and autoimmune assays, as well as blood, urine, and bronchial secretion cultures, drug metabolite urinalysis, and tumor markers were all negative. Furthermore, brain computed tomography (CT) and brain magnetic resonance imaging, along with thoraco-abdominopelvic CT and electroencephalography, were also all negative. The patient suffered type one respiratory insufficiency after 72 h of hospitalization, requiring an endotracheal tube. After 13 days the patient suffered cardiac arrest. Necropsy was performed reporting lymph nodes with a poorly differentiated malignant neoplastic lesion, HMB-45, melan-A, vimentin, and S-100 positive, compatible with melanoma metastasis from an occult primary cancer. Discussion: While the incidence of melanoma of unknown primary is between 2.6 and 3.2%, with a median overall survival ranging between 24 and 127 months, when melanoma patients develop OMS their survival is markedly decreased. Although only 5 cases of paraneoplastic OMS secondary to melanoma have been reported in the literature, all had a poor prognosis, dying within 8 months of OMS onset.

In this work, we propose a versatile, low-cost, and tunable electronic device to generate realistic electrocardiogram (ECG) waveforms, capable of simulating ECG of patients within a wide range of possibilities. A visual analysis of the clinical ECG register provides the cardiologist with vital physiological information to determine the patient’s heart condition. Because of its clinical significance, there is a strong interest in algorithms and medical ECG measuring devices that acquire, preserve, and process ECG recordings with high fidelity. Bearing this in mind, the proposed electronic device is based on four different mathematical models describing macroscopic heartbeat dynamics with ordinary differential equations. Firstly, we produce full 12-lead ECG profiles by implementing a model comprising a network of heterogeneous oscillators. Then, we implement a discretized reaction–diffusion model in our electronic device to reproduce ECG waveforms from various rhythm disorders. Finally, in order to show the versatility and capabilities of our system, we include two additional models, a ring of three coupled oscillators and a model based on a quasiperiodic motion, which can reproduce a wide range of pathological conditions. With this, the proposed device can reproduce around thirty-two cardiac rhythms with the possibility of exploring different parameter values to simulate new arrhythmias with the same hardware. Our system, which is a hybrid analog–digital circuit, generates realistic ECG signals through digital-to-analog converters whose amplitudes and waveforms are controlled through an interactive and friendly graphic interface. Our ECG patient simulator arises as a promising platform for assessing the performance of electrocardiograph equipment and ECG signal processing software in clinical trials. Additionally the produced 12-lead profiles can be tested in patient monitoring systems.

Among the differential diagnoses that should be considered in acute respiratory failure (ARF) are infectious processes, autoimmune diseases, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary neoplasia. Timely diagnosis of lung neoplasia is complicated in the early stages. An opportune diagnosis, as well as the specific treatment, decrease mortality. ARF occurs 1 in 500 pregnancies and is most common during the postpartum period. Among the specific etiologies that cause ARF during pregnancy that must be considered are: (1) preeclampsia; (2) embolism of amniotic fluid; (3) peripartum cardiomyopathy; and (4) trophoblastic embolism. The case of a 36-year-old patient with a 33-week pregnancy and ARF is presented. The patient presented dyspnea while exerting moderate effort that progressed to orthopnea and type 1 respiratory insufficiency. Imaging studies showed bilateral alveolar infiltrates and predominantly right areas of consolidation. Blood cultures, a galactomannan assay and IgG antibodies against mycoplasma pneumoniae, were reported as negative. Autoimmune etiology was ruled out through an immunoassay. A percutaneous pulmonary biopsy was performed and an invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma with lepidic growth pattern (i.e. lepidic pulmonary adenocarcinoma, LPA) result was reported. This etiology is rare and very difficult to recognize in acute respiratory failure cases. After infectious, autoimmune and interstitial lung fibrosis have been excluded the clinician must suspect of lung cancer in a patient with acute respiratory failure and chest imaging compatible with the presence of ground-glass nodular opacities, a solitary nodule or mass with bronchogram, and lung consolidation. In the presence of acute respiratory failure, the suspicion of pulmonary neoplasia in an adult of reproductive age must be timely. Failure to recognize this etiology can lead to fatal results.

Abstract Pemphigus is a bullous autoimmune disease that affects the skin and mucous membranes. It is very difficult to establish the etiology and the triggering factors that influence reactivations in pemphigus vulgaris (PV). The case of a 33-year-old male with chronic history of intranasal cocaine consumption is presented in this report. We present the clinical case of the patient, followed for a total of 86 weeks, with ten relapses secondary to probable cocaine use. The patient was admitted to the emergency department after presenting polymorphic dermatosis characterized by blisters, vesicles, and excoriations extending from the oral cavity to the thorax, and to the inguinal and genital regions, affecting approximately 35 % of the body surface area with a score of 56 on the Pemphigus Skin Disorder Index. Skin biopsies were compatible with PV diagnosis. The patient had clinical improvement with a combination of methylprednisolone 500 mg intravenously (IV) and cyclophosphamide 500 mg IV every 15 days, along with prednisone 50 mg orally (PO) q24 h and mycophenolic acid 500 mg PO q6 h. Persistent cocaine use is highly likely to be the factor triggering lesion reactivation and responsible for the torpid evolution. We cannot definitively conclude whether the change from azathioprine to mycophenolic acid after the tenth relapse was the adjuvant medication responsible for the end of the consolidation phase and complete remission on therapy. This case study could potentially serve as a guide for management of patients who continuously persist with cocaine use, leading to a clinical picture refractory to multiple therapeutic schemes.

In cryptography, the pseudorandom number sequences must have random appearance to be used in secure information systems. The skew tent map (STM) is an attractive map to produce pseudorandom sequences due to its easy implementation and the absence of stability islands when it is in chaotic behavior. Using the STM and sine function, we propose and analyze a function composition to propose a pseudorandom number generator (PRNG). In the analysis of the function composition, we use the bifurcation diagram and the Lyapunov exponent to perform a behavioral comparison against the STM. We show that the proposed function composition is more sensitive to initial conditions than the STM, and then it is a better option than the STM for cryptography applications. For the proposed function we determine and avoid the chaos annulling traps. The proposed PRNG can be configured to generate pseudorandom numbers of 8, 16 or 32 bits and it can be implemented on microcontrollers with different architectures. We evaluate the pseudorandomness of the proposed PRNG using the NIST SP 800-22 and TestU01 suites. Additionally, to evaluate its quality, we apply tests such as correlation coefficient, key sensitivity, statistical and entropy analysis, key space, linear complexity, and speed. Finally, we performed a comparison with similar PRNGs that produce pseudorandom sequences considering numbers of 8 and 32 bits. The results show that the proposed PRNG maintains its security regardless of the selected configuration. The proposed PRNG has five important features: easy implementation, configurable to produce number with 8, 16 or 32 bits, high processing speed, high linear complexity, and wide key space. These features are necessary for cryptographic systems.

In the context of smart cities, there is a general benefit from monitoring close encounters among pedestrians. For instance, for the access control to office buildings, subway, commercial malls, etc., where a high amount of users may be present simultaneously, and keeping a strict record on each individual may be challenging. GPS tracking may not be available in many indoor cases; video surveillance may require expensive deployment (mainly due to the high-quality cameras and face recognition algorithms) and can be restrictive in case of low budget applications; RFID systems can be cumbersome and limited in the detection range. This information can later be used in many different scenarios. For instance, in case of earthquakes, fires, and accidents in general, the administration of the buildings can have a clear record of the people inside for victim searching activities. However, in the pandemic derived from the COVID-19 outbreak, a tracking that allows detecting of pedestrians in close range (a few meters) can be particularly useful to control the virus propagation. Hence, we propose a mobile clustering scheme where only a selected number of pedestrians (Cluster Heads) collect the information of the people around them (Cluster Members) in their trajectory inside the area of interest. Hence, a small number of transmissions are made to a control post, effectively limiting the collision probability and increasing the successful registration of people in close contact. Our proposal shows an increased success packet transmission probability and a reduced collision and idle slot probability, effectively improving the performance of the system compared to the case of direct transmissions from each node.

We studied the mutual information and quantum discord that Alice and Bob share when Bob implements a discrimination with a fixed rate of inconclusive outcomes (FRIO) onto two pure non-orthogonal quantum states, generated with arbitrary a priori probabilities. FRIO discrimination interpolates between minimum error (ME) and unambiguous state discrimination (UD). ME and UD are well known discrimination protocols with several applications in quantum information theory. FRIO discrimination provides a more general framework where the discrimination process together with its applications can be studied. In this setting, we compared the performance of optimum probability of discrimination, mutual information, and quantum discord. We found that the accessible information is obtained when Bob implements the ME strategy. The most (least) efficient discrimination scheme is ME (UD), from the point of view of correlations that are lost in the initial state and remain in the final state, after Bob’s measurement.

The structure formed by cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and cobalt octaethylporphyrin (CoOEP) with electron-acceptor tetracyano-π-quinodimethane (TCNQ), was studied by Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods. According to theoretical calculations, both cobalt systems can establish dispersion forces related to TCNQ and also in both cases the link between them is built by means of hydrogen bonds. Based on the results of these DFT calculations, we developed experimental work: the organic semiconductors were doped, and the thermal evaporation technique was used to prepare semiconductor thin films of such compounds. The structure of the films was studied by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The optical properties of the CoPc-TCNQ and CoOEP-TCNQ films were investigated by means of UV-Vis measurements. The results obtained were used to estimate the type of transitions and the optical bandgap. The results were compared to the previously calculated theoretical bandgap. The CoOEP-TCNQ film presented the smallest theoretical and experimental bandgap. Finally, the electrical properties of the organic semiconductors were evaluated from a PET (polyethylene terephthalate)/indium tin oxide (ITO)/cobalt macrocycle-TCNQ/silver (Ag) device we prepared. The CoOEP-TCNQ-based device showed an ohmic behavior. The device manufactured from CoPc-TCNQ also showed an ohmic behavior at low voltages, but significantly changed to SCLC (space-charge limited conductivity) at high voltage values.

Sandwich structures were fabricated by a vacuum deposition method using MPc (M = Cu, Zn), with a Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivative, and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and aluminum electrodes. The structure and morphology of the deposited films were studied by IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The absorption spectra of TTF derivative-MPc (M = Cu, Zn) thin films deposited at room temperature were recorded in the spectral range 200–1000 nm. The optical band gap of the thin films was determined from the (αhν)1/2 vs. hν plot. The direct-current (DC) electrical properties of the glass/ITO/TTFderiv-MPc (M = Cu, Zn)/Al structures were also investigated. Changes in conductivity of the derivative-TTF-enriched Pc compounds suggest the formation of alternative paths for carrier conduction. At low voltages, forward current density obeys an ohmic I-V relationship; at higher voltages, conduction is mostly due to a space-charge-limited conduction (SCLC) mechanism.

We study the classical and quantum correlations in the minimum error discrimination (ME) of two non-orthogonal pure quantum states. In particular, we consider quantum discord, thermal discord and entropy generation. We show that ME allows one to reach the accessible information between the two involved parties, Alice and Bob, in the discrimination process. We determine the amount of quantum discord that is consumed in the ME and show that the entropy generation is, in general, higher than the thermal discord. However, in certain cases the entropy generation is very close to thermal discord, which indicates that, in these cases, the process generates the least possible entropy. Moreover, we also study the ME process as a thermodynamic cycle and we show that it is in agreement with the second law of thermodynamics. Finally, we study the relation between the accessible information and the optimum success probability in ME.

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A new series of Fischer carbenes have been synthetized and examined as hole-transporting or electron-transporting layers (HTLs or ETLs) in the fabrication of organic solar cells (OSCs). The synthesis of three Fischer aminocarbene complexes with the general formula [Cr(CO)5{C(NHCH2)Ar}] (Ar = 2-pyridyl (3a), 3-pyridyl (3b) and 4-pyridyl (3c)) is reported. The molecular structure of complex 3b has been confirmed by X-ray analysis. In order to study the possible applications of the three Fischer aminocarbenes in OSCs, thin films of these complexes were prepared using a vacuum deposition process. These organometallic films were chemically and morphologically characterized by IR spectroscopy, SEM, AFM and XRD. According to the IR and Tauc analysis, the vacuum deposition process generates thin films free of impurities with an activation energy of 4.0, 2.7 and 2.1 eV for 3a, 3b y 3c, respectively. The UV-vis spectra of the amorphous aminocarbene films show that they are practically transparent to the visible radiation of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is due to the fact that their absorption is located mainly in the ultraviolet range. Two OSCs with bulk-heterojunction configuration were manufactured in order to prove the use of the aminocarbenes as ETL o HTL. The aminocarbene [Cr(CO)5{C(NHCH2) 4-pyridyl}] (3c) proved to be suitable as ETL with a fill factor (FF) of 0.23 and a short circuit current density (JSC) of 1.037 mA/cm2.

La principal desventaja de las aleaciones con memoria de forma ferromagnéticas obtenidas por fundición es su fragilidad. Para superar esta desventaja la metalurgia de polvos es una técnica ideal para la consolidación de las piezas, por lo que este trabajo se orientó a estudiar el efecto generado por los procesos de molienda y sinterizado de polvos sobre la evolución de las fases cristalinas que le confieren la memoria de forma a estos materiales. Para ello se prepararon polvos de la aleación ferromagnética con memoria de forma Ni53.5-Fe19.5-Ga27 a partir de un lingote fundido mediante molienda mecánica, durante dos tiempos diferentes de molienda de 30 y 60 minutos. La evolución de las fases fue estudiada mediante difracción de rayos X (DRX) a alta temperatura (HTXRD), mientras que el sinterizado fue evaluado por medio de ensayos de dilatometría. Los estudios de DRX mostraron que se pueden presentar cuatro fases diferentes en función del tamaño de partícula y de la temperatura de tratamiento térmico. Los polvos de tamaños más gruesos presentaron una estructura B2 acompañados de la fase γ mientras que los más finos presentaban una estructura L21, cuando se trataron por debajo de 1173 K. Por otro lado, los polvos más finos tenían una estructura martensítica modulada M14 después del sinterizado a una temperatura superior a 1273 K. El sinterizado de los polvos fue lento y no indicó claramente un mecanismo de difusión de masa predominante.

Osmium electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were prepared by microwave irradiation of Os3(CO)12 at different experimental conditions. The materials obtained were structurally characterized by FT-IR, micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Their chemical compositions were obtained by EDS. The electrocatalytic properties for the oxygen reduction reaction were evaluated by rotating disk electrode measurements in 0.5 mol L-1 H2SO4, in the absence and presence of aqueous methanol. The kinetic parameters, such as Tafel slope, exchange current density, and charge transfer coefficient are reported.

Background: In this case report, the connection between autoimmune bullous dermatosis acting as a paraneoplastic syndrome and testicular cancer is highlighted. Clinical case: A 28-year-old man with no chronic-degenerative diseases or medication consumption presented with erythematous macules and blisters on the chest, spreading to the back and limbs. Physical examination revealed eyelid erythema, conjunctival injection, ulcers on the tongue and lips, and blisters that denuded 90% of the body surface. He was admitted to the intensive care unit, where he was diagnosed and treated as toxic epidermal necrolysis. He received immunosuppressive treatment, with symptomatic improvement and re-epithelialization of the skin lesions. In the internal medicine service, a malignant testicular tumor was identified, for which he underwent orchiectomy, with the histopathological result of seminoma. Conclusions: It is concluded that the dermatological manifestations were probably secondary to an autoimmune bullous dermatosis, given that the patient had no infectious processes or recent drug use, in addition to the recent diagnosis of germ cell tumor. Highlights of this clinical case include the simultaneous identification of bullous disease and neoplasia during the same hospitalization, supporting the correlation between both entities, as has been observed in previous cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Determine the level of knowledge of mothers of children under 5 years of age about vaccination schedule. Methods: Cross-sectional, observational, descriptive, and analytical study, carried out in the Family Medicine Unit 1 of Orizaba, Veracruz, in which two questionnaires were applied to mothers of children under 5 years of age, one prepared by PAHO that qualifies attitudes. of parents about vaccines, and another that evaluates knowledge of immunizations. Absolute frequencies and percentages were estimated; and the association with Pearson's c2 was determined. Results: A total of 138 women were registered, with age limits of 18 to 48 years. The level of knowledge was high (70.3%) and was related to the age, education (p = 0.00) and occupation (p = 0.03) of the mothers. The highest frequencies were for housewives (47.1%), professionals (3.5%), married (60.2%) and of the Catholic religion (81.2%). Conclusion: This study confirms the null hypothesis, which indicates that 70.3% have high knowledge about vaccination, and it is associated with the age, education, and occupation of the mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]