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Introducción: El Objetivo fue evaluar los efectos sobre la resistencia aeróbica de un programa de ejercicio físico basado en la marcha nórdica para la mejora de la condición física en adultos mayores. Metodología: La población se compuso de 29 sujetos, los cuales realizaron un programa de marcha nórdica de doce semanas de duración, con un mínimo de dos sesiones semanales. Se llevaron a cabo dos mediciones; una previa y otra posterior, mediante prueba de esfuerzo. Resultados: La población mostró mejoras significativas en cuanto a la intensidad alcanzada durante la prueba de esfuerzo. Así mismo se observaron aumentos significativos (p

The space of holomorphic foliations of codimension one and degree $d\geq 2$ in $\mathbb{P}^n$ ($n\geq 3$) has an irreducible component whose general element can be written as a pullback $F^*\mathcal{F}$, where $\mathcal{F}$ is a general foliation of degree $d$ in $\mathbb{P}^2$ and $F:\mathbb{P}^n\dashrightarrow \mathbb{P}^2$ is a general rational linear map. We give a polynomial formula for the degrees of such components., Comment: This is a pre-print of an article published in Bulletin of the Brazilian Mathematical Society, New Series (206). The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00574-020-00206-9

Aims Disturbances in personality and addictions are associated with an increased risk of committing crimes and therefore of being imprisoned. In this study, the relationship between these factors is analyzed through a sample of inmates in the Prison of Pereiro de Aguiar, Ourense. Material and method 204 inmates participated in this transversal simple blind design study. The following variables were analyzed: presence of personality disorders and psychopathy, history of addictive psychoactive substance use, criminal history and socio-demographic variables. Results 101 (49.5%) inmates received a diagnosis of personality disorder, the most frequent being: narcissistic, 43 (21.08%); antisocial, 38 (18.63%); and paranoid, 29 (14.22%). The presence of any personality disorder was associated with an increase in the risk of committing crimes, especially violence and crimes against property. The most frequent personality disorders were associated with higher scores in the psychopathy assessment tools. Higher scores in the Psychopathy Checklist Reviewed (PCL-R) correlated with an increased risk of committing the following crimes: violent, against public health, against property and disorderly conduct. The consumption of addictive psychoactive substances was associated with the commission of crimes against property. Methadone stood out for its protective role against the commission of violent crimes. Discussion This sample shows that inmates have a higher prevalence of personality disorders, psychopathy and consumption of addictive psychoactive substances. These three variables significantly increased the risk of committing crimes.

The aim of this work is to characterize the di erences in the respiratory rhythm obtained through three video based methods by comparing the obtained respiratory signals with the one obtained with the gold standard method in adult population. The analysed methods are an RGB camera, a depth camera and a thermal camera while the gold standard is an inductive thorax plethysmography system (Respiband system from BioSignals Plux). 21 healthy subjects where measured, performing 4 tests for each subject. The respiratory rhythm and its variability was obtained from the four respiratory signals (3 video methods and gold standard). The signal acquisition was performed with custom and proprietary algorithms. To characterize the respiratory rhythm and its variability obtained with the di erent video sources and gold standard, the instantaneous frequency, Bland-Altman plots and standard deviation of the error between video methods and the gold standard have been computed. The depth and RGB camera present high agreement with no statistical di erences between them, with errors when comparing with the gold standard in the range of mHz. The thermal camera performs poorly if compared with the two other methods, nevertheless it cannot be discarded directly because some errors produced by the subjects head movement could not be corrected. From these results we conclude that the depth and RGB camera, and their respective acquisition algorithms) can be used in controlled conditions to measure respiration rhythm and its variability. The thermal camera on the other hand, although it can not be discarded directly, performed poorly if compared with the other two methods. Further studies are needed to con rm that these methods can be used in real life conditions.

We further investigate the weak topology generated by the irreducible unitary representations of a group $G$. A deep result due to Ernest \cite{Ernest1971} and Hughes \cite{Hughes1973} asserts that every weakly compact subset of a locally compact (LC) group $G$ is compact in the LC-topology, generalizing thereby a previous result of Glicksberg \cite{glicks1962} for abelian locally compact (LCA) groups. Here, we first survey some recent findings on the weak topology and establish some new results about the preservation of several compact-like properties when going from the weak topology to the original topology of LC groups. Among others, we deal with the preservation of countably compactness, pseudocompactness and functional boundedness., arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1704.03438

Manual classification of horticultural products contributes to postharvest losses but technology and emerging algorithms offer solutions to reduce such losses. A practical fruit classification of banana (Musa acuminata AA Group 'Lakatan') using machine learning is developed based on tier-based classification instead of classifying individually (“finger”) for practical purpose. Fruit were classified into extra class, class I, class II and reject class, and compared using three widely-used machine learning classifiers – artificial neural network, support vector machines and random forest. Given only four features of banana tier, the red, green, blue (RGB) color values and the length size of the top middle finger of the banana tier, all three models performed satisfactorily. The highest classification accuracy of 94.2% was achieved using random forest classifier. In addition, ignoring the reject class, which cannot be easily predicted using only the given features, at least 97% accuracy can be achieved in all other three classes. Non-invasive tier-based classification is a practical postharvest technique that can be applied not only for banana but also for other fruit and horticultural products.

In this work, the numerical simulation of the non-isothermal steady co-extrusion fiber spinning with flow-induced crystallization is explored. The model is based on the formulation originally proposed by China et al. in which Newtonian and Phan-Thien-Tanner (PTT) fluids are considered the core and the skin layer, respectively. The polymeric flow rate fraction, Deborah dimensionless number and the PTTs parameters on the temperature, the velocity and the crystallization profiles are analyzed. The numerical results show: the temperature profile is sensitive to the polymeric layer flow rate and the deformation parameters (shear thinning and extensional), the tensile stress induced crystallization parameter has a strong influence at the onset of the process, increasing drastically temperature and crystallinity.

We extend to metrizable locally compact groups Rosenthal's theorem describing those Banach spaces containing no copy of $l_1$. For that purpose, we transfer to general locally compact groups the notion of interpolation ($I_0$) set, which was defined by Hartman and Ryll-Nardzewsky [25] for locally compact abelian groups. Thus we prove that for every sequence $\lbrace g_n \rbrace_{n, Comment: To appear in J. of Functional Analysis

A numerical solution for axis-symmetrical fluid flow through a smooth constriction using the alternating direction implicit finite volume method and the fractional-step-method is presented. The wall is modelled with a smooth contraction mapped by a sinusoidal function and the flow is supposed to be axis-symmetric. A pressure boundary condition is set at the inlet and the resulting pressure gradient field drives fluid flow which is always in laminar regime. This study presents results for a non-Newtonian fluid using the Ostwaldde Waele constitutive model. Moreover, a transient network representing three different microstructures, immersed in the fluid, is evolved by viscous dissipation and an isothermal process is considered. The time dependent evolution of the transient network is represented by a set of kinetic equations with their respective forward and reversed constants. The numerical predictions show that, at a fixed Reynolds number, the viscous dissipation and the grade of structure restoration or breakage is influenced by constriction severity due to the energy generated during fluid flow. A 50% reduction in transversal section generates secondary flow downstream and vortex shedding, whereas a 10% and 25% constrictions presents a thin boundary layer and no secondary flow near the constricted wall.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar la persistencia inicial al tratamiento con corticosteroides y beta-2 agonistas de larga duracion (CSI/LABA) segun el tipo de dispositivo inhalador (MDI o DPI) para el tratamiento del asma y la EPOC. Material y metodos Estudio observacional multicentrico. Se incluyeron sujetos en tratamiento inicial con CSI/LABA durante 2007-2011, y con un periodo de seguimiento de 3 anos. Se confeccionaron 2 grupos de estudio (asma, EPOC) y 2 subgrupos segun el tipo de dispositivo inhalador (MDI o DPI). Las principales medidas fueron: sociodemograficas, comorbilidad, adherencia (ratio de posesion del medicamento, RPM), medicacion, exacerbaciones y uso de los recursos y sus costes (directos, indirectos). Se utilizaron modelos multivariantes para la correccion de las variables. Significacion estadistica: p Resultados Se selecciono a 2.082 sujetos asmaticos (MDI: N = 566, 27,2%; DPI: N = 1.516, 72,8%). Los pacientes con dispositivos MDI mostraron un mayor grado de persistencia (32,5 vs. 27,8%; p = 0,037), adherencia al tratamiento (RPM: 83,1 vs. 80,5%; p Conclusiones Los dispositivos MDI (tratamiento inicial con CSI/LABA) pueden asociarse a un mayor grado de persistencia en el tratamiento, tanto en asma como en EPOC, con menores tasas de exacerbaciones y consumo de recursos sanitarios y costes.

Los factores de riesgo que pueden llegar a desencadenar la muerte precoz son bastante conocidos. Entre ellos la hipertensión y la obesidad parecen los más destacados, especialmente cuando se unen al propio envejecimiento. Distintos autores han demostrado que el ejercicio físico, aun realizado en edades tardías de la vida, resulta igualmente beneficioso para combatir estos factores de riesgo, estando exento de riesgos si se practica de forma adecuada. Nosotros hemos estudiando los beneficios de un «programa de ejercicio físico y dieta adecuada» en dos grupos de pacientes con edades comprendidas entre los 60-64 y los 65-69 años, sobre factores de riesgo como la hipertensión, la obesidad, el estreñimiento y el insomnio. En conjunto se han obtenido nuevamente resultados que aconsejan seguir su práctica. Sin embargo, parámetros como la tensión arterial diastólica se muestran más difíciles de corregir en el grupo de más edad, mientras que el sobrepeso se corrigió con mayor facilidad en el grupo de más edad.

We provide some characterizations of precompact abelian groups $G$ whose dual group $G_p^\wedge$ endowed with the pointwise convergence topology on elements of $G$ contains a nontrivial convergent sequence. In the special case of precompact abelian \emph{torsion} groups $G$, we characterize the existence of a nontrivial convergent sequence in $G_p^\wedge$ by the following property of $G$: \emph{No infinite quotient group of $G$ is countable.} Finally, we present an example of a dense subgroup $G$ of the compact metrizable group $\mathbb{Z}(2)^\omega$ such that $G$ is of the first category in itself, has measure zero, but the dual group $G_p^\wedge$ does not contain infinite compact subsets. This complements Theorem 1.6 in [J.E.~Hart and K.~Kunen, Limits in function spaces and compact groups, \textit{Topol. Appl.} \textbf{151} (2005), 157--168]. As a consequence, we obtain an example of a precompact reflexive abelian group which is of the first Baire category.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a complex chronic pain state with a prevalence of almost 10% in the general population. Pharmacological options for NP are limited and slightly effective, so there is a need of developing more efficacious NP attenuating drugs. Activation of the type 1 lysophosphatidic acid (LPA(1)) receptor is a crucial factor in the initiation of NP. Hence, it is conceivable that a functional antagonism strategy could lead to NP mitigation. Here we describe a new series of LPA(1) agonists among which derivative (S)-17 (UCM-05194) stands out as the most potent and selective LPA(1) receptor agonist described so far (E(max)=118%, EC(50)=0.24 μM, K(D)=19.6 nM; inactive at autotaxin and LPA(2–6) receptors). This compound induces characteristic LPA(1)-mediated cellular effects and prompts the internalization of the receptor leading to its functional inactivation in primary sensory neurons and to an efficacious attenuation of the pain perception in an in vivo model of NP.

Mountain ecosystems face many challenges related to global change. Most high-altitude grasslands in the Pyrenees, despite representing valuable assets recognised in the European conservation heritage, are at risk due to the decline of traditional extensive ranging. This research intends to quantify economically the loss of the provisioning service of high-quality food for livestock of an upland area on the western side of the range. The area is experiencing degradation due to the expansion of the native tall-grass Brachypodium rupestre, favoured by disruption of traditional grazing and anthropogenic fire regimes. We implement the substitution economic approach and use floristic and husbandry data to determine that the loss of food rations for livestock results in an unitary cost of 107 (sic).ha(-1).year(-1), amounting to 21146 (sic) for the whole degraded area, according to the most conservative estimate. The study also finds evidence that the decline in grassland value is closely associated with the digestibility to herbivores of B. rupestre during the growing season. This approach may be an effective tool to raise awareness of the problem among local and regional stakeholders and encourage further environmental actions to prevent the degradation. The project was financially supported by the INTERREG SUDOE Program (European Regional Development Fund, Open2preserve Project-SOE2/P5/E0804), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2011-29746) and the UPNA's PhD programme to M. Duran (2017-2021).

A subgroup G of a product \(\prod \limits _{i\in \mathbb {N}}G_i\) is rectangular if there are subgroups \(H_i\) of \(G_i\) such that \(G=\prod \limits _{i\in \mathbb {N}}H_i\). We say that G is weakly rectangular if there are finite subsets \(F_i\subseteq \mathbb {N}\) and subgroups \(H_i\) of \(\bigoplus \limits _{j\in F_i} G_j\) that satisfy \(G=\prod \limits _{i\in \mathbb {N}}H_i\). In this paper we discuss when a closed subgroup of a product is weakly rectangular. Some possible applications to the theory of group codes are also highlighted.

To provide a description of the frequency and main features of the episodes of voluntary total fasting (VTF) taking place in Spanish prisons.Information on the episodes of VTF reported between 04/01/2013 and 03/31/2014 was gathered. Once the appropriate informed consent was given, other data on social, demographic, penitentiary and clinical aspects were collected. A descriptive study of such variables together with a bivariate analysis was then carried out by means of standard statistical techniques and binary logistic regression models. IBM SPSS Statistics v.20 software was used for this purpose. This study was approved by an accredited Clinical Research Ethics Committee.354 episodes of VTF took place among an average population of 29,762 prisoners. Therefore, the incidence rate was 11.9 VTF episodes per ‰ inmates-year. Informed consent (IC) was given in 180 cases (50.8%). 114 were of Spanish nationality and the average age was 38.7 years old (95% CI 37.2-40.1). The median duration of the episodes was 3 days (IQR 1-10), ranged between 1 and 71 days. The main reason was a disagreement on the decisions of treatment groups (57 cases, 31.7%). The average weight loss was 1.3 kg (70.8 vs. 69.5; p 0.0001) and 0.7 of the BMI (24.5 vs. 23.8; p 0.0001). 60 prisoners (33.3%) lost no weight at all and only 8 (4.4%) lost over 12% of the basal weight (8.5 kg). Ketone smell was identified in 61 cases (33.9%) and ketonuria in 63 (35%).Only one third of those who go on hunger strike in prison actually fast. Revindicative episodes of voluntary total fasting are somewhat common in Spanish prisons, but rarely are they carried out rigorously and entail a risk for those who fast.

Let G be a metric group and let A u t ( G ) denote the automorphism group of G. If A and B are groups of G-valued maps defined on the sets X and Y, respectively, we say that A and B are equivalent if there is a group isomorphism H : A → B such that there is a bijective map h : Y → X and a map w : Y → A u t ( G ) satisfying H f ( y ) = w [ y ] ( f ( h ( y ) ) ) for all y ∈ Y and f ∈ A . In this case, we say that H is represented as a weighted composition operator. A group isomorphism H defined between A and B is called separating when for each pair of maps f , g ∈ A satisfying that f − 1 ( e G ) ∪ g − 1 ( e G ) = X , it holds that ( H f ) − 1 ( e G ) ∪ ( H g ) − 1 ( e G ) = Y . Our main result establishes that under some mild conditions, every separating group isomorphism can be represented as a weighted composition operator. As a consequence we establish the equivalence of two function groups if there is a biseparating isomorphism defined between them.

Let X and K be a Cech-complete topological group and a compact group, respectively. We prove that if G is a non-equicontinuous subset of C H o m ( X , K ) , the set of all continuous homomorphisms of X into K, then there is a countably infinite subset L ⊆ G such that L ‾ K X is canonically homeomorphic to βω, the Stone–Cech compactifcation of the natural numbers. As a consequence, if G is an infinite subset of C H o m ( X , K ) such that for every countable subset L ⊆ G and compact separable subset Y ⊆ X it holds that either L ‾ K Y has countable tightness or | L ‾ K Y | ≤ c , then G is equicontinuous. Given a topological group G, denote by G + the (algebraic) group G equipped with the Bohr topology. It is said that G respects a topological property P when G and G + have the same subsets satisfying P . As an application of our main result, we prove that if G is an abelian, locally quasiconvex, locally k ω group, then the following holds: (i) G respects any compact-like property P stronger than or equal to functional boundedness; (ii) G strongly respects compactness.

Objective Recently, the DSM-5 has developed a new diagnostic category named "Substance-related and Addictive Disorders". This category includes gambling disorder (GD) as the sole behavioral addiction, but does not include sex addiction (SA). The aim of this study is to investigate whether SA should be classified more closely to other behavioral addictions, via a comparison of the personality characteristics and comorbid psychopathology of individuals with SA with those of individuals with GD, which comes under the category of addiction and related disorders. Method The sample included 59 patients diagnosed with SA, who were compared to 2190 individuals diagnosed with GD and to 93 healthy controls. Assessment measures included the Diagnostic Questionnaire for Pathological Gambling, the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the Symptom CheckList-90 Items-Revised and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. Results No statistically significant differences were found between the two clinical groups, except for socio-economic status. Although statistically significant differences were found between both clinical groups and controls for all scales on the SCL-90, no differences were found between the two clinical groups. The results were different for personality characteristics: logistic regression models showed that sex addictive behavior was predicted by a higher education level and by lower scores for TCI-R novelty-seeking, harm avoidance, persistence and self-transcendence. Being employed and lower scores in cooperativeness also tended to predict the presence of sex addiction. Conclusions While SA and GD share some psychopathological and personality traits that are not present in healthy controls, there are also some diagnostic-specific characteristics that differentiate between the two clinical groups. These findings may help to increase our knowledge of phenotypes existing in behavioral addictions.

The biolipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an essential modulator of innate immunity, cell migration, and wound healing. It is released locally upon acute tissue injury from endothelial cells and activated thrombocytes and, therefore, may give rise to acute post-traumatic pain sensation via a yet elusive molecular mechanism. We have used an interdisciplinary approach to address this question, and we find that intradermal injection of S1P induced significant licking and flinching behavior in wild-type mice and a dose-dependent flare reaction in human skin as a sign of acute activation of nociceptive nerve terminals. Notably, S1P evoked a small excitatory ionic current that resulted in nociceptor depolarization and action potential firing. This ionic current was preserved in “cation-free” solution and blocked by the nonspecific Cl− channel inhibitor niflumic acid and by preincubation with the G-protein inhibitor GDP-β-S. Notably, S1P3 receptor was detected in virtually all neurons in human and mouse DRG. In line with this finding, S1P-induced neuronal responses and spontaneous pain behavior in vivo were substantially reduced in S1P3−/− mice, whereas in control S1P1 floxed (S1P1fl/fl) mice and mice with a nociceptor-specific deletion of S1P1−/− receptor (SNS-S1P1−/−), neither the S1P-induced responses in vitro nor the S1P-evoked pain-like behavior was altered. Therefore, these findings indicate that S1P evokes significant nociception via G-protein-dependent activation of an excitatory Cl− conductance that is largely mediated by S1P3 receptors present in nociceptors, and point to these receptors as valuable therapeutic targets for post-traumatic pain., The authors thank K. Braun, T. Martha, and M. Doblander for expert technical assistance. This work was supported by la Generalitat Valenciana and the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (A.V.F.M.), the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant 535055 to R.V.H., the Intramural Research Programs of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to R.L.P., and the Austrian Research Funding Agency FWF Project Grants P20562, P25345, and SPIN to M.K.

We prove that the group G = H o m ( Z N , Z ) G=\mathrm {Hom}(\mathbb {Z}^{\mathbb {N}}, \mathbb {Z}) of all homomorphisms from the Baer-Specker group Z N \mathbb {Z}^{\mathbb {N}} to the group Z \mathbb {Z} of integer numbers endowed with the topology of pointwise convergence contains no infinite compact subsets. We deduce from this fact that the second Pontryagin dual of G G is discrete. As G G is non-discrete, it is not reflexive. Since G G can be viewed as a closed subgroup of the Tychonoff product Z c \mathbb {Z}^{\mathfrak {c}} of continuum many copies of the integers Z \mathbb {Z} , this provides an example of a group described in the title, thereby resolving a problem by Galindo, Recoder-Núñez and Tkachenko. It follows that an inverse limit of finitely generated (torsion-)free discrete abelian groups need not be reflexive.

Combining ideas of Troallic and Cascales, Namioka, and Vera, we prove several characterizations of \textit{almost equicontinuity} and \textit{hereditary almost equicontinuity} for subsets of metric-valued continuous functions when they are defined on a \v{C}ech-complete space. We also obtain some applications of these results to topological groups and dynamical systems., Comment: 27 pages

To assess the initial treatment persistence with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-2 adrenergic bronchodilators (ICS/LABA) depending on the inhaler device used (pMDI or DPI), for the treatment of asthma and COPD.An multicenter observational study. Subjects in initial treatment with ICS/LABA during 2007-2011 were included, and a follow-up period of 3 years. 2 groups of study (asthma, COPD) and 2 subgroups were prepared according to the device type inhaler (pMDI or DPI). The main measurements were: sociodemographic, comorbidity, adherence (rate possession medication -RPM-), persistence, drugs, exacerbation rates, resources use, and their costs (direct and indirect costs). Multivariate methods were used for the variables correction, with significance level of P.05.The study included 2,082 asthma patients (pMDI: N = 566, 27.2%; DPI = 1,516, 72.8%). Patients with MDI devices showed a higher degree of persistence (32.5 vs. 27.8%; P=.037), treatment adherence (RPM: 83.1 vs. 80.5%; P.001), fewer exacerbations (17.7 vs. 24.9%; P=.001) and lower health care costs (2,583 vs. 2,938 EUR; P = 0.042). 1,418 patients with COPD also were analyzed (pMDI: N = 524, 41.9%; DPI: N = 824, 58.1%) were analyzed. Patients with MDI devices also showed a higher degree of persistence (31.5 vs. 24.8%; P=.005), treatment adherence (RPM: 83.3 vs. 80.1%; P= .001), less exacerbations (40.1 vs. 48.2%; P=.002) and lower health care costs (3,922 vs. 4,588 EUR; P=.021).pMDI devices (as ICS/LABA initial treatment) are associated with higher treatment persistence either in asthma or COPD, with lower exacerbation rates, and use of health resources and cost.

Continental freshwater, irrespective of its origin, natural or artificial, may contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation. Because of the decline of natural aquatic habitats, an increasing concern exists about the role of water ponds as spots of biological richness. Amphibians are strongly at risk since the loss of aquatic habitats, among other factors, causes the isolation of their populations. The implementation of livestock ponds as artificial wetlands may be an effective measure for enhancing amphibian decaying communities. This policy assumes that managing ponds for wildlife conservation purposes joins livestock welfare requirements, but this hypothesis has not been specifically studied. The purpose of this research is to evaluate this premise in the Urbasa-Andia Natural Park, a high-valuable environmental area that holds a relevant amphibian community and has an extended grazing history. We analyse the relationship between the amphibian assemblages present and the design and attributes of a variety of drinking points previously chosen by embodying a high environmental heterogeneity of water resources. The results of this study indicate that the quality of the water stored varies largely along the season, degrading severely in summer because of the wading of animals (in unfenced ponds) and the low water recharge. The contamination, caused by increased enteric microorganisms and dissolved N, is likely to affect livestock more severely than amphibian populations, since the sensitive breeding stage of many amphibians occurs before the loss of water quality. Although the quality of the water is essential, and mammals (wild and domestic) have an influence on it, other factors that are less considered by environmental managers emerge as main drivers of amphibian assemblages, such as hydroperiod, predator occurrence and the environmental quality of the surrounding habitat.

Resumen: Introducción: La proteína priónica celular patógena (PrPsc) necesita de la presencia de la fisiológica (PrPc) para su propagación y replicación. Se estudia comparativamente la expresión y localización de PrPc en el sistema nervioso central (SNC) de rata, ratón, gato, vaca y humano, mediante técnicas inmunohistoquímicas y de Western blot, con el objetivo de un mejor conocimiento de las prionopatías y de la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA). Material y métodos: Se emplearon encéfalos humanos y de gato, rata y vaca, para estudios por técnicas inmunohistoquímicas; se analizaron las cortezas frontal, temporal y occipital, así como hipocampo y tálamo. Se utilizaron técnicas de Western blot para encéfalos de ratón, gato, vaca y humano. Resultados: Existe una disminución rostrocaudal de la cuantía de PrPc en el SNC de dichas especies. PrPc se sitúa en la membrana y en el citoplasma de las neuronas. Se observan neuronas inhibitorias en el córtex del gato. El patrón general del Western blot es análogo en las especies estudiadas, con predominio de la banda diglucosilada sobre las bandas monoglucosilada y no glucosilada. Discusión: Los datos indican que en las prionopatías, PrPsc puede transmitirse y replicarse de forma retrógrada en y a partir de las zonas más PrP positivas. La mayor cuantía de PrPc en algunas zonas del encéfalo humano podría estar en relación con los hallazgos anatomopatológicos de la EA. Conclusiones: Los datos apoyan un transporte retrógrado de la PrPsc en el SNC. La PrPc debe de tener relación con la fisiopatología de la EA. Abstract: Introduction: The scrapie prion protein (PrPsc) requieres the cellular prion protein (PrPc) for its propagation and replication. In this work we studied the expression and localization of the PrPc in the central nervous system (SNC) of the rat, mouse, cat, cow and human, using immunohistochemestry and Western blot techniques to understand more about prionopathies and Alzheimer's disease (EA). Matherial and methods: For the immunohistochemetry study we used human, cat, rat and cow samples to analyse frontal, temporal and occipital cortex, as well as the hippocampus and the thalamus. For the Western blot analysis we used mouse, cat, cow and human brain samples. Results: We observed a decrease in the amount of PrPc in the SNC in a rostrocaudal shift in the species mentioned above. We observed inhibitory cells in the cat cortex. The Western blot analysis showed a similar pattern of expression in the different species studied with a preponderance of the diglycosylated band, in relation to the other bands observed in the analysis. Discussion: These data suggest that in prionopathies PrPsc could be transmitted and could be replicated in and from the areas with most expression of PrPc. Similarly, a higher amount of this protein (PrPc) in some brain areas could explain some histopathological aspects of EA. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis of a retrograde transport of PrPsc in the SNC. PrPc could be related to the pathophysiology of EA. Palabras clave: Proteína priónica celular, Prionopatías, Enfermedad de Alzheimer, Mamíferos, Keywords: Cellular prion protein, Prionopathies, Alzheimer's disease, Mammals

Introduction: The scrapie prion protein (PrPsc) requieres the celular prion protein (PrPc) for its propagation and replication. In this work we studied the expression and localization of the PrPc in the central nervous system (SNC) of the rat, mouse, cat, cow and human, using immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques to understand more about prinopathies and Alzheimer's disease (EA). Material and methods: For the immunohistochemistry study we used human, cat, rat and cow samples to analyse frontal, temporal and occipital cortex, as well as the hippocampus and the thalamus. For the Western blot analysis we used mouse, cat, cow and human brain samples. Results: We observed a decrease in the amount of PrPc in the central nervous system (CNS) in a rostrocaudal shift in the species mentioned above. We observed inhibitory cells in the cat cortex. The Western blot analysis showed a similar pattern of expression in the different species studied with a preponderance of the diglycosylated band, in relation to the other bands observed in the analysis. Discussion: These data suggest that in prionopathies PrPsc could be transmitted and could be replicated in and from the areas with most expression of PrPc. Similarly, a higher amount of this protein (PrPc) in some brain areas could explain some histopathological aspects of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis of a retrograde transport of PrPsc in the CNS. PrPc could be related to the pathophysiology of AD. Resumen: Introducción: La proteína priónica celular patógena (PrPsc) necesita de la presencia de la fisiológica (PrPc) para su propagación y replicación. Se estudia comparativamente la expresión y localización de PrPc en el sistema nervioso central (SNC) de rata, ratón, gato, vaca y humano, mediante técnicas inmunohistoquímicas y de Western blot, con el objetivo de un mejor conocimiento de las prionopatías y de la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA). Material y métodos: Se emplearon encéfalos humanos y de gato, rata y vaca, para estudios por técnicas inmunohistoquímicas; se analizaron las cortezas frontal, temporal y occipital, así como hipocampo y tálamo. Se utilizaron técnicas de Western blot para encéfalos de ratón, gato, vaca y humano. Resultados: Existe una disminución rostrocaudal de la cuantía de PrPc en el SNC de dichas especies. PrPc se sitúa en la membrana y en el citoplasma de las neuronas. Se observan neuronas inhibitorias en el córtex del gato. El patrón general del Western blot es análogo en las especies estudiadas, con predominio de la banda diglucosilada sobre las bandas monoglucosilada y no glucosilada. Discusión: Los datos indican que en las prionopatías, PrPsc puede transmitirse y replicarse de forma retrógrada en y a partir de las zonas más PrP positivas. La mayor cuantía de PrPc en algunas zonas del encéfalo humano podría estar en relación con los hallazgos anatomopatológicos de la EA. Conclusiones: Los datos apoyan un transporte retrógrado de la PrPsc en el SNC. La PrPc debe de tener relación con la fisiopatología de la EA. Keywords: Cellular prion protein, Prionopathies, Alzheimer's disease, Mammals, Palabras clave: Proteína priónica celular, Prionopatías, Enfermedad de Alzheimer, Mamíferos

Summary Background Imported cases of malaria constitute an important public health problem in many countries, even in those with autochthonous cases, where disease could be acquired in these areas and then seen in non-endemic regions. Non-immune populations are susceptible to complications due to malaria infection, particularly in malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum . However, Plasmodium vivax the predominant Plasmodium spp. in Venezuela can also lead to severe malaria. Methods We reviewed retrospectively cases of malaria to identify the clinical features of those imported cases diagnosed at two institutions in Margarita Island (a non-endemic area), Venezuela, in an 8-year period. We conducted a retrospective observational study to identify the clinical and epidemiological features among hospitalized patients at Hospital Central and Hospital Agustin Hernandez with malaria acquired at malaria-endemic locations. Results We identified eighteen imported cases of malaria confirmed by thin and thick peripheral blood smears at these two institutions over an 8-year period. The mean age of diagnosis was 27 years. P. vivax was responsible for the majority of cases. All patients presented with fever, 89% with malaise, 78% with chills, and 67% with myalgia, among others symptoms. Mean haemoglobin levels on admission were 8.1 g/dL (100% 3 (89% had platelets below 150,000); and a mean total leukocyte count: 3.4 × 10 3 cells/mm 3 (78% had leukopenia). Thirty nine percent of patients required blood transfusions. Two fatalities were identified (CFR = 11%), one associated to severe malaria due to P. falciparum and the other due to a complicated case of P. vivax malaria. Discussion Imported cases of malaria due to P. vivax and P. falciparum in the studied population are associated with significant hematological complications. These findings illustrate the importance of educating non-immune populations about the malaria risk and prevention strategies; and from a pubic health perspective, the need to develop further malaria prevention strategies at a national level.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the fourth cause of mortality and morbility in the developed world. Patients with COPD experience a progressive deterioration of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A new model of severity classification, the body mass index, bronchial obstruction, dyspnoea, exercise (BODE) index, has recently been proposed. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between HRQOL and the BODE index, and the predictive ability of BODE on HRQOL measurements. Methods: Two HRQOL questionnaires were administered, namely the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), in a sample of 67 patients with severe COPD. Results: Pearsonś correlation coefficient analysis shows a positive correlation between the BODE index and the total scores of the specific ( P < 0.001), and general HRQOL ( P < 0.001); the analysis shows a significant correlation between the BODE index and the subscales of symptoms, activity and impact of SGRQ ( P < 0.001) and the subscales energy and physical mobility of the NHP ( P < 0.001). The regression analysis shows that the BODE index is a significant predictor of HRQOL, explaining 46,1% of the total score of the SGRQ ( P < 0.001) and 14.8% of the total score of the NHP ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: The BODE index is good at predicting the worsening of HRQOL in patients with severe COPD. Chronic Respiratory Disease 2008; 5: 7—11

This work compares several fiducial points to detect the arrival of a new pulse in a photoplethysmographic signal using the built-in camera of smartphones or a photoplethysmograph. Also, an optimization process for the signal preprocessing stage has been done. Finally we characterize the error produced when we use the best cutoff frequencies and fiducial point for smartphones and photopletysmograph and compare if the error of smartphones can be reasonably be explained by variations in pulse transit time. The results have revealed that the peak of the first derivative and the minimum of the second derivative of the pulse wave have the lowest error. Moreover, for these points, high pass filtering the signal between 0.1 to 0.8 Hz and low pass around 2.7 Hz or 3.5 Hz are the best cutoff frequencies. Finally, the error in smartphones is slightly higher than in a photoplethysmograph

This work proposes a systematic procedure to report the differences between heart rate variability time series obtained from alternative measurements reporting the spread and mean of the differences as well as the agreement between measuring procedures and quantifying how stationary, random and normal the differences between alternative measurements are. A description of the complete automatic procedure to obtain a differences time series (DTS) from two alternative methods, a proposal of a battery of statistical tests, and a set of statistical indicators to better describe the differences in RR interval estimation are also provided. Results show that the spread and agreement depend on the choice of alternative measurements and that the DTS cannot be considered generally as a white or as a normally distributed process. Nevertheless, in controlled measurements the DTS can be considered as a stationary process.

Objective The objective of this study was to describe tissue procurement activity performed during 10 years (2004–2014) by trained medical students in a large university hospital. Methods In this study, third to sixth year medical students were trained as in-hospital Tissue Coordinators (Tc) to perform tissue procurement activity on a 24/7 schedule supervised by an on-call senior Transplant Coordinator (sTC) in a large university hospital. Tc duty consisted of detection, initial evaluation of all hospital deaths, donor's family approach for tissue donation, and retrieval logistics organization, including corneal tissue retrieval after training and certification. They also assist sTC in organ procurement activity. Results A total of 18,931 deaths were prospectively evaluated, 79% of whom (n = 14,879) presented medical contraindications for tissue donation. Of the remaining 4052 (21%) potential tissue donors (PTD), 2522 (62%) were not converted into real donors, mostly due to family refusal (66%; n = 1650) followed by detection system failure and other logistical issues (34%; n = 872). A total of 2814 corneal units, 225 skin donations, 327 muscleskeletal tissue donations, 91 blood vessels donations, and 177 heart valve donations were obtained from the remaining 1530 (38%) real donors. Tissue potentiality increased from 19% to 43% throughout the study period as a consequence of the fluctuating acceptance criteria used by tissue banks depending on tissue demand. Conclusions The tissue donation program performed by trained students was successful in achieving a high and sustainable tissue donation rate in a large university hospital.

Sludge management arises as a relevant problem after being accumulated in primary ponds of septage treatment plants. One of the most attractive options for sludge disposal is its use in agriculture and then specific guidelines regarding hygienic quality must be fulfilled. This study aimed at evaluating the storage time needed to inactivate Ascaris eggs and Salmonella in sludge accumulated in a primary pond treating septage. Raw septage exhibited very low concentrations of viable Ascaris eggs, thus experiments with Ascaris suum eggs spiking were conducted. The concentration of Ascaris eggs in the solids accumulated at the bottom of the pond was 20 eggs/g of total solids (g TS) at the time of pond closure. Although it decreased, some eggs remained viable (0.59 mean viable eggs/g TS) up to 20 months of in-pond storage of the biosolids. Salmonella survival was studied after developing an analytical method that inhibited the native flora. Sludge was seeded with Salmonella enteritidis . An equation adequately describing Salmonella die-off in biosolids subjected to 115 days of in-pond storage/dewatering, was found to be represented by the regression: y = log MPN Salmonella/g TS = 6.67· t −0.086 , with t = storage time elapsed in days. The initial concentration was 7.0 × 10 6 MPN/g TS and the removal efficiency was 99 %.

Waste stabilization ponds (WSP) are an often-used option to treat faecal sludges collected from on-site sanitation systems. Since agricultural use is one of the most attractive options for sludge disposal, specific guidelines on the hygienic sludge quality must be fulfilled, such as for viable helminth eggs and Salmonella sp. Although Salmonella isolation methods are well known for other types of samples, they are not suitable for faecal sludge. The reason can be attributed to the co-existence of a native bacterial sludge flora masking Salmonella development, especially if this bacteria is present at low concentrations. In order to select the best methodology for Salmonella recovery from septage sludge, different culture media were assayed at different incubation periods and temperatures. The proposed methodology for Salmonella recovery from sludge can be summarised as follows: (1) enrichment in Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth at 43°C, 48 hours, and (2) isolation in XLD agar at 40°C, 24 hours. Identification of suspected colonies by biochemical tests: TSI, LIA, urease and serological confirmation with Group O Antigen.