Search

El análisis y comprensión de la incidencia de los factores socioeconómicos, de percepción y de mesoescala urbana sobre los modos de movilidad de los niños y niñas en edad escolar es fundamental para fomentar el uso de modos más sustentables. Este estudio explora la relación entre factores socioeconómicos, de percepción y de mesoescala urbana sobre los modos de movilidad diaria de niños y niñas en edad escolar (6 a 12 años) en la ciudad intermedia de Cuenca (Ecuador, América Latina). Se utilizó la herramienta Random Forest, como método de aprendizaje automático supervisado, para clasificar los modos de movilidad en: “caminar”, “autobús” y “automóvil”, y para identificar la importancia de los factores en cada modo. Los datos se obtuvieron de una encuesta de movilidad realizada en hogares de Cuenca en el 2019. A pesar de que buseta es un modo de movilidad usual para escolares, no pudo ser considerado en este estudio ya que no se contemplaba en la encuesta original utilizada. Los resultados mostraron que el mejor modelo para los modos de movilidad “caminar” y “autobús” fue con todos los grupos de factores (socioeconómicos, de percepción y de mesoescala urbana), mientras que para “automóvil”, como se esperaba, fue el modelo con factores socioeconómicos el más relevante. Si bien los factores más importantes fueron el número de vehículos por familia y nivel socioeconómico, también encontramos que los factores de percepción son relevantes para incentivar el caminar como un modo de movilidad cotidiana . Del mismo modo, para fomentar el uso del autobús, deben tenerse en cuenta los factores urbanos de mesoescala. Este estudio aporta datos y un enfoque metodológico para contribuir a la política pública en materia de movilidad activa en edad escolar. Palabras clave: Modos de movilidad, niños y niñas de 6 a 12 años, factores de mesoescala urbana, Random Forest. AbstractAnalyzing and understanding the incidence of socioeconomic, perception and urban mesoscale factors on mobility modes of school-age children is essential to motivate a more sustainable mobility. This study explores the relationship between socioeconomic, perception and urban mesoscale factors on the daily mobility modes of school-age boys and girls (6 to 12 years old) in the intermediatesized city of Cuenca (Ecuador, Latin America). Random Forest, as a classifcation machine learning method, was used to classify the mobility modes into walk, bus and car, and to identify factor importance in each mode. The data were obtained from a mobility survey carried out on Cuenca households in 2019. Even if school bus is a usual mobility mode for schoolchildren, it could not be accounted in this study because it was not contained in the original survey. The results showed that the best model for walk and bus mobility modes was with all the factor groups, while for Car, as expected, was the socioeconomic model. Even if the most important factors were cars´ number per family and socioeconomic level, we also found that, in order to encourage walking as the mobility mode, the perception factors are relevant. Similarly, in order to encourage bus mobility mode, the urban mesoscale factors should be accounted for. This study contributes with data and a methodological approach that could infuence public policy regarding scholar-aged active mobility. Keywords: Mobility Modes, children 6 to 12 years old, urban mesoscale factors, Random Forest

Objetivo: caracterizar la Fibrilación Auricular (FA), frecuencia de sus comorbilidades, riesgo tromboembólico y las estrategias terapéuticas en pacientes del Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga de la ciudad de Cuenca. Metodología: estudio descriptivo con un universo de 297 pacientes con diagnóstico de Fibrilación Auricular del Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga, durante el año 2017. La información se recolectó en un formulario elaborado por los autores y se analizó con los programas PSPP Free Software Foundation, y Epidat 4.1 mediante distribuciones de frecuencia, porcentajes y media. Resultados: el 52.5% de la población estudiada fueron hombres; la comorbilidad más frecuente fue la hipertensión arterial en el 50.5% de los casos; la Fibrilación Auricular no valvular representó al 82.5% de los casos, el riesgo tromboembólico fue alto en el 77.1% de los pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular; la anticoagulación fue la estrategia terapéutica en el 67% de pacientes. Conclusión: las características clínicas de los pacientes con FA de nuestra localidad resultan congruentes con las de poblaciones similares. La mayoría son hombres, adultos mayores e hipertensos. El riesgo embólico alto fue predominante, consecuentemente la warfarina fue el fármaco más usado.

Climate teleconnections show remote and large-scale relationships between distant points on Earth. Their relations to precipitation are important to monitor and anticipate the anomalies that they can produce in the local climate, such as flood and drought events impacting agriculture, health, and hydropower generation. Climate teleconnections in relation to precipitation have been widely studied. Nevertheless, the spatial association of the teleconnection patterns (i.e. the spatial delineation of regions with teleconnections) has been unattended. Such spatial association allows to characterize how stable (heterogeneity/dependent and statistically significant) is the underlying spatial phenomena for a given pattern. Thus our objective was to characterize the spatial association of climate teleconnection patterns related to precipitation using an exploratory spatial data analysis approach. Global and local indicators of spatial association (Moran’s I and LISA) were used to detect spatial patterns of teleconnections based on TRMM satellite images and climate indices. Moran’s I depicted high positive spatial association for different climate indices, and LISA depicted two types of teleconnections patterns. The homogenous patterns were localized in the Coast and Amazonian regions, meanwhile the disperse patterns had a major presence in the Highlands. The results also showed some areas that, although with moderate to high teleconnection influences, had a random spatial patterns (i.e. non-significant spatial association). Other areas showed both teleconnections and significant spatial association, but with dispersed patterns. This pointed out the need to explore the local underlying features (topography, orientation, wind and micro-climates) that restrict (non-significant spatial association) or reaffirm (disperse patterns) the teleconnection patterns.

To reduce and prevent significant economic flood losses, reliable tools are required to estimate potential river inundation effects. This paper focuses on the estimation of direct damages caused by flooding with different return periods in urban and agricultural areas. A univariable deterministic flood loss model was developed to estimate potential damages, based on water depth. This approach involved assessing the mapping of local flood risks based on the combination of historical inundation marks, land-use and economic data. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether it is possible to use accessible data at the municipality level to assess economic flood losses. For the Santa Barbara River case study, the results reveal that the greatest proportion of damages (approximately 99%) is expected to occur in the urban area. In addition, results showed that the approach is useful for identifying and mapping flooded areas with critical damage. The proposed methodology can be applied to microscale analysis, thereby providing quantitative results for flood risk assessment, the outcomes of which could assist local decision-makers in the prioritization of critical risk areas, and the development of mitigation options and countermeasures. As such, this is the first study to propose and provide an open-access methodology for quantifying flood losses in the inter-Andean region of Ecuador.

Summary Neuroferritinopathy (NF) is a movement disorder caused by alterations in the L-ferritin gene that generate cytosolic free iron. NF is a unique pathophysiological model for determining the direct consequences of cell iron dysregulation. We established lines of induced pluripotent stem cells from fibroblasts from two NF patients and one isogenic control obtained by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. NF fibroblasts, neural progenitors, and neurons exhibited the presence of increased cytosolic iron, which was also detectable as: ferritin aggregates, alterations in the iron parameters, oxidative damage, and the onset of a senescence phenotype, particularly severe in the neurons. In this spontaneous senescence model, NF cells had impaired survival and died by ferroptosis. Thus, non-ferritin-bound iron is sufficient per se to cause both cell senescence and ferroptotic cell death in human fibroblasts and neurons. These results provide strong evidence supporting the primary role of iron in neuronal aging and degeneration., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • NF is a unique pathophysiological model for analyzing cellular iron dysregulation • NF fibroblast/iPSC-derived NPCs and neurons show a phenotype of iron mobilization • Free iron is sufficient per se to cause both cell senescence and ferroptosis • Iron has a primary role in neuronal aging and degeneration, In this article Sonia Levi and colleagues show that non-ferritin-bound iron is able to cause cell senescence and ferroptotic cell death in human fibroblasts and neurons, underlining the primary role of iron in accelerating the processes of aging and neurodegeneration. These findings provide implications for studies investigating the role of iron in a more general context of neurodegenerative diseases.

This study explores the effect of the spatial configuration of street networks on movement patterns of users of a cycling monitoring app, employing crowdsourced information from OpenStreetMap and S...

Ecuador es el noveno país que consume más alcohol en América Latina, lo que se convierte en un factor de riesgo cuando la persona que lo ingiere es un conductor. Este artículo describe el análisis técnico y desarrollo de un sistema que censa el aliento del conductor, comprobando si es apto para manejar; caso contrario se toma el control de encendido del vehículo, bloqueándolo y luego gestionando ayuda a personas de confianza mediante SMS que contiene fotografía y ubicación actual del conductor y su vehículo. Esto se lleva a cabo por medio del uso de sensores de gas como el MQ-3 y dispositivos como cámaras, módulos de GPS/GSM, al igual que con computadores reducidos como Raspberry Pi3 que facilita el procesamiento y control. Los contenidos de este artículo son: Introducción, descripción y funcionamiento del sistema, pruebas aplicadas al sistema Alcotec y conclusiones y recomendaciones.

A door-to-door survey was organised in Cuenca, Ecuador, to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 infection and adherence of the population to COVID-19 preventive measures. A total of 2457 persons participated in the study, 584 (23.7%) reported having experienced at least one flu-like symptom since the onset of the pandemic. The maximum SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Cuenca was 13.2% (CI: 12–14.6%) (IgM or IgG positive). Considering PCR confirmed infections, the prevalence was 11% (CI: 10–12.4%). There was no significant difference in seroprevalence between rural and urban areas. Participants aged 35–49 years old, living with a COVID-19 positive person, at least six people in a household, physical contact with someone outside the household, a contact with a person outside the home with flu-like symptoms, using public transport, and not having enough resources for living, significantly increased the odds for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Overall, there was good adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Having known someone who tested positive for COVID-19, having a primary or secondary level of education, and having enough resources for living, significantly increased the odds for higher adherence. In conclusion, despite good overall adherence of the population of Cuenca with COVID-19 preventive measures, our study suggests high ongoing COVID-19 transmission in Cuenca, particularly in certain parishes. Prevention should not only focus on behavioural change, but on intensified testing strategies in demographical risk groups.

The research takes cases from the project called visual corporate identity of the popular and solidarity economy (VIPSE), which is being carried out at the University of Guayaquil. The objective of the research is to analyze the type of generated digital content that was taken into account for the brand positioning. It was developed from brand management by representatives, digital communication progress, and content generation; this methodology was applied to each association with students in their degree work; this set of guidelines in the generation of digital content is the result of an effective academic intervention. The type of research is qualitative, comparing data from various static and dynamic content, graphical composition analysis charts, developing expert interviews on content management and creation. The impact of the project has resulted in 11 organizations participating in the branding and generation of digital content.

This study explores the potential influence of the urban built environment on pedestrian flow in an intermediate Latin American city, Cuenca-Ecuador. Data from samples of 48 street segments were an...

Background: Campylobacter jejuni is one of the main causal agents of food borne diseases. Infections with this pathogen are mainly caused by chicken meat consumption. Aim: To characterize antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in C. jejuni strains obtained from chicken meat and poultry feces in Central Chile. Material and Methods: The presence of C. jejuni in 30 meat and 40 feces samples from poultry was studied. From these samples, we obtained 40 strains which were characterized at the molecular level for the presence of 16 genes involved in virulence using PCR. In parallel, antibiotic resistance for ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, tetracycline, erythromycin, azithromycin, chloramphenicol y ampicillin was analyzed. Results: Twenty and 63% of feces and chicken meat samples were positive for C. jejuni, respectively. Moreover, a high percentage of strains showed antibiotic resistance, where 27% of strains were resistant to all tested antibiotics, except for azithromycin. Finally, 10% of the strains coming from feces contained 14 out of 16 virulence genes evaluated. Only 23% of the strains did not contain any of these genes. Conclusions: A high percentage of feces and chicken meat samples are contaminated with C. jejuni. Moreover, these strains show a high genetic and phenotypic diversity represented by their antibiotic resistance profiles and the presence of virulence factors.

This paper presents a seismic vulnerability assessment of a single-family dwelling in confined masonry, a common construction type in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. The macroscopic properties of hollow and solid brick masonry are derived from mesoscopic finite element analyses of masonry piers. The structure is modeled using an equivalent frame method, in which masonry walls are defined as piers or spandrels using a macro-element model; reinforced columns and beams and orthotropic floor slabs are also included. Several models, considering a deterministic geometry and stochastic properties of masonry, are analyzed using a quasi-static pushover method. The results of these analyses are used to define a single equivalent macro-element that incorporates in-plane shear and flexural failure modes and is capable of reproducing the cyclic behavior of the 3D model. Non-linear dynamic time history analyses are finally performed on the single equivalent macro-element for different earthquake ground motions that are selected from the PEER Ground Motion Database and that are compatible with the Ecuadorian design spectrum for several PGA levels. The maximum response is compared with different performance levels and the fragility curves are determined using a maximum likelihood analysis. The proposed methodology can be used for seismic vulnerability analysis when few data are available, but is subject to high levels of uncertainty, so further analysis and experiments on materials and structural components are needed.

Background: Detection and quantitation of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) can be difficult in patients with pre-existing elevations of HbF, such as those with hemoglobinopathies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of dual-color flow cytometry with the Fetal Cell Count Kit (FCCK) in differentiating adult and fetal HbF in this population, as compared to flow cytometry (FC) using HbF alone. Methods: Peripheral blood was obtained from normal adults and patients with hemoglobinopathies (β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease), including a small number of pregnant females. Cord blood was used to spike some samples with 5% fetal cells. Analysis by single color (HbF) and dual-color (HbF and carbonic anhydrase) FC was performed on these samples. Fetal cells were defined as those with high HbF fluorescence on single-color FC, and those that were HbF+CA– using the FCCK. The quantity of fetal cells detected by each technique was compared. Results: Forty-six adult patients were included. In non-pregnant adults with hemoglobinopathies, a population of red cells with a fetal cell phenotype were detected by both techniques. The dual-color method reported lower quantities of these cells. In nineteen samples spiked with cord blood the FCCK consistently underestimated the quantity of fetal cells. Conclusions: Patients with β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease have a population of HbF-containing cells which are phenotypically similar to fetal cells. Even with dual-color flow cytometry (FCCK), the detection and quantification of FMH by flow cytometry in this population remains difficult. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Over time Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have evolved from monolithic software to dynamic platforms interacting with other systems. Consequently, characteristics such as availability, scalability, interoperability, and failure handling have become essential. Due to the vast diversity of applications and user levels, and the growing complexity of data types and models handling geospatial data, information management has developed into a complex, often overlooked task, leading to delayed results and/or disorganization of information. The goal of this paper is to propose a software architecture design to support mobility data collection, analysis, and visualization. The proposal is based on the process for software architectures stated by Bredemeyer Consulting, comprising five stages: commit, requirements, design, validation, and deployment. Likewise, the Attribute Driven Design (ADD) method has been used for the design stage where the selected architectural pattern was Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) since it provides the scalability and interoperability attributes required for this study. The Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) has been chosen to identify the risks of the proposal and to evaluate the architecture to ensure that all requirements have been satisfactorily met. The model was validated using the data and projects of the LlactaLAB research group.

Se ha demostrado que la movilidad activa para los niños en edad escolar es fundamental para la salud, las relaciones sociales y el desempeño académico. Por ello, resulta preocupante que, en las últimas décadas, la movilidad activa hacia las escuelas haya disminuido. A pesar de que existe un creciente interés en promover la movilidad escolar a pie y en bicicleta, la evidencia científica es dispersa y poco estructurada, lo que dificulta la toma de decisiones adecuadas. En este artículo buscamos aportar a la sistematización del conocimiento acerca de movilidad escolar activa a través de una revisión de la literatura científica de los años 2009-2019 incluida en la base de datos bibliográfica Scopus. Se evidencia que las decisiones al respecto son tomadas principalmente por los padres, quienes ven como una barrera fundamental para la movilidad activa la inseguridad, tanto vial como personal; sin embargo, también inciden factores relacionados con el entorno construido, las condiciones sociodemográficas de los barrios, la distancia, el clima y la conveniencia de los padres. La revisión de la literatura evidencia también la concentración de este tipo de estudios en países desarrollados, y la incipiente investigación sobre la temática en países en vías de desarrollo.

In the Galapagos Islands, where 97% of the territory is protected and ecosystem dynamics are highly vulnerable, timely and accurate information is key for decision making. An appropriate monitoring system must meet two key features: on one hand, being able to capture information in a systematic and regular basis, and on the other hand, to quickly gather information on demand for specific purposes. The lack of such a system for geographic information limits the ability of Galapagos Islands’ institutions to evaluate and act upon environmental threats such as invasive species spread and vegetation degradation. In this context, the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) for capturing georeferenced images is a promising technology for environmental monitoring and management. This paper explores the potential of UAV images for monitoring degradation of littoral vegetation in Puerto Villamil (Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador). Imagery was captured using two camera types: Red Green Blue (RGB) and Infrarred Red Green (NIR). First, vegetation presence was identified through NDVI. Second, object-based classification was carried out for characterization of vegetation vigor. Results demonstrates the feasibility of UAV technology for base-line studies and monitoring on the amount and vigorousness of littoral vegetation in the Galapagos Islands. It is also showed that UAV images are not only useful for visual interpretation and object delineation, but also to timely produce useful thematic information for environmental management.

Galapagos National Park is iconic for its biodiversity, its role in evolutionary science and as a tourist destination. Over 200,000 tourists visit per year, leading to tension between development and environmental protection. One way to alleviate tourist pressure is to increase visitor understanding for conservation through environmental education, delivered through national park guides and interpretation centres. This study investigated tourist satisfaction with official national park guides and park facilities. A latent class model of nearly 9000 tourists indicated that older women on cruise tours who had planned their trips well in advance were most satisfied with both. Younger men on short, spontaneous land-based visits were more likely not to be satisfied. However, while creating tourist products to satisfy young men could provide short-term economic benefits, such strategies could have long-term disadvantages if they threaten the Galapagos wildlife that gives the islands a competitive advant...

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of adult acute leukemia with ~20,000 new cases yearly. The disease develops in people of all ages, but is more prominent in the elderly, who due to limited treatment options, have poor overall survival rates. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting specific cell surface molecules have proven to be safe and effective in different haematological malignancies. However, AML target molecules are currently limited so discovery of new targets would be highly beneficial to patients. We examined the C-type lectin receptor CD302 as a potential therapeutic target for AML due to its selective expression in myeloid immune populations. In a cohort of 33 AML patients with varied morphological and karyotypic classifications, 88% were found to express CD302 on the surface of blasts and 80% on the surface of CD34+ CD38- population enriched with leukemic stem cells. A mAb targeting human CD302 was effective in mediating antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity and was internalised, making it amenable to toxin conjugation. Targeting CD302 with antibody limited in vivo engraftment of the leukemic cell line HL-60 in NOD/SCID mice. While CD302 was expressed in a hepatic cell line, HepG2, this molecule was not detected on the surface of HepG2, nor could HepG2 be killed using a CD302 antibody-drug conjugate. Expression was however found on the surface of haematopoietic stem cells suggesting that targeting CD302 would be most effective prior to haematopoietic transplantation. These studies provide the foundation for examining CD302 as a potential therapeutic target for AML.

Una de las estrategias para la promoción de la bicicleta como medio de transporte urbano es el diseño y la implementación de la infraestructura necesaria. Ello incluye ciclovías, estacionamientos de bicicletas y sistemas de préstamo de los vehículos. La ubicación espacial de estas infraestructuras es un aspecto clave para garantizar su éxito. En este artículo proponemos la ampliación de un método de análisis de infraestructura ciclística basado en el esfuerzo del pedaleo que toma en cuenta la velocidad, la pendiente del terreno, las intersecciones y la superficie de rodadura para calcular la energía requerida para el desplazamiento. Además, presentamos una herramienta de análisis en sistemas de información geográfica que permite, a partir de datos libres, modelar el nivel de servicio de las estaciones de préstamo de bicicletas, determinar las rutas óptimas para conformar una red de ciclovías y optimizar la ubicación de las estaciones de préstamo utilizando análisis de redes y algoritmos de localización-asignación. Los resultados demuestran la viabilidad del método para apoyar la toma de decisiones sobre infraestructura ciclística urbana., Una de les estratègies per promoure la bicicleta com a mitjà de transport urbà és el disseny i la implementació de la infraestructura adient. Això inclou carril bici, estacionaments de bicicletes i sistemes de préstec dels vehicles. La ubicació espacial d’aquestes infraestructures és un aspecte clau per garantir-ne l’èxit. En aquest article proposem l’ampliació d’un mètode d’anàlisi d’infraestructura ciclista que té en compte la velocitat, el pendent del terreny, les interseccions i la superfície de rodament per calcular l’energia requerida per al pedaleig. A més, presentem una eina SIG que permet, a partir de dades lliures, modelar el nivell de servei de les estacions de préstec de bicicletes, determinar les rutes òptimes per conformar una xarxa de carril bici i optimitzar la ubicació de les estacions de préstec utilitzant anàlisi de xarxes i algorismes de localització-assignació. Els resultats demostren la viabilitat del mètode per donar suport a la presa de decisions sobre infraestructura ciclista urbana., L’une des stratégies de promotion du vélo comme moyen de transport urbain est la conception et la mise en oeuvre des infrastructures, y compris les pistes cyclables, le stationnement des bicyclettes et les systèmes de partage de bicyclettes. La localisation spatiale de ces infrastructures est un élément clé pour garantir leur succès. Dans cet article, nous proposons l’élargissement d’une méthode d’analyse de l’infrastructure cyclable qui tient compte de la vitesse, de l’inclinaison, des intersections et de la surface de roulement pour estimer l’énergie nécessaire au pédalage. Nous présentons également un outil de système d’information géographique qui permet de modéliser le niveau de service des stations de vélos, de déterminer les itinéraires optimaux pour former un réseau de pistes cyclables et d’optimiser la localisation des stations de prêt en utilisant des algorithmes d’analyse et de localisation réseau. Les résultats démontrent la viabilité de la méthode pour soutenir la prise de décision sur l’infrastructure des bicyclettes urbaines., An effective strategy for the promotion of cycling as urban transport is the design and implementation of cycling infrastructure, such as cycle paths, bicycle parking and bicyclesharing schemes. The spatial location of these infrastructures is a key aspect to guarantee their success. In this contribution, we propose the extension of a method of analysis that takes into account the speed, slope, intersections and rolling surface to estimate the energy required for pedalling. In addition, we present a GIS-based assignment tool that enables modelling the service level of bicycle loan stations, optimising their location and determining the optimal routes to design a cycle path network using network analysis and localization algorithms with open data. The results demonstrate the viability of the method to support decision-making on urban cycling infrastructure.

La ciudad es un sistema complejo con patrones y propiedades emergentes que surgen de las interacciones entre las personas y el entorno que habitan. Por su parte, la sostenibilidad es un paradigma en construcción que debe ser contextualizado a las realidades locales y, específicamente, la sostenibilidad de ciudad, es un proceso metabólico de materia, energía, conocimiento, relaciones sociales y culturales, cuyo resultado mejora la calidad de vida de todos sus habitantes sin disminuir las capacidades funcionales del sistema y sin dejar a nadie fuera.Con estos antecedentes, el Grupo de Investigación en Ciudades Sustentables (LlactaLAB) de la Universidad de Cuenca (Ecuador), propuso realizar investigación interdisciplinar que responda preguntas relacionadas con la ciudad compleja con la intención de contribuir en la construcción de política pública y posicionar la investigación del Ecuador en un contexto académico internacional. Para el grupo, son particularmente importantes el estudio del espacio construido, la forma urbana, la vida urbana y los sistemas urbanos. The city is a complex system with emerging patterns and properties that arise from the interactions between people and the environment they inhabit; on the other hand, sustainability is a paradigm in construction that must be contextualized to local realities; and, specifically, city sustainability, is a metabolic process of matter, energy, knowledge, social and cultural relations, whose result improves the quality of life of all its inhabitants without diminishing the functional capa-bilities of the system and without leaving anyone behind. With this background, the Research Group in Sustainable Cities (LlactaLAB) of the University of Cuenca (Ecuador), proposed interdisciplinary research that answers questions related to the complex city with the intention to contribute to the construction of public policy and to position Ecuadorian research in an international academic context. For the group, the study of built space, urban form, urban life and urban systems are particularly important.

Introduction Approximately 66 million people with disabilities (PWD) live in Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite the important advances in regulations for social inclusion in this region, urban public spaces are not accessible to PWD. In this study, we assess street-level accessibility in the city of Cuenca (Ecuador) to examine the disparities for people with different mobility conditions. Methods We designed and implemented a mobile-based tool to audit street-level accessibility related to two key issues: the compliance level with the national standard for accessibility (NAMF) and the presence and characteristics of obstacles that hinder pedestrian mobility. A set of 214 street segments were audited by volunteers with different mobility conditions (unrestricted, restricted, or impaired). The collected data were analysed to compute accessibility indices (AIs) for each condition ranging from 0 (totally inaccessible) to 1 (totally accessible). AI values were examined to determine the differences among conditions. Results None of the 214 audited street segments fully complied with the NAMF. The AIs were: unrestricted mobility = 0.4, restricted mobility = 0.29, impaired mobility = 0.12. Eighty-three percent of the audited streets were perceived as highly inaccessible by wheelchair users, whereas for individuals with restricted or unrestricted mobility, the rates were 50% and 34%, respectively. Most streets were affected by obstacles that hindered mobility, with curb ramps and driveway ramps having the highest impact on accessibility. Conclusion The urban streets of Cuenca are highly inaccessible, mainly due to their flawed design and the presence of obstacles, creating excluding environments for people with mobility restrictions or impairments. National regulations are failing to tackle all the issues that hinder accessibility and must be revised. Cuenca, together with other intermediate cities in Latin America, must redesign their sidewalks and pedestrian facilities to allow universal accessibility.

Cell signalling mechanisms are central to neuronal activity and their dysregulation may lead to neurodegenerative processes and associated cognitive decline. So far, a major effort has been directed toward the dissection of disease specific pathways with the still unmet promise to develop precision medicine strategies. With a different approach, here we show that a selective genetic potentiation of neuronal ERK signalling prevents cell death in vitro and in vivo in the mouse brain while ERK attenuation does the opposite. This neuroprotective effect can also be induced pharmacologically by a cell permeable peptide mimicking the loss of ERK1 MAP kinase, leading to a selective enhancement of ERK2 mediated nuclear cell signalling. The drug treatment prevents neurodegeneration in mouse models of Huntington's (HD), Alzheimer's (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Importantly, the selective potentiation of ERK2 signalling facilitates both structural and synaptic plasticity, enhances cognition in healthy mice and rescues mild cognitive impairments in both models of AD and HD. Altogether, our observation truly represents a remarkable example of a shared molecular mechanism across multiple neurodegenerative disorders and a potentially valuable therapeutic target for neuro-enhancement.

International initiatives like the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA) have emerged to support monitoring and surveillanceofphysicalactivity,physical fitness,sedentarybehavioranditssocialandenvironmentalinfluencesamongchildrenand adolescents.1,2 The standardized methodology proposed by AHKGA focuses on the development of a Report Card, allows the compilation of knowledge gaps and highlights the most urgent needsandproblemsthat shouldbeconsidered by policymakersto promote an active healthy lifestyle among children and youth withineachcountry.2 Thispapersummarizesthe firstresultsofthe Ecuadorian 2018 Report Card (Figure 1) based on the AHKGA methodology.

Only modest advances in AML therapy have occurred in the past decade and relapse due to residual disease remains the major challenge. The potential of the immune system to address this is evident in the success of allogeneic transplantation, however this leads to considerable morbidity. Dendritic cell (DC) vaccination can generate leukemia-specific autologous immunity with little toxicity. Promising results have been achieved with vaccines developed in vitro from purified monocytes (Mo-DC). We now demonstrate that blood DC (BDC) have superior function to Mo-DC. Whilst BDC are reduced at diagnosis in AML, they recover following chemotherapy and allogeneic transplantation, can be purified using CMRF-56 antibody technology, and can stimulate functional T cell responses. While most AML patients in remission had a relatively normal T cell landscape, those who had received fludarabine as salvage therapy have persistent T cell abnormalities including reduced number, altered subset distribution, failure to expand, and increased activation-induced cell death. Furthermore, PD-1 and TIM-3 are increased on CD4T cells in AML patients in remission and their blockade enhances the expansion of leukemia-specific T cells. This confirms the feasibility of a BDC vaccine to consolidate remission in AML and suggests it should be tested in conjunction with checkpoint blockade.

The purpose of this document is to present the literature review carried out for the construction of a multidisciplinary analytical framework for the study of the mobility patterns of cyclists and pedestrians in the urban environment. The results of the literature review are organized in two main themes; the first one explores new sources of data on non-motorized mobility, both through geographic information systems and TIC´s and traditional qualitative methods. The second theme analyses behavior and perception of cyclists/pedestrians in relation to the urban space. This review allowed us to evidence experimental and observational studies that should be conducted in order to deepen knowledge about cyclists and pedestrian behavior in intermediate Latin- American cities, in order to help city administrations in decision making processes about non-motorized mobility. El objetivo de este documento es presentar la revisión bibliográfica realizada para la construcción de un marco analítico multidisciplinar para el estudio de los patrones de movilidad de ciclistas y peatones en el entorno urbano. Se organizan los resultados de la revisión de literatura en dos grandes temas; el primero consiste en la exploración de nuevas fuentes de datos sobre movilidad no motorizada tanto a través de sistemas de información geográfica y tecnologías de la información y comunicación, como de métodos cualitativos más tradicionales. El segundo aborda el comportamiento y la percepción de ciclistas/peatones con relación al espacio urbano. Esta revisión de literatura permite evidenciar los estudios observacionales y experimentales que deberán llevarse a cabo para profundizar en aspectos del comportamiento espacial de ciclistas y peatones en ciudades intermedias latinoamericanas, con la finalidad de apoyar a las administraciones locales en la toma de decisiones en materia de movilidad no motorizada. Fil: Orellana, Daniel. LlactaLAB – Ciudades Sustentables. Departamento de Espacio y Población. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Universidad de Cuenca; Ecuador. Fil: Hermida, Carla. Laboratorio de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Universidad del Azuay; Ecuador. Fil: Osorio, Pablo. LlactaLAB – Ciudades Sustentables. Departamento de Espacio y Población. Universidad de Cuenca; Ecuador. Para acceder al artículo utilice el link: http://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/rtt/article/view/3608

En este estudio, buscamos medir y cuantificar la segregación espacial en la zona urbana de Cuenca, Ecuador, como un piloto para desarrollar una metodología para analizar la estructura socio-espacial de las ciudades ecuatorianas. A partir de los datos del Censo de Población y Vivienda 2010, hemos caracterizado la población según su índice de condiciones de vida (ICV); a continuación, hemos analizado la estructura espacial de la población utilizando índices de segregación espacial global y local por cuartiles según el ICV; además, hemos utilizado un indicador local de asociación espacial (LISA) para medir la autocorrelación espacial y detectar conglomerados espaciales de valores altos y bajos de ICV. Los resultados indican que Cuenca presenta segregación espacial para los grupos de los cuartiles Q1 y Q4 y la existencia de una fuerte autocorrelación espacial con conglomerados de valores altos y bajos. Esto indicaría la existencia de dos procesos paralelos de segregación espacial urbana en la ciudad, a la vez que demuestra la utilidad de las técnicas de análisis espacial para el estudio de la estructura socio-espacial en las ciudades ecuatorianas.

Background Campylobacter jejuni is one of the main causal agents of food borne diseases. Infections with this pathogen are mainly caused by chicken meat consumption. Aim To characterize antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in C. jejuni strains obtained from chicken meat and poultry feces in Central Chile. Material and Methods The presence of C. jejuni in 30 meat and 40 feces samples from poultry was studied. From these samples, we obtained 40 strains which were characterized at the molecular level for the presence of 16 genes involved in virulence using PCR. In parallel, antibiotic resistance for ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, tetracycline, erythromycin, azithromycin, chloramphenicol y ampicillin was analyzed. Results Twenty and 63% of feces and chicken meat samples were positive for C. jejuni, respectively. Moreover, a high percentage of strains showed antibiotic resistance, where 27% of strains were resistant to all tested antibiotics, except for azithromycin. Finally, 10% of the strains coming from feces contained 14 out of 16 virulence genes evaluated. Only 23% of the strains did not contain any of these genes. Conclusions A high percentage of feces and chicken meat samples are contaminated with C. jejuni. Moreover, these strains show a high genetic and phenotypic diversity represented by their antibiotic resistance profiles and the presence of virulence factors.

SHANK3 (also called PROSAP2) genetic haploinsufficiency is thought to be the major cause of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS). PMS is a rare genetic disorder that causes a severe form of intellectual disability (ID), expressive language delays and other autistic features. Furthermore, a significant number of SHANK3 mutations have been identified in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and SHANK3 truncating mutations are associated with moderate to profound ID. The Shank3 protein is a scaffold protein that is located in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory synapses and is crucial for synapse development and plasticity. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms associated with the ASD-like behaviors observed in Shank3Δ11-/- mice, in which exon 11 has been deleted. Our results indicate that Shank3 is essential to mediating metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5)-receptor signaling by recruiting Homer1b/c to the PSD, specifically in the striatum and cortex. Moreover, augmenting mGlu5-receptor activity by administering 3-Cyano-N-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide ameliorated the functional and behavioral defects that were observed in Shank3Δ11-/- mice, suggesting that pharmaceutical treatments that increase mGlu5 activity may represent a new approach for treating patients that are affected by PMS and SHANK3 mutations.

GPS technology is widely used to produce detailed data on the movement of people. Analysing massive amounts of GPS data, however, can be cumbersome. We present a novel approach to processing such data to aid interpretation and understanding of the aggregated movement of visitors in natural recreational areas. It involves the combined analysis of two kinds of movement patterns: ‘Movement Suspension Patterns’ (MSPs) and ‘Generalized Sequential Patterns’ (GSPs). MSPs denote the suspension of movement when walkers stop at a place, and are used to discover places of interest to visitors. GSPs represent the generalized sequence in which the places are visited, regardless of the trajectory followed, and are used to uncover commonalities in the way that people visit the area. Both patterns were analysed in a geographical context to characterise the aggregated flow of people and provide insights into visitors’ preferences and their interactions with the environment. We demonstrate the application of the approach in the Dwingelderveld National Park (The Netherlands).

The main laboratory characteristic of lupus anticoagulants (LA) is their ability to prolong phospholipid-dependent clotting time in vitro. The laboratory demonstration of LA requires a systematic approach combined with an awareness of the many variables that can affect test results. The ideal testing procedures are those sensitive enough to detect weak LA and specific enough so as not to produce incorrect conclusions. International guidelines have been published to assist laboratories in applying correct testing processes. The most recently published guidelines from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis update the criteria for detecting the presence of LA that were presented in the 1995 guidelines. Some of the specific recommendations relate to the key areas of setting cut-off levels for screening, mixing, and confirmatory procedures. The more challenging aspects of testing for LA include maintaining sensitivity and specificity of the assays, especially in the presence of anticoagulant therapy.

One of the main tasks in analyzing pedestrian movement is to detect places where pedestrians stop, as those places usually are associated with specific human activities, and they can allow us to understand pedestrian movement behavior. Very few approaches have been proposed to detect the locations of stops in positioning data sets, and they often are based on selecting the location of candidate stops as well as potential spatial and temporal thresholds according to different application requirements. However, these approaches are not suitable for analyzing the slow movement of pedestrians where the inaccuracy of a nondifferential global positioning system commonly used for movement tracking is so significant that it can hinder the selection of adequate thresholds. In this article, we propose an exploratory statistical approach to detect patterns of movement suspension using a local indicator of spatial association (LISA) in a vector space representation. Two different positioning data sets are used to evaluate our approach in terms of exploring movement suspension patterns that can be related to different landscapes: players of an urban outdoor mobile game and visitors of a natural park. The results of both experiments show that patterns of movement suspension were located at places such as checkpoints in the game and different attractions and facilities in the park. Based on these results, we conclude that using LISA is a reliable approach for exploring movement suspension patterns that represent the places where the movement of pedestrians is temporally suspended by physical restrictions (e.g., checkpoints of a mobile game and the route choosing points of a park).