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Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant global health threat, with uncertainties persisting regarding the factors determining whether individuals experience mild symptoms, severe conditions, or succumb to the disease. This study presents an NMR metabolomics-based approach, analysing 80 serum and urine samples from COVID-19 patients (34 intensive care patients and 46 hospitalized patients) and 32 from healthy controls. Our research identifies discriminant metabolites and clinical variables relevant to COVID-19 diagnosis and severity. These discriminant metabolites play a role in specific pathways, mainly “Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis”, “Phenylalanine metabolism”, “Glycerolipid metabolism” and “Arginine and proline metabolism”. We propose a three-metabolite diagnostic panel—comprising isoleucine, TMAO, and glucose—that effectively discriminates COVID-19 patients from healthy individuals, achieving high efficiency. Furthermore, we found an optimal biomarker panel capable of efficiently classify disease severity considering both clinical characteristics (obesity/overweight, dyslipidemia, and lymphocyte count) together with metabolites content (ethanol, TMAO, tyrosine and betaine).

This paper presents findings on the correlation between surface air temperature and lightning activity in Colombia. The air temperature data spans several decades, while the lightning data covers 17 years. The temperature records come from nine cities, and the lightning data covers about 50% of the territory. Despite differences in sampling rates and dataset sizes, the findings show a positive correlation between surface air temperature and lightning activity, suggesting a possible relationship between warmer conditions and increased lightning activity.

El presente documento tiene como finalidad analizar la eficiencia técnica con la que los países de la OCDE fueron capaces de generar ingreso a partir de tres insumos, como lo son la formación bruta de capital, la población económicamente activa y la extensión territorial, en un periodo comprendido entre los años 2000 y 2020. El análisis se realizó a partir del concepto de desarrollo basado en el crecimiento económico, y utilizando el Análisis de la Envolvente de Datos (DEA, por sus siglas en inglés), un método no paramétrico de programación lineal, para la medición de la eficiencia. Los resultados muestran que seis naciones fueron capaces de mantener un nivel óptimo de eficiencia durante todo el periodo de estudio, como lo es el caso de Estados Unidos, Islandia, Japón, Luxemburgo, Países Bajos y Reino Unido; por su parte, Estonia y Suiza fueron capaces de mantener el mismo nivel durante quince de los veinte años de estudio; Noruega hizo lo propio durante diez años; mientras que Alemania, Corea del Sur, Eslovenia y Grecia lo consiguieron durante cinco años.

This paper introduces a novel approach to robotic assistance in bottle opening using the dual-arm robot TIAGo++. The solution enhances accessibility by addressing the needs of individuals with injuries or disabilities who may require help with common manipulation tasks. The aim of this paper is to propose a method involving vision, manipulation, and learning techniques to effectively address the task of bottle opening. The process begins with the acquisition of bottle and cap positions using an RGB-D camera and computer vision. Subsequently, the robot picks the bottle with one gripper and grips the cap with the other, each by planning safe trajectories. Then, the opening procedure is executed via a position and force control scheme that ensures both grippers follow the unscrewing path defined by the cap thread. Within the control loop, force sensor information is employed to control the vertical axis movements, while gripper rotation control is achieved through a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) algorithm trained to determine the optimal angle increments for rotation. The results demonstrate the successful training of the learning agent. The experiments confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method in bottle opening with the TIAGo++ robot, showcasing the practical viability of the approach.

Individuals with reduced mobility, including the growing elderly demographic and those with spinal cord injuries, often face significant challenges in daily activities, leading to a dependence on assistance. To enhance their independence, we propose a robotic system that facilitates greater autonomy. Our approach involves a functional assistive robotic implementation for picking, placing, and delivering containers using the TIAGo mobile manipulator robot. We developed software and routines for detecting containers marked with an ArUco code and manipulating them using the MoveIt library. Subsequently, the robot navigates to specific points of interest within a room to deliver the container to the user or another designated location. This assistance task is commanded through a user interface based on a web application that can be accessed from the personal phones of patients. The functionality of the system was validated through testing. Additionally, a series of user trials were conducted, yielding positive feedback on the performance and the demonstration. Insights gained from user feedback will be incorporated into future improvements to the system.

Today, it is difficult to have a high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) device due to the high cost of its acquisition and maintenance. These high-end machines require significant space and specialist personnel for operation and offer exceptional quality in the acquisition, processing, and other advanced functions associated with detected signals. However, alternative devices are low-field nuclear magnetic resonance devices. They benefit from the elimination of high-tech components that generate static magnetic fields and advanced instruments. Instead, they used magnetic fields induced by ordinary conductors. Another category of spectrometers uses the Earth’s magnetic field, which is simple and economical but limited in use. These devices are called Earth-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (EFNMR) devices. This device is ideal for educational purposes, especially for engineers and those who study nuclear magnetic resonance, such as chemistry or other experimental sciences. Students can observe their internal workings and conduct experiments that complement their education without worrying about damaging equipment. This article provides a detailed explanation of the design and construction of electrical technology devices for the excitation of atomic spin resonance using Earth’s magnetic fields. It covers all necessary stages, from research to analysis, including simulation, assembly, construction of each component, and the development of comprehensive software for spectrometer control.

BackgroundIncreasing physical activity (PA) levels and reducing sedentary behaviors in children and adolescents is a need, especially in schools. Active breaks and physically active learning are examples of two emerging methodologies that have been shown to be effective in increasing PA levels and additionally produce improvements in children’s educational markers. However, the evidence in adolescents is very limited. This paper presents the design, measurements, and interventions implemented in the ACTIVE CLASS study, whose objectives are: (i) evaluate the effects of two interventions on PA levels, sedentary time, health-related physical fitness academic indicators, cognition, and markers of psychological health among secondary education students; (ii) evaluate teachers’ and students’ experiences about the implementation of these the two school-based PA intervention.MethodsA randomized controlled study is conducted with a total of 292 students aged 12–14 years old from six schools (7th and 8th grade) in Spain (three in Cadiz and three in Caceres). One school from each study provinces is randomly assigned to either the active break intervention group, the physically active learning intervention group, or the control group. The interventions have a duration of 16 weeks. Nine main measurement categories are assessed: PA and sedentary time, health-related physical fitness, academic indicators, cognition, psychological health, motivational variables, dietary patterns, sociodemographic characteristics, as well as qualitative information through semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups. Three independent measurements of evaluation are distinguished: pre-intervention, post-intervention (week 16) and retention measurement (4 weeks after the intervention). For quantitative variables, descriptive, correlational, regression and repeated measures ANOVA will be applied.DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, the ACTIVE CLASS study is the first of its kind in Spain to evaluate the effects of incorporating active breaks and physically active learning in secondary education. In addition, this project provides important information on the effects of two school-based PA intervention arms on educational variables and health markers in adolescents. This will provide valuable and innovative training to the educational community, enabling them to implement teaching methodologies that have the potential to enhance academic performance and improve the quality of life for their students.Clinical trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, NCT05891054.

Abstract This study proposes an explanation for the physical power flow in planar circuits by analogy to theoretical two-dimensional circuits using a new mathematical model based on Geometric Algebra (GA) and 2D Maxwell’s equations. In contrast with traditional 3D physics in the observable real world, the magnetic field can be defined as a bivector instead of an axial vector allowing to obtain the Poynting Vector directly in a 2D flat world, where physical variables of planar circuits can be obtained. This approach is presented here for the first time to the best of the author’s knowledge. Previous investigations have focused on simplifications and symmetries of real 3D circuits studied mainly in the phasor and frequency domain. In this work, the electromagnetic power flow phenomenon is analyzed on a completely 2D time-domain basis and derived directly from the undisputed Maxwell equations, formulated in two dimensions. Several cases of special interest in AC multi-phase circuits are presented using the proposed technique, bringing a new simplified approach to the measurement of power flow exchange between the source and the load. It suggests a new way to understand energy propagation from a purely physical point of view.

Tourism plays an important role in fostering economic growth within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum member countries. Nevertheless, the development of this sector has resulted in significant depletion of natural resources and pollution. This research aims to determine the relationship between tourism, economic growth, and environmental pollution in both developing and developed APEC economies from 1995 to 2020. By adopting the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework, two dynamic panel data models are estimated employing Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), and causal relationships are established using the Dumitrescu–Hurlin test. The results indicate that tourism and economic growth have had a positive influence on the rise of environmental pollution in both groups of economies during the specified period. This research offers new insights by analyzing twelve developing and nine developed APEC economies over a span of 25 years, estimating two DOLS models, conducting Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality tests, and presenting evidence of EKC for both types of economies. Consequently, the implementation of policies that foster the preservation of natural areas, the utilization of renewable energies, and the promotion of sustainable tourism practices is recommended.

This work reports the design of a 60-segment photoluminescence quantum dot light emitting device (QD-LED) for automotive lighting systems. The QD-LED device was fabricated using a quantum dot film (QDF), incorporating two kinds of quantum dots (QDs) synthesized to emit at 531 nm (green) and 624 nm (red). When the QDF is excited with blue wavelength at 465 nm, a white color output is obtained. Likewise, by using different color filters, all the automotive lighting functions (interior and exterior) can be achieved. In addition, an electronic control module, based on the state-of-the-art multichannel automotive lighting emitting diode (LED) drivers, was specifically designed to control each segment individually to enable the possibility of external digital communication with the vehicle surroundings. That is key to develop the autonomous vehicle by incorporating what is known as car-to-X communication, used to transmit information to other vehicles and road users through light. Furthermore, this work is remarkable due to the low power consumption of the QD-LED device designed, which implies a high electrical efficiency, something critical for the electrical vehicle development. Besides, figures of merit and performance indicators are measured, offering promising values to use this nanotechnology in the next future of the vehicle transportation lighting systems.

La presente investigación analiza la eficiencia de 24 departamentos colombianos en el uso de sus recursos para cumplir con los objetivos de los programas educativos del país, durante el período 2007-2018. La valoración de la eficiencia se llevó a cabo mediante el Análisis de la Envolvente de Datos, diseñando tres modelos orientados al output y estructurados con rendimientos variables a escala. Los resultados de los modelos muestran que únicamente los departamentos de Bogotá D.C., Antioquia y Quindío emplearon de manera eficiente su personal docente y sedes educativas para incrementar el alfabetismo, la matriculación, y la equidad urbano-rural; por ello, es recomendable el establecimiento de políticas públicas orientadas a fortalecer el sector educativo, y con estas contribuir al bienestar de la sociedad. Abstract This research analyzes the efficiency of 24 departments of Colombia in the use of their resources to achieve the objective of the national educational programs, during the 2007-2018 period. The efficiency assessment was carried out through the Data Envelope Analysis (DEA), designing three models oriented to output and structured with variable returns to scale. The results of the three shows that only the departments of Bogota D.C., Antioquia, and Quindio efficiently used their teaching staff and educational facilities to increase literacy, enrollment, and urban-rural equity. Therefore, it is advisable to develop public policies aimed at strengthening the education sector, and thus contribute to the well-being of society.

Resumo: A partir da consideração de que o Sistema Único de Saúde, por mandato constitucional, deveria “ordenar” o processo de formação profissional na área da saúde e com base na importância da força de trabalho que ele absorve, os autores exploram as possibilidades de integração do processo de aprendizagem à rede de serviços de saúde. Na busca de reorientar a formação, tratam de estimular uma atuação interdisciplinar multiprofissional por meio da construção de um novo modelo pedagógico que equilibre a excelência técnica e a relevância social, com métodos de ensino-aprendizagem centrados no aluno e desenvolvidos como processo permanente, com base nas relações de parceria da universidade com os serviços de saúde, com a comunidade, com as entidades e outros setores da sociedade civil. Os autores propõem um sistema de incentivos às instituições de ensino superior, visando maior sintonia com o paradigma da integralidade. Para isto, estabelecem um mecanismo de acompanhamento classificatório que congrega os distintos eixos de um processo de mudança da organização de uma instituição de ensino na direção proposta, que incluem: a orientação teórica predominante na instituição, a abordagem pedagógica e os cenários de práticas, cada um deles abrindo-se em três vetores que marcam o grau de avanço nas mudanças em curso. Com isso, conformam uma tipologia em um “perfil radical de avaliação” da tendência a alcançar o paradigma proposto. Não se avalia com este instrumento a qualidade da instituição ou do programa, senão sua posição em relação ao SUS.

Purpose - This paper aims to review the efficient use of economic and social resources to generate income and, at the same time, reduce the concentration of wealth in the 32 states of the Mexican Republic during the period 1990-2015. Design/methodology/approach - Data envelopment analysis with the inclusion of a bad output was used to diagnose the efficiency of Mexican entities, and the Malmquist–Luenberger index was applied to understand how this efficiency evolves. Findings - The results clearly show that only 3 of the 32 units studied generated and distributed wealth efficiently, while the other 29 must increase their level of income and its distribution. Originality/value - According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work that performs a temporal analysis of the efficiency in the generation of Human Development Index using bad outputs and the Malmquist–Luenberger index.

Jatropha curcas L. is a non-edible oilseed containing almost 40% of seed oil and is famous as the best source of raw material for biofuel production. J. curcas seeds contain three main tissues, such as inner integument, endosperm, and embryo. To best understand the physiological events related to specific tissues, it is important to perform the proteome analysis of these tissues. Previously we have explored the pattern of reserves deposition and tissue-specific biological pathways by analyzing the proteome of the inner integument and endosperm and organelles, such as plastids and gerontoplasts isolated from these tissues. The focus of the present study was to perform the proteomic analysis of embryo isolated from the mature seeds of J. curcas. This analysis resulted in the identification of 564 proteins of which 206 are not identified previously from any other tissue of this plant. The identified proteins were functionally classified using the MapMan classification system revealing various proteins involved in different functionalities. The proteins involved in transport functions and those with proteolytic activity were determined through the Transporter Classification Database (TCDB) and MEROPS database, respectively. In addition to identify a large number of proteins participating in various metabolic processes, we found several proteins involved in defense functions, such as the members of chaperones and the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Similarly, members of the legumin and vicilin family of seed storage proteins (SSPs) were identified which in addition to their storage function, are involved in defense. In addition, we have reported that proteases belonging to different mechanistic classes and are involved in diverse physiological functions. Last but not the least, several classes of transport-related proteins were identified that are discussed concerning their function in the transportation of different nutrients across the embryo. To the best of our knowledge, this study reported the highest number of proteins identified from the embryo of mature J. curcas seeds, most of which are essential for seed germination, reflecting the fact that many proteins required for germination are already present in the mature embryo.

The deployment of 5G around the world continues to progress at a rapid pace, especially in North America and Asia. Its advantages and efficiency as a data transmission network have been widely demonstrated in different fields such as agriculture, education, health, and surveillance. However, this process does not have the same dynamics in Latin America, specifically in Colombia. The country is currently implementing actions aimed at facilitating the deployment of this technology in the short term, including pilot tests for the use of the radio spectrum, spectrum auctions, the planning of future auctions, and the review of spectrum caps. The results of this review allow us to conclude that despite the forecasts and the intentions of the Colombian government and mobile communication service operators, 5G in standalone mode will not be commercially available in Colombia before the end of 2023. The main failures in its deployment are related to the lack of available spectrum to support the ultrahigh-reliability and low-latency, enhanced mobile broadband, and massive machine-type communications scenarios, as well as the delay in the auction processes for its assignment.

The production of crops in greenhouses will ensure the demand for food for the world’s population in the coming decades. Precision agriculture is an important tool for this purpose, supported among other things, by the technology of wireless sensor networks (WSN) in the monitoring of agronomic parameters. Therefore, prior planning of the deployment of WSN nodes is relevant because their coverage decreases when the radio waves are attenuated by the foliage of the plantation. In that sense, the method proposed in this study applies Deep Learning to develop an empirical model of radio wave attenuation when it crosses vegetation that includes height and distance between the transceivers of the WSN nodes. The model quality is expressed via the parameters cross-validation, R2 of 0.966, while its generalized error is 0.920 verifying the reliability of the empirical model.

There is a need to integrate advancements in biomedical, information, and communication technologies with care processes within the framework of the inpatient safety program to support effective risk management of adverse events occurring in the hospital environment and to improve inpatient safety. In this respect, this work presents the development of a software platform using the Scrum methodology and the integrated technology of the Internet of Things for monitoring and managing inpatient safety. A modular solution is developed under a hexagonal architecture, using PHP as the backend language through the Laravel framework. A MySQL database was used for the data layer, and Vue.js was used for the user interface. This work implemented an RFID-based nurse call system using Internet of Things (IoT) concepts. The system enables nurses to respond to each inpatient within a given time limit and without the inpatient or a family member having to approach the nursing station. The system also provides reports and indicators that help evaluate the quality of inpatient care and helps to take measures to improve inpatient safety during care. In addition, diet management is integrated to reduce the occurrence of adverse events. A LoRa and Wi-Fi-based IoT network was implemented using a LoRa transceiver and the ESP32 MCU, chosen for its low power consumption, low cost, and wide availability. Bidirectional communication between hardware and software is handled through an MQTT Broker. The system integrates temperature and humidity sensors and smoke sensors, among others.

(1) Background: Cycling is characterized by a sustained sitting posture on the bicycle, where physiologic spinal curvatures are modified from standing to cycling. Therefore, the main objective was to evaluate and compare the morphology of the spine and the core muscle activity in standing posture and cycling at low intensity. (2) Methods: Twelve competitive cyclists participated in the study. Spinal morphology was evaluated using an infrared-camera system. Muscle activation was recorded using a surface electromyography device. (3) Conclusions: The lumbar spine changes its morphology from lordosis in standing to kyphosis (lumbar flexion) when pedaling on the bicycle. The sacral tilt significantly increases its anterior tilt when cycling compared to when standing. The spinal morphology and sacral tilt are dynamic depending on the pedal’s position during the pedal stroke quadrants. The infraspinatus, latissimus dorsi, external oblique, and pectoralis major showed significantly higher activation pedaling than when standing, although with very low values.

We present a theoretical atomistic study of the optical properties of non-toxic InX (X = P, As, Sb) colloidal quantum dot arrays for application in photovoltaics. We focus on the electronic structure and optical absorption and on their dependence on array dimensionality and surface stoichiometry motivated by the rapid development of experimental techniques to achieve high periodicity and colloidal quantum dot characteristics. The homogeneous response of colloidal quantum dot arrays to different light polarizations is also investigated. Our results shed light on the optical behaviour of these novel multi-dimensional nanomaterials and identify some of them as ideal building blocks for intermediate band solar cells.

The growing global demand for food and the environmental impact caused by agriculture have made this activity increasingly dependent on electronics, information technology, and telecommunications technologies. In Colombia, agriculture is of great importance not only as a commercial activity, but also as a source of food and employment. However, the concept of smart agriculture has not been widely applied in this country, resulting in the high production of various types of crops due to the planting of large areas of land, rather than optimization of the processes involved in the activity. Due to its technical characteristics and the radio spectrum considered in its deployment, 5G can be seen as one of the technologies that could generate the greatest benefits for the Colombian agricultural sector, especially in the most remote rural areas, which currently lack mobile network coverage. This article provides an overview of the current 5G technology landscape in Colombia and presents examples of possible 5G/IoT applications that could be developed in Colombian fields. The results show that 5G could facilitate the implementation of the smart farm in Colombia, improving current production and efficiency. It is useful when designing 5G implementation plans and strategies, since it categorizes crops by regions and products. This is based on budget availability, population density, and regional development plans, among others.

In this paper, power flows in electrical circuits are modelled in a mixed time-frequency domain by using geometric algebra and the Hilbert transform for the first time. The use of this mathematical framework overcomes some of the limitations of some of the existing methodologies, in which the so-called “active current” may not lead to the lowest Root Mean Square (RMS) current under distorted supply or unbalanced load. Moreover, this current may contain higher levels of harmonic distortion compared to the supply voltage. The proposed method can be used for sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal power supplies, non-linear loads and single- and multi-phase electrical circuits, and it provides meaningful engineering results with a compact formulation. It can also serve as an advanced tool for developing algorithms in the power electronics field. Several examples have been included to verify the validity of the proposed theory.

The sediment-hosted polymetallic (Pb, Zn, Ag, Au-Cu) mineralization of the Vale do Ribeira Mineral District has been known since the beginning of the 20th century, but exploration was interrupted just before the turn of the century. The Vale do Ribeira Mineral District is part of the Southern Ribeira Belt, developed during the Brasiliano-Pan African orogeny. Polymetallic mineralization is mainly hosted in metalimestones of the Lajeado Group, a typical platform carbonate sequence of a passive margin, which has been deformed during the Gondwana assembly. The region has a gap of research since the mines were closed, which justifies new projects on their mineral economic potential. Fieldwork, petrographic and geochemical analyses were developed in five currently inactive mines (Panelas, Barrinha, Rocha, Lajeado, and Furnas) and their surroundings, along with the description of a drill core executed in the 1980s. The main type of ore consists of polymetallic fault-fill veins of massive sulfide, which are composed essentially by argentiferous galena, sphalerite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and chalcopyrite. The highest ore grades were obtained from samples in the Panelas Mine, with contents of up to 35% lead, 5% zinc, > 1% copper and 564 ppm silver, as well as 23% iron. New ore occurrences were described in a secondary gallery of the Barrinha Mine, whose gold grades reached up to 5,630 ppb. The main controls of the mineralization are lithological - since the ore occurs exclusively in carbonate rocks, irrespective of the geological unit - and structural, related to NE high-angle strike-slip fault zones, including evidence of fault-valve behavior. Fault zones as the main control of the polymetallic veins is an innovative interpretation, increasing the perspectives for mineral exploration in the area. Although they are small deposits, the presented data indicate that the region has potential for new discoveries and that the mined deposits are probably not exhausted.

Este trabajo evalúa el uso de los recursos para proveer servicios públicos en el estado de Michoacán, en 2014, usando el análisis envolvente de datos y considerando los insumos (recursos) y productos (servicios públicos) del municipio. Los resultados indican que solo 22 municipios proporcionaron servicios públicos de manera eficiente, y aunque los recursos financieros de los gobiernos locales han aumentado se emplean de manera ineficiente.

This paper presents a comparative diagnosis, in terms of productivity and competitiveness, between the agricultural sectors of Mexico and 18 economies of APEC in the period 1980-2015. The Mexican agricultural sector is a fundamental and traditional element of the national dynamics. Therefore, establishing mechanisms that improve their productivity and competitiveness in the APEC region is essential for the country to aspire to higher levels of economic development. In order to determine the productivity and competitiveness of the Mexican agricultural sector in APEC, the Total Productivity of the Factors of Hernández Laos (1993) and of the Competitiveness Revealed by Balassa (1965) and Vollrath (1991) were used. The results of the models show that the agricultural sector of Mexico had a revealed competitiveness in relation to the Brunei, China, South Korea, Japan, Peru, Russia and Singapore, being the partial productivity of the work its main determinant

This paper studies the efficiently use of resources to generate income and reduce inequality, considering non-controllable variables, in the 32 states of Mexico during the 1990-2010 period. To define efficiency, we use the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), considering as a bad output the poverty of capacities and as a uncontrollable variable, the average level of schooling of the population aged 15 or older. The results shows that only Baja California Sur, Campeche and the Federal District were efficient in generating income and reducing inequality. El documento aborda el estudio del uso eficiente de los recursos para generar ingreso y reducir la inequidad, considerando variables no controlables, en las 32 entidades de México, durante el período 1990-2010. Para determinar la eficiencia, se utilizó el Análisis de la Envolvente de Datos (DEA), considerando como bad output a la pobreza de capacidades, y como variable no controlable, el grado promedio de escolarización de la población de 15 y más años. Los resultados muestran que sólo Baja California Sur, Campeche y el Distrito Federal fueron eficientes en la generación de ingreso y en la reducción de inequidad.

Objective: This study assessed changes in anxiety during different phases of childbirth in a sample of women demanding epidural anesthesia. Design: Prospective, longitudinal case series. Sample: A total of 133 women who demanded epidural anesthesia for childbirth answered the questionnaires. Methods: Anxiety state was measured using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. The STAI-S (anxiety state) was administered in three phases during childbirth: Phase 1 was before applying epidural anesthesia, Phase 2 was 45 min after the application of epidural anesthesia and Phase 3 was at less than 24 h after delivery. Data were collected in two general hospitals: a third-level public hospital and a well-recognized private hospital. Main outcome measures: STAI scores. Results: Anxiety state decreases significantly after applying the epidural anesthesia (Phase 2) compared to before anesthesia (Phase 1), and it remains low levels 24 h after childbirth (Phase 3). There were statistically significant differences in STAI scores between the different phases administrated (Phases 1 and 2: p

Goal: This study aims at solving a location problem of Medical Specialties Centers (MSCs) and medical care equipment allocation. Addressing both problems simultaneously is an opportunity to improve public health service quality in the long-term since the literature traditionally treats these problems separately. Design / Methodology / Approach: The challenge consists in maximizing demand satisfaction with the minimum resource allocation in the public health care reality, where there is limited resource availability and high demand for medical services. For that, it was developed an integrated mathematical model, throughout mixed linear programming. The problem is a case study applied to the secondary public health care level in a Brazilian state. The method is generic and suitable to set the location and allocate resources in health care if the decision maker’s intention is to maximize the use of specialists’ assistance and medical exams. Results: The results reveal possible improvements in accessibility. Among the insights, the state government should hire 4% more specialists and acquire 1.5% more equipment to assist 99% of population demand for health care service on the secondary level. Limitation of the investigation: Usually, one appointment can result in more than one medical exam referral. However, this study considers that each specialist meeting refers to only one exam per consultation. Practical implications: This study contributes to healthcare planning, suggesting a better distribution and allocation of facilities, equipment, and professionals. Moreover, the study proposes accessibility improvements to health unit centers. Originality / Value: The main contribution of this work is the new integrated approach to public health care planning. The system proposes the reduction of access inequality and the improvement of the quality of health care services.

Traditional electrical power theories and one of their most important concepts—apparent power—are still a source of debate, because they present several flaws that misinterpret the power-transfer and energy-balance phenomena under distorted grid conditions. In recent years, advanced mathematical tools such as geometric algebra (GA) have been introduced to address these issues. However, the application of GA to electrical circuits requires more consensus, improvements and refinement. In this paper, electrical power theories for single-phase systems based on GA were revisited. Several drawbacks and inconsistencies of previous works were identified, and some amendments were introduced. An alternative expression is presented for the electric power in the geometric domain. Its norm is compatible with the traditional apparent power defined as the product of the RMS voltage and current. The use of this expression simplifies calculations such as those required for current decomposition. This proposal is valid even for distorted currents and voltages. Concepts are presented in a simple way so that a strong background on GA is not required. The paper included some examples and experimental results in which measurements from a utility supply were analysed.

This paper presents a new framework based on geometric algebra (GA) to solve and analyse three-phase balanced electrical circuits under sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal conditions. The proposed approach is an exploratory application of the geometric algebra power theory (GAPoT) to multiple-phase systems. A definition of geometric apparent power for three-phase systems, that complies with the energy conservation principle, is also introduced. Power calculations are performed in a multi-dimensional Euclidean space where cross effects between voltage and current harmonics are taken into consideration. By using the proposed framework, the current can be easily geometrically decomposed into active- and non-active components for current compensation purposes. The paper includes detailed examples in which electrical circuits are solved and the results are analysed. This work is a first step towards a more advanced polyphase proposal that can be applied to systems under real operation conditions, where unbalance and asymmetry is considered.

En una sociedad inmersa en el fenómeno de la migración, el estudio del vínculo entre la migración en el estado de Michoacán y la dimensión salud del desarrollo humano nos permite identificar la importancia que posee el desarrollo de mecanismos orientados a mejorar el acceso a la salud por parte de los migrantes, tanto en sus comunidades de origen como en las comunidades del país anfitrión. Por lo tanto, en la presente investigación se efectúa un análisis de la situación histórica y actual del fenómeno migratorio en Michoacán, así como un diagnóstico del vínculo que posee la migración y las dimensiones del desarrollo humano, profundizando en la relación migraciónsalud. En este marco se llega a una serie de conclusiones que nos permitan distinguir lo pertinente que es el desarrollo de políticas binacionales que mejoren las condiciones de salud de la población migrante.

El presente documento aborda el estudio del uso eficiente de los recursos para generar bienestar social en México durante el periodo 1990-2010; para ello se utilizó el Análisis de la Envolvente de Datos (DEA), tomando como referencia los indicadores socioeconómicos de las tres dimensiones del Índice de Desarrollo Humano (IDH). El análisis de resultados muestra que fueron Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Colima, Distrito Federal, Estado de México, Quintana Roo, Tlaxcala y Zacatecas los más eficientes en la generación de bienestar social, haciendo evidente que las entidades con mayores recursos no son necesariamente las que generan mayor bienestar social.

Spain is Europe’s leading exporter of tomatoes harvested in greenhouses. The production of tomatoes should be kept and increased, supported by precision agriculture to meet food and commercial demand. The wireless sensor network (WSN) has demonstrated to be a tool to provide farmers with useful information on the state of their plantations due to its practical deployment. However, in order to measure its deployment within a crop, it is necessary to know the communication coverage of the nodes that make up the network. The multipath propagation of radio waves between the transceivers of the WSN nodes inside a greenhouse is degraded and attenuated by the intricate complex of stems, branches, leaf twigs, and fruits, all randomly oriented, that block the line of sight, consequently generating a signal power loss as the distance increases. Although the COST235 (European Cooperation in Science and Technology - COST), ITU-R (International Telecommunications Union—Radiocommunication Sector), FITU-R (Fitted ITU-R), and Weisbberger models provide an explanation of the radio wave propagation in the presence of vegetation in the 2.4 GHz ICM band, some significant discrepancies were found when they are applied to field tests with tomato greenhouses. In this paper, a novel method is proposed for determining an empirical model of radio wave attenuation for vegetation in the 2.4 GHz band, which includes the vegetation height as a parameter in addition to the distance between transceivers of WNS nodes. The empirical attenuation model was obtained applying regularized regressions with a multiparametric equation using experimental signal RSSI measurements achieved by our own RSSI measurement system for our field tests in four plantations. The evaluation parameters gave 0.948 for R2, 0.946 for R2 Adj considering 5th grade polynomial (20 parameters), and 0.942 for R2, and 0.940 for R2 Adj when a reduction of parameters was applied using the cross validation (15 parameters). These results verify the rationality and reliability of the empirical model. Finally, the model was validated considering experimental data from other plantations, reaching similar results to our proposed model.

El presente documento determina qué tan eficientemente se utilizaron los recursos en la industria de alimentos, bebidas y tabaco de México, Estados Unidos, Canadá y Brasil, en el período 2000-2014. Para tal fin se desarrolló un modelo no paramétrico haciendo uso de la metodología del Análisis de la Envolvente de Datos (DEA). Dicho modelo se orientó al output y se elaboró con rendimientos variables a escala, estableciendo como output las exportaciones y como inputs el costo de los materiales y el personal ocupado. Los resultados del modelo muestran que las industrias de México y Brasil fueron ineficientes, mientras que algunas ramas industriales de Estados Unidos y, sobre todo, Canadá fueron las más eficientes durante el período de estudio. Hallazgos que hacen evidente la necesidad que tiene México y Brasil por acrecentar el uso eficiente de sus recursos en sus ramas industriales para ser competitivos a nivel internacional.

Label-free quantitative proteome analysis of extrafloral (EFN) and floral nectar (FN) from castor (Ricinus communis) plants resulted in the identification of 72 and 37 proteins, respectively. Thirty proteins were differentially accumulated between EFN and FN, and 24 of these were more abundant in the EFN. In addition to proteins involved in maintaining the nectar pathogen free such as chitinases and glucan 1,3-beta-glucosidase, both proteomes share an array of peptidases, lipases, carbohydrases, and nucleases. A total of 39 of the identified proteins, comprising different classes of hydrolases, were found to have biochemical matching partners in the exudates of at least five genera of carnivorous plants, indicating the EFN and FN possess a potential to digest biological material from microbial, animal or plant origin equivalent to the exudates of carnivorous plants.

En el artículo tiene por objetivo analizar la productividad del sector agropecuario de México, Estados Unidos y Canadá, en el marco del TLCAN. Sector que a partir de la firma de este tratado comercial se ha consolidado como un elemento central de las relaciones económicas entre los países miembros. El cálculo de la Productividad Total de los Factores permitió apreciar que el sector agropecuario mexicano es más productivo que los de Estados Unidos y Canadá, ventaja que se sustenta exclusivamente en la productividad parcial del factor trabajo, por lo que se requieren inversiones que complementen el desempeño de este factor.

O crescimento da população, não só nacional como mundial, aliado aos novos padrões de vida de uma população consumista tem ocasionado um aumento significativo na geração de resíduos sólidos e tem por consequência a preocupação com saúde pública e ambiental. Este estudo objetiva caracterizar gravimetricamente os resíduos sólidos urbanos gerados no município de Iomerê, em Santa Catarina, com a perspectiva de influenciar as autoridades do município a aprimorar a gestão dos resíduos sólidos urbanos, através da implantação de um sistema de coleta seletiva. Foi realizado um sorteio intercalado e aleatório de 45 residências do município, no período entre 11/03/2014 e 16/04/2014, totalizando 13,6% das residências do município, em seguida o material foi coletado e submetido sob a técnica de caracterização gravimétrica com análises qualitativas e quantitativas dos resíduos sólidos urbanos. Foi determinado a geração de 194,00 kg.mês-1 de rejeitos, 47,40 kg.mês-1 de plástico, 66,40 kg.mês-1 de papel, 16,80 kg.mês-1 de vidro, 4,20 kg.mês-1de alumínio, 497,20 kg.mês-1 de orgânicos e 27,27 kg.mês-1 de outros resíduos, totalizando 853,70 kg.mês-1 de resíduos gerados nas residências analisadas. Assim, com o levantamento dos resíduos é possível obter as diretrizes para a implantação do sistema de coleta seletiva, visto que o município possui a necessidade da implantação desse sistema.

El presente documento aborda el estudio de la eficiencia en la generación de bienestar social de 38 economías latinoamericanas durante el período 1990­2014. Para ello se hizo uso de la técnica DEA, tomando como referencia los indicadores socioeconómicos del desarrollo humano. El análisis de resultados arrojó que fueron las economías de Aruba, Brasil, Chile, Costa Rica, Domini­ca, Islas Turcas y Caicos, Saint Kitts y Nevis, y Sint Maarten las más eficientes en la generación de bienestar social. Situación que refleja que no son necesa­riamente los países con más recursos socioeconómicos los más eficientes en la generación de bienestar social.

El documento tiene por objetivo abordar el estudio del uso eficiente de los recursos económicos y sociales en la dimensión ingreso del desarrollo humano, en presencia de bad outputs, en los 113 municipios de Michoacán durante el período 1990-2010. El desarrollo humano en Michoacán se caracteriza por un bajo desempeño de la dimensión ingreso, es decir, la dinámica del IDH estatal y municipal se ve afectada por los bajos niveles de renta per cápita y los altos niveles de pobreza. De esta forma, el establecimiento de mecanismos que aumenten el volumen de ingresos y combatan la pobreza permitirá que la sociedad michoacana aspire a mayores niveles de desarrollo humano. Para establecer que tan eficientes fueron los municipios de Michoacán se hace uso del Análisis Envolvente de Datos (DEA), considerando la presencia de un badoutput en el modelo, y para conocer su evolución en el tiempo se calcula el índice Malmquist-Luenberger. El análisis de resultados arroja que sólo quince de las 113 unidades estudiadas fueron eficientes en la generación de ingreso, y a la par en la reducción de la pobreza, mientras que el resto deberá aumentar su nivel de ingreso y disminuir la pobreza con los recursos económicos y sociales que poseen.

An adequate selection of an energy provider and tariff requires us to analyze the different alternatives to choose one that satisfies your needs. In particular, choosing the right electricity tariff is essential for reducing company costs and improving competitiveness. This paper analyzes the energy consumption of large consumers that make intensive use of electricity and proposes the use of genetic algorithms for optimizing the tariff selection. The aim is to minimize electricity costs including two factors: the cost of power contracted and the heavy penalties for excess of power demand over the power contracted in certain time periods. In order to validate the proposed methodology, a case study based on the real data of energy consumption of a large Spanish university is presented. The results obtained show that the genetic algorithm and other bio-inspired approaches are able to reduce the costs associated to the electricity bill.

Wearable monitoring devices are now a usual commodity in the market, especially for the monitoring of sports and physical activity. However, specialized wearable devices remain an open field for high-risk professionals, such as military personnel, fire and rescue, law enforcement, etc. In this work, a prototype wearable instrument, based on reconfigurable technologies and capable of monitoring electrocardiogram, oxygen saturation, and motion, is presented. This reconfigurable device allows a wide range of applications in conjunction with mobile devices. As a proof-of-concept, the reconfigurable instrument was been integrated into ad hoc glasses, in order to illustrate the non-invasive monitoring of the user. The performance of the presented prototype was validated against a commercial pulse oximeter, while several alternatives for QRS-complex detection were tested. For this type of scenario, clustering-based classification was found to be a very robust option.

Non-linear loads in circuits cause the appearance of harmonic disturbances both in voltage and current. In order to minimize the effects of these disturbances and, therefore, to control the flow of electricity between the source and the load, passive or active filters are often used. Nevertheless, determining the type of filter and the characteristics of their elements is not a trivial task. In fact, the development of algorithms for calculating the parameters of filters is still an open question. This paper analyzes the use of genetic algorithms to maximize the power factor compensation in non-sinusoidal circuits using passive filters, while concepts of geometric algebra theory are used to represent the flow of power in the circuits. According to the results obtained in different case studies, it can be concluded that the genetic algorithm obtains high quality solutions that could be generalized to similar problems of any dimension.

An important challenge for our society is the transformation of traditional power systems to a decentralized model based on renewable energy sources. In this new scenario, advanced devices are needed for real-time monitoring and control of the energy flow and power quality (PQ). Ideally, the data collected by Internet of Thing (IoT) sensors should be shared to central cloud systems for online and off-line analysis. In this paper openZmeter (oZm) is presented as an advanced low-cost and open-source hardware device for high-precision energy and power quality measurement in low-voltage power systems. An analog front end (AFE) stage is designed and developed for the acquisition, conditioning, and processing of power signals. This AFE can be stacked on available quadcore embedded ARM boards. The proposed hardware is capable of adapting voltage signals up to 800 V AC/DC and currents up to thousands of amperes using different probes. The oZm device is described as a fully autonomous open-source system for the computation and visualization of PQ events and consumed/generated energy, along with full details of its hardware implementation. It also has the ability to send data to central cloud management systems. Given the small size of the hardware design and considering that it allows measurements under a wide range of operating conditions, oZm can be used both as bulk metering or as metering/submetering device for individual appliances. The design is released as open hardware and therefore is presented to the community as a powerful tool for general usage.