A Review of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Lower-Limb Prosthetic Designs.

This paper presents a comprehensive review of natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRCs) for lower-limb prosthetic designs. It covers the characteristics, types, and properties of natural fiber-reinforced composites as well as their advantages and drawbacks in prosthetic designs. This review also discusses successful prosthetic designs that incorporate NFRCs and the factors that make them effective. Additionally, this study explores the use of computational biomechanical models to evaluate the effectiveness of prosthetic devices and the key factors that are considered. Overall, this document provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in using NFRCs for lower-limb prosthetic designs.

A Norbornadiene-Based Molecular System for the Storage of Solar-Thermal Energy in an Aqueous Solution: Study of the Heat-Release Process Triggered by a Co(II)-Complex.

It is urgent yet challenging to develop new environmentally friendly and cost-effective sources of energy. Molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems for energy capture and storage are a promising option. With this in mind, we have prepared a new water-soluble (pH > 6) norbornadiene derivative (HNBD1) whose MOST properties are reported here. HNBD1 shows a better matching to the solar spectrum compared to unmodified norbornadiene, with an onset absorbance of λonset = 364 nm. The corresponding quadricyclane photoisomer (HQC1) is quantitatively generated through the light irradiation of HNBD1. In an alkaline aqueous solution, the MOST system consists of the NBD1-/QC1- pair of deprotonated species. QC1- is very stable toward thermal back-conversion to NBD1-; it is absolutely stable at 298 K for three months and shows a marked resistance to temperature increase (half-life t½ = 587 h at 371 K). Yet, it rapidly (t½ = 11 min) releases the stored energy in the presence of the Co(II) porphyrin catalyst Co-TPPC (ΔHstorage = 65(2) kJ∙mol-1). Under the explored conditions, Co-TPPC maintains its catalytic activity for at least 200 turnovers. These results are very promising for the creation of MOST systems that work in water, a very interesting solvent for environmental sustainability, and offer a strong incentive to continue research towards this goal.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the COPCORD questionnaire for the detection of rheumatic diseases in the indigenous Misak population

Introduction: The objective was to adapt and valídate in a culturally sensitive way the methodology of the community-oriented programme for the control of rheumatic diseases (COPCORD) in the indigenous Misak community of Colombia. Material and methods: A culturally sensitive validation of the COPCORD questionnaire in Spanish was carried out, translating into the nam trik wam language used by the Misak community of Guambia town. It was adapted to the context of this population and later a back-translation to Spanish was carried out. Finally, it was validated applying the survey with the support of bilingual translators. Participants with pain, stiffness or swelling in any joint in the previous 7 days and/or at any time in life were evaluated by physicians and physiotherapists and were then, upon confirming the diagnosis of a musculoskeletal disorder, subsequently examined by a rheumatologist. Results: In this population (n = 106), 58.5% were women with an average age of 45.5 years. In the last 7 days, 51 subjects (48.1%) reported having musculoskeletal pain and 7 (44.3%) reported pain at some time in their life. Of those who received treatment, 53.1% reported using traditional medicine, 34.4% homeopathic treatment, and 25% allopathic treatment. The COPCORD Misak demonstrated an adequate capacity to detect musculoskeletal disorders, with a sensitivity of 63.3% and a specificity of 80.3%, with a positive likelihood ratio of 3.2, and area under the curve of.71. Conclusion: The COPCORD methodology is a valid screening tool to detect musculoskeletal disorders in the Misak community.

Introducción: El objetivo fue adaptar y validar, de forma culturalmente sensible, la metodología del Programa orientado a la comunidad para el control de enfermedades reumáticas (COPCORD) en la comunidad indígena misak de Colombia. Material y métodos: Se realizó una validación culturalmente sensible del cuestionario Copcord en español, que se tradujo al nam trik wam, lengua usada por el pueblo misak del resguardo de Guambia. El cuestionario se adecuó al contexto de esta población y posteriormente se llevó a cabo una retrotraducción al español. Por último, se validó aplicando la encuesta con el apoyo de traductores bilingües. Los participantes con dolor, rigidez o hinchazón en cualquier articulación en los siete días previos, o en cualquier momento de la vida, fueron evaluados por médicos y fisioterapeutas. Al confirmarse el diagnóstico de una enfermedad musculoesquelética los participantes eran examinados por un reumatólogo. Resultados: De la población estudiada (n = 106) el 58,5% fueron mujeres, con una edad promedio de 45,4 arios. En los últimos siete días, 51 sujetos (48,1%) informaron tener dolor musculoesquelético y siete (44,3%) refirieron dolor en algún momento de su vida. Quienes recibieron tratamiento reportaron el uso de medicamentos tradicionales en un 53,1% de los casos, homeopáticos en el 34,4% y alopáticos en el 25%. El cuestionario COPCORD Misak demostró una adecuada capacidad para detectar los trastornos musculoesqueléticos, con una sensibilidad del 63,3%, una especificidad del 80,3%, una razón de verosimilitud positiva de 3,2 y un área bajo la curva de 0,71. Conclusión: La metodología COPCORD es una herramienta válida de cribado de enfermedades musculoesqueléticas en el pueblo misak.

Culturally sensitive care of Misak Indigenous patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: To describe and understand the attitudes, cultural knowledge, and therapeutic practices of the Misak people concerning rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inscribed in an emergent culturally sensitive healthcare model along with the indigenous community and health professionals, following a respectful and empathic relational contact approach to the inter-ethnic encounter. METHODS: A qualitative study that used ethnographic methods using observation techniques and in-depth interviews was carried out in the Misak community, Colombia, by a multidisciplinary team (rheumatology, physiotherapy, and anthropology). A thematic analysis based around the concept of explanatory models (EMs) was carried out. RESULTS: Researchers interviewed 20 patients with RA, 12 traditional healers, and 5 health professionals. The following themes were identified: (1) the traditional healers are allowed to practice only if the community recognizes their vocation; (2) two types of EM were observed: Misak community EM related to conception of RA and its treatment, shared by patients and the traditional healers; and biomedical EM. The interaction of the two types is still a healthcare challenge that requires articulating to achieve better clinical outcomes for patients. CONCLUSION: The EMs of RA care identified in the Misak community are focused on both the patients and the traditional healers. However, this predominant EM and the biomedical EM of RA care need to be brought closer together to contribute to the construction of a unifying model of a culturally sensitive care.

Impact of pre-drying and frying time on physical properties and sensorial acceptability of fried potato chips.

In this work the effects of pre-drying and frying time on colour, oil, texture and sensorial acceptability (overall liking) of potato chips were evaluated. Potato chips were pre-dried for 0, 10, 20 and 30 min at 60 °C and fried in soybean oil at 190 °C for 60, 70 and 80 s. The colour parameters (L*, a* and b*) increased or decreased depending on the pre-drying and frying time. Hardness increased as the pre-drying and frying time increased. On the other hand, the water initially removed by pre-drying decrease the gradient of mass transfer (water-oil). The oil content reduced to (about 21%) in pre-dried samples when compared to control sample. Finally, sensorial evaluation showed that samples without pre-drying and/or fried for very short or very long times had low acceptance levels. The pre-drying and frying times influenced the colour, texture, water and oil content, and resulted into fried potato chips with better acceptance scores.

Clasificación y mapeo automático de coberturas del suelo en imágenes satelitales utilizando Redes Neuronales Convolucionales / Classification and automatic mapping of land covers in satellite images using Convolutional Neural Networks / Classificação e mapeamento automático de coberturas do solo em imagens de satélite usando redes neurais convolucionais

Resumen La clasificación de cobertura del suelo es importante para estudios de cambio climático y monitoreo de servicios ecosistémicos. Los métodos convencionales de clasificación de coberturas se realizan mediante la interpretación visual de imágenes satelitales, lo cual es costoso, dispendioso e impreciso. Implementar métodos computacionales permite generar clasificación de coberturas en imágenes satelitales de manera automática, rápida, precisa y económica. Particularmente, los métodos de aprendizaje automático son técnicas computacionales promisorias para la estimación de cambios de cobertura del suelo. En este trabajo se presenta un método de aprendizaje automático basado en redes neuronales convolucionales de arquitectura tipo ConvNet para la clasificación automática de coberturas del suelo a partir de imágenes Landsat 5 TM. La ConvNet fue entrenada a partir de las anotaciones manuales por medio de interpretación visual sobre las imágenes satelitales con las que los expertos generaron el mapa de cobertura del parque nacional el Tuparro, de los Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia. El modelo de validación se realizó con datos de los mapas de coberturas del Amazonas colombiano realizado por el Sistema de Información Ambiental de Colombia. Los resultados obtenidos de la diagonal de la matriz de confusión de la exactitud promedio fue de 83.27% en entrenamiento y 91.02% en validación; para la clasificación en parches entre Bosques, áreas con vegetación herbácea y/o arbustiva, áreas abiertas sin o con poca vegetación y aguas continentales.

Abstract Land cover classification is important for studies of climate change and monitoring of ecosystem services. Conventional coverage classification methods are performed by the visual interpretation of satellite imagery, which is expensive and inaccurate. Implementing computational methods could generate procedures to classify coverage in satellite images automatically, quickly, accurately and economically. Particularly, automatic learning methods are promising computational methods for estimating soil cover changes. In this work we present an automatic learning method based on convolutional neural networks of ConvNet type architecture for the automatic classification of soil coverings from Landsat 5 TM images. The ConvNet was trained from the manual annotations by means of visual interpretation on the satellite images with which the experts generated the map of Tuparro national park, of National Natural Park of Colombia. The validation model was performed with data from the Colombian Amazon cover maps made by the Colombian Environmental Information System. The results obtained from the diagonal of the confusion matrix of the average accuracy were 83.27% in training and 91.02% in validation; for the classification in patches between forests, areas with herbaceous and / or shrub vegetation, open areas with or without vegetation and Inland waters.

Resumo A classificação da cobertura da terra é importante para estudos de mudanças climáticas e monitoramento dos serviços dos ecossistemas. Os métodos convencionais de classificação de cobertura são feitos através da interpretação visual de imagens de satélite, que é caro, dispendioso e impreciso. Implementar métodos computacionais poderia gerar procedimentos de classificação de cobertura em imagenes de satélite de forma automática, rápida, precisa e econômica. Particularmente, métodos de aprendizado de máquina são promissores métodos computacionais para estimar a cobertura do solo mudanças. Neste artigo apresentamos um método de aprendizado de máquina baseado em convolutional neural tipo ConvNet rede de arquitetura para a classificação automática de cobertura do solo a partir de Landsat 5 imagens TM. O ConvNet foi treinado desde anotações manuais através da interpretação visual das imagens de satélite que os especialistas geraram o mapa de cobertura do Parque Nacional Tuparro, Colômbia Parque Nacional Natural. A validação do modelo foi realizada com cobertura de mapa de dados da Amazônia colombiana pelo Sistema de Informação Ambiental da Colômbia. Os resultados da diagonal da matriz de confusão da precisão média foi de 83,27% e Formação e 91,02% na validação; para a classificação em manchas entre florestas, áreas com vegetação herbácea e / ou arbusto, áreas abertas com poucamou nenhuma vegetação águas interiores.

La comprensión de los significados de la maternidad: el caso de un programa de cuidado prenatal en un centro de salud en Popayán, Colombia / Understanding the meanings of motherhood: the case of a prenatal care program in a health center in Popayán, Colombia

El objetivo de este estudio es comprender los significados que sobre la maternidad tienen los actores sociales (mujeres embarazadas y personal de salud) dentro del programa prenatal de un centro de salud en la ciudad de Popayán, Colombia, programa implementado como estrategia para prevenir y manejar en forma oportuna las complicaciones obstétricas y perinatales. Para ello, se realizó una investigación cualitativa basada en entrevistas y observación de las actividades educativas colectivas. Entre los hallazgos, se encontraron discrepancias entre los actores sociales respecto de los significados de la maternidad, debido al conocimiento biomédico y a las relaciones de poder, aunque también vinculadas a los referentes culturales particulares. Estas discrepancias no reconocidas afectan la pertinencia del programa para responder a las necesidades y características socioculturales de las mujeres embarazadas.

The objective of this study is to understand the meanings of motherhood for different social actors (pregnant women and health personnel) within the prenatal care program of a health center in the city of Popayán, Colombia, a program developed as a strategy for the prevention and treatment of obstetric and perinatal complications. In order to uncover these meanings, a qualitative research study was carried out using interviews with social actors and observation of collective educational activities. Discrepancies were observed among social actors about the meanings of motherhood, owing to the influence of biomedical knowledge and the differences in power relations, as well as to particular cultural referents. The lack of recognition of these discrepancies affects the program's capacity to respond to the needs and socio-cultural characteristics of the pregnant women it serves.

Analysis of sulfated peptides from the skin secretion of the Pachymedusa dacnicolor frog using IMAC-Ga enrichment and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) has been widely used for the enrichment of phosphopeptides, whereas no report exists describing the use of IMAC columns for the enrichment of sulfopeptides. In this study, we used IMAC-Ga microcolumns for the enrichment of sulfopeptides from a complex mixture of peptides, extracted from skin secretions of the Pachymedusa dacnicolor frog. The enriched fraction obtained by IMAC-Ga was analyzed by liquid chromatograpy/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) in an Orbitrap XL and by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) in an ABI 4800 instrument. From this fraction, different sulfated and non-sulfated peptides belonging to the caerulin and bradykinin families were structurally characterized. Other interesting negatively charged groups, such as phosphate adducts of dermaseptins and pyridoxal phosphate attached to a protease inhibitor, were also characterized. Unexpectedly, some dermaseptin antimicrobial peptides were also enriched by IMAC-Ga and a Sauvatine-like peptide was also fully sequenced. Furthermore, neutral loss of sulfated peptides and their fragmentation patterns in the gas phase were also compared using collision-induced dissociation (CID) and high-energy collision dissociation (HCD). Our present study provides evidence that IMAC-Ga enrichment is a fast, useful and promising method for high-throughput analysis of sulfated-peptides, since high-resolution mass spectrometers can be used for this purpose.

Peptidomic analysis of the skin secretions of the frog Pachymedusa dacnicolor.

High-resolution mass spectrometry-based peptidomics has been used to characterize several components in electro-stimulated skin secretions of the endemic Mexican frog Pachymedusa dacnicolor. Peptide mass screening performed in an Orbitrap-XL mass spectrometer showed that P. dacnicolor skin secretions possess 194 different components with molecular masses ranging mainly from 500 to 6,000 Da. Dozens of molecules were partially sequenced including two novel protease inhibitors. Additionally, one posttranslationally modified bradykinin and two novel dermaseptin-like antimicrobial peptides were fully sequenced. The novel peptide named here DMS-DA5 was fully characterized and showed potent antibacterial activity against various bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with minimal inhibitory concentrations from 3.10 to 25.0 microM.

Novel antimicrobial peptides isolated from skin secretions of the Mexican frog Hyla eximia.

In this work, we describe the original characterization of peptides and proteins present in the skin secretions of the Mexican amphibian Hyla eximia. To this purpose, a novel water/dark extraction method, as well as the classic electrical stimulation procedure, was applied in order to extract the skin secretion. Two novel antimicrobial peptides He-1 and He-2 were sequenced. In addition, a molecular mass fingerprint revealed more than one hundred different molecules. Eight peptides in homogeneous form were assayed against five species of bacteria. Thereafter, the peptide He-2 demonstrated high antiparasitic activity against ookinete forms of malaria parasites at low concentration.

Valproato de sodio y cambios hematológicos: a propósito de un caso / Sodium and hematologic changes: a porposal of a case

El reporte trata de una niña de 4 años con retraso mental y convulsiones, quien estuvo recibiendo durante 2 meses 130 mg/kg valproato de sodio ocasionándole anemia, plaquetopenia, leucopenia e hipoproteinemia. Al cabo de 2 semanas se disminuyó el valproato a 30 mg/kg y se observó la normalización de las alteraciones hematológicas presentadas.

Epilepsia infantil: estudio clínico-tomográfico-EEC / Child epilepsy: clinic-tomography-EEC study

Se estudiaron a 24 niños menores de 14 años quienes habían presentado epilepsia secundaria o sintomática, encontrando predominio en pacienes de 7 a 14 años (71 por ciento), la forma más frecuente de la crisis fue generalizada primaria y secundariamente. La tomografía computarizada arroja una positividad de 62.5 por ciento, comparada con la EEG con un 85 por ciento. La causa más frecuente de epilepsia en la infancia fue la TBC del sistema nervioso.