First observations of core-transiting seismic phases on Mars.

We present the first observations of seismic waves propagating through the core of Mars. These observations, made using seismic data collected by the InSight geophysical mission, have allowed us to construct the first seismically constrained models for the elastic properties of Mars' core. We observe core-transiting seismic phase SKS from two farside seismic events detected on Mars and measure the travel times of SKS relative to mantle traversing body waves. SKS travels through the core as a compressional wave, providing information about bulk modulus and density. We perform probabilistic inversions using the core-sensitive relative travel times together with gross geophysical data and travel times from other, more proximal, seismic events to seek the equation of state parameters that best describe the liquid iron-alloy core. Our inversions provide constraints on the velocities in Mars' core and are used to develop the first seismically based estimates of its composition. We show that models informed by our SKS data favor a somewhat smaller (median core radius = 1,780 to 1,810 km) and denser (core density = 6.2 to 6.3 g/cm3) core compared to previous estimates, with a P-wave velocity of 4.9 to 5.0 km/s at the core-mantle boundary, with the composition and structure of the mantle as a dominant source of uncertainty. We infer from our models that Mars' core contains a median of 20 to 22 wt% light alloying elements when we consider sulfur, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. These data can be used to inform models of planetary accretion, composition, and evolution.

Modeling of ionizing radiation induced hair follicle regenerative dynamics.

Hair follicles (HFs) are stem-cell-rich mammalian mini-organs that can undergo cyclic regenerations over the life span of the organism. The cycle of a HF consists of three consecutive phases: anagen-the active proliferation phase, catagen-the degeneration phase, and telogen-the resting phase. While HFs undergo irreversible degeneration during catagen, recent experimental research on mice shows that when anagen HFs are subject to ionizing radiation (IR), they undergo a transient degeneration, followed by a nearly full regeneration that makes the HFs return to homeostatic state. The mechanisms underlying these IR-induced HF regenerative dynamics and the catagen degenerative dynamics, remain unknown. In this work, we develop an ODE type cell differentiation population model to study the control mechanisms of HF regeneration. The model is built based on current theoretical knowledge in biology and mathematically formulated using feedback mechanisms. Model parameters are calibrated to IR experimental data, and we then provide modeling results with both deterministic ODE simulations and corresponding stochastic simulations. We perform stability and bifurcation analyses on the ODE model, which reveal that for anagen HFs, a low spontaneous apoptosis rate secures the stability of the HF homeostatic steady state, allowing the HF to regenerate even when subject to strong IR. On the other hand, the irreversible degeneration during catagen results from both strong spontaneous apoptosis rate and strong apoptosis feedback. Lastly, we perform sensitivity analysis to identify key parameters in the model to validate these hypotheses.

Evaluation of a rehabilitation program from the perspective of children with disabilities and their caregivers in Uruguay.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the Assessment and Orientation Treatment Program for children and adolescents with disabilities treated at the Center Teletón Uruguay from the perspective of the patients and their parents based on several patient reported outcome measures: health related quality of life (HRQOL), treatment satisfaction, family impact, and emotional distress. METHODS: The sample consisted of all the 126 dyads of children/adolescents with ages ranging from 2 to 18 years and their primary caregivers who entered the program from April to October 2012. A set of instruments were filled out by children and parents before and six months after the program. T test for paired samples for continuous variables and McNemar's test for categorical variables were used to assess changes pre and post intervention. RESULTS: There was a high prevalence of depression and anxiety in the caregivers. In the second evaluation, improvements that were statistically significant only for the caregivers were observed in the HRQOL of children, adolescents and caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: The patient reported outcome measures used were effective in detecting changes in several areas of the quality of life of children observed by their caregivers and in their own quality of life after the intervention.

Fat necrosis of the newborn. / Necrosis grasa del recién nacido.

INTRODUCTION: Panniculitis is a group of diseases that affect subcutaneous fat tissue and clinically manifest as nodules. Its pathogenesis is not entirely clear, and it is usually asymptomatic. The confirma tory diagnosis is histological. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics of a case of fat necrosis, a specific form of panniculitis in the newborn (NB). CLINICAL CASE: 40-week female NB, born by emergency cesarean section due to fetal tachycardia with meconium, Apgar score 7-8-9. She required oxygen and positive pressure for five minutes. On the fifth day of life, she presen ted an increased volume in the posterior trunk region, with an erythematous - purplish discoloration, which is soft and non-tender to palpation. Skin and soft tissues ultrasound showed increased echo genicity of the subcutaneous cellular tissue and loss of definition of the adipocytes of 42.3 x 9.7 x 20.1 mm approximately, without vascularization. Skin biopsy showed epidermis with irregular acanthosis and basket-weave orthokeratosis; papillary dermis with inflammatory infiltrate, and reticular dermis and adipose tissue with presence of lymphohistiocytic infiltrate with a tendency to form nodules, without vascular involvement, and small cholesterol deposits, compatible with subcutaneous fat ne crosis (SBFN) of the newborn. The patient at three months of age had complete regression of the lesion. CONCLUSIONS: a clinically and histologically compatible case with SBFN is described, that did not present complications during observation. In general, this pathology has a good prognosis, with spontaneous resolution as in our case.

Necrosis grasa del recién nacido / Fat necrosis of the newborn

Resumen: Introducción: Las paniculitis constituyen un grupo de enfermedades que afectan al tejido graso subcutáneo y se manifiestan clínicamente como nódulos. Su patogenia no es del todo clara, por lo general es asintomático. El diagnóstico confirmatorio es histológico. Objetivo: describir las características clínicas e histopatológicas de un caso de necrosis grasa, una forma especifica de paniculitis en el recién nacido (RN). Caso Clínico: RN femenino de 40 semanas, parto cesárea de urgencia por taqui cardia fetal más meconio, APGAR 7-8-9. Requirió oxigeno y presión positiva por 5 min. Al quinto día de vida presentó aumento de volumen en tronco posterior, de coloración eritematosa - violácea, remitente a la palpación, no doloroso. Ecotomografría de piel y partes blandas informó aumento de la ecogenecidad del tejido celular subcutáneo y pérdida de definición de las celdillas adiposas de aproximadamente 42.3 x 9.7 x 20.1 mm, sin presencia de vascularización. Biopsia de piel: epidermis con acantosis irregular y ortoqueratosis en cestas; dermis papilar con infiltrado inflamatorio y dermis reticular y tejido adiposo con presencia de infiltrado linfohistocitiario con tendencia a la formación de nódulos, sin compromiso vascular, leves depósitos de colesterol; compatible con necrosis grasa del recién nacido (NGRN). Paciente tuvo regresión completa de la lesión a los tres meses de vida. Conclusiones: se describe un caso compatible clínica e histológicamente con NGRN; sin complica ciones durante su observación. Por lo general esta patología tiene buen pronóstico, con resolución espontánea, como en nuestro caso.

Abstract: Introduction: Panniculitis is a group of diseases that affect subcutaneous fat tissue and clinically manifest as nodules. Its pathogenesis is not entirely clear, and it is usually asymptomatic. The confirma tory diagnosis is histological. Objective: To describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics of a case of fat necrosis, a specific form of panniculitis in the newborn (NB). Clinical Case: 40-week female NB, born by emergency cesarean section due to fetal tachycardia with meconium, Apgar score 7-8-9. She required oxygen and positive pressure for five minutes. On the fifth day of life, she presen ted an increased volume in the posterior trunk region, with an erythematous - purplish discoloration, which is soft and non-tender to palpation. Skin and soft tissues ultrasound showed increased echo genicity of the subcutaneous cellular tissue and loss of definition of the adipocytes of 42.3 x 9.7 x 20.1 mm approximately, without vascularization. Skin biopsy showed epidermis with irregular acanthosis and basket-weave orthokeratosis; papillary dermis with inflammatory infiltrate, and reticular dermis and adipose tissue with presence of lymphohistiocytic infiltrate with a tendency to form nodules, without vascular involvement, and small cholesterol deposits, compatible with subcutaneous fat ne crosis (SBFN) of the newborn. The patient at three months of age had complete regression of the lesion. Conclusions: a clinically and histologically compatible case with SBFN is described, that did not present complications during observation. In general, this pathology has a good prognosis, with spontaneous resolution as in our case.

Should we pretreat solid waste prior to anaerobic digestion? An assessment of its environmental cost.

Many studies have shown the effectiveness of pretreatments prior to anaerobic digestion of solid wastes, but to our knowledge, none analyzes their environmental consequences/costs. In this work, seven different pretreatments applied to two types of waste (kitchen waste and sewage sludge) have been environmentally evaluated by using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The results show that the environmental burdens associated to the application of pretreatments prior to anaerobic digestion cannot be excluded. Among the options tested, the pressurize-depressurize and chemical (acid or alkaline) pretreatments could be recommended on the basis of their beneficial net environmental performance, while thermal and ozonation alternatives require energy efficiency optimization to reduce their environmental burdens. Reconciling operational, economic and environmental aspects in a holistic approach for the selection of the most sustainable option, mechanical (e.g., pressurize-depressurize) and chemical methods appear to be the most appropriate alternatives at this stage.

Cuestionario sobre calidad de vida pediátrica (PedsQL) versión 4.0: fase inicial de la adaptación transcultural para Uruguay / Questionnaire on pediatric quality of life (PedsQl) 4.0 version: initial phase of transcultural adaptation for Uruguay

Objetivo: el propósito de este trabajo es presentar la primera fase de la adaptación lingüística y transcultural del Cuestionario de Calidad de Vida Pediátrica (PedsQL) versión 4.0 para Uruguay. Método: para la adaptación lingüística y cultural de versiones no validadas en español se siguió el procedimiento: traducción anterógrada desde el idioma original al español traducción retrógrada nuevamente al idioma original con una conciliación de las versiones y nueva traducción al español. Las versiones ya validadas para Argentina fueron revisadas y cotejadas con el original en inglés y se realizaron adaptaciones para Uruguay. Para estudiar la validez de contenido, la aplicabilidad y comprensibilidad se realizó testeo mediante una metodología cualitativa en una muestra de niños portadores de enfermedades crónicas y sus padres. Se obtuvo consentimiento informado en ambos casos y se realizó una entrevista estructurada. Se registró las características sociodemográficas y condiciones de aplicación. Se envió reportes del procedimiento y las conclusiones de las adaptaciones realizadas a los autores y responsables del cuestionario, las que fueron aprobadas. Resultados: considerando el análisis cualitativo, las escalas genéricas del PedsQL y las escalas específicas: Módulo de Impacto Familiar y Escala de Síntomas Gastrointestinales resultaron fáciles de aplicar y presentaron una aceptable comprensión. El Módulo Genérico de Satisfacción del Cuidado de la Salud mostró dificultades en la comprensión por lo que se requiere una revisión de la versión traducida y una nueva evaluación antes de su aplicación en estudios clínicos. Conclusiones: de acuerdo a lo analizado hasta el momento podemos afirmar que el Cuestionario PedsQL versión 4.0, así como el Módulo de Impacto Familiar y la Escala de Síntomas Gastrointestinales, cumplen con los requisitos básicos para su evaluación psicométrica en nuestra población.

Aim: the purpose of this investigation is to show the first stage of the linguistic and cultural adaptation of the HRQL Pediatric Questionnaire PedsQL version 4.0, for Uruguay. Method: for the linguistic and cultural adaptation of versions not validated in Spanish, this procedure was followed: forward translation from the source language to Spanish, backward translation to the source language with a reconciliation of the versions and a new translation to Spanish. The versions already validated for Argentina were revised, they were compared with the original in English and adaptations for Uruguay were made. To study the content validity, the applicability and comprehension of the questionnaire the testing was done through a qualitative methodology in a sample of children with chronic illnesses and parents. The informed consent was obtained in both cases and a structured interview was done. The sociodemographic characteristics and the conditions of application were registered. Reports of the procedure and the conclusions of the adaptations done were sent to the authors and responsibles of the questionnaire, which were approved. Results: considering the qualitative analysis the generic scales of the Peds QL and the specific ones: Family Impact Module and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scale adapted to Uruguay were easy to apply and showed an acceptable comprehension. The Generic Module of Healthcare Satisfaction showed difficulties in the comprehension so a revision of the translated version and a new evaluation before its application in clinical studies are required.

Rabia en el Ecuador / Rabies in Ecuador

El Ecuador es un país de América del Sur, que con una superficie de 270.670Km. se sitúa en el Hemisferio Occidental entre el 1º21´de Latitud Norte y 5º de Latitud Sur y entre 7511´49´y 811´de Longitud Oeste. Su denominación oficial es República del Ecuador, su idioma oficial el epañol y lenguas indígenas como el quechua, la shuar, entre otras. Administrativamente está estructurado en 21 provincias, 165 cantones, 287 parroquias urbanas y 742 parroquias rurales.Como relligiones y creencias predominan el catolicismo, cristianismo protestante y el animismo.La población absoluta es de 9.648.189 habitantes.Por las condiciones climáticas , la situación socio-económica-cultural y las acciones de salud históricamente dirigidas más a la curación que a la prevención, las principales patologías que afectan a nuestra población se resumen en lo se denomina: principales enfermedades de notificación obligatoria.En el presente trabajo hemos considerado prioritario realizar un estudio de la rabia, por ser una de las mayores zoonosis, por constituir uno de los problemas de Salud Pública de mayor impacto en la razón de la alta tasa de mortalidad y por angustia colectiva que conlleva a la aparición de uno de sus casos en la comunidad