Unsupervised learning and natural language processing highlight research trends in a superbug.

Introduction: Antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a very important nosocomial pathogen worldwide. Thousands of studies have been conducted about this pathogen. However, there has not been any attempt to use all this information to highlight the research trends concerning this pathogen. Methods: Here we use unsupervised learning and natural language processing (NLP), two areas of Artificial Intelligence, to analyse the most extensive database of articles created (5,500+ articles, from 851 different journals, published over 3 decades). Results: K-means clustering found 113 theme clusters and these were defined with representative terms automatically obtained with topic modelling, summarising different research areas. The biggest clusters, all with over 100 articles, are biased toward multidrug resistance, carbapenem resistance, clinical treatment, and nosocomial infections. However, we also found that some research areas, such as ecology and non-human infections, have received very little attention. This approach allowed us to study research themes over time unveiling those of recent interest, such as the use of Cefiderocol (a recently approved antibiotic) against A. baumannii. Discussion: In a broader context, our results show that unsupervised learning, NLP and topic modelling can be used to describe and analyse the research themes for important infectious diseases. This strategy should be very useful to analyse other ESKAPE pathogens or any other pathogens relevant to Public Health.

'They already hate us for being immigrants and now for being trans-we have double the fight': a qualitative study of barriers to health access among transgender Latinx immigrants in the United States.

Introduction: Latinx transgender people who are also immigrants experience barriers to health services and comprise a marginalized group at risk for poor mental health. Greater understanding of transgender Latinx immigrants' health needs and experiences with the U.S. healthcare system is needed to improve their access to health services. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of transgender Latina immigrants (n=10) in the Seattle, WA area. Analysis of the qualitative data involved a data-reduction process in which emergent themes were identified and coded to yield a set of core themes. Results: Analyses revealed that Latinx transgender immigrants experience multiple levels and forms of rejection and discrimination depending on their contexts and the spaces they navigate. These experiences highlighted how participants confront frequent shifts in privilege and oppression, which shaped their access to health and mental health services. Conclusions: Efforts to develop linguistically and culturally appropriate health and mental health services for the Latinx transgender immigrant community must take into account the multiple contexts and communities that they inhabit. Strategies to enhance the health of transgender Latinx immigrants should also harness the unique strengths and resilience of the community.

High-resolution phase-shifting Ronchi test.

A method adding phase-shifting capacity in two mutually perpendicular axes to the Ronchi test is presented in this work. The phase of the object with the position of the reflected ray on the grating was identified and used to solve the equation of reflection in two orthogonal directions. In this manner, the test-surface figure was obtained. The procedure was demonstrated with an inverse qualitative test and a direct, quantitative test. Both tests give results comparable to Fizeau interferometry, with the precision of the order of 25 nm peak to valley. This technique is a good alternative to interferometry because, in addition to its inherent high-resolution, it is possible to obtain the radius of curvature and conic constant, which interferometers, requiring auxiliary optics, cannot provide. This method also has a high dynamic range and is not as susceptible to vibrations or turbulence. The setup can be built with low-cost, readily available components, is easily aligned, uses a white light source, and can be made very lightweight and compact, which makes it ideal for mounting onto existing polishing machines in any optical fabrication workshop, to perform in situ surface metrology.

[Etiology of bacterial pneumonias in patients with COVID-19]. / Etiología de neumonías bacterianas en pacientes con COVID-19.

Background: Aggregate bacterial pneumonia plays a fundamental role in mortality of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Objective: To estimate the association of aggregated bacterial pneumonia with mortality in patients at Hospital Especialidades "La Raza". Material and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study, 252 COVID-19 patients, chest x-ray and culture of bronchial secretion or expectoration. Data taken from the SIOC electronic file and the IZASAlab platform. Results: 252 participants, positive culture, 89 patients, 35.3%, isolation of K. pneumoniae (22.5%), A. baumannii (20.2%), P. aeruginosa (13.5%) and S. aureus (11.2%), antimicrobial resistance 37.1%. 43.7% died, lung damage greater than 50% RMa 2.25 (95% CI 1.01-5.11) p=0.04 against minor lung damage; microorganism in culture RMa 9.04 (95% CI 3.06-26.74) p=0.000; antimicrobial resistance RMa 7.57 (95% CI 1.34-42.79) p=0.02; S. aureus RMa 1.24 (95% CI 0.36-4.23) p=0.73; A. baumannii RMa 3.74 (95% CI 1.41-9.91) p=0.008; K. pneumoniae RMa 4.12 (95% CI 1.55-10.97) p=0.005; and P. aeruginosa RMa 6.89 (95% CI 1.62-17.61) p=0.01. Uncontrolled Diabetes RMa 1.61 (IC95% 1.1-2.9) p=0.018. Conclusions: The development of added bacterial pneumonia increases the probability of death 2 times more, it amounts to 6 times more if there is antimicrobial resistance, it is observed to a greater extent for A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa.

Introducción: la neumonía bacteriana agregada en pacientes COVID-19 tiene un papel determinante en la mortalidad hospitalaria. Objetivo: estimar la asociación de neumonía bacteriana agregada con la mortalidad de pacientes COVID-19 en el Hospital Especialidades de "La Raza". Material y métodos: estudio transversal analítico con 252 pacientes con COVID-19; se obtuvieron los datos del expediente electrónico y plataforma IZASAlab, se tomó Rx de tórax y cultivo de secreción bronquial o expectoración. Resultados: de 252 participantes resultó cultivo positivo en 89 pacientes (35.3%), aislamiento de K. pneumoniae (22.5%), A. baumannii (20.2%), P. aeruginosa (13.5%) y S. aureus (11.2%); hubo resistencia antimicrobiana en 37.1% y fallecieron 43.7%. El daño pulmonar mayor al 50% en la Rx de tórax tuvo RMa 2.25 (IC95%: 1.01-5.11) p = 0.04 para mortalidad; cultivo positivo RMa 9.04 (IC95%: 3.06-26.74) p = 0.000; resistencia antimicrobiana RMa 7.57 (IC95%: 1.34-42.79) p = 0.02; S. aureus RMa 1.24 (IC95%: 0.36-4.23) p = 0.73; A. baumannii RMa 3.74 (IC95%: 1.41-9.91) p = 0.008; K. pneumoniae RMa 4.12 (IC95%: 1.55-10.97) p = 0.005, y P. aeruginosa RMa 6.89 (IC95%: 1.62-17.61) p = 0.01. Diabetes Mellitus descontrolada RMa 1.61 (IC95%: 1.1-2.9) p = 0.018. Conclusiones: el desarrollo neumonía bacteriana agregada en pacientes COVID-19 incrementa dos veces más la probabilidad de muerte y seis veces más si existe resistencia antimicrobiana de A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae o P. aeruginosa.

Culturally Tailored Social Media Content to Reach Latinx Immigrant Sexual Minority Men for HIV Prevention: Web-Based Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Latinx gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority men are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. As Latinx sexual minority men, particularly those who are foreign-born, experience inequitable access to health services, tailored strategies to engage them for HIV prevention are urgently needed. OBJECTIVE: Our study seeks to address the need for enhanced access to HIV prevention among Latinx immigrant sexual minority men. We developed and piloted a culturally sensitive technology-based campaign focused on HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake. METHODS: We used a two-phase approach to assess the feasibility of community-informed social media content in engaging Latinx immigrant sexual minority men for HIV testing and PrEP use. First, we conducted three iterative focus groups with 15 Latinx immigrant sexual minority men to refine the HIV prevention content to be piloted on social media platforms. The finalized content was placed on Instagram and Facebook for 9 days in July and September 2021 to individuals who were in Washington State. Individuals who clicked on the content were directed to a website with additional HIV prevention information. Second, we conducted online surveys (n=60) with website visitors that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, barriers to HIV prevention, and HIV-related transmission risk and prevention behaviors. We conducted descriptive analyses to examine the overall profile of survey respondents and determine the feasibility of culturally informed social media content in reaching Latinx immigrant sexual minority men. RESULTS: Overall, 739 unique users visited the website during the 9-day period when the social media content was posted on Instagram and Facebook. Our sample included 60 Latinx immigrant sexual minority men who completed the online survey. Participants' mean age was 30.8 years and more than half (n=34, 57%) completed the survey in Spanish. A quarter of participants indicated that they were unauthorized immigrants and 57% (n=34) reported not having medical insurance. Participants reported, on average, having 6 different sexual partners in the last 6 months. Nearly a third of respondents had not tested for HIV in the last 6 months. Only about half (n=32, 53%) of respondents had used PrEP in the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Community-driven social media and web-based strategies are feasible ways to engage Latinx immigrant sexual minority men who may traditionally lack access to HIV prevention information and services due to structural and social barriers. The results highlight that culturally relevant social media and web-based outreach strategies that are informed and developed by the community can reach Latinx immigrant sexual minority men for HIV prevention. Findings underscore the need to examine the effectiveness of social media content in promoting HIV testing and PrEP uptake in marginalized Latinx populations.

MADS-Box Genes Are Key Components of Genetic Regulatory Networks Involved in Abiotic Stress and Plastic Developmental Responses in Plants.

Plants, as sessile organisms, adapt to different stressful conditions, such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and nutrient deficiency, via plastic developmental and growth responses. Depending on the intensity and the developmental phase in which it is imposed, a stress condition may lead to a broad range of responses at the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. Transcription factors are key components of regulatory networks that integrate environmental cues and concert responses at the cellular level, including those that imply a stressful condition. Despite the fact that several studies have started to identify various members of the MADS-box gene family as important molecular components involved in different types of stress responses, we still lack an integrated view of their role in these processes. In this review, we analyze the function and regulation of MADS-box gene family members in response to drought, salt, cold, heat, and oxidative stress conditions in different developmental processes of several plants. In addition, we suggest that MADS-box genes are key components of gene regulatory networks involved in plant responses to stress and plant developmental plasticity in response to seasonal changes in environmental conditions.

HyDRa: polishing with a vortex.

We present a hydrodynamic, deterministic polishing tool (HyDRa) based on the fluid-jet polishing (FJP) principle. In contrast to other FJP methods, the polishing flux is accelerated with pressurized air and then expelled at high velocity, forming a radial, grazing abrasive pattern that exerts no net force of the tool on the surface to be polished, since the vacuum and thrust forces that are created at the tool's output balance each other out. The grazing effect minimizes microroughness, making it appropriate for finishing high-quality surfaces. The principle of operation as well as polishing results of a series of small etalon plates are presented.

HyDRa: polishing process convergence rate optimization.

In an effort to optimize the hydrodynamic radial (HyDRa) polishing process for applications where the amount of material that has to be removed implies long polishing times, we have developed a method to determine the optimum correction fraction that has to be made for a given error map, in terms of the level of determinism of the process, the number of iterations, and their associated polishing runs as well as run times.

Low-cost, phase-shifting mechanisms for Newton-type interferometers.

Using standard optical shop equipment, it is possible to implement simple, low-cost, phase-shifting Newton interferometers sufficiently accurate for surface evaluation. The simplification of the phase-shifting mechanism is compensated with image-processing algorithms that can deal with vibrations and uneven, nonsequential steps. The results are cross-compared with a Fizeau phase-shifting interferometer to verify the effectiveness of the method.

Deterministic convergence in iterative phase shifting.

Previous implementations of the iterative phase shifting method, in which the phase of a test object is computed from measurements using a phase shifting interferometer with unknown positions of the reference, do not provide an accurate way of knowing when convergence has been attained. We present a new approach to this method that allows us to deterministically identify convergence. The method is tested with a home-built Fizeau interferometer that measures optical surfaces polished to lambda/100 using the Hydra tool. The intrinsic quality of the measurements is better than 0.5 nm. Other possible applications for this technique include fringe projection or any problem where phase shifting is involved.

Teratoma gigante de ovario: informe de un caso / Giant teratoma of ovary: a case report

Se presenta un caso de teratoma gigante de ovario, tumor que deriva de células germinativas totipotenciales, en una paciente de 14 años de edad que ingresa por aumento de volumen del abdomen, acompañado de otros trastornos. Los estudios realizados antes de la intervención permitieron conformar la hipótesis diagnóstica que se comprueba, tanto en el momento quirúrgico como en el estudio anatomopatológico, en el que se comprueba un quiste dermoide unilateral de gran tamaño con elementos histológicos procedentes de las tres capas embrionarias. Se exponen los datos clínicos, los exámenes complementarios realizados y los resultados anatomopatológicos. Se revisa la literatura médica en relación con el caso y se exponen los detalles más significativos(AU)