Photoswitching/back-switching assessment of biobased cellulose acetate/azobenzene handleable films under visible-light LED irradiation.

The light-induced processes performed by photofunctional polymer films are crucial aspects of developing integrated energy storage devices properly. Herein, we report the preparation, characterization, and study of the optical properties of a series of biobased cellulose acetate/azobenzene (CA/Az1) handleable films at different compositions. The photoswitching/back-switching behavior of the samples was investigated using varied LED irradiation sources. Additionally, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was deposited onto cellulose acetate/azobenzene films to study the back-switching process's effect and nature in the fabricated films. Interestingly, the melting enthalpies of PEG before and after being irradiated with blue LED light were 2.5 mJ and 0.8 mJ, respectively. Conveniently, FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TGA), contact angle, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used for the characterization of the sample films. Complementarily, theoretical electronic calculations provided a consistent approach to the energetic change in the dihedral angles and non-covalent interaction for the trans and cis isomer in the presence of cellulose acetate monomer. The results of this study revealed that CA/Az1 films are viable photoactive materials displaying handleability attributes with potential uses in harvesting, converting, and storing light energy.

Orbital stability analysis and photometric characterization of the second Earth Trojan asteroid 2020 XL5.

Trojan asteroids are small bodies orbiting around the L4 or L5 Lagrangian points of a Sun-planet system. Due to their peculiar orbits, they provide key constraints to the Solar System evolution models. Despite numerous dedicated observational efforts in the last decade, asteroid 2010 TK7 has been the only known Earth Trojan thus far. Here we confirm that the recently discovered 2020 XL5 is the second transient Earth Trojan known. To study its orbit, we used archival data from 2012 to 2019 and observed the object in 2021 from three ground-based observatories. Our study of its orbital stability shows that 2020 XL5 will remain in L4 for at least 4 000 years. With a photometric analysis we estimate its absolute magnitude to be [Formula: see text], and color indices suggestive of a C-complex taxonomy. Assuming an albedo of 0.06 ± 0.03, we obtain a diameter of 1.18 ± 0.08 km, larger than the first known Earth Trojan asteroid.

A facile approach for tuning optical and surface properties of novel biobased Alginate/POTE handleable films via solvent vapor exposure.

Novel biobased films consisting of alginate blends with poly (octanoic acid 2-thiophen-3-yl-ethyl ester) (POTE), a conducting polymer, were prepared by solution casting, and their optical, morphological, thermal, and surface properties were studied. Using UV-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the effects of tetrahydrofuran solvent vapors on the optical properties and surface morphology of biobased films with different POTE contents were studied. Results indicate that morphological rearrangements of POTE take place during the process of solvent exposure. Specifically, the solvent vapor induced the formation of POTE small crystalline domains, which allows envisioning the potential of tuning UV-visible absorbance and wettability behavior of biobased films. Finally, theoretical electronic calculations (specifically frontier molecular orbitals analysis) provided consistent evidence on POTE's preferential orientation and selectivity toward the THF-vapor medium.

Paz y emociones. Hacia una fenomenología errática del corazón: toward an erratic phenomenology of the heart / Peace and emotions / Paz e emoções. Para uma fenomenologia errática do coração

En la vida cotidiana, las personas suelen establecer un vínculo entre la paz y experiencias emocionales tales como la compasión con las víctimas, la venganza con los victimarios, el perdón de actos imperdonables, el terror ante la guerra, el odio entre los actores del conflicto, el reconocimiento de la culpa por actos violentos, la confianza frente a un futuro mejor, entre otras. Dicho vínculo es inadvertido o poco ponderado por las investigaciones objetivistas sobre la paz, las cuales tienden a enfatizar vínculos que consideran más válidos, como los que se refieren a las causas de los hechos violentos o a la resolución de conflictos por medio de procedimientos racionales. El presente artículo tiene un doble propósito: por un lado, sostener que las perspectivas objetivistas sobre la paz resultan insuficientes e impersonales; y, por otro lado, mostrar la paz como un ethos personal vinculado esencialmente con las experiencias emocionales.

In everyday life, people often establish a link between peace and emotional experiences such as compassion for victims, revenge with perpetrators, forgiveness of unforgivable acts, terror before war, hatred among conflict actors, recognition of guilt for violent acts, confidence in a better future, among others. Such link is inadvertent or unweighted by objectivist investigations of peace, which tend to emphasize links that they consider more valid, such as those that refer to causes of violent acts or the resolution of conflicts through rational procedures. The present article has a dual purpose: on one hand, to maintain that the objetcivist perspectives on the peace are insufficient and impersonal; and, on the other hand, to show peace as a personal ethos essentially linked to emotional experiences.

Na vida cotidiana, as pessoas tendem a estabelecer uma ligação entre a paz e as experiências emocionais, como a compaixão pelas vítimas, a vingança contra os perpetradores, o perdão dos atos imperdoáveis, o terror diante da guerra, o ódio entre os atores do conflito, o reconhecimento da culpa por atos violentos, a confiança num futuro melhor, entre outros. Essa ligação é despercebida ou desconsiderada pela pesquisa objetivista sobre a paz, que tende a enfatizar relacionamentos que eles consideram mais válidos, como os que se referem às causas de eventos violentos ou à resolução de conflitos por meio de procedimentos racionais. O presente artigo tem um duplo propósito: por um lado, sustentar que as perspectivas objetivistas da paz são insuficientes e impessoais; e, por outro lado, mostrar a paz como um ethos pessoal essencialmente ligado a experiências emocionais.

Association of NFκß, TNFα, IL-6, IL-1ß, and LPL Polymorphisms with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Biochemical Parameters in a Mexican Population.

Chronic low-grade inflammation is strongly related to the etiology of diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM), and the expression of inflammatory cytokines may be modulated by polymorphisms located in the regulatory regions of the NFκß, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNFα, and LPL genes. We considered it particularly important to investigate the relationship of gene polymorphisms involved in chronic inflammation with the risk of T2DM or uncontrolled biochemical parameters. METHODS: We included 199 individuals with a T2DM diagnosis and 213 individuals without a T2DM diagnosis. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses were used to assess polymorphisms. RESULTS: We found a risk association between T2DM and uncontrolled biochemical parameters in a Mexican population for the genotypes del/del of NFκß, -174 and -572 of IL-6, C/C of IL-1ß, -308 and -238 of TNFα, and T/T of LPL. In subjects without diabetes (controls), we found an association between the G/C genotype of the -572 polymorphism and the G/C and C/C genotypes of the -597 polymorphism of IL-6 with the risk of glucose levels > 131 mg/dL. Genotype C/C of polymorphism -174 of the IL-6 gene was associated with high triglyceride levels, and levels > 5.8% of HbA1c were associated with the G/A genotype of TNFα -308. CONCLUSION: Here, we describe for the first time the relationship of T2DM risk and uncontrolled biochemical parameters with polymorphisms in the NFκß, IL-6, TNFα, IL-1ß, and LPL genes in a Mexican population. We also showed that for the population included in this study, there is an additive effect of the polymorphisms of the studied genes that considerably increases the risk of developing T2DM.We also showed that there are interactions between genes related to chronic inflammation that affect the risk of T2DM.

Pathological characteristics, survival, and risk of breast cancer associated with estrogen and xenobiotic metabolism polymorphisms in Mexican women with breast cancer.

Prolonged exposure to estrogens is the main factor associated with the risk and prognosis of breast cancer (BC). The genes involved in the biotransformation of estrogens and xenobiotics have allelic variants with modified enzymatic activities. We investigated the association of nine polymorphisms of some genes from the classical estrogen pathway with the risk of breast cancer and their role in the clinicopathological characteristics of poor clinical prognosis in a sample of Mexican women with BC. METHODS: We included 150 controls and 150 cases matched by age. To analyze the selected polymorphisms, TaqMan assays and high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis were used. RESULTS: The polymorphisms of the genes ERα, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, COMT, MGMT, and XRCC1 were positively associated with the BC risk. We found negative associations between CYP1B1G/G genotype and tumor size, and status of lymph node, estrogen receptor, triple negative, and survival. CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphisms included in this study are associated not only with the risk of BC, but also with some clinicopathological characteristics for poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer, highlighting the important role of CYP1B1 Leu432Val polymorphism.

Biped Gait Analysis based on Forward Kinematics Modeling using Quaternions Algebra

ABSTRACT Gait is the main locomotion way for human beings as an autonomous decision. Due to the increase in people with walking disabilities, the precision in gait analysis for purposes in clinical diagnosis, sports medicine or biomechanical research for the design of assistive technologies is of special relevance. The literature reports notable contributions in technological developments with diverse applications; and in some cases, algorithms for characterization and gait analysis; however, more studies related to gait kinematics are necessary, such as the solution proposed in this work. In this paper, we focus on studying the forward kinematics of the lower limbs in human gait, using in a novel way quaternions algebra as mathematical tool and comparative analysis with classical methods is established. Gait analysis unlike other works is carried out by evaluating the rotational and tilting movements of the pelvis, flexion-extension of the hip and knee; as well as dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the ankle. Finally, an assessment of normal, mild crouch and severe crouch gaits in the three anatomical planes is performed; and a metric based on the Euclidean norm in the cartesian space is used to evaluate these gaits.

Optical, morphological and photocatalytic properties of biobased tractable films of chitosan/donor-acceptor polymer blends.

Biobased tractable films consisting of blends of chitosan (CS) with polymer bearing carbazole derivatives as pendant groups and fluorene-thiophene as donor-acceptor units (referred to as DA) were prepared, and their optical, morphological and photocatalytic properties were studied. DA was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and mixed with an acidified aqueous solution containing chitosan to obtain chitosan/DA (CS/DA) films by solution casting. The fabricated biobased films were characterized using spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR and UV-vis), thermogravimetry, mechanical assays, contact angle analysis, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effects of varying DA compositions and the results of exposure to visible-light irradiation of the films were also analyzed. The results indicated the existence of interactions between chitosan and DA and a potentially profitable light-driven response of these biobased films. This behavior was reflected in the optical, topographical, and contact angle properties of the films, which exhibited different characteristics before and after visible-light exposure. Finally, the photocatalytic performance of the biobased films was tested via the decomposition of methyl orange (MO), as a reaction model system. Our results revealed a significant photocatalytic activity (according to biobased film composition, approximately 64 % and 87 % of methyl orange were degraded under continuous visible-light irradiation for 120 min) of the films which is attributed to the combined presence and synergetic effects of the film-forming ability of chitosan and the photoproperties of DA.

Generation of ECG signals from a reaction-diffusion model spatially discretized.

We propose a model to generate electrocardiogram signals based on a discretized reaction-diffusion system to produce a set of three nonlinear oscillators that simulate the main pacemakers in the heart. The model reproduces electrocardiograms from healthy hearts and from patients suffering various well-known rhythm disorders. In particular, it is shown that under ventricular fibrillation, the electrocardiogram signal is chaotic and the transition from sinus rhythm to chaos is consistent with the Ruelle-Takens-Newhouse route to chaos, as experimental studies indicate. The proposed model constitutes a useful tool for research, medical education, and clinical testing purposes. An electronic device based on the model was built for these purposes.

Shock cardiogénico secundario a cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo en el postoperatorio inmediato de suprarrenalectomía / Cardiogenic shock induced by Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in early postoperative adrenalectomy period

La cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo forma parte del conjunto de enfermedades llamadas cardiomiopatías inducidas por estrés. Su presentación clínica habitual es indistinguible de un síndrome coronario agudo. Sin embargo, es importante una sospecha diagnóstica temprana, pues puede comenzar en forma de shock cardiogénico en aproximadamente un 8% de los casos, con tasas de morbimortalidad comparables a las del síndrome coronario agudo. Por este motivo, a pesar de que sea una patología relativamente infrecuente, el ámbito quirúrgico siempre supone un factor de estrés que puede actuar como factor desencadenante de esta patología. A continuación se presenta un caso de comienzo de una cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo en forma de shock cardiogénico durante el ingreso en nuestra Unidad de Reanimación Postoperatoria

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is part of the group of diseases called stress-induced cardiomyopathies. Its usual clinical presentation is indistinguishable from an acute coronary syndrome. However, early diagnosis is important, as it may debut as a cardiogenic shock in approximately 8% of cases, with morbidity and mortality rates comparable to those of acute coronary syndrome. For this reason, although it is a relatively infrequent condition, the perioperative period is a stress factor that can act as a trigger of this pathology. A case is presented of the onset of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a cardiogenic shock during admission in a Postoperative Recovery Unit

Rotavirus VP6 protein as a bio-electrochemical scaffold: Molecular dynamics and experimental electrochemistry.

This paper reports a theoretical and experimental investigation on the recombinant protein rotavirus VP6 as a bioelectrochemical interface. Our motivation arises from the highly active zones of VP6 which can interact with biological structures and metals, as well as its useful features such as self-assembly, polymorphism, and active surface charge. A molecular simulation study was performed to analyze the charge transfer properties of theVP6 trimer under an applied electric field. The electrostatic properties were evaluated via the nonlinear second-order Poisson-Boltzmann equation, using finite element methods based on parameter discretization and calculation of solute/solvent interaction forces, which account for mean-field screening effects. The electrochemical study validated the theoretical predictions for VP6 in their different assemblies (trimers and nanotubes) when they are used as electrodes in 10 mM K3[Fe(CN)6], 1 M KCl. Applying a potential sweep promotes charge transfer, facilitates redox activity of the ferricyanide ion. Furthermore, protein assemblies decreased electrode electrical resistance and enabled gold particle electrodeposition on the protein VP6. These results suggest that VP6 is a promising conductive biomaterial that promotes charge transfer of redox probes and could be used as a new scaffold to create bio-electrochemical interfaces.

Cardiogenic shock induced by Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in early postoperative adrenalectomy period. / Shock cardiogénico secundario a cardiomiopatía de Takotsubo en el postoperatorio inmediato de suprarrenalectomía.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is part of the group of diseases called stress-induced cardiomyopathies. Its usual clinical presentation is indistinguishable from an acute coronary syndrome. However, early diagnosis is important, as it may debut as a cardiogenic shock in approximately 8% of cases, with morbidity and mortality rates comparable to those of acute coronary syndrome. For this reason, although it is a relatively infrequent condition, the perioperative period is a stress factor that can act as a trigger of this pathology. A case is presented of the onset of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a cardiogenic shock during admission in a Postoperative Recovery Unit.

Periodically kicked network of RLC oscillators to produce ECG signals.

We propose a simple model of the electrical activity of the heart that reproduces realistic healthy electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The model consists of two RLC linear oscillators periodically kicked by impulses of the main pacemaker with the frequency rate of a real heart. In the proposed model, one oscillator represents the atria, another represents the ventricles, and an electrical cardiac conduction system is included using a coupling capacitor, which can be either unidirectional or bidirectional. The network of the two capacitively coupled oscillators is periodically kicked by the main pacemaker to introduce the periodic forcing of limit cycles into the system; a time delay is introduced to represent the electrical transport delay from atria to ventricles. In this manner, healthy synthetic ECG signals are obtained by combining the signals of the currents of the oscillators. We show that an analytical solution of the model can be obtained when a single impulse is applied. From this, by the superposition principle, a solution with an impulse train is obtained. Note that analytical treatment is a feature not available in current cardiac oscillator models.

The RANKL rs12585014 polymorphism is associated with age at menarche in postmenopausal women with hip fracture.

The RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling is important in the regulation of bone turnover. The aim of the present work was to analyze the rs3018362 and rs12585014 polymorphisms in the RANK and RANKL genes, as well as risk factors in postmenopausal women. Women with hip fracture, with femoral neck osteoporosis and controls (n = 646) were recruited. From these, 303 women who fulfill the inclusion criteria were genotyped using real-time PCR with TaqMan probes. There were no associations of the rs3018362 and rs12585014 with osteoporosis or fracture. When women were divided by age at menarche, the rs12585014 GG genotype was strongly associated with age at menarche >13 years [p = .00774, OR = 6.429 (1.907-21.103)] in women with hip fracture. Significant differences in risk factors such as body mass index, age at menopause, use of estrogens, the presence of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were found. Carrying the GG genotype of rs12585014 entails a higher risk of having menarche later (>13 years), which could involves a greater risk of fractures. The rs3018362 and rs12585014 do not seem to be associated with hip osteoporosis or hip fracture in Mexican women.

Fungal Allergy: Pattern of sensitization over the past 11 years.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although the prevalence of sensitization to fungi is not precisely known, it can reach 50% in inner cities and has been identified as a risk factor in the development of asthma. Whereas the prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing, it is unclear whether the same occurs with sensitization to fungi. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed at the "Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez". From skin tests taken between 2004 and 2015, information was gathered about Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cladosporium herbarum, Mucor mucedo and Penicillium notatum. The participating patients were 2-18 years old, presented some type of allergic condition, and underwent immediate hypersensitivity tests to the fungi herein examined. Descriptive analysis and chi-squared distribution were used. RESULTS: Of the 8794 patients included in the study, 14% showed a negative result to the entire panel of environmental allergens. The remaining 7565 individuals displayed sensitization to at least one fungus, which most frequently was Aspergillus, with a rate of 16.8%. When the patients were divided into age groups, the same trend was observed. The highest percentage of sensitization (58%) toward at least one type of fungus was found in 2014, and the lowest percentage (49.8%) in 2008. CONCLUSION: The rate of sensitization to at least one type of fungus was presently over 50%, higher than that detected in other medical centers in Mexico. This rate was constant over the 11-year study, and Aspergillus exhibited the greatest frequency of sensitization among the patients.

Mercury Levels in Fish for Human Consumption from the Southeast Gulf of California: Tissue Distribution and Health Risk Assessment.

We assessed human health risk due to mercury (Hg) concentrations in fish from three coastal lagoons (Urías, Huizache, and Teacapán) in the SE Gulf of California. We also determined Hg distribution in muscle and liver of analyzed ichthyofauna and compared the results among studied areas according to tissue, season, and lagoon system by using multivariate analyses. Levels of Hg in most of the analyzed fish followed the sequence liver > muscle. The highest Hg levels in muscle (2.80 µg g-1 dw) and liver (9.51 µg g-1 dw) were measured in Cynoscion reticulatus and Pomadasys macracanthus, respectively, although according to the multivariate analyses, statistical differences of Hg concentrations were not found according to the season and the tissue but were found according to the system. It seems that the higher concentrations were associated with areas where the hydrological regime is lower. With respect to health risk assessment, the highest hazard quotients were estimated for Cynoscion reticulatus (0.45) and Stellifer furthii (0.29) from Urías and Pomadasys macracanthus (0.35) from Huizache. None of the studied fish represent a risk for consumers in terms of Hg levels in the edible portion.

Cross-over clinical trial for evaluating the safety of camel's milk intake in patients who are allergic to cow's milk protein.

BACKGROUND: Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) affects between 0.6 and 0.9% of the general population, and its treatment implies the total elimination of the intake of this protein. Camel's milk has been suggested as an alternative for patients over one year of age who suffer from CMPA due to the difference in the amino acid sequence from that of cow's milk. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of camel's milk in children with CMPA. METHODS: Crossed clinical trial for the use of camel's milk vs. amino acid formula, carried out at the Dr. Federico Gómez Children's Hospital of Mexico (HIMFG) on patients between one and 18 years of age with diagnosed CMPA confirmed through double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFCs). Only those whose allergies were confirmed were randomly placed into two groups: those to be administered camel's milk and those to be administered the amino-acid formula for two weeks, followed by a six-week wash-out period, and then a group crossing for a further two weeks. RESULTS: 49 patients with suspected CMPA were included in the study; the diagnosis was confirmed through DBPCFCs in 15 patients, who were those who participated in the study. After having been administered camel's milk, none of the patients presented adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Camel's milk is safe and tolerable in patients above one year of age with CMPA and can be considered as a good alternative given the benefit of its taste compared to other formulas.

Acoustic environment identification by Kullback-Leibler divergence.

This paper presents a forensic methodology that determines, from among a set of recording places, the probable place where allegedly a disputed digital audio recording was made. The methodology considers that digital audio recordings are noisy signals that have two involved noise components. One component is the multiplicative noise, which is an internal feature on the audio recording that is related to the recording device. The other component is the additive noise, which is an external feature on the audio recording that can be related to the recording place. Therefore, the proposed methodology estimates a likelihood rate that helps to decide which recording place is more plausible to be associated with a disputed audio recording. This likelihood rate is defined as the probability of a finding, supposing that a specific proposition is true, divided by the probability of a finding if an alternative proposition is true. Such probabilities are calculated by performing a statistical comparison through the Kullback-Leibler divergence [1], between the probability distribution function of the additive noise associated to the disputed recording and the probability distribution function of the additive noises associated to a set of audio recordings made on the possible recording places. Then, in order to determine the recording place, the analyst requires a list of possible places where the recording could have been carried out; in these places some reference recordings will be made. In this work, the additive noise is estimated by the Geometric Approach to Spectral Subtraction (GA-SS) filter [2], applied to the noisy audio recording.

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus: Changes in sensitisation in the past 11 years and comparison with other centres in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: House dust mites are a ubiquitous air allergen in the human habitat. It has been shown that exposure to them is a fundamental factor in sensitisation and development of atopic disease. The objective of the study was to analyse changes in sensitisation to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p.) in children treated in a tertiary level care hospital in Mexico City for a period of 11 years and compare with other studies carried out in Mexico. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG). Information was gathered from skin tests for Der p. performed in the Allergy Laboratory from January 2004 to April 2015. Patients 2-18 years old who presented for examination of some type of allergic condition and who had immediate hypersensitivity tests to Der p. were included in the study. Results were compared with prior reports from other institutions. Descriptive analysis and χ2 statistics were used. RESULTS: A total of 8794 patients were included in the study; 49.3% of the tests (95% CI 48-50) were positive for Der p. The percentage of monosensitised to mites was 2.7% for Der p. (95% CI 2-3). A significant difference was found between the results of older patients and those <6 years old. The frequency of sensitisation had a tendency to decrease during the 11 years analysed in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The frequency of sensitisation to Der p. increased with age until reaching adolescence. In the last 11 years a decrease in sensitisation to this air allergen was observed.