Design of a Tension Infiltrometer with Automated Data Collection Using a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System.

This study highlights the importance of water infiltration in hydrological basin management, emphasizing its role in water services, water quality regulation, and temporal patterns. To measure this crucial function, this study introduces a portable and user-friendly tension infiltrometer designed for easy assembly and data collection. The tension infiltrometer, based on the 2009 design by Spongrová and Kechavarzi, offers a comprehensive characterization of the soil properties related to water flow. It eliminates the influence of preferential flow, providing accurate data. Additionally, it accommodates changes in pore size distribution within the soil, which is crucial for understanding water movement. This study discusses the challenges associated with traditional infiltration measurement tools, like double-ring infiltrometers and single rings, which are not easily transported and can lead to inaccuracies. In response, the proposed infiltrometer simplifies data collection, making it accessible to a broader range of users. This study also explores the use of the VL53L0X distance sensor in the infiltrometer, providing an innovative solution for measuring the water column height. The system's user interface allows real-time data collection and analysis, significantly reducing the processing time compared to that of the manual methods. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential for advancement in hydrological basin management using user-friendly instrumentation and automated data collection, paving the way for improved research and decision making in environmental services, conservation, and restoration efforts within these ecosystems.

Unlocking the hidden potential of Mexican teosinte seeds: revealing plant growth-promoting bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents.

The bacterial component of plant holobiont maintains valuable interactions that contribute to plants' growth, adaptation, stress tolerance, and antagonism to some phytopathogens. Teosinte is the grass plant recognized as the progenitor of modern maize, domesticated by pre-Hispanic civilizations around 9,000 years ago. Three teosinte species are recognized: Zea diploperennis, Zea perennis, and Zea mays. In this work, the bacterial diversity of three species of Mexican teosinte seeds was explored by massive sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. Streptomyces, Acinetobacter, Olivibacter, Erwinia, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Cellvibrio, Achromobacter, Devosia, Lysobacter, Sphingopyxis, Stenotrophomonas, Ochrobactrum, Delftia, Lactobacillus, among others, were the bacterial genera mainly represented. The bacterial alpha diversity in the seeds of Z. diploperennis was the highest, while the alpha diversity in Z. mays subsp. mexicana race was the lowest observed among the species and races. The Mexican teosintes analyzed had a core bacteriome of 38 bacterial genera, including several recognized plant growth promoters or fungal biocontrol agents such as Agrobacterium, Burkholderia, Erwinia, Lactobacillus, Ochrobactrum, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Streptomyces, among other. Metabolic inference analysis by PICRUSt2 of bacterial genera showed several pathways related to plant growth promotion (PGP), biological control, and environmental adaptation. The implications of these findings are far-reaching, as they highlight the existence of an exceptional bacterial germplasm reservoir teeming with potential plant growth promotion bacteria (PGPB). This reserve holds the key to cultivating innovative bioinoculants and formidable fungal antagonistic strains, thereby paving the way for a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to agriculture. Embracing these novel NGS-based techniques and understanding the profound impact of the vertical transference of microorganisms from seeds could revolutionize the future of agriculture and develop a new era of symbiotic harmony between plants and microbes.

Changes in the abundance and diversity of bacterial and archaeal communities at different depths in a eutrophic freshwater lake in southwestern Mexico.

Bacteria and archaea play a fundamental role in the biogeochemical cycles of organic matter, pollutants, and nutrients to maintain the trophic state of aquatic ecosystems. However, very little is known about the composition patterns of microbial communities in vertical distribution (water column) in freshwater lakes and their relationship with the physicochemical properties of water. "La Encantada" lake in the Lagunas de Montebello National Park (LMNP) is a site of interest due to the anthropogenic impact received and the little information about it. In this study, 3 sites were evaluated; samples were collected using 0-15 m deep water columns and analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology based on the 16S rRNA gene. The physical parameters of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrolytic conductivity, and PO-4 were determined. The results revealed clear differences in the microbial composition of the water throughout the column; the most abundant phyla in bacterial communities were Proteobacteria (23.2%), Cyanobacteria (17.3%), and Bacteroidetes (17.2%), and for archaea were Crenarchaeota (35.9%) and Euryarchaeota (33.2%). PICRUSt metabolic inference analysis revealed that the main functional genes were related to cellular processes and biodegradation of xenobiotics, indicating an increasing trend of contaminants and residual discharges that may act as a precursor to alter microbial communities and stability of the lakes. At depths of 10 and 15 m, the microbial diversity was greater; likewise, the correlation between the physicochemical parameters and the microbial communities at the genus level showed that Chlorobaculum, Desulfomonile, and Candidatus Xiphinematobacter were favored by an increase in dissolved phosphates and by the decrease in pH and temperature. These results highlight that the microbial communities exhibit variation in their composition due to the effect of depth and physicochemical parameters, which could play a role as biological factors in the trophic states of a lake.

Systemic amyloidosis as a cause of chronic diarrhea after gastric surgery. Literature review.

Amyloidosis with gastrointestinal involvement is a rare cause of chronic diarrhoea, and should be considered especially in adult patients with intestinal malabsorption and extra GI manifestations. We present the case of a male patient who, after an oncological gastrectomy, presented with chronic diarrhea that did not respond to treatment and, after study, the cause of the diarrhea was finally found. Primary systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL) initially presents as chronic diarrhea and weight loss after gastrectomy. Immunohistochemistry was completely negative for amyloid A, which virtually rules out AA amyloidosis. With regard to the immunoglobulin chains, an amyloid signal was observed for both light chains, with a predominance of lambda light chain but not entirely conclusive. This situation is not uncommon since amyloid, whatever its chemical nature, can annex serum proteins, including immunoglobulin chains. In the case of chronic diarrhea, the possibility of amyloidosis should be kept in mind, especially in the case of weight loss.

Aplicaciones de aprendizaje automático para el análisis industrial de la provisión azucarera en Matanzas, Cuba

El análisis de los servicios ecosistémicos puede aportar conocimientos importantes sobre cómo se procesan y se obtienen los bienes del sistema agroindustrial azucarero. Para este trabajo, se recopilaron 346 datos del procesamiento industrial de la caña de azúcar en tres zafras, en la agroindustria del municipio Calimete, Provincia Matanzas (Cuba), con el objetivo de emplear algoritmos de aprendizaje automáticos, para predicciones relacionadas a datos biofísicos y económicos. Se analizaron siete predictores y mediante best subset selection, se identificó la combinación de rendimiento potencial en caña y pérdidas industriales totales, para predecir el servicio de provisión azucarera, mediante la regresión lineal múltiple. Se ajustó, también, un segundo modelo, que predice el efecto económico de las pérdidas industriales. En ambos modelos, se logró explicar por encima del 70 % de la variabilidad observada, en las variables dependientes, con un test F significativo (p-value: < 0,05), además de cumplirse con las condiciones de diagnóstico y validación.

The analysis of ecosystem services can provide important insights into how goods are processed and obtained from the sugar agro-industrial system. For this work, 346 data were collected on the industrial processing of sugarcane in three harvest, in the agroindustry of the Calimete municipality, Matanzas Province (Cuba), with the objective to use the machine learning algorithm, to predict both, biophysical and economic data. Seven predictors were analyzed and by best subset selection, it was identified both the potential yield in sugarcane and the total industrial losses combination to predict the sugar provision service, by multiple linear regression. In addition, it was adjusted a second model to predict the economic effect of the industrial losses. In both models were able to explain over 70 % of the variability observed, in the dependent variables, with a significant F test (p-value: <0.05), also the diagnostic and validation conditions were met.

Invasive Fungal Infection Caused by Magnusiomyces capitatus in an Immunocompromised Pediatric Patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Mexico City: A Case Report.

Magnusiomyces capitatus (also denominated "Geotrichum capitatum" and "the teleomorph stage of Saprochaete capitata") mainly affects immunocompromised patients with hematological malignancies in rare cases of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Few cases have been reported for pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), in part because conventional diagnostic methods do not consistently detect M. capitatus in infections. The current contribution describes a systemic infection in a 15-year-old female diagnosed with ALL. She arrived at the Children's Hospital of Mexico City with a fever and neutropenia and developed symptoms of septic shock 4 days later. M. capitatus ENCB-HI-834, the causal agent, was isolated from the patient's blood, urine, bile, and peritoneal fluid samples. It was identified with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and a phylogenetic reconstruction using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S ribosomal sequences. The phylogenetic sequence of M. capitatus ENCB-HI-834 clustered with other M. capitatus-type strains with a 100% identity. In vitro antifungal testing, conducted with the Sensititre YeastOne susceptibility system, found the following minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values (µg/mL): posaconazole 0.25, amphotericin B 1.0, fluconazole > 8.0, itraconazole 0.25, ketoconazole 0.5, 5-flucytosine ≤ 0.06, voriconazole 0.25, and caspofungin > 16.0. No clinical breakpoints have been defined for M. capitatus. This is the first clinical case reported in Mexico of an IFI caused by M. capitatus in a pediatric patient with ALL. It emphasizes the importance of close monitoring for a timely and accurate diagnosis of neutropenia-related IFIs to determine the proper treatment with antibiotics, antifungals, and chemotherapy for instance including children with ALL.

In silico evaluation of atazanavir as a potential HIV main protease inhibitor and its comparison with new designed analogs.

Starting three decades ago and spreading rapidly around the world, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an infectious disease distinct from other contagious diseases by its unique ways of transmission. Over the past few decades, research into new drug compounds has been accompanied by extensive advances, and the design and manufacture of drugs that inhibit virus enzymes is one way to combat the AIDS virus. Since blocking enzyme activity can kill a pathogen or correct a metabolic imbalance, the design and use of enzyme inhibitors is a new approach against viruses. We carried out an in-depth analysis of the efficacy of atazanavir and its newly designed analogs as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors using molecular docking. The best-designed analogs were then compared with atazanavir by the molecular dynamics simulation. The most promising results were ultimately found based on the docking analysis for HIV protease. Several exhibited an estimated free binding energy lower than -9.45 kcal/mol, indicating better prediction results than the atazanavir. ATV7 inhibitor with antiviral action may be more beneficial for infected patients with HIV. Molecular dynamics analysis and binding energy also showed that the ATV7 drug had more inhibitory ability than the atazanavir drug.

Vacuolar proteases and autophagy in phytopathogenic fungi: A review.

Autophagy (macroautophagy) is a survival and virulence mechanism of different eukaryotic pathogens. Autophagosomes sequester cytosolic material and organelles, then fuse with or enter into the vacuole or lysosome (the lytic compartment of most fungal/plant cells and many animal cells, respectively). Subsequent degradation of cargoes delivered to the vacuole via autophagy and endocytosis maintains cellular homeostasis and survival in conditions of stress, cellular differentiation, and development. PrA and PrB are vacuolar aspartyl and serine endoproteases, respectively, that participate in the autophagy of fungi and contribute to the pathogenicity of phytopathogens. Whereas the levels of vacuolar proteases are regulated by the expression of the genes encoding them (e.g., PEP4 for PrA and PRB1 for PrB), their activity is governed by endogenous inhibitors. The aim of the current contribution is to review the main characteristics, regulation, and role of vacuolar soluble endoproteases and Atg proteins in the process of autophagy and the pathogenesis of three fungal phytopathogens: Ustilago maydis, Magnaporthe oryzae, and Alternaria alternata. Aspartyl and serine proteases are known to participate in autophagy in these fungi by degrading autophagic bodies. However, the gene responsible for encoding the vacuolar serine protease of U. maydis has yet to be identified. Based on in silico analysis, this U. maydis gene is proposed to be orthologous to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes PRB1 and PBI2, known to encode the principal protease involved in the degradation of autophagic bodies and its inhibitor, respectively. In fungi that interact with plants, whether phytopathogenic or mycorrhizal, autophagy is a conserved cellular degradation process regulated through the TOR, PKA, and SNF1 pathways by ATG proteins and vacuolar proteases. Autophagy plays a preponderant role in the recycling of cell components as well as in the fungus-plant interaction.

Theoretical study of the octahedral substitution effect in delaminated pyrophyllite: physicochemical properties and applications.

We have studied, using DFT calculations, some geometrical and electronic properties of delaminated pyrophyllite (D-P) and the corresponding layers that result from three isomorphic substitutions on octahedral sheets (Mg2+, Fe2+ and Fe3+). Bond lengths, layer thickness (dL), band gap (Eg), work function (WF), magnetic moment (µ), density of states and charge distributions are reported. These properties are important to control the behaviour of electronic devices. The results show that the layer thickness increases according to the ionic radius of the considered substituent. In the case of the three substitutions a reduction of the forbidden band is observed. Mg2+ induces a decrease in the Eg value of about 16.5% with respect to D-P, whereas for Fe this reduction is more significant due to the presence of trap states in the forbidden zone. For Fe2+ (Fe3+) the reduction in the Eg is around 62% (51%). Regarding the WF, our results showed that there is a decrease in its value after substitution. D-P has the highest WF value (8.15 eV), whereas the delaminated clay with Fe2+ has the lowest value (2.22 eV). Finally, D-P and D-P substituted with Mg2+ have a diamagnetic behaviour (µ = 0), whereas the presence of Fe2+ and Fe3+ induces a paramagnetic behaviour. The computed magnetic moment is 4 µB and 1 µB for D-P substituted with Fe2+ and Fe3+, respectively.

Marcadores de funcionamiento renal en pacientes infectados por SARS-CoV-2. Revisión rápida de la literatura.

 Objetivo. Resumir la evidencia científica sobre las altera-ciones renales asociadas con la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Material y métodos. Se realizó una revisión rápida con la metodología Cochrane. Resultados. La enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) preexistente en pacientes con SARS-CoV-2 varió de 1 a 38% y la lesión renal aguda (LRA), de 2.9 a 86.4%. El pronóstico de la infección fue peor en pacientes con ERC y en aquellos con reserva renal remanente (RRR) intacta que desarrollaron LRA. El riesgo de muerte fue mayor (riesgo relativo combinado = 1.49; IC95%: 1.09-2.04) en pacientes infectados por SARS-CoV-2 con ERC preexistente. Los mar-cadores de RRR mostraron alteraciones en pacientes con SARS-CoV-2 graves y fatales; el marcador más utilizado fue la creatinina sérica. Conclusiones. La evidencia científica muestra la relevancia de la evaluación y monitoreo perma-nente de la RRR en pacientes hospitalizados por SARS-CoV-2 para mejorar el pronóstico de aquellos con ERC preexistente, así como de aquellos sin ERC que desarrollan LRA.

Exposure to Phenols, Phthalates, and Parabens and Development of Metabolic Syndrome Among Mexican Women in Midlife.

Background: Evidence suggests exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can influence Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) risk in adults, but it is unclear if EDCs impact women during midlife. We examined if EDCs measured in adult women were predictive of MetS and its components 9 years later. Methods: We measured urinary phthalate metabolites, phenols, and parabens collected in 2008 among 73 females from the ELEMENT study. MetS and its components (Abdominal Obesity, Hypertriglyceridemia, Cholesterolemia, Hypertension, and Hyperglycemia) were assessed in 2017. We regressed log-transformed EDC concentrations on MetS and MetS components using logistic regression, adjusting for age and physical activity. Results: At follow-up, the mean (SD) age was 46.6 (6.3) years; the prevalence of MetS was 34.3%. Sum of dibutyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), and monoethyl phthalate (MEP) were associated with an increased odds of hypertriglyceridemia. 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5 DCP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4 DCP) were associated with increased odds of hypertriglyceridemia. The odds of hypertension were 4.18 (95% CI: 0.98, 17.7, p < 0.10) and 3.77 (95% CI: 0.76, 18.62, p < 0.10) times higher for every IQR increase in MCOP and propyl paraben, respectively. The odds of hyperglycemia were 0.46 (95% CI: 0.18, 1.17 p < 0.10) times lower for every IQR increase in the sum of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP), and the odds of abdominal obesity were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.40, 1.21, p < 0.10) lower for every IQR increase in the concentration of triclosan. Conclusion: We found EDCs measured in 2008 were marginally predictive of hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension 9 years later. Results suggest that lower exposure to certain toxicants was related to lower markers of metabolic risk among midlife women.

Respuesta a «Colecistitis enfisematosa en un paciente con sospecha de infección por SARS-CoV-2» / Response to «Emphysematous cholecystitis in suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection»

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Marcadores de funcionamiento renal en pacientes infectados por SARS-CoV-2. Revisión rápida de la literatura / Markers of kidney function among SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. A rapid review of the literature

Resumen Objetivo: Resumir la evidencia científica sobre las alteraciones renales asociadas con la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Material y métodos: Se realizó una revisión rápida con la metodología Cochrane. Resultados: La enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) preexistente en pacientes con SARS-CoV-2 varió de 1 a 38% y la lesión renal aguda (LRA), de 2.9 a 86.4%. El pronóstico de la infección fue peor en pacientes con ERC y en aquellos con reserva renal remanente (RRR) intacta que desarrollaron LRA. El riesgo de muerte fue mayor (riesgo relativo combinado = 1.49; IC95%: 1.09-2.04) en pacientes infectados por SARS-CoV-2 con ERC preexistente. Los marcadores de RRR mostraron alteraciones en pacientes con SARS-CoV-2 graves y fatales; el marcador más utilizado fue la creatinina sérica. Conclusiones: La evidencia científica muestra la relevancia de la evaluación y monitoreo permanente de la RRR en pacientes hospitalizados por SARS-CoV-2 para mejorar el pronóstico de aquellos con ERC preexistente, así como de aquellos sin ERC que desarrollan LRA.

Abstract: Objective: To summarize the scientific literature on kidney abnormalities associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and methods: It was conducted a rapid review using the Cochrane methodology. Results: Pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients ranged from 1-38% and acute kidney injury (AKI) ranged from 2.9-86.4%. The prognosis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection was worse among those with CKD and those with normal remnant kidney function (RKF) that developed AKI. The risk of death was higher (pooled risk ratio =1.49; 95%CI: 1.09-2.04) among SARS-CoV-2 infected patients with pre-existing CKD. The RKF markers showed alterations among severe and non-surviving SARS-CoV-2 patients; the most common marker was serum creatinine. Conclusions: The scientific evidence shows the relevance of the evaluation and permanent monitoring of the RKF in SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized patients to improve the prognosis of those with pre-existing CKD as well as the prognosis of those without CKD who develop AKI.

Competencias digitales clave de los profesionales sanitarios / Key digital skills for healthcare professionals

La evolución de Internet y de la tecnología digital en la sociedad y en los sectores productivos ha planteado en los sistemas sanitarios la necesidad de una transformación digital que aporte mejoras en calidad y eficiencia. A pesar de los avances tecnológicos y de la creciente demanda social para incorporarlos en la práctica clínica diaria, el grado de implementación de la innovación digital en el sector sanitario es todavía escaso y lento, en parte debido a la brecha digital. Por ello, resulta imprescindible que todos los agentes de salud incorporen ciertos conocimientos y habilidades específicas relacionadas con el entorno digital y la transformación que conlleva. Se presentan una serie de nuevas competencias que pueden facilitar esta transición a los profesionales de la salud y ayudarles a mejorar su desempeño profesional con la ayuda de Internet y las tecnologías asociadas. Como profesionales de la información y del conocimiento, los sanitarios no debemos vivir ajenos a esta transformación, ya que la salud digital supone una oportunidad para la mejora continua en áreas tan transversales e importantes como la gestión de la información, la comunicación, la investigación, la innovación, la docencia y la publicación científica

The evolution of the Internet and digital technology in society and in all productive sectors has led to health systems establishing the need for changing to digital/computerised systems that can provide improvements in quality and efficiency. Despite technological advances and growth of social demand to incorporate them into daily clinical practice, the level of implementation of digital innovation in the healthcare sector is still limited and slow, partly due to the digital divide. This is why it is essential that accurate knowledge and skills related to the digital environment are acquired by all health workers, as well as patients. This article presents a series of digital skills for different health workers in order to facilitate this transition and improve their professional performance with the help of the Internet and associated technologies. We must not remain outside this transformation, since digital healthcare is a great opportunity for continuous improvement in such wide and important areas as information management, communication, research, innovation, teaching and scientific publication

Experimental and DFT Studies of Hybrid Silver/Cdots Nanoparticles.

In this work, the combination of experimental and theoretical results was employed to confirm an interaction between Cdots and AgNPs in the silver/Cdots hybrid nanoparticles. The experimental data obtained by UV-vis, IR, ζ potential, and TGA techniques were correlated and interpreted by calculations obtained by DFT. In particular, an interaction between the -COO- functional group of the Cdots with AgNPs was revealed. As consequence of this interaction, a frequency shift and a higher absorption intensity in the IR of the -OH group in the Cdots was theoretically predicted and also observed in the experimental IR spectra. Moreover, a bonding and charge distribution analysis was also carried out. These results constitute new physical insight for the Ag@Cdots system. Additionally, based in this type of interaction, energy calculations explained the negative charge surrounding the AgNPs, which was detected by ζ potential measurements. This systematic methodology not only is useful for this nanoparticles system but also could be used to analyze the interaction between the components that constitute other types of hybrid nanoparticles.