Adaptividad para problemas de elasticidad lineal en 3D

En este trabajo se presenta un método adaptivo para resolver problemas de elasticidad lineal tridimensional por el método de elementos finitos incluyendo varias experiencias, tanto en la implementación como en la utilización del mismo. La estrategia de densificación está basada en la generación de redes encajadas mediante la subdivisión de elementos tipo simplices. Para la selección de los elementos a dividir se utiliza un indicador elemental de error, equivalente al error en la norma de la energía, el cual también es descrito. Se analizan algunos refinamientos de mallas en presencia de singularidades causadas por esquinas en la frontera del dominio, mostrando el comportamiento de estos estimadores cuando son utilizados en un contexto adaptivo. Finalmente se presentan las conclusiones del proceso adaptivo estudiado.An adaptive scheme to solve three-dimensional elasticity problems by finite elements methods is presented. Some experiences on the implementation and utilization of this process are included. The mesh-enrichment strategy is based on nested mesh generation using simplex subdivision. An elementary error indicator is used for the selection of elements to be divided. This estimator, equivalent to error at the energy norm, is also described. Some mesh refinements due to angles on domain surface is analyzed, showing estimator behavior when used as local error indicator for adaptive refinements. Finally some remarks about this adaptive process are discussed.Peer Reviewe

Tourism and Motivation in Cultural Destinations: towards those Visitors Attracted by Intangible Heritage

The intangible heritage increasingly associated with tourism in a territory is today, an element that is attracting more and more visitors. However, there are still few studies that address issues such as the motivation of these tourists, especially in contexts like those of Latin America. The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between the motivation and satisfaction obtained by tourists who have visited the places associated with the Panama hat (recognized as an Intangible Heritage by UNESCO in 2012) in the city of Cuenca (Ecuador). The work creates a segmentation of tourists based on three dimensions: the cultural, another related to leisure and the last in reference to social and labor issues. For this, it applies a factorial analysis, cluster analysis and an analysis of variance (ANOVA with post-hoc multiple comparisons). The results show that the cultural aspect of motivation is the most important, being, however, the motivation for leisure issues which gives one a better assessment of their knowledge of the Panama hat, Cuenca's heritage or satisfaction with the trip

Respuesta cardiovascular al Stroop : comparación entre test computarizado y verbal

FUNDAMENTO: O teste de Stroop requer que o indivíduo responda a elementos específicos de um estímulo enquanto inibe processos mais automatizados. OBJETIVO: Comparar a reatividade cardiovascular induzida pela versão computadorizada do teste palavra-cor de Stroop - TESTINPACS® com versão tradicional baseada na leitura de palavras impressas. MÉTODOS: A amostra de conveniência foi constituída por 20 mulheres (22,4 ± 4,1 anos). Análises de variância com medidas repetidas foram utilizadas para comparar efeitos principais entre testes (computadorizado, verbal), assim como entre etapas do teste (linha de base, Stroop 1, Stroop 3) das variáveis fisiológicas (pressão arterial, arritmia sinusal respiratória, frequência cardíaca e frequência respiratória). Testes t para amostras pareadas foram utilizados para comparar as médias pressóricas entre o Stroop 3 e a linha de base. Ademais, a magnitude dos efeitos (d') foi estimada a fim avaliar o impacto das diferenças entre as medidas fisiológicas relativas ao Stroop 3 e a linha de base. RESULTADOS: As duas versões do instrumento produziram elevação significativa em frequência cardíaca (p<0,01) e pressão arterial sistólica (p<0,05) quando medidas resultantes do Stroop 3 foram comparadas às de base. Não se verificaram, contudo, diferenças significativas produzidas pelas diferentes versões do teste sobre as demais variáveis investigadas. Estatísticas d' confirmaram a grande magnitude dos efeitos (-1,04 a +1,49) entre as medidas do Stroop 3 e da linha de base. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que a presente versão computadorizada TESTINPACS® do teste de Stroop constitui instrumento útil para induzir reatividade cardiovascular em mulheres.BACKGROUND: The Stroop test requires the individual to respond to specific elements of a stimulus, whereas inhibiting more automated processes. OBJECTIVE: To compare the cardiovascular reactivity induced by the computerized version of the Stroop word-color test TESTINPACSTM with the traditional version based on the reading of printed words. METHODS: The sample of convenience consisted of 20 women (22.4 ± 4.1 years). Analyses of variance with repeated measures were used to compare the main effects between the tests (computerized vs verbal), as well as between phases of the test (baseline, Stroop 1, Stroop 3) on the physiological variables (arterial pressure, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, heart failure and respiratory rate). The t tests for paired samples were used to compare the pressure means between Stroop 3 and baseline. Additionally, the magnitude of the effects (d') was estimated in order to assess the impact of the changes in the physiological measurements between Stroop 3 and the baseline. RESULTS: The two versions of the assessment tool caused significant increase in heart rate (p<0.01) and systolic arterial pressure (p<0.05) when the measurements obtained at the Stroop 3 were compared to that of baseline. However, no significant differences were observed regarding the different versions of the test on the other investigated variables. The d' statistics confirmed the high magnitude of the effects (-1.04 to +1.49) between the measurements from the Stroop 3 and the baseline ones. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the current computerized version (TESTINPACSTM) of the Stroop test constitutes a useful instrument to induce cardiovascular reactivity in women

An integrated approach to the evaluation of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic hyperCKemia

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Currently, there are no straightforward guidelines for the clinical and diagnostic management of hyperCKemia, a frequent and nonspecific presentation in muscle diseases. Therefore, we aimed to describe our diagnostic workflow for evaluating patients with this condition. METHODS: We selected 83 asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients with persistent hyperCKemia for participation in this Italian multicenter study. Patients with facial involvement and distal or congenital myopathies were excluded, as were patients with suspected inflammatory myopathies or predominant respiratory or cardiac involvement. All patients underwent a neurological examination and nerve conduction and electromyography studies. The first step of the investigation included a screening for Pompe disease. We then evaluated the patients for myotonic dystrophy type II–related CCTG expansion and excluded patients with copy number variations in the DMD gene. Subsequently, the undiagnosed patients were investigated using a target gene panel that included 20 genes associated with isolated hyperCKemia. RESULTS: Using this approach, we established a definitive diagnosis in one third of the patients. The detection rate was higher in patients with severe hyperCKemia and abnormal electromyographic findings. DISCUSSION: We have described our diagnostic workflow for isolated hyperCKemia, which is based on electrodiagnostic data, biochemical screening, and first‐line genetic investigations, followed by successive targeted sequencing panels. Both clinical signs and electromyographic abnormalities are associated with increased diagnostic yields

An Ensemble Framework for Projecting the Impact of Lymphatic Filariasis Interventions Across Sub-Saharan Africa at a Fine Spatial Scale

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease targeted for elimination as a public health problem by 2030. Although mass treatments have led to huge reductions in LF prevalence, some countries or regions may find it difficult to achieve elimination by 2030 owing to various factors, including local differences in transmission. Subnational projections of intervention impact are a useful tool in understanding these dynamics, but correctly characterizing their uncertainty is challenging. Methods: We developed a computationally feasible framework for providing subnational projections for LF across 44 sub-Saharan African countries using ensemble models, guided by historical control data, to allow assessment of the role of subnational heterogeneities in global goal achievement. Projected scenarios include ongoing annual treatment from 2018 to 2030, enhanced coverage, and biannual treatment. Results: Our projections suggest that progress is likely to continue well. However, highly endemic locations currently deploying strategies with the lower World Health Organization recommended coverage (65%) and frequency (annual) are expected to have slow decreases in prevalence. Increasing intervention frequency or coverage can accelerate progress by up to 5 or 6 years, respectively. Conclusions: While projections based on baseline data have limitations, our methodological advancements provide assessments of potential bottlenecks for the global goals for LF arising from subnational heterogeneities. In particular, areas with high baseline prevalence may face challenges in achieving the 2030 goals, extending the "tail"of interventions. Enhancing intervention frequency and/or coverage will accelerate progress. Our approach facilitates preimplementation assessments of the impact of local interventions and is applicable to other regions and neglected tropical diseases.</p

Máxima fase estável de lactato durante a natação em ratos recuperados de desnutrição protéica

The objective of the present study was to determine the maximal lactate steady-state (MLSS) of rats recovered from malnutriction in comparison to well-nourished rats. The rats were submitted to 2 types of diets: normal-protein (N=17% protein 60 days) and low-protein (L=6% protein 30 days and 17% protein 30 days). Each animal was submitted to 4 swimming tests lasting for 20 minutes with workloads of 4,5% and 7,5% of body weight. Blood samples were taken for lactate analysis in the beginning and at 5 min intervals throughout the exercise period. Blood lactate stabilized with the 4,5% and the 5,5% overloads and the maximal lactate steady-state was obtained with 5,5% overload at a concentration of 5,5 0,4 mmol/L for the normal- protein rats and of 4,7 0,3 mmol/L for the low-protein rats. These results indicate that protein malnutrition alters the lactate kinetics of the rats during swimming.O presente estudo objetivou determinar a máxima fase estável de lactato (MLSS) em ratos recuperados de desnutrição em comparação com ratos eutróficos. Os ratos foram submetidos a 2 tipos de dietas: normoproteica (N= 17% proteína por 60 dias) e hipoproteica (H=16% proteína por 30 dias e 17% proteína por 30 dias). Cada animal realizou 4 testes de natação por 20 minutos suportando sobrecargas ente 4,5 e 7,5% da massa corporal, com coleta de sangue para análise de lactato em repouso e a cada 5 minutos de exercício. Houve estabilização do lactato sangüíneo nas cargas de 4,5% e 5,5% e a máxima fase estável foi obtida na carga de 5,5%, a uma concentração sangüínea de lactato de 5,5 0,4 mmol/L nos ratos N e de 4,7 0,3 mmol/L nos ratos H. Esses resultados indicam que a desnutrição protéica altera a cinética de lactato no exercício em ratos

The SPTLC1 p.S331 mutation bridges sensory neuropathy and motor neuron disease and has implications for treatment

Aims SPTLC1-related disorder is a late onset sensory-autonomic neuropathy associated with perturbed sphingolipid homeostasis which can be improved by supplementation with the serine palmitoyl-CoA transferase (SPT) substrate, l-serine. Recently, a juvenile form of motor neuron disease has been linked to SPTLC1 variants. Variants affecting the p.S331 residue of SPTLC1 cause a distinct phenotype, whose pathogenic basis has not been established. This study aims to define the neuropathological and biochemical consequences of the SPTLC1 p.S331 variant, and test response to l-serine in this specific genotype. Methods We report clinical and neurophysiological characterisation of two unrelated children carrying distinct p.S331 SPTLC1 variants. The neuropathology was investigated by analysis of sural nerve and skin innervation. To clarify the biochemical consequences of the p.S331 variant, we performed sphingolipidomic profiling of serum and skin fibroblasts. We also tested the effect of l-serine supplementation in skin fibroblasts of patients with p.S331 mutations. Results In both patients, we recognised an early onset phenotype with prevalent progressive motor neuron disease. Neuropathology showed severe damage to the sensory and autonomic systems. Sphingolipidomic analysis showed the coexistence of neurotoxic deoxy-sphingolipids with an excess of canonical products of the SPT enzyme. l-serine supplementation in patient fibroblasts reduced production of toxic 1-deoxysphingolipids but further increased the overproduction of sphingolipids. Conclusions Our findings suggest that p.S331 SPTLC1 variants lead to an overlap phenotype combining features of sensory and motor neuropathies, thus proposing a continuum in the spectrum of SPTLC1-related disorders. l-serine supplementation in these patients may be detrimental