Atmospheric mesoscale modeling to simulate annual and seasonal wind speeds for wind energy production in Mexico

Numerical models have been used widely to reproduce wind resources around the globe. Mexico’s vast territory has a wide range of geographical characteristics with abundant wind potential. This work explores WRF simulations applied to reproduce the wind speed and capacity factor (CF) of 22 wind masts, organized into seven regions delimited by geographic conditions and consisting of 33 years of data. Biases, correlations, dispersion indexes and terrain gradient are selected to study the model and experimental data annually and seasonally. Results indicate that WRF simulations show a persistent positive bias in all regions, leading to overestimating CF. In a seasonal analysis, 86% of the CF data falls between the -0.1 and 0.1 bias range. Bias is not related to a physical seasonal phenomenon; instead, it appears to be related to geographic conditions. The findings indicate that different combinations of settings should be chosen to better reflect the geographical conditions and physical phenomena that affect the intricate Mexican landscape for wind energy production. This research identify regions with best reproducibility and suggests potential areas for future research on wind energy forecasting

Diseño de micropartículas de alginato con maíz con matriz prebiótica de aloe vera para la encapsulación de Lactobacillus plantarum.

Hoy en día el uso de bacterias probióticas ha aumento notablemente el interés en la industria de los alimentos, ya que estos consiguen obtener efectos beneficiosos para la mejora en la salud de la población en general, de igual manera, la tendencia de preferencia en la población ha ido aumentando para con los productos alimenticios que nos ofrecen considerables beneficios nutricionales y en la salud. Para que estas bacterias probióticas intervengan de la manera apropiada y esperada, es de gran importancia que lleguen vivas al intestino en un número adecuado. En los productos probióticos el cambio persistente en la viabilidad de las distintas bacterias que son utilizadas, es un inconveniente significativo y de gran consideración; dicha viabilidad podrá ser protegida mediante el procedimiento de una microencapsulación, en donde dicha técnica, hará que las bacterias probióticas queden atrapadas dentro de unas cápsulas, para así, producir partículas con un diámetro de unos cuantos nanómetros a unos pocos milímetros. En los productos alimenticios en los que se les han incorporado bacterias probióticas, es de gran ayuda la incorporación de alginatos y/o diversos geles para elaborar la microencapsulación de las bacterias, y así con esta técnica, los microorganismos queden protegidos frente al entorno desfavorable de los procesos digestivos y así mismo poder conservar su actividad metabólica. En la presente investigación, se utilizó Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) y alginato de sodio para la elaboración de la matriz encapsulante mediante la técnica de extrusión, para la obtención de microcápsulas; por lo tanto el objetivo central de esta investigación es el diseño óptimo de microcápsulas a base de estos materiales, así como la evaluación del potencial que tiene el Aloe vera como matriz prebiótica

Mixed acceleration techniques for solving quickly stochastic shortest-path markov decision processes

In this paper we propose the combination of accelerated variants of value iteration mixed with improved prioritized sweeping for the fast solution of stochastic shortest-path Markov decision processes. Value iteration is a classical algorithm for solving Markov decision processes, but this algorithm and its variants are quite slow for solving considerably large problems. In order to improve the solution time, acceleration techniques such as asynchronous updates, prioritization and prioritized sweeping have been explored in this paper. A topological reordering algorithm was also compared with static reordering. Experimental results obtained on finite state and action-space stochastic shortest-path problems show that our approach achieves a considerable reduction in the solution time with respect to the tested variants of value iteration. For instance, the experiments showed in one test a reduction of 5.7 times with respect to value iteration with asynchronous updates.En este documento proponemos la combinación de variantes aceleradas del algoritmo de iteración de valor combinadas con el algoritmo de barrido priorizado mejorado para la rápida solución de los procesos de decisión de Markov de ruta estocástica más corta. Iteración de valor es un algoritmo clásico para resolver a los procesos de decisión de Markov, pero este algoritmo y sus variantes son lentos para resolver problemas considerablemente grandes. Con el objeto de mejorar el tiempo de solución de este algoritmo, en este documento se han explorado técnicas de aceleración tales como actualizaciones asíncronas, priorización y barrido priorizado. Un algoritmo de reordenamiento topológico también fue comparado con uno de reordenamiento estático. Los resultados experimentales obtenidos en un problema de ruta estocástica más corta con espacios de estados-acciones finitos; muestran que nuestro enfoque logra una considerable reducción en el tiempo de solución con respecto a las variantes de iteración de valor probadas. Por ejemplo, los experimentos mostraron en una prueba una reducción de 5.7 veces con respecto a iteración de valor usando actualizaciones asíncronas.García Hernández, MDG.; Ruiz Pinales, J.; Onaindia De La Rivaherrera, E.; Ledesma-Orozco, S.; Aviña-Cervantes, J.; Alvarado-Méndez, E.; Reyes-Ballesteros, A. (2011). Mixed acceleration techniques for solving quickly stochastic shortest-path markov decision processes. Journal of Applied Research and Technology. 9(2):129-144. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/46761S1291449

Trends and outcome of neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer: A retrospective analysis and critical assessment of a 10-year prospective national registry on behalf of the Spanish Rectal Cancer Project

Introduction: Preoperative treatment and adequate surgery increase local control in rectal cancer. However, modalities and indications for neoadjuvant treatment may be controversial. Aim of this study was to assess the trends of preoperative treatment and outcomes in patients with rectal cancer included in the Rectal Cancer Registry of the Spanish Associations of Surgeons. Method: This is a STROBE-compliant retrospective analysis of a prospective database. All patients operated on with curative intention included in the Rectal Cancer Registry were included. Analyses were performed to compare the use of neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment in three timeframes: I)2006–2009; II)2010–2013; III)2014–2017. Survival analyses were run for 3-year survival in timeframes I-II. Results: Out of 14, 391 patients, 8871 (61.6%) received neoadjuvant treatment. Long-course chemo/radiotherapy was the most used approach (79.9%), followed by short-course radiotherapy ± chemotherapy (7.6%). The use of neoadjuvant treatment for cancer of the upper third (15-11 cm) increased over time (31.5%vs 34.5%vs 38.6%, p = 0.0018). The complete regression rate slightly increased over time (15.6% vs 16% vs 18.5%; p = 0.0093); the proportion of patients with involved circumferential resection margins (CRM) went down from 8.2% to 7.3%and 5.5% (p = 0.0004). Neoadjuvant treatment significantly decreased positive CRM in lower third tumors (OR 0.71, 0.59–0.87, Cochrane-Mantel-Haenszel P = 0.0008). Most ypN0 patients also received adjuvant therapy. In MR-defined stage III patients, preoperative treatment was associated with significantly longer local-recurrence-free survival (p < 0.0001), and cancer-specific survival (p < 0.0001). The survival benefit was smaller in upper third cancers. Conclusion: There was an increasing trend and a potential overuse of neoadjuvant treatment in cancer of the upper rectum. Most ypN0 patients received postoperative treatment. Involvement of CRM in lower third tumors was reduced after neoadjuvant treatment. Stage III and MRcN + benefited the most

Avanços recentes em nutrição de larvas de peixes

Os requisitos nutricionais de larvas de peixes são ainda mal compreendidos, o que leva a altas mortalidades e problemas de qualidade no seu cultivo. Este trabalho pretende fazer uma revisão de novas metodologias de investigação, tais como estudos com marcadores, genómica populacional, programação nutricional, génomica e proteómica funcionais, e fornecer ainda alguns exemplos das utilizações presentes e perspectivas futuras em estudos de nutrição de larvas de peixes

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1383–1435

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Agaricus albofoetidus, Agaricus aureoelephanti and Agaricus parviumbrus on soil, Fusarium ramsdenii from stem cankers of Araucaria cunninghamii, Keissleriella sporoboli from stem of Sporobolus natalensis, Leptosphaerulina queenslandica and Pestalotiopsis chiaroscuro from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Serendipita petricolae as endophyte from roots of Eriochilus petricola, Stagonospora tauntonensis from stem of Sporobolus natalensis, Teratosphaeria carnegiei from leaves of Eucalyptus grandis × E. camaldulensis and Wongia ficherai from roots of Eragrostis curvula. Canada, Lulworthia fundyensis from intertidal wood and Newbrunswickomyces abietophilus (incl. Newbrunswickomyces gen. nov.)on buds of Abies balsamea. Czech Republic, Geosmithia funiculosa from a bark beetle gallery on Ulmus minor and Neoherpotrichiella juglandicola (incl. Neoherpotrichiella gen. nov.)from wood of Juglans regia. France, Aspergillus rouenensis and Neoacrodontium gallica (incl. Neoacrodontium gen. nov.)from bore dust of Xestobium rufovillosum feeding on Quercus wood, Endoradiciella communis (incl. Endoradiciella gen. nov.)endophyticin roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum and Entoloma simulans on soil. India, Amanita konajensis on soil and Keithomyces indicus from soil. Israel, Microascus rothbergiorum from Stylophora pistillata. Italy, Calonarius ligusticus on soil. Netherlands , Appendopyricularia juncicola (incl. Appendopyricularia gen. nov.), Eriospora juncicola and Tetraploa juncicola on dead culms of Juncus effusus, Gonatophragmium physciae on Physcia caesia and Paracosmospora physciae (incl. Paracosmospora gen. nov.)on Physcia tenella, Myrmecridium phragmitigenum on dead culm of Phragmites australis, Neochalara lolae on stems of Pteridium aquilinum, Niesslia nieuwwulvenica on dead culm of undetermined Poaceae, Nothodevriesia narthecii (incl. Nothodevriesia gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Narthecium ossifragum and Parastenospora pini (incl. Parastenospora gen. nov.)on dead twigs of Pinus sylvestris. Norway, Verticillium bjoernoeyanum from sand grains attached to a piece of driftwood on a sandy beach. Portugal, Collybiopsis cimrmanii on the base of living Quercus ilex and amongst dead leaves of Laurus and herbs. South Africa , Paraproliferophorum hyphaenes (incl. Paraproliferophorum gen. nov.) on living leaves of Hyphaene sp. and Saccothecium widdringtoniae on twigs of Widdringtonia wallichii. Spain, Cortinarius dryosalor on soil, Cyphellophora endoradicis endophytic in roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum, Geoglossum laurisilvae on soil, Leptographium gemmatum from fluvial sediments, Physalacria auricularioides from a dead twig of Castanea sativa , Terfezia bertae and Tuber davidlopezii in soil. Sweden, Alpova larskersii, Inocybe alpestris and Inocybe boreogodeyi on soil. Thailand, Russula banwatchanensis, Russula purpureoviridis and Russula lilacina on soil. Ukraine, Nectriella adonidis on over wintered stems of Adonis vernalis. USA, Microcyclus jacquiniae from living leaves of Jacquinia keyensis and Penicillium neoherquei from a minute mushroom sporocarp. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1042–1111

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Cladosporium arenosum from marine sediment sand. Argentina, Kosmimatamyces alatophylus (incl. Kosmimatamyces gen. nov.) from soil. Australia, Aspergillus banksianus, Aspergillus kumbius, Aspergillus luteorubrus, Aspergillus malvicolor and Aspergillus nanangensis from soil, Erysiphe medicaginis from leaves of Medicago polymorpha, Hymenotorrendiella communis on leaf litter of Eucalyptus bicostata, Lactifluus albopicri and Lactifluus austropiperatus on soil, Macalpinomyces collinsiae on Eriachne benthamii, Marasmius vagus on soil, Microdochium dawsoniorum from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Neopestalotiopsis nebuloides from leaves of Sporobolus elongatus, Pestalotiopsis etonensis from leaves of Sporobolus jacquemontii, Phytophthora personensis from soil associated with dying Grevillea mccutcheonii. Brazil, Aspergillus oxumiae from soil, Calvatia baixaverdensis on soil, Geastrum calycicoriaceum on leaf litter, Greeneria kielmeyerae on leaf spots of Kielmeyera coriacea. Chile, Phytophthora aysenensis on collar rot and stem of Aristotelia chilensis. Croatia, Mollisia gibbospora on fallen branch of Fagus sylvatica. Czech Republic, Neosetophoma hnaniceana from Buxus sempervirens. Ecuador, Exophiala frigidotolerans from soil. Estonia, Elaphomyces bucholtzii in soil. France, Venturia paralias from leaves of Euphorbia paralias. India, Cortinarius balteatoindicus and Cortinarius ulkhagarhiensis on leaf litter. Indonesia, Hymenotorrendiella indonesiana on Eucalyptus urophylla leaf litter. Italy, Penicillium taurinense from indoor chestnut mill. Malaysia, Hemileucoglossum kelabitense on soil, Satchmopsis pini on dead needles of Pinus tecunumanii. Poland, Lecanicillium praecognitum on insects' frass. Portugal, Neodevriesia aestuarina from saline water. Republic of Korea, Gongronella namwonensis from freshwater. Russia, Candida pellucida from Exomias pellucidus, Heterocephalacria septentrionalis as endophyte from Cladonia rangiferina, Vishniacozyma phoenicis from dates fruit, Volvariella paludosa from swamp. Slovenia, Mallocybe crassivelata on soil. South Africa, Beltraniella podocarpi, Hamatocanthoscypha podocarpi, Coleophoma podocarpi and Nothoseiridium podocarpi (incl. Nothoseiridium gen. nov.)from leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Gyrothrix encephalarti from leaves of Encephalartos sp., Paraphyton cutaneum from skin of human patient, Phacidiella alsophilae from leaves of Alsophila capensis, and Satchmopsis metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros excelsa. Spain, Cladophialophora cabanerensis from soil, Cortinarius paezii on soil, Cylindrium magnoliae from leaves of Magnolia grandiflora, Trichophoma cylindrospora (incl. Trichophoma gen. nov.) from plant debris, Tuber alcaracense in calcareus soil, Tuber buendiae in calcareus soil. Thailand, Annulohypoxylon spougei on corticated wood, Poaceascoma filiforme from leaves of unknown Poaceae. UK, Dendrostoma luteum on branch lesions of Castanea sativa, Ypsilina buttingtonensis from heartwood of Quercus sp. Ukraine, Myrmecridium phragmiticola from leaves of Phragmites australis. USA, Absidia pararepens from air, Juncomyces californiensis (incl. Juncomyces gen. nov.) from leaves of Juncus effusus, Montagnula cylindrospora from a human skin sample, Muriphila oklahomaensis (incl. Muriphila gen. nov.)on outside wall of alcohol distillery, Neofabraea eucalyptorum from leaves of Eucalyptus macrandra, Diabolocovidia claustri (incl. Diabolocovidia gen. nov.)from leaves of Serenoa repens, Paecilomyces penicilliformis from air, Pseudopezicula betulae from leaves of leaf spots of Populus tremuloides. Vietnam, Diaporthe durionigena on branches of Durio zibethinus and Roridomyces pseudoirritans on rotten wood. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes