Amperometric detection of triclosan with screen-printed carbon nanotube electrodes modified with Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum) peroxidase

Triclosan is a compound with antimicrobial activity broadly used in consumer products. Because of its well documented toxicity, the amount of triclosan present in different products needs to be tightly controlled. This paper outlines a new amperometric sensor for triclosan detection consisting of a screen-printed carbon nanotube electrode (SPCNE) modified w ith Guinea grass peroxidase (GGP). The GGP-modified S PCNE was a ble t o d etect an enhanced electrochemical response of triclosan, unlike the bare SPCNE. The cyclic voltammograms of the GGP-modified SPCNE in a solution of potassium ferrocyanide showed an increase in the current values and linearity between scan rates and oxidation peak currents, suggesting a surface controlled process. The GGP-modified SPCNEs howed an excellent electrocatalytic activity to triclosan oxidation, at a redox potential of 370 mV, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, exhibiting a linear response between 20 mM to 80 mM and a detection limit of 3 µM. This new amperometry system, based on carbon nanotubes integrated with GGP, becomes a potential tool for environmental analysis and food quality control.Fil: Orduz Navas, Angie Estefany. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Química del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química. Instituto de Química del Sur; Argentina. Universidad Industrial Santander; ColombiaFil: Gutiérrez, Jorge Andres. Universidad Industrial Santander; ColombiaFil: Blanco, Sergio Ismael. Universidad Industrial Santander; ColombiaFil: Castillo, John. Universidad Industrial Santander; Colombi

APPFORO

El presente proyecto presenta la viabilidad de la ejecución del modelo de negocio de un software integrado de reconocimiento facial, que mide el aforo de establecimientos, mediante un motor de búsquedas, Appforo dirigidos a los segmentos B2B y B2C, en relación a la investigación realizada en Lima Metropolitana de las personas entre las edades de 18 a 25 años, y empresas de los sectores de restaurantes, farmacias, boticas y otros establecimientos públicos comerciales. A partir de la investigación realizada permitió validar el modelo de negocio e identificar aquellos aspectos que era necesario reestructurar, este proyecto se pondrá en marcha durante el 2021, por lo que se establecieron proyecciones comerciales, teniendo en cuenta el macroentorno, microentorno, entre otros aspectos. Asimismo, se desarrolló el plan de Operaciones, Financiero, de Marketing, de Recursos Humanos y de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial. Al respecto, dentro de cada plan se determinó las estrategias a usar, el presupuesto asignado, en qué tiempo se realizaría y con qué frecuencia. En ese sentido, se estimó como resultado, que el proyecto requiere iniciar con una inversión de 30 mil 780.18 soles, con lo que obtendremos beneficios netos de 295 218.85, 512 462.89 y 912 675.67 soles en el primer, segundo y tercer año.This project presents the feasibility of executing the business model of an integrated facial recognition software, which measures the capacity of establishments, through a search engine, Appforo aimed at the B2B and B2C segments, in relation to the research carried out in Metropolitan Lima of people between the ages of 18 to 25 years, and companies in the sectors of restaurants, pharmacies, drugstores and other commercial public establishments. Based on the research carried out, it allowed to validate the business model and identify those aspects that needed to be restructured, this project will be launched during 2021, for which commercial projections were established, taking into account the macro environment, micro environment, among other aspects. Likewise, the Operations, Financial, Marketing, Human Resources and Corporate Social Responsibility plan was developed. In this regard, within each plan, the strategies to be used were determined, the budget assigned, in what time it would be carried out and how often. In this sense, it was estimated as a result that the project requires starting with an investment of 30, 780.18 soles, with which we will obtain net benefits of 295 218.85, 512 462.89 y 912 675.67 soles in the first, second and third year.Trabajo de investigació

Modelamiento de la adquisicion domestica de vino en la ciudad de Talca

280 p.Esta investigación estudia los hábitos de compra del vino para consumo doméstico. El trabajo analiza el comportamiento de compra de los distintos G.S.E de la ciudad de Talca, a través de dos herramientas de recopilación de datos, encuestas puntuales y un panel experimental de compra, las que fueron usadas para lo siguiente: a.- ENCUESTA DE INSTALACION, aplicada al comienzo del estudio con el objetivo de identificar cada uno de los hogares participantes en la investigación, a los compradores de vino en cuanto a decisión, preferencias, lugares y frecuencias de compra, modos de consumo, etc. b.- PANEL DE COMPRA, herramienta en la cual se registraron diariamente las compras de vino, en cuanto a cantidad, volumen, tipo de envase, forma de pago, etc., durante un periodo de diez semanas. c.- ENCUESTA DE CIERRE, la cual sirvió para conocer el use de los medios de comunicación, recordación publicitaria del vino; además de la evaluación del estudio por parte de los hogares participantes. • LA INFORMACION OBTENIDA SIRVIO : 1.- Para cruzar información con las encuestas y así formar cluster o grupos de consumidores y no consumidores de vino para cada G.S.E. 2.- Para identificar las variables mas importantes, y así determinar funciones de demanda e índices que expliquen el comportamiento de compra de los talquinos. Los modelos estimados consideraron los siguientes predictores: La cantidad de envases comprados y el volumen de vino adquirido. Estos son función del precio del bien, del gasto por compra, del contenido del envase, del G.S.E que realiza la compra, del precio de otros bienes, del día de la compra, de la semana de la compra (festiva o normal), etc. RESUMIENDO LOS DATOS OBTENIDOS: 1.- Las variables que tienen una mayor influencia en la decisión de compra son: el precio, el gasto por compra, el ingreso, la semana, el precio de otros bienes. La importancia de cada una de estas variables cambia por G.S.E. 2.- La elasticidad precio de la demanda cambia por G.S.E, es así como los G.S.E. inferiores son mas sensibles al cambio en los precios que los G.S.E superiores, esto explicaría el porque ellos adquieren vinos mas baratos. 3.- Las elasticidades ingreso estimadas, indican que el vino es catalogado como un bien normal por cada uno de los G.S.E. 4 . - En cuanto a la elasticidad cruzada, para el modelo general el pisco es considerado como un bien complementario, en cambio, para los modelos por G.S.E el pisco resulto ser un bien sustituto del vino para los estratos medio y bajo; y 1a cerveza es un bien sustituto de la botella

A systematic review of clinical applications and diagnostic efficacy of intravascular optical coherence tomography in cardiology

Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has emerged advanced imaging modality in cardiology, offering high-resolution visualization of coronary artery structures. Since its inception in the late 1990s, OCT has undergone significant advancements, transitioning from time-domain to frequency-domain systems, thereby enhancing its clinical viability and diagnostic efficacy. We aimed to comprehensively assess the clinical applications and diagnostic efficacy of intravascular OCT in cardiology, particularly in guiding percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and evaluating coronary artery diseases. In methodology, A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2013 and 2023, comparing OCT with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and conventional angiography (C.A.) in guiding PCI procedures. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), cardiac death, and revascularizations as outcomes. In results we included 28 studies from databased and 3 manuals, highlighting OCT's superior resolution in identifying thin-capped fibroatheromas (TCFAs), optimizing stent placement, and assessing plaque composition. Comparative analyses revealed no significant differences in clinical efficacy between OCT and IVUS, with both modalities showing superiority over C.A. in reducing cardiovascular events. The OCTIVUS trial further confirmed the non-inferiority of OCT-guided PCI compared to IVUS-guided PCI, with lower procedural complications reported in the OCT group. In conclusion, Intravascular OCT has revolutionized the diagnostic and interventional landscape in cardiology, offering unparalleled insights into coronary artery pathology. Its high-resolution imaging capabilities facilitate accurate plaque characterization, stent optimization, and real-time intervention guidance, thereby improving clinical outcomes in PCI procedures. Future research should focus on expanding OCT's applications and further validating its efficacy in diverse clinical settings

Influence of the activation time on the development of the porosity of physically activated carbons

En este trabajo se estudia la influencia en la porosidad de carbones activados mediante una mezcla de vapor de agua y nitrógeno, en función del tiempo de activación. Este estudio se basa en la aplicación de tres métodos de análisis distintos: el conocido método DFT, un método analítico basado en una combinación de las ecuaciones de BET y de Kelvin, y un método de simulación de Monte Carlo. Dichos métodos son aplicados sobre los datos obtenidos de las isotermas de adsorción de nitrógeno a 77K sobre una serie de muestras de carbón activado obtenidas bajo condiciones cuidadosamente controladas. Los resultados obtenidos son consistentes para los tres métodos, lo que permite extraer conclusiones confiables sobre la influencia del tiempo de activación en las características de los carbones obtenidos.In this work, the influence of the activation time on the development of the porosity is studied for carbons activated by means of a mixture of water vapor and nitrogen. The study is based on the application of three different methods of analysis: the well known DFT method, an analytical method base don a combination of the BET and Kelvin equations, and a Monte Carlo simulation method. These methods are applied to experimental data of nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77K for a series of activated carbons obtained under carefully controlled conditions. Results turn out to be consistent among the three methods, leading to reliable conclusions about the influence of the activation time on the characteristics of the obtained carbons.Fil: Toso, Juan Pablo. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Fisico Matematicas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisica. Laboratorio de Ciencias de Superficies y Medios Porosos; ArgentinaFil: Aja Muñiz, R.. Centro de Investigación para la Industria Minero ; CubaFil: Vallone, Andrea Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Rodriguez, A.. Centro de Investigación para la Industria Minero ; CubaFil: Castillo, C.R.. Centro de Investigación para la Industria Minero ; CubaFil: Sapag, Manuel Karim. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Zgrablich, Jorge Andres. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Fisico Matematicas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisica. Laboratorio de Ciencias de Superficies y Medios Porosos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis; Argentin

Complex interaction between dengue virus replication and expression of miRNA-133a

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) is the most common vector-borne viral infection worldwide with approximately 390 million cases and 25,000 reported deaths each year. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules responsible for the regulation of gene expression by repressing mRNA translation or inducing mRNA degradation. Although miRNAs possess antiviral activity against many mammalian-infecting viruses, their involvement in DENV replication is poorly understood. Methods: Here, we explored the relationship between DENV and cellular microRNAs using bioinformatics tools. We overexpressed miRNA-133a in Vero cells to test its role in DENV replication and analyzed its expression using RT-qPCR. Furthermore, the expression of polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB), a protein involved in DENV replication, was analyzed by western blot. In addition, we profiled miRNA-133a expression in Vero cells challenged with DENV-2, using Taqman miRNA. Results: Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the DENV genome of all four DENV serotypes is targeted by several cellular miRNAs, including miRNA-133a. We found that overexpression of synthetic miRNA-133a suppressed DENV replication. Additionally, we observed that PTB transcription, a miRNA-133a target, is down-regulated during DENV infection. Based in our results we propose that 3' UTR of DENV downregulates endogenous expression of miRNA-133a in Vero cells during the first hours of infection. Conclusions: miRNA-133a regulates DENV replication possibly through the modulation of a host factor such as PTB. Further investigations are needed to verify whether miRNA-133a has an anti-DENV effect in vivo

Effectiveness and Adherence to Closed Face Shields in the Prevention of COVID-19 Transmission: A Non-inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial in a Middle-Income Setting (COVPROSHIELD)

BACKGROUND: The use of respiratory devices can mitigate the spread of diseases such as COVID-19 in community settings. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of closed face shields with surgical face masks to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission in working adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: An open-label non-inferiority randomized controlled trial that randomly assigned participants to one of two groups: the intervention group was instructed to wear closed face shields with surgical face masks, and the active control group was instructed to wear only surgical face masks. The primary outcome was a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test, IgG/IgM antibody test for SARS-CoV-2 detection, or both during and at the end of the follow-up period of 21 days. The non-inferiority limit was established at - 5%. RESULTS: A total of 316 participants were randomized, 160 participants were assigned to the intervention group and 156 to the active control group. In total, 141 (88.1%) participants in the intervention group and 142 (91.0%) in the active control group completed the follow-up. PRIMARY OUTCOME: a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result was identified in one (0.71%) participant in the intervention group and three (2.1%) in the active control group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the absolute risk difference was - 1.40% (95% CI [- 4.14%, 1.33%]), and in the per-protocol analysis, the risk difference was - 1.40% (95% CI [- 4.20, 1.40]), indicating non-inferiority of the closed face shield plus face mask (did not cross the non-inferiority limit). CONCLUSIONS: The use of closed face shields and surgical face masks was non-inferior to the surgical face mask alone in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in highly exposed groups. Settings with highly active viral transmission and conditions such as poor ventilation, crowding, and high mobility due to occupation may benefit from the combined use of masks and closed face shields to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04647305 . Registered on November 30, 2020

Incidence, clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes of meningoencephalitis in patients with COVID-19

We investigated the incidence, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcome of meningoencephalitis (ME) in patients with COVID-19 attending emergency departments (ED), before hospitalization. We retrospectively reviewed all COVID patients diagnosed with ME in 61 Spanish EDs (20% of Spanish EDs, COVID-ME) during the COVID pandemic. We formed two control groups: non-COVID patients with ME (non-COVID-ME) and COVID patients without ME (COVID-non-ME). Unadjusted comparisons between cases and controls were performed regarding 57 baseline and clinical characteristics and 4 outcomes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biochemical and serologic findings of COVID-ME and non-COVID-ME were also investigated. We identified 29 ME in 71,904 patients with COVID-19 attending EDs (0.40‰, 95%CI=0.27-0.58). This incidence was higher than that observed in non-COVID patients (150/1,358,134, 0.11‰, 95%CI=0.09-0.13; OR=3.65, 95%CI=2.45-5.44). With respect to non-COVID-ME, COVID-ME more frequently had dyspnea and chest X-ray abnormalities, and neck stiffness was less frequent (OR=0.3, 95%CI=0.1-0.9). In 69.0% of COVID-ME, CSF cells were predominantly lymphocytes, and SARS-CoV-2 antigen was detected by RT-PCR in 1 patient. The clinical characteristics associated with a higher risk of presenting ME in COVID patients were vomiting (OR=3.7, 95%CI=1.4-10.2), headache (OR=24.7, 95%CI=10.2-60.1), and altered mental status (OR=12.9, 95%CI=6.6-25.0). COVID-ME patients had a higher in-hospital mortality than non-COVID-ME patients (OR=2.26; 95%CI=1.04-4.48), and a higher need for hospitalization (OR=8.02; 95%CI=1.19-66.7) and intensive care admission (OR=5.89; 95%CI=3.12-11.14) than COVID-non-ME patients. ME is an unusual form of COVID presentation (<0.5‰ cases), but is more than 4-fold more frequent than in non-COVID patients attending the ED. As the majority of these MEs had lymphocytic predominance and in one patient SARS-CoV-2 antigen was detected in CSF, SARS-CoV-2 could be the cause of most of the cases observed. COVID-ME patients had a higher unadjusted in-hospital mortality than non-COVID-ME patients

Comparative Gene Expression Analysis throughout the Life Cycle of Leishmania braziliensis: Diversity of Expression Profiles among Clinical Isolates

Leishmania is a group of parasites (Protozoa, Trypanosomatidae) responsible for a wide spectrum of clinical forms. Among the factors explaining this phenotypic polymorphism, parasite features are important contributors. One approach to identify them consists in characterizing the gene expression profiles throughout the life cycle. In a recent study, the transcriptome of 3 Leishmania species was compared and this revealed species-specific differences, albeit in a low number. A key issue, however, is to ensure that the observed differences are indeed species-specific and not specific of the strains selected for representing the species. In order to illustrate the relevance of this concern, we analyzed here the gene expression profiles of 5 clinical isolates of L. braziliensis at seven time points of the life cycle. Our results clearly illustrate the unique character of each isolate in terms of gene expression dynamics: one Leishmania strain is not necessarily representative of a given species