Galápago leproso – Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812)

Reptiles - Orden Quelonios - Familia Geoemydidae en la Enciclopedia Virtual de Vertebrados Españoles, http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/.A comprehensive review of the natural history of the Mediterranean stripe-necked terrapin Mauremys leprosa in Spain.Peer reviewe

Development and validation of an in-house library for filamentous fungi identification by MALDI-TOF MS in a clinical laboratory in Medellin (Colombia)

Identification of filamentous fungi by conventional phenotypic methods are time-consuming, and a correct identification at the species level is prone to errors. Therefore, a more accurate and faster time-to-results, and cost-effective technique, is required, such as the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). In this study, we describe the development of an in-house spectra library for the identification of filamentous fungi frequently isolated from patients with infections. An in-house spectra library was constructed using 14 reference strains grown in solid medium. Clinical isolates were identified either by the in-house spectra library or the Biotyper commercial library from Bruker Daltonics. Fungal identification was carried following the Biotyper’s established scores: ≤1.699: not reliably identified (NRI); 1.700–1.999: genus-level; ≥2.000: species-level. Clinical isolates were identified, with the in-house library, at species- and genus-level at 88.70% (55) and 3.22% (2), respectively. While 4.80% (3) was NRI and 3.22% (2) was discrepant concerning sequencing. On the contrary, identification up to species and genus-level with the commercial library was 44.44% (16) and 22.22% (8), respectively. NRI and the discrepancy was 30.55% (11) and 2.77% (1), respectively. For the reaming 26 isolates, 16 from Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and 10 from Sporothrix spp., respectively, the absence of spectrum and the specific spectra within the Sporothrix complex in the commercial library resulted in the inability to obtain an identification. In conclusion, the current results advocate the importance that each clinical microbiological laboratory needs to develop an ad hoc library associated with the MALDI-TOF MS fungal identification to overcome the limitations of the available commercial libraries.Comité para el Desarrollo de la Investigación, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Grant No 2604 and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020-Programa Operacional Regional do Norteinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analog Models of Fold-and-Thrust Wedges in Progressive Arcs: A Comparison With the Gibraltar Arc External Wedge

The timing and kinematics of the different types of structures and the associated vertical-axis rotations that permit an arcuate external wedge to acquire progressively its curved shape throughout its deformation history—known as progressive arcs—are key questions in natural cases of arcuate fold-and-thrust belts that we want to address through analog modeling. We present laboratory models of fold-and-thrust belts formed with a backstop that deforms in map view to simulate progressive arcs in a thin-skinned tectonic regime. Our setup makes use of a deformable backstop rigid enough to push from behind the initial parallelepiped but deformable in map view. This innovative design permits us to increase the amplitude of the arc indenting in the model as its radius of curvature decreases, that is, it simulates a progressive arc. Taking the Gibraltar Arc external wedge situated in the western Mediterranean to scale our models in terms of rheology, velocities, and sizes, four types of experiments were made. We varied the type of substratum (sand or silicone), the silicone thickness, and the width and length of the initial analog pack in order to test the influence of each of these parameters on the resulting fold-and-thrust belts. All experiments led to the formation of arcuate wedges where strain was partitioned into: (a) arc-perpendicular shortening, accommodated by thrusts which main structural trend is broadly subparallel to the indenter shape and with divergent transport directions, and (b) arc-parallel stretching, accommodated by normal and conjugate strike-slip faults. The normal and strike-slip faults contributed to the fold-and-thrust belt segmentation and the formation of independent blocks that rotated clockwise and counterclockwise depending on their position within the progressive arc. Our experiments allow to simulate and understand the finite deformation mode of the external wedge of the Gibraltar Arc. Accordingly, they shed light on how an arcuate fold-and-thrust belt can develop progressively in terms of structural trend and transport directions, types and distribution of the structures accommodating strain partition, and timing of vertical-axis rotations.This study was supported by projects RNM-0451, EST1/00231, CGL2017-89051-P, PGC2018-100914-B-I00, and UPO 1259543

Fatigue Study of the Pre-Corroded 6082-T6 Aluminum Alloy in Saline Atmosphere

[Abstract] This work studies the influence of the saline atmospheric corrosion on the fatigue strength of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy. For this purpose, this alloy was subjected to tests in a salt spray corrosion chamber at different exposure times (1, 2, and 3 months) according to ASTM B117 standard. The morphological study of the pits was carried out by confocal microscopy. Subsequently, fatigue tests were performed at variable stresses whose maximum stress (Smax) was between 30% and 95% of the yield strength (S0) in order to keep them within the zone of elastic behavior of the material. Data were analyzed using the Basquin equation and the maximum likelihood function method. The results show a similar decrease in the conventional fatigue limit (2 × 106 cycles) after one month (98 MPa) and two months (91 MPa) of corrosion. After three months of corrosion, the material showed a very important reduction in the fatigue limit (68 MPa) with respect to the uncorroded material (131 MPa). The data of Se/S0 (fatigue limit/yield strength) versus the ratio Pm/Dm (pit average depth/pit diameter at zero depth) can be fitted to a logarithmic curve

Descripción de la cohorte PROCOAC (PROspective COhort of A Coruña): Cohorte prospectiva española para el estudio de la osteoartritis

[Abstract] Introduction and objective: The use of well characterized osteoarthritis (OA) cohorts is mandatory for the study and knowledge of this disease. Currently, there is no prospective cohort in this pathology in Spain. The objective of this work is to describe the first osteoarthritis cohort in Spain, PROCOAC (Cohort PROspectiva de A Coruña). Methods: The Unit of Rheumatology of the University Hospital of A Coruña started a prospective follow-up study in 2006. The patient inclusion criteria were: I) Patients older than 55 years who underwent an abdominal x-ray to study both hips II) Patients diagnosed with radiographic hand OA according to ACR criteria III) Patients diagnosed with radiographic knee or hip OA according to ACR criteria. Follow-up was performed every two years collecting clinical, analytical, genetic and radiographic information. Results: The cohort consists of 937 patients, 873 have radiographic knee OA, 783 hip OA and 679 hand OA. The mean age of the population is 63.9±8.9 years and the average BMI is 29.6±5.1. More than half of the population has high blood pressure and 17% diabetes. The predominant osteoarthritis in the hand is nodular (78.1%), followed by trapeziometacarpal (55.3%) and erosive (18.4%). Twenty-one point four percent and 43.1% are healthy at knee and hip level respectively; observing a grade 1 in 26% and 37%; a grade 2 in 26.7% and 11.5%; a grade 3 in 14.9% and 4%; and a grade 4 in 9.4% and 3.7% respectively. Of the population, 44.1% has only 1 joint affected, 39.9% has 2 and 13.4% has 3 joints affected. Age (OR=1.11; p<.001), BMI (OR=1.11; p=.002) and total WOMAC (OR=1.03; p=.005) are the only risk factors if we compare the involvement of a single location versus three. A discrepancy between pain and radiographic damage at the joint level was also detected in patients with KL≤2 grade, and therefore a significantly higher percentage of patients with knee OA experienced pain (66.1%) compared to patients with OA hip (21.1%) (p<.001). Conclusions: The PROCOAC cohort is an instrument that allows studies of incidence and progression in hand, knee and hip OA; as well as determining factors that are associated with the different OA phenotypes.[Resumen] Introducción y objetivo. El uso de cohortes de Osteoartritis (OA) bien caracterizadas es obligatorio para estudiar y profundizar en el conocimiento en esta enfermedad. En España no existe actualmente ninguna cohorte prospectiva en esta patología; así el objetivo de este trabajo es describir la primera cohorte de Osteoartritis en España, la PROCOAC (PROspective COhort of A Coruña). Material y métodos. El Servicio de Reumatología del Hospital Universitario de A Coruña inició un estudio de seguimiento prospectivo en el año 2006. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: I) Pacientes mayores de 55 años a los que se les realizó una radiografía abdominal que permitiese estudiar ambas caderas II) Pacientes diagnosticados de OA radiográfica de mano según los criterios ACR III) Pacientes diagnosticados de OA radiográfica de rodilla y/o cadera según los criterios ACR. Se realizó seguimiento cada dos años recogiendo información clínica, analítica, genética y radiográfica. Resultados. La cohorte consta de 937 individuos, 873 tienen OA radiográfica de rodilla, 783 de cadera y 679 de mano. La edad media de la población es 63,9 ± 8,9 años y el IMC promedio de 29,6 ± 5,1. Más de la mitad de la población tiene hipertensión arterial y el 17% diabetes. La osteoartritis predominate en la mano es la nodular (78,1%), seguida de la rizartrosis (55,3%) y la erosiva (18,4%). El 21,4% y el 43,1% son sanos a nivel de rodilla y cadera respectivamente; observando un grado 1 en el 26% y 37%; un grado 2 en el 26,7% y 11,5%; un grado 3 en el 14,9% y 4%; y un grado 4 en el 9,4% y 3,7% respectivamente. El 44,1% de la población tiene 1 articulación afectada, el 39,9% tiene 2 y el 13,4% tiene 3 articulaciones afectadas. La edad (OR = 1,11; p < 0,001), el IMC (OR = 1,11; p = 0,002) y el WOMAC total (OR = 1,03; p = 0,005) son los únicos factores de riesgo si comparamos la afectación de una sola ubicación frente a tres. También se detectó una discrepancia entre el dolor y el daño radiográfico a nivel articular en pacientes con grado KL ≤ 2, de modo que un porcentaje significativamente mayor de pacientes con OA de rodilla experimentaron dolor (66,1%) en comparación con pacientes con OA de cadera (21,1%) (p < 0,001). Conclusión. La cohorte PROCOAC es un instrumento que permite realizar estudios de incidencia y pro-gresión en la osteoartritis de mano, rodilla y cadera, así como conocer factores que se asocian con losdiferentes fenotipos de osteoartritis

Análisis comparativo de explotaciones de vacuno de leche especializadas y mixtas en Aragón.

publishedTomo I . Sección: Sistemas Ganaderos-Economía y Gestión. Sesión: Producción de leche. Ponencia nº 2

Sex differences in risk factors for oral and pharyngeal cancer among Puerto Rican adults

Background: Oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) is a frequent type of cancer in Puerto Rico, with the risk being higher in men relative to women. We assessed differences in OPC risk factors implicated in these sex disparities. Methods: We analyzed data of 740 adult participants (40-65 years) from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study (SOALS). A comprehensive questionnaire was administered to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, oral high-risk HPV infection, fruit and vegetable consumption, sexual behavior, and oral hygiene practices. A full-mouth periodontal examination was also performed. Sixteen OPC known and potential risk factors were evaluated. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) estimates for individual OPC risk factors, by sex, were calculated using log-binomial regression. Results: Compared to women, men had significantly increased prevalence of several OPC risk factors including current smoking (PR: 1.91, 95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-2.70), binge drinking (PR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.31-2.84), and severe periodontitis (PR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.47-2.85). Conclusions: Men were significantly more likely than women to have risk factors for OPC. Cancer prevention and control efforts should focus on sex-specific interventions that help reduce this disparity

Environmental assessment of electrochemical energy storage device manufacturing to identify drivers for attaining goals of sustainable materials 4.0

Electricity from the combination of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines exhibits potential benefits towards the sustainable cities transition. Nevertheless, the highly fluctuating and intermittent character limits an extended applicability in the energy market. Particularly, batteries represent a challenging approach to overcome the existing constraints and to achieve sustainable urban energy development. On the basis of the market roll-out and level of technological maturity, five commercially available battery technologies are assessed in this work, namely, lead-acid, lithium manganese oxide, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, and vanadium redox flow. When considering sustainable development, environmental assessments provide valuable information. In this vein, an environmental analysis of the technologies is conducted using a life cycle assessment methodology from a cradle-to-gate perspective. A comparison of the environmental burden of battery components identified vanadium redox flow battery as the lowest environmental damage battery. In terms of components, electrodes; the electrolyte; and the set of pumps, motors, racks, and bolts exhibited the greatest environmental impact related to manufacturing. In terms of materials, copper, steel, sulphuric acid, and vanadium were identified as the main contributors to the midpoint impact categories. The results have highlighted that challenging materials 4.0 are still needed in battery manufacturing to provide sustainable technology designs required to the future urban planning based on circular economy demands

Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae), Primer Reporte para Honduras

La maleza invasora Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae) es reportada por primera vez para Honduras. La planta, nativa de Sudam&eacute;rica, fue localizada en un estacionamiento de la Escuela Agr&iacute;cola Panamericana, El Zamorano, Honduras, el 26 de noviembre de 2007.&nbsp; Esta maleza es altamente invasora en pasturas debido a que el ganado puede transportar semillas en su tracto digestivo.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/ceiba.v49i1.30