Initial validation of a scale to measure the burden for parents/caregivers of children with asthma and factors associated with this burden in a population of asthmatic children

Introducción. A pesar de la alta probabilidad de que los padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos presenten sobrecarga, no se han validado instrumentos para medirla en el contexto del asma pediátrica. Objetivo. Iniciar la validación de una escala para medir la sobrecarga de los padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos y determinar los factores asociados con esta sobrecarga. Materiales y métodos. Mediante un estudio analítico de corte transversal se midió el nivel de sobrecarga de los padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos de 1 a 16 años, utilizando una versión abreviada de la escala de Zarit. Se hizo un análisis factorial exploratorio de los componentes principales de esta escala, y se evaluó su validez de constructo y su validez interna. Se ajustaron modelos de regresión logística para identificar los factores asociados con una sobrecarga intensa en los padres o cuidadores de los niños asmáticos. Resultados. La mediana (rango intercuartílico) de la edad de los 162 niños analizados fue de 6 años (rango, 4 a 9). Del total de padres o cuidadores, 37 (22,8 %) estaban experimentando sobrecarga intensa. El análisis factorial mostró una estructura probable de dos factores que, en conjunto, explican el 61,5 % de la varianza total de los resultados. La única variable que se asoció de forma independiente con una sobrecarga intensa en el análisis multivariado, fue el asma no controlada (OR=5,38; IC95 %:1,43-20,16; p=0,012). Conclusiones. La escala de Zarit utilizada tiene una aceptable validez interna y una adecuada validez de constructo para determinar el nivel de sobrecarga que experimentan los padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos. El grado de control del asma del niño fue la única variable que se asoció de forma independiente con este nivel de sobrecarga.Introduction. Despite the high probability of a heavy burden for parents and/or caregivers of children with asthma, instruments intended to measure it have not been validated in the context of asthma. Moreover, factors associated with this burden are unknown. Objective. To begin the validation of a scale to measure the burden for parents/caregivers of asthmatic children, and to determine the factors associated with this burden. Materials and methods. We performed an analytical cross-sectional and validation of scale study. At the outpatient section of the Clinic of Pediatric Pulmonology in the Hospital Universitario Clinica San Rafael, we measured the burden of parents and/or caregivers of children with asthma using a shortened version of the Zarit scale throughout 2011. We performed a principal components factor analysis and adjusted logistic regression models to identify independent factors associated with a heavy burden. Results. The median (interquartile range) age of the 162 children included in the study was 6 (4-9) years. Out of the total of parents and/or caregivers, 37 (22.8%) were experiencing a heavy burden. Factor analysis of the Zarit scale showed a probable structure of two factors, which together accounted for 61.5% of the variance of the results. Uncontrolled asthma was the only predictor independently associated with a heavy burden in the multivariate analysis (OR 5.38; 95% CI 1.43-20.16, p = 0.012). Conclusions. The Zarit scale used has an adequate factorial structure, an acceptable internal consistency, and an adequate construct validity for measuring the burden for parents and/or caregivers of children with asthma. The level of a child’s asthma control is the most important independent predictor of this burden

Validación inicial de una escala para medir el nivel de sobrecarga de padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos

Introduction: Despite the high probability of a heavy burden for parents and/or caregivers of children with asthma, instruments intended to measure it have not been validated in the context of asthma. Moreover, factors associated with this burden are unknown.Objective: To begin the validation of a scale to measure the burden for parents/caregivers of asthmatic children, and to determine the factors associated with this burden.Materials and methods: We performed an analytical cross-sectional and validation of scale study. At the outpatient section of the Clinic of Pediatric Pulmonology in the Hospital Universitario Clinica San Rafael, we measured the burden of parents and/or caregivers of children with asthma using a shortened version of the Zarit scale throughout 2011. We performed a principal components factor analysis and adjusted logistic regression models to identify independent factors associated with a heavy burden.Results. The median (interquartile range) age of the 162 children included in the study was 6 (4-9) years. Out of the total of parents and/or caregivers, 37 (22.8%) were experiencing a heavy burden. Factor analysis of the Zarit scale showed a probable structure of two factors, which together accountedfor 61.5% of the variance of the results. Uncontrolled asthma was the only predictor independently associated with a heavy burden in the multivariate analysis (OR 5.38; 95% CI 1.43-20.16, p = 0.012).Conclusions. The Zarit scale used has an adequate factorial structure, an acceptable internal consistency, and an adequate construct validity for measuring the burden for parents and/or caregivers of children with asthma. The level of a child’s asthma control is the most important independent predictor of this burden. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v33i3.813 Introducción. A pesar de la alta probabilidad de que los padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos presenten sobrecarga, no se han validado instrumentos para medirla en el contexto del asma pediátrica.Objetivo. Iniciar la validación de una escala para medir la sobrecarga de los padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos y determinar los factores asociados con esta sobrecarga.Materiales y métodos. Mediante un estudio analítico de corte transversal se midió el nivel de sobrecarga de los padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos de 1 a 16 años, utilizando una versión abreviada de la escala de Zarit. Se hizo un análisis factorial exploratorio de los componentes principales de esta escala, y se evaluó su validez de constructo y su validez interna. Se ajustaron modelos de regresión logística para identificar los factores asociados con una sobrecarga intensa en los padres o cuidadores de los niños asmáticos.Resultados. La mediana (rango intercuartílico) de la edad de los 162 niños analizados fue de 6 años (rango, 4 a 9). Del total de padres o cuidadores, 37 (22,8 %) estaban experimentando sobrecarga intensa. El análisis factorial mostró una estructura probable de dos factores que, en conjunto, explican el 61,5 % de la varianza total de los resultados. La única variable que se asoció de forma independiente con una sobrecarga intensa en el análisis multivariado, fue el asma no controlada (OR=5,38; IC95 %:1,43-20,16; p=0,012).Conclusiones. La escala de Zarit utilizada tiene una aceptable validez interna y una adecuada validez de constructo para determinar el nivel de sobrecarga que experimentan los padres o cuidadores de niños asmáticos. El grado de control del asma del niño fue la única variable que se asoció de forma independiente con este nivel de sobrecarga. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.v33i3.813

Design and construction of tank-chassis and lifting structure for centrifugal pump HL260 M powered by a Diesel Engine

This article deals with the design, simulation and construction of a fuel storage tank-chassis and a lifting system coupled as a single unit to a Cummins QSK19 engine driven HL260m pump that can guarantee an operating autonomy of up to 12 continuous hours and can be transported to different locations by means of lifting systems. For the mechanical design the recommendations of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the application of the failure criteria for Von Mises ductile materials or Maximum Energy Distortion were used. For the dimensioning of the storage tank, the average consumption stipulated by the manufacturer was used and the simulations were performed with SolidWorks®. A functional and safe system that can be used in on-site applications was achieved

Friedreich’s Ataxia: Phenotype and Genotype in Eleven Patients

Introducción: La ataxia de Friedreich (FRDA) es una enfermedad autosómica recesiva debida a una mutación en el gen X25. Dicho gen está localizado en el cromosoma 9 y codifica para la proteína frataxina. La enfermedad es causada por la repetición del trinucleótido GAA. En individuos normales la secuencia GAA se encuentra repetida entre siete y veintidós veces, mientras que, en pacientes con ataxia de Friedreich GAA puede estar repetida cientos o miles de veces.Objetivos: Evaluar si existe correlación entre el tamaño de la expansión, la edad de inicio de FRDA y su severidad en la muestra seleccionada.Métodos:- Se estudiaron once pacientes con fenotipo típico de ataxia de Friedreich. El análisis molecular por PCR determinó la expansión del trinucleótido GAA. Se analizó la correlación entre la edad de inicio de FRDA y su progresión con el número de repeticiones GAA.Resultados y conclusiones:- El análisis molecular por PCR mostró ocho pacientes homocigotos para la expansión, y tres negativos. El promedio del tamaño de las expansiones en los alelos es 622±5 con un promedio correspondiente de la edad inicio de FRDA 13±8. Para el tamaño de la muestra no se observó una correlación estadística significativa entre la edad de inicio de la enfermedad y el número de repeticiones, pero sí una tendencia a correlacionarse de forma inversa (p<0.11). El diagnóstico molecular de FRDA, sumado a la comprensión de su fisiología y a la utilización de los criterios de inclusión de Harding, constituye un paso importante en el logro de un tratamiento óptimo de la enfermedad.Introduction:- Friedreich’s ataxia is an autosomal recessive disease due to a mutation in gene X25. This gene codes for frataxin and it is located on chromosome 9. The disease is caused by a triplet particular sequence of bases (GAA). Normally, the GAA sequence is repeated 7 to 22 times, but in people with Friedreich’s ataxia, it can be repeated hundreds or even over thousand times. Objectives:To determine if there is a correlation between clinical and molecular findings in our FRDA patients. Methods: Eleven patients with the typical Friedreich´s ataxia phenotype were studied by PCR we determined the size of the GAA expansions, and analyzed the correlation of age at onset and rate of disease progression with the number of GAA repetitions. Results and conclusions: Molecular analysis by PCR showed eight homozygous patients for the expansion and three negative. The average of the size of the expansions in the allele was of 622±5 with an average in the age of beginning of 13±8. For the sample size, there was no significant statistical correlation between the age of beginning of the disease and the number of repetitions, although there was like an inverse correlation. Besides understanding of FRDA physiology and the Harding clinical inclusion criteria, molecular diagnosis is an important step in the achievement of an optimal therapeutic treatment

Factores fundamentales de sostenibilidad de los sistemas de producción de leche en fincas comerciales con bajos insumos: II. Suplementación con caña de azúcar

A study of the supplementation with sugar cane was carried out at 157 milk farms at the Camagüey province, belonging to the livestock industries of Triangle 1, Triangle 3 and Triangle 5 in the municipalities of Camaguey and Jimaguayú. Surveys were used to identify limitations and factors of action relations production systems. They found the greatest problems in the low intake by animals, the ways of intake and the use of sugar cane varieties. The typological classification showed three groups that represented 49%, 45% and 6% respectively according to the type of soil, production per ha and ways of intake. It is recommended that there be improvement in capacity and technology on problematic areas relating to the use of sugar cane as animal feed.Se realizó un estudio de la suplementación con caña de azúcar en 157 fincas lecheras de la provincia de Camagüey, pertenecientes a las empresas pecuarias Triángulo 1, Triángulo 3 y Triángulo 5 en los municipios Camagüey y Jimaguayú. Se utilizaron encuestas para identificar limitantes y factores de acción en lo relativo a los sistemas de producción. Se encontraron los mayores problemas en el bajo suministro por animal, las formas de suministro y el uso de variedades. La clasificación tipológica arrojó tres grupos que representaban el 49%, 45% y 6 %, respectivamente, de acuerdo al suelo, rendimiento por ha y forma de suministro. Se recomiendan acciones de capacitación y de intervención tecnológica, en las áreas problemáticas; de la utilización de la caña de azúcar para la alimentación animal

Multicore and FPGA implementations of emotional-based agent architectures

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11227-014-1307-6.Control architectures based on Emotions are becoming promising solutions for the implementation of future robotic agents. The basic controllers of the architecture are the emotional processes that decide which behaviors of the robot must activate to fulfill the objectives. The number of emotional processes increases (hundreds of millions/s) with the complexity level of the application, reducing the processing capacity of the main processor to solve complex problems (millions of decisions in a given instant). However, the potential parallelism of the emotional processes permits their execution in parallel on FPGAs or Multicores, thus enabling slack computing in the main processor to tackle more complex dynamic problems. In this paper, an emotional architecture for mobile robotic agents is presented. The workload of the emotional processes is evaluated. Then, the main processor is extended with FPGA co-processors through Ethernet link. The FPGAs will be in charge of the execution of the emotional processes in parallel. Different Stratix FPGAs are compared to analyze their suitability to cope with the proposed mobile robotic agent applications. The applications are set up taking into account different environmental conditions, robot dynamics and emotional states. Moreover, the applications are run also on Multicore processors to compare their performance in relation to the FPGAs. Experimental results show that Stratix IV FPGA increases the performance in about one order of magnitude over the main processor and solves all the considered problems. Quad-Core increases the performance in 3.64 times, allowing to tackle about 89 % of the considered problems. Quad-Core has a lower cost than a Stratix IV, so more adequate solution but not for the most complex application. Stratix III could be applied to solve problems with around the double of the requirements that the main processor could support. Finally, a Dual-Core provides slightly better performance than stratix III and it is relatively cheaper.This work was supported in part under Spanish Grant PAID/2012/325 of "Programa de Apoyo a la Investigacion y Desarrollo. Proyectos multidisciplinares", Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain.Domínguez Montagud, CP.; Hassan Mohamed, H.; Crespo, A.; Albaladejo Meroño, J. (2015). Multicore and FPGA implementations of emotional-based agent architectures. Journal of Supercomputing. 71(2):479-507. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-014-1307-6S479507712Malfaz M, Salichs MA (2010) Using MUDs as an experimental platform for testing a decision making system for self-motivated autonomous agents. Artif Intell Simul Behav J 2(1):21–44Damiano L, Cañamero L (2010) Constructing emotions. 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Proc IEEE 100(3):571–589Salichs MA, Malfaz M (2012) A new approach to modeling emotions and their use on a decision-making system for artificial agents. Affect Comput IEEE Trans 3(1):56–68Altera Corporation (2011) Stratix III device handbook, vol 1–2, version 2.2. http://www.altera.com/literature/lit-stx3.jsp . Accessed 14 Oct 2014.Altera Corporation (2014) Stratix IV device handbook, vol 1–4, version 5.9. http://www.altera.com/literature/lit-stratix-iv.jsp . Accessed 14 Oct 2014.Naouar MW, Monmasson E, Naassani AA, Slama-Belkhodja I, Patin N (2007) FPGA-based current controllers for AC machine drives: a review. IEEE Trans Ind Electr 54(4):1907–1925Intel Corporation (2014) Desktop 4th generation Intel Core Processor Family, Desktop Intel Pentium Processor Family, and Desktop Intel Celeron Processor Family, Datasheet, vol 1, 2March JL, Sahuquillo J, Hassan H, Petit S, Duato J (2011) A new energy-aware dynamic task set partitioning algorithm for soft and hard embedded real-time systems. 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Contribución del enfoque de extensión en proyectos de desarrollo, al mejoramiento de la eficiencia productiva de cooperativas ganaderas

The contribution of a development project approach for livestock extension was assessed at a number of cooperatives from the dairy production center “Triñangulo Tres” in Camagüey province. Goods, equipment, accessories, and other resources were bought to this purpose. Producer teams from different cooperatives gathered in working sessions. The strategy to carry out this project, based on technology investments and cattlemen working groups, was discussed. The project centered itself in solving a number of limitations within three aspects: 1 Technology application, 2. /I+D/ activities, and 3. Working groups discussion towards a lower cost for technology disemination. Technology application and extension development were linked to changes in grazing methods with a higher number of cowsheds which allowed the grazing ground restoration, a milk production and birth rate increase, and a investment cost decrease concerning food needs. Another aspect was weed control favoring dairy cattle production and dairy farms environmental conditions. Gross gains per dairy farm increased from 38 465 pesos (national currency) during the first year to 46 915 pesos in the third year. The project approach favorable effect on livestock extension and development was proved on the ground.Se evaluó la contribución del enfoque de proyecto en las actividades de extensión ganadera, en cooperativas de la empresa Triangulo Tres de Camagüey, Cuba. Se compraron insumos, equipos, implementos y otros recursos para las actividades de extensión. Se realizaron sesiones de trabajo con un equipo de productores de varias cooperativas. Se discutió la estrategia para ejecutar el proyecto, basada en la inversión de recursos en tecnologías y en la formación de grupos de discusión entre ganaderos. El proyecto se focalizó en la solución de las limitaciones señaladas en tres vertientes, a saber: 1. La intervención tecnológica; 2. Las acciones de I+D y 3. El trabajo de los grupos de discusión; este último ayudó a la difusión tecnológica con menor costo. Las intervenciones tecnológicas y de extensión estuvieron ligadas, entre otras, a los cambios en los métodos de pastoreo con mayor número de cuartones que permitió mayor reposo del pastizal, produjo incrementos de la producción de leche y la natalidad, además de reducir los costos de las operaciones por la menor necesidad de alimentos. Otro componente fue el control de malezas que favoreció la producción ganadera y la situación ambiental de las vaquerías. Los ingresos brutos por finca se incrementaron, de 38 465 pesos (moneda nacional) en el primer año, a 46 915 pesos en el tercero. Se comprobó en la práctica el favorable efecto del enfoque de proyecto para las acciones de extensión y desarrollo rural

ATLAS search for a heavy gauge boson decaying to a charged lepton and a neutrino in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

The ATLAS detector at the LHC is used to search for high-mass states, such as heavy charged gauge bosons (W'), decaying to a charged lepton (electron or muon) and a neutrino. Results are presented based on the analysis of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.7 fb(-1). No excess beyond Standard Model expectations is observed. A W' with Sequential Standard Model couplings is excluded at the 95 % credibility level for masses up to 2.55 TeV. Excited chiral bosons (W*) with equivalent coupling strength are excluded for masses up to 2.42 TeV

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results