Pulse quality analysis on soliton pulse compression and soliton self-frequency shift in a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber

A numerical investigation of low-order soliton evolution in a proposed seven-cell hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber is reported. In the numerical simulation, we analyze the pulse quality evolution in soliton pulse compression and soliton self-frequency shift in three fiber structures with different cross-section sizes. In the simulation, we consider unchirped soliton pulses (of 400 fs) at the wavelength of 1060 nm. Our numerical results show that the seven-cell hollow-core photonic crystal fiber, with a cross-section size reduction of 2%, promotes the pulse quality on the soliton pulse compression and soliton self-frequency shift. For an input soliton pulse of order 3 (which corresponds to an energy of 1.69 μJ), the pulse gets compressed with a factor of up to 5.5 and a quality factor of 0.73, in a distance of 12 cm. It also experiences a soliton-self frequency shift of up to 28 nm, in a propagation length of 6 m, with a pulse shape quality of ≈ 0.80

Análisis del proceso productivo de una empresa de confecciones: Modelación y simulación

Modeling and simulation of small industrial systems, has become important in the decision-making processes, because it allows small companies to make their production decisions. This article analyses a company engaged in the manufacture of men’s outwear with average weekly production of 490 units. The motivation of this study lies in the interest the company owners have to increase its productivity; for this reason, a model of the real system with Arena® tool was developed. With this model, it was possible to recognize the process parts that cause delays and bottlenecks and from there it was suggested a valid solution scenario. This paper shows the results of real system simulation and proposes two scenarios which provide an increase in the productivity.El modelado y simulación de pequeños sistemas industriales ha adquirido gran importancia en los procesos de toma de decisiones, toda vez que les permite a microempresas fundamentar sus decisiones de producción. Este artículo hace un análisis de una empresa dedicada a la confección de ropa exterior masculina con una producción semanal promedio de 490 prendas. La motivación del estudio radica en el interés de incrementar su productividad; por esto, se desarrolló un modelo del sistema real con la herramienta Arena®, logrando identificar las partes de los procesos responsables de atrasos y “cuellos de botella” que permitieron plantear el escenario de solución. Este documento muestra los resultados de la simulación del sistema real y una comparación con un escenario de mejora que presentó un aumento en la productividad

Papular-purpuric gloves-and-socks syndrome : presentation of a clinical case

Papular-Purpuric Glove-and-Sock Syndrome is a rare, infectious disease, of viral etiology, characterized by the presence of pruritus, edema and symmetrical erythema, very well defined at the wrists and ankles with a gloves-and-socks distribution. Other areas can be affected, with a moderate erythema appearing in cheeks, elbows, knees, armpits, abdomen, groin, external genitalia, internal face of the thighs and the buttocks. Erosions, small ulcers, enanthema and blisters can be observed in the oral cavity and lips, and less frequently in other mucous membranes. Complications are rare, although they can be severe, 50% of the published cases are related with the Parvovirus B19. Due to its oral involvement stomatologists should be aware of this syndrome in order to carry out a correct diagnosis of the disease

Effects of habitat deterioration on the population genetics and conservation of the jaguar

Over the past century, human activities and their side effects have significantly threatened both ecosystems and resident species. Nevertheless, the genetic patterns of large felids that depend heavily on large and well-conserved continuous habitat remain poorly studied. Using the largest-ever contemporary genetic survey of wild jaguars (Panthera onca), we evaluated their genetic diversity and population structure in natural (Brazilian Amazon) and highly modified habitats (e.g. Cerrado, Caatinga) including those close to the northern (Yucatan, Mexico) and southern (Pantanal) edge of the species’ distribution range. Data from our set of microsatellites revealed a pronounced genetic structure, with four genetically differentiated geographic areas. Geographic distance was not the only factor influencing genetic differentiation through the jaguar range. Instead, we found evidence of the effects of habitat deterioration on genetic patterns: while the levels of genetic diversity in the Amazon forest, the largest continuum habitat for the species, are high and consistent with panmixia across large distances, genetic diversity near the edge of the species distribution has been reduced through population contractions. Mexican jaguar populations were highly differentiated from those in Brazil and genetically depauperated. An isolated population from the Caatinga showed the genetic effects of a recent demographic decline (within the last 20–30 years), which may reflect recent habitat degradation in the region. Our results demonstrate that the jaguar is highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation especially in human-dominated landscapes, and that in Brazil, the existing but limited genetic connectivity in the central protected areas should be maintained. These conclusions have important implications for the management of wide-ranging species with high dispersal and low population density. The restoration of ecological connectivity between populations over relatively large scales should be one of the main priorities for species conservation.Peer reviewe

Propriedades Psicométricas da Escala de Planeamento Contextualizada em Educação Física

The teacher's planning should respond to the environment in which the teaching-learning process takes place. In this sense, the objective of this study was to adapt and validate the Physical Education Planning Influence Questionnaire to the Mexican context. A total of 748 physical education teachers from Mexico (64.2% men), with a mean age of 38 years, participated in the study and were divided into two subsamples. With the first one, an exploratory factor analysis was performed, which presented a KMO value of .869 and a Barlett's sphericity of: x2 = 9433.705; df = 703; p < .001, and where the items were grouped into 10 factors (two of them, added for this study). With the second subsample, confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the 10-factor model (x2/df = 4.49; NNFI = .98; CFI = .98; RMSEA = .042) and on a second-order model (x2/df = 2.86; NNFI = .90; CFI = .93; RMSEA = .05). Both models presented adequate goodness-of-fit indices. After performing the test-retest analysis on an independent sample of 68 teachers from the same geographical area, it was concluded that the Contextualized Planning Scale in Physical Education is a valid, reliable and standardized instrument that allows measuring the degree of influence exerted by various factors on the teacher's planning in the Mexican context.La planificación del profesor debe responder al entorno en que se desarrolle el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. En ese sentido, el objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y validar al contexto mexicano el Cuestionario de Influencia en la Planificación en la Educación Física (CIPEF). Participaron 748 docentes de educación física de México (64.2% hombres), con una edad media de 38 años, quienes fueron divididos en dos submuestras. Con la primera de ellas, se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio, que presentó un valor KMO de .869 y una esfericidad de Barlett de: x2 = 9433.705; gl = 703; p < .001, y donde los ítems se agruparon en 10 factores (dos de ellos, añadidos para este estudio). Con la segunda submuestra, se realizaron análisis factoriales confirmatorios al modelo de 10 factores (x2/gl = 4.49; NNFI = .98; CFI = .98; RMSEA = .042) y a un modelo de segundo orden (x2/gl = 2.86; NNFI = .90; CFI = .93; RMSEA = .05). Ambos modelos presentaron índices de bondad de ajuste adecuados. Tras realizar el análisis de test-retest en una muestra independiente de 68 profesores de la misma área geográfica, se concluyó que la Escala de Planificación Contextualizada en la Educación Física es un instrumento válido, fiable y estandarizado que permite medir el grado de influencia que ejercen diversos factores sobre la planificación del profesor en el contexto mexicano.O planeamento do professor deve responder ao ambiente em que o processo de ensino-aprendizagem tem lugar. Neste sentido, o objectivo deste estudo era adaptar e validar o CIPEF (Cuestionario de Influencia en la Planificación en la Educación Física) ao contexto mexicano. Um total de 748 professores de educação física do México (64,2% do sexo masculino), com uma idade média de 38 anos, participaram no estudo e foram divididos em duas subamostras. Com o primeiro, foi realizada uma análise de factores exploratórios, que apresentou um valor KMO de .869 e uma esfericidade de Barlett de: x2 = 9433.705; gl = 703; p < .001, e onde os itens foram agrupados em 10 factores (dois deles, adicionados para este estudo). Com a segunda subamostra, foram realizadas análises de factores de confirmação no modelo de 10 factores (x2/gl = 4,49; NNFI = .98; CFI = .98; RMSEA = .042) e num modelo de segunda ordem (x2/gl = 2,86; NNFI = .90; CFI = .93; RMSEA = .05). Ambos os modelos apresentavam índices adequados de goodness-of-fit. Após a realização da análise de teste-reteste numa amostra independente de 68 professores da mesma área geográfica, concluiu-se que a Escala de Planeamento Contextualizada em Educação Física é um instrumento válido, fiável e padronizado que permite medir o grau de influência exercida por vários factores sobre o planeamento do professor no contexto mexicano

High-fat diet alters stress behavior, inflammatory parameters and gut microbiota in Tg APP mice in a sex-specific manner

Long-term high-fat diet (HFD) consumption commonly leads to obesity, a major health concern of western societies and a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Both conditions present glial activation and inflammation and show sex differences in their incidence, clinical manifestation, and disease course. HFD intake has an important impact on gut microbiota, the bacteria present in the gut, and microbiota dysbiosis is associated with inflammation and certain mental disorders such as anxiety. In this study, we have analyzed the effects of a prolonged (18 weeks, starting at 7 months of age) HFD on male and female mice, both wild type (WT) and TgAPP mice, a model for AD, investigating the behavioral profile, gut microbiota composition and inflammatory/phagocytosis-related gene expression in hippocampus. In the open-field test, no overt differences in motor activity were observed between male and female or WT and TgAPP mice on a low-fat diet (LFD). However, HFD induced anxiety, as judged by decreased motor activity and increased time in the margins in the open-field, and a trend towards increased immobility time in the tail suspension test, with increased defecation. Intriguingly, female TgAPP mice on HFD showed less immobility and defecation compared to female WT mice on HFD. HFD induced dysbiosis of gut microbiota, resulting in reduced microbiota diversity and abundance compared with LFD fed mice, with some significant differences due to sex and little effect of genotype. Gene expression of pro-inflammatory/phagocytic markers in the hippocampus were not different between male and female WT mice, and in TgAPP mice of both sexes, some cytokines (IL-6 and IFN¿) were higher than in WT mice on LFD, more so in female TgAPP (IL-6). HFD induced few alterations in mRNA expression of inflammatory/phagocytosis-related genes in male mice, whether WT (IL-1ß, MHCII), or TgAPP (IL-6). However, in female TgAPP, altered gene expression returned towards control levels following prolonged HFD (IL-6, IL-12ß, TNF¿, CD36, IRAK4, PYRY6). In summary, we demonstrate that HFD induces anxiogenic symptoms, marked alterations in gut microbiota, and increased expression of inflammatory genes, except for female TgAPP that appear to be resistant to the diet effects. Lifestyle interventions should be introduced to prevent AD onset or exacerbation by reducing inflammation and its associated symptoms; however, our results suggest that the eventual goal of developing prevention and treatment strategies should take sex into consideration.This work was supported by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO), Grant Numbers BFU2014-51836-C2-1-R to LMGS and MAA, BFU2014-51836-C2-2-R and BFU2017-82565-C21-R2 to JAC; Madrid Council S2010/BMD-2349 to MLC; Centre for Biomedical Network Research for Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) to JAC, Centre for Biomedical Network Research for Frailty and Healthy Ageing (CIBERFES) to LMGS and MAA, and Centre for Biomedical Network Research for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED) to MLC. AC-C was granted with a FPI fellowship by the MINECO (BES-2015-072980)

BNCT research activities at the Granada group and the project NeMeSis: Neutrons for medicine and sciences, towards an accelerator-based facility for new BNCT therapies, medical isotope production and other scientific neutron applications

The Granada group in BNCT research is currently performing studies on: nuclear and radiobiological data for BNCT, new boron compounds and a new design for a neutron source for BNCT and other applications, including the production of medical radioisotopes. All these activities are described in this report.Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) PS16163811PORRSpanish MINECO FIS2015-69941-C2-1-PJunta de Andalucía P11-FQM-8229Campus of International Excellence BioTic P-BS-64Spanish Fundacion ACSAsociación Capitán AntonioLa Kuadrilla de IznallozSonriendo se Puede Gana

Incidence and management of inguinodynia after inguinal plasty

Background: Hernia is defined as a defect of fascial and muscle-aponeurotic structures, allowing the protrusion of elements. The most frequent is inguinal region, prevailing in men 3:1 vs female. The most frequent complications are persistent chronic pain.Methods: A descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study was performed in postoperative inguinal plasty patients, using a laparoscopic approach and open approach, the presence or absence of inguinodynia was studied using the visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament, in addition to a systematic investigation in the following PubMed, Medline, Clinical Key and Index Medicus databases, with articles from July 2019 to April 2020.Results: Inguinodynia was present in laparoscopic surgery and open approach, 58 patients had inguinodynia at two weeks associated with the inflammatory response of the tissues and the presence of a foreign body (mesh), 77% of the patients with persistence of pain at 3 months reported mild pain (VAS 1-4), 21% moderate pain that did not limit their daily activities (VAS 5-8) and 2% of the patients reported severe pain which limited physical activity and effort   (VAS 9-10).Conclusions: Inguinodynia has an impact on hospital costs and quality life, we consider it is essential to domain the anatomical variants of the region. We propose an extensive follow-up of this group of patients, to make a comparison of diagnostic methods, as well as conservative management vs. modern techniques for pain control

Prevalence and genetic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus CC398 isolates from invasive infections in spanish hospitals, focusing on the livestock-independent CC398-MSSA clade

Background: Livestock-associated (LA)-CC398-MRSA is closely related to pigs, being unfrequently detected in human invasive infections. CC398-MSSA is emerging in human invasive infections in some countries, but genetic and epidemiological characteristics are still scarcely reported. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) CC398, both MRSA and MSSA, among blood cultures SA isolates recovered in Spanish hospitals located in regions with different pig-farming densities (PD) and characterize the recovered isolates. Methods: One thousand twenty-two SA isolates (761 MSSA, 261 MRSA) recovered from blood cultures during 6–12 months in 17 Spanish hospitals (2018–2019) were studied. CC398 lineage identification, detection of spa-types, and antibiotic resistance, virulence and human immune evasion cluster (IEC) genes were analyzed by PCR/sequencing. Results: Forty-four CC398-MSSA isolates (4.3% of SA; 5.8% of MSSA) and 10 CC398-MRSA isolates (1% of SA; 3.8% of MRSA) were detected. Eleven spa-types were found among the CC398-MSSA isolates with t571 and t1451 the most frequent spa-types detected (75%). Most of CC398-MSSA isolates were Immune-Evasion-Cluster (IEC)-positive (88.6%), tetracycline-susceptible (95.5%) and erythromycin/clindamycin–inducible-resistant/erm(T)-positive (75%). No statistical significance was detected when the CC398-MSSA/MSSA rate was correlated to PD (pigs/km2) (p = 0.108). On the contrary, CC398-MRSA isolates were all IEC-negative, predominately spa-t011 (70%), and the CC398-MRSA/MRSA rate was significantly associated to PD (p < 0.005). Conclusion: CC398-MSSA is an emerging clade in invasive infections in Spanish hospitals. CC398-MRSA (mostly t011) and CC398-MSSA (mostly t571 and t1451) show important differences, possibly suggesting divergent steps in host-adaptation evolutionary processes. While CC398-MRSA is livestock-associated (lacking IEC-system), CC398-MSSA seems to be mostly livestock-independent, carrying human-adaptation markers.

Charge separation relative to the reaction plane in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}= 2.76 TeV

Measurements of charge dependent azimuthal correlations with the ALICE detector at the LHC are reported for Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV. Two- and three-particle charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta| < 0.8$ are presented as a function of the collision centrality, particle separation in pseudo-rapidity, and transverse momentum. A clear signal compatible with a charge-dependent separation relative to the reaction plane is observed, which shows little or no collision energy dependence when compared to measurements at RHIC energies. This provides a new insight for understanding the nature of the charge dependent azimuthal correlations observed at RHIC and LHC energies.Comment: 12 pages, 3 captioned figures, authors from page 2 to 6, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/286