LAGOVirtual: A Collaborative Environment for the Large Aperture GRB Observatory

We present the LAGOVirtual Project: an ongoing project to develop platform to collaborate in the Large Aperture GRB Observatory (LAGO). This continental-wide observatory is devised to detect high energy (around 100 GeV) component of Gamma Ray Bursts, by using the single particle technique in arrays of Water Cherenkov Detectors (WCD) at high mountain sites (Chacaltaya, Bolivia, 5300 m a.s.l., Pico Espejo, Venezuela, 4750 m a.s.l., Sierra Negra, Mexico, 4650 m a.s.l). This platform will allow LAGO collaboration to share data, and computer resources through its different sites. This environment has the possibility to generate synthetic data by simulating the showers through AIRES application and to store/preserve distributed data files collected by the WCD at the LAGO sites. The present article concerns the implementation of a prototype of LAGO-DR adapting DSpace, with a hierarchical structure (i.e. country, institution, followed by collections that contain the metadata and data files), for the captured/simulated data. This structure was generated by using the community, sub-community, collection, item model; available at the DSpace software. Each member institution-country of the project has the appropriate permissions on the system to publish information (descriptive metadata and associated data files). The platform can also associate multiple files to each item of data (data from the instruments, graphics, postprocessed-data, etc.).Comment: Second EELA-2 Conference Choroni, Venezuela, November 25th to 27th 200

Giant coherence in driven systems

We study the noise-induced currents and reliability or coherence of transport in two different classes of rocking ratchets. For this, we consider the motion of Brownian particles in the over damped limit in both adiabatic and non-adiabatic regimes subjected to unbiased temporally symmetric and asymmetric periodic driving force. In the case of a time symmetric driving, we find that even in the presence of a spatially symmetric simple sinusoidal potential, highly coherent transport occurs. These ratchet systems exhibit giant coherence of transport in the regime of parameter space where unidirectional currents in the deterministic case are observed. Outside this parameter range, i.e., when current vanishes in the deterministic regime, coherence in transport is very low. The transport coherence decreases as a function of temperature and is a non-monotonic function of the amplitude of driving. The transport becomes unreliable as we go from the adiabatic to the non-adiabatic domain of operation.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, replaced by the version to appear in JSTA

Control de la corte penal internacional frente a la ley de justicia y paz

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Reorganization of a 2D disordered granular medium due to a small local cyclic perturbation

We measure experimentally the rearrangements due to a small localized cyclic displacement applied to a packing of rigid grains under gravity in a 2D geometry. We analyze the evolution of the response to this perturbation by considering the individual particle displacement and the coarse grained displacement field, as well as the mean packing fraction and coordination number. We find that the displacement response is rather long ranged, and evolves considerably with the number of cycles. We show that a small difference in the preparation method (induced by tapping the container) leads to a significant modification in the response though the packing fraction changes are minute. Not only the initial response but also its further evolution change with preparation, demonstrating that the system still retains a memory of the initial preparation after many cycles. Nevertheless, after a sufficient number of cycles, the displacement response for both preparation methods converges to a nearly radial field with a 1/r decay from the perturbation source. The observed differences between the preparation methods seem to be related to the changes in the coordination number (which is more sensitive to the evolution of the packing than the packing fraction). Specifically, it may be understood as an effect of the breaking of local arches, which affects the lateral transmission of forces.Comment: 13 pages, revised and resubmitted to J. Stat. Mech.: Theory and Exp. (JSTAT

Harmonized-Multinational qEEG Norms (HarMNqEEG)

This paper extends the frequency domain quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) methods pursuing higher sensitivity to detect Brain Developmental Disorders. Prior qEEG work lacked integration of cross-spectral information omitting important functional connectivity descriptors. Lack of geographical diversity precluded accounting for site-specific variance, increasing qEEG nuisance variance. We ameliorate these weaknesses. i) Create lifespan Riemannian multinational qEEG norms for cross-spectral tensors. These norms result from the HarMNqEEG project fostered by the Global Brain Consortium. We calculate the norms with data from 9 countries, 12 devices, and 14 studies, including 1564 subjects. Instead of raw data, only anonymized metadata and EEG cross-spectral tensors were shared. After visual and automatic quality control, developmental equations for the mean and standard deviation of qEEG traditional and Riemannian DPs were calculated using additive mixed-effects models. We demonstrate qEEG "batch effects" and provide methods to calculate harmonized z-scores. ii) We also show that the multinational harmonized Riemannian norms produce z-scores with increased diagnostic accuracy to predict brain dysfunction at school-age produced by malnutrition only in the first year of life. iii) We offer open code and data to calculate different individual z-scores from the HarMNqEEG dataset. These results contribute to developing bias-free, low-cost neuroimaging technologies applicable in various health settings

Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a propensity-weighted cohort study

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a hyperinflammatory condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, has emerged as a serious illness in children worldwide. Immunoglobulin or glucocorticoids, or both, are currently recommended treatments. Methods: The Best Available Treatment Study evaluated immunomodulatory treatments for MIS-C in an international observational cohort. Analysis of the first 614 patients was previously reported. In this propensity-weighted cohort study, clinical and outcome data from children with suspected or proven MIS-C were collected onto a web-based Research Electronic Data Capture database. After excluding neonates and incomplete or duplicate records, inverse probability weighting was used to compare primary treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, or glucocorticoids alone, using intravenous immunoglobulin as the reference treatment. Primary outcomes were a composite of inotropic or ventilator support from the second day after treatment initiation, or death, and time to improvement on an ordinal clinical severity scale. Secondary outcomes included treatment escalation, clinical deterioration, fever, and coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN69546370. Findings: We enrolled 2101 children (aged 0 months to 19 years) with clinically diagnosed MIS-C from 39 countries between June 14, 2020, and April 25, 2022, and, following exclusions, 2009 patients were included for analysis (median age 8·0 years [IQR 4·2–11·4], 1191 [59·3%] male and 818 [40·7%] female, and 825 [41·1%] White). 680 (33·8%) patients received primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, 698 (34·7%) with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, 487 (24·2%) with glucocorticoids alone; 59 (2·9%) patients received other combinations, including biologicals, and 85 (4·2%) patients received no immunomodulators. There were no significant differences between treatments for primary outcomes for the 1586 patients with complete baseline and outcome data that were considered for primary analysis. Adjusted odds ratios for ventilation, inotropic support, or death were 1·09 (95% CI 0·75–1·58; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids and 0·93 (0·58–1·47; corrected p value=1·00) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Adjusted average hazard ratios for time to improvement were 1·04 (95% CI 0·91–1·20; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, and 0·84 (0·70–1·00; corrected p value=0·22) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Treatment escalation was less frequent for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids (OR 0·15 [95% CI 0·11–0·20]; p<0·0001) and glucocorticoids alone (0·68 [0·50–0·93]; p=0·014) versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Persistent fever (from day 2 onward) was less common with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids compared with either intravenous immunoglobulin alone (OR 0·50 [95% CI 0·38–0·67]; p<0·0001) or glucocorticoids alone (0·63 [0·45–0·88]; p=0·0058). Coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Interpretation: Recovery rates, including occurrence and resolution of coronary artery aneurysms, were similar for primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin when compared to glucocorticoids or intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids. Initial treatment with glucocorticoids appears to be a safe alternative to immunoglobulin or combined therapy, and might be advantageous in view of the cost and limited availability of intravenous immunoglobulin in many countries. Funding: Imperial College London, the European Union's Horizon 2020, Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Foundation, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, and National Institutes of Health

Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a propensity-weighted cohort study

Background Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a hyperinflammatory condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, has emerged as a serious illness in children worldwide. Immunoglobulin or glucocorticoids, or both, are currently recommended treatments. Methods The Best Available Treatment Study evaluated immunomodulatory treatments for MIS-C in an international observational cohort. Analysis of the first 614 patients was previously reported. In this propensity-weighted cohort study, clinical and outcome data from children with suspected or proven MIS-C were collected onto a web-based Research Electronic Data Capture database. After excluding neonates and incomplete or duplicate records, inverse probability weighting was used to compare primary treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, or glucocorticoids alone, using intravenous immunoglobulin as the reference treatment. Primary outcomes were a composite of inotropic or ventilator support from the second day after treatment initiation, or death, and time to improvement on an ordinal clinical severity scale. Secondary outcomes included treatment escalation, clinical deterioration, fever, and coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN69546370. Findings We enrolled 2101 children (aged 0 months to 19 years) with clinically diagnosed MIS-C from 39 countries between June 14, 2020, and April 25, 2022, and, following exclusions, 2009 patients were included for analysis (median age 8·0 years [IQR 4·2–11·4], 1191 [59·3%] male and 818 [40·7%] female, and 825 [41·1%] White). 680 (33·8%) patients received primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, 698 (34·7%) with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, 487 (24·2%) with glucocorticoids alone; 59 (2·9%) patients received other combinations, including biologicals, and 85 (4·2%) patients received no immunomodulators. There were no significant differences between treatments for primary outcomes for the 1586 patients with complete baseline and outcome data that were considered for primary analysis. Adjusted odds ratios for ventilation, inotropic support, or death were 1·09 (95% CI 0·75–1·58; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids and 0·93 (0·58–1·47; corrected p value=1·00) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Adjusted average hazard ratios for time to improvement were 1·04 (95% CI 0·91–1·20; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, and 0·84 (0·70–1·00; corrected p value=0·22) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Treatment escalation was less frequent for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids (OR 0·15 [95% CI 0·11–0·20]; p<0·0001) and glucocorticoids alone (0·68 [0·50–0·93]; p=0·014) versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Persistent fever (from day 2 onward) was less common with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids compared with either intravenous immunoglobulin alone (OR 0·50 [95% CI 0·38–0·67]; p<0·0001) or glucocorticoids alone (0·63 [0·45–0·88]; p=0·0058). Coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Interpretation Recovery rates, including occurrence and resolution of coronary artery aneurysms, were similar for primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin when compared to glucocorticoids or intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids. Initial treatment with glucocorticoids appears to be a safe alternative to immunoglobulin or combined therapy, and might be advantageous in view of the cost and limited availability of intravenous immunoglobulin in many countries. Funding Imperial College London, the European Union's Horizon 2020, Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Foundation, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, and National Institutes of Health

Epidemiology of foreign bodies injuries in Ecuador: a first look based on a single centre experience

The analysis of foreign bodies (FB) injuries in the upper aero-digestive tract is not available for Ecuador and in this context, the present article represent the is the first presenting to the international community the basic epidemiological data on the Ecuador's experience on foreign bodies juries

Epidemiology of foreign bodies injuries in Ecuador: a first look based on a single centre experience.

OBJECTIVE: The analysis of foreign bodies (FB) injuries in the upper aero-digestive tract is not available for Ecuador and in this context, the present article represent the is the first presenting to the international community the basic epidemiological data on the Ecuador's experience on foreign bodies juries. METHODS: Data on 258 cases were gleaned using Susy Safe database, choosing the cases coming from Ecuador's institutions, namely Francisco De Icaza Bustamante Children Hospital, in Guayaquil (Ecuador) which collects data on children injuries due to foreign bodies with the aid of a standardized case report forms. RESULTS: Patients showed a female:male ratio of 1:1.2. Fifty-three percent of the children were younger than 2 years of age, with a mean age of 3.22 years. The most frequent location of retrieval was the oesophagus (37.98%) followed by the ears (34.88%). Coins were the most frequent cause of accident (37.21%). Seeds and grain were the most frequent food FBs and they were seen in 13.95% of cases. Adult presence was recorded in 113 cases. There was indeed a significant correlation between the presence of an adult and the activity that the children were doing when the incident occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This first breach into the analysis of injuries in Ecuador gives the confirmation that the results coming from country's data agreed with the general Susy Safe ones. Similar preventive strategies are therefore highly recommended, stressing that primary prevention has the main role in children's protection

Epidemiology of foreign bodies injuries in Ecuador: a first look based on a single centre experience.

Objective: The analysis of foreign bodies (FB) injuries in the upper aero-digestive tract is not available for Ecuador and in this context, the present article represent the is the first presenting to the international community the basic epidemiological data on the Ecuador’s experience on foreign bodies juries. Methods: Data on 258 cases were gleaned using Susy Safe database, choosing the cases coming from Ecuador’s institutions, namely Francisco De Icaza Bustamante Children Hospital, in Guayaquil (Ecuador) which collects data on children injuries due to foreign bodies with the aid of a standardized case report forms. Results: Patients showed a female:male ratio of 1:1.2. Fifty-three percent of the children were younger than 2 years of age, with a mean age of 3.22 years. The most frequent location of retrieval was the oesophagus (37.98%) followed by the ears (34.88%). Coins were the most frequent cause of accident (37.21%). Seeds and grain were the most frequent food FBs and they were seen in 13.95% of cases. Adult presence was recorded in 113 cases. There was indeed a significant correlation between the presence of an adult and the activity that the children were doing when the incident occurred. Conclusions: This first breach into the analysis of injuries in Ecuador gives the confirmation that the results coming from country’s data agreed with the general Susy Safe ones. Similar preventive strategies are therefore highly recommended, stressing that primary prevention has the main role in children’s protection