Day-ahead optimal battery operation in islanded hybrid energy systems and its impact on greenhouse gas emissions

This paper proposes a management strategy for the daily operation of an isolated hybrid energy system (HES) using heuristic techniques. Incorporation of heuristic techniques to the optimal scheduling in day-head basis allows us to consider the complex characteristics of a specific battery energy storage system (BESS) and the associated electronic converter efficiency. The proposed approach can determine the discharging time to perform the load peak-shaving in an appropriate manner. A recently proposed version of binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO), which incorporates a time-varying mirrored S-shaped (TVMS) transfer function, is proposed for day-ahead scheduling determination. Day-ahead operation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are studied through different operating conditions. The complexity of the optimization problem depends on the available wind resource and its relationship with load profile. In this regard, TVMS-BPSO has important capabilities for global exploration and local exploitation, which makes it a powerful technique able to provide a high-quality solution comparable to that obtained from a genetic algorithm

The 8-Odorant Barcelona Olfactory Test (BOT-8): Validation of a New Test in the Spanish Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19; Pèrdua d'olfacte; Prova de l'olfacteCOVID-19; Loss of smell; Smell testCOVID-19; Pérdida de olfato; Prueba del olfatoBackground and objective: Most smell tests are difficult to implement in daily clinical practice owing to their long duration. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a short, easy-to-perform, and reusable smell test to be implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study population comprised 120 healthy adults and 195 patients with self-reported olfactory dysfunction (OD). The 8-Odorant Barcelona Olfactory Test (BOT-8) was used for detection, memory/recognition, and forced-choice identification. In addition, a rose threshold test was performed, and a visual analog scale was applied. The Smell Diskettes Olfaction Test (SDOT) was used for correlation in healthy volunteers, and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was used for patients with OD to establish cut-offs for anosmia and hyposmia. In order to take account of the COVID-19 pandemic, disposable cotton swabs with odorants were compared with the original test. Results: In healthy persons, the mean (SD) BOT-8 score was 100% for detection, 94.5% (1.07) for memory/recognition, and 89.6% (0.86) for identification. In patients with OD, the equivalent values were 86% (32.8), 73.2% (37.9), and 77.1% (34.2), respectively. BOT-8 demonstrated good test-retest reliability, with agreement of 96.7% and a quadratic k of 0.84 (P<.001). A strong correlation was observed between BOT-8 and SDOT (r=0.67, P<.001) and UPSIT (r=0.86, P<.001). Agreement was excellent for disposable cotton swabs, with a k of 0.79 compared with the original test. The cut-off point for anosmia was ≤3 (area under the curve, 0.83; sensitivity, 0.673; specificity, 0.993). Conclusion: BOT-8 offers an efficient and fast method for assessment of smell threshold, detection, memory, and identification in daily clinical practice. Disposable cotton swabs with odorants proved to be useful and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic

Síndrome de Kasabach-Merritt precipitado por SARS-CoV-2 en un niño con angioma infantil y leucemia linfoblástica aguda: Reporte de Caso

Background: We describe an 8-month-old boy with leukemia and SARS-CoV-2 infection who developed Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. He had a positive SARSCOV-2 RT-PCR sample. Hematologic tests showed coagulopathy and intestinal involvement. She was managed in emergency receiving transfusion support and in hospitalization with social isolation measures, she started propanolol and corticotherapy as initial treatment of infantile angiomas. She presented with symptoms of intestinal obstruction and underwent surgery and evidence of hemorrhagic infarction with foci of intestinal ischemic necrosis, ending in ileostomy. We tried to understand a pathophysiological explanation of the dermatologic and gastrointestinal tract involvement by the virus and the atypical form of COVID-19. Given the emerging evidence of endotelial a n d v a s c u l a r i n v o l v e m e n t i n C O V I D - 1 9 , t h e development of tests to detect vascular lesions may be critical to guide the use of new therapeutic strategies

Effectiveness of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination in preventing community-acquired pneumonia hospitalization and severe outcomes in the elderly in Spain

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly, but investigation of the etiological agent of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not possible in most hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination (PPSV23) in preventing CAP hospitalization and reducing the risk of intensive care unit admission (ICU) and fatal outcomes in hospitalized people aged 65 years. We made a multicenter case-control study in 20 Spanish hospitals during 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. We selected patients aged 65 years hospitalized with a diagnosis of pneumonia and controls matched by sex, age and date of hospitalization. Multivariate analysis was performed using conditional logistic regression to estimate vaccine effectiveness and unconditional logistic regression to evaluate the reduction in the risk of severe and fatal outcomes. 1895 cases and 1895 controls were included; 13.7% of cases and 14.4% of controls had received PPSV23 in the last five years. The effectiveness of PPSV23 in preventing CAP hospitalization was 15.2% (95% CI -3.1-30.3). The benefit of PPSV23 in avoiding ICU admission or death was 28.1% (95% CI -14.3-56.9) in all patients, 30.9% (95% CI -32.2-67.4) in immunocompetent patients and 26.9% (95% CI -38.6-64.8) in immunocompromised patients. In conclusion, PPSV23 showed a modest trend to avoidance of hospitalizations due to CAP and to the prevention of death or ICU admission in elderly patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of CAP

Neither known nor charismatic: conservation status of the tortoises of the genus Kinosternon (Spix, 1824) (Testudines: Kinosternidae) and their threat factors

Actualmente, el continente americano contiene la mayor diversidad de tortugas del planeta, así mismo, México ocupa el segundo lugar después de los Estados Unidos en riqueza de especies. Sin embargo, esta gran diversidad de tortugas se encuentra severamente amenazada por las diferentes actividades humanas, como la urbanización, el tráfico de especies, la sobrexplotación y el cambio climático que en conjunto conducen a la extinción de las poblaciones de tortugas y la fauna acuática con la que coexisten. Si esta tendencia continua, se espera un colapso ambiental y económico a medio o largo plazo en las regiones donde actualmente se distribuyen estos organismos. Esto se debe a que las tortugas son un eslabón muy importante en la cadena trófica de los ecosistemas y desempeñan papeles funcionales primordiales, como la depredación, control biológico y muchas de ellas son presas de otras especies de animales. En este trabajo, se describe el caso de las tortugas del género Kinosternon (Spix, 1824), comúnmente llamadas “casquitos”, las cuales hoy en día son consideradas un grupo susceptible a la extinción por diferentes amenazas antrópicas. Así mismo, mostramos un panorama general del estado de conservación de las especies de acuerdo a la NOM-059-2010 y la Lista Roja de Especies de UICN, analizamos el estado de conservación de las especies mexicanas mediante el índice de vulnerabilidad ambiental EVS (“Environmental Vulnerability Score”). Encontramos que, de los 32 táxones conocidos, 14 son endémicos de México. Por otra parte, el índice EVS muestra que 14 especies tienen alta vulnerabilidad y el resto vulnerabilidad media y de 9 especies no se tienen datos para poder determinar algún índice de vulnerabilidad, por el hecho de no saber el grado de persecución que tienen en otros países. Finalmente, proponemos algunas estrategias de conservación para este grupo de tortugas.Currently, the American continent contains the greatest diversity of turtles on the planet, likewise, Mexico ranks second after the United States in species richness. However, this great diversity of turtles is severely threatened by different human activities such as urbanization, species trafficking, overexploitation and climate change that together lead to the extinction of turtle populations and the aquatic fauna with which coexist. If this trend continues, an environmental and economic collapse is expected in the mid or long term in the regions where these organisms are currently distributed. This is because turtles are a very important link in the trophic chain of ecosystems and play such important functional roles as predation, biological control and many of them are prey to other animal species. In this work, the case of the turtles of the genus Kinosternon (Spix, 1824) commonly called "casquitos", which today are considered a group susceptible to extinction due to different anthropic threats, is described. Likewise, we show an overview of the conservation status of the species according to NOM-059-2010 and the IUCN Species Red List, later we analyze the conservation status of Mexican species using the EVS (“Environmental Vulnerability Index”). We found that, of the 32 known taxa, 14 are endemic to Mexico. On the other hand, the EVS index shows that 14 species have high vulnerability and the rest moderate vulnerability, and for 9 species, there is no data to be able to determine a vulnerability index due to not knowing the degree of persecution they have in other countries. Finally, we propose some conservation strategies for this group of turtles

Estudio transversal analítico de las características y desenlaces clínicos de niños hospitalizados con COVID-19 en Lima, Perú

Introduction: Coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children occurred in Peru as of March 2020, leading to pediatric patients' hospitalization in areas adapted for this purpose at the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital. In the beginning, the demand for hospitalization was low, but it increased gradually. Consistent with international reports, the majority of patients presented mild or moderate symptoms. Nonetheless, there were also severe cases, even fatal ones. Objectives: To describe the characteristics and clinical outcome of pediatric patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in a referral hospital in Lima, Peru, between March and August 2020. Methods: A descriptive and inferential cross-sectional study was carried out. The population includes all hospitalized patients in the Department of Pediatrics, with clinical and surgical diagnoses associated with COVID-19. Results: We included 100 patients, with an average age of 83.4 ± 54 months, with a predominance of male patients (55%). Hospitalized patients were grouped into five categories: respiratory failure (17%), multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) (31%), neurological presentation (19%), acute abdomen (20%), and patients with oncological problems (13%). Most of the patients (74%) had comorbidities. Regarding the presenting symptoms, intestinal pain predominated in the appendicitis group (90%, p < 0.001), fever was present in most patients with respiratory failure (64.7%); multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (90.3%), neurological manifestations (15.8%), acute abdomen (50%) and oncological conditions (61.5%) were also present in these patients. Kawasaki symptoms were found in 38.7% of the patients with multisystemic inflammatory syndrome. Mortality was 4%. Respiratory problems (29.4%) and multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (22.6%) required admission to intensive care, more frequently than the other presentations (p = 0.008). Conclusions: We conclude that the vulnerability in the pediatric population is the one that has preexisting conditions. We divided our patients according to presentation, diagnosis, and complications, which were predominantly respiratory. We also had oncological patients with COVID-19.Introducción: La infección por coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) en niños se presentó en Perú desde marzo del 2020. Desde entonces fue necesario internar pacientes pediátricos en el Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, en el área de hospitalización adaptada para dicho propósito. Al inicio, la demanda de hospitalización era baja y se fue incrementando progresivamente. Coincidiendo con los reportes internacionales, la mayoría presentó cuadros leves o moderados, pero también hubo casos graves e incluso mortales. Objetivos: Describir las características y el desenlace clínico de los pacientes pediátricos con COVID-19 hospitalizados en un hospital de referencia en Lima, Perú, entre marzo y agosto de 2020. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal descriptivo e inferencial. La población incluyó a todos los pacientes que se hospitalizaron en el Departamento de Pediatría Clínica, con diagnósticos clínicos y quirúrgicos asociados a COVID-19. Resultados: Incluimos 100 pacientes, con edad promedio de 83,4 ± 54 meses, con predominio de varones (55%). Los pacientes hospitalizados fueron agrupados en cinco categorías: insuficiencia respiratoria (17%), síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico (31%), presentación neurológica (19%), abdomen agudo (20%) y pacientes con problemas oncológicos (13%). La mayoría de los pacientes (74%) tenían comorbilidades. Respecto a los síntomas de presentación, el dolor intestinal predominó en el grupo de apendicitis (90%, p < 0,001), la fiebre estuvo presente en la mayoría de los pacientes con falla respiratoria (64,7%), el síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico se registró en 90,3%, la sintomatología neurológica en 15,8%, el abdomen agudo 50% y oncológicos en 61,5% de los pacientes. Los síntomas de Kawasaki estuvieron presentes en 38,7% de los pacientes con síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico. La mortalidad fue de 4%. En 29,4% de problemas respiratorios y en 22,6% de síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico, se requirió de admisión en cuidados intensivos, lo que fue más frecuente que las otras presentaciones (p = 0,008). Conclusiones: Se concluye que la población pediátrica vulnerable es aquella con comorbilidades preexistentes. La división de pacientes en nuestro estudio fue definida por la presentación, diagnóstico y complicaciones predominantemente con problemas respiratorios, y en pacientes oncológicos con COVID-19.Revisión por pare

Short-, mid-, and long-term complications after multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children over a 24-month follow-up period in a hospital in Lima-Peru, 2020–2022

ObjectiveTo determine the short-, mid-, and long-term complications after multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) over a 24-month follow-up period in a hospital in Lima, Peru, 2020–2022, and to explore differences according to the immunomodulatory treatment received and type of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating.MethodsAmbispective 24-month follow-up study in children &lt;14 years of age diagnosed with MIS-C at the Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM).ResultsA total of 62 children were admitted with MIS-C. The most common short-term complications and serious events were intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) due to respiratory failure, and shock; predominantly during the second pandemic wave (lambda predominance) and in children that received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) plus a corticosteroid. Two patients died during the first wave due to MIS-C. During prospective follow-up (median of 24 months; IQR: 16.7–24), only 46.7% of patients were followed for &gt;18–24 months. Of the total, seven (11.3%) patients were identified with some sequelae on discharge. Among the 43 remaining children, sequelae persisted in five (11.6%) cases (neurological, hematological, and skin problems). Six patients (13.9%) presented with new onset disease (hematologic, respiratory, neurological, and psychiatric disorders). One patient died due to acute leukemia during the follow-up period. None of them were admitted to the ICU or presented with MIS-C reactivation. Two patients presented persistence of coronary aneurysm until 8- and 24-month post-discharge.ConclusionIn our hospital, children with MIS-C frequently developed short-term complications and serious events during the acute phase, with less frequent complications in the mid- and long-term. More studies are required to confirm these findings