Attenuation Factor Estimation of Direct Normal Irradiance Combining Sky Camera Images and Mathematical Models in an Inter-Tropical Area

Nowadays, it is of great interest to know and forecast the solar energy resource that will be constantly available in order to optimize its use. The generation of electrical energy using CSP (concentrated solar power) plants is mostly affected by atmospheric changes. Therefore, forecasting solar irradiance is essential for planning a plant’s operation. Solar irradiance/atmospheric (clouds) interaction studies using satellite and sky images can help to prepare plant operators for solar surface irradiance fluctuations. In this work, we present three methodologies that allow us to estimate direct normal irradiance (DNI). The study was carried out at the Solar Irradiance Observatory (SIO) at the Geophysics Institute (UNAM) in Mexico City using corresponding images obtained with a sky camera and starting from a clear sky model. The multiple linear regression and polynomial regression models as well as the neural networks model designed in the present study, were structured to work under all sky conditions (cloudy, partly cloudy and cloudless), obtaining estimation results with 82% certainty for all sky types

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

Proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Flavor Symmetries and Consequences in Accelerators and Cosmology (FLASY12)

These are the proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Flavor Symmetries and Consequences in Accelerators and Cosmology, held 30 June 2012 - 4 July 2012, Dortmund, Germany.Comment: Order 400 pages, several figures including the group picture v2: corrected author list and contributio

Memorias del Séptimo Foro de la Enseñanza de las Matemáticas

En el Séptimo Foro de Enseñanza de las Matemática Ibero 2017 se abordaron temas relacionados con el uso de la historia de las matemáticas en el aula, las transformaciones en las habilidades, destrezas y conocimientos en los alumnos universitarios en la primera década del 2000, el uso de plataformas digitales en la enseñanza de las matemáticas; se expuso sobre situaciones problema en la vida cotidiana relacionados con las matemáticas escolares y la modelación matemática, sobre la historia de la enseñanza de las matermáticas, entre otros temas.ITESO, A.C.Universidad Iberoamericana, Campus Santa F

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Maternal dietary patterns and acute leukemia in infants: results from a case control study in Mexico

BackgroundChildhood cancer is the leading cause of disease-related mortality among children aged 5–14 years in Mexico, with acute leukemia being the most common cancer among infants. Examining the overall dietary patterns allows for a comprehensive assessment of food and nutrient consumption, providing a more predictive measure of disease risk than individual foods or nutrients. This study aims to evaluate the association between maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and the risk of acute leukemia in Mexican infants.MethodsA hospital-based case–control study was conducted, comparing 109 confirmed acute leukemia cases with 152 age-matched controls. All participants (≤24 months) were identified at hospitals in Mexico City between 2010 and 2019. Data on a posteriori dietary patterns and other relevant variables were collected through structured interviews and dietary questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to estimate the association between maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and the risk of acute leukemia in infants.ResultsThe “Balanced & Vegetable-Rich” pattern, characterized by a balanced consumption of various food groups and higher vegetable intake, exhibited a negative association with acute leukemia when compared to the “High Dairy & Cereals” Pattern (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29, 0.90). We observed that mothers who gave birth to girls and adhered to a healthy dietary pattern during pregnancy exhibited significantly lower odds of their children developing AL compared to those who gave birth to boys [OR = 0.32 (95% CI 0.11, 0.97)]. Our results underscore the significance of maternal nutrition as a modifiable factor in disease prevention and the importance of prenatal health education

Closed-loop recruitment of striatal parvalbumin interneurons prevents the onset of compulsive behaviours

ABSTRACT A prominent electrophysiological feature of compulsive behaviours is striatal hyperactivity, yet, its underlying regulatory processes still need to be characterised. Within the striatum, parvalbumin-positive interneurons (PVI) exert a powerful feed-forward inhibition essential for the regulation of striatal activity and are implied in the suppression of prepotent inappropriate actions. To investigate the potential role of striatal PVI in regulating striatal activity and compulsive behaviours, we used the Sapap3 knockout mice (Sapap3-KO), which exhibit compulsive-like self-grooming. We first showed that the number of compulsive-like events in Sapap3-KO mice was reduced to normal levels by continuous optogenetic activation of striatal PVI in the centromedial striatum. To narrow down the critical time window of striatal PVI recruitment for regulating compulsive-like grooming, we then developed a novel closed-loop optogenetic stimulation pipeline. Upon a predictive biomarker of grooming onsets, characterised by a transient power increase of 1-4 Hz frequency band in the orbitofrontal cortex, we provided real-time closed-loop stimulation of striatal PVI. This targeted closed-loop optogenetics approach reduced grooming events as efficiently as continuous recruitment of striatal PVI with a reduction of stimulation time of 87%. Together, these results demonstrated that recruitment of striatal PVI at the initiation of the compulsive events is sufficient to drastically reduce compulsive-like behaviours and pave the way for targeted closed-loop therapeutic protocols