Development of a module that can be attached to an air conditioning distribution system for its disinfection using uv radiation

[EN] UV rays have been used since the mid-20th century to disinfect water. However, its use in air disinfection is much more recent and is not commonly used in air conditioning installations. The objective of the work is to design a device that can be connected to an air conditioning system that allows disinfecting the air that circulates through the air handling unit (AHU) or Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units. Disinfection is carried out through the use of a lamp that emits ultraviolet radiation with the necessary power and for the appropriate irradiation time. In this way, the air that is distributed is clean and healthy.Armero Martínez, A.; Esteban Vicente, I.; Capuz-Rizo, SF. (2021). Desarrollo de un módulo acoplable a un sistema de distribución de aire acondicionado para desinfección del mismo mediante radiación UV. AEIPRO. 891-902. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/180703S89190

Educational and labor wastage of doctors in Mexico: towards the construction of a common methodology

BACKGROUND: This paper addresses the problem of wastage of the qualified labor force, which takes place both during the education process and when trained personnel try to find jobs in the local market. METHODS: Secondary sources were used, mainly the Statistical yearbooks of the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES in Spanish). Also, the 2000 Population Census was used to estimate the different sources of labor market wastage. The formulas were modified to estimate educational and labor wastage rates. RESULTS: Out of every 1000 students who started a medical training in 1996, over 20% were not able to finish the training by 2000. Furthermore, out of every 1000 graduates, 31% were not able to find a remunerated position in the labor market that would enable them to put into practice the abilities and capacities obtained at school. Important differences can be observed between generalists and specialists, as well as between men and women. In the case of specialists and men, lower wastage rates can be observed as compared to the wastage rates of generalists and women. A large percentage of women dedicate themselves exclusively to household duties, which in labor terms represents a wastage of their capacity to participate in the production of formal health services. CONCLUSION: Women are becoming a majority in most medical schools, yet their participation in the labor market does not reflect the same trend. Among men, policies should be formulated to incorporate doctors in the specific health field for which they were trained. Regarding women, specific policies should target those who are dedicated full-time to household activities in order to create the possibility of having them occupy a remunerated job if they are willing to do so. Reducing wastage at both the educational and labor levels should improve the capacity of social investment, thereby increasing the capacity of the health system as a whole to provide services, particularly to those populations who are most in need

Liver fibrosis secondary to bile duct injury: correlation of Smad7 with TGF-β and extracellular matrix proteins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Liver fibrosis is the result of continuous liver injury stemming from different etiological factors. Bile duct injury induces an altered expression of TGF-β, which has an important role in liver fibrosis because this cytokine induces the expression of target genes such as collagens, PAI-1, TIMPs, and others that lead to extracellular matrix deposition. Smad7 is the principal inhibitor that regulates the target gene transcription of the TGF-β signaling. The aim of the study was to determine whether Smad7 mRNA expression correlates with the gene expression of <it>TGF-β, Col I</it>, <it>Col III</it>, <it>Col IV</it>, or <it>PAI-1 </it>in liver fibrosis secondary to bile duct injury (BDI).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum TGF-β concentration was higher in BDI patients (39 296 pg/ml) than in liver donors (9008 pg/ml). Morphometric analysis of liver sections showed 41.85% of tissue contained fibrotic deposits in BDI patients. mRNA expression of Smad7, Col I, and PAI-1 was also significantly higher (<it>P </it>< 0.05) in patients with BDI than in controls. Smad7 mRNA expression correlated significantly with TGF-β concentration, Col I and Col III expression, and the amount of fibrosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We found augmented serum concentration of TGF-β and an increase in the percentage of fibrotic tissue in the liver of BDI patients. Contrary to expected results, the 6-fold increase in <it>Smad7 </it>expression did not inhibit the expression of <it>TGF-β, collagens</it>, and <it>PAI-1</it>. We also observed greater expression of Col I and Col III mRNA in BDI patients and significant correlations between their expression and TGF-β concentration and Smad7 mRNA expression.</p

Prodromal phase: Differences in prodromal symptoms, risk factors and markers of vulnerability in first episode mania versus first episode psychosis with onset in late adolescence or adulthood

Objective: This study was aimed at identifying differences in the prodromal symptoms and their duration, risk factors and markers of vulnerability in patients presenting a first episode mania (FEM) or psychosis (FEP) with onset in late adolescence or adulthood in order to guide tailored treatment strategies. Methods: Patients with a FEM or FEP underwent a clinical assessment. Prodromes were evaluated with the Bipolar Prodrome Symptom Scale-Retrospective (BPSS-R). Chi-squared tests were conducted to assess specific prodromal symptoms, risk factors or markers of vulnerability between groups. Significant prodromal symptoms were entered in a stepwise forward logistic regression model. The probabilities of a gradual versus rapid onset pattern of the prodromes were computed with logistic regression models. Results: The total sample included 108 patients (FEM = 72, FEP = 36). Social isolation was associated with the prodromal stage of a FEP whilst Increased energy or goal-directed activity with the prodrome to a FEM. Physically slowed down presented the most gradual onset whilst Increased energy presented the most rapid. The presence of obstetric complications and difficulties in writing and reading during childhood were risk factors for FEP. As for markers of vulnerability, impairment in premorbid adjustment was characteristic of FEP patients. No specific risk factor or marker of vulnerability was identified for FEM. Conclusion: Early characteristics differentiating FEP from FEM were identified. These findings might help shape early identification and preventive intervention programmes

Hilando generaciones y moda

En el proyecto PAP llamado Hilando Generaciones y Moda del cual se presenta este reporte del periodo otoño 2022, el propósito general fue el de crear espacios en los cuales se diera paso a la colaboración intergeneracional e intercultural a través de la capacitación en costura y diseño de modas. Un espacio en donde los participantes pudieran intercambiar conocimientos, diálogos y trabajar en equipo, pero, sobre todo, mostrando empatía, confianza e interactuando mientas se conocen los estudiantes y las personas mayores. En este periodo escolar se elaboraron prendas de vestir para el uso personal y familiar de las personas mayores, se llevó a cabo una sesión fotográfica con las personas mayores, una pasarela para la exposición de las prendas, un documental y una revistacatálogo con las prendas. Las primeras sesiones se dedicaron a la sensibilización de los alumnos para con la población de personas mayores y con esto se dio pie para la interacción y convivencia entre los estudiantes y personas mayores, principalmente en las instalaciones del Centro Tapatío de atención al Adulto Mayor (CETAM) y en uno de los centros de día del DIF. Los estudiantes estuvieron interactuando con las personas mayores, en los que se generó una relación profunda de comprensión y empatía, y se crearon importantes resultados como las prendas, una capa tejida por alumnos y personas mayores, revistacatálogo, pasarela y un visible entramado entre las dos generaciones: jóvenes y personas mayores.ITESO, A.C

Use of life cycle assessment methodology in the analysis of ecological footprint assessment results to evaluate the environmental performance of universities

The assessment of the environmental performance of an organization is an essential part of the decision making process of an Environmental Management System. Having robust indicators enables a reliable assessment. The Ecological Footprint Assessment is used in different types of organizations, including universities. Its ability to clearly communicate over-consumption by using a land-base unit is an advantage when involving the university community in achieving better environmental performance. However, its lack of standardization makes it difficult to use as an indicator. It is believed that Life Cycle Assessment offers a framework with which to standardize the Ecological Footprint Assessment. In this paper, an Ecological Footprint Assessment considering Life Cycle Assessment methodology is developed as a case study for Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. Findings regarding the critical decisions of the methodology are compared with 23 Ecological Footprint Assessments of universities using a Life Cycle Assessment framework. Only 26% of the studies analyzed reference the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. Critical decisions such as defining a Functional Unit were relevant but not standardized, while the definition of the product system was the most standardized and homogeneous decision. The difficulty of gathering information when Environmental Management Systems are not available makes the Ecological Footprint Assessment a weak indicator. Nevertheless, results show that Life Cycle Assessment can guide an Ecological Footprint Assessment methodology where comparability and reliability is possible. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Lo-Iacono-Ferreira, VG.; Torregrosa López, JI.; Capuz-Rizo, SF. (2016). Use of life cycle assessment methodology in the analysis of ecological footprint assessment results to evaluate the environmental performance of universities. Journal of Cleaner Production. 133:45-53. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.05.046S455313

Circulating microRNAs in sera correlate with soluble biomarkers of immune activation but do not predict mortality in ART treated individuals with HIV-1 infection: A case control study

Introduction: The use of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced HIV-1 associated morbidity and mortality. However, HIV-1 infected individuals have increased rates of morbidity and mortality compared to the non-HIV-1 infected population and this appears to be related to end-organ diseases collectively referred to as Serious Non-AIDS Events (SNAEs). Circulating miRNAs are reported as promising biomarkers for a number of human disease conditions including those that constitute SNAEs. Our study sought to investigate the potential of selected miRNAs in predicting mortality in HIV-1 infected ART treated individuals. Materials and Methods: A set of miRNAs was chosen based on published associations with human disease conditions that constitute SNAEs. This case: control study compared 126 cases (individuals who died whilst on therapy), and 247 matched controls (individuals who remained alive). Cases and controls were ART treated participants of two pivotal HIV-1 trials. The relative abundance of each miRNA in serum was measured, by RTqPCR. Associations with mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular and malignancy) were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Correlations between miRNAs and CD4+ T cell count, hs-CRP, IL-6 and D-dimer were also assessed. Results: None of the selected miRNAs was associated with all-cause, cardiovascular or malignancy mortality. The levels of three miRNAs (miRs -21, -122 and -200a) correlated with IL-6 while miR-21 also correlated with D-dimer. Additionally, the abundance of miRs -31, -150 and -223, correlated with baseline CD4+ T cell count while the same three miRNAs plus miR- 145 correlated with nadir CD4+ T cell count. Discussion: No associations with mortality were found with any circulating miRNA studied. These results cast doubt onto the effectiveness of circulating miRNA as early predictors of mortality or the major underlying diseases that contribute to mortality in participants treated for HIV-1 infection

Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Chronic Kidney Disease in HIV Infection Using Prospective Cohort Data from the D:A:D Study

Ristola M. on työryhmien DAD Study Grp ; Royal Free Hosp Clin Cohort ; INSIGHT Study Grp ; SMART Study Grp ; ESPRIT Study Grp jäsen.Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health issue for HIV-positive individuals, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Development and implementation of a risk score model for CKD would allow comparison of the risks and benefits of adding potentially nephrotoxic antiretrovirals to a treatment regimen and would identify those at greatest risk of CKD. The aims of this study were to develop a simple, externally validated, and widely applicable long-term risk score model for CKD in HIV-positive individuals that can guide decision making in clinical practice. Methods and Findings A total of 17,954 HIV-positive individuals from the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study with >= 3 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values after 1 January 2004 were included. Baseline was defined as the first eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 after 1 January 2004; individuals with exposure to tenofovir, atazanavir, atazanavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, other boosted protease inhibitors before baseline were excluded. CKD was defined as confirmed (>3 mo apart) eGFR In the D:A:D study, 641 individuals developed CKD during 103,185 person-years of follow-up (PYFU; incidence 6.2/1,000 PYFU, 95% CI 5.7-6.7; median follow-up 6.1 y, range 0.3-9.1 y). Older age, intravenous drug use, hepatitis C coinfection, lower baseline eGFR, female gender, lower CD4 count nadir, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) predicted CKD. The adjusted incidence rate ratios of these nine categorical variables were scaled and summed to create the risk score. The median risk score at baseline was -2 (interquartile range -4 to 2). There was a 1: 393 chance of developing CKD in the next 5 y in the low risk group (risk score = 5, 505 events), respectively. Number needed to harm (NNTH) at 5 y when starting unboosted atazanavir or lopinavir/ritonavir among those with a low risk score was 1,702 (95% CI 1,166-3,367); NNTH was 202 (95% CI 159-278) and 21 (95% CI 19-23), respectively, for those with a medium and high risk score. NNTH was 739 (95% CI 506-1462), 88 (95% CI 69-121), and 9 (95% CI 8-10) for those with a low, medium, and high risk score, respectively, starting tenofovir, atazanavir/ritonavir, or another boosted protease inhibitor. The Royal Free Hospital Clinic Cohort included 2,548 individuals, of whom 94 individuals developed CKD (3.7%) during 18,376 PYFU (median follow-up 7.4 y, range 0.3-12.7 y). Of 2,013 individuals included from the SMART/ESPRIT control arms, 32 individuals developed CKD (1.6%) during 8,452 PYFU (median follow-up 4.1 y, range 0.6-8.1 y). External validation showed that the risk score predicted well in these cohorts. Limitations of this study included limited data on race and no information on proteinuria. Conclusions Both traditional and HIV-related risk factors were predictive of CKD. These factors were used to develop a risk score for CKD in HIV infection, externally validated, that has direct clinical relevance for patients and clinicians to weigh the benefits of certain antiretrovirals against the risk of CKD and to identify those at greatest risk of CKD.Peer reviewe

Normative and bibliographic analysis on Facility Management focused on construction project management

[EN] This paper deals with the normative and bibliographic review of Facility Management, also known as the management of buildings and its support services. For this purpose, first of all, the European standards UNE-EN 15221 are analyzed and compared with the set of international standards ISO 41001 focused on the Facility Management discipline, on which the approach to complementary normative frameworks, such as ISO 9000, ISO 14000, ISO 45000, ISO 50000, ISO 55000 or ISO 31000, is highlighted. The bibliographic analysis evidence the needs that led to the emergence of this discipline, framing the key concepts on which it is based and the definition of its current situation. It then establishes the possibilities for the development and growth of property management and its support services linked to technological and digital evolution, all under the approach of the direction and management of construction projects.[ES] En el presente trabajo se aborda la revisión normativa y bibliográfica sobre Facility Management, también conocida como la gestión de inmuebles y servicios de soporte a dicha gestión. Para ello, en primer lugar, se analizan y comparan los estándares europeos UNE-EN 15221 frente a la familia de normas internacionales ISO 41001 centradas en la disciplina de Facility Management, sobre los cuales se destaca el acercamiento a marcos normativos complementarios, como ISO 9000, ISO 14000, ISO 45000, ISO 50000, ISO 55000 o ISO 31000. El análisis bibliográfico evidencia las necesidades a raíz de las cuales surge esta disciplina, enmarcando los conceptos clave sobre los que se asienta y la definición de su situación actual. Estableciéndose a continuación las posibilidades de desarrollo y crecimiento de la gestión de inmuebles y sus servicios de soporte ligada a la evolución tecnológica y digital, todo ello bajo el enfoque de la dirección y gestión de proyectos de construcción.Martínez Beltrán, E.; Capuz-Rizo, SF. (2021). Análisis normativo y bibliográfico sobre Facility Management enfocado a la dirección de proyectos de construcción. AEIPRO. 141-151. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/180538S14115