A Linear Transformation for the Reconstruction of the Responses of Systems in Similitude

Recent years have seen an increasing interest towards similitude methods. In fact, the possibility of testing a scaled model, instead of a full-scale prototype, leads to many advantages: financial and time savings, easier experimental setups, etc. However, similitudes have drawbacks, too, mainly due to non-scalable effects and partial similitude, which prevent from an accurate reconstruction of the prototype response. For these reasons, an alternative method which can bypass these limitations is needed. A new method, called VOODOO (Versatile Offset Operator for the Discrete Observation of Objects), is herein proposed: it is based on the definition of a transformation matrix which links the outputs of a given linear systems to those belonging to another system, which may be a scaled model. The responses are acquired on a discrete number of points for both the systems. This work aims at investigating the method’s strengths and limitations of the method. The results show that, although VOODOO exhibits some lack of accuracy in off-design conditions due to the loss of spatial correlation, it is able to overcome some major restrictions that affect all similitude methods

Reducción de niveles de contaminación del aire por medio de pintura foto-catalítica, en Av. Bolognesi con Balta, Chiclayo, 2021

El presente proyecto de investigación tiene como objetivo principal reducir los niveles de contaminación del aire por medio de pintura foto-catalítica, en las Av. Bolognesi y Balta Chiclayo, 2021. El cual será de tipo aplicada puesto que se tomarán las perspectivas de la actualidad y el sustento teórico aprendido para plantear una alternativa de solución a la problemática de la contaminación del aire, en consecuencia, el enfoque que tendremos es cualitativo, con diseño descriptivo. Se realizó una ficha de entrevista que posteriormente se analizó y se obtuvo tras su aplicación a los moradores de la cuadra 5 y 6 de la Av. Bolognesi con la cuadra de la 2 a la 6 de la Av. Balta, para que, con ello, se pueda corroborar que los resultados obtenidos logran responder a los objetivos planteados en la presente investigación en conjunto con las categorías y subcategorías. Se logró reducir los niveles de contaminación presentes en el aire mediante la pintura foto-catalítica sin causar daños al ambiente ni a la comunidad. Además, que mientras más tiempo más reducción de concentraciones contaminantes se lograran minimizar e incluso hasta eliminar

Nivel de conocimientos de la enfermedad COVID-19 en pacientes diagnosticados en un centro de salud de San Martin de Porres-2021

La presente investigación tiene como Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de conocimiento de la enfermedad por COVID-19 en pacientes diagnosticados en un centro de salud del distrito de San Martin de Porres– 2022. Metodología: Cuantitativa de corte transversal, correlacional y descriptivo. La muestra se conformó por 152 pacientes diagnosticados de Covid-19. La recolección de datos se realizó con el cuestionario llamado “Nivel de conocimiento de la enfermedad por Covid-19”. Se aplicó un cuestionario con 25 ítems, validado por 05 jueces expertos con Aiken mayor a 0.60 y la confiabilidad con alfa de Cronbach para nivel de conocimiento de 0,88. Los datos recolectados se expresaron en frecuencias y porcentajes. Resultado: El 64% de encuestados tuvieron un nivel medio de conocimientos de la enfermedad por Covid-19, el 84% de encuestados tuvieron a un nivel de conocimiento medio sobre la enfermedad del Covid-19 según la dimensión información y el 57% de encuestados tuvieron un nivel medio sobre la enfermedad de Covid-19 según la dimensión cuidados preventivos. Conclusiones: Los pacientes diagnosticados de Covid-19 que fueron encuestados presentan un nivel de conocimiento medio acerca de la enfermedad.The objective: of this research is to determine the level of knowledge of the COVID-19 disease in patients diagnosed in a health center in the district of San Martin de Porres - 2022. Methodology: Quantitative cross-sectional, correlational and descriptive. The sample consisted of 152 patients diagnosed with Covid-19. The data collection was carried out with the questionnaire called "Level of knowledge of the disease by Covid-19". A questionnaire with 25 items was applied, validated by 05 expert judges with Aiken greater than 0.60 and reliability with Cronbach's alpha for a level of knowledge of 0.88. The data collected was expressed in frequencies and percentages. Result: 64% of respondents had a medium level of knowledge about the Covid-19 disease, 84% of respondents had a medium level of knowledge about the Covid-19 disease according to the information dimension and 57% of respondents they had a medium level on the Covid-19 disease according to the preventive care dimension. Conclusions: The patients diagnosed with Covid-19 who were surveyed present a medium level of knowledge about the disease

Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages

An observational case study was designed to highlight issues associated with a possible expansion of dairy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) farming outside the traditional coastal plains of southern Italy. Twenty pregnant buffaloes were transferred to a hilly inland farm. After calving, production and reproduction data were collected monthly throughout lactation. From 4 to 6 months of lactation, buffaloes were enrolled in a feeding trial to evaluate the effects of locally grown forages (maize silage vs. hay) on milk production and in vivo digestibility. Sensory properties of mozzarella cheese produced at a local dairy were also evaluated. No obvious effects of diet were found. Compared to the data recorded in the previous lactation completed in the farm of origin, milk yield was reduced by 37.2%, and milk protein by 6.1%, whereas milk fat improved (+4.5%). A lower pregnancy rate (−13.3%), increased days open (+122%), and a prolonged intercalving period (+26.9%) were also observed. Lactation length was shorter than the standard value of 270 d. The results showed that peculiar reproductive characteristics, lower environmental temperatures, and the specificity of the mozzarella production process are the main problems to be addressed in an expansion of buffalo farming outside traditional area

Beekeeping as a strategy for environmental management in the basin Guaremal reservoir, municipality Peña, Yaracuy, Venezuela

El objetivo del presente estudio fue proponer estrategias de gestión ambiental para la recuperación de la cuenca del embalse Guaremal mediante el desarrollo de sistemas apícolas. Se realizó un relevamiento florístico alrededor de la cuenca tomando en consideración las especies visitadas por las abejas. Se determinaron las especies melíferas más abundantes de la zona en un área mínima de 0,10 ha definida en 7 transectos de 4m de ancho x 50m de largo, distribuidos a lo largo de toda la cuenca. La superficie fue dividida en tres zonas: baja (transectos 1 y 2), media (transectos 3, 4 y 5) y alta (transectos 6 y 7). Se estableció la densidad absoluta y relativa de cada especie vegetal dentro de cada transecto y entre todos los transectos. Se determinó la composición de la flora en la cuenca del embalse Guaremal, constituida por 77 especies de interés apícola, representadas en 40 familias, siendo las más predominantes: Compositae, Fabaceae, Mimosaceae, Euphorbiaceae y Urticaceae. La aparición de una especie apibotánica colonizadora, Wedelia caracasana, reveló un fuerte impacto antrópico negativo. Se proponen varias acciones correctivas, entre ellas el desarrollo de la Apicultura como estrategia de gestión ambiental para la recuperación de la cuenca del embalse Guaremal.The aim of this study was to propose different environmental management strategies for the recovery of the Guaremal Reservoir basin area, by developing beekeeping systems. A floristic screening was done around the Guaremal basin area taking into account the species visited by the bees. In order to determine the most abundant honey species of the region, a minimal area of 0.10 ha was established, defined by seven transects of 4m width by 50m long, laid out along the basin. The surface was also divided in three different zones: low (transects 1 and 2), medium (transects 3, 4 and 5) and high (transects 6 and 7). Absolute and relative plant species density was determined within each transect and among all of the transects. Floral composition in the Guaremal Reservoir basin area was registered and it consists of 77 species of beekeeping interest, represented by 40 different families, being the predominant ones Compositae, Fabaceae, Mimosaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Urticaceae. The appearance of a certain apibotanic plant species Wedelia. caracasana evealed a strongly negative anthropic effect. Several corrective actions were proposed, such as beekeeping activities as possible environmental control strategies, for the recovery of the Guaremal reservoir basin area.Fil: Barrios, Carlos. Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado. Decanato de Ciencias Veterinarias. Estación de Apicultura; Venezuela;Fil: Morales, Yoel. Universidad Nacional Experimental de los Llanos “Ezequiel Zamora”; Venezuela;Fil: Cugnata, Noelia Melina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Mar del Plata; Argentina;Fil: de Piano, Fiorella Giselle. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Animal. Cátedra de Apicultura; Argentina; Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Mar del Plata; Argentina;Fil: Fuselli, Sandra Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina; Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Mar del Plata; Argentina;Fil: Maggi, Matías Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Artrópodos; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Mar del Plata; Argentina;Fil: Melo, Hugo M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria; Argentina;Fil: Principal, Judith. Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado. Decanato de Ciencias Veterinarias. Estación de Apicultura; Venezuela

Long-term treatment with high-dose of sildenafil in a thalassemic patient with pulmonary hypertension

We report a case of a 37-years-old man, affected by thalassemia major, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, chronic HCV-hepatitis, diabetes mellitus, severe osteoporosis, prior septic pulmonary embolism and pulmonary artery hypertension was performed a long-term treatment with highdose of sildenafil (120 mg/die) with reduction of pulmonary arterial systolic pressure and of the dyspnea

Mitogen-activated kinase kinase kinase 1 inhibits hedgehog signaling and medulloblastoma growth through GLI1 phosphorylation

The aberrant activation of hedgehog (HH) signaling is a leading cause of the development of medulloblastoma, a pediatric tumor of the cerebellum. The FDA‑approved HH inhibitor, Vismodegib, which targets the transmembrane transducer SMO, has shown limited efficacy in patients with medulloblastoma, due to compensatory mechanisms that maintain an active HH‑GLI signaling status. Thus, the identification of novel actionable mechanisms, directly affecting the activity of the HH‑regulated GLI transcription factors is an important goal for these malignancies. In this study, using gene expression and reporter assays, combined with biochemical and cellular analyses, we demonstrate that mitogen‑activated kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1), the most upstream kinase of the mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation modules, suppresses HH signaling by associating and phosphorylating GLI1, the most potent HH‑regulated transcription factor. Phosphorylation occurred at multiple residues in the C‑terminal region of GLI1 and was followed by an increased association with the cytoplasmic proteins 14‑3‑3. Of note, the enforced expression of MEKK1 or the exposure of medulloblastoma cells to the MEKK1 activator, Nocodazole, resulted in a marked inhibitory effect on GLI1 activity and tumor cell proliferation and viability. Taken together, the results of this study shed light on a novel regulatory mechanism of HH signaling, with potentially relevant implications in cancer therapy

Diagnostic Accuracy of Anthropometric Markers of Obesity for Prediabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Prediabetes is a significant public health concern due to its high risk of progressing to diabetes. Anthropometric measures of obesity, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) have been demonstrated as key risk factors in the development of prediabetes. However, there is a lack of clarity on the diagnostic accuracy and cut-off points of these measures. Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of these anthropometric measures for their most effective use in identifying prediabetes. Methodology: A systematic review (SR) with metanalysis of observational studies was carried out. The search was conducted in four databases: Pubmed/Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and EMBASE. For the meta-analysis, sensitivity and specificity, together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI 95%) were calculated. Results: Among all the manuscripts chosen for review, we had four cross-sectional studies, and three were classified as cohort studies. The forest plots showed the combined sensitivity and specificity for both cross-sectional and cohort studies. For cross-sectional studies, the values were as follows: BMI had a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.56, WC had a sensitivity of 0.59 and specificity of 0.58, and WHtR had a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.73. In the cohort studies, the combined sensitivity and specificity were: BMI at 0.70 and 0.45, WC at 0.68 and 0.56, and WHtR at 0.68 and 0.56, respectively. All values are provided with 95% confidence intervals. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of BMI, WC, and WHtR in identifying prediabetes. The results showed variations in sensitivity and specificity, with WHtR having the highest specificity in cross-sectional studies and BMI having improved sensitivity in cohort studies

MYC upstream region orchestrates resistance to PI3K inhibitors in cancer cells through FOXO3a-mediated autophagic adaptation

The MYC oncogene is frequently overexpressed in tumors and inhibition of its translation is considered an attractive therapeutic opportunity. Despite numerous reports proposing an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) within the MYC Upstream Region (MYC UR) to sustain MYC translation during cellular stress or chemotherapy, conflicting evidence remains regarding the validity of such a mechanism. Through comprehensive investigations in MYC-driven Colorectal Cancer (CRC) and Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) cells, we demonstrate that MYC UR does not facilitate cap-independent translation, but instead orchestrates resistance to PI3K inhibitors. Genomic deletion of MYC UR neither impacts MYC protein levels nor viability in CRC cells, either untreated or exposed to cellular stress. However, in response to PI3K inhibitors, MYC UR drives a FOXO3a-dependent transcriptional upregulation of MYC, conferring drug resistance. This resistance is mediated by enhanced autophagic flux, governed by MYC, and blockade of autophagy sensitizes CRC cells to PI3K inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, BL cells lacking the translocation of MYC UR exhibit sensitivity to PI3K inhibitors, whereas MYC UR-translocated cells respond to these drugs only when autophagy is inhibited. These findings challenge previous notions regarding IRES-mediated translation and highlight a promising strategy to overcome resistance to PI3K inhibitors in MYC-driven malignancies, offering potential clinical implications for CRC and BL treatment

RESPUESTAS FISIOLÓGICAS DE HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS L. (MALVACEAE) EN EL CERRO “EL AGUSTINO”, LIMA, PERÚ

Se evaluaron las respuestas fisiológicas de Hibiscus rosa sinensis L. (Malvaceae) durante abril a junio del 2010. Cuatro plantas cultivadas sobre suelo agrícola introducido en el cerro “El Agustino”, distrito del Agustino, Lima, Perú se seleccionaron al azar. Durante el periodo de evaluación se observó un descenso de la temperatura del aire de 29,4ºC a 17,2ºC y la humedad relativa aumentó de 40,5% a 79,7%. La temperatura registrada en el área foliar mostró sólo un ligero descenso de 23,8ºC a 16,5ºC en comparación a la temperatura del aire. El suelo se caracterizó por ser arenoso con un pH de 7,8 y una conductividad eléctrica de 2,1 mS. Una sola vez se registró riego por inundación, el pH del agua de regadío fue de 8,4 y su conductividad de 0,4 mS. El contenido relativo de agua de las plantas disminuyó semanalmente de 55,3% a 33,8%, mientras el porcentaje de estomas abiertos se incrementó de 73% a 83%. La relación de clorofila a/b fue de 2 y el producto de biomasa vegetal fue del 25%. Finalmente se propone que probablemente H. rosa-sinensis realiza una regulación osmótica radicular para tolerar las condiciones ambientales del cerro