Application of fuzzy logic for on-line control of a laboratory-scale anaerobic reactor

An automatic control system, based on fuzzy logic, has been designed to be used in connection to a laboratory-scale anaerobic reactor. The automatic control system is based on a computer that receives all the data from the sensors through a PLC and the keyboard and, by means of a series of fuzzy control rules, it elaborates a control action that modifies the pumps operation times on the base of one working-cycle. A MATLAB program produces the fuzzy inference and it also takes the control decisions. The inference time reached is about 1 ms. Measurements of pH, ORP, T and reactor water level are constantly relayed to the fuzzy controler. The control system has a series of tools that could be useful to the operator such as simulation screen, evaluation screen and trend graphics. The user interface described allows to work with data not obtained directly by means of sensors, so expensive sensors could be avoided. Thus, the operator can enter data from chemical or biological analyses by the keyboard, and elaborate his own fuzzy control rules and membership functions. Moreover, it is possible to evaluate the impact of control decisions without operating on the process. Therefore, the fuzzy controller is a simple, practical, and low-cost technology and allows the operator to control and modelling the system even if he is not an expert

Resultados de una base de datos orientada a objetos donde se almacenan datos multimedia

Las bases de datos orientadas a objetos hoy en día, son la mejor elección para manipular objetos multimedia; en este caso específico se utilizaron imágenes; ya que el rendimiento es mejor que en una base de datos relacional. Para esto se realizaron diferentes pruebas a dos bases de datos, una relacional y una orientada a objetos. Estas contienen ambas 115 registros los cuales cada uno contiene 3 imágenes.Las diferentes pruebas que se realizaron a cada una de las bases de datos, fueron realizadas con las misma condiciones, es decir si se realiza una prueba de recuperación con 80 registros en una base de datos de igual manera se aplicara la prueba a la otra base de datos.Con estas pruebas la base de datos orientada a objetos presento mejores resultados ante la base de datos relacional, en velocidad de recuperación de registros, además se mejoró el rendimiento en armonía junto con prototipo multimedia para la consulta de imágenes

Candidate Genes for Eyelid Myoclonia with Absences, Review of the Literature

Eyelid myoclonia with absences (EMA), also known as Jeavons syndrome (JS) is a childhood onset epileptic syndrome with manifestations involving a clinical triad of absence seizures with eyelid myoclonia (EM), photosensitivity (PS), and seizures or electroencephalogram (EEG) paroxysms induced by eye closure. Although a genetic contribution to this syndrome is likely and some genetic alterations have been defined in several cases, the genes responsible for have not been identified. In this review, patients diagnosed with EMA (or EMA-like phenotype) with a genetic diagnosis are summarized. Based on this, four genes could be associated to this syndrome (SYNGAP1, KIA02022/NEXMIF, RORB, and CHD2). Moreover, although there is not enough evidence yet to consider them as candidate for EMA, three more genes present also different alterations in some patients with clinical diagnosis of the disease (SLC2A1, NAA10, and KCNB1). Therefore, a possible relationship of these genes with the disease is discussed in this review

A protective personal factor against disability and dependence in the elderly: an ordinal regression analysis with nine geographically-defined samples from Spain

Background: Sense of Coherence (SOC) is defined as a tendency to perceive life experiences as comprehensible, manageable and meaningful. The construct is split in three major domains: Comprehensibility, Manageability, and Meaningfulness. SOC has been associated with successful coping strategies in the face of illness and traumatic events and is a predictor of self-reported and objective health in a variety of contexts. In the present study we aim to evaluate the association of SOC with disability and dependence in Spanish elders. Methods: A total of 377 participants aged 75 years or over from nine locations across Spain participated in the study (Mean age: 80.9 years; 65.3% women). SOC levels were considered independent variables in two ordinal logistic models on disability and dependence, respectively. Disability was established with the World health Organization-Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (36-item version), while dependence was measured with the Extended Katz Index on personal and instrumental activities of daily living. The models included personal (sex, age, social contacts, availability of an intimate confidant), environmental (municipality size, access to social resources) and health-related covariates (morbidity). Results: High Meaningfulness was a strong protective factor against both disability (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.50; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.29-0.87) and dependence (OR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.19-0.58) while moderate and high Comprehensibility was protective for disability (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.22-0.70 and OR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.21-0.74), but not for dependence. Easy access to social and health resources was also highly protective against both disability and dependence. Conclusions: Our results are consistent with the view that high levels of SOC are protective against disability and dependence in the elderly. Elderly individuals with limited access to social and health resources and with low SOC may be a group at risk for dependence and disability in Spain

Prevalence of dementia and major dementia subtypes in Spanish populations: A reanalysis of dementia prevalence surveys, 1990-2008

Background This study describes the prevalence of dementia and major dementia subtypes in Spanish elderly. Methods We identified screening surveys, both published and unpublished, in Spanish populations, which fulfilled specific quality criteria and targeted prevalence of dementia in populations aged 70 years and above. Surveys covering 13 geographically different populations were selected (prevalence period: 1990-2008). Authors of original surveys provided methodological details of their studies through a systematic questionnaire and also raw age-specific data. Prevalence data were compared using direct adjustment and logistic regression. Results The reanalyzed study population (aged 70 year and above) was composed of Central and North-Eastern Spanish sub-populations obtained from 9 surveys and totaled 12,232 persons and 1,194 cases of dementia (707 of Alzheimer's disease, 238 of vascular dementia). Results showed high variation in age- and sex-specific prevalence across studies. The reanalyzed prevalence of dementia was significantly higher in women; increased with age, particularly for Alzheimer's disease; and displayed a significant geographical variation among men. Prevalence was lowest in surveys reporting participation below 85%, studies referred to urban-mixed populations and populations diagnosed by psychiatrists. Conclusion Prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Central and North-Eastern Spain is higher in females, increases with age, and displays considerable geographic variation that may be method-related. People suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease in Spain may approach 600,000 and 400,000 respectively. However, existing studies may not be completely appropriate to infer prevalence of dementia and its subtypes in Spain until surveys in Southern Spain are conductedFinancial aid was obtained from the Spanish RECSP C03-09, CIEN C03-06 and CIBERNED networks, and from the Pfizer Foundation in particularS

Хирургическое лечение холециститов и их осложнений

ЖЕЛЧНОКАМЕННАЯ БОЛЕЗНЬЖЕЛЧНЫХ ПУТЕЙ БОЛЕЗНИПЕЧЕНИ БОЛЕЗНИХИРУРГИЯ ЖЕЛЧНЫХ ПУТЕЙХИРУРГИЯ ПЕЧЕНИХОЛЕЦИСТИТКурс лекций включает в себя 8 лекций, посвященных анатомическим сведениям о желчевыводящих путях, этиопатогенезу острого и хронического холецистита. Освещены современные методы диагностики заболевания желчевыводящих путей, приведена клиническая картина различных форм острого холецистита, включая поражения желчевыводящих путей, хирургическая тактика, способы хирургических вмешательств, ошибки в хирургии желчевыводящих путей, постхолецистэктомический синдром

Instrucciones para planificar la actividad docente de una asignatura: la guía docente y la programación temporal

La planificación de detalle que realiza el profesorado de una determinada asignatura se recoge en dos documentos distintos: la guía docente y la programación temporal. La información incluida en ellos será de utilidad para los estudiantes que cursen la asignatura pero no solo para ellos, ya que se empleará también como base para la coordinación docente y en los procesos de revisión y seguimiento de los títulos. Este libro está concebido para servir de apoyo al profesorado a la hora de planificar su docencia y cumplimentar los dos documentos citados

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality