Cuantificación de metales en aguas de riego. Estudio de caso en la provincia de Chimborazo.

El crecimiento de la agroindustria en el Ecuador ha causado en los últimos años graves problemas de contaminación ambiental que afectan a sus recursos naturales, por lo cual es importante aplicar estrategias cada vez más eficaces para determinar las fuentes de contaminación y mitigar sus impactos en el ambiente. Una de las más importantes es la presencia de metales pesados, por lo tanto, es fundamental la determinación cuantitativa de ellos para llevar a cabo su gestión adecuada. La provincia de Chimborazo se encuentra ubicada en la zona central de los Andes ecuatorianos y una de sus principales groindustrias es la relacionada con la producción de plantas ornamentales, cuya contaminación por metales pesados no ha sido suficientemente estudiada, especialmente en lo concerniente a las aguas de riego. El objetivo de este trabajo de investigación fue determinar cuantitativamente por espectroscopía de emisión atómica mediante plasma de acoplamiento inductivo, el grado de contaminación por metales pesados de las aguas de riego de la Industria Florícola “White River Roses” del cantón Penipe. Los resultados mostraron que, en general, el agua de riego que se utiliza en esta industria agrícola no contiene cantidades significativas de metales pesados.The growth of agribusiness in Ecuador in recent years has caused serious problems of environmental contamination affecting its natural resources, so it is important to implement effective strategies to determine the sources of pollution and mitigate their impacts on the environment. One of the most important is the presence of heavy metals, therefore, it is essential to determine quantitatively them to carry out their proper management. The province of Chimborazo is located in the central zone of Ecuadorian Andes and one of its main agroindustries is related to the production of ornamental plants, whose contamination by heavy metals has not been sufficiently studied, especially with regard to the irrigation waters. The aim of this research was to determine quantitatively by atomic emission spectroscopy using inductive coupling plasma, the degree of contamination by heavy metals of the irrigation water of the Floriculture Industry White River Roses of the Penipe Canton. The results showed that, in general, the irrigation water used in this agricultural industry does not contain significant amounts of heavy metals

An Approach to Detect Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using UWB Radar-Based Temporal and Spectral Features

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a severe and chronic ailment that is currently ranked as the third most common cause of mortality across the globe. COPD patients often experience debilitating symptoms such as chronic coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Sadly, the disease frequently goes undiagnosed until it is too late, leaving patients without the care they desperately need. So, COPD detection at an early stage is crucial to prevent further damage to the lungs and improve quality of life. Traditional COPD detection methods often rely on physical examinations and tests such as spirometry, chest radiography, blood gas tests, and genetic tests. However, these methods may not always be accurate or accessible. One of the key vital signs for detecting COPD is the patient’s respiration rate. However, it is crucial to consider a patient’s medical and demographic characteristics simultaneously for better detection results. To address this issue, this study aims to detect COPD patients using artificial intelligence techniques. To achieve this goal, a novel framework is proposed that utilizes ultra-wideband (UWB) radar-based temporal and spectral features to build machine learning and deep learning models. This new set of temporal and spectral features is extracted from respiration data collected non-invasively from 1.5 m distance using UWB radar. Different machine learning and deep learning models are trained and tested on the collected dataset. The findings are promising, with a high accuracy score of 100% for COPD detection. This means that the proposed framework could potentially save lives by identifying COPD patients at an early stage. The k-fold cross-validation technique and performance comparison with the state-of-the-art studies are applied to validate its performance, ensuring that the results are robust and reliable. The high accuracy score achieved in the study implies that the proposed framework has the potential for the efficient detection of COPD at an early stage

Analysis of technological knowledge flows in the Basque Country

[EN] Knowledge flow of technology is important for continuous growth and extension of science. Patent data analysis has facilitated this knowledge acquisition. The available patent information crosses borders, corresponds and interacts with new inventions to give new strength and dimension to the technology. Therefore, the patent citation information functions as a key indicator of the knowledge flow providing relevant information. It can be identified to which extent a region is a relevant technological knowledge generator to other regions. As an illustrative case, we present a study to determine the role played by the Basque Country region as a generator of technological innovation during the period 1991-2011.Gavilanes-Trapote, J.; Etxeberria-Agiriano, I.; Cilleruelo, E.; Garechana, G. (2019). Analysis of technological knowledge flows in the Basque Country. International Journal of Production Management and Engineering. 7(Número Especial):73-79. https://doi.org/10.4995/ijpme.2019.10572SWORD73797Número EspecialAcs ZJ, Anselin L, Varga A (2002) Patents and innovation counts as measures of regional production of new knowledge Res. Policy 31:1069-1085. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(01)00184-6Balland, P., & Rigby, D. (2017). The geography of complex knowledge. Economic Geography, 93(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/00130095.2016.1205947Galvez, C., and Moya-Anegon, F. (2007). Standardizing formats of corporate source data. Scientometrics, 70(1), 3-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-0101-0Gavilanes-Trapote, J., Cilleruelo-Carrasco, E., Etxeberria-Agiriano, I., Garechana, G., Rodríguez Andara, A. (2019). Qualitative Patents Evaluation Through the Analysis of Their Citations. Case of the Technological Sectors in the Basque Country. In: Ortiz, Á., Andrés Romano, C., Poler, R., García-Sabater, J.P. (eds) Engineering Digital Transformation. Lecture Notes in Management and Industrial Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96005-0_28Gavilanes-Trapote, J., Río-Belver, R. M., Cilleruelo, E., Garechana G., and Larruscain J. (2015). Patent overlay maps: Spain and the basque country. International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM), 69(3/4), 261. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTM.2015.072976Harhoff, D., Scherer, F., and Vopel, K. (2004). Citations, family size, opposition and the value of patent rights (vol 32, pg 1343, 2003). Research Policy, 33(2), 363-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2003.10.001Higham, K.W., Governale, M., Jaffe, A.B., and Zülicke, U. (2017) Fame and obsolescence: Disentangling growth and aging dynamics of patent citations. Phys. Rev. E 95, 042309. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.95.042309Jaffe, A., Trajtenberg, M., and Fogarty, M. (2000). Knowledge spillovers and patent citations: Evidence from a survey of inventors. American Economic Review, 90(2), 215-218. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.90.2.215Krugman, P. (1995). Development, geography, and economic Theory. Cambridge-Massachusetts: The MIT Press.Malerba, F., and Orsenigo, L. (1995). Schumpeterian patterns of innovation. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 19(1), 47-65. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.cje.a035308Malmberg, A., and Maskell, P. (1997). Towards an explanation of regional specialization and industry agglomeration. European Planning Studies, 5(1), 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654319708720382Murata, Y., Nakajima, R., Okamoto, R., and Tamura, R. (2014). Localized knowledge spillovers and patent citations: A distance-based approach. Review of Economics and Statistics, 96(5), 967-985. https://doi.org/10.1162/REST_a_00422Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2009). OECD patent statistics manual OECD.Podolny, J., Stuart, T., and Hannan, M. (1996). Networks, knowledge, and niches: Competition in the worldwide semiconductor industry, 1984-1991. American Journal of Sociology, 102(3), 659-689. https://doi.org/10.1086/230994Schmoch, U. (2003). Service marks as novel innovation indicator. Research Evaluation, 12(2), 149-156. https://doi.org/10.3152/147154403781776708Simmie, J. (2003). Innovation and urban regions as national and international nodes for the transfer and sharing of knowledge. Regional Studies, 37(6-7), 607-620. https://doi.org/10.1080/0034340032000108714Stek, P.E., and van Geenhuizen, M.S. (2016). The influence of international research interaction on national innovation performance: A bibliometric approach. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 110, 61-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.09.017Thompson, P., and Fox-Kean, M. (2005). Patent citations and the geography of knowledge spill-overs: A reassessment. American Economic Review, 95(1), 450-460. https://doi.org/10.1257/0002828053828509Thompsori, P. (2006). Patent citations and the geography of knowledge spillovers: Evidence from inventor- and examiner-added citations. Review of Economics and Statistics, 88(2), 383-388. https://doi.org/10.1162/rest.88.2.383You, H., Li, M., Hipel, K.W., Jiang, J., Ge, B., and Duan, H. (2017) Development trend forecasting for coherent light generator technology based on patent citation network analysis. Scientometrics 111(1), 297-315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-017-2252-

Genomics of altitude-associated wing shape in two tropical butterflies.

Understanding how organisms adapt to their local environment is central to evolution. With new whole-genome sequencing technologies and the explosion of data, deciphering the genomic basis of complex traits that are ecologically relevant is becoming increasingly feasible. Here, we studied the genomic basis of wing shape in two Neotropical butterflies that inhabit large geographical ranges. Heliconius butterflies at high elevations have been shown to generally have rounder wings than those in the lowlands. We reared over 1,100 butterflies from 71 broods of H. erato and H. melpomene in common-garden conditions and showed that wing aspect ratio, that is, elongatedness, is highly heritable in both species and that elevation-associated wing aspect ratio differences are maintained. Genome-wide associations with a published data set of 666 whole genomes from across a hybrid zone, uncovered a highly polygenic basis to wing aspect ratio variation in the wild. We identified several genes that have roles in wing morphogenesis or wing aspect ratio variation in Drosophila flies, making them promising candidates for future studies. There was little evidence for molecular parallelism in the two species, with only one shared candidate gene, nor for a role of the four known colour pattern loci, except for optix in H. erato. Thus, we present the first insights into the heritability and genomic basis of within-species wing aspect ratio in two Heliconius species, adding to a growing body of evidence that polygenic adaptation may underlie many ecologically relevant traits

MTB-3, a Microtubule Plus-End Tracking Protein (+TIP) of Neurospora crassa

The microtubule (MT) "plus end" constitutes the platform for the accumulation of a structurally and functionally diverse group of proteins, collectively called "MT plus-end tracking proteins" (+TIPs). +TIPs control MT dynamics and link MTs to diverse sub-cellular structures. Neurospora crassa MicroTubule Binding protein-3 (MTB-3) is the homolog of yeast EB1, a highly conserved +TIP. To address the function of MTB-3, we examined strains with mtb-3 deletions, and we tagged MTB-3 with GFP to assess its dynamic behavior. MTB-3-GFP was present as comet-like structures distributed more or less homogeneously within the hyphal cytoplasm, and moving mainly towards the apex at speeds up to 4x faster than the normal hyphal elongation rates. MTB-3-GFP comets were present in all developmental stages, but were most abundant in mature hyphae. MTB-3-GFP comets were observed moving in anterograde and retrograde direction along the hypha. Retrograde movement was also observed as originating from the apical dome. The integrity of the microtubular cytoskeleton affects the presence and dynamics of MTB-3-GFP comets, while actin does not seem to play a role. The size of MTB-3-GFP comets is affected by the absence of dynactin and conventional kinesin. We detected no obvious morphological phenotypes in Delta mtb-3 mutants but there were fewer MTs in Delta mtb-3, MTs were less bundled and less organized. Compared to WT, both MT polymerization and depolymerization rates were significantly decreased in Delta mtb-3. In summary, the lack of MTB-3 affects overall growth and morphological phenotypes of N. crassa only slightly, but deletion of mtb-3 has strong effect on MT dynamics

Increased Number of Cerebellar Granule Cells and Astrocytes in the Internal Granule Layer in Sheep Following Prenatal Intra-amniotic Injection of Lipopolysaccharide

Chorioamnionitis is an important problem in perinatology today, leading to brain injury and neurological handicaps. However, there are almost no data available regarding chorioamnionitis and a specific damage of the cerebellum. Therefore, this study aimed at determining if chorioamnionitis causes cerebellar morphological alterations. Chorioamnionitis was induced in sheep by the intra-amniotic injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a gestational age (GA) of 110 days. At a GA of 140 days, we assessed the mean total and layer-specific volume and the mean total granule cell (GCs) and Purkinje cell (PC) number in the cerebelli of LPS-exposed and control animals using high-precision design-based stereology. Astrogliosis was assessed in the gray and white matter (WM) using a glial fibrillary acidic protein staining combined with gray value image analysis. The present study showed an unchanged volume of the total cerebellum as well as the molecular layer, outer and inner granular cell layers (OGL and IGL, respectively), and WM. Interestingly, compared with controls, the LPS-exposed brains showed a statistically significant increase (+20.4%) in the mean total number of GCs, whereas the number of PCs did not show any difference between the two groups. In addition, LPS-exposed animals showed signs of astrogliosis specifically affecting the IGL. Intra-amniotic injection of LPS causes morphological changes in the cerebellum of fetal sheep still detectable at full-term birth. In this study, changes were restricted to the inner granule layer. These cerebellar changes might correspond to some of the motor or non-motor deficits seen in neonates from compromised pregnancies

Toolbox for Non-Intrusive Structural and Functional Analysis of Recombinant VLP Based Vaccines: A Case Study with Hepatitis B Vaccine

Background: Fundamental to vaccine development, manufacturing consistency, and product stability is an understanding of the vaccine structure-activity relationship. With the virus-like particle (VLP) approach for recombinant vaccines gaining popularity, there is growing demand for tools that define their key characteristics. We assessed a suite of non-intrusive VLP epitope structure and function characterization tools by application to the Hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) VLP-based vaccine. Methodology: The epitope-specific immune reactivity of rHBsAg epitopes to a given monoclonal antibody was monitored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and quantitatively analyzed on rHBsAg VLPs in-solution or bound to adjuvant with a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The structure of recombinant rHBsAg particles was examined by cryo transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM) and in-solution atomic force microscopy (AFM). Principal Findings: SPR and competitive ELISA determined relative antigenicity in solution, in real time, with rapid turnaround, and without the need of dissolving the particulate aluminum based adjuvant. These methods demonstrated the nature of the clinically relevant epitopes of HBsAg as being responsive to heat and/or redox treatment. In-solution AFM and cryoTEM determined vaccine particle size distribution, shape, and morphology. Redox-treated rHBsAg enabled 3D reconstruction from CryoTEM images – confirming the previously proposed octahedral structure and the established lipidto-protei

First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An ethnobotanical and medical study was carried out in the Navarre Pyrenees, an area known both for its high biological diversity and its cultural significance.</p> <p>As well as the compilation of an ethnopharmacological catalogue, a quantitative ethnobotanical comparison has been carried out in relation to the outcomes from other studies about the Pyrenees. A review of all drugs used in the area has also been carried out, through a study of the monographs published by the institutions and organizations responsible for the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants (WHO, ESCOP, and the E Commission of the German Department of Health) in order to ascertain the extent to which the Navarre Pyrenees ethnopharmacology has been officially evaluated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fieldwork was carried out over two years, from November 2004 to December 2006. During that time we interviewed 88 local people in 40 villages. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews and the data was analyzed using quantitave indexes: Ethnobotonicity Index, Shannon-Wiener's Diversity, Equitability and The Informant Consensus Factor. The official review has been performed using the official monographs published by the WHO, ESCOP and the E Commission of the German Department of Health.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The ethnobotanical and medical catalogue of the Navarre Pyrenees Area comprises 92 species, of which 39 have been mentioned by at least three interviewees. The quantitative ethnobotany results show lower values than those found in other studies about the Pyrenees; and 57.6% of the Pyrenees medical ethnobotany described does not figure in documents published by the above mentioned institutions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show a reduction in the ethnobotanical and medical knowledge in the area of study, when compared to other studies carried out in the Pyrenees. Nevertheless, the use of several species that may be regarded as possible sources for pharmacological studies is reported here such as the bark of <it>Sambucus nigra</it>, the roots of <it>Fragaria vesca</it>, or the leaves of <it>Scrophularia nodosa</it>. These species are not currently approved by the WHO, ESCOP and the E Commission of the German Department of Health, institutions that, apart from encouraging the greater use of plants for medicinal purposes, may help in the design of development plans for these rural areas by validating their traditional medicine.</p

A review of the current treatment methods for posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus of infants

Posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is a major problem for premature infants, generally requiring lifelong care. It results from small blood clots inducing scarring within CSF channels impeding CSF circulation. Transforming growth factor – beta is released into CSF and cytokines stimulate deposition of extracellular matrix proteins which potentially obstruct CSF pathways. Prolonged raised pressures and free radical damage incur poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. The most common treatment involves permanent ventricular shunting with all its risks and consequences