R-SQL: An SQL Database System with Extended Recursion

The relational database language SQL:1999 standard supports recursion, but thisapproach is limited to the linear case. Moreover, mutual recursion is not supported,and negation cannot be combined with recursion. We designed the language R-SQLto overcome these limitations in [ANSS13], improving termination properties in re-cursive definitions. In addition we developed a proof of concept implementation ofan R-SQL system. In this paper we describe in detail an improved system enhanc-ing performance. It can be integrated into existing RDBMS’s, extending them withthe aforementioned benefits of R-SQL. The system processes an R-SQL databasedefinition obtaining its extension in tables of an RDBMS (such as PostgreSQL andDB2). It is implemented in SWI-Prolog and it produces a Python script that, uponexecution, computes the result of the R-SQL relations. We provide some perfor-mance results showing the efficiency gains w.r.t. the previous version. We alsoinclude a comparative analysis including some representative relational a deductive systems

Amplexo diurno de Rhinella horribilis (Anura: Bufonidae) en una población del Centro de México

Artículo amplexo saposLos eventos reproductivos explosivos son una característica conductual registrada en sapos del género Rhinella, donde la actividad reproductora es observada durante la noche. Aquí se registra el primer caso de un amplexo diurno en R. horribilis en México

Germinación diferencial asociada con viviparidad facultativa en Stenocereus thurberi (Cactaceae): correlaciones climáticas en poblaciones marginales de Sinaloa, México

Background and Aims: Precocious (viviparous) seed germination in fruits of Stenocereus thurberi has been correlated with higher germination rate of the remaining seeds. This study compares the germination of five populations from Sinaloa, Mexico, to determine: 1) whether there is a pattern associated with precocious seed germination and, 2) how much the viviparous phenomenon accounts for germination compared to variation between fruits, individuals and populations of the cactus.Methods: The incidence of vivipary was recorded in 194 plants, and seeds were separated into four putative sources of variance: populations, reproductive categories (VV: viviparous, NV: non-viviparous), individuals within categories and fruits within individuals. The seed germination response in percentage (PGF), mean time (TMG), rate (VG), and synchrony of germination (SG) was evaluated under a randomized complete blocks scheme with three replicates, in experimental units of 25 seeds. Data were analyzed with hierarchical ANOVAs for a linear mixed model.Key results: Reproductive categories accounted for 5-11% of variance and showed significant differences in favor of viviparous phenotypes, with PGF of 35 vs 19% and 91 vs 72%, VG of 1.5 vs 0.5 and 7.9 vs 5.4 seeds/day, and SG of 0.3 vs 0.1, 0.7 vs 0.5 and 0.8 vs 0.6. Buenavista and Tosalibampo populations showed higher percentage, rate and synchrony of germination than the other populations (P<0.05, Student t-test).Conclusions: There is a seed germination pattern associated to vivipary in S. thurberi. The variance accounted by this condition depends on the environment in which seed maturation and germination occur. The seeds from viviparous phenotypes showed higher germination vigor than seeds from non-viviparous plants, revealing potential for seedling recruitment and population growth under drought and salinity stress.Antecedentes y Objetivos: La germinación precoz (vivípara) de semillas en frutos de Stenocereus thurberi se ha correlacionado con mayor velocidad de germinación de las semillas remanentes. Esta investigación compara la germinación de cinco poblaciones de Sinaloa, México, para determinar: 1) si existe un patrón asociado con la germinación precoz de las semillas y 2) cuánto contribuye el fenómeno vivíparo a la germinación, dada la variación entre frutos, individuos y poblaciones de esta especie.Métodos: Se revisó el nivel de viviparidad de 194 plantas y se separaron las semillas en cuatro probables fuentes de varianza: poblaciones, categorías reproductivas (VV: vivíparas y NV: no vivíparas), plantas dentro de categorías y frutos dentro de plantas. Las respuestas de germinación final (PGF), tiempo medio (TMG), velocidad (VG) y sincronía de germinación (SG) se evaluaron en bloques al azar con tres repeticiones, en unidades experimentales de 25 semillas. Los datos se analizaron con ANOVA’s jerárquicos bajo un modelo lineal mixto.Resultados clave: Las categorías reproductivas explicaron 5-11% de la varianza y mostraron diferencias significativas a favor de las vivíparas, con PGF de 35 vs 19% y 91 vs 72%, VG de 1.5 vs 0.5 y 7.9 vs 5.4 semillas/día, y SG de 0.3 vs 0.1, 0.7 vs 0.5 y 0.8 vs 0.6. Las poblaciones de Buenavista y Tosalibampo tuvieron mayor porcentaje, velocidad y sincronía de germinación (prueba t de Student, P<0.05) que las otras poblaciones.Conclusiones: Existe un patrón de germinación asociado con viviparidad en S. thurberi. La varianza asociada con esta condición depende del ambiente de maduración y germinación de las semillas. Los fenotipos vivíparos germinaron con mayor vigor que los no vivíparos, mostrando potencial para apoyar la incorporación de individuos y el crecimiento de la población en condiciones de estrés hídrico y salino

Design, synthesis, in vitro, in vivo and in silico pharmacological characterization of antidiabetic N-Boc-l-tyrosine-based compounds

Abstract In this study, we synthesized five N-Boc-L-tyrosine-based analogues to glitazars. The in vitro effects of compounds 1–5 on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and gamma (PPARα/γ), glucose transporter type-4 (GLUT-4) and fatty acid transport protein-1 (FATP-1) activation are reported in this paper. Compounds 1 and 3 were the most active in the in vitro PTP-1B inhibition assay, showing IC50s of approximately 44 μM. Treatment of adipocytes with compound 1 increased the mRNA expression of PPARγ and GLUT-4 by 8- and 3-fold, respectively. Moreover, both compounds (1 and 3) also increased the relative mRNA expression of PPARα (by 8-fold) and FATP-1 (by 15-fold). Molecular docking studies were performed in order to elucidate the polypharmacological binding mode of the most active compounds on these targets. Finally, a murine model of hyperglycemia was used to evaluate the in vivo effectiveness of compounds 1 and 3. We found that both compounds are orally active using an exploratory dose of 100 mg/kg, decreasing the blood glucose concentration in an oral glucose tolerance test and a non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus murine model. In conclusion, we demonstrated that both molecules showed strong in vitro and in vivo effects and can be considered polypharmacological antidiabetic candidates

Asociación de la nutrición enteral temprana con desenlaces clínicos en pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardiaca en una unidad de cuidados intensivos cardiovasculares

Introduction: Early enteral nutrition (EEN) has been associated with improved clinical outcomes in subpopulations of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, little evidence is available in critically ill patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Objective: To analyze the association between EEN with important clinical outcomes. Methods: Retrospective cohort study in post-surgical adult patients admitted to the ICU between august 2021 and october 2022, who required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for more than 48 hours. The association between EEN use and ICU mortality, days under IMV, and days of ICU stay were evaluated through logistic and linear regression tests. Results: 74 patients were considered in the final analysis. The median days of ICU stay was lower in the EEN group compared to the delayed enteral nutrition group [8 (IQR 6 - 14) vs. 18 (7 - 31), p = 0.005, respectively], the same was observed with days under IMV [4 (3 - 6) vs. 11 (5 - 24), p = 0.000, respectively]. EEN was associated with decreased in hospital mortality (OR 0.21; 95%CI 0.07, 0.67; p = 0.009) and ICU mortality (OR 0.21; 95%CI 0.5, 0.84; p = 0. 027), as well as with days in ICU (β -8.03; 95%CI -13.44, -2.62; p = 0.004) and days under IMV (β -11.86; 95%CI -17.97, -5.74; p = 0.000) in the adjusted model. Conclusions: In critically ill patients undergoing cardiac surgery, EEN may be related to a decrease in hospital and ICU mortality, as well as length of ICU stay and days under IMV.Introducción: La nutrición enteral temprana (EEN) se ha asociado con mejores desenlaces clínicos en subpoblaciones de pacientes que se encuentran en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI). Sin embargo, existe poca evidencia disponible en pacientes críticos sometidos a cirugía cardiaca. Objetivo: analizar la asociación entre la EEN con desenlaces clínicos importantes. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo en pacientes adultos postquirúrgicos ingresados a la UCI entre agosto de 2021 y octubre de 2022 que requirieron ventilación mecánica invasiva (VMI) por más de 48 horas. Se evaluó la asociación entre el uso de EEN y mortalidad hospitalaria y en la UCI, días bajo VMI, y días de estancia en UCI a través de pruebas de regresión logística y lineal. Resultados: 74 pacientes fueron considerados en el análisis. La mediana de días de estancia en la UCI fue menor en el grupo con EEN comparado con el grupo nutrición enteral tardía [8 (IQR 6 - 14) vs. 18 (7 - 31), p = 0.005, respectivamente], esto mismo fue observado con los días bajo VMI [4 (3 - 6) vs. 11 (5 - 24), p = 0.000, respectivamente]. La EEN se asoció con una disminución de mortalidad hospitalaria (OR 0.21; IC95% 0.07, 0.67; p = 0.009) y en la UCI (OR 0.21; IC95% 0.5, 0.84; p = 0.027), así como con los días de estancia en la UCI (β -8.03; IC95% -13.44, -2.62; p = 0.004) y días bajo VMI (β -11.86; IC95% -17.97, -5.74; p = 0.000) en el modelo ajustado. Conclusiones: En pacientes críticos sometidos a cirugía cardiaca el inicio de EEN puede estar relacionado con una disminución en la mortalidad hospitalaria y en la UCI, así como con los días de estancia en la UCI y bajo VMI

In vitro Characterization of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Intravenous Immunoglobulins (IVIg) Produced From Plasma of Donors Immunized With the BNT162b2 Vaccine and Its Comparison With a Similar Formulation Produced From Plasma of COVID-19 Convalescent Donors

Despite vaccines are the main strategy to control the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, their effectiveness could not be enough for individuals with immunosuppression. In these cases, as well as in patients with moderate/severe COVID-19, passive immunization with anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins could be a therapeutic alternative. We used caprylic acid precipitation to prepare a pilot-scale batch of anti-SARS-CoV-2 intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) from plasma of donors immunized with the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) anti-COVID-19 vaccine (VP-IVIg) and compared their in vitro efficacy and safety with those of a similar formulation produced from plasma of COVID-19 convalescent donors (CP-IVIg). Both formulations showed immunological, physicochemical, biochemical, and microbiological characteristics that meet the specifications of IVIg formulations. Moreover, the concentration of anti-RBD and ACE2-RBD neutralizing antibodies was higher in VP-IVIg than in CP-IVIg. In concordance, plaque reduction neutralization tests showed inhibitory concentrations of 0.03–0.09 g/L in VP-IVIg and of 0.06–0.13 in CP-IVIg. Thus, VP-IVIg has in vitro efficacy and safety profiles that justify their evaluation as therapeutic alternative for Rojas-Jiménez et al. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IVIg clinical cases of COVID-19. Precipitation with caprylic acid could be a simple, feasible, and affordable alternative to produce formulations of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IVIg to be used therapeutically or prophylactically to confront the COVID-19 pandemic in middle and low-income countries.Universidad de Costa Rica/[741-C0-198]/UCR/Costa RicaBanco Centroamericano de Integración Económica/[DI- 87/2020]/BCIE/Costa RicaMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones de Costa Rica/[FV-0001- 20]/MICITT/Costa RicaGerman academic exchange services/[57592642]/DAAD/AlemaniaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de MicrobiologíaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET

Investment in the long-tail of biodiversity data: from local research to global knowledge

In business, the "long-tail economy" refers to a market strategy where the gravity center shifts from a few high-demand products to many, varied products focused on small niches. Commercialization of individually low-demand products can be profitable as long as their production cost is low and, all taken together, they aggregate into a big chunk of the market. Similarly, in the "business" of biodiversity data acquisition, we can find several mainstream products that produce zillions of bits of information every year and account for most of the budget allocated to increase our primary data-based knowledge about Earth's biological diversity. These products play a crucial role in biodiversity research. However, along with these large global projects, there is a constellation of small-scale institutions that work locally, but whose contribution to our understanding of natural processes should not be dismissed. These information datasets can be collectively referred to as the "long-tail biodiversity data"

Ética y estética de la violencia. Estudios críticos y entrevistas sobre la obra literaria de Mario Roberto Morales.

Ética y estética de la violencia. Estudios críticos y entrevistas sobre la obra literaria de Mario Roberto Morales es un libro indispensable para todo interesado en la lectura guatemalteca, especialmente para quienes buscan ampliar su comprensión sobre la ética y la estética de la violencia en Guatemala a partir de la segunda mitad del siglo veinte.Mario Roberto Morales es uno de los más importantes escritores guatemaltecos contemporáneos. Su obra ha sido objeto de análisis en diferentes países y, sin embargo, aún son escasos los acercamientos a su creación artística. Los trabajos reunidos en el presente libro que incluyen estudios críticos y entrevistas con el autor intentan cubrir la carencia de interpretaciones sobre su obra que, dicho sea de paso, es necesaria para comprender la historia reciente de un país como Guatemala, envuelto en una serie de vicisitudes de orden político, social y religioso.Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México

Clinical validation of risk scoring systems to predict risk of delayed bleeding after EMR of large colorectal lesions

[Background and Aims]: The Endoscopic Resection Group of the Spanish Society of Endoscopy (GSEED-RE) model and the Australian Colonic Endoscopic Resection (ACER) model were proposed to predict delayed bleeding (DB) after EMR of large superficial colorectal lesions, but neither has been validated. We validated and updated these models.[Methods]: A multicenter cohort study was performed in patients with nonpedunculated lesions ≥20 mm removed by EMR. We assessed the discrimination and calibration of the GSEED-RE and ACER models. Difficulty performing EMR was subjectively categorized as low, medium, or high. We created a new model, including factors associated with DB in 3 cohort studies.[Results]: DB occurred in 45 of 1034 EMRs (4.5%); it was associated with proximal location (odds ratio [OR], 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-6.16), antiplatelet agents (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, .99-6.34) or anticoagulants (OR, 4.54; 95% CI, 2.14-9.63), difficulty of EMR (OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 1.41-7.40), and comorbidity (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, .99-4.47). The GSEED-RE and ACER models did not accurately predict DB. Re-estimation and recalibration yielded acceptable results (GSEED-RE area under the curve [AUC], .64 [95% CI, .54-.74]; ACER AUC, .65 [95% CI, .57-.73]). We used lesion size, proximal location, comorbidity, and antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy to generate a new model, the GSEED-RE2, which achieved higher AUC values (.69-.73; 95% CI, .59-.80) and exhibited lower susceptibility to changes among datasets.[Conclusions]: The updated GSEED-RE and ACER models achieved acceptable prediction levels of DB. The GSEED-RE2 model may achieve better prediction results and could be used to guide the management of patients after validation by other external groups. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT 03050333.)Research support for this study was received from “La Caixa/Caja Navarra” Foundation (ID 100010434;project PR15/11100006)