Aplicación de tecnologías de información para modelar la distribución de plagas

tesis de maestría -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Programa de Estudios de Posgrado en Computación e Informática. Maestría Profesional en Informática, 2013Actualmente, uno de las grandes amenazas para la seguridad alimentaria de un país es la proliferación de poblaciones de plagas que puedan atacar los cultivos destinados a la satisfacción de las necesidades alimenticias de su población. Una forma de atacar este problema es mediante el uso de tecnologías que utilicen toda la información disponible para tomar las decisiones que permitan planificar las acciones contra las especies consideradas plagas. Para ayudar a generar información para la toma de decisiones contra las plagas se propone una aplicación que reúne varias tecnologías de información open source de diversos campos como los sistemas de información geográfica, las bases de datos, el modelado de distribuciones espaciales y el desarrollo de software. El objetivo de esta aplicación es proporcionar una herramienta de fácil utilización, con una arquitectura escalable y que permita obtener tanto los modelos de distribución como las estadísticas de evaluación de los mismos. La aplicación permite tanto la manipulación de los datos utilizados en los modelos, como la generación de los mismos y la posterior consulta de los resultados obtenidos en el pasado. Así mismo, proporciona una herramienta básica para generar modelos de dinámica población utilizando como base modelos generales desarrollados por diversos estudiosos desde el siglo XIX. La aplicación fue puesta a prueba, para comprobar los resultados para una especie de la mosca de la fruta (Ceratitis capitata) que se considera como plaga cuarentenaria en Costa Rica. Se ejecutaron lo modelos utilizando dos algoritmos distintos y dos conjuntos de variables distintos. Luego de las pruebas el algoritmo MAXENT pareció no ser muy efectivo para el problema planteado en la prueba. Sin embargo, el algoritmo GARP proporcionó resultados bastante buenos en uno de los modelos que se aproxima bastante a la realidad de esta plaga en nuestro país. La conclusión más relevante de este trabajo es que es posible conjuntar tecnologías de información de diferentes ámbitos para crear una aplicación más robusta y escalable que ofrezca una alternativa al problema planteado, y adicionalmente, deje abiertas las opciones para mejorarla y ampliarla.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Ingeniería::Maestría Profesional en Computación e Informátic

Photodegradation Diuron herbicide with TiO2-Al2O3 catalysts supported on graphene nanoplatelets

Objective: To photodegrade Diuron with TiO2-Al2O3 nanomaterials supported on graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) Design/methodology/approach: The synthesis of the materials was carried out by the sol-gel method under mild conditions. Subsequently, the obtained materials were subjected to thermal processing for structural stabilization and pulverized. Synthesized nanomaterials were then characterized by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Uv-Vis spectroscopy. Results: The adsorption/desorption results indicated that the ternary TiO2-Al2O3/GnPs nanomaterials were found to have complex porosity, which suggested that TiO2-Al2O3 was formed on agglomerated GnPs. X-ray diffraction data revealed that the anatase phase of TiO2 and the g-Al2O3 phase coexist with the crystalline phase of graphene. The morphology of the materials indicates that the nanoplatelets were randomly dispersed in a continuous mixed oxide phase. About the UV analysis, the presence of GnPs at 1 wt % concentration reduces the band gap by 6%. Limitations on study/implications: The physical and chemical properties of GnPs make the material an excellent candidate for the degradation of pollutants by photocatalysis. Findings/conclusions: The addition of GnPs improved the Diuron degradation, probably by forming a nanostructured interface or heterojunction.  Objective: To photodegrade Diuron with TiO2-Al2O3 nanomaterials supported on graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) Design/methodology/approach: The synthesis of the materials was carried out by the sol-gel method under mild conditions. Subsequently, the obtained materials were subjected to thermal processing for structural stabilization and pulverized. Synthesized nanomaterials were then characterized by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Uv-Vis spectroscopy. Results: The adsorption/desorption results indicated that the ternary TiO2-Al2O3/GnPs nanomaterials were found to have complex porosity, which suggested that TiO2-Al2O3 was formed on agglomerated GnPs. X-ray diffraction data revealed that the anatase phase of TiO2 and the g-Al2O3 phase coexist with the crystalline phase of graphene. The morphology of the materials indicates that the nanoplatelets were randomly dispersed in a continuous mixed oxide phase. About the UV analysis, the presence of GnPs at 1 wt % concentration reduces the band gap by 6%. Limitations on study/implications: The physical and chemical properties of GnPs make the material an excellent candidate for the degradation of pollutants by photocatalysis. Findings/conclusions: The addition of GnPs improved the Diuron degradation, probably by forming a nanostructured interface or heterojunctio

COVID-19 Severity and Survival over Time in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: A Population-Based Registry Study

Mortality rates for COVID-19 have declined over time in the general population, but data in patients with hematologic malignancies are contradictory. We identified independent prognostic factors for COVID-19 severity and survival in unvaccinated patients with hematologic malignancies, compared mortality rates over time and versus non-cancer inpatients, and investigated post COVID-19 condition. Data were analyzed from 1166 consecutive, eligible patients with hematologic malignancies from the population-based HEMATO-MADRID registry, Spain, with COVID-19 prior to vaccination roll-out, stratified into early (February–June 2020; n = 769 (66%)) and later (July 2020–February 2021; n = 397 (34%)) cohorts. Propensity-score matched non-cancer patients were identified from the SEMI-COVID registry. A lower proportion of patients were hospitalized in the later waves (54.2%) compared to the earlier (88.6%), OR 0.15, 95%CI 0.11–0.20. The proportion of hospitalized patients admitted to the ICU was higher in the later cohort (103/215, 47.9%) compared with the early cohort (170/681, 25.0%, 2.77; 2.01–3.82). The reduced 30-day mortality between early and later cohorts of non-cancer inpatients (29.6% vs. 12.6%, OR 0.34; 0.22–0.53) was not paralleled in inpatients with hematologic malignancies (32.3% vs. 34.8%, OR 1.12; 0.81–1.5). Among evaluable patients, 27.3% had post COVID-19 condition. These findings will help inform evidence-based preventive and therapeutic strategies for patients with hematologic malignancies and COVID-19 diagnosis.Depto. de MedicinaFac. de MedicinaTRUEFundación Madrileña de Hematología y HemoterapiaFundación Leucemia y LinfomaAsociación Madrileña de Hematología y Hemoterapiapu

Acumulación de forraje, crecimiento y características estructurales del pasto Mombaza (Panicum maximum Jacq.) cosechado a diferentes intervalos de corte

The objective of the present study was to evaluate herbage accumulation, morphological composition, growth rate and structural characteristics in Mombasa grass swards subject to different cutting intervals (3, 5 and 7 wk) during the rainy and dry seasons of the year. Treatments were assigned to experimental units (17.5 m2) according to a complete randomised block design, with four replicates. Herbage accumulation was greater in the rainy than in the dry season (83 and 17 %, respectively). Herbage accumulation (24,300 kg DM ha-1), average growth rate (140 kg DM ha-1 d-1) and sward height (111 cm) were highest in the 7 wk cutting interval, but leaf proportion (56 %), leaf:stem (1.6) and leaf:non leaf (1.3) ratios decreased. Herbage accumulation, morphological composition and sward structure of Mombasa grass sward may be manipulated through defoliation frequency. The highest leaf proportion was recorded in the 3-wk cutting interval. Longer cutting intervals affected negatively sward structure, with potential negative effects on utilization efficiency, animal intake and performance.El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la acumulación de forraje, composición, tasa de crecimiento y algunas características estructurales del pasto Mombaza, cosechado a tres intervalos de corte (IC, 3, 5 y 7 semanas), durante las épocas de sequía y lluvias, en un año. Los IC se distribuyeron en 12 parcelas de 17.5 m2, mediante un diseño de bloques completos al azar, con cuatro repeticiones. Hubo mayor acumulación de forraje durante las lluvias, con respecto a la sequía (83 y 17 %, respectivamente). Durante el estudio, el intervalo de corte de 7 semanas presentó mayor acumulación de forraje (24,300 kg MS ha-1), tasa de crecimiento (140 kg MS ha-1 día-1) y altura de plantas (111 cm), pero con menor proporción de hojas (56 %) y relaciones hoja:tallo (1.6) y hoja:no hoja (1.3). La producción, composición morfológica y estructura del pasto Mombaza, puede ser manipulada por diferentes IC. La mayor proporción de hojas se obtuvo con el menor IC. Mayores intervalos de corte afectaron negativamente la estructura del forraje, lo que puede disminuir la eficiencia de utilización y el consumo y desempeño de los animales

Boletín del Observatorio en Prevención de Lavado de Activos y Compliance | Número 4

Artículos - El pasaporte y su relación con el crimen organizado. Enfoque pericial | Soledad Maillet. OPLAC en el XI Congreso de Relaciones Internacionales - Riesgo de LA/FT en el mundo fintech | Marcela Aizcorbe - La relación entre la prevención del lavado de activos y el rol del sector público: ley antilavado 25.246 y del año 2011, ley 26.683 | Luisa Fernanda Herrera - Encuesta nacional de riesgos y de la evaluación nacional de riesgos en Argentina (decreto 652/22 y 653/22 pen) | Julieta M. Pignanelli - Fraude corporativo: un cambio de tendencia que pone en riesgo a las empresas | Fernando Peyretti - Panamá: plan de reactivación económica y compromiso con la transparencia | Issamary Sánchez Ortega regulación en PLA/FT: beneficios para los sujetos obligados | Karina Argüello - El lavado de activos en los concursos preventivos y las quiebras | Adolfo Cervantes - La responsabilidad penal de la persona jurídica desde la perspectiva del derecho internacional | Nicolás Cordini - Una interdependencia local e internacional: comunicación y compliance | Javier Adrián Cubillas - Criminal compliance: PLAFT y atribución de la responsabilidad penal de sujetos obligados | Claudia Gabriela FornariInstituto de Relaciones Internacionale

Implementing Standard Diagnosis and Treatment for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Through Global Research in Latin America: Results From a Multicountry Pragmatic Trial

PURPOSEBreast cancer mortality rates in Latin America (LA) are higher than those in the United States, possibly because of advanced disease presentation, health care disparities, or unfavorable molecular subtypes. The Latin American Cancer Research Network was established to address these challenges and to promote collaborative clinical research. The Molecular Profiling of Breast Cancer Study (MPBCS) aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of LA participants with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).PATIENTS AND METHODSThe MPBCS enrolled 1,449 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay. Through harmonized procedures and quality assurance measures, this study evaluated clinicopathologic characteristics, neoadjuvant chemotherapy response, and survival outcomes according to residual cancer burden (RCB) and the type of surgery.RESULTSOverall, 711 and 480 participants in the primary surgery and neoadjuvant arms, respectively, completed the 5-year follow-up period. Overall survival was independently associated with RCB (worse survival for RCBIII-adjusted hazard ratio, 8.19, P < .001, and RCBII [adjusted hazard ratio, 3.69, P < .008] compared with RCB0 [pathologic complete response or pCR]) and type of surgery (worse survival in mastectomy than in breast-conserving surgery [BCS], adjusted hazard ratio, 2.97, P = .001). The hormone receptor–negative-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive group had the highest proportion of pCR (48.9%). The analysis of the ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative breast module revealed high compliance with pathologic standards but lower adherence to treatment administration standards. Notably, compliance with trastuzumab administration varied widely among countries (33.3%-88.7%).CONCLUSIONIn LABC, we demonstrated the survival benefit of BCS and the prognostic effect of the response to available neoadjuvant treatments despite an important variability in access to key treatments. The MPBCS represents a significant step forward in understanding the real-world implementation of oncologic procedures in LA

The risk of COVID-19 death is much greater and age dependent with type I IFN autoantibodies

International audienceSignificance There is growing evidence that preexisting autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs) are strong determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia. It is important to estimate their quantitative impact on COVID-19 mortality upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, by age and sex, as both the prevalence of these autoantibodies and the risk of COVID-19 death increase with age and are higher in men. Using an unvaccinated sample of 1,261 deceased patients and 34,159 individuals from the general population, we found that autoantibodies against type I IFNs strongly increased the SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality rate at all ages, in both men and women. Autoantibodies against type I IFNs are strong and common predictors of life-threatening COVID-19. Testing for these autoantibodies should be considered in the general population

The risk of COVID-19 death is much greater and age dependent with type I IFN autoantibodies

International audienceSignificance There is growing evidence that preexisting autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs) are strong determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia. It is important to estimate their quantitative impact on COVID-19 mortality upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, by age and sex, as both the prevalence of these autoantibodies and the risk of COVID-19 death increase with age and are higher in men. Using an unvaccinated sample of 1,261 deceased patients and 34,159 individuals from the general population, we found that autoantibodies against type I IFNs strongly increased the SARS-CoV-2 infection fatality rate at all ages, in both men and women. Autoantibodies against type I IFNs are strong and common predictors of life-threatening COVID-19. Testing for these autoantibodies should be considered in the general population

General and abdominal adiposity and hypertension in eight world regions: a pooled analysis of 837 population-based studies with 7·5 million participants

International audienceSummaryBackground Adiposity can be measured using BMI (which is based on weight and height) as well as indices of abdominal adiposity. We examined the association between BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) within and across populations of different world regions and quantified how well these two metrics discriminate between people with and without hypertension.MethodsWe used data from studies carried out from 1990 to 2023 on BMI, WHtR and hypertension in people aged 20–64 years in representative samples of the general population in eight world regions. We graphically compared the regional distributions of BMI and WHtR, and calculated Pearson’s correlation coefficients between BMI and WHtR within each region. We used mixed-effects linear regression to estimate the extent to which WHtR varies across regions at the same BMI. We graphically examined the prevalence of hypertension and the distribution of people who have hypertension both in relation to BMI and WHtR, and we assessed how closely BMI and WHtR discriminate between participants with and without hypertension using C-statistic and net reclassification improvement (NRI).FindingsThe correlation between BMI and WHtR ranged from 0·76 to 0·89 within different regions. After adjusting for age and BMI, mean WHtR was highest in south Asia for both sexes, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. Mean WHtR was lowest in central and eastern Europe for both sexes, in the high-income western region for women, and in Oceania for men. Conversely, to achieve an equivalent WHtR, the BMI of the population of south Asia would need to be, on average, 2·79 kg/m² (95% CI 2·31–3·28) lower for women and 1·28 kg/m² (1·02–1·54) lower for men than in the high-income western region. In every region, hypertension prevalence increased with both BMI and WHtR. Models with either of these two adiposity metrics had virtually identical C-statistics and NRIs for every region and sex, with C-statistics ranging from 0·72 to 0·81 and NRIs ranging from 0·34 to 0·57 in different region and sex combinations. When both BMI and WHtR were used, performance improved only slightly compared with using either adiposity measure alone.InterpretationBMI can distinguish young and middle-aged adults with higher versus lower amounts of abdominal adiposity with moderate-to-high accuracy, and both BMI and WHtR distinguish people with or without hypertension. However, at the same BMI level, people in south Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa, have higher WHtR than in the other regions