Clinical and epidemiological aspects of complicated malaria in Colombia, 2007–2013

Additional file 2. Annual percentage change (APC) for complicated malaria, stratified by age

Some interesting gasteroid and secotioid fungi from Sonora, Mexico

Nine rare species of gasteroid and secotioid fungi from Sonora, Mexico are treated here: Agaricus texensis (= Longula texensis), Araneosa columellata, Calvatia bicolor, C. craniiformis, C. pygmaea, Disciseda hyalothrix, D. verrucosa, Endoptychum arizonicum, and D. stuckertii (= Abstoma stuckertii), which is a new combination. SEM micrographs of all studied taxa are included

Some interesting gasteroid and secotioid fungi from Sonora, Mexico

Nine rare species of gasteroid and secotioid fungi from Sonora, Mexico are treated here: Agaricus texensis (= Longula texensis), Araneosa columellata, Calvatia bicolor, C. craniiformis, C. pygmaea, Disciseda hyalothrix, D. verrucosa, Endoptychum arizonicum, and D. stuckertii (= Abstoma stuckertii), which is a new combination. SEM micrographs of all studied taxa are included

Changes in frequency-doubling perimetry in patients with type i diabetes prior to retinopathy

Purpose. To evaluate the ability of frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry in detecting visual field defects in young adults with type I diabetes prior to retinopathy or with minor retinovascular changes. Methods. This comparative cross-sectional study included 30 healthy subjects and 73 age-matched patients with type I diabetes mellitus. All subjects underwent a full ocular examination including an FDT with the threshold C-20-5 strategy. Only one eye per subject was randomly included in the statistical analysis. FDT results and time to perform the test were compared between the groups. Results. The mean age was 27.1 years in the control group and 26.6 years in the diabetic group ( ). The mean period from the onset of diabetes was years, while minimal retinovascular changes were observed in 18 eyes. Mean deviation of FDT did not differ between the groups. Although global indices of FDT were within normal limits, pattern standard deviation of FDT was higher in the diabetic group ( ). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.647 for pattern standard deviation of FDT (standard error = 0.052; ). Conclusion. FDT can detect retinal dysfunctions in diabetic patients prior to the onset of significant vascular complications

Wavelength converter using a highly erbium doped optical fiber ring laser

RESUMEN: En este trabajo se presenta un conversor de longitud de onda ultra-estrecho, de alta eficiencia y todo-fibra basado en el efecto de la competición de modos en un láser de fibra dopada con erbio. Se han llevado a cabo estudios experimentales con frecuencias que van desde varios kilohercios hasta las decenas de gigahercios y para más de una longitud de onda de emisión, demostrando así que este efecto puede ser utilizado para la conversión en longitud de onda de múltiples longitudes de emisión simultáneamente.ABSTRACT: This work presents an all-fiber wavelength converter based on a highly Erdoped fiber laser which has been experimentally demonstrated. Frequencies from several kilohertz up to tens of gigahertz have been investigated. Making use of the gain competition in the amplifying medium, the wavelength conversion can be carried out over not only one lasing wavelength but over several ones. These analyses have been also carried out for more than one all-fiber ring structure, demonstrating the viability of this wavelength converter.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por la Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología dentro de los proyectos TEC2013-47264-C2 y TEC2016-76021-C2

Examining national and district-level trends in neonatal health in Peru through an equity lens:A success story driven by political will and societal advocacy

Abstract Background Peru has impressively reduced its neonatal mortality rate (NMR). We aimed, for the period 2000–2013, to: (a) describe national and district NMR variations over time; (b) assess NMR trends by wealth quintile and place of residence; (c) describe evolution of mortality causes; (d) assess completeness of registered mortality; (e) assess coverage and equity of NMR-related interventions; and (f) explore underlying driving factors. Methods We compared national NMR time trends from different sources. To describe NMR trends by wealth quintiles, place of residence and districts, we pooled data on births and deaths by calendar year for neonates born to women interviewed in multiple surveys. We disaggregated coverage of NMR-related interventions by wealth quintiles and place of residence. To identify success factors, we ran regression analyses and combined desk reviews with qualitative interviews and group discussions. Results NMR fell by 51 % from 2000 to 2013, second only to Brazil in Latin America. Reduction was higher in rural and poorest segments (52 and 58 %). District NMR change varied by source. Regarding cause-specific NMRs, prematurity decreased from 7.0 to 3.2 per 1,000 live births, intra-partum related events from 2.9 to 1.2, congenital abnormalities from 2.4 to 1.8, sepsis from 1.9 to 0.8, pneumonia from 0.9 to 0.4, and other conditions from 1.2 to 0.7. Under-registration of neonatal deaths decreased recently, more in districts with higher development index and lower rural population. Coverage of family planning, antenatal care and skilled birth attendance increased more in rural areas and in the poorest quintile. Regressions did not show consistent associations between mortality and predictors. During the study period social determinants improved substantially, and dramatic out-of-health-sector and health-sector changes occurred. Rural areas and the poorest quintile experienced greater NMR reduction. This progress was driven, within a context of economic growth and poverty reduction, by a combination of strong societal advocacy and political will, which translated into pro-poor implementation of evidence-based interventions with a rights-based approach. Conclusions Although progress in Peru for reducing NMR has been remarkable, future challenges include closing remaining gaps for urban and rural populations and improving newborn health with qualified staff and intermediate- and intensive-level health facilities

Strange stars in Krori-Barua space-time

The singularity space-time metric obtained by Krori and Barua\cite{Krori1975} satisfies the physical requirements of a realistic star. Consequently, we explore the possibility of applying the Krori and Barua model to describe ultra-compact objects like strange stars. For it to become a viable model for strange stars, bounds on the model parameters have been obtained. Consequences of a mathematical description to model strange stars have been analyzed.Comment: 9 pages (two column), 12 figures. Some changes have been made. " To appear in European Physical Journal C

Carbon Nanotubes by a CVD Method. Part I: Synthesis and Characterization of the (Mg, Fe)O Catalysts

The controlled synthesis of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition requires tailored and wellcharacterized catalyst materials. We attempted to synthesize Mg1-xFexO oxide solid solutions by the combustion route, with the aim of performing a detailed investigation of the influence of the synthesis conditions (nitrate/urea ratio and the iron content) on the valency and distribution of the iron ions and phases. Notably, characterization of the catalyst materials is performed using 57Fe Mo¨ssbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. Several iron species are detected including Fe2+ ions substituting for Mg2+ in the MgO lattice, Fe3+ ions dispersed in the octahedral sites of MgO, different clusters of Fe3+ ions, and MgFe2O4-like nanoparticles. The dispersion of these species and the microstructure of the oxides are discussed. Powders markedly different from one another that may serve as model systems for further study are identified. The formation of carbon nanotubes upon reduction in a H2/CH4 gas atmosphere of the selected powders is reported in a companion paper

Perinatal asphyxia: CNS development and deficits with delayed onset

Perinatal asphyxia constitutes a prototype of obstetric complications occurring when pulmonary oxygenation is delayed or interrupted. The primary insult relates to the duration of the period lacking oxygenation, leading to death if not re-established. Re-oxygenation leads to a secondary insult, related to a cascade of biochemical events required for restoring proper function. Perinatal asphyxia interferes with neonatal development, resulting in long-term deficits associated to mental and neurological diseases with delayed clinical onset, by mechanisms not yet clarified. In the experimental scenario, the effects observed long after perinatal asphyxia have been explained by over expression of sentinel proteins, such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), competing for NAD+ during re-oxygenation, leading to the idea that sentinel protein inhibition constitutes a suitable therapeutic strategy. Asphyxia induces transcriptional activation of proinflammatory factors, in tandem with PARP-1 overactivation, and pharmacologically induced PARP-1 inhibition also down-regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Nicotinamide has been proposed as a suitable PARP-1 inhibitor. Its effect has been studied in an experimental model of global hypoxia in rats. In that model, the insult is induced by immersing rat foetuses into a water bath for various periods of time. Following asphyxia, the pups are delivered, treated, and nursed by surrogate dams, pending further experiments. Nicotinamide rapidly distributes into the brain following systemic administration, reaching steady state concentrations sufficient to inhibit PARP-1 activity for several hours, preventing several of the long-term consequences of perinatal asphyxia, supporting the idea that it constitutes a lead for exploring compounds with similar or better pharmacological profiles