Blockverse: A Cloud Blockchain-based Platform for Tracking in Affiliate Systems

Affiliate systems are a crucial piece of today’s online advertising. In affiliate systems, web traffic is directed from certain sites displaying ads to the websites of those company whose products or services are advertised. The way in which these ads are monetized is diverse and can respond to different models. In many cases, affiliates establish a cost based on impressions (displays of the ad) or on clicks. However, more intricate models are becoming widespread, such as the cost per action, where the affiliate incomes are due to the users performing certain actions in the target website. In particular, in the world of iGaming, it is frequent that affiliates charges are based on registrations, deposits or money lost on bets. In this scenario, Blockverse is a tool whose objective is to record transactions occurring in affiliate systems at large scale, using a permissioned blockchain implemented atop state-of-the-art cloud technology. Additionally, the system will be able to execute smart deals that generate income for affiliates based on the agreed conditions, and to provide real-time analytics in the context of the affiliate system

Metodología para la detección de fallas en una estructura entramada metálica empleando las técnicas de análisis modal y PSO

With the objective of improving the production systems reliability the companies have developed methodologies to detect incipient damages. The metallic structures are usually checked by visual inspection procedure which is not be able to detect emerging falls. The purpose of the present work is to develop a novel methodology based on modal testing analysis and particle swarm optimization algorithm to detect falls in these structures. A physical model was built and it was studied applying the modal testing techniques. A numerical model was stablished by Finite Element Method (MEF). The algorithm was executed, and the results were compared with the experimental results. The methodology was validated and falls were identified for different levels damages.Con el objetivo de mejorar la confiabilidad de los sistemas productivos, las empresas han desarrollado metodologías para la detección de fallos incipientes. Las estructuras metálicas son revisadas con un procedimiento de inspección visual el cual no permite la detección de fallos emergentes. El propósito del presente trabajo es desarrollar una nueva metodología, basada en el análisis modal y en un algoritmo de optimización por enjambre de partículas, para detectar fallas en estas estructuras. Un modelo físico fue construido y este fue estudiado aplicando las técnicas de análisis modal. Un modelo numérico fue establecido por medio del Método de los Elementos Finitos. El algoritmo fue ejecutado y los resultados fueron comparados con resultados experimentales. La metodología fue validada y daños de diferentes niveles fueron identificados

Lifeguard assistance at Spanish Mediterranean beaches: Jellyfish prevail and proposals for improving risk management

Although beaches can be hazardous environments, few studies have identified injuries in broad coastal areas. We performed a retrospective descriptive study of injuries and other services provided by lifeguards during 2012 along the Spanish Mediterranean beaches. The trend in jellyfish stings was also examined for the period 2008–2012 using a standardised Sting Index. Obtaining data relied on voluntary cooperation of local authorities, resulting in data provided from 183 cities out of 234 present in the study area and 760 beach lifeguard stations (LGS) out of about 1200. Lifeguard stations provided an average of 89 days of service per year, from late June to the beginning of September. A total of 176,021 injuries were reported, of which jellyfish stings were the main need for assistance with 59.7% (n = 116,887) of the injuries and 257.0/LGS, followed by wounds (14.4%, 50.9/LGS), and sunburn (3.3%, 15.8/LGS). Apart from attending injuries, beach lifeguard services provided 21,174 other services such as help to disabled people (57.9/LGS), blood pressure measurements (12.7/LGS), rescues at sea (6.5/LGS), lost children (5.7/LGS), and transfers to the hospital (4.6/LGS). Official reported fatalities for all the beaches in 2012 were 24. We proposed a Sting Index (SI) to allow comparisons of the incidence of stings between years and/or localities by standardising jellyfish stings by the total of all injuries. Historical data were consistent enough to calculate SI between 2010 and 2012 and showed an oscillating pattern without a clear trend (2008: 2.4, 2009: 1.3, 2010: 2.4, 2011: 2.0, 2012: 2.6). Estimation of total number of jellyfish stings for all the beaches present in the area would reach 184,558 for 2012. There were very few fatalities in comparison with other coastal regions, probably due to the combination of a calm sea, a low number of high dangerous situations, and a high percentage of lifeguarded beaches during the bathing season. Nevertheless, although Spanish Mediterranean beaches could be described as low risk, we propose measures to facilitate a precautionary management to prevent injuries based on a real-time beach assistance database of injuries to identify high-incidence assistance categories.This research was carried out under contract LIFE 08 NAT ES 0064 (to CB and VF) co-financed by the European Commission (www.cubomed.eu), the Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (Dirección General de Sostenibilidad de la Costa y el Mar) contract 2013/28-5158, the Dirección General del Agua of the Regional Government of Valencia (grant T7588000/512.10) and the Fundación Biodiversidad (grant LIFE Cubomed 2013/2014)

Characterization of CD34+ hematopoietic cells in systemic mastocytosis: Potential role in disease dissemination

[Background]: Recent studies show that most systemic mastocytosis (SM) patients, including indolent SM (ISM) with (ISMs+) and without skin lesions (ISMs−), carry the KIT D816V mutation in PB leukocytes. We investigated the potential association between the degree of involvement of BM hematopoiesis by the KIT D816V mutation and the distribution of different maturation-associated compartments of bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ hematopoietic precursors (HPC) in ISM and identified the specific PB cell compartments that carry this mutation. [Methods]: The distribution of different maturation-associated subsets of BM and PB CD34+ HPC from 64 newly diagnosed (KIT-mutated) ISM patients and 14 healthy controls was analyzed by flow cytometry. In 18 patients, distinct FACS-purified PB cell compartments were also investigated for the KIT mutation. [Results]: ISM patients showed higher percentages of both BM and PB MC-committed CD34+ HPC vs controls, particularly among ISM cases with MC-restricted KIT mutation (ISMMC); this was associated with progressive blockade of maturation of CD34+ HPC to the neutrophil lineage from ISMMC to multilineage KIT-mutated cases (ISMML). Regarding the frequency of KIT-mutated cases and cell populations in PB, variable patterns were observed, the percentage of KIT-mutated PB CD34+ HPC, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes and T cells increasing from ISMs−MC and ISMs+MC to ISMML patients. [Conclusion]: The presence of the KIT D816V mutation in PB of ISM patients is associated with (early) involvement of circulating CD34+ HPC and multiple myeloid cell subpopulations, KIT-mutated PB CD34+ HPC potentially contributing to early dissemination of the disease.This work was supported by Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias—FIS—of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Madrid, Spain (grant numbers PI11/02399 and PI16/00642, FEDER); Consejería de Educación (Regional Government of Castilla y León, Spain; grant number SA013U16); Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium–CIBER-CIBERONC (CB16/12/00400) of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; and Fundacion Ramon Areces, Madrid, Spain (grant CIVP16A1806). AM was supported by a RTICC (Red Tematica de Investigacion Cooperativa en Cancer) grant (RD12/0036/0048, FIS, FEDER)

Serum tryptase monitoring in indolent systemic mastocytosis: association with disease features and patient outcome

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.[Background]: Serum baseline tryptase (sBT) is a minor diagnostic criterion for systemic mastocytosis (SM) of undetermined prognostic impact. We monitored sBT levels in indolent SM (ISM) patients and investigated its utility for predicting disease behaviour and outcome. [Methods]: In total 74 adult ISM patients who were followed for ≥48 months and received no cytoreductive therapy were retrospectively studied. Patients were classified according to the pattern of evolution of sBT observed. [Results]: Overall 16/74 (22%) cases had decreasing sBT levels, 48 (65%) patients showed increasing sBT levels and 10 (13%) patients showed a fluctuating pattern. Patients with significantly increasing sBT (sBT slope ≥0.15) after 48 months of follow-up showed a slightly greater rate of development of diffuse bone sclerosis (13% vs. 2%) and hepatomegaly plus splenomegaly (16% vs. 5%), as well as a significantly greater frequency of multilineage vs. mast cells (MC)-restricted KIT mutation (p = 0.01) together with a greater frequency of cases with progression of ISM to smouldering and aggressive SM (p = 0.03), and a shorter progression-free survival (p = 0.03). [Conclusions]: Monitoring of sBT in ISM patients is closely associated with poor prognosis disease features as well as with disease progression, pointing out the need for a closer follow-up in ISM patients with progressively increasing sBT values.This work was supported by grants from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS) of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (RETICS RD06/0020/0035-FEDER and PS09/00032); Fundación Sociosanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (FISCAM 2007/36, FISCAM 2010/008 and G-2010/C-002); Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (PI11/02399); Junta de Castilla y León (SAN/103/2011); Fundación Ramón Areces; Fundación Española de Mastocitosis (FEM 2010); Hospital Virgen de la Salud Biobank (BioB-HVS) supported by grant of RETICS RD09/0076/00074, (Toledo, Spain).Peer Reviewe

Wastes Flow from wastewater treatment in the industrial sector of Cali urban and periurban area, free trade zone of Palmira and Yumbo

(Spa) Este trabajo presenta la investigación realizada en cuanto al manejo de residuos (conocidos para este caso como lodos y grasas) provenientes del tratamiento de aguas residuales industriales y domésticas de empresas ubicadas e n la zona industrial de Cali, zona urbana y periurbana, y zona franca del municipio de Palmira y Yumbo. Se desarrollaron dos etapas cuyos objetivos fueron respectivamente: 1) identificar los generadores de lodos y grasas, y 2) evidenciar las prácticas de m anejo por parte de los gestores (empresas que prestan el servicio de mantenimiento, recolección o tratamiento a los residuos generados). Finalizando estas etapas, se elaboró el flujo de estos residuos en la zona de estudio. Lo anterior permitió obtener un compilado de datos que describe la forma en que ocurre el manejo de este tipo de residuos para generar una visión de la problemática en el Valle del Cauca, como base para futuras investigaciones en torno a dar soluciones técnicas para manejo de estos resid uos. Para el año 2014, en la zona de estudio se encontraron alrededor de 921 industrias, de las cuales 85 tenían sistemas de tratamiento de aguas residuales (por lo tanto, son generadoras de residuos). Por otra parte, se encontraron 28 empresas gestoras de residuos. En esta investigación participaron voluntariamente 22 empresas generadoras y 10 gestoras. El volumen aproximado de lodo y grasa que generan estas empresas es 368 toneladas por mes. De esta cantidad, solo 159 toneladas por mes (43 %) es aprovecha do como acondicionador de suelos, abono, humus o para sustitución de materias primas. A pesar de que un buen porcentaje de lodo es aprovechado, como conclusión se identificó que se requieren políticas ambientales que incentiven estas alternativas para redu cir los impactos sobre el ambiente(Eng) This paper presents the research carried out regarding the management of waste (known in this case as sludge and grease) from the treatment of industrial and domestic wastewater from companies located in the industrial zone of Cali, urban and peri-urban area, and free trade zone. municipality of Palmira and Yumbo. Two stages were developed whose objectives were respectively: 1) to identify the generators of sludge and grease, and 2) to demonstrate the management practices by the managers (companies that provide the service of maintenance, collection and / or treatment of waste generated). At the end of these stages, the flow of these wastes was elaborated in the study area. This allowed us to obtain a compilation of data that describes the way in which the management of this type of waste occurs to generate a vision of the problem in the Valle del Cauca, as a basis for future research on providing technical solutions for handling these. For the year 2014, around 921 industries were found in the study area, of which 85 had wastewater treatment systems (therefore, they are waste generators). On the other hand, 85 waste managers were identified. In this research, 22 industries accepted to participate as well as 5 waste managers. The approximate volume of mud and grease generated by these companies is 367.89 ton / month. Of this amount, only 158.7 ton / month (43%) is used as a soil conditioner, fertilizer, humus or for the substitution of raw materials. In spite of some of the sludge is used, in conclusion, it was identified that environmental policies are required that encourage these alternatives to reduce the impacts on the environmen

Mast cell-related disorders presenting with Kounis syndrome

Letter to the Editor.-- et al.Peer Reviewe

Characterization of decontamination procedure of beef carcasses at slaughterhouses in the province of Antioquia, Colombia

BACKGROUND: Beef slaughterhouses must use a carcass decontamination procedure to control pathogens and thus prevent foodborne diseases transmitted by meat. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize beef carcass decontamination procedures at slaughterhouses located in the province of Antioquia (Colombia). All the slaughterhouses were open, registered, and approved by Invima (Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos in Spanish) at the time of the study. METHODS: This descriptive study collected information from 23 beef slaughterhouses between July 2019 and April 2021 through documentary reviews and visits to slaughterhouses, using forms and questionnaires. RESULTS: The study allowed the characterization of the procedures used to decontaminate beef carcasses, showing that the chemical disinfection of the carcasses is used to control microorganisms in at least 73.9% of the slaughterhouses analyzed. According to secondary sources, it was found that most of the slaughterhouses are small (slaughter volume <50,000 heads per year); 10 of them use citric acid, lactic acid, peracetic acid, and a mixture of organic acids in concentrations between 900 and 1,200 ppm, 1.5 and 1.7%, 180 and 190 ppm, and 900 and 1,200 ppm, respectively, as carcass disinfectants and according to the technical data sheet of the product. During the visits and through the application of the questionnaire, it was found that the 12 slaughterhouses had implemented chemical disinfection which is not scientifically based, using manual devices as an intervention method to control pathogenic microorganisms. It was found that the type of company, slaughter volume, and the lack of financial resources are the determining factors in the selection of decontamination procedures. The validation of the beef carcass decontamination procedures in the different slaughterhouses in the study was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS:Although it was established that at least one decontamination procedure, such as chemical disinfection, is used in the slaughterhouses of study, this option is not supported by scientific or technical evidence. The findings support the need for improvements in the slaughterhouses of the province of Antioquia, including the improvement of surveillance programs to reduce pathogens in the meat chain effectively

CD30 expression by bone marrow mast cells from different diagnostic variants of systemic mastocytosis

[Aims]: CD30 expression by bone marrow (BM) mast cells (MC) has been reported recently in systemic mastocytosis (SM) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of CD30 expression in SM as assessed by multiparameter flow cytometry. [Methods and results]: A total of 163 consecutive BM samples corresponding to 142 SM patients and 21 non-mastocytosis cases were studied. CD30 was positive in most SM patients (80%), but in only one non-mastocytosis case (4.8%). When combined with CD25, CD30 contributed to an improved accuracy over that of CD25 alone (98% versus 93%) mainly because most (eight of nine) of the well-differentiated SM (WDSM), who lacked CD25, were CD30+. Similar levels of expression of CD30 were observed among all different subgroups of SM except mast cell leukaemia; among indolent SM (ISM) patients, no significant association was observed between the levels of CD30 expression and other clinical and biological features of the disease. [Conclusions]: The increased expression of CD30 associated with absence of CD25 contributes to the diagnosis of WDSM and its distinction from other subtypes of SM. By contrast, CD30 expression did not contribute either to prognostic stratification of ISM or to the differential diagnosis between ISM and aggressive SM cases.This work was supported by grants from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS) PI11/02399, PS09/00032 and RETICs RD09/0076/00133, RD09/0076/00074 and RD12/0036/0048 (FEDER) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain; Fundacion Sociosanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (2010/008 y G-2010/C-002); Fundación Espanola de Mastocitosis (FEM 2010); and by a grant from Fundaçao para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) of Portugal (SFRH/BD/22972/2005).Peer Reviewe