Multivectorial strategy to interpret a resistive behaviour of loads in smart buildings

In Smart buildings, electric loads are affected by an important distortion in the current and voltage waveforms, caused by the increasing proliferation of non linear electronic devices. This paper presents an approach on non sinusoidal power theory based on Geometric Algebra that clearly improves traditional methods in the optimization of apparent power and power factor compensation. An example is included that demonstrates the superiority of this approach compared with traditional methods.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Reemplazo ureteral con apéndice cecal

Indexación: Web of Science; ScieloWe report two cases with ureteral lesions. A 34 years male with a residual retroperitoneal mass caused by a testicular cancer, that persisted after chemotherapy. During the surgical excision of the mass, the involvement of the right ureter was discovered. A 43 years old female with a left ureteral lesion secondary to radiation therapy and with a non-functioning contralateral kidney. In both cases a ureteral replacement with the cecal appendix was performed, without surgical complications. After five years of follow up, the urinary tract of the male patient is normal. The female patient required an endoscopic incision of the connection between the appendix and the urinary bladder, eight years after the surgical procedure. Three years after the endoscopic procedure the repaired urinary tract is in good conditions.Objetivo: Presentar dos casos de reemplazo ureteral con apéndice cecal y revisar la literatura relacionada al tema. Material y Método: Presentamos dos casos de lesión ureteral. Un paciente de 34 años con masa retroperitoneal residual post quimioterapia englobando el uréter derecho, secundaria a un tumor testicular, y una paciente de 43 años monorrena funcional con lesión ureteral izquierda actínica. Resultados: En ambos casos se realizó un reemplazo ureteral, derecho e izquierdo, sin complicaciones intraoperatorias. El seguimiento alejado a 5 y 11 años muestra indemnidad de la vía urinaria. Conclusión: Estos 2 casos, con seguimiento prolongado, apoyan la factibilidad del uso del apéndice cecal como variante para el reemplazo ureteral en lesiones extensas.http://ref.scielo.org/n85xn

Bilateral laparoscopic synchronous adrenalectomy in bilateral pheochromocytoma: experience in 8 patients

Indexación: Web of Science; ScieloAim: To evaluate 8 cases of bilateral pheochromocytoma and laparoscopic synchronous treatment. Patients and Methods: From May 1999 to May 2010, 8 patients with bilateral pheochromocytoma were found. A complete preoperative workup was done. Results: We perform 8 transperitoneal laparoscopic bilateral synchronous adrenalectomy. There was no open converted procedure. Mean operative time was 184.37 min. (range 95 to 300 min). Mean hospital stay was 3.8 days (range 3 to 5 days). Mean blood loss was 191.25 ml (range 0 to 500 min). In 7 cases the histopathological result was of pheochromocytoma and 1 as a malignant pheochomocytoma based on its histology. Conclusions: With very well establish diagnostic disease, an appropriate anesthetic strategy and as surgical skills, laparoscopic bilateral synchronic adrenalectomy is a feasible and safe surgical technique for bilateral pheochromocytomas.Introducción: La incidencia del feocromocitoma varía entre un 0,005 y un 0,1% y de estos sólo un 10% se presenta en forma bilateral. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar nuestra experiencia en adrenalectomía laparoscópica bilateral sincrónica en pacientes con diagnóstico de feocromocitoma bilateral. Se revisa la literatura y se analizan nuestros resultados. Material y Métodos: Se realiza una revisión retrospectiva de todos los pacientes sometidos a una adrenelectomía laparoscópica bilateral sincrónica entre mayo de 1999 y mayo de 2010, con diagnóstico de un feocromocitoma bilateral. Todos los pacientes fueron estudiados con medición de catecolaminas plasmáticas y urinarias y estudio por imágenes. Resultados: Se realizaron 8 adrenelectomías laparoscópicas bilaterales sincrónicas. El tiempo promedio de cirugía fue de 184 min (rango 95-300 min). La estadía intrahospitalaria media fue de 3,8 días (rango de 3-5 días). El promedio de sangrado fue de 83 ml (rango 0-500 ml). El diagnóstico histopatológico fue de feocromocitoma en todas las muestras, en un caso se diagnosticó un feocromocitoma maligno. No hubo conversión a cirugía abierta. Conclusiones: La adrene-lectomía laparoscópica bilateral sincrónica para feocromocitomas bilaterales es un procedimiento seguro y de baja morbilidad, realizada por un cirujano con experiencia en cirugía laparoscópica. Es necesario tener previamente el diagnóstico de certeza para el manejo anestésico y postquirúrgico adecuado para estos pacientes.http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-40262011000600005&nrm=is

Origin and consequences of brain Toll-like receptor 4 pathway stimulation in an experimental model of depression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a pressing need to identify novel pathophysiological pathways relevant to depression that can help to reveal targets for the development of new medications. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) has a regulatory role in the brain's response to stress. Psychological stress may compromise the intestinal barrier, and increased gastrointestinal permeability with translocation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria may play a role in the pathophysiology of major depression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS) or CMS+intestinal antibiotic decontamination (CMS+ATB) protocols. Levels of components of the TLR-4 signaling pathway, of LPS and of different inflammatory, oxidative/nitrosative and anti-inflammatory mediators were measured by RT-PCR, western blot and/or ELISA in brain prefrontal cortex. Behavioral despair was studied using Porsolt's test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CMS increased levels of TLR-4 and its co-receptor MD-2 in brain as well as LPS and LPS-binding protein in plasma. In addition, CMS also increased interleukin (IL)-1β, COX-2, PGE₂and lipid peroxidation levels and reduced levels of the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin 15d-PGJ₂in brain tissue. Intestinal decontamination reduced brain levels of the pro-inflammatory parameters and increased 15d-PGJ₂, however this did not affect depressive-like behavior induced by CMS.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that LPS from bacterial translocation is responsible, at least in part, for the TLR-4 activation found in brain after CMS, which leads to release of inflammatory mediators in the CNS. The use of Gram-negative antibiotics offers a potential therapeutic approach for the adjuvant treatment of depression.</p

Aumento del espacio entre caracteres: ¿mejora la lectura de alumnos con dificultades?

Some recent research suggests the possibility of improving the reading of students with dyslexia through a simple manipulation to increase the space between characters in the texts. We studied the effects of this change in the number of errors and correct words per minute in the reading of 14 students from first through third grade (elementary school) with reading difficulties. Students read two versions of the same text, one written with normal space between characters and another with increased space. Reading evaluations were blind. No significant differences were found in the number of reading errors or in the number of correct words per minute in the reading of these students, so caution and further research including a control of the difficulty of the texts are recommended before developing and implementing interventions for students with dyslexia based on space between characters.Algunas investigaciones recientes señalan la posibilidad de mejorar la lectura del alumnado con dislexia mediante una sencilla manipulación que aumenta el espacio entre los caracteres de los textos. Estudiamos los efectos de este cambio en el número de errores y de palabras correctamente leídas por minuto de 14 alumnos de primer a tercer curso de educación primaria con dificultades de lectura. Los alumnos leían dos versiones del mismo texto, una escrita con el espacio normal entre caracteres y otra con un aumento del espacio. La valoración de la lectura fue realizada mediante un sistema ciego. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el número de errores de lectura ni en el número de palabras correctamente leídas por minuto, de modo que se recomienda cautela y nuevas investigaciones que controlen la dificultad de los textos antes de desarrollar e implantar intervenciones para el alumnado con dislexia basadas en el espacio entre caracteres

Analysis of total arsenic content in purchased rice from Ecuador

Natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to arsenic contamination in water and human food chain in Andean countries. Human exposure to arsenic via rice consumption is of great concern in countries where this crop is the dominant staple food, and limited information is available on the arsenic contamination on rice in Ecuador. This work was to contribute to the lack of knowledge analysing total arsenic by hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry in the samples of white, brown and parboiled rice purchased in Ecuadorian markets and produced in the two main rice wetlands in Ecuador, Guayas and Los Ríos, were carried out. For the samples from Guayas, arsenic concentration in white, brown and parboiled rice were 0.174 ± 0.014, 0.232 ± 0.021, and 0.186 ± 0.017 mg/kg respectively, whereas samples of white rice from Los Ríos showed a total arsenic level of 0.258 ± 0.037 mg/kg. This last arsenic concentration exceeds recommended maximum permissible limit by the FAO/WHO. Obtained data have available to estimate the Ecuadorian dietary exposure revealing serious health risk for population.S

Participación ciudadana en la radio comunitaria en la región central de Ecuador

El artículo analiza la labor que cumplen las radios comunitarias de la región central de Ecuador a fin de promover el progreso social, mediante el fomento de procesos participativos que garanticen el empoderamiento de la comunidad en la administración y creación de contenidos radiofónicos. De esta manera se utiliza metodologías cualitativas a través de entrevistas aplicadas a 12 directores y 36 locutores, con el fin de identificar cuál es el modelo de gestión de las radios comunitarias, cómo se vincula al personal que labora en dichas emisoras, las tipologías de financiamiento con la cual se solventan, las diversas estrategias de participación en la programación radial y las acciones que ha emprendido el Gobierno de Ecuador en favor de las radios estudiadas. Finalmente, se determina que sumado al conocido problema económico se evidencia que no existen estrategias de comunicación horizontal que faciliten el empoderamiento de los ciudadanos alrededor del medio de comunicación. La Ley Orgánica de Comunicación no diversifica a las radios comunitarias para que en función de sus diferencias se impulse una intervención equitativa en el espectro radioeléctrico. Así mismo no impulsa el empoderamiento de la gente como voluntarios. El tema de capacitación es una necesidad que puede ser satisfecha desde la academia.//The article analyzes the work done by community radio stations in the central region of Ecuador in order to promote social progress through the promotion of participatory processes that guarantee the empowerment of the community in the administration and creation of radio content. In this way, qualitative methodologies are used through interviews applied to 12 directors and 36 broadcasters in order to identify the management model of community radio stations, how the staff working in these stations are linked, the types of financing with which they are financed, the various strategies for participation in radio programming and the actions undertaken by the Government of Ecuador in favour of the radio stations studied. Finally, it is determined that added to the well-known economic problem, it is evident that there are no horizontal communication strategies that facilitate the empowerment of citizens around the media. The Organic Law on Communication does not diversify community radio stations so that, depending on their differences, an equitable intervention in the radio spectrum is promoted. Likewise, it does not promote the empowerment of people as volunteers. The issue of training is a need that can be satisfied from the academy

Citizen participation in community radio in the central region of Ecuador

La radio comunitaria se expone como una propuesta emancipadora de los pueblos, que apertura canales comunicacionales en la esfera pública, hacia el diálogo intercultural. La presente investigación utiliza metodologías cualitativas para analizar&nbsp; la labor que cumplen&nbsp; las radios comunitarias de la región central de Ecuador a fin de promover el progreso social, mediante el fomento de procesos participativos que garanticen contenidos que satisfagan las demandas sociales. Finalmente, se determina que sumado al conocido problema económico se evidencia que no existen estrategias de comunicación horizontal que faciliten el empoderamiento de los ciudadanos alrededor del medio de comunicación. La Ley Orgánica de Comunicación no diversifica a las radios comunitarias para que en función de sus diferencias se impulse una intervención equitativa en el espectro radioeléctrico. Así mismo no impulsa el empoderamiento de la gente como voluntarios. El tema de capacitación es una necesidad que puede ser satisfecha desde la academia. &nbsp;Community radio is presented as an emancipatory proposal of the peoples, which opens communicational channels in the public sphere, towards intercultural dialogue. This research uses qualitative methodologies to analyze the work done by community radio stations in the central region of Ecuador in order to promote social progress, through the promotion of participatory processes that guarantee content that satisfies social demands. Finally, it is determined that in addition to the well-known economic problem, it is evident that there are no horizontal communication strategies that facilitate the empowerment of citizens around the media. The Organic Law on Communication does not diversify community radio stations so that, based on their differences, an equitable intervention in the radioelectric spectrum is promoted. Likewise, it does not promote the empowerment of people as volunteers. The issue of training is a need that can be satisfied from the academy

Suppression of Coulomb-nuclear interference in the near-barrier elastic scattering of 17 Ne from 208 Pb

The proton drip-line nucleus 17Ne is considered a good candidate for a Borromean two-proton halo with a 15O + p+ pstructure. Angular distributions of the elastic scattering and inclusive 15O production for a 136 MeV 17Ne beam incident on a 208Pb target were measured for the first time at the SPIRAL1 facility, GANIL. Use of the GLORIA detector array allowed high-resolution data over a wide angular range from 20◦up to 95◦in the laboratory frame to be obtained. The elastic scattering angular distribution shows similarities with those for both 6He and 20Ne at equivalent collision energies with respect to the corresponding Coulomb barriers, exhibiting the suppression of the Coulomb rainbow peak characteristic of strong coupling. Optical model and coupled channel fits suggest that this is due to a combination of coupling to low-lying quadrupole resonances and Coulomb dipole coupling to the low-lying continuum, although their relative importance depends on the relevant B(E2)values which remain to be firmly determined