Analysis of the Thermal Behavior of a Vehicle Cabin Using a Dynamic Thermal Model

This work analyzes the thermal behavior of a vehicle cabin by using a dynamic thermal model, which allows to accurately reproduce the vehicle interior temperature under different external environmental conditions. The thermal model considers heat transfer through the glazed and opaque surfaces of the vehicle using the energy balance method. It considers changes in weather conditions, vehicle geometry, body construction characteristics, types of opaque and glazed surfaces, and existing thermal loads. Experimental tests (with and without solar radiation) were carried out to validate the dynamic thermal model. The model predicts the temperature variations of the air inside the vehicle cabin. The results showed a maximum variation of 1.38 K without solar incidence and 3.78 K with solar radiation. Keywords: dynamic thermal model, vehicle, heat balance, thermal load. Resumen El objetivo principal del presente trabajo fue analizar el comportamiento térmico de la cabina de un vehículo utilizando un modelo térmico dinámico, que permite reproducir de manera precisa el comportamiento de la temperatura interior del vehículo bajo distintas condiciones ambientales externas. El modelo térmico considera la transferencia de calor a través de las superficies acristaladas y opacas del vehículo utilizando el método de balance de energía, para lo cual se toman en cuenta los cambios en las condiciones climatológicas, la geometría del vehículo, las características constructivas de la carrocería, tipos de superficies opacas y acristaladas y las cargas térmicas existentes. Se realizaron ensayos experimentales (con y sin radiación solar) para validar el modelo térmico dinámico. El modelo permite reproducir las variaciones de la temperatura del aire interior de la cabina del vehículo. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una variación máxima de 1.38 K, sin incidencia solar y 3.78 K con radiación solar. Palabras Clave: modelo térmico dinámico, vehículo, balance de calor, carga térmica

Farmacovigilancia activa en pacientes afiliados al sistema general de seguridad social en salud

Objetivos Determinar los posibles resultados negativos asociados a la medicación mediante la metodología de búsqueda activa de posibles interacciones medicamentosas en bases de datos de pacientes afiliados al Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud. Métodos A partir de las bases de datos de dispensación de medicamentos de Audifarma S.A a unos 4 millones de usuarios del país, se hizo una revisión sistemática de estadísticas de una serie de medicamentos identificados por presentar interacciones de riesgo, dosis diferentes a las recomendadas o dispensación irregular. Los casos son socializados con las EPS responsables. Resultados Se encontró un caso de nefrotoxicidad por ácido zoledrónico; el 37,0 % de los usuarios de clopidogrel recibían concomitantemente omeprazol, que reduce la efectividad del primero;  el 29,9 % de los pacientes que toman losartan están recibiendo dosis superiores a las recomendadas para su indicación; el 2,0 % de los pacientes que toman metoprolol o verapamilo, los recibe simultáneamente, con riesgo de generar bradicardia sinusal, bloqueos auriculoventriculares o disfunción sistólica. Todos los casos fueron notificados a los responsables en la EPS que atienden estos pacientes. Discusión La farmacovigilancia activa permite optimizar recursos, prevenir eventos adversos que puedan potencialmente causar morbilidad importante o incluso letalidad o determinar problemas que podrían ser responsables del fracaso terapéutico. Este tipo de estrategia se anticipa a la aparición de posibles riesgos para el paciente por lo que se recomienda considerarla para reforzar los programas de vigilancia de uso de medicamentos en el país

Concurrent Training Increases Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Adults Regardless of the Exercise Frequency

Background: Human brain function declines with aging. In this sense, exercise-based interventions has a promising effect on brain plasticity for older adults. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a positive biomarker for brain neuroplasticity in healthy older adults also modified by exercise training. Selected features of the exercise prescription for improving brain health are missing; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of concurrent exercise training frequency on serum BDNF levels in healthy older adults. Methods: Nineteen volunteers (age: 65 ± 4 year; body mass index: 28.0 ± 4.5 kg/m2) completed either a three times/week (3-t/w) (n = 8) or five times/week (5-t/w) (n = 11) concurrent exercise program. The exercise program lasted 11 weeks and all exercise sessions were performed for 50 min at moderate intensity. Serum BDNF, body composition, cardiovascular, and physical fitness variables were assessed before and after the exercise training program. Results: Regardless of the group, the serum BDNF increased following the intervention (p < 0.001), and there were no significant group (p = 0.827) or interaction (p = 0.063) effects. The maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) increased regardless of the group (p = 0.007), with a non-significant group (p = 0.722) or interaction (p = 0.223) effects. Upper- and lower-body strength increased in both groups (p = 0.003); however, there was no effect of the training frequency (p = 0.53). For the skeletal muscle mass, there was a trend in the interaction effect (p = 0.053). Finally, the body fat percentage was unchanged. Conclusion: Eleven weeks of combined exercise training increased serum BDNF levels in healthy older adults, a response independent of the training frequency. The overall fitness level improved similarly in both exercise groups. These data reveal that a minimal dosage of concurrent exercise enhance functional capacity and a brain health biomarker in older adults

Revisión y análisis de técnicas y métodos computacionales para la evaluación de la condición corporal en vacas

BCS (del inglés "Body Condition Score") es un método que permite estimar la grasa corporal como indicador del status energético de las vacas. El monitoreo de esta variable es muy importante porque influye en la producción de leche, reproducción y salud de las vacas. El BCS se evalúa visualmente con la intervención de personal calificado, y puede estar sujeto a variaciones entre operadores. Para minimizar esta variación y disponer de más agilidad durante el registro de los valores, en la bibliografía se encuentran diferentes trabajos que la automatizan total o parcialmente aplicando técnicas de análisis de imágenes y aprendizaje máquina. En este documento se analizan dichos trabajos, señalando las principales ventajas y desventajas, que derivan en la identificación de oportunidades de investigación y desarrollo de nuevas alternativas que mejoren el tiempo de respuesta y precisión de las estimaciones.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Revisión y análisis de técnicas y métodos computacionales para la evaluación de la condición corporal en vacas

BCS (del inglés "Body Condition Score") es un método que permite estimar la grasa corporal como indicador del status energético de las vacas. El monitoreo de esta variable es muy importante porque influye en la producción de leche, reproducción y salud de las vacas. El BCS se evalúa visualmente con la intervención de personal calificado, y puede estar sujeto a variaciones entre operadores. Para minimizar esta variación y disponer de más agilidad durante el registro de los valores, en la bibliografía se encuentran diferentes trabajos que la automatizan total o parcialmente aplicando técnicas de análisis de imágenes y aprendizaje máquina. En este documento se analizan dichos trabajos, señalando las principales ventajas y desventajas, que derivan en la identificación de oportunidades de investigación y desarrollo de nuevas alternativas que mejoren el tiempo de respuesta y precisión de las estimaciones.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Fish Oil Supplementation Reduces Inflammation but Does Not Restore Renal Function and Klotho Expression in an Adenine-Induced CKD Model

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease and inflammation promote loss of Klotho expression. Given the well-established anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids, we aimed to investigate the effect of fish oil supplementation in a model of CKD. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice received supplementation with an adenine-enriched diet (AD, n = 5) or standard diet (CTL, n = 5) for 10 days. Two other experimental groups were kept under the adenine diet for 10 days. Following adenine withdrawal on the 11th day, the animals returned to a standard diet supplemented with fish oil (Post AD-Fish oil, n = 9) or not (Post AD-CTL, n = 9) for an additional period of 7 days. RESULTS: Adenine mice exhibited significantly higher mean serum urea, creatinine, and renal expression of the pro-inflammatory markers Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10), and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), in addition to prominent renal fibrosis and reduced renal Klotho gene expression compared to the control. Post AD-Fish oil animals demonstrated a significant reduction of IL-6, C-X-C motif chemokine 9 (CXCL9), and IL-1β compared to Post AD-CTL animals. However, serum creatinine, renal fibrosis, and Klotho were not significantly different in the fish oil-treated group. Furthermore, renal histomorphological changes such as tubular dilatation and interstitial infiltration persisted despite treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Fish oil supplementation reduced renal pro-inflammatory markers but was not able to restore renal function nor Klotho expression in an adenine-induced CKD model

Health status in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles fed diets devoid of fishmeal and supplemented with Phaeodactylum tricornutum

To enhance fish general health, feeds can be supplemented with health-promoting additives, reducing the need to use chemotherapeutics. Incorporation of marine algae biomasses in aquafeeds has been shown to improve fish immune status by enhancing innate immune response. This study evaluated the effects of Phaeodactylum tricornutum incorporation in feed by two different processes, either as freeze-dried biomass or broken cell wall biomass, on fish health status and performance. Triplicate groups of gilthead seabream juveniles (13.3 ± 0.3 g) were either fed a control diet (CTRL) with an extreme (i.e., 0% fishmeal), nutritionally balanced, formulation, or two experimental diets formulated as the CTRL with 1% inclusion of the microalga P. tricornutum at the expense of wheat meal: BC diet contains P. tricornutum broken cells and WC diet microalgae whole cells. After 2 and 12 weeks of feeding, blood was collected for hematological procedures, whereas plasma and mucus were sampled for immune parameters. Head-kidney, liver, and white skeletal muscle were also collected for gene expression measurements. No major differences were observed in hematological nor plasma humoral parameters after 12 weeks irrespective of dietary treatment. Arrays of 29–31 genes were analyzed in the different tissues, revealing an early dietary effect (2 weeks) in a tissue-specific pattern. In the liver, the major effect was found in the GH/IGF axis and in muscle there was a late downregulation of myostatin (mstn) gene, mainly due to WC diet, even though all fish had similar growth performance. Regarding the head-kidney, BC diet led to alpha-2-macroglobulin (a2m) gene upregulation. Also, the same treatment showed increased mucus alternative complement pathway and bactericidal activity at 2 and 12 weeks, respectively. Hence, it seems that BC diet has a potential stimulatory effect that might be relevant as a prophylactic measure before a predictable stressful event.This work has been funded under the EU FP7 by the MIRACLES project No. 613588: Multi-product Integrated bioRefinery of Algae: from Carbon dioxide and Light Energy to high-value Specialties and by national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020. B. Reis, L. Ramos-Pinto, B. Costas, and S. Engrola were supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (PD/BDE/129262/2017, PD/BDE/114436/2016, IF/00197/ 2015, and IF/00482/2014, respectively)

Engineering polycotton fiber surfaces, with an timicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. Coli, C. albicans and SARS-CoV-2

Pathogenic microorganisms are becoming a potential threat to the health of human beings and the environment worldwide. In this present study, we have developed a polycotton fiber, in which by incorporation and functionalization of aggregated Ag NPs are achieved by using the pad-dry-cure meth- od. Upon contact, this coating shows antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. Coli, C. albicans and SARS-CoV-2. The polycotton AgNP, inhibiting nearly of the virus was able to prevent cross-infections, and does not causes allergies or photoirritation, proving the safety of its use. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an antimicrobial coating that could rapidly reduce the infective load of bacteria, fungi, and inhibit SARS--CoV-2. Taken together, the antimicrobial coating reported herein holds great promise to be developed for further application in healthcare settings