Short communication: Use of calcium sulphate dihydrate as an alternative to the conventional use of aluminium sulphate in the primary treatment of wastewater

The application of calcium sulphate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O) as a coagulant-flocculant alternative to the conventional use of aluminium sulphate in the primary treatment of wastewater was evaluated using a jar test apparatus. Samples from the State Water Commission (CEA) in Queretaro, Mexico, were collected for the experiments. Turbidity and pH were measured before and after applying the calcium sulphate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O). Turbidity readings obtained for the doses of 4 gE.-1 of aluminium sulphate varied from 3.91 to 3.87. The corresponding water pH was 3.90, giving the water an acidic character. Use of aluminium sulphate in the clarification of wastewater, thus, has financial and environmental implications due to the need to raise the pH of the treated water to 6.5.8.5, the recommended optimum interval for the physical-chemical-biological removal of pollutants. By contrast, calcium sulphate di-hydrate (CaSO4E2H2O) (gypsum) doses of 1, 1.5 and 2 gE.-1 resulted in a pH of between 7.04 and 7.51 repeatedly. These findings suggest that the application of calcium sulphate di-hydrate (CaSO4.2H2O) as coagulant-flocculant, followed by the process of sedimentation, may be a suitable alternative for the clarification of wastewater. However, the turbidity reported for the same doses was 74.05, 80.5 and 74.5 NTU, respectively, well above the international standard of 5 NTU. The effect of gypsum on turbidity warrants further research

EDUCAJUDO: educational and health innovation for the elderly. Learning to fall (YOKO-UKEMI)

El envejecimiento de la población española es una realidad incipiente debido al aumento de la esperanza de vida. Sin embargo, el proceso de envejecimiento puede convertir a las personas mayores en frágiles y dependientes. Una de las causas de fragilidad es el alto número de caídas que sufren las personas mayores y las consecuencias que conllevan. El objetivo del presente trabajo es presentar un diseño de intervención para aplicar el Judo en esta población como elemento educativo en la enseñanza del control de la caída, para minimizar los daños producidos por el impacto del cuerpo contra el suelo. La intervención va dirigida a sujetos sanos y prefrágiles de cualquier sexo. Para llevar a cabo la enseñanza de las caídas en las personas mayores se plantean dos secuencias de aprendizaje: una asistida autónoma con implementos y otra asistida colaborativa con compañero (con o sin implementos)

A New Analysis Method for Simulations Using Node Categorizations

Most research concerning the influence of network structure on phenomena taking place on the network focus on relationships between global statistics of the network structure and characteristic properties of those phenomena, even though local structure has a significant effect on the dynamics of some phenomena. In the present paper, we propose a new analysis method for phenomena on networks based on a categorization of nodes. First, local statistics such as the average path length and the clustering coefficient for a node are calculated and assigned to the respective node. Then, the nodes are categorized using the self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm. Characteristic properties of the phenomena of interest are visualized for each category of nodes. The validity of our method is demonstrated using the results of two simulation models. The proposed method is useful as a research tool to understand the behavior of networks, in particular, for the large-scale networks that existing visualization techniques cannot work well.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. This paper will be published in Social Network Analysis and Mining(www.springerlink.com

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 in seronegative infants born to HIV-1-infected mothers

BACKGROUND: Some individuals repeatedly exposed to Human Immunodeficiency Virus do not seroconvert and are resistant to HIV infection. Here, in a pediatric cohort of HIV seronegative infants born of HIV-infected mothers, we have studied eight non-breastfed children in whom viral DNA was detected in their PBMC. Our objective was to assess whether silent infection in these children can be explained by the presence of integrated viral DNA. METHODS: The presence of viral DNA was corroborated by nested PCR with primers for gag and the nef/LTR regions of HIV-1. Integration of HIV DNA into the host genome was assessed by an Alu-LTR PCR. Amplicons were sequenced and phylogenetic analyzes were done. RESULTS: HIV-1 DNA was detected in the earliest available PBMC sample from all eight infants, and two of them tested positive for HIV DNA at 2 years of age. Nested PCR resulted in the amplification of gag, nef/LTR and Alu-LTR fragments, which demostrated that HIV-1 DNA was integrated in the host cell genome. Each individual has a characteristic sequence pattern and is different from the LTR sequence of HXB2 prototype virus and other Mexican isolates. CONCLUSION: HIV-1 DNA was observed in PBMC from HIV exposed seronegative children in this pediatric cohort

Portable low-cost open-source wireless spectrophotometer for fast and reliable measurements

This article is based upon COST Action CA16215 and supported by the ERDF , European-Union Project No.1.1.1.2/16/I/001.We demonstrate a low-cost standalone portable spectrophotometer for fast and reliable measurement execution. The data acquired can be both displayed via a dedicated smartphone application or a computer interface, allowing users either to gather and view data on the move or set up a continuous experiment. All design and software files are open-source and are intended for the device to be easily replicable and further customizable to suit specific applications. The assembled device can measure absorption in the wavelength range from 450 nm to 750 nm with a resolution of 15 nm and is housed in a 90 × 85 × 58 mm casing. Validation of the device was carried out by assessing wavelength accuracy, dynamic range and the signal-to-noise ratio of the system, followed by testing in three different applications where limit of quantification, limit of detection and relative standard deviations were determined. The results indicated better performance than low-cost spectrophotometers, on average being comparable to moderate to high-cost spectrophotometers.European Regional Development Fund 1.1.1.2/16/I/001; Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART²https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S246806722030016

EDUCAJUDO: innovación educativa y de salud en mayores. Aprendiendo a caerse (yoko-ukemi)

The aging of the Spanish population is an emerging reality due to an increase in life expectancy. However, the aging process can make the elderly frail and dependent. One of the causes of fragility is the high number of falls suffered by seniors and their implications. Therefore, the objective of this communication is to present an intervention design to apply Judo in this population as an educational tool in teaching fall control to minimize damage from the impact of the body against the floor. The intervention is aimed at healthy subjects and pre-fragile of either sex. To carry out the teaching of falls in older people two learning sequences are proposed: autonomous assisted with equipment and assisted with other collaborative partner (with or without equipment).El envejecimiento de la población española es una realidad incipiente debido al aumento de la esperanza de vida. Sin embargo, el proceso de envejecimiento puede convertir a las personas mayores en frágiles y dependientes. Una de las causas de fragilidad es el alto número de caídas que sufren las personas mayores y las consecuencias que conllevan. El objetivo del presente trabajo es presentar un diseño de intervención para aplicar el Judo en esta población como elemento educativo en la enseñanza del control de la caída, para minimizar los daños producidos por el impacto del cuerpo contra el suelo. La intervención va dirigida a sujetos sanos y prefrágiles de cualquier sexo. Para llevar a cabo la enseñanza de las caídas en las personas mayores se plantean dos secuencias de aprendizaje: una asistida autónoma con implementos y otra asistida colaborativa con compañero (con o sin implementos).

Anomalías de forma y número en dentición temporal en una población Mexicana

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia y distribución de las anomalías de forma y de número en dentición temporal.  Material y Métodos: Estudio retro-prolectivo, transversal y descriptivo. Muestreo probabilístico por conveniencia estratificado por género. Se revisaron 1568 expedientes de pacientes que acudieron a la Clínica de Estomatología Pediátrica de la FEBUAP, durante el periodo 2012 a 2014, se incluyeron 720 expedientes (321 niñas y 399 niños) de 1 a 10 años, que presentaron estudios radiográficos completos, nítidos, con presencia de anomalías de forma o número, el estudio fue dividido en pacientes activos e inactivos. Para los inactivos se tomaron fotografías de las radiografías con presencia de anomalías de forma y/o número. En el caso de los activos, se realizó una entrevista con alguno de los padres, se solicitó autorización bajo consentimiento informado, asentimiento por parte del niño para realizar la exploración clínica y la toma de fotografías intraorales. Resultados: En total 63 niños tuvieron anomalías (17 niñas y 46 niños). La prevalencia total de las anomalías dentarias fue de 9%, de los cuales el 3,1% fueron (dientes fusionados y geminados), 1,1% (agenesias) y 1,9% (supernumerarios), 1,3% (raíces supernumerarias), 0,27% (macrodoncia), 0,11% (microdoncia) y finalmente el 0,27% correspondió a (talón cuspídeo). Conclusiones: A pesar de que la prevalencia de estas anomalías no es alta, es importante el examen radiográfico de rutina para realizar un diagnóstico temprano y así aplicar las medidas preventivas correctas, para establecer el mejor plan de tratamiento

Phase transitions in contagion processes mediated by recurrent mobility patterns

Human mobility and activity patterns mediate contagion on many levels, including the spatial spread of infectious diseases, diffusion of rumors, and emergence of consensus. These patterns however are often dominated by specific locations and recurrent flows and poorly modeled by the random diffusive dynamics generally used to study them. Here we develop a theoretical framework to analyze contagion within a network of locations where individuals recall their geographic origins. We find a phase transition between a regime in which the contagion affects a large fraction of the system and one in which only a small fraction is affected. This transition cannot be uncovered by continuous deterministic models due to the stochastic features of the contagion process and defines an invasion threshold that depends on mobility parameters, providing guidance for controlling contagion spread by constraining mobility processes. We recover the threshold behavior by analyzing diffusion processes mediated by real human commuting data.Comment: 20 pages of Main Text including 4 figures, 7 pages of Supplementary Information; Nature Physics (2011

The <i>Herschel</i> view of the massive star-forming region NGC 6334

Aims: Fundamental to any theory of high-mass star formation are gravity and turbulence. Their relative importance, which probably changes during cloud evolution, is not known. By investigating the spatial and density structure of the high-mass star-forming complex NGC 6334 we aim to disentangle the contributions of turbulence and gravity. Methods: We used Herschel PACS and SPIRE imaging observations from the HOBYS key programme at wavelengths of 160, 250, 350, and 500 μm to construct dust temperature and column density maps. Using probability distribution functions (PDFs) of the column density determined for the whole complex and for four distinct sub-regions (distinguished on the basis of differences in the column density, temperature, and radiation field), we characterize the density structure of the complex. We investigate the spatial structure using the Δ-variance, which probes the relative amount of structure on different size scales and traces possible energy injection mechanisms into the molecular cloud. Results: The Δ-variance analysis suggests that the significant scales of a few parsec that were found are caused by energy injection due to expanding HII regions, which are numerous, and by the lengths of filaments seen everywhere in the complex. The column density PDFs have a lognormal shape at low densities and a clearly defined power law at high densities for all sub-regions whose slope is linked to the exponent α of an equivalent spherical density distribution. In particular with α = 2.37, the central sub-region is largly dominated by gravity, caused by individual collapsing dense cores and global collapse of a larger region. The collapse is faster than free-fall (which would lead only to α = 2) and thus requires a more dynamic scenario (external compression, flows). The column density PDFs suggest that the different sub-regions are at different evolutionary stages, especially the central sub-region, which seems to be in a more evolved stage

Epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulation of somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5 ) in pituitary and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SST5 ) is an emerging biomarker and actionable target in pituitary (PitNETs) and pancreatic (PanNETs) neuroendocrine tumors. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of SSTR5 gene expression and mRNA biogenesis is poorly understood. Recently, an overlapping natural antisense transcript, SSTR5-AS1, potentially regulating SSTR5 expression, was identified. We aimed to elucidate whether epigenetic processes contribute to the regulation of SSTR5 expression in PitNETs (somatotropinomas) and PanNETs. We analyzed the SSTR5/SSTR5-AS1 human locus in silico to identify CpG islands. SSTR5 and SSTR5-AS1 expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) in 27 somatotropinomas, 11 normal pituitaries (NPs), and 15 PanNETs/paired adjacent (control) samples. We evaluated methylation grade in four CpG islands in the SSTR5/SSTR5-AS1 genes. Results revealed that SSTR5 and SSTR5-AS1 were directly correlated in NP, somatotropinoma and PanNET samples. Interestingly, selected CpG islands were differentially methylated in somatotropinomas compared with NPs. In PanNETs cell lines, SSTR5-AS1 silencing downregulated SSTR5 expression, altered aggressiveness features, and influenced pasireotide response. These results provide evidence that SSTR5 expression in PitNETs and PanNETs can be epigenetically regulated by the SSTR5-AS1 antisense transcript and, indirectly, by DNA methylation, which may thereby impact tumor behavior and treatment response