Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Threatened Abortion in Women from Northern Peru

Introduction. Toxoplasma gondii infection can cause important complications during pregnancy. Threatened abortion may be a late indicator for infection in settings with high prevalence of toxoplasmosis. We aimed to determine the association between T. gondii infection and threatened abortion in women from northern Peru. Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study in pregnant women from a hospital and a rural community in Lambayeque, Peru. Exposure variable was serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, defined as the demonstration of either IgM or IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Outcome variable was threatened abortion, defined as the diagnosis of bloody vaginal discharge or bleeding during the first half of pregnancy. Prevalence ratios were estimated in simple and multiple regression analyses. Results. Of 218 pregnant women, 35.8% presented positive serology for T. gondii and 14.7% had threatened abortion in their current pregnancy. Pregnant women with positive T. gondii infection had 2.45-fold higher frequency of threatened abortion (PR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.15-5.21). In addition, the frequency of threatened abortion decreased by 9% for each additional year of age (PR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.97). A previous history of threatened abortion also showed a higher frequency of threatened abortion (PR: 5.22, 95% CI: 2.45-11.12). Conclusions. T. gondii infection is associated with threatened abortion. An early age of pregnancy and a previous history of abortion are also associated with this condition

Smartphone overuse, depression & anxiety in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

"Introduction Medical students have made particular use of smartphones during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although higher smartphone overuse has been observed, its effect on mental disorders is unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between smartphone overuse and mental disorders in Peruvian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 370 students aged between 16 and 41 years (median age: 20) in three universities from July to October 2020. A survey including Smartphone Dependence and Addiction Scale, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 was applied. Prevalence ratios were estimated using generalized linear models. Results Smartphone overuse was a common feature among students (n = 291, 79%). Depressive symptoms were present in 290 (78%) students and anxiety symptoms in 255 (69%). Adjusted for confounders, addictive/dependent smartphone use was significantly associated with presence of depressive symptoms (PR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.20–1.38 for dependent use; PR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.12–1.50 for addictive use). Also, addictive/dependent smartphone use was significantly associated with presence of anxiety symptoms (PR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.14–2.23 for dependent use; PR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.07–2.41 for addictive use). Conclusions Our findings suggest that medical students exposed to smartphone overuse are vulnerable to mental disorders. Overuse may reflect an inappropriate way of finding emotional relief, which may significantly affect quality of life and academic performance. Findings would assist faculties to establish effective measures for prevention of smartphone overuse.

Generation of a human iPSC line from a patient with a mitochondrial encephalopathy due to mutations in the GFM1 gene

Human iPSC line GFM1SV.25 was generated from fibroblasts of a child with a severe mitochondrial encephalopathy associated with mutations in the GFM1 gene, encoding the mitochondrial translation elongation factor G1. Reprogramming factors OCT3/4, SOX2, CMYC and KLF4 were delivered using a non integrative methodology that involves the use of Sendai virus.This work was supported by grants from the “Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en enfermedades raras” (CIBERER) (Grant 13-717/132.05 to RG), the “Instituto de Salud Carlos III” [Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria and Regional development fund (ERDF/FEDER) funds PI10/0703 and PI13/00556 to RG and PI15/00484 to MEG], “Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid” (Grant number S2010/BMD-2402 to RG); TG receives grant support from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (FPI-UAM) and FZD from the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (Grant FPU13/00544). MEG is staff scientist at the “Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras” (CIBERER

Progress on stochastic background search codes for LIGO

One of the types of signals for which the LIGO interferometric gravitational wave detectors will search is a stochastic background of gravitational radiation. We review the technique of searching for a background using the optimally-filtered cross-correlation statistic, and describe the state of plans to perform such cross-correlations between the two LIGO interferometers as well as between LIGO and other gravitational-wave detectors, in particular the preparation of software to perform such data analysis.Comment: 7 pages, 1 encapsulated PostScript figure, uses IOP class files, submitted to the proceedings of the 4th Amaldi meeting (which will be published in Classical and Quantum Gravity

Generation of a human iPSC line from a patient with an optic atrophy ‘plus’ phenotype due to a mutation in the OPA1 gene

AbstractHuman iPSC line Oex2054SV.4 was generated from fibroblasts of a patient with an optic atrophy ‘plus’ phenotype associated with a heterozygous mutation in the OPA1 gene. Reprogramming factors OCT3/4, SOX2, CMYC and KLF4 were delivered using a non-integrative methodology that involves the use of Sendai virus

Experimental demonstration of phase resonances in metallic compound gratings with subwavelength slits in the millimeter wave regime

The following article appeared in Miguel Navarro-Cía, Diana C. Skigin, Miguel Beruete, and Mario Sorolla: Appl. Phys. Lett. 94, 091107 (2009) and may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3086892We provide experimental evidence of phase resonances in metallic periodic structures in which each period comprises several subwavelength slits of the same width. We have analyzed and measured the response of these structures in the millimeter wave regime and show that phase resonances are characterized by a remarkable minimum in the transmission response, as predicted by numerical calculations. We compare experimental with numerical results, obtaining a very good agreement between them. This experimental confirmation encourages research in compound structures and their multiple potential applications, such as frequency selective surfaces.This work was also supported by Consolider “Engineering Metamaterials” Grant No. CSD2008-00066

Millimeter-wave phase resonances in compound reflection gratings with subwavelength grooves

Experimental evidence of phase resonances in a dual-period reflection structure comprising three subwavelength grooves in each period is provided in the millimeter-wave regime. We have analyzed and measured the response of these structures and show that phase resonances are characterized by a minimum in the reflected response, as predicted by numerical calculations. It is also shown that under oblique incidence these structures exhibit additional phase resonances not present for normal illumination because of the potentially permitted odd field distribution. A satisfactory agreement between the experimental and numerical reflectance curves is obtained. These results confirm the recent theoretical predictions of phase resonances in reflection gratings in the millimeter-wave regime, and encourage research in this subject due to the multiple potential applications, such as frequency selective surfaces, backscattering reduction and complex-surface-wave-based sensing. In addition, it is underlined here that the response becomes much more complex than the mere infinite analysis when one considers finite periodic structures as in the real experiment.D.S. gratefully acknowledges partial support from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET PIP 112-200801-01880), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA X208) and Agencia Nacional de Promocion Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCYT-BID1728 /OC-AR06-01785). This work was also supported by Consolider “ENGINEERING METAMATERIALS” CSD2008-00066

MODELADO Y SIMULACIÓN DEL CONTROL DE VELOCIDAD DE UN MOTOR HIDRÁULICO

En este artículo se presenta una metodología de selección de un motor hidráulico y el control de su velocidad, a partir de unos requerimientos de funcionamiento. Se presenta el modelado del sistema, la selección de los componentes, y se presentan los resultados de la simulación