Importancia de la detección del protozoario zoonótico Cryptosporidium parvum en muestras de agua en Chile

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease of the digestive tract caused by protozoa of the genus Cryptosporidium. Species of this agent have been reported since the beginning of the twentieth century. Just at the end of it, it has been recognized as a pathogen widely distributed as a threat to public health. In human beings and other animal species, is considered an emerging or re emerging infectious agent. In 1984, the first outbreak of cryptosporidiosis transmitted through water, was described. Since then, many authors have shown the presence of this endoparasite in surface water, pool water, untreated wastewater and even drinking water, suggesting its role as a causative agent of diarrhea. Also there is evidence that water purification methods would not be completely efficient to remove or inactivate this endoparasite. The persistence and spread of this protozoan in the environment and drinking water are based on three biological conditions: 1) Its oocysts are immediately infectious, 2) it have a small size and 3) it have resistance to the environmental conditions, as well as the action of disinfectants and physical processes of water purification treatment. The laboratory diagnostic methods are diverse and can vary according to the origin of the samples. Microscopic, immunological and molecular protocols can be used in either patients or environmental samples. The development of molecular diagnostic technique has allowed the identification of Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum witch infections have the highest prevalence in human beings. In Chile, this parasitic disease is endemic infecting human domestic and wildlife animals. Studies of cryptosporidiosis in humans and livestock animals banegda dne itnec tth teh ims zido-o8n0o'sti',c baugte notn ilny trheicse mntalytr isxo.    La criptosporidiosis es una enfermedad parasitaria del tracto digestivo producida por protozoos del género Cryptosporidium. Aunque las especies de este agente se han descrito desde comienzos del siglo veinte, solo a fines de éste, se ha reconocido como un patógeno ampliamente distribuido y como una amenaza para la salud pública. En los seres humanos y algunas especies animales, es considerado un agente emergente dado su reciente hallazgo en nuevas áreas geográficas del mundo o por su descripción en nuevas especies animales. En tanto que también se ha reportado su re emergencia por el aumento de la prevalencia de este patógeno en poblaciones humanas o animales. El primer brote de criptosporidiosis transmitido a través del agua, fue descrito en 1984, y desde ese año numerosos autores han evidenciado la presencia de este endoparásito en aguas de superficie, aguas de piscina, aguas residuales no tratadas e incluso en redes de agua potable, sugiriendo su rol como agente etiológico de diarrea. Su hallazgo frecuente en el agua potable, evidencia que los métodos de potabilización del agua no serían completamente eficientes en la separación o inactivación de este endoparásito. La persistencia y diseminación de éste protozoo en el ambiente y el agua potable se sustenta en tres hechos biológicos: (1) Sus ooquistes son inmediatamente infectantes, (2) tienen un tamaño pequeño y (3) resisten las condiciones medio ambientales, tanto como la acción de desinfectantes convencionales, así como los procesos físicos de tratamientos de aguas. Los métodos de diagnóstico de laboratorio son diversos y pueden variar según el origen de la muestra. Así por ejemplo existen protocolos y estudios tanto de técnicas microscópicas, como inmuocromatográficas y moleculares como PCR, para ser utilizados tanto en muestras del medio ambiente como en aquellas provenientes de pacientes. El desarrollo de estas últimas técnicas para el diagnóstico, ha permitido identificar a Cryptosporidium hominis y C. parvum como aquellos que con mayor prevalencia infectan al hombre. En Chile, es un agente endémico y está descrito en una serie de animales domésticos, así como también en los seres humanos. Si bien, los estudios de esta parasitosis se iniciaron en humanos y animales a mediados de la década de los 80', solo recientemente existen antecedentes bibliográficos de laboratorios que han realizado protocolos de detección de este agente zoonótico en esta matriz.  

Power flow stabilization and control of microgrid with wind generation by superconducting magnetic energy storage

High penetration of renewable energy sources such as wind generation in microgrids (MGs) causes fluctuations of power flow and significantly affects the power system (PS) operation. This can lead to severe problems, such as system frequency oscillations, and/or violations of power lines capability. With the proper control, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) is able to significantly enhance the dynamic security of the PS. In an SMES system, the power conditioning system (PCS) is the crucial component that directly influences the validity of the SMES in the dynamic control of the PS. This paper proposes the use of an improved SMES controller for the stabilization and control of the power flow of wind-hybrid MGs. In this sense, the design and implementation of a novel high-performance PCS scheme of the SMES is described. Moreover, a detailed model of the SMES unit is derived and a novel three-level control scheme is designed, comprising a full decoupled current control strategy in the d-q reference frame and an enhanced PS frequency controller. The dynamic performance of the proposed systems is fully validated by computer simulation.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Modelling and Control Design of Pitch-Controlled Variable Speed Wind Turbines

This chapter provides an overall perspective of modern wind power systems, including a discussion of major wind turbine concepts and technologies. More specifically, of the various wind turbine designs, pitch-controlled variable speed wind turbines controlled by means of power electronic converters have been considered. Among them, direct-in-line wind turbines with full-scale power converter and using direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generators have increasingly drawn more interests to wind turbine manufactures due to its advantages over the other variable-speed wind turbines. Based on this issue, major operating characteristics of these devices are thoroughly analyzed and a three-phase grid-connected wind turbine system, incorporating a maximum power point tracker for dynamic active power generation is presented. Moreover, a simplified state-space averaged mathematical model of the wind turbine system is provided. An efficient power conditioning system of the selected wind turbine design and a new three-level control scheme by using concepts of instantaneous power in the synchronous-rotating d-q reference frame in order to simultaneously and independently control active and reactive power flow in the distribution network level are proposed. Dynamic system simulation studies in the MATLAB/Simulink environment is used in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed multi-level control approaches in d-q coordinates and the full detailed models presented. The fast response of power electronic devices and the enhanced performance of the proposed control techniques allow taking full advantage of the wind turbine generator.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentin

Stabilization and control of tie-line power flow of microgrid including wind generation by distributed energy storage

High penetration of wind generation in electrical microgrids causes fluctuations of tie-line power flow and significantly affects the power system operation. This can lead to severe problems, such as system frequency oscillations, and/or violations of power lines capability. With proper control, a distribution static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM) integrated with superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) is able to significantly enhance the dynamic security of the power system. This paper proposes the use of a SMES system in combination with a DSTATCOM as effective distributed energy storage (DES) for stabilization and control of the tie-line power flow of microgrids incorporating wind generation. A new detailed model of the integrated DSTATCOM-SMES device is derived and a novel three-level control scheme is designed. The dynamic performance of the proposed control schemes is fully validated using MATLAB/Simulink. © 2009 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Fil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentin

Resistance to bleomycin increases the chronological life of cells

The identification of genes involved in chronological aging could have a potential utility as molecular markers in the chemotherapy treatment of cancer. The aim of this work is to study the relationship between the chronological aging and the resistance to Bleomycin for the purpose of establish the basic interactions between these phenomenons for further investigation of molecular markers.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

ADAPTACIÓN DE LENTE DE CONTACTO PROTÉSICO-COSMÉTICA Y TERAPÉUTICA EN PACIENTE AFÁQUICO CON MIDRIASIS FARMACOLÓGICA

Las lentes de contacto pueden ser utilizadas como una herramienta correctora valiosa en la atención clínica del optometrista, pero también son reconocidas por su uso cosmético y protésico; Estas permiten dar respuestas a las necesidades ópticas y cosméticas del paciente, brindando un aporte significativo al proceso de regeneración de la fisiología corneal. La evaluación clínica se debe realizar por un equipo capacitado integrado por un oftalmólogo y un optometrista. En el presente artículo se analiza el caso de un paciente de 74 años de edad, intervenido de catarata traumática en ojo derecho (OD) provocada por contusión con objeto perforante. Ante la imposibilidad de adaptarle lente de contacto intraocular (LIO) para compensación de su afaquia y al presentar midriasis pupilar por su tratamiento farmacológico que le produce acusada fotofobia con presencia de reflejos inhabilitantes, el paciente nos es referido por su oftalmólogo para valorar la posibilidad de adaptación de Lente de Contacto (LC) con los siguientes objetivos: a) establecer la compensación óptica necesaria para la corrección de la afaquia, b) regularización externa de su diámetro pupilar, c) resolución funcional de midriasis farmacológica y restitución de la simetría óculo-facial. Tras las pertinentes pruebas en consulta, se le adaptan al paciente dos lentes de contacto diferentes, un lente de contacto protésico-cosmética (LCPC) y una lente de contacto terapéutica para afaquia (LCTA), que combinadas con el uso de una gafa multifocal permiten que el paciente obtenga una importante mejora visual, funcional y estética

Relationship between chronological aging and acquired resistance to cisplatin in the yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Sir2 gene is associated with an increase in longevity in yeasts, worms, flies and rodents. The human homolog, Sirt1, is also involved in longevity, by inhibiting cellular senescence. Studies carry out in tumor cells of neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, breast and ovary, resistant and sensitive to antineoplastic drugs, suggest that the increase of Sirt1 expression may represent a general phenomenon associated with resistance to chemotherapy, independent of cell type or drug used to induce resistance. Thus, after analyzing tumor biopsies after treating patients with chemotherapy, high amounts of Sirt1 have been observed. The aim of this work is to study the relationship between chronological aging and acquired resistance to Cisplatin in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer may be influenced by changes in the intestinal microbiota that affect the mucosa and cause an immune response capable of producing inflammatory effects. Although there are still few studies in this regard, it is necessary to emphasize the need to expand the studies on this topic and to state the usefulness of the new technologies based on metagenomics.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Case study of the intestinal microbiota using the XGN-MBI metagenomic assay

The microbiota of the colon and rectum is the most abundant and diverse of the human body, with a density of up to 1-2 kg of weight and a diversity that exceeds a thousand species. Metagenomics can be defined as the application of modern genomic techniques for the direct study of communities of microorganisms in their natural environment The aim of this study is to prove the usefulness of new technologies based on metagenomics, such as the XGN-MBI assay to realize gut microbiota studies.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Dynamic Modelling of Advanced Battery Energy Storage System for Grid-Tied AC Microgrid Applications

In the last decade, power generation technology innovations and a changing economic, financial, and regulatory environment of the power markets have resulted in a renewed interest in on-site small-scale electricity generation, also called distributed, dispersed or decentralized generation (DG). Other major factors that have contributed to this evolution are the constraints on the construction of new transmission lines, the increased customer demand for highly reliable electricity and concerns about climate change. Along with DG, local storage directly coupled to the grid (aka distributed energy storage or DES) is also assuming a major role for balancing supply and demand, as was done in the early days of the power industry. All these distributed energy resources (DERs), i.e. DG and DES, are presently increasing their penetration in developed countries as a means to produce in-situ highly reliable and good quality electrical power. Incorporating advanced technologies, sophisticated control strategies and integrated digital communications into the existing electricity grid results in Smart Grids (SGs), which are presently seen as the energy infrastructure of the future intelligent cities. Smart grids allow delivering electricity to consumers using two-way (full-duplex) digital technology that enable the efficient management of consumers and the efficient use of the grid to identify and correct supply-demand imbalances. Smartness in integrated energy systems (IESs) which are called microgrids (MG) refers to the ability to control and manage energy consumption and production in the distribution level. In such IES systems, the grid-interactive AC microgrid is a novel network structure that allows obtaining the better use of DERs by operating a cluster of loads, DG and DES as a single controllable system with predictable generation and demand that provides both power and heat to its local area by using advanced equipments and control methods. This grid, which usually operates connected to the main power network but can be autonomously isolated (island operation) during an unacceptable power quality condition, is a new concept developed to cope with the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs). Grid connection of RESs, such as wind and solar (photovoltaic and thermal), is becoming today an important form of DG. The penetration of these DG units into microgrids is growing rapidly, enabling reaching high percentage of the installed generating capacity. However, the fluctuating and intermittent nature of this renewable generation causes variations of power flow that can significantly affect the operation of the electrical grid. This situation can lead to severe problems that dramatically jeopardize the microgrid security, such as system frequency oscillations, and/or violations of power lines capability margin, among others. This condition is worsened by the low inertia present in the microgrid; thus requiring having available sufficient fast-acting spinning reserve, which is activated through the MG primary frequency control. To overcome these problems, DES systems based on emerging technologies, such as advanced battery energy storage systems (ABESSs), arise as a potential alternative in order to balance any instantaneous mismatch between generation and load in the microgrid. With proper controllers, these advanced DESs are capable of supplying the microgrid with both active and reactive power simultaneously and very fast, and thus are able to provide the required security level. The most important advantages of these advanced DESs devices include: high power and energy density with outstanding conversion efficiency, and fast and independent power response in four quadrants. Much work has been done, especially over the last decades, to assess the overall benefits of incorporating energy storage systems into power systems. However, much less has been done particularly on advanced distributed energy storage and its utilization in emerging electrical microgrid, although major benefits apply. Moreover, no studies have been conducted regarding a comparative analysis of the modeling and controlling of these modern DES technologies and its dynamic response in promising grid-interactive AC microgrids applications. In this chapter, a unique assessment of the dynamic performance of novel BESS technologies for the stabilization of the power flow of emerging grid-interactive AC microgrids with RESs is presented. Generally, electrochemical batteries include the classic and well-known lead-acid type as well as the modern advanced battery energy storage systems. ABESSs comprise new alkaline batteries, nickel chemistry (nickel-metal hydride?NiMH, and nickel-cadmium?NiCd), lithium chemistry (lithium-ion?Li-Ion, and lithium?polymer-Li-po), and sodium chemistry (sodium-sulfur?NaS, and sodium-salt?NaNiCl). In this work, of the various advanced BESSs nowadays existing, the foremost ones are evaluated. In this sense, the design and implementation of the proposed ABESSs systems are described, including the power conditioning system (PCS) used as interface with the grid. Moreover, the document provides a comprehensive analysis of both the dynamic modeling and the control design of the leading ABESSs aiming at enhancing the operation security of the AC microgrid in both grid-independent (autonomous island) and grid-interactive (connected) modes...Fil: Sarasua, Antonio Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Molina, Marcelo Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; ArgentinaFil: Mercado, Pedro Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Energía Eléctrica; Argentin