Análisis de la adaptación bivial de un vehículo táctico URO VAMTAC ST5.

Dadas las mermadas capacidades de la única unidad de ferrocarriles del Ejército, la Compañía de Ferrocarriles del Batallón II de Especialidades del Regimiento de Pontoneros y Especialidades de Ingenieros Nº12, y la necesidad de dotar a unidades ligeras de capacidad para desplazarse por tramos ferroviarios, surge la necesidad de un medio de transporte que lo permita.Los vehículos hi-rail son una solución ampliamente adoptada en el ámbito civil por las empresas de mantenimiento y obras de vías de tren. Se trata, básicamente de vehículos y maquinaria adaptada con diploris. Hay varios tipos de sistemas que se utilizan en función de las máquinas y de los vehículos que se adaptan, los diploris pasivos, los de tracción por rodillo y los de tracción hidráulica. Además, se parte de la premisa de que el vehículo elegido de entre los que el Ejército tiene en dotación es el VAMTAC ST5.Con el fin de conocer las necesidades de la Cía. de Ferrocarriles y las posibles aplicaciones en otras unidades, se realiza un estudio de referencias históricas, documentación doctrinal, manuales técnicos, realización de entrevistas y una encuesta al personal de tropa y mando de la compañía.Teniendo en cuenta los requerimientos obtenidos, se ha realizado un análisis comparativo de los 3 tipos de diploris, donde se han tomado en cuenta características determinadas como fundamentales; peso, versatilidad en distintos anchos de vía, coste, velocidad máxima sobre raíles… Para realizar la comparación yproponer uno de los modelos para su adquisición se ha empleado DAFO. Como resultado se obtuvo que el mejor candidato era el tipo diplori pasivo. Su simplicidad, ligereza, economía y facilidad de montaje lo hace el mejor sistema.A continuación, se realiza una búsqueda de posibles empresas capaces de ejecutar la adaptación. Para ello se recurre a una base de datos de empresas del sector ferroviario certificadas para realizar este tipo de trabajo, obteniendo así 5 candidatas. También se realiza una propuesta para el análisis de dichas empresas que pudiera arrojar al mejor de los proveedores.Se concluye por tanto que la adaptación del vehículo URO VAMTAC ST5 con un sistema de diploris pasivo sería viable, existiendo actualmente 5 empresas en territorio nacional con capacidad para realizarla.Palabras clave: Hi-rail, vehículo bivial, diplori, VAMTAC<br /

Risk profile and mode of transmission of monkeypox: A rapid review and individual patient data meta-analysis of case studies

Since May 2022, an outbreak of monkeypox in non-endemic countries has become a potential public health threat. The objective of this rapid review was to examine the risk profile and modes of transmission of monkeypox. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from inception through July 30 to collect case reports/series on patients with monkeypox infection. For meta-analysis, data on the total number of participants and deaths by binary categories of exposure (age, sex, country, other co-infections or existing conditions, and mode of contagion) were used. A total of 62 studies (4659 cases) were included. Most cases came from Africa (84.3%), followed by Europe (13.9%). In 63.6% of the cases, the mode of contagion was human contact, while 22.8% of the cases were by animal contact, and 13.5% were unknown or not reported. The mortality rate was 6.5% throughout these studies. The risk of mortality was higher in the younger age group (risk difference: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.02–0.36), in cases with other co-infections or current chronic conditions (risk difference: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01–0.05) and in the category of low- and middle-income countries (risk difference: 0.06; 95% CI: 0.05–0.08). There were no significant differences with respect to sex or mode of contagion. These results help to understand the major infection pathways and mortality risk profiles of monkeypox and underscores the importance of preventing outbreaks in specific settings, especially in settings densely populated by children, such as day care centres and schools

SEASONAL VARIATION IN BIRD ASSEMBLAGE COMPOSITION IN A DRY FOREST OF SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO

Abstract · Tropical dry forests are characterized by a marked seasonality throughout the year. The response of bird assemblages and species abundance to the seasonal changes of dry forests, as evidenced by bird feeding habits, can contribute to a greater understanding of the ecological processes in this ecosystem. In this study, we estimated variations in richness, abundance and composition of bird assemblages as well as their main feeding habits during two seasons of the year (dry and rainy) in a tropical dry forest in southwestern Mexico. Visual and auditory sampling was performed from February 2010 to February 2011 with a fixed-radius point count method (123 point counts distributed across nine transects). A total of 82 bird species belonging to 28 families were recorded in the study area. Although we found more species and a higher abundance in the dry season than in the rainy season, only the abundance of insectivorous-frugivorous and omnivorous birds was significantly higher. According to an ordination analysis, the composition and abundance of bird assemblage changed seasonally. A total of 21 resident birds were found in the dry season (March–June). Some omnivorous and granivorous birds, such as Streak-backed Oriole (Icterus pustulatus) and Blackchested Sparrow (Peucaea humeralis), were the most abundant species in both seasons. Other species, such as Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) and Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys), both insectivorous-frugivorous, were also abundant in two seasons. The greater diversity of avian feeding guilds in the dry season could be influenced by the reproductive activity that occur during this season and by the presence of Bursera fruits, as confirmed in other studies. Resumen · Variación estacional en la composición de ensambles de aves en un bosque tropical seco del suroeste de México Los bosques tropicales secos se caracterizan por una marcada estacionalidad climática a lo largo del año. Comprender la respuesta de los ensambles de aves y la abundancia de las especies de acuerdo a sus hábitos de alimentación, respecto a los cambios estacionales en el bosque seco, contribuye al conocimiento de los procesos ecológicos en este ecosistema. En este estudio, estimamos la variación de la riqueza, abundancia y composición de las aves y sus tipos de dieta en dos estaciones del año (secas y lluvias) en un bosque tropical seco al suroeste de México. Se realizaron muestreos visuales y auditivos durante un año (febrero de 2010 a febrero de 2011), con el uso de puntos de conteo de radio fijo (123 puntos distribuidos en nueve transectos). Se registró un total de 82 especies de aves que pertenecen a 28 familias. La estación seca presentó mayor riqueza de especies y abundancia de aves que la estación lluviosa, pero solo la abundancia de las aves insectívoro-frugívoras y omnívoras fue significativamente mayor en la estación seca. De acuerdo al análisis de ordenación, la composición y abundancia del ensamble de aves cambió estacionalmente. Se encontró un total de 21 aves residentes en los meses secos del año, que corresponde a la temporada reproductiva (marzo–junio). Algunas aves omnívoras y granívoras como la calandria dorso rayado (Icterus pustulatus) y el zacatonero pecho negro (Peucaea humeralis) fueron las más abundantes en ambas temporadas. Otras especies como tirano pálido (Tyrannus verticalis) y carpintero enmascarado (Melanerpes chrysogenys), ambas insectívoro-frugívoras, también fueron abundantes en las dos estaciones. La mayor diversidad de gremios alimenticios de las aves en la estación seca podría estar influenciada por las actividades reproductivas que transcurren durante esta temporada, y por la presencia de frutos de Bursera spp., como se ha observado en otros estudios

Dose-response association between handgrip strength and hypertension: a longitudinal study of 76,503 european older adults

To examine the prospective dose-response association between handgrip strength and the incidence of hypertension in a representative sample of older European adults. We retrieved data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) waves 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Handgrip strength was measured and participants reported whether they had a medical diagnosis of hypertension. We assessed the longitudinal dose‐response associations of handgrip strength with hypertension using restricted cubic splines. During the follow-up, 27,149 (35.5%) were diagnosed with incident hypertension. At the fully adjusted model, the minimum and optimal dose of handgrip strength for a significant reduction in the risk of hypertension was 28 Kg (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.89-0.96) and 54 Kg (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.78-0.89), respectively. There exists an association between increased handgrip strength and reduced risk of developing hypertension in older European adults

Handgrip strength and work limitations:A prospective cohort study of 70,820 adults aged 50 and older

The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between handgrip strength and the incidence of work limitations in European adults aged 50 and older. We conducted a prospective cohort study among adults aged 50 and older from 27 European countries and Israel. Data were collected from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) waves 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Handgrip strength was measured using a hand dynamometer (Smedley, S Dynamometer, TTM) and participants replied to questions about work limitations. Cox regression was conducted for statistical analyses. A total of 70,820 older adults (mean age 61 ± 7.7 years; 54.3 % women) were followed during a mean of 3.8 ± 2.9 years. The fully adjusted model showed that participants with low handgrip strength (<16 kg in women and <27 kg in men) had a significantly higher risk of work limitations compared with participants with normal values of handgrip strength (hazard ratio: 1.36; 95 % confidence interval: 1.28–1.44). Kaplan-Meier trajectories revealed that the survival probability to experience work limitations in the normal handgrip category was 20 % lower than in the low handgrip category in most of the follow-up period. We identified low level of handgrip strength as a risk factor for work limitations in adults aged 50 years or older. This could be used as an accessible measure to screen workers at risk of developing work limitations

Trends in adherence to the muscle-strengthening activity guidelines in the US over a 20-year span

urpose Purpose to evaluate the prevalence and temporal trends in adherence to muscle-strengthening activity (MSA) guidelines among the US population from 1997 to 2018 (pre-Covid 19). Methods We used nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey of the US (NHIS; a cross-sectional household interview survey). We pooled data from 22 consecutive cycles (1997 to 2018) and estimated prevalence and trends of adherence to MSA guidelines among adults aged 18–24 years, 25–34 years, 35–44 years, 45–64 years, and ≥ 65 years. Results A total of 651,682 participants (mean age 47.7 years [SD = 18.0], 55.8% women) were included. The overall prevalence of adherence to MSA guidelines significantly increased (p < .001) from 1997 to 2018 (19.8% to 27.2%, respectively). Adherence levels significantly increased (p < .001) for all age groups from 1997 to 2018. Compared with their white non-Hispanic counterparts, the odds ratio for Hispanic females was 0.5 (95% CI = 0.4–0.6). Conclusions It is over a 20-year span, adherence to MSA guidelines increased across all age groups, although the overall prevalence remained below 30%. Future intervention strategies to promote MSA are required with a particular focus on older adults, women, Hispanic women, current smokers, those with low educational levels, and those with functional limitations or chronic conditions

Handgrip strength measurement protocols for all-cause and cause-specific mortality outcomes in more than 3 million participants: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis

Background & aims: Handgrip strength is a strong predictor of the risk of mortality. The objective of this systematic review was to analyse handgrip strength measurement protocols used in all-cause and cause-specific mortality studies. Method: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus was conducted from inception to February 2022. Prospective cohort studies with objective measures of handgrip strength were included. Studies had to report at least one all-cause, cancer, or cardiovascular mortality outcome. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Meta-regression was used to quantify the bias associated with handgrip strength values in relation to the use of different measurement protocols. Results: Forty-eight studies with a total of 3,135,473 participants (49.6% women) were included. Half of the studies controlled body position, 39.6% arm position, 33.3% elbow position, 12.5% wrist position, 13% handgrip duration, 23% hand-adjustment to dynamometer and 12.5% verbal encouragement. The number of measurements, the laterality of the hand tested, and the estimation method of the handgrip strength value varied considerably between the study protocols. The spline regression model showed a non-linear inverse association between the values of handgrip strength and the number of protocol items controlled. Handgrip strength was higher when the number of measurements per hand or arm position was not controlled. Conversely, handgrip strength was lower when elbow position was not controlled or verbal encouragement were not provided. Conclusion: In general, the protocols used to assess handgrip strength in mortality studies are incomplete and highly heterogeneous. Handgrip strength values were higher when studies controlled fewer handgrip strength measurement protocol variables. There is a need to improve the controlling of handgrip strength measurement protocols and to standardise the method to enhance the accuracy of mortality risk estimates associated with handgrip strength

A transonic potential solver with an embedded wake approach using multivalued finite elements

A potential transonic solver with an embedded wake is presented. The flow outside of attached boundary layers of streamlined bodies flying at high Reynold numbers can be assumed to be irrotational and isentropic. This assumption reduces the Navier-Stokes equations to a single scalar nonlinear partial differential equation, namely the full-potential equation (FPE). The FPE expresses the conservation of mass in terms of the velocity potential. In this work, the FPE is discretized using a standard Galerkin finite element method, and the nonlinear system of equations stemming from the discretization is solved using Newton's method. An artificial compressibility method is used to stabilize the problem in supersonic flow regions. This method prevents the Jacobian from becoming singular and allows capturing shock waves. To include the viscosity effects in the lift generation, a model for the trailing wake needs to be introduced. In the presented method, the wake is modeled as a straight surface in the free-stream direction. This assumption is relaxed allowing mass flux across the wake. To capture the discontinuity in the velocity potential across the wake, a multivalued element method is employed. This implicit description of the wake within the mesh presents an effective approach to perform fluid-structure interaction computations and apply aeroelastic optimization methods, where the position of the wake changes during consecutive iterations. The solver is implemented in Kratos Multi-Physics and verified for different angles of attack and free-stream conditions. Since the pressure does not change in the transverse direction of the boundary layer, the FPE yields accurate lift, induced drag, and moment computations.Postprint (published version

Thresholds of handgrip strength for all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality: A systematic review with dose-response meta-analysis

Background While handgrip strength is associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality, whether such associations are dose-dependent is largely unknown. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review on the dose-response relationship of handgrip strength with all-cause mortality, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality. Methods The data source included three electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus) from inception to 8 February 2022. Prospective cohort studies of healthy adults with objective measures of handgrip strength were included. Two researchers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We used estimates regarding handgrip strength categories to conduct a random forest model, and a two-stage random-effects hierarchical meta-regression model pooling study-specific estimates for dose-response relationship. Outcomes included all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality. Reults Forty-eight studies comprising 3,135,473 participants (49.6% women, age range 35–85 years) were included. Random forest models showed a significant inverse association between handgrip strength and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Dose-response meta-analyses showed that higher levels of handgrip strength significantly reduced the risk of all-cause mortality within 26–50 kg (Higgin´s I2 =45.7%) in a close-to-linear inverse fashion. Cancer and cardiovascular mortality displayed a trend towards a U-shaped association with a significant risk reduction between 16 and 33 kg (Higgin´s I2 =77.4%), and a close-to-linear inverse shaped and significant risk reduction ranging from 24 to 40 kg (Higgin´s I2 =79.7%) respectively. Conclusion There is strong evidence for an association between lower handgrip strength with higher all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality risk. The dose-response relationship of handgrip strength substantially varies depending on the cause of mortality

Nueva información para la avifauna del estado de Querétaro, México

We present new information about 24 species, including 12 noteworthy records for the avifauna of the Mexican state of Queretaro. These data were gathered during fieldwork performed between 1993 to 2007, mainly in the Eje Neovolcánico province. Five species are considered protected under Mexican law NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001: Buteogallus anthracinus, Buteo albonotatus, Trogon collaris, Turdus infuscatus and Vermivora crissalis. The checklist of birds present in Queretaro is now at least 347 species.Presentamos información nueva de 24 especies, incluyendo 12 nuevos registros de aves para el estado de Querétaro, México. Estos datos fueron obtenidos en diversos estudios de campo de 1993 a 2007, principalmente en la provincia del Eje Neovolcánico. Cinco especies están bajo alguna categoría de riesgo según la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001: Buteogallus anthracinus, Buteo albonotatus, Trogon collaris, Turdus infuscatus y Vermivora crissalis. Con estas adiciones el listado de aves de Querétaro se incrementa al menos a 347 especie