Detection Of Fracture Orientation Using Azimuthal Variation Of P-Wave Avo Responses

Azimuthally-dependent P-wave AVO (amplitude variation with offset) responses can be related to open fracture orientation and have been suggested as a geophysical tool to identify fracture orientation in fractured oil and gas reservoirs. A field experiment recently conducted over a fractured reservoir in the Barinas Basin (Venezuela) provides data for an excellent test of this approach. Three lines of data were collected in three different azimuths, and three component receivers were used. The distribution of fractures in this reservoir was previously obtained using measurements of shear wave splitting from P-S converted waves from the same dataset (Ata and Michelena, 1995). In this work, we use P-wave data to see if the data can yield the same information using azimuthal variation of P-wave AVO responses. Results obtained from the azimuthal P-wave AVO analysis corroborate the results previously obtained using P-S converted waves. This analysis with field data is an example of the high potential of P-waves to detect fracture effects on seismic wave propagation.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory. Reservoir Delineation Consortiu

Método Cluster-RNA para Clasificar, Caracterizar y Pronosticar Perfiles Competitivos del Sector Tiendas Minoristas en la Ciudad de Barranquilla

Objective: To develop a method to classify, characterize and forecast competitive profiles of the retail stores sector based on the integration of the cluster analysis technique and artificial neural networks. Methodology: For the above, the literature related to the competitiveness of retail stores was reviewed, from which variables associated with this research were identified. The information analyzed corresponds to 224 retail stores in the city of Barranquilla. Results: The cluster analysis allowed to characterize 4 competitive profiles of the sector that showed to be homogeneous intragroup and heterogeneous extragroup. The artificial neural network model showed a 91.3% correct classification in the reserve sample, which inferred the capacity of classification of the network model and the discriminant capacity of the variables related to the knowledge of products and prices, the practices of inventory and sales, presence in the market, differentiated attention, location and variety of products in the identified profiles. Conclusions: The results of the research show high capacity of the cluster-RNA method, to classify and project competitive profiles from which improvement processes can be designed.Objetivo: Desarrollar un método para clasificar, caracterizar y pronosticar perfiles competitivos del sector tiendas minoristas a partir de la integración de la técnica de análisis de cluster y las redes neuronales artificiales. Metodología:  Para lo anterior se revisó la literatura relacionada con la competitividad de tiendas minoristas a partir de lo cual se identificaron variables asociadas a esta investigación. La información analizada corresponde a 224 tiendas de comercio minorista de la ciudad de Barranquilla. Resultados: El análisis de cluster permitió caracterizar 4 perfiles competitivos del sector que mostraron ser homogéneos intragrupo y heterogéneos extragrupo, El modelo de red neuronal artificial mostró un 91,3% de clasificación correcta en la muestra de reserva, con lo cual se infiere la capacidad de clasificación del modelo de red y la capacidad discriminante de las variables relacionadas con el conocimiento de productos y precios, las prácticas de inventario y ventas, presencia en el mercado, atención diferenciada, ubicación y variedad de productos en los perfiles identificados.  Conclusiones: Los resultados de la investigación muestran alta capacidad del método cluster-RNA, para clasificar y proyectar perfiles competitivos a partir de los cuales se pueden diseñar procesos de mejoramiento

Anal manometric evaluation of children with encopresis

INTRODUÇÃO: A constipação crônica é doença comum na infância, ocorrendo em 5 a 10% dos pacientes pediátricos, considerada a segunda maior causa de procura nos consultórios de pediatria, sendo a encoprese decorrente de constipação grave associada à impactação fecal no reto. Dentre os exames diagnósticos, a manometria anal é utilizada para a avaliação de pacientes com distúrbios funcionais, como a constipação intestinal e a incontinência fecal, em alguns serviços para a avaliação de pacientes com encoprese, pois pode trazer informações sobre o mecanismo evacuatório e possíveis lesões esfincterianas anais. OBJETIVO: Verificar alterações manométricas em pacientes com encoprese. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo de 40 manometrias anais de crianças constipadas com encoprese (G1) e 12 crianças constipados sem encoprese (G2). Foram obtidos os seguintes dados: pressões de repouso, contração e evacuação do canal anal e ampola retal, ponto de maior pressão, reflexo inibitório anal e sensibilidade retal. As manometrias foram realizadas com o aparelho Alacer de perfusão com 8 canais. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças nas pressões de repouso, contração e evacuação do canal anal entre os grupos. Chamou-nos a atenção a ausência de necessidade de maior volume retal para desencadear o reflexo inibitório anal. Não houve diferença da incidência de anismus entre os dois grupos, demonstrando que não se trata de fator importante na manutenção da encoprese, mas sim da constipação. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve necessidade de maior volume para desencadear o reflexo inibitório anal. O anismus não foi diferente entre os dois grupos, não sendo importante na manutenção da encoprese.INTRODUCTION: Chronic constipation is a common childhood disorder that affects 5 to 10% of pediatric patients, being the second most common cause for seeking medical help, with the encopresis arising out of severe constipation being associated with fecal impaction in the rectum. Among diagnostic exams, anal manometry is used to evaluate patients with functional disorders such as constipation and fecal incontinence, and in some procedures for the evaluation of patients suffering from encopresis, as it provides information on the defecation mechanism and any potential anal sphincter injuries. OBJECTIVE: To verify manometric alterations in patients with encopresis. METHODS: A study was conducted based on 40 anal manometries of constipated children with encopresis (G1) and 12 constipated children without encopresis (G2). The following data were obtained: pressure at rest, contraction and evacuation of the anal canal and the rectal ampulla, point of highest pressure, anal inhibitory reflex and rectal sensitivity. The manometries were performed with an 8-channel perfusion device manufactured by Alacer. DISCUSSION: No differences were found with respect for pressures at rest, contraction and evacuation of the anal canal between groups. Our attention was drawn to the lack of need for an increased rectal volume to trigger the anal inhibitory reflex. There was no difference in the incidence of anismus between groups, which shows that it is not a relevant factor in the maintenance of the encopresis, but of constipation. CONCLUSION: An increase in rectal volume was not required to trigger the anal inhibitory reflex. Anismus was not different in the two groups, being unimportant in the maintenance of encopresis

Large gangliocytic paraganglioma of the duodenum: A rare entity.

Journal Article;Gangliocytic paragangliomas are rare tumors that almost exclusively occur within the second portion of the duodenum. Although these tumors generally have a benign clinical course, they have the potential to recur or metastasize to regional lymph nodes. The case report presented here describes a 57-year-old female patient with melena, progressive asthenia, anemia, and a mass in the second-third portion of the duodenum that was treated by local excision. The patient was diagnosed with a friable bleeding tumor. The histologic analysis showed that the tumor was a 4 cm gangliocytic paraganglioma without a malignant cell pattern. In the absence of local invasion or distant metastasis, endoscopic resection represents a feasible, curative therapy. Although endoscopic polypectomy is currently considered the treatment of choice, it is not recommended if the size of the tumor is > 3 cm and/or there is active or recent bleeding. Patients diagnosed with a gangliocytic paraganglioma should be closely followed-up for possible local recurrence.Ye

Barreras para la atención en salud durante el diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer gástrico

Gastric cancer is a malignant neoplasm of high morbi-mortality. It ranks fifth in world prevalence. Objective: To describe the obstacles to health care during the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. Methodology: PubMed, Lilacs, Ebsco, Science-direct, Ovid and google scholar were used to the review of literature that included the consultation of clinical trials, topic reviews and management guides related to gastric cancer and its barriers during diagnosis and treatment between 2009 and 2016. Results: 56 articles achieved the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The obstacles found are administrative, institutional, economic, cultural and knowledge of the patient and the physician about gastric cancer which could limit the access to medical care. Conclusion: In Colombia, the fragmentation and segmentation of the health system impose obstacles on the care of adults with gastric cancer, which cause disparities in health that impact on their survival.Introducción: El cáncer gástrico es una neoplasia maligna de alta morbimortalidad. Ocupa el quinto lugar en prevalencia mundial. Objetivo: Describir las barreras para la atención en salud durante el diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer gástrico. Metodología: Para la revisión de la literatura se emplearon bases de datos (PubMed, Lilacs, Ebsco, Science-direct, Ovid y google académico), que incluyó la consulta de ensayos clínicos, revisiones de tema y guías de manejo relacionadas con cáncer gástrico y sus barreras durante el diagnóstico y tratamiento, entre 2009-2016. Resultados: 56 artículos cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Las barreras halladas son administrativas, institucionales, económicas, culturales y de conocimientos del paciente y el médico, que limitan el acceso a la atención médica. Conclusión: En Colombia, la fragmentación y segmentación del sistema de salud impone barreras en la atención de los adultos con cáncer gástrico ocasionando las disparidades en salud que impactan en su sobrevida

RICORS2040 : The need for collaborative research in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent and poorly known killer. The current concept of CKD is relatively young and uptake by the public, physicians and health authorities is not widespread. Physicians still confuse CKD with chronic kidney insufficiency or failure. For the wider public and health authorities, CKD evokes kidney replacement therapy (KRT). In Spain, the prevalence of KRT is 0.13%. Thus health authorities may consider CKD a non-issue: very few persons eventually need KRT and, for those in whom kidneys fail, the problem is 'solved' by dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, KRT is the tip of the iceberg in the burden of CKD. The main burden of CKD is accelerated ageing and premature death. The cut-off points for kidney function and kidney damage indexes that define CKD also mark an increased risk for all-cause premature death. CKD is the most prevalent risk factor for lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the factor that most increases the risk of death in COVID-19, after old age. Men and women undergoing KRT still have an annual mortality that is 10- to 100-fold higher than similar-age peers, and life expectancy is shortened by ~40 years for young persons on dialysis and by 15 years for young persons with a functioning kidney graft. CKD is expected to become the fifth greatest global cause of death by 2040 and the second greatest cause of death in Spain before the end of the century, a time when one in four Spaniards will have CKD. However, by 2022, CKD will become the only top-15 global predicted cause of death that is not supported by a dedicated well-funded Centres for Biomedical Research (CIBER) network structure in Spain. Realizing the underestimation of the CKD burden of disease by health authorities, the Decade of the Kidney initiative for 2020-2030 was launched by the American Association of Kidney Patients and the European Kidney Health Alliance. Leading Spanish kidney researchers grouped in the kidney collaborative research network Red de Investigación Renal have now applied for the Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) call for collaborative research in Spain with the support of the Spanish Society of Nephrology, Federación Nacional de Asociaciones para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades del Riñón and ONT: RICORS2040 aims to prevent the dire predictions for the global 2040 burden of CKD from becoming true