Street lighting energy efficiency

Un estudio sobre la optimización de la eficiencia energética en el alumbrado público de la Municipalidad de S. M. de Tucumán fue efectuado basado en la aplicación de relojes astronómicos, balastos electrónicos dimerizables para lámparas de descarga de Sodio de alta presión de 150W/100W y luminarias de alta eficiencia. Durante 45 días, 273 puntos de luz conectados a 6 redes de alumbrado independientes fueron monitoreados, registrando el consumo, tiempos de funcionamiento, apagados nocturnos, encendidos diurnos y parámetros eléctricos de calidad. Los resultados indican que es posible una importante reducción en el consumo, entre un 11% y un 43% mejorando la calidad del servicio y reduciendo el contenido de armónicos que se introducen a la red de alumbrado a TDH A ≤ 6,5%. El trabajo describe la experiencia y el análisis de los resultados obtenidos.A study of street lighting energy efficiency was carried out in S. M. Tucumán City, based on the application of astronomical clocks, electronic ballasts (control gear) for high pressure sodium 150W/100W lamps and high efficiency luminaires. During 45 days, 273 luminaires connected to 6 independent electric networks were monitored recording: energy consumption, switching on/off times, night lamps outages, day on lamps and electrical quality parameters. The results indicate that it is possible a significant reduction in consumption, between 11% and 43% while improving service quality and reducing the harmonic content being introduced to the network lighting by TDH A ≤ 6.5%. The paper describes the experience and the analysis of the results.Fil: Tapia Garzón J.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Departamento de Luminotecnia, Luz y Visión; ArgentinaFil: Manzano, Eduardo Roberto. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Departamento de Luminotecnia, Luz y Visión; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Investigación en Luz, Ambiente y Visión. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Instituto de Investigación en Luz, Ambiente y Visión; ArgentinaFil: Gao S.. Municipalidad de S. M. Tucuman - Dirección Alumbrado; ArgentinaFil: Rojas M.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Departamento de Luminotecnia, Luz y Visión; ArgentinaFil: De Nobrega M.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Departamento de Luminotecnia, Luz y Visión; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Investigación en Luz, Ambiente y Visión. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Instituto de Investigación en Luz, Ambiente y Visión; Argentin

Granzyme A inhibition reduces inflammation and increases survival during abdominal sepsis

Aims: Peritonitis is one of the most common causes of sepsis, a serious syndrome characterized by a dysregulated systemic inflammatory response. Recent evidence suggests that Granzyme A (GzmA), a serine protease mainly expressed by NK and T cells, could act as a proinflammatory mediator and could play an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. This work aims to analyze the role and the therapeutic potential of GzmA in the pathogenesis of peritoneal sepsis. Methods: The level of extracellular GzmA as well as GzmA activity were analyzed in serum from healthy volunteers and patients with confirmed peritonitis and were correlated with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Peritonitis was induced in C57Bl/6 (WT) and GzmA-/- mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Mice were treated intraperitoneally with antibiotics alone or in combination serpinb6b, a specific GzmA inhibitor, for 5 days. Mouse survival was monitored during 14 days, levels of some proinflammatory cytokines were measured in serum and bacterial load and diversity was analyzed in blood and spleen at different times. Results: Clinically, elevated GzmA was observed in serum from patients with abdominal sepsis suggesting that GzmA plays an important role in this pathology. In the CLP model GzmA deficient mice, or WT mice treated with an extracellular GzmA inhibitor, showed increased survival, which correlated with a reduction in proinflammatory markers in both serum and peritoneal lavage fluid. GzmA deficiency did not influence bacterial load in blood and spleen and GzmA did not affect bacterial replication in macrophages in vitro, indicating that GzmA has no role in bacterial control. Analysis of GzmA in lymphoid cells following CLP showed that it was mainly expressed by NK cells. Mechanistically, we found that extracellular active GzmA acts as a proinflammatory mediator in macrophages by inducing the TLR4-dependent expression of IL-6 and TNFa. Conclusions: Our findings implicate GzmA as a key regulator of the inflammatory response during abdominal sepsis and provide solid evidences about its therapeutic potential for the treatment of this severe pathology

Escucha México: estrategias gráficas y cultura auditiva

El PAP Escucha México está en constante búsqueda de implementar entornos incluyentes, el desarrollo de la educación sobre la salud y cultura auditiva, proveer las herramientas necesarias para un confort acústico e informar a la ciudadanía y a nuestra comunidad universitaria, acerca de la discapacidad auditiva. Con una gran empatía, se busca que la sociedad esté más informada y de este modo, desarrollar una conciencia acerca de las repercusiones que el ruido puede ocasionar, rasgos negativos irreversibles afectando nuestra salud física y emocional. También nos adentramos a conocer términos científicos y logramos adecuar dicha información para transmitirla de manera clara a las demás personas. Para lograr estas metas, el PAP cuenta con 5 proyectos internos con objetivos específicos buscando siempre un entorno incluyente en los que existen diferentes metodologías de trabajo desde cualitativas hasta cuantitativas, e incluso técnicas de investigación y recopilación de datos. Estos proyectos son: Cruzada contra el Ruido, Mariana Anaya Doll, Redes Sociales Escucha México, Cultura Auditiva (Estrategias de Enseñanza/Aprendizaje) y el Segundo Encuentro de Cultura Auditiva. Cada proyecto tiene un propósito en específico, así como diferentes áreas de trabajo que proveen manejo de redes sociales, investigación e incluso apoya a terceros como Mariana Anaya. Parte fundamental como individuos es reconocer nuestro papel dentro de nuestro entorno y por consecuencia, responder de manera correcta a la corresponsabilidad que cada uno de nosotros tenemos en injerencia a actuar de manera responsable en nuestra sociedad. Por ende, estamos comprometidos y abiertos a la apertura de diálogos, información y de nuevas tendencias, para así lograr un mayor alcance con fines educativos y de comunicación con base a la inclusión y el respeto social.ITESO, A.C

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Lecture Notes in Computational Vision and Biomechanics

International audienceSkin ulcers (SU) are ones of the most frequent causes of consultation in primary health-care units (PHU) in tropical areas. However, the lack of specialized physicians in those areas, leads to improper diagnosis and management of the patients. There is then a need to develop tools that allow guiding the physicians toward a more accurate diagnosis. Multi-spectral imaging systems are a potential non-invasive tool that could be used in the analysis of skin ulcers. With these systems it is possible to acquire optical images at different wavelengths which can then be processed by means of mathematical models based on optimization approaches. The processing of those kind of images leads to the quantification of the main components of the skin. In the case of skin ulcers, these components could be correlated to the different stages of wound healing during the follow-up of a skin ulcer. This article presents the processing of a skin ulcer multi-spectral image. The ulcer corresponds to Leishmaniasis which is one of the diseases the most prominent in tropical areas. The image processing is performed by means of a light-tissue interaction model based on the distribution of the skin as a semi-infinite layer. The model, together with an optimization approach allows quantifying the main light-absorbing and scattering skin-parameters in the visible and near-infrared range. The results show significant differences between healthy and unhealthy area of the image

Biological relevance of Granzymes A and K during E. coli sepsis

6 figures.-- Supplemenatry material available.--This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). See http://ivyspring.com/terms for full terms and conditions.[Aims]: Recent in vitro findings suggest that the serine protease Granzyme K (GzmK) may act as a proinflammatory mediator. However, its role in sepsis is unknown. Here we aim to understand the role of GzmK in a mouse model of bacterial sepsis and compare it to the biological relevance of Granzyme A (GzmA).[Methods]: Sepsis was induced in WT, GzmA-/- and GzmK-/- mice by an intraperitoneal injection of 2x108 CFU from E. coli. Mouse survival was monitored during 5 days. Levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα and IL-6 in plasma were measured and bacterial load in blood, liver and spleen was analyzed. Finally, profile of cellular expression of GzmA and GzmK was analyzed by FACS.[Results]: GzmA and GzmK are not involved in the control of bacterial infection. However, GzmA and GzmK deficient mice showed a lower sepsis score in comparison with WT mice, although only GzmA deficient mice exhibited increased survival. GzmA deficient mice also showed reduced expression of some proinflammatory cytokines like IL1-α, IL-β and IL-6. A similar result was found when extracellular GzmA was therapeutically inhibited in WT mice using serpinb6b, which improved survival and reduced IL-6 expression. Mechanistically, active extracellular GzmA induces the production of IL-6 in macrophages by a mechanism dependent on TLR4 and MyD88.[Conclusions]: These results suggest that although both proteases contribute to the clinical signs of E. coli-induced sepsis, inhibition of GzmA is sufficient to reduce inflammation and improve survival irrespectively of the presence of other inflammatory granzymes, like GzmK.This work was supported by grant SAF2017-83120-C2-1-R and PID2020-113963RBI00 from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and FEDER (Group B29_17R, Aragon Government). IU-M , MG-T and CP were supported by a PhD fellowships from Aragon Government, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPI) and Asociacion Española contra el Cancer (AECC). MA and LS were supported by a post-doctoral fellowship “Juan de la Cierva-formación” (MA, LS) and "Juan de la Cierva-incorporacion" (MA) from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. JP was supported by ARAID Foundation.Peer reviewe

Integrated Analysis and Quality Control of Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing Processes

Integrated Analysis and Quality Control of Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing Processe