Noninvasive assessment of inspiratory muscle neuromechanical coupling during inspiratory threshold loading

Diaphragm neuromechanical coupling (NMC), which reflects the efficiency of conversion of neural activation to transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), is increasingly recognized to be a useful clinical index of diaphragm function and respiratory mechanics in neuromuscular weakness and cardiorespiratory disease. However, the current gold standard assessment of diaphragm NMC requires invasive measurements of Pdi and crural diaphragm electromyography (oesEMGdi), which complicates the measurement of diaphragm NMC in clinical practice. This is the first study to compare invasive measurements of diaphragm NMC (iNMC) using the relationship between Pdi and oesEMGdi, with noninvasive assessment of NMC (nNMC) using surface mechanomyography (sMMGlic) and electromyography (sEMGlic) of lower chest wall inspiratory muscles. Both invasive and noninvasive measurements were recorded in twelve healthy adult subjects during an inspiratory threshold loading protocol. A linear relationship between noninvasive sMMGlic and sEMGlic measurements was found, resulting in little change in nNMC with increasing inspiratory load. By contrast, a curvilinear relationship between invasive Pdi and oesEMGdi measurements was observed, such that there was a progressive increase in iNMC with increasing inspiratory threshold load. Progressive recruitment of lower ribcage muscles, serving to enhance the mechanical advantage of the diaphragm, may explain the more linear relationship between sMMGlic and sEMGlic (both representing lower intercostal plus costal diaphragm activity) than between Pdi and crural oesEMGdi. Noninvasive indices of NMC derived from sEMGlic and sMMGlic may prove to be useful indices of lower chest wall inspiratory muscle NMC, particularly in settings that do not have access to invasive measures of diaphragm function.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Dimensionamiento preliminar de un biodigestor a partir de porcinaza generada en San Andrés isla

Livestock production in San Andrés is subsistence, there are 2,223 pigs, in 205 farms. This technology generates serious contamination problems. The results of the dimensioning a biodigester are presented, with the BioDigestor© software, from swine manure, with the objective of observing the technical-economic feasibility for the implementation of this technology. The capacity of the biodigester allows the processing of 12.31 t/d of manure, generating 276 MWh/year of electrical energy through the operation of a generator engine that works with biogas. The dimensioning of the biodigester included the calculation of the volume of the feed tank, biodigester, discharge tank, biogas storage, sludge drying bed, collection and conduction systems, heating and biogas utilization. An economic study was carried out which allowed to conclude on the viability of the project. The total cost of the digester amounts to 723,986,263 COP, which is equivalent to 21,925 COP/kW installed.La producción pecuaria en San Andrés es de subsistencia, hay 2,223 porcinos, en 205 predios. Esta tecnología genera serios problemas de contaminación. Se presentan los resultados del dimensionamiento de un biodigestor, con el programa BioDigestor©, a partir de porcinaza, con el objetivo de observar la factibilidad técnico-económica para la implementación de esta tecnología. La capacidad del biodigestor permite procesar 12.31 t/d de estiércol, generando 276 MWh/año de energía eléctrica mediante la operación de un motor generador que funciona con biogás. El dimensionamiento del biodigestor comprendió el cálculo del volumen del tanque de alimentación, biodigestor, tanque de descarga, almacenamiento de biogás, lecho de secado de lodos, sistemas de captación y conducción, calefacción y aprovechamiento del biogás. Se llevó a cabo un estudio económico el cual permitió concluir sobre la viabilidad del proyecto. El costo total del digestor asciende a 723,986, 263 COP, lo que equivale a 21,925 COP/kW instalado

Assessment of the non-linear response of the fSampEn on simulated EMG signals

© 2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting /republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other worksFixed sample entropy (fSampEn) is a promising technique for the analysis of respiratory electromyographic (EMG) signals. Its use has shown outperformance of amplitude-based estimators such as the root mean square (RMS) in the evaluation of respiratory EMG signals with cardiac noise and a high correlation with respiratory signals, allowing changes in respiratory muscle activity to be tracked. However, the relationship between the fSampEn response to a given muscle activation has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the nature of the fSampEn measurements that are produced as the EMG activity increases linearly. Simulated EMG signals were generated and increased linearly. The effect of the parameters r and the size of the moving window N of the fSampEn were evaluated and compared with those obtained using the RMS. The RMS showed a linear trend throughout the study. A non-linear, sigmoidal-like behavior was found when analyzing the EMG signals using the fSampEn. The lower the values of r, the higher the non-linearity observed in the fSampEn results. Greater moving windows reduced the variation produced by too small values of r.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

The Role of Bmp- and Fgf Signaling Modulating Mouse Proepicardium Cell Fate

Bmp and Fgf signaling are widely involved in multiple aspects of embryonic development. More recently non coding RNAs, such as microRNAs have also been reported to play essential roles during embryonic development. We have previously demonstrated that microRNAs, i.e., miR-130, play an essential role modulating Bmp and Fgf signaling during early stages of cardiomyogenesis. More recently, we have also demonstrated that microRNAs are capable of modulating cell fate decision during proepicardial/septum transversum (PE/ST) development, since over-expression of miR-23 blocked while miR- 125, miR-146, miR-223 and miR-195 enhanced PE/ST-derived cardiomyogenesis, respectively. Importantly, regulation of these microRNAs is distinct modulated by Bmp2 and Fgf2 administration in chicken. In this study, we aim to dissect the functional role of Bmp and Fgf signaling during mouse PE/ST development, their implication regulating post-transcriptional modulators such as microRNAs and their impact on lineage determination. Mouse PE/ST explants and epicardial/endocardial cell cultures were distinctly administrated Bmp and Fgf family members. qPCR analyses of distinct microRNAs, cardiomyogenic, fibrogenic differentiation markers as well as key elements directly epithelial to mesenchymal transition were evaluated. Our data demonstrate that neither Bmp2/Bmp4 nor Fgf2/Fgf8 signaling is capable of inducing cardiomyogenesis, fibrogenesis or inducing EMT in mouse PE/ST explants, yet deregulation of several microRNAs is observed, in contrast to previous findings in chicken PE/ST. RNAseq analyses in mouse PE/ST and embryonic epicardium identified novel Bmp and Fgf family members that might be involved in such cell fate differences, however, their implication on EMT induction and cardiomyogenic and/or fibrogenic differentiation is limited. Thus our data support the notion of species-specific differences regulating PE/ST cardiomyogenic lineage commitment

Evaluación de 3 fuentes de fosforo (DAP, MAP Y Roca fosforica) como enraizante en el cultivo de arroz (Oriza sativa L). Variedad Fedearroz 68 en el Municipio de Piedras – Tolima.

La importancia de realizar este proyecto va enfocada en buscar una solución a un problema de enraizamiento en el cultivo de arroz, debido a que es una problemática de gran importancia a la hora de asegurar las cosechas, puesto que la deficiencia de este elemento ocurre frecuentemente en el cultivo. Se busca verificar la respuesta de la raíz a 3 tratamientos utilizando 3 fuentes de fosforo (DAP, MAP Y Roca fosforica) comparado con un testigo absoluto, los cuales ayudan en la regulación de varias enzimas, así mismo evaluar cuál de estos elementos aporta a un mejor desarrollo radicular, considerando que la raíz es el principal órgano de absorción de los nutrientesThe importance of carrying out this project is focused on finding a solution to a problem of rooting in rice cultivation, because it is a problem of great importance when it comes to ensuring harvests, since the deficiency of this element frequently occurs in the crop. The aim is to verify the response of the root to 3 treatments using 3 sources of phosphorus (DSP, MAP AND Phosphoric rock) compared with an absolute control, which help in the regulation of several enzymes, as well as to evaluate which of these elements contributes to a better root development, considering that the root is the main organ of absorption of nutrients

Identificación de genes relacionados a sequía en papas nativas empleando RNA-Seq

The recent advent RNA sequencing technology (RNA-Seq), a massively parallel sequencing method for transcriptome analysis, provides an opportunity to understand the expression profile of plants in response to biotic and abiotic stress. In this study, the mRNA was sequencing from leaves and roots of two native potato varieties at different levels of drought. Fifty-base-pair reads from whole mRNAs were mapped to the potato genomic sequence: 75 – 82% mapped uniquely to the genome, 6 – 14% mapped to several locations in the genome and 9 – 12% had no match in the genome. Comparing expression profiles, 887 to 1925 genes were found to be induced/repressed by drought in the sensible variety and 998 to 1995 in the tolerant. This research provides valuable information for future studies and deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism of drought resistance in potato and related species.El reciente desarrollo del RNA-Seq, un método de secuenciamiento masivo en paralelo para el análisis de transcriptomas permite conocer el perfil de expresión de las plantas en respuesta a estrés de tipo abiótico y biótico. En este estudio, se secuenció el mRNA proveniente de hojas y raíces de dos variedades de papas nativas expuestas a diferentes niveles de sequía. Lecturas o readsde 50 pares de bases provenientes de mRNA se mapearon al genoma de papa: 75 – 82% mapearon a posiciones únicas, 6 – 14% mapearon a múltiples posiciones y 9 – 12% no mapearon a posición alguna del genoma. Comparando los perfiles de expresión, se encontraron entre 887 – 1925 genes inducidos/reprimidos por sequía en la variedad sensible y 998 – 1995 en la tolerante. Este estudio generó información de gran valor que podrá ser utilizada en futuros estudios para comprender mejor los mecanismos moleculares de resistencia a sequía en papa y especies cercanas

Índice de progreso social del distrito de Celendín

El interés por encontrar una herramienta que sea capaz de medir el nivel de progreso de las sociedades y que a su vez permita comparaciones entre las mismas no es una preocupación reciente. En ese sentido los esfuerzos desplegados al respecto a partir de diversos enfoques han sido muy diversos. En la década de 1930 Kuznets presentó al Producto Bruto Interno (PBI) convirtiéndose en el índice más empleado para medir la capacidad de producción de una sociedad. Pero no es posible asociar el crecimiento económico per se con el desarrollo y bienestar de una sociedad. A partir de la creación del Sistema de las Naciones Unidas se han creado índices que permitan medir el desarrollo en función del bienestar social, como el Índice de Desarrollo Humano (IDH), Índice de Oportunidades Humanas (OIH). En ese sentido se presentó el Índice de Progreso Social (IPS) como una herramienta capaz de medir el bienestar de las personas y sociedades con un enfoque integrador y holístico. La presente investigación tiene un enfoque cuantitativo con alcance descriptivo y de tipo no experimental, con el objetivo de medir el IPS del distrito de Celendín, para lo cual se recabó información relevante sobre las actuales condiciones de vida de los pobladores. Para la obtención de datos se utilizó fuentes primarias y secundarias. La fuente primaria fue obtenida de la encuesta aplicada a una muestra de 385 hogares, la encuesta consta de 58 preguntas dirigidas a obtener información de los 12 componentes del IPS. La recolección de datos realizada en el distrito de Celendín arrojó en un IPS de 48.58 ubicándolo en el rango bajo del Nivel de Progreso Social, con un nivel similar al de la región Cajamarca. Las principales brechas identificadas en la presente investigación se encuentran en la dimensión Necesidades Humanas Básicas con un valor de 43.19; igualmente se encuentra una brecha crítica en la dimensión Oportunidades, con un valor de 50.79, ambos indicadores se encuentran debajo del promedio de la región y el país; y finalmente en el componente Fundamentos de bienestar se puede encontrar un nivel bajo con 51.78 puntos.The interest in finding a metric that is capable of measuring the level of progress of societies and that in turn allows comparisons between them is not a recent concern. In that sense, the efforts deployed in this regard from different approaches have been very diverse. In the 1930s, Kuznets presented the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the index most used to measure the production capacity of a society. But it is not possible to associate economic growth per se with the development and welfare of a society. Since the creation of the United Nations System, indices have been created to measure development in terms of social welfare, such as the Human Development Index (HDI), Human Opportunity Index (OIH). In this sense, the Social Progress Index (IPS) was presented as a tool capable of measuring the welfare of people and societies with an integrating and holistic approach. The present investigation has a quantitative approach with descriptive and nonexperimental scope, with the objective of measuring the IPS of the Celendín district for which relevant information was collected about the current living conditions of the inhabitants. To obtain data, we use sources primary and secondary. The primary source was obtained from the survey applied to a sample of 385 households, the survey consists of 58 questions aimed at obtaining information on the 12 components of the IPS. The data collection carried out in the Celendín district yielded an IPS of 48.58 located in the Low range, which placed it at a level similar to that of the Cajamarca region. The main gaps identified in the present investigation are in the Human Needs dimension Basic with a value of 43.19; we also find a critical gap in the Opportunities dimension, whose metric is 50.79, both indicators are below the average for the region and the country; and finally in the component Fundamentals of well-being we found an indicator of 51.78.Tesi

Serum copper levels and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Despite the fact that several studies have investigated the association between serum copper levels (S-Cu) and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, this relationship remains unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between S-Cu and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including total stroke, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality, and identify potential sources of results heterogeneity. Methods: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis. The selection criteria were: (1) Observational studies (cohort studies, case-control studies and hybrid studies); (2) Studies containing quantitative data about the relationship between S-Cu and risk of MACE; (3) Estimating association measures; and (4) Studies written in English, French or Spanish. Overall pooled Odds ratio (pOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of MACE for the highest vs. lowest S-Cu category were calculated using random-effects models. Results: Sixteen studies with a total of 41,322 participants were included in the meta-analysis: 10 prospective cohort studies, 5 nested case-control studies and 1 case-control study. Comparing highest vs. lowest category, high S-Cu levels were associated with total stroke (pOR: 1.49, 95% CI 1.22–1.82; I2=0%, p=0.54), myocardial infarction (pOR: 1.31, 95% CI 1.17–1.46; I2=0.0%, p=0.92) and cardiovascular mortality (pOR: 1.60, 95% CI 1.39–1.86; I2=0.0%, p=0.54). Subgroup analysis showed that studies with a hybrid design had higher risks for cardiovascular mortality (pOR: 3.42, 95% CI 1.98–5.92) and ischemic stroke (pOR: 1.54, 95% CI 1.30–1.83). Conclusion: High S-Cu levels were associated with an increased risk of total stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality. Hybrid studies seems to modify the strength of the association between S-Cu and the risk of cardiovascular mortality and ischemic strok

Noninvasive assessment of neuromechanical coupling and mechanical efficiency of parasternal intercostal muscle during inspiratory threshold loading

This study aims to investigate noninvasive indices of neuromechanical coupling (NMC) and mechanical efficiency (MEff) of parasternal intercostal muscles. Gold standard assessment of diaphragm NMC requires using invasive techniques, limiting the utility of this procedure. Noninvasive NMC indices of parasternal intercostal muscles can be calculated using surface mechanomyography (sMMGpara) and electromyography (sEMGpara). However, the use of sMMGpara as an inspiratory muscle mechanical output measure, and the relationships between sMMGpara, sEMGpara, and simultaneous invasive and noninvasive pressure measurements have not previously been evaluated. sEMGpara, sMMGpara, and both invasive and noninvasive measurements of pressures were recorded in twelve healthy subjects during an inspiratory loading protocol. The ratios of sMMGpara to sEMGpara, which provided muscle-specific noninvasive NMC indices of parasternal intercostal muscles, showed nonsignificant changes with increasing load, since the relationships between sMMGpara and sEMGpara were linear (R2 = 0.85 (0.75–0.9)). The ratios of mouth pressure (Pmo) to sEMGpara and sMMGpara were also proposed as noninvasive indices of parasternal intercostal muscle NMC and MEff, respectively. These indices, similar to the analogous indices calculated using invasive transdiaphragmatic and esophageal pressures, showed nonsignificant changes during threshold loading, since the relationships between Pmo and both sEMGpara (R2 = 0.84 (0.77–0.93)) and sMMGpara (R2 = 0.89 (0.85–0.91)) were linear. The proposed noninvasive NMC and MEff indices of parasternal intercostal muscles may be of potential clinical value, particularly for the regular assessment of patients with disordered respiratory mechanics using noninvasive wearable and wireless devices.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Resistencia a la corrosión de multicapas de TiCN/TiNbCN depositadas sobre acero AISI 4140

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de la evaluación de la resistencia a la corrosión, a un ángulo de impacto de 30° y 90º, de un sistema multicapas de TiCN/TiNbCN depositadas con períodos de n=1, n=50, n=100, n=150 y n=200 bicapas sobre sustrato AISI 4140, mediante un sistema magnetrón sputtering con r.f. reactivo a partir de blancos de Ti y Nb de alta pureza (99,99%). La caracterización electroquímica se realizó mediante la técnica de espectroscopia de impedancias electroquímica (EIS). Los resultados muestran un aumento en la resistencia a la polarización y una disminución en la velocidad de corrosión para los sistemas multicapa, siendo más agresiva la situación para el ángulo de impacto de 90°.