Bacterial-foraging optimization algorithm for non-hazardous plant layouts

PresentationThe following article approaches a safe plant layout design problem based on a bacterial-foraging optimization algorithm. Our approach finds the position in the two dimensional plane for each main process unit and evaluates the possibility of secondary contention for pertinent units, in order to minimize capital costs associated to equipment loss, piping, secondary contention, and usage of area. Fire and Explosion hazard is considered as the relevant safety aspect for distribution, and it is assessed through Dow’s Fire and Explosion Index. The proposed solution approach provides an alternative to hard-optimization methods, by allowing greater flexibility in accounting for both safety and economic aspects, while providing high quality solutions in a limited computation time. The aim of our proposed solution approach is to provide support to expert decision-making during the early plant layout design steps. A case study based on an acrylic-acid production plant, which has been used by several other papers that appeared in the literature, serves the purposes of showing the appropriateness and effectiveness of the method

CRISPR and gene editing in HIV therapy: A scoping review

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is nowadays one of the major health problems worldwide. Several strategies have been explored for the eradication of latent HIV-1 reservoirs, current antiretroviral therapy stops the progression of HIV disease, however, as new therapies are being developed, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) systems have recently been used as a genome editing technique. CRISPR is becoming progressively one of the possible cures, although it remains experimental, for HIV in medical research. This systematic review summarizes literature evidence of CRISPR gene editing in HIV/AIDS therapy. This study also identifies the research gaps in the current literature, helping to guide future research

Risk factors associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension in Colombian patients with systemic sclerosis: Review of the literature

"Objective. Considering the significant morbidity and mortality of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the lack of precise information on disease in Latin America, we investigated the clinical and laboratory characteristics associated with PAH in Colombian patients with SSc and review the literature. Methods. This multicenter study included patients followed at 5 rheumatology units that were systematically assessed using a pretested questionnaire on clinical and immunological variables, focusing on PAH. Conditional logistic regression was employed to assess association between PAH and specific clinical characteristics. A systematic review of the literature was performed through electronic databases. Results. Of a total of 349 patients with SSc, 61 (17%) met the criteria for PAH. Pulmonary fibrosis [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 7.37, 95% CI 3.67-14.81, p less than 0.0001], microstomia (AOR 3.3, 95% CI 1.70-6.28, p less than 0.0001), gastroesophageal reflux (AOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.31-4.43, p = 0.005), dysphagia (AOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.49-4.77, p = 0.001), hyperpigmentation (AOR 2.15, 95% CI 1.11-4.16, p = 0.02), and hypopigmentation (AOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.26-4.64, p = 0.008) were the most prevalent clinical characteristics associated with PAH, while anemia (AOR 5.4, 95% CI 1.98-14.93, p = 0.001) was observed as the unique laboratory risk factor. Association between subtypes of SSc and PAH was not observed. Significant differences in both clinical and laboratory data were observed among different series. Conclusion. PAH may be a frequent complication of SSc in the Colombian population regardless of disease subtype. The identified clinical and laboratory risk factors might assist earlier diagnosis and guide decisions on therapeutic interventions on this critical complication of SSc. The reasons underlying the reported divergences among patients from different ethnicities are not fully understood, but it is most likely that both genetic and environmental factors are responsible for them.