Systemic Design for Food Self-Sufficiency in Urban Areas

This article adopts a systemic approach to address the problem of the operationalization of relationships between actors conducive to food self-sufficiency in urban areas. Through the use of Social Network Analysis (SNA), the literature on urban agriculture was analyzed, detecting eight key trends and topic areas. This information was used to design a generic recursive organizational structure with the identification of the key roles and functions for management and governance in the multi-level and multi-stakeholder relationships of a sustainable urban self-sufficient food production system, inspired by the principles of complexity management and organizational cybernetics. Methodologically, this is the first application that combines the exploratory capability of SNA and the recursive structure of the Viable System Model (VSM) to propose applicable organizational structures in any urban area, suggesting a new route for the study and application of systemic thinking in the development of urban agriculture schemes. However, due to the conceptual nature of this work, this study opens a discussion on how we can rethink interactions to seek continuous adaptation in food self-sufficiency, provide tools that foster inclusion, and adapt to every context to support the relevant actors and academics in urban agriculture.</jats:p

An open-phase fault detection method for six-phase induction motor drives

Malaga (Spain), 4th to 6th April, 2017 Comunicaciones del Congreso Publicadas en: Renewable Energy and Power Quality Journal (RE&PQJ) ISSN 2172 038X, No.15 April 2017Induction machines (IM) with multiple sets of three-phase windings are a real alternative in safety- critical applications due to their inherent redundancy and extra number of freedom degrees. These properties can be used to devel op a fault-tolerant system without extra hardware. The fault detection is mandatory in the creation of a fault tolerant system. Since, the fault localization allows to adapt the control scheme of this anomalous mode of operation. Nowadays, open-phase faults (OPFs) and six-phase IMs are hot topics in the literature of fault-tolerant drives. Thus, this paper presents an open-phase fault detection method for a six-phase IM drive . The detection method is based o n the vector space decomposition (VSD), taking the components of the secondary orthogonal subspace to localize the open-phase fault. The goodness of the proposed method is validated with simulation resultsMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovacion ENE2014-52536-C2–1-

Patterns of reasoning on signification tests of high school students

III Congreso Internacional Virtual de Educación Estadística (CIVEEST), 21-24 febrero de 2019. [www.ugr.es/local/fqm126/civeest.html]La presente investigación tiene el objetivo de explorar los patrones de razonamiento que exhiben estudiantes de bachillerato cuando enfrentan problemas de pruebas de significación con el método de simulación de muestreo repetido por computadora. Dieciocho parejas de estudiantes de 10º grado (16-17 años de edad) que no habían llevado el curso de probabilidad y estadística participaron en un taller de 6 sesiones, en la que abordaron 4 problemas de prueba de significación, generando en cada caso la distribución muestral correspondiente mediante una técnica de simulación. Como resultado, los estudiantes aprendieron la técnica y utilizaron la distribución muestral para tomar una decisión correcta acerca de rechazar o no la hipótesis. No obstante, varias parejas de estudiantes muestran, en sus respuestas, evidencia de concepciones erróneas acerca de la prueba mediante el método de muestreo repetido.This research has the objective of exploring the reasoning patterns exhibited by high school students when they face problems of significance tests with the repeated sampling simulation method by computer. Eighteen pairs of 10th grade students (16-17 years-old) who had not taken the probability and statistics course, participated in a 6-session workshop, in which they addressed 4 significance test problems, generating in each case the corresponding sample distribution by means of a simulation technique. As a result, the students learned the technique and used the sample distribution to make a correct decision about whether or not to reject the hypothesis. However, several pairs of students show, in their answers, evidence of misconceptions about the significance test using the repeated sampling method

Endothelin-1 serum levels in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum Endothelin-1(ET-1) levels in female Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients compared with healthy controls, examine possible associations between ET-1 with different characteristic of the disease and investigate possible associations between ET-1 with surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Vega-Baja Hospital, Orihuela (Spain) from November 2016 to May 2018. Sixty-three women with RA and sixty-five age and sex healthy controls were included in this study. Serum ET-1 was analyzed using ELISA. Results: Serum levels of ET-1 in RA female patients were higher than those in healthy controls (p ??0.001). Serum le vels of ET-1 were positively associated with Nterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (r = 0.27, p < 0.05) and with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). ET-1 levels in women with RA were higher in smokers. Pre dnisone use was associated with lower ET-1 levels. No association with carotid intima media thickness was found. Conclusions: we observed the presence of higher le - vels of serum ET-1 in RA women patients compared with healthy controls. These increased levels of ET-1 are associated with inflammation and smoking and reduced by prednisone intake

Control of drives and gears in a thermal simulation booth, using free software Node-red

El sistema, es un módulo mecánico de simulación de los efectos ambientales, por medio de sensores, motores y maquetas. El prototipo evalúa las condiciones térmicas y de velocidad de viento que inciden sobre estructuras a escala, para representar las afectaciones reales y posibles soluciones del modelo analizado. La estructura de aproximadamente 3 metros de longitud por 1,30 metros de ancho y altura variable, consta de una base giratoria de un metro de diámetro, la cual tiene un sistema de reducción mecánico con engranajes impresos en impresora 3D. El sistema cuenta con una tarjeta de control que permite la regulación de los motores, el control de la plataforma móvil y el control de la intensidad lumínica. Esta tarjeta es manipulada por un software libre Node-Red. El protocolo de comunicaciones está basado en la arquitectura de cliente/servidor (TCP/IP), la cual cuenta con una gran disponibilidad de conexiones de dispositivos electrónicos, fácil de implementar y maneja bloques de datos sin requerimientos previos. Palabras clave: efectos ambientales,  reductores mecánicos, protocolo de comunicaciones, simulación

Synaptic, axonal damage and inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in neurodegenerative dementias

INTRODUCTION: Synaptic damage, axonal neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation are common features in Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). METHODS: Unicentric cohort of 353 participants included healthy control (HC) subjects, AD continuum stages, genetic AD and FTD, and FTD and CJD. We measured cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light (NF-L), neurogranin (Ng), 14-3-3, and YKL-40 proteins. RESULTS: Biomarkers showed differences in HC subjects versus AD, FTD, and CJD. Disease groups differed between them except AD versus FTD for YKL-40. Only NF-L differed between all stages within the AD continuum. AD and FTD symptomatic mutation carriers presented differences with respect to HC subjects. Applying the AT(N) system, 96% subjects were positive for neurodegeneration if 14-3-3 was used, 94% if NF-L was used, 62% if Ng was used, and 53% if YKL-40 was used. DISCUSSION: Biomarkers of synapse and neurodegeneration differentiate HC subjects from neurodegenerative dementias and between AD, FTD, and CJD. NF-L and 14-3-3 performed similar to total tau when AT(N) system was applied

Suspected natural lysosomal storage disease from ingestion of pink morning glory (Ipomoea carnea) in goats in northern Argentina

This study describes an occurrence of pink morning glory (Ipomoea carnea) intoxication in goats in northern Argentina. The clinical signs displayed by the affected animals were ataxia, lethargy, emaciation, hypertonia of the neck muscles, spastic paresis in the hind legs, abnormal postural reactions and death. The clinico-pathologic examination revealed that the affected animals were anemic and their serum level of aspartate aminotransferase was significantly increased. Cytoplasmic vacuolation in the Purkinje cells and pancreatic acinar cells was observed by histological examination. The neuronal lectin binding pattern showed a strong positive reaction to WGA (Triticum vulgaris), sWGA (succinylated T. vulgaris) and LCA (Lens culinaris). Although I. carnea is common in tropical regions, this is the first report of spontaneous poisoning in goats in Argentina.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Association between Use of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol and Postoperative Complications in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in the Postoperative Outcomes Within Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol in Elective Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Study (POWER2)

Importance: The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) care protocol has been shown to improve outcomes compared with traditional care in certain types of surgery. Objective: To assess the association of use of the ERAS protocols with complications in patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, prospective cohort study included patients recruited from 131 centers in Spain from October 22 through December 22, 2018. All consecutive adults scheduled for elective THA or TKA were eligible for inclusion. Patients were stratified between those treated in a self-designated ERAS center (ERAS group) and those treated in a non-ERAS center (non-ERAS group). Data were analyzed from June 15 through September 15, 2019. Exposures: Total hip or knee arthroplasty and perioperative management. Sixteen individual ERAS items were assessed in all included patients, whether they were treated at a center that was part of an established ERAS protocol or not. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included length of stay and mortality. Results: During the 2-month recruitment period, 6146 patients were included (3580 women [58.2%]; median age, 71 [interquartile range (IQR), 63-76] years). Of these, 680 patients (11.1%) presented with postoperative complications. No differences were found in the number of patients with overall postoperative complications between ERAS and non-ERAS groups (163 [10.2%] vs 517 [11.4%]; odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% CI, 0.74-1.07; P =.22). Fewer patients in the ERAS group had moderate to severe complications (73 [4.6%] vs 279 [6.1%]; OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.56-0.96; P =.02). The median overall adherence rate with the ERAS protocol was 50.0% (IQR, 43.8%-62.5%), with the rate for ERAS facilities being 68.8% (IQR, 56.2%-81.2%) vs 50.0% (IQR, 37.5%-56.2%) at non-ERAS centers (P <.001). Among the patients with the highest and lowest quartiles of adherence to ERAS components, the patients with the highest adherence had fewer overall postoperative complications (144 [10.6%] vs 270 [13.0%]; OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.99; P <.001) and moderate to severe postoperative complications (59 [4.4%] vs 143 [6.9%]; OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.45-0.84; P <.001) and shorter median length of hospital stay (4 [IQR, 3-5] vs 5 [IQR, 4-6] days; OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99; P <.001). Conclusions and Relevance: An increase in adherence to the ERAS program was associated with a decrease in postoperative complications, although only a few ERAS items were individually associated with improved outcomes

Next generation flow for minimally-invasive blood characterization of MGUS and multiple myeloma at diagnosis based on circulating tumor plasma cells (CTPC)

Here, we investigated for the first time the frequency and number of circulating tumor plasma cells (CTPC) in peripheral blood (PB) of newly diagnosed patients with localized and systemic plasma cell neoplasms (PCN) using next-generation flow cytometry (NGF) and correlated our findings with the distinct diagnostic and prognostic categories of the disease. Overall, 508 samples from 264 newly diagnosed PCN patients, were studied. CTPC were detected in PB of all active multiple myeloma (MM; 100%), and smoldering MM (SMM) patients (100%), and in more than half (59%) monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) cases (p < 0.0001); in contrast, CTPC were present in a small fraction of solitary plasmacytoma patients (18%). Higher numbers of CTPC in PB were associated with higher levels of BM infiltration and more adverse prognostic features, together with shorter time to progression from MGUS to MM (p < 0.0001) and a shorter survival in MM patients with active disease requiring treatment (p <= 0.03). In summary, the presence of CTPC in PB as assessed by NGF at diagnosis, emerges as a hallmark of disseminated PCN, higher numbers of PB CTPC being strongly associated with a malignant disease behavior and a poorer outcome of both MGUS and MM