Modelos de optimización lineal para realizar planes de inversiones de largo plazo en una red de pavimentos

Evaluaciones realizadas por el Laboratorio Nacional de Materiales y Modelos Estructurales (LanammeUCR) de la Universidad de Costa Rica en el periodo 2004-2006, han indicado que la Red Vial Nacional de Costa Rica no ha presentado una mejora significativa, por esta razón se realiza una investigación basada en los principios básicos de un Sistema de Administración de Carreteras, en donde se efectúa un plan de inversiones a nivel estratégico a largo plazo (20 años) para los pavimentos. Se toma el caso de estudio de la zona 1-9 (Heredia), donde se generan diferentes escenarios presupuestarios, incluyendo la asignación presupuestaria del año 2007. Se estudia únicamente la estructura de pavimentos; para ello se analizaron inventarios de tránsito promedio diario anual, deflectometría, regularidad superficial, excavaciones a cielo abierto y deterioro visual. Se generó un indicador de condición de pavimento (PCI), curvas de deterioro, los tratamientos a aplicar (mantenimiento, rehabilitación y reconstrucción) y análisis económicos.Utilizando técnicas de optimización lineal mediante el programa de computación “Woodstock” de Remsoft Inc., se realizan escenarios de inversión con diferentes presupuestos fijos, así como la estimación del presupuesto requerido anualmente para eliminar las carreteras en mal estado en un periodo determinado. Además, se definen los tratamientos que la red requiere y sus costos bajo el principio de realizar el tratamiento adecuado, en el lugar indicado y en el momento adecuado, esto para maximizar los recursos económicos y mantener los pavimentos en buenas condiciones estructurales y de confort.Los resultados demostraron que mediante la comparación de escenarios de inversión en el largo plazo a un nivel estratégico, se pueden tomar decisiones más efectivas para la recuperación de una red de carreteras, así como para rendición de cuentas y como instrumento para solicitar más presupuesto. Adicionalmente, el éxito de implementar un Sistema de Administración de Carreteras se debe en gran medida a la estructura organizacional, recurso humano y tecnología

A pilot study of circulating levels of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 as biomarkers of bone healing in patients with non-hypertrophic pseudoarthrosis of long bones

Regeneración ósea; Células estromales mesenquimales multipotentes; PseudoartrosisRegeneració òssia; Cèl·lules estromals mesenquimals multipotents; PseudoartrosiBone regeneration; Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells; PseudoarthrosisBackground Pseudoarthrosis or non-union is a complication with an incidence of 5–10% of bone fractures, most frequently located in the diaphysis of long bones. The management of this complication is addressed by means of complex surgical procedures and is a concern for orthopaedic and trauma surgeons nowadays. The use of biomarkers for diagnosing patients at risk of non-union would help us to establish special measures for early corrective treatment. Methods Prospective exploratory pilot study with a cohort of 20 patients diagnosed of non-hypertrophic pseudoarthrosis of long bones who were treated surgically with either autologous bone graft or a Tissue Engineering Product composed of bone marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. Patients were followed for 12 months and plasma blood samples were obtained to determine circulating levels of Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 and Beta 2 (TGF-β1 and TGF-β2, respectively) at inclusion, and at 1 week, 2 weeks, and months 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 after surgery. Radiological bone healing was evaluated by the Tomographic Union Score (TUS). Results Basal levels of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 were determined in the twenty patients (26,702 ± 14,537 pg/mL and 307.8 ± 83.1 pg/mL, respectively). Three of them withdrew from the study, so complete follow-up was conducted on 17 patients (9 successfully healed vs. 8 that did not heal). Statistically significant differences between the bone healing group and the non-union group were found at month 12 for both TGF-β1 (p = 0.005) and TGF-β2 (p = 0.02). Conclusions TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 are biomarkers that correlate with clinical evidence of bone regeneration and may be used to monitor patients, although early predictive value after intervention needs to be further studied in combination with other molecules

Physiological demands and motion analysis of elite foil fencing

© 2023 Bottoms et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/The aim of this study was to determine the physiological demands and motion analysis of a simulated fencing competition. Eighteen fencers each completed 5 ‘poule’ (5 touches) and ‘direct elimination (DE)’ (15 touches) fights. Expired gases were measured during 1 poule and DE fight. Heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and movement data were recorded throughout all fights. Motion analysis was undertaken using the software LINCE PLUS. Differences between poule and DE fights were determined by either a paired t-test or a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. HR and RPE were significantly greater during DE compared to poule (170 ±10 vs 163 ±13 beats·min-1; PPeer reviewe

Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful model organism that is invaluable for experimental research because it can be used to recapitulate most human diseases at either the metabolic or genomic level in vivo. This organism contains many key components related to metabolic and oxidative stress networks that could conceivably allow us to increase and integrate information to understand the causes and mechanisms of complex diseases. Oxidative stress is an etiological factor that influences numerous human diseases, including diabetes. C. elegans displays remarkably similar molecular bases and cellular pathways to those of mammals. Defects in the insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway or increased ROS levels induce the conserved phase II detoxification response via the SKN-1 pathway to fight against oxidative stress. However, it is noteworthy that, aside from the detrimental effects of ROS, they have been proposed as second messengers that trigger the mitohormetic response to attenuate the adverse effects of oxidative stress. Herein, we briefly describe the importance of C. elegans as an experimental model system for studying metabolic disorders related to oxidative stress and the molecular mechanisms that underlie their pathophysiology

Fusarium: more than a node or a foot-shaped basal cell

Recent publications have argued that there are potentially serious consequences for researchers in recognising distinct genera in the terminal fusarioid clade of the family Nectriaceae. Thus, an alternate hypothesis, namely a very broad concept of the genus Fusarium was proposed. In doing so, however, a significant body of data that supports distinct genera in Nectriaceae based on morphology, biology, and phylogeny is disregarded. A DNA phylogeny based on 19 orthologous protein-coding genes was presented to support a very broad concept of Fusarium at the F1 node in Nectriaceae. Here, we demonstrate that re-analyses of this dataset show that all 19 genes support the F3 node that represents Fusarium sensu stricto as defined by F. sambucinum (sexual morph synonym Gibberella pulicaris). The backbone of the phylogeny is resolved by the concatenated alignment, but only six of the 19 genes fully support the F1 node, representing the broad circumscription of Fusarium. Furthermore, a re-analysis of the concatenated dataset revealed alternate topologies in different phylogenetic algorithms, highlighting the deep divergence and unresolved placement of various Nectriaceae lineages proposed as members of Fusarium. Species of Fusarium s. str. are characterised by Gibberella sexual morphs, asexual morphs with thin- or thick-walled macroconidia that have variously shaped apical and basal cells, and trichothecene mycotoxin production, which separates them from other fusarioid genera. Here we show that the Wollenweber concept of Fusarium presently accounts for 20 segregate genera with clear-cut synapomorphic traits, and that fusarioid macroconidia represent a character that has been gained or lost multiple times throughout Nectriaceae. Thus, the very broad circumscription of Fusarium is blurry and without apparent synapomorphies, and does not include all genera with fusarium-like macroconidia, which are spread throughout Nectriaceae (e.g., Cosmosporella, Macroconia, Microcera). In this study four new genera are introduced, along with 18 new species and 16 new combinations. These names convey information about relationships, morphology, and ecological preference that would otherwise be lost in a broader definition of Fusarium. To assist users to correctly identify fusarioid genera and species, we introduce a new online identification database, Fusarioid-ID, accessible at www.fusarium.org. The database comprises partial sequences from multiple genes commonly used to identify fusarioid taxa (act1, CaM, his3, rpb1, rpb2, tef1, tub2, ITS, and LSU). In this paper, we also present a nomenclator of names that have been introduced in Fusarium up to January 2021 as well as their current status, types, and diagnostic DNA barcode data. In this study, researchers from 46 countries, representing taxonomists, plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, and students, strongly support the application and use of a more precisely delimited Fusarium (= Gibberella) concept to accommodate taxa from the robust monophyletic node F3 on the basis of a well-defined and unique combination of morphological and biochemical features. This F3 node includes, among others, species of the F. fujikuroi, F. incarnatum-equiseti, F. oxysporum, and F. sambucinum species complexes, but not species of Bisifusarium [F. dimerum species complex (SC)], Cyanonectria (F. buxicola SC), Geejayessia (F. staphyleae SC), Neocosmospora (F. solani SC) or Rectifusarium (F. ventricosum SC). The present study represents the first step to generating a new online monograph of Fusarium and allied fusarioid genera (www.fusarium.org)

Biology and biotechnology of Trichoderma

Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are soilborne, green-spored ascomycetes that can be found all over the world. They have been studied with respect to various characteristics and applications and are known as successful colonizers of their habitats, efficiently fighting their competitors. Once established, they launch their potent degradative machinery for decomposition of the often heterogeneous substrate at hand. Therefore, distribution and phylogeny, defense mechanisms, beneficial as well as deleterious interaction with hosts, enzyme production and secretion, sexual development, and response to environmental conditions such as nutrients and light have been studied in great detail with many species of this genus, thus rendering Trichoderma one of the best studied fungi with the genome of three species currently available. Efficient biocontrol strains of the genus are being developed as promising biological fungicides, and their weaponry for this function also includes secondary metabolites with potential applications as novel antibiotics. The cellulases produced by Trichoderma reesei, the biotechnological workhorse of the genus, are important industrial products, especially with respect to production of second generation biofuels from cellulosic waste. Genetic engineering not only led to significant improvements in industrial processes but also to intriguing insights into the biology of these fungi and is now complemented by the availability of a sexual cycle in T. reesei/Hypocrea jecorina, which significantly facilitates both industrial and basic research. This review aims to give a broad overview on the qualities and versatility of the best studied Trichoderma species and to highlight intriguing findings as well as promising applications

microbeMASST: A Taxonomically-informed Mass Spectrometry Search Tool for Microbial Metabolomics Data

microbeMASST, a taxonomically informed mass spectrometry (MS) search tool, tackles limited microbial metabolite annotation in untargeted metabolomics experiments. Leveraging a curated database of >60,000 microbial monocultures, users can search known and unknown MS/MS spectra and link them to their respective microbial producers via MS/MS fragmentation patterns. Identification of microbe-derived metabolites and relative producers without a priori knowledge will vastly enhance the understanding of microorganisms’ role in ecology and human health

A Taxonomically-informed Mass Spectrometry Search Tool for Microbial Metabolomics Data

MicrobeMASST, a taxonomically-informed mass spectrometry (MS) search tool, tackles limited microbial metabolite annotation in untargeted metabolomics experiments. Leveraging a curated database of >60,000 microbial monocultures, users can search known and unknown MS/MS spectra and link them to their respective microbial producers via MS/MS fragmentation patterns. Identification of microbial-derived metabolites and relative producers, without a priori knowledge, will vastly enhance the understanding of microorganisms’ role in ecology and human health

La apropiación y uso de la ortografía práctica para la lengua bribri por parte de un grupo de docentes de escuelas indígenas en Talamanca

La presente investigación ofrece los resultados de una proceso de trabajo de campo, recolección, sistematización e interpretación de datos relativos a los procesos de apropiación de la modalidad escrita de la lengua bribri por parte de un grupo de docentes bribris en Costa Rica. Partiendo de un estudio etnográfico enmarcado en una mediación pedagógica sobre conciencia fonológica, ortográfica y, en general, de literacidad, ofrecida a los maestros como parte de un plan piloto escolar para la Educación Intercultural Bilingüe, el estudio presenta un análisis minucioso tanto de la producción escrita de los maestros como de sus valoraciones y actitudes en tanto usuarios de la ortografía práctica vigente para su lengua. En un contexto en que la escritura está presente desde hace relativamente poco tiempo, la adopción de esta tecnología supone un impacto social signicativo y unas determinadas condiciones lingüísticas, sociales y culturales, de modo que los procesos de apropiación de la escritura en general y de la ortografía en particular responden a tales condiciones y se deben entender e interpretar en relación con estas. Tal es la empresa que se ha abordado aquí: conocer de cerca los modos de apropiación de la ortografía bribri por parte de algunos de sus usuarios (maestros bilingües participantes en el plan piloto) tanto en el plano del análisis de corpus de escritura producida por los docentes como en el plano del análisis y sistematización de ideologías relacionadas con la escritura y la ortografía del bribri.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Artes y Letras::Maestría Académica en Lingüístic

TGF-B1 y otras moléculas como biomarcadores de consolidación ósea en pseudoartrosis no hipertrófica de huesos largos

INTRODUCCIÓN La pseudoartrosis es una complicación con unas tasas de incidencia que se estiman entorno al 5-10% de las fracturas. Es frecuente su localización a nivel de la diáfisis de huesos largo. Se trata de una complicación de difícil solución que requiere de importantes gestos quirúrgicos y un problema preocupante dentro de la cirugía ortopédica y traumatológica. El descubrimiento de una molécula o biomarcador para detectar a aquellos pacientes en riesgo de desarrollar un retraso o déficit de consolidación ósea nos ayudaría a poder actuar precozmente e instaurar medidas especiales para su tratamiento. MATERIAL Y METODOS Planteamos un estudio piloto prospectivo exploratorio que analiza una cohorte de 20 pacientes diagnosticados de pseudoartrosis no hipertrófica de huesos largos sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico mediante aporte biológico +/- re osteosíntesis. A estos pacientes se les siguió durante 12 meses. Se realizaron analíticas para determinar Tranforming Growth Factor B1 y B2 (TGF-B1, TGF-B2) a la inclusión, a la semana, 2 semanas, 1mes, 2 meses, 3 meses, 6 meses y 12 meses post cirugía. Se evaluó su consolidación radiológica mediante la Tomographic Union Score (TUS). RESULTADOS De los 20 pacientes iniciales, 17 son incluidos finalmente para su análisis final. De ellos 9 consolidan frente a 8 que no lo hacen. Los valores medios de TGF-B1 al momento de inclusión fueron de: 26.702,4 +/- 14537 pg/ml. Para TGF-B2: 307,8 +/-83,1 pg/ml. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el grupo de consolidación y el de no consolidación a los 12 meses para TGF-B1 (p 0,005). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos para TGF-B2. CONCLUSIONES TGF-B1 puede ser un marcador serológico de regeneración ósea si bien con los resultados de nuestro estudio no podemos decir que sea un biomarcador que permita la detección precoz por si sólo del fallo en la consolidación ósea. La misma conclusión sería aplicable a TGF-B2.INTRODUCTION Pseudoarthrosis or non union is a complication wich incidence is estimated around 5-10% of fractures. Its frequently located in diaphysis of long bones. It is a complication that requires important surgical procedures and a worrying problem in orthopedic and trauma surgery actually. The discovery of a molecule or biomarker to detect those patients at risk of develope a delayed bone healing or non union would help us to establish special measures for their treatment.earlier. MATERIAL AND METHODS We propose a prospective exploratory pilot study that analyzes a cohort of 20 patients diagnosed of non-hypertrophic non-union of long bones undergoing surgical treatment consisting in autologus bone graft +/- re osteosynthesis. These patients were followed for 12 months. Plasma blood samples were obtained to determine Tranforming Growth Factor B1 and B2 (TGF-B1, TGF-B2) at inclusion, at week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery. Radiological bone healing was evaluated by the Tomographic Union Score (TUS). RESULTS 20 patients were included, 17 were analyzed finally. 9 healed versus 8 that did not heal. The mean values of TGF-B1 at inclusión time point were: 26,702.4 +/- 14537 pg / ml. For TGF-B2: 307.8 +/- 83.1 pg / ml. Statistically significant differences were found between the bone healing group and the non-union group at 12 months for TGF-B1 (p 0.005). No significant differences were found between the two groups for TGF-B2. CONCLUSIONS TGF-B1 can be a serological marker of bone healing although we can not say that it is a biomarker that allows early detection of delayed unión or non unión in base of our results. The same conclusion would be applicable to TGF-B2