Fatigue Behaviour of Concrete Using Siderurgical Aggregates

The use of concrete with aggregates with reduced environmental impact, as is the case of concrete with siderurgical aggregates (recovered slags), will inevitably increase in the future, as a result of policies promoting development of more sustainable construction materials. These concretes offer an excellent response to static loads, but their behaviour under dynamic loads has not yet been studied. The aim of this study is to characterize the fatigue behaviour, in terms of fatigue limit, of a concrete with siderurgical aggregates by comparing it with an analogous conventional limestone concrete. This characterization was carried out using the Locati method, which stands out for its convenience, speed and low cost, with the feature of being carried out at a high frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency. Performing high-frequency tests has drastically reduced test times and thus costs. Likewise, the results obtained show that, using various criteria found in the literature, concrete with siderurgical aggregates has a higher fatigue limit in absolute terms (MPa), but a lower one in relative terms (% fc).This research was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness (MINECO) within the framework of the project RTC-2016-5637-3

Análisis del crecimiento de tres líneas de cebada para producción de forraje, en el valle de México

The objectives of the research were to generate forage accumulation curves, and to determine the optimal cutting time for forage for three lines of barley, during two growth cycles. Cuttings started 43 days after sowing (DAS), and until the maximum accumulation of dry matter was reached. Forage accumulation, morphological composition, leaf area index, plant height and light interception were evaluated weekly. Data from the experiments were analyzed using SAS software, using a randomized block design and a split-plot arrangement with three replicates. Intercepted radiation and leaf area can be used to determine the optimal cutting time. The optimal cutting time in the second growth cycle was 70 DAS, with intercepted radiation values of 94, 95, and 91%, leaf area indices of 7, 5, and 3, and heights of 88, 82 and 59 cm for Esp x O'Connor, Esp x CP and Lenetah (p < 0.05), respectively, at the stem elongation stage. The optimum period or optimum phenological stage for cutting of green forage or haying is the stem elongation stage, due to high values of leaves number, light interception and leaf area index recorded in this phenological stage. Since a point of view of total dry matter yield it is recommended to harvest at the beginning of grain dough stage, when the grain yield and dry matter yield are the highest.Los objetivos del estudio fueron construir curvas de acumulación de forraje, y determinar el momento óptimo de corte para forraje de tres líneas de cebada, durante dos ciclos de crecimiento. Los cortes se iniciaron a los 43 días después de la siembra (DDS) y hasta que se alcanzó la máxima acumulación de materia seca. La acumulación de forraje, composición morfológica, índice de área foliar, altura de planta e intercepción luminosa se evaluaron semanalmente. Los datos de los experimentos se analizaron con SAS, para un diseño experimental de bloques al azar en arreglo de parcelas divididas con tres repeticiones. La radiación interceptada y el índice de área foliar pueden ser criterios utilizados para determinar el momento óptimo de corte. El momento óptimo de corte en el segundo ciclo de cultivo fue a los 70 DDS, con valores de intercepción luminosa de 94, 95 y 91%, con índices de área foliar de 7, 5 y 3 y alturas de 88, 82 y 59 cm para Esp x O'Connor, Esp x Cp y Lenetah (p < 0,05), en el estado de elongación del tallo. El período óptimo de desarrollo para corte de forraje verde o henificado en cebada es la etapa de elongación del tallo, debido a que en esta etapa se registró la mayor cantidad de hojas, intercepción luminosa e índice de área foliar. Desde el punto de vista de rendimiento total se recomienda cosechar en el inicio del estado masoso del grano que es cuando se tiene la mayor cantidad de forraje y grano

Diversidad de maiz en la sierra sur de Oaxaca, México: conocimiento y manejo tradicional.

El estado de Oaxaca representa un importante acervo de maíz en México. Estudios previos han indicado la presencia de muchas variedades locales y razas agronómicas en la Sierra Norte y Valles Centrales. La Sierra Sur ha sido poco estudiada a pesar de la presencia de comunidades indígenas zapotecas, las cuales cultivan maíz, entre otras especies, y han preservado las variedades locales. El presente estudio responde a las siguientes preguntas: ¿cuál es la diversidad de maíz en términos de variedades tradicionales y razas agronómicas en la región zapoteca de Los Loxicha?, ¿la diversidad de maíz sigue un patrón de distribución a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal?, ¿cuáles prácticas promueven y mantienen esta diversidad? Para contestar estas preguntas se realizó un estudio en cinco municipios de la Sierra Sur de Oaxaca. Durante 2007 se aplicaron entrevistas estructuradas a 930 agricultores para describir el proceso de manejo de semilla. La caracterización morfológica de las razas agronómicas se basó en muestras de mazorcas obtenidas en 375 milpas, con 20 plantas por milpa. Se encontraron altos niveles de diversidad local de maíz, con 36 variedades tradicionales correspondientes a 10 razas agronómicas. Las razas exhibieron diferencias en términos de variación fenotípica, distribución altitudinal y algunas muestran adaptación local. Los agricultores practican algunas formas de manejo ancestral para la selección de mazorcas y semillas, manteniendo, así, ciertos niveles de diferenciación entre las variedades y las razas agronómicas. Sin embargo, al sembrar diferentes variedades dentro de la misma parcela, se promueve el flujo génico y la introgresión entre ellas, manteniendo y promoviendo la diversidad fenotípica y genética

Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity and Longitudinal Growth in Children With Solid Tumors: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Cisplatin, a major antineoplastic drug used in the treatment of solid tumors, is a known nephrotoxin. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the prevalence and severity of cisplatin nephrotoxicity in 54 children and its impact on height and weight.We recorded the weight, height, serum creatinine, and electrolytes in each cisplatin cycle and after 12 months of treatment. Nephrotoxicity was graded as follows: normal renal function (Grade 0); asymptomatic electrolyte disorders, including an increase in serum creatinine, up to 1.5 times baseline value (Grade 1); need for electrolyte supplementation <3 months and/or increase in serum creatinine 1.5 to 1.9 times from baseline (Grade 2); increase in serum creatinine 2 to 2.9 times from baseline or need for electrolyte supplementation for more than 3 months after treatment completion (Grade 3); and increase in serum creatinine ≥3 times from baseline or renal replacement therapy (Grade 4).Nephrotoxicity was observed in 41 subjects (75.9%). Grade 1 nephrotoxicity was observed in 18 patients (33.3%), Grade 2 in 5 patients (9.2%), and Grade 3 in 18 patients (33.3%). None had Grade 4 nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity patients were younger and received higher cisplatin dose, they also had impairment in longitudinal growth manifested as statistically significant worsening on the height Z Score at 12 months after treatment. We used a multiple logistic regression model using the delta of height Z Score (baseline-12 months) as dependent variable in order to adjust for the main confounder variables such as: germ cell tumor, cisplatin total dose, serum magnesium levels at 12 months, gender, and nephrotoxicity grade. Patients with nephrotoxicity Grade 1 where at higher risk of not growing (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.07-24.3, P=0.04). The cisplatin total dose had a significant negative relationship with magnesium levels at 12 months (Spearman r=-0.527, P=<0.001)

An international comparative analysis and roadmap to sustainable biosimilar markets

Background: Although biosimilar uptake has increased (at a variable pace) in many countries, there have been recent concerns about the long-term sustainability of biosimilar markets. The aim of this manuscript is to assess the sustainability of policies across the biosimilar life cycle in selected countries with a view to propose recommendations for supporting biosimilar sustainability.Methods: The study conducted a comparative analysis across 17 countries from North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Biosimilar policies were identified and their sustainability was assessed based on country-specific reviews of the scientific and grey literature, validation by industry experts and 23 international and local non-industry experts, and two advisory board meetings with these non-industry experts.Results: Given that European countries tend to have more experience with biosimilars and more developed policy frameworks, they generally have higher sustainability scores than the other selected countries. Existing approaches to biosimilar manufacturing and R&amp;D, policies guaranteeing safe and high-quality biosimilars, exemption from the requirement to apply health technology assessment to biosimilars, and initiatives counteracting biosimilar misconceptions are considered sustainable. However, biosimilar contracting approaches, biosimilar education and understanding can be ameliorated in all selected countries. Also, similar policies are sometimes perceived to be sustainable in some markets, but not in others. More generally, the sustainability of the biosimilar landscape depends on the nature of the healthcare system and existing pharmaceutical market access policies, the experience with biosimilar use and policies. This suggests that a general biosimilar policy toolkit that ensures sustainability does not exist, but varies from country to country.Conclusion: This study proposes a set of elements that should underpin sustainable biosimilar policy development over time in a country. At first, biosimilar policies should guarantee the safety and quality of biosimilars, healthy levels of supply and a level of cost savings. As a country gains experience with biosimilars, policies need to optimise uptake and combat any misconceptions about biosimilars. Finally, a country should implement biosimilar policies that foster competition, expand treatment options and ensure a sustainable market environment

La educación en psicología a través de la virtualidad

La educación en psicología a través de la virtualidad es la presentación de las investigaciones que se han realizado en Politécnico Grancolombiano sobre cómo educar (y mejorar el proceso educativo), desde la disciplina encargada de velar por la salud mental de las personas. A lo largo de estos capítulos se describen las mejores estrategias para mantener la educación virtual con los más altos estándares de calidad, para finalmente entender cómo proyectarnos en medio de los retos de ejercer una profesión que tradicionalmente se ha contextualizado en la presencialidad

Evidence of spatial clustering of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases in Greater Mexico City: report from the Mexican Inter-Institutional Group for the identification of the causes of childhood leukemia

BackgroundA heterogeneous geographic distribution of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases has been described, possibly, related to the presence of different environmental factors. The aim of the present study was to explore the geographical distribution of childhood ALL cases in Greater Mexico City (GMC).MethodsA population-based case-control study was conducted. Children &lt;18 years old, newly diagnosed with ALL and residents of GMC were included. Controls were patients without leukemia recruited from second-level public hospitals, frequency-matched by sex, age, and health institution with the cases. The residence address where the patients lived during the last year before diagnosis (cases) or the interview (controls) was used for geolocation. Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic was used to detect spatial clusters (SCs). Relative risks (RR), associated p-value and number of cases included for each cluster were obtained.ResultsA total of 1054 cases with ALL were analyzed. Of these, 408 (38.7%) were distributed across eight SCs detected. A relative risk of 1.61 (p&lt;0.0001) was observed for the main cluster. Similar results were noted for the remaining seven ones. Additionally, a proximity between SCs, electrical installations and petrochemical facilities was observed.ConclusionsThe identification of SCs in certain regions of GMC suggest the possible role of environmental factors in the etiology of childhood ALL

A taxonomic backbone for the global synthesis of species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales

The Caryophyllales constitute a major lineage of flowering plants with approximately 12500 species in 39 families. A taxonomic backbone at the genus level is provided that reflects the current state of knowledge and accepts 749 genera for the order. A detailed review of the literature of the past two decades shows that enormous progress has been made in understanding overall phylogenetic relationships in Caryophyllales. The process of re-circumscribing families in order to be monophyletic appears to be largely complete and has led to the recognition of eight new families (Anacampserotaceae, Kewaceae, Limeaceae, Lophiocarpaceae, Macarthuriaceae, Microteaceae, Montiaceae and Talinaceae), while the phylogenetic evaluation of generic concepts is still well underway. As a result of this, the number of genera has increased by more than ten percent in comparison to the last complete treatments in the Families and genera of vascular plants” series. A checklist with all currently accepted genus names in Caryophyllales, as well as nomenclatural references, type names and synonymy is presented. Notes indicate how extensively the respective genera have been studied in a phylogenetic context. The most diverse families at the generic level are Cactaceae and Aizoaceae, but 28 families comprise only one to six genera. This synopsis represents a first step towards the aim of creating a global synthesis of the species diversity in the angiosperm order Caryophyllales integrating the work of numerous specialists around the world

Gaia Early Data Release 3: Structure and properties of the Magellanic Clouds

We compare the Gaia DR2 and Gaia EDR3 performances in the study of the Magellanic Clouds and show the clear improvements in precision and accuracy in the new release. We also show that the systematics still present in the data make the determination of the 3D geometry of the LMC a difficult endeavour; this is at the very limit of the usefulness of the Gaia EDR3 astrometry, but it may become feasible with the use of additional external data. We derive radial and tangential velocity maps and global profiles for the LMC for the several subsamples we defined. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the two planar components of the ordered and random motions are derived for multiple stellar evolutionary phases in a galactic disc outside the Milky Way, showing the differences between younger and older phases. We also analyse the spatial structure and motions in the central region, the bar, and the disc, providing new insights into features and kinematics. Finally, we show that the Gaia EDR3 data allows clearly resolving the Magellanic Bridge, and we trace the density and velocity flow of the stars from the SMC towards the LMC not only globally, but also separately for young and evolved populations. This allows us to confirm an evolved population in the Bridge that is slightly shift from the younger population. Additionally, we were able to study the outskirts of both Magellanic Clouds, in which we detected some well-known features and indications of new ones

Pharmacokinetics of acemetacin and its active metabolite indomethacin in rats during acute hepatic damage and liver regeneration

Background and aim:The pharmacokinetics of acemetacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which is biotransformed to indomethacin by hepatic first-pass effect, was examined during the necrotic and regeneration phases resulting from acute hepatitis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).Material and methods: Acute hepatitis was induced by oral CCl4 administration to male Wistar rats. On days 0, 1 and 3 after the insult, liver histological analysis was performed, biochemical markers of liver damage and regeneration were measured, and the pharmacokinetics of oral acemetacin and of its active metabolite, indomethacin, were determined.Results: One day after CCl4 administration, liver necrosis was apparent and there was an increase in the circulating levels of indicators of liver damage and regeneration with regard to control conditions. Acemetacin bioavailability was increased, although not in a statistically significant manner. On the other hand, indomethacin bioavailability was significantly reduced. By day 3, histological analysis revealed liver recovery, although not complete, while biochemical indicators of hepatic damage had reverted either totally or partially. Markers of liver regeneration were still increased. Bioavailability acemetacin and indomethacin was comparable to control values.In conclusion: Indomethacin bioavailability after oral administration of its precursor, acemetacin, is significantly reduced by acute hepatitis produced by CCl4. Pharmacokinetic alterations, as liver damage, are reversible, but do not require complete liver regeneration to return to basal conditions