Altitude as a risk factor for the development of hypospadias. Geographical cluster distribution analysis in South America

Q2307.e1-307.e5Objective Hypospadias is the most common congenital anomaly affecting the genitals. It has been established as a multifactorial disease with increasing prevalence. Many risk factors have been identified such as prematurity, birth weight, mother's age, and exposure to endocrine disruptors. In recent decades multiple authors using surveillance systems have described an increase in prevalence of hypospadias, but most of the published literature comes from developed countries in Europe and North America and few of the published studies have involved cluster analysis. Few large-scale studies have been performed addressing the effect of altitude and other geographical aspects on the development of hypospadias. Acknowledging this limitation, we present novel results of a multinational spatial scan statistical analysis over a 30-year period in South America and an altitude analysis of hypospadias distribution on a continent level. Method A retrospective review was performed of the Latin American collaborative study of congenital malformations (ECLAMC). A total of 4,020,384 newborns was surveyed between 1982 and December 2011 in all participating centers. We selected all patients with hypospadias. All degrees of clinical severity were included in the analysis. Each participating center was geographically identified with its coordinates and altitude above sea level. A spatial scan statistical analysis was performed using Kulldorf's methodology and a prevalence trend analysis over time in centers below and above 2000 m. Results During the study period we found 159 hospitals in six different countries (Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay) with 4,537 cases of hypospadias and a global prevalence rate of 11.3/10,000 newborns. Trend analysis showed that centers below 2000 m had an increasing trend with an average of 10/10,000 newborns as opposed to those centers above 2000 m that showed a reducing trend with an average prevalence of 7.8 (p = 0.1246). We identified clusters with significant increases of prevalence in five centers along the coast at an average altitude of 219.8 m above sea level (p > 0.0000). Reduction in prevalence was found in clusters located in two centers on the Andes mountains. Altitude of 2,000 m was associated with hypospadias (Figure), with an OR 0.59 (0.5–0.69). There are ethnic arguments to support our results supported by protective polymorphism distribution in high lands. Conclusion Altitude above 2,000 m is suggested to have a protective effect for hypospadias. Specific clusters have been identified with increased risk for hypospadias. Environmental risk factors in these areas need to be further studied given the association seen between altitude and the distribution of more severe cases

New 23-phosphodiester derivatives of Silibin and DHS: synthesis and preliminary evaluation of antioxidant properties

Silybin is the major flavonolignan of silymarin which is widely used as a natural remedy for the treatment of cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and liver diseases associated with alcohol consumption and exposure to environmental toxins. Different studies recently made on the antiradical activity of silybin and DHS have elucidated the functional groups responsible for this activity. The results suggest that the C-23 position could be a site for useful modifications aimed to improve the bioactivity of silybin and/or DHS analogues. Recently we describe an efficient synthetic strategy to obtain a variety of new silybin and 2,3-dehydrosilybin (DHS) derivatives in which the 23-hydroxyl group was converted to a sulfate, phosphodiester, or amine group, using a solution-phase approach. The antioxidant properties of the new compounds were evaluated in a cellular model in vivo and most of them displayed an antioxidant activity comparable or higher to silybin and DHS. These results confirmed the assumption that modifications in position C–23 do not affect the radical scavenging activity of these analogues. With the final goal to expand the repertoire of silybin and DHS C-23 modified, we describe here the synthesis and preliminary evaluation of antioxidant properties of a variety of new silybin and DHS conjugated with different labels through a phosphodiester bond The antioxidative properties of the above-synthesized compounds were determined by free radical scavenging (DPPH) assay

Polymeric stabilized oleogel-based emulsions aiming at food lipid profile tailoring

Decisive processing and technological requirements like saturated fat reduction and healthier fatty acids delivery are immediate objectives for food industry. In this work, our main focus was the development of gelled O/W emulsions, using oleogels as filling particles, that could act as healthier fat substitutes, namely for meat-based products.Fundação para a Ciência e TecnologiaCompete 2020FEDERinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nearby Optical Galaxies: Selection of the Sample and Identification of Groups

In this paper we describe the Nearby Optical Galaxy (NOG) sample, which is a complete, distance-limited ($cz\leq$6000 km/s) and magnitude-limited (B$\leq$14) sample of $\sim$7000 optical galaxies. The sample covers 2/3 (8.27 sr) of the sky ($|b|>20^{\circ}$) and appears to have a good completeness in redshift (98%). We select the sample on the basis of homogenized corrected total blue magnitudes in order to minimize systematic effects in galaxy sampling. We identify the groups in this sample by means of both the hierarchical and the percolation {\it friends of friends} methods. The resulting catalogs of loose groups appear to be similar and are among the largest catalogs of groups presently available. Most of the NOG galaxies ($\sim$60%) are found to be members of galaxy pairs ($\sim$580 pairs for a total of $\sim$15% of objects) or groups with at least three members ($\sim$500 groups for a total of $\sim$45% of objects). About 40% of galaxies are left ungrouped (field galaxies). We illustrate the main features of the NOG galaxy distribution. Compared to previous optical and IRAS galaxy samples, the NOG provides a denser sampling of the galaxy distribution in the nearby universe. Given its large sky coverage, the identification of groups, and its high-density sampling, the NOG is suited for the analysis of the galaxy density field of the nearby universe, especially on small scales.Comment: 47 pages including 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Climatic variables that favor the Black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet) [anamorph: Pseudocercospora fijiensis (Morelet) Deighton] infestation in a banana-growing zone

Objective:  Characterize how favorable or unfavorable are the climatic conditions for the incidence and development of Black Sigatoka in the banana región of Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico. Design/Methodology/Approach: Daily temperature data from 59 years from Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, climatological station (27044) were analized (1961-2019), using historical reports fron IMTA, (2009) and the National Meteorological Service. Relative humidity was estimated using the equation reported by Allen et al. (2006). To determine how suitable are the weather conditions for the incidence and develpment of Black Sigatoka in Teapa, a climatic favorability classification proposed by Júnior et al. (2008) was used. Results: The results shows that in the area under this study, there are no highly favorable climatic conditions for the incidence and development of this disease, and the spring-summer months are the less favorable; while the autum-winter months are the most favorable. Study limitations/implications: It is important to do this kind of studies in other banana producing areas in Tabasco, because the climatic conditions (temperature and relative humidity) they are different, so the disease frequency or appearance may vary. Findings/conclusions: The time period from october to march are the most favorable months for Black Sigatoka incidence and development; so integrated management programs should be designed for this period. Keywords: temperature, relative humidity, banana, yields, probability, prediction models.Objective: To establish the favorable or unfavorable climatic conditions for the emergence and developmentof Black Sigatoka in a banana-growing area within the influence zone of the Teapa weather station (27004) inTabasco, Mexico.Design/Methodology/Approach: We analyzed temperature data for n=59 years (1961-2019) at the Teapaweather station (27044) in Tabasco, as reported by IMTA (2009) and the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional(until 2019). Relative humidity was calculated using the equation developed by Allen et al. (2006). We alsoestablished the favorable or unfavorable climatic conditions for the development of Black Sigatoka in Teapa byresorting to the favorability typology posited by Júnior et al. (2008).Results: There are no highly favorable climatic conditions for the incidence and development of this disease.Overall, spring and summer are the less favorable months, while fall and winter offer more favorable conditions.Study Limitations/Implications: This study should be replicated in other banana-growing areas of Tabasco,since both temperature and relative humidity may differ and, consequently, the frequency of the disease mayvary.Findings/Conclusions: October and March are the most favorable months for Black Sigatoka occurrence.Therefore, comprehensive management and control programs should be designed for this perio

From Single-Visit to Multi-Visit Image-Based Models: Single-Visit Models are Enough to Predict Obstructive Hydronephrosis

Previous work has shown the potential of deep learning to predict renal obstruction using kidney ultrasound images. However, these image-based classifiers have been trained with the goal of single-visit inference in mind. We compare methods from video action recognition (i.e. convolutional pooling, LSTM, TSM) to adapt single-visit convolutional models to handle multiple visit inference. We demonstrate that incorporating images from a patient's past hospital visits provides only a small benefit for the prediction of obstructive hydronephrosis. Therefore, inclusion of prior ultrasounds is beneficial, but prediction based on the latest ultrasound is sufficient for patient risk stratification.Comment: Paper accepted to SIPAIM 2022 (in Valparaiso, Chile

ECLAMC Study : prevalence patterns of hypospadias in South America : multi-national analysis over a 24-year period

Q3Artículo original325-334Objective: To evaluate prevalence trends of hypospadias in South-America it is es-sential to perform multicenter and multinational studies with the same methodology. Herein we present systematic data as part of an international multicenter initiative evaluating congenital malformations in South America over a 24-year period.Materials and Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted using the Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC), between Janu-ary 1989 and December 2012. Cases were stratified as isolated (IH) and non-isolated hypospadias (NIH). Global prevalence was calculated and discriminated by country. Associations between birth weight and gestational age, and NIH distribution by associ-ated abnormality and severity of hypospadias, were analyzed.Results: A total of 159 hospitals from six countries participated, reporting surveillance on 4.020.384 newborns. A total of 4.537 hypospadias cases were detected, with a global prevalence of 11.3/10.000 newborns. Trend analyses showed in Chile, Brazil and Uruguay a statistically significant increase in prevalence. Analysis of severity and as-sociated anomalies did not to find an association for distal cases, but did for proximal (RR=1.64 [95% CI=1.33-2.03]).Conclusion: This is one of only a few Latin American multicenter studies reporting on the epidemiology of hypospadias in South America in the last two decades. Our data adds to evidence suggesting an increase in some countries in the region at different times. There were also variations in prevalence according to severity. This study adds to literature describing associated anomalies at a hospital-based level

The Gray Needle: Large Grains in the HD 15115 Debris Disk from LBT/PISCES/Ks and LBTI/LMIRcam/L' Adaptive Optics Imaging

We present diffraction-limited \ks band and \lprime adaptive optics images of the edge-on debris disk around the nearby F2 star HD 15115, obtained with a single 8.4 m primary mirror at the Large Binocular Telescope. At \ks band the disk is detected at signal-to-noise per resolution element (SNRE) \about 3-8 from \about 1-2\fasec 5 (45-113 AU) on the western side, and from \about 1.2-2\fasec 1 (63-90 AU) on the east. At \lprime the disk is detected at SNRE \about 2.5 from \about 1-1\fasec 45 (45-90 AU) on both sides, implying more symmetric disk structure at 3.8 \microns . At both wavelengths the disk has a bow-like shape and is offset from the star to the north by a few AU. A surface brightness asymmetry exists between the two sides of the disk at \ks band, but not at \lprime . The surface brightness at \ks band declines inside 1\asec (\about 45 AU), which may be indicative of a gap in the disk near 1\asec. The \ks - \lprime disk color, after removal of the stellar color, is mostly grey for both sides of the disk. This suggests that scattered light is coming from large dust grains, with 3-10 \microns -sized grains on the east side and 1-10 \microns dust grains on the west. This may suggest that the west side is composed of smaller dust grains than the east side, which would support the interpretation that the disk is being dynamically affected by interactions with the local interstellar medium.Comment: Apj-accepted March 27 2012; minor correction

First Light LBT AO Images of HR 8799 bcde at 1.65 and 3.3 Microns: New Discrepancies between Young Planets and Old Brown Dwarfs

As the only directly imaged multiple planet system, HR 8799 provides a unique opportunity to study the physical properties of several planets in parallel. In this paper, we image all four of the HR 8799 planets at H-band and 3.3 microns with the new LBT adaptive optics system, PISCES, and LBTI/LMIRCam. Our images offer an unprecedented view of the system, allowing us to obtain H and 3.3$ micron photometry of the innermost planet (for the first time) and put strong upper-limits on the presence of a hypothetical fifth companion. We find that all four planets are unexpectedly bright at 3.3 microns compared to the equilibrium chemistry models used for field brown dwarfs, which predict that planets should be faint at 3.3 microns due to CH4 opacity. We attempt to model the planets with thick-cloudy, non-equilibrium chemistry atmospheres, but find that removing CH4 to fit the 3.3 micron photometry increases the predicted L' (3.8 microns) flux enough that it is inconsistent with observations. In an effort to fit the SED of the HR 8799 planets, we construct mixtures of cloudy atmospheres, which are intended to represent planets covered by clouds of varying opacity. In this scenario, regions with low opacity look hot and bright, while regions with high opacity look faint, similar to the patchy cloud structures on Jupiter and L/T transition brown-dwarfs. Our mixed cloud models reproduce all of the available data, but self-consistent models are still necessary to demonstrate their viability.Comment: Accepted to Ap