Análisis de distorsión armónica en iluminación LED

Objective: perform a literature review on the behavior of harmonics a cause of LED lighting. Method: raise an in-depth research on Bibliographic Indexes (IB) and Bibliographic Bases with Selection Committee (BBCS) on Harmonics in LED lighting. The following article presents the electric behavior of LED illumination focused on harmonic distortion, analyzing topics such as harmonic generation, harmonics standards, harmonic solving, among others; each topic mentioned is accompanied by its respective citation to guarantee the copyright and give the reader a dynamic movement between what is stated in this work and the works cited. Results: a thorough investigation was carried out in detail, focusing on the harmonics in LED lighting, analyzing its current state and consequences with respect to other conventional luminaires and the energy system.Objetivo: Realizar una revisión bibliográfica acerca del comportamiento de los armónicos a causa de la iluminación LED.Método: Plantear una investigación a fondo en Índices Bibliográficos (IB) y Bases Bibliográficas con Comité de Selección (BBCS) acerca de los Armónicos en iluminación LED.El siguiente Artículo presenta el comportamiento eléctrico de la iluminación LED enfocado en la distorsión armónica, analizando temas como: generación de armónicos, normas aplicadas a los armónicos, solución de los armónicos, entre otros; cada tema mencionado viene acompañado de su respectiva citación para garantizar los derechos de autor y brindar al lector un movimiento dinámico entre lo consignado en este trabajo y los trabajos citados.Resultados: Se realizó una investigación a fondo de forma minuciosa, enfocándose en los armónicos en iluminación LED, analizando su estado actual y consecuencias con respecto a las otras luminarias convencionales y el sistema energético. 

A bi-dimensional genome scan for prolificacy traits in pigs shows the existence of multiple epistatic QTL

Background: Prolificacy is the most important trait influencing the reproductive efficiency of pig production systems. The low heritability and sex-limited expression of prolificacy have hindered to some extent the improvement of this trait through artificial selection. Moreover, the relative contributions of additive, dominant and epistatic QTL to the genetic variance of pig prolificacy remain to be defined. In this work, we have undertaken this issue by performing one-dimensional and bi-dimensional genome scans for number of piglets born alive (NBA) and total number of piglets born (TNB) in a three generation Iberian by Meishan F2 intercross. Results: The one-dimensional genome scan for NBA and TNB revealed the existence of two genome-wide highly significant QTL located on SSC13 (P < 0.001) and SSC17 (P < 0.01) with effects on both traits. This relative paucity of significant results contrasted very strongly with the wide array of highly significant epistatic QTL that emerged in the bi-dimensional genome-wide scan analysis. As much as 18 epistatic QTL were found for NBA (four at P < 0.01 and five at P < 0.05) and TNB (three at P < 0.01 and six at P < 0.05), respectively. These epistatic QTL were distributed in multiple genomic regions, which covered 13 of the 18 pig autosomes, and they had small individual effects that ranged between 3 to 4% of the phenotypic variance. Different patterns of interactions (a × a, a × d, d × a and d × d) were found amongst the epistatic QTL pairs identified in the current work. Conclusions: The complex inheritance of prolificacy traits in pigs has been evidenced by identifying multiple additive (SSC13 and SSC17), dominant and epistatic QTL in an Iberian × Meishan F2 intercross. Our results demonstrate that a significant fraction of the phenotypic variance of swine prolificacy traits can be attributed to first-order gene-by-gene interactions emphasizing that the phenotypic effects of alleles might be strongly modulated by the genetic background where they segregate

Mapping of quantitative trait loci for cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglyceride serum concentrations in pigs

The fine mapping of polymorphisms influencing cholesterol (CT), triglyceride (TG), and lipoprotein serum levels in human and mouse has provided a wealth of knowledge about the complex genetic architecture of these traits. The extension of these genetic analyses to pigs would be of utmost importance since they constitute a valuable biological and clinical model for the study of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. In the present work, we performed a whole genome scan for serum lipid traits in a half-sib Duroc pig population of 350 individuals. Phenotypic registers included total CT, TG, and low (LDL)- and high (HDL)-density lipoprotein serum concentrations at 45 and 190 days of age. This approach allowed us to identify two genomewide significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) for HDL-to-LDL ratio at 45 days (SSC6, 84 cM) and for TG at 190 days (SSC4, 23 cM) as well as a number of chromosomewide significant QTL. The comparison of QTL locations at 45 and 190 days revealed a notable lack of concordance at these two time points, suggesting that the effects of these QTL are age specific. Moreover, we have observed a considerable level of correspondence among the locations of the most significant porcine lipid QTL and those identified in humans. This finding might suggest that, in mammals, diverse polymorphisms located in a common set of genes are involved in the genetic variation of serum lipid levels.The work was funded by Grants AGL2002-04271-C03 and AGL2007-66707-C02 (Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia, Spain). D. Gallardo was funded with a fellowship from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. R. N. Pena received a contractual grant from Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria (Spain).Peer reviewe

Tele-entomology and tele-parasitology: A citizen science-based approach for surveillance and control of Chagas disease in Venezuela.

Chagas Disease (CD), a chronic infection caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, is a Neglected Tropical Disease endemic to Latin America. With a re-emergence in Venezuela during the past two decades, the spread of CD has proved susceptible to, and inhibitable by a digital, real-time surveillance system effectuated by Citizen Scientists in communities throughout the country. The #TraeTuChipo (#BringYourKissingBug) campaign implemented in January 2020, has served as such a strategy counting on community engagement to define the current ecological distribution of CD vectors despite the absence of a functional national surveillance program. This pilot campaign collected data through online surveys, social media platforms, and/or telephone text messages. A total of 79 triatomine bugs were reported from eighteen Venezuelan states; 67 bugs were identified as Panstrongylus geniculatus, 1 as Rhodnius pictipes, 1 as Triatoma dimidiata, and 10 as Triatoma maculata. We analyzed 8 triatomine feces samples spotted from 4 Panstrongylus geniculatus which were confirmed positive by qPCR for T. cruzi. Further molecular characterization of discrete typing units (DTUs), revealed that all samples contained TcI, the most highly diverse and broadly distributed strain of T. cruzi. Moreover, analysis of the mitochondrial 12S gene revealed Myotis keaysi, Homo sapiens, and Gallus gallus as the main triatomine feeding sources. This study highlights a novel Citizen Science approach which may help improve the surveillance systems for CD in endemic countries

Insects as Stem Engineers: Interactions Mediated by the Twig-Girdler Oncideres albomarginata chamela Enhance Arthropod Diversity

Background: Ecosystem engineering may influence community structure and biodiversity by controlling the availability of resources and/or habitats used by other organisms. Insect herbivores may act as ecosystem engineers but there is still poor understanding of the role of these insects structuring arthropod communities. Methodology/Principal Findings: We evaluated the effect of ecosystem engineering by the stem-borer Oncideres albomarginata chamela on the arthropod community of a tropical dry forest for three consecutive years. The results showed that ecosystem engineering by O. albomarginata chamela had strong positive effects on the colonization, abundance, species richness and composition of the associated arthropod community, and it occurred mainly through the creation of a habitat with high availability of oviposition sites for secondary colonizers. These effects cascade upward to higher trophic levels. Overall, ecosystem engineering by O. albomarginata chamela was responsible for nearly 95 % of the abundance of secondary colonizers and 82 % of the species richness. Conclusions/Significance: Our results suggest that ecosystem engineering by O. albomarginata chamela is a keystone process structuring an arthropod community composed by xylovores, predators and parasitoids. This study is the first to empirically demonstrate the effect of the ecosystem engineering by stem-boring insects on important attributes o

Multiomics integrative analysis identifies APOE allele-specific blood biomarkers associated to Alzheimer's disease etiopathogenesis

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, currently affecting 35 million people worldwide. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is the major risk factor for sporadic, late-onset AD (LOAD), which comprises over 95% of AD cases, increasing the risk of AD 4-12 fold. Despite this, the role of APOE in AD pathogenesis is still a mystery. Aiming for a better understanding of APOE-specific effects, the ADAPTED consortium analysed and integrated publicly available data of multiple OMICS technologies from both plasma and brain stratified by APOE haplotype (APOE2, APOE3 and APOE4). Combining genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with differential mRNA and protein expression analyses and single-nuclei transcriptomics, we identified genes and pathways contributing to AD in both APOE dependent and independent fashion. Interestingly, we characterised a set of biomarkers showing plasma and brain consistent protein profiles and opposite trends in APOE2 and APOE4 AD cases that could constitute screening tools for a disease that lacks specific blood biomarkers. Beside the identification of APOE-specific signatures, our findings advocate that this novel approach, based on the concordance across OMIC layers and tissues, is an effective strategy for overcoming the limitations of often underpowered single-OMICS studies

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Reprodução do camarão carabalí Trachypenaeus byrdi (Burkenroad, 1934) na parte interna do Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica

El grupo de camarón blanco (Litopenaeus sp.) es uno de los recursos de mayor importancia socioeconómica en el Golfo de Nicoya. Sin embargo, en los últimos años, el camarón carabalí (Trachypenaeus byrdi) ha experimentado una alta presión pesquera, debido a su valor en el mercado local. Por ende, en este estudio, se analizaron las muestras recolectadas del camarón carabalí (T. byrdi) en la zona interna de este Golfo durante 15 meses, entre los años 2008 y 2009, para conocer algunos de los aspectos biológicos y la dinámica poblacional de este recurso. Se comprobó que T. byrdi se distribuye en los fondos lodosos de la parte interna de este Golfo, cercana a la zona costera, y en profundidades no mayores de 15 metros. Los parámetros poblacionales muestran que la talla media de madurez para las hembras es de 87 mm de LT. Se determinaron dos periodos máximos de reproducción en los meses de marzo-abril y en los meses de julio-setiembre. Los parámetros de crecimiento estimados para las hembras fueron: Loo= 112.6 mm, K= 1.29 año-1, to= -0.084 y Woo= 18.68 g; mientras que para los machos fueron: Loo= 88.2 mm, K= 1.26 año-1 y to= -0.094.The white shrimp (Litopenaeus sp.) is among the most socioeconomically important resources in the Gulf of Nicoya. However, in the last years, the carabalí shrimp (Trachypenaeus byrdi) has become a species of high local commercial value. Therefore, samples of the carabalí shrimp (T. byrdi) collected in the inner section of the Gulf for 15 months between 2008 and 2009 were analyzed in the present study in order to ascertain the biology and population dynamics of this resource. It was confirmed that T. byrdi is found mainly on muddy bottoms located in the inner part of the Gulf, close to the coastal area at depths no greater than 15 m. Population parameters show that female average size at maturity is 87 mm TL (Total Lenght). Two main reproduction periods were identified: March-April and July-September.  Estimated growth parameters were Loo= 112.6 mm, K= 1.29 yr-1, to= -0.084 and Woo= 18.68 g for females and Loo= 88.2 mm, K= 1.26 yr-1 and to= -0.094 for males.O grupo de camarão-branco-do-pacífico (Litopenaeus sp.) é um dos recursos de maior importância socioeconômica no Golfo de Nicoya. Porém, nos últimos anos, o camarão carabalí (Trachypenaeus byrdi) tem sofrido uma alta pressão pesqueira, devido a seu valor no mercado local. Por essa razão, neste estudo, foram analisadas as amostras recolhidas do camarão carabalí (T. byrdi) na zona interna deste Golfo durante 15 meses, entre os anos de 2008 e 2009, para conhecer alguns dos aspectos biológicos e a dinâmica populacional deste recurso. Comprovou-se que T. byrdi está distribuído nos fundos lodosos da parte interna deste Golfo, próximo à zona costeira, e em profundidades não maiores a 15 metros. Os parâmetros populacionais mostram que o tamanho médio de maturidade para as fêmeas é de 87 mm de LT. Determinaram-se dois períodos máximos de reprodução nos meses de março-abril e nos meses de julho-setembro. Os parâmetros de crescimento estimados para as fêmeas foram: Loo= 112,6 mm, K= 1,29 ano-1, to= -0,084 y Woo= 18,68 g; enquanto para os machos foram: Loo= 88,2 mm, K= 1,26 ano-1 y to= -0,094

Análisis de distorsión armónica en iluminación LED

Objective: perform a literature review on the behavior of harmonics a cause of LED lighting. Method: raise an in-depth research on Bibliographic Indexes (IB) and Bibliographic Bases with Selection Committee (BBCS) on Harmonics in LED lighting. The following article presents the electric behavior of LED illumination focused on harmonic distortion, analyzing topics such as harmonic generation, harmonics standards, harmonic solving, among others; each topic mentioned is accompanied by its respective citation to guarantee the copyright and give the reader a dynamic movement between what is stated in this work and the works cited. Results: a thorough investigation was carried out in detail, focusing on the harmonics in LED lighting, analyzing its current state and consequences with respect to other conventional luminaires and the energy system.Objetivo: Realizar una revisión bibliográfica acerca del comportamiento de los armónicos a causa de la iluminación LED.Método: Plantear una investigación a fondo en Índices Bibliográficos (IB) y Bases Bibliográficas con Comité de Selección (BBCS) acerca de los Armónicos en iluminación LED.El siguiente Artículo presenta el comportamiento eléctrico de la iluminación LED enfocado en la distorsión armónica, analizando temas como: generación de armónicos, normas aplicadas a los armónicos, solución de los armónicos, entre otros; cada tema mencionado viene acompañado de su respectiva citación para garantizar los derechos de autor y brindar al lector un movimiento dinámico entre lo consignado en este trabajo y los trabajos citados.Resultados: Se realizó una investigación a fondo de forma minuciosa, enfocándose en los armónicos en iluminación LED, analizando su estado actual y consecuencias con respecto a las otras luminarias convencionales y el sistema energético.