Macro-Morphological Traits of Leaves for Urban Tree Selection for Air Pollution Biomonitoring: A Review.

Urban trees provide different ecosystem benefits, such as improving air quality due to the retention of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) on their leaves. The main objective of this paper was to study, through a systematic literature review, the leaf macro-morphological traits (LMTs) most used for the selection of urban trees as air pollution biomonitors. A citation frequency index was used in scientific databases, where the importance associated with each variable was organized by quartiles (Q). The results suggest that the most biomonitored air pollutants by the LMTs of urban trees were PM between 1-100 µm (Q1 = 0.760), followed by O3 (Q2 = 0.586), PM2.5 (Q2 = 0.504), and PM10 (Q3 = 0.423). PM was probably the most effective air pollutant for studying and evaluating urban air quality in the context of tree LMTs. PM2.5 was the fraction most used in these studies. The LMTs most used for PM monitoring were leaf area (Q1) and specific leaf area (Q4). These LMTs were frequently used for their easy measurement and quantification. In urban areas, it was suggested that leaf area was directly related to the amount of PM retained on tree leaves. The PM retained on tree leaves was also used to study other f associated urban air pollutants associated (e.g., heavy metals and hydrocarbons).

Análisis temporal del covid-19 en Colombia: indicadores asociados y modelización / Temporal analysis of covid-19 in Colombia: associated indicators and modeling

AbstractIntroduction. This study shows statistical information regarding COVID-19 in Colombia up to this date (March 1-2022). Specifically, the daily, monthly and cumulative evolution of infections and deaths, correlated with the distribution of the population according to age and gender. Objective. Show statistical information about COVID-19 that allows help to plan and design, in future Pandemics, public health policy strategies in Colombia. Methods. Daily information since the official declaration of Pandemic in Colombia (March 16 ­ 2020) was obtained by the National Health Institute (INS) and was organized in a database in order to conduct respective analysis. This information was compared to similar studies obtained based on the bibliographical review. Results and Conclusions. Results and conclusions are similar to those found in the reference literature: most part of those dead by COVID-19 are of senior age and male gender. Regarding Case Fatality Rate (CFR), it notoriously increases with age. The most vulnerable population displays an average age of ≥ 52.8 years. The less vulnerable population are young persons under 30 years of age, but specifically, those within the age range of 10 and 20 years. Gompertz and Logistic models can mathematically simulate the evolution of deaths and the evolution of CFR according to age

ResumenIntroducción. Este estudio muestra información estadística sobre el COVID-19 en Colombia a la fecha (1 de marzo de 2022). Específicamente, la evolución diaria, mensual y acumulada de contagios y defunciones, correlacionada con la distribución de la población según edad y sexo. Objetivo. Mostrar información estadística sobre COVID-19 que permita ayudar a planificar y diseñar, en futuras Pandemias, estrategias de política de salud pública en Colombia. Metodología. La información diaria desde la declaratoria oficial de Pandemia en Colombia (16 de marzo de 2020) fue obtenida del Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS) y fue organizada en una base de datos para realizar los análisis respectivos. Esta información se comparó con estudios similares obtenidos a partir de revisión bibliográfica. Resultados y conclusiones. Los resultados y conclusiones son similares a los encontrados en la literatura de referencia: la mayor parte de los fallecidos por COVID-19 son de edad avanzada y sexo masculino. En cuanto a la tasa de letalidad (CFR), ésta aumenta notoriamente con la edad. La población más vulnerable presenta una edad promedio ≥ 52.8 años. La población menos vulnerable son los jóvenes menores de 30 años, pero específicamente, los que se encuentran en el rango de edad de 10 y 20 años. Los modelos Gompertz y Logistic pueden simular matemáticamente la evolución de las muertes y la evolución de la CFR según la edad.

Covid 19 death analysis in Colombia

Introduction: This article shows an analysis of the evolution up until date (May 4-2021), of official coronavirus cases statistics (CC) and the total number of deaths (TND) due to SARS-CoV-2 in Colombia. Additionally, said information is shown in correlation to other variables such as Case Fatality Rate (CFR), age range of persons, their typical reported co-morbidities and the cities where there has been highest concentration of cases. Materials and Methods: From March 16 2020 until today, information regarding the daily number of new confirmed cases (DNC) and daily confirmed deaths (DD) was registered in a database with the purpose of estimating the evolution of CC, TND and CFR. The age of deceased was also registered, as well as their gender, prior co-morbidities and city of death. The evolution of TND with the time of other countries were compared to that of Colombia. A mathematical equation that represents the epidemiological curve of TND evolution of different countries across time was defined. Results: In Colombia, the average age of people who die due to COVID-19 is of 69.5±14.7 years (median and mode of 71 and 80 years, respectively), and the virus is less lethal amongst a population under the age of 40. The greater part of deaths have taken place in people with prior co-morbidities and of the male gender. Conclusion: Most of the persons that have deceased are those of senior age, mainly with prior co-morbidities, and predominantly of male gender. Epidemiological peaks of COVID-19 are consistent with the rainy and winter seasons, and with the traditional epidemiological peaks of flu or influenza.

Introducción: El artículo muestra un análisis de la evolución hasta la fecha (4 de mayo de 2021), de las estadísticas oficiales de casos de coronavirus (CC) y el número total de muertes (TND) por SARS-CoV-2 en Colombia. Dicha información se muestra en correlación con otras variables como son la tasa de casos fatales (CFR), el rango de edad de las personas, sus comorbilidades típicas reportadas y las ciudades donde ha habido mayor concentración de casos. Materiales y Métodos: En una base de datos fue registrada diariamente, desde el 16 de marzo de 2020 a la fecha, información concerniente al número diario de nuevos casos confirmados (DNC) y los fallecimientos diarios confirmados (DD). También se registró la edad de las personas fallecidas, así como su género, sus comorbilidades previas y ciudad de deceso. La evolución del TND con el tiempo de diferentes países fueron modelados matemáticamente y comparados con el de Colombia. Resultados: En Colombia, la edad promedio de las personas que mueren por COVID-19 es de 69.5±14.7 años (mediana y moda de 71 y 80 años, respectivamente) y el virus es menos letal en la población menor de 40 años. La mayor parte de las muertes se han producido en personas con comorbilidades previas y del género masculino. Conclusión: La mayoría de las personas fallecidas son personas de edad avanzada, principalmente con comorbilidades previas, y predominantemente de sexo masculino. Los picos epidemiológicos de COVID-19 son consistentes con las temporadas de lluvias e invierno, y con los picos epidemiológicos tradicionales de gripe o influenza.

Introdução: O artigo mostra uma análise da evolução até o momento (4 de maio de 2021) das estatísticas oficiais de casos de coronavírus (CC) e do número total de mortes (TND) por SARS-CoV-2 na Colômbia. Além disso, essa informação se mostra em correlação com outras variáveis ​​como a taxa de casos fatais (CFR), a faixa etária das pessoas, suas comorbidades típicas relatadas e os municípios onde houve maior concentração de casos. Materiais e Métodos: Em um banco de dados, as informações referentes ao número diário de casos novos confirmados (DNC) e óbitos diários confirmados (DD) foram registradas diariamente, de 16 de março de 2020 até a data, para cálculo da evolução do CC, TND e CFR. Também foi registrada a idade do falecido, gênero, comorbidades anteriores e cidade do falecimento. A evolução do TND ao longo do tempo de outros países foi comparada com a da Colômbia. Foi definida uma equação matemática que representa a evolução do TND nos diferentes países ao longo do tempo. Resultados: Na Colômbia, a idade média das pessoas que morrem por COVID-19 é de 69.5±14.7 anos (mediana e moda de 71 e 80 anos, respectivamente), e o vírus é menos letal entre uma população com menos de 40 anos. A maior parte das mortes ocorreu em pessoas com comorbidades anteriores e do gênero masculino. Conclusão: A maioria das pessoas que faleceram são idosos, principalmente com comorbidades prévias, e predominantemente do sexo masculino. Os picos epidemiológicos de COVID-19 são consistentes com as estações chuvosa e de inverno e com os picos epidemiológicos tradicionais de gripe ou influenza.

Distributed Learning Fractal Algorithm for Optimizing a Centralized Control Topology of Wireless Sensor Network Based on the Hilbert Curve L-System.

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) consist of a large number of small devices or nodes, called micro controller units (MCUs) and located in homes and/or offices, to be operated through the internet from anywhere, making these devices smarter and more efficient. Quality of service routing is one of the critical challenges in WSNs, especially in surveillance systems. To improve the efficiency of the network, in this article we proposes a distributed learning fractal algorithm (DFLA) to design the control topology of a wireless sensor network (WSN), whose nodes are the MCUs distributed in a physical space and which are connected to share parameters of the sensors such as concentrations of C O 2 , humidity, temperature within the space or adjustment of the intensity of light inside and outside the home or office. For this, we start defining the production rules of the L-systems to generate the Hilbert fractal, since these rules facilitate the generation of this fractal, which is a fill-space curve. Then, we model the optimization of a centralized control topology of WSNs and proposed a DFLA to find the best two nodes where a device can find the highly reliable link between these nodes. Thus, we propose a software defined network (SDN) with strong mobility since it can be reconfigured depending on the amount of nodes, also we employ a target coverage because distributed learning fractal algorithm (DLFA) only consider reliable links among devices. Finally, through laboratory tests and computer simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by means of a fractal routing in WSNs, by using a large amount of WSNs devices (from 16 to 64 sensors) for real time monitoring of different parameters, in order to make efficient WSNs and its application in a forthcoming Smart City.

Acumulación de metales pesados en sedimentos viales urbanos: factores de interés en salud pública / Heavy metals build-up on urban road sediments: Factors of interest for public health.

Resumen Introducción. La rápida urbanización y la intensa actividad humana han hecho de las ciudades un foco de emisiones contaminantes; esta situación genera una variedad de problemas ambientales y de salud pública que involucran metales pesados. Objetivos. Identificar y analizar los factores físicos (FF) que intervienen en la acumulación de metales pesados en sedimentos viales con el fin de facilitar la toma de decisiones en el control de la contaminación metálica desde la salud pública urbana. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó una revisión sistemática internacional de la literatura científica asociada entre el 1 de enero de 1970 y el 31 de diciembre de 2015. Las bases de datos utilizadas fueron Springer, ScienceDirect y Google Scholar. Se desarrolló un índice de frecuencia de citación (Q) para establecer un orden de importancia de FF detectados y se utilizaron las pruebas estadísticas de análisis clúster, t-Student, coeficiente de correlación de Pearson y regresión lineal para estudiar la relación entre las variables identificadas. Resultados. Los estudios citaron la precipitación (Q1), el uso del suelo (Q2) y el tráfico (Q2) como FF dominantes, por lo que una visión integral para la gestión de la salud pública debe considerar dos escenarios con sus correspondientes FF dominantes: el meteorológico (FF: precipitación) y el antropogénico (FF: uso del suelo y tráfico). Conclusión. Se sugiere un orden de intervención diferenciado para las instituciones encargadas del control de la contaminación metálica y la gestión de la salud pública en áreas urbanas.

Abstract Introduction: Rapid urbanization and intense human activity have turned cities into a focus of pollutants emissions, thus generating all sorts of environmental and public health problems involving heavy metals. Objectives: To identify and analyze the physical factors (PF) involved in the accumulation of heavy metals in road sediments to enable decision-making processes directed to control heavy metal pollution from a urban public health perspective. Materials and methods: An international systematic review was conducted in related scientific literature published between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 2015. Springer, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar were the consulted databases. A citation frequency index (Q) was developed to establish an order of relevance of the detected PF, while cluster analysis, Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression tests were used to study the correlation between the variables identified. Finally, 79 documents were selected for the construction of the manuscript. Results: The studies cited precipitation (Q1), land use (Q2) and traffic (Q2) as dominant PF. Therefore, a comprehensive view for public health management should consider two scenarios and their corresponding dominant PFs: meteorological (PF: precipitation) and anthropogenic (PF: land use and traffic). Conclusion: A different intervention order is suggested for the institutions in charge of controlling heavy metal pollution and public health management in urban areas.

Percutaneous revascularization of the common femoral artery for limb ischemia.

We performed percutaneous transluminal intervention in 20 consecutive patients (21 limbs) with common femoral artery (CFA) lesions causing symptomatic limb ischemia. In 12 limbs, concurrent additional percutaneous intervention proximal or distal to the target CFA lesion was performed. Angiographic success was obtained in 100%, with procedural success (angiographic success without a major in-hospital complications) in 90% and clinical success (procedural success and in-hospital improvement by at least one Fontaine functional class) in 81% of the limbs. The in-hospital Fontaine class improved by at least one functional class in 17 of 19 patients (89%), and the overall in-hospital event-free survival was 90% (18 of 20 patients). At follow-up (11.4 +/- 6 months), the overall event-free survival was 90% (18 of 20 patients) and 17 of 19 patients (89%) continue to show improvement by at least one functional (Fontaine) class. Percutaneous intervention of the CFA can be performed with a rate of high technical success and a low complication rate. It provides excellent clinical results at mid-term follow-up and appears to be a reasonable alternative to surgical therapy in patients at high risk for surgery.

Rotaglide-facilitated stent delivery: mission accomplished.

Percutaneous coronary interventions are performed with a high success rate, though failures still occur. Inability to deliver stents to the target lesion is the most common cause for failures. We present two cases using Rotaglide applied on the stents to enable delivery, showing that Rotaglide is effective in improving stent delivery.