Thermal Sensor Allocation for Effective and Efficient Heat Transfer Measurements in Transportation Systems.

Power plants, electric generators, high-frequency controllers, battery storage, and control units are essential in current transportation and energy distribution networks. To improve the performance and guarantee the endurance of such systems, it is critical to control their operational temperature within certain regimes. Under standard working conditions, those elements become heat sources either during their entire operational envelope or during given phases of it. Consequently, in order to maintain a reasonable working temperature, active cooling is required. The refrigeration may consist of the activation of internal cooling systems relying on fluid circulation or air suction and circulation pulled from the environment. However, in both scenarios pulling surrounding air or making use of coolant pumps increases the power demand. The augmented power demand has a direct impact on the power plant or electric generator autonomy, while instigating higher power demand and substandard performance from the power electronics and batteries' compounds. In this manuscript, we present a methodology to efficiently estimate the heat flux load generated by internal heat sources. By accurately and inexpensively computing the heat flux, it is possible to identify the coolant requirements to optimize the use of the available resources. Based on local thermal measurements fed into a Kriging interpolator, we can accurately compute the heat flux minimizing the number of sensors required. Considering the need for effective thermal load description toward efficient cooling scheduling. This manuscript presents a procedure based on temperature distribution reconstruction via a Kriging interpolator to monitor the surface temperature using a minimal number of sensors. The sensors are allocated by means of a global optimization that minimizes the reconstruction error. The surface temperature distribution is then fed into a heat conduction solver that processes the heat flux of the proposed casing, providing an affordable and efficient way of controlling the thermal load. Conjugate URANS simulations are used to simulate the performance of an aluminum casing and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Circulating miRNAs as Noninvasive Biomarkers for PDAC Diagnosis and Prognosis in Mexico.

Among malignant neoplasms, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the highest fatality rates due to its late detection. Therefore, it is essential to discover a noninvasive, early, specific, and sensitive diagnostic method. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are attractive biomarkers because they are accessible, highly specific, and sensitive. It is crucial to find miRNAs that could be used as possible biomarkers because PDAC is the eighth most common cause of cancer death in Mexico. With the help of microRNA microarrays, differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were found in PDAC tissues. The presence of these DEmiRNAs in the plasma of Mexican patients with PDAC was determined using RT-qPCR. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic capacity of these DEmiRNAs. Gene Expression Omnibus datasets (GEO) were employed to verify our results. The Prisma V8 statistical analysis program was used. Four DEmiRNAs in plasma from PDAC patients and microarray tissues were found. Serum samples from patients with PDAC were used to validate their overexpression in GEO databases. We discovered a new panel of the two miRNAs miR-222-3p and miR-221-3p that could be used to diagnose PDAC, and when miR-221-3p and miR-222-3p were overexpressed, survival rates decreased. Therefore, miR-222-3p and miR-221-3p might be employed as noninvasive indicators for the diagnosis and survival of PDAC in Mexican patients.

[Political will and governance: keys to Implementing HEARTS in PeruVontade política e governança, chaves na Implementação da iniciativa HEARTS no Peru]. / La voluntad política y la gobernanza: claves en la implementación de HEARTS en el Perú.

The objective of this article is to describe how governance and political will have influenced the implementation of the HEARTS Initiative for the prevention and control of hypertension in the Peruvian health system.The governance process is described and a secondary data analysis compares baseline levels at the start of HEARTS phase 1 with observed levels after the first six months of follow-up in 34 health facilities.HEARTS implementation was planned and organized at the national level through the Directorate of Noncommunicable Diseases, with political support from senior management of the Ministry of Health and technical support from the Pan American Health Organization. Governance was structured at three levels: national, regional, and local; implementation was supported by key actors from academia, scientific societies, regional health directorates, and integrated networks.Results after the initial months of follow-up showed an increase in the coverage and control of hypertension in most of the participating facilities. Analysis of the key factors related to political will and governance in the implementation of the HEARTS Initiative for the prevention and control of hypertension showed that the functions of senior management-in terms of aligning public policies and prioritizing noncommunicable diseases, in close and permanent coordination between policymakers and the Minister of Health-had a positive effect on the implementation of the HEARTS Initiative in Peru.

O objetivo do artigo é descrever como a governança e a vontade política influenciaram a implementação da Iniciativa HEARTS para a prevenção e o controle da hipertensão arterial no sistema de saúde peruano.O processo de governança é descrito e uma análise de dados secundários é realizada comparando os níveis basais no início da fase 1 do HEARTS com os primeiros 6 meses de acompanhamento em 34 estabelecimentos de saúde.O planejamento e a organização da implementação do HEARTS foi realizado no nível nacional por meio da Diretoria de Doenças Não Transmissíveis, contando com a vontade política da alta direção do Ministério da Saúde e o apoio técnico da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde. A governança foi estruturada em três níveis ­ nacional, regional e local ­ e a implementação contou com o apoio de atores importantes do meio acadêmico, das sociedades científicas, das diretorias regionais de saúde e das redes integradas.Os resultados encontrados após os primeiros meses de acompanhamento mostraram um aumento da cobertura e do controle da hipertensão arterial na maioria dos estabelecimentos nos quais a intervenção foi implementada. A análise dos principais fatores relacionados à vontade política e à governança na implementação da Iniciativa HEARTS para a prevenção e o controle da hipertensão arterial mostrou que a atuação da alta direção para alinhar as políticas públicas e priorizar as doenças não transmissíveis, em estreita e permanente articulação entre os formuladores de políticas e o Ministério da Saúde, teve um efeito positivo na implementação da Iniciativa HEARTS no Peru.

Genetic analyses of isolated high-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PanIN) reveal paucity of alterations in TP53 and SMAD4.

High-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PanIN) is the major precursor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and is an ideal target for early detection. To characterize pure HG-PanIN, we analysed 23 isolated HG-PanIN lesions occurring in the absence of PDAC. Whole-exome sequencing of five of these HG-PanIN lesions revealed a median of 33 somatic mutations per lesion, with a total of 318 mutated genes. Targeted next-generation sequencing of 17 HG-PanIN lesions identified KRAS mutations in 94% of the lesions. CDKN2A alterations occurred in six HG-PanIN lesions, and RNF43 alterations in five. Mutations in TP53, GNAS, ARID1A, PIK3CA, and TGFBR2 were limited to one or two HG-PanINs. No non-synonymous mutations in SMAD4 were detected. Immunohistochemistry for p53 and SMAD4 proteins in 18 HG-PanINs confirmed the paucity of alterations in these genes, with aberrant p53 labelling noted only in three lesions, two of which were found to be wild type in sequencing analyses. Sixteen adjacent LG-PanIN lesions from ten patients were also sequenced using targeted sequencing. LG-PanIN harboured KRAS mutations in 94% of the lesions; mutations in CDKN2A, TP53, and SMAD4 were not identified. These results suggest that inactivation of TP53 and SMAD4 are late genetic alterations, predominantly occurring in invasive PDAC. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Force exerted by a nanoscale capillary water bridge between two planar substrates.

Molecular dynamics simulation of a nanoscale capillary water bridge between two planar substrates is used to determine the resulting force between the substrates without arbitrariness regarding geometry and location of the free surface of the bridge. The substrates are moderately hydrophilic. The force changes continuously as the separation between the substrates changes except for small gaps where it becomes discontinuous because the bridge is unable to adopt stable configurations at any distance apart. Further exploration of the bridge and the force as the substrates approach each other reveals an underlying oscillatory force with an increasing repulsive component at separation distances equivalent to few water molecules. According to the average number of hydrogen bonds per water molecule (HBN), at very small gap sizes, water molecules which are very close to the surfaces are unable to maximize HBN thus contributing to the repulsive force. Our simulation results of force versus gap size agree with calculations based on other methods, some very different, and also reproduce the typical magnitude of the experimental force. Finally, a macroscopic force balance correctly describes the force-distance curve except for bridges constituted of water layers only.

Cystic angiosarcoma of the liver. A previously undescribed neoplasm.

 We report an example of a cystic hepatic angiosarcoma that to our knowledge has not been previously described. The patient was a 70 year old woman who was admitted to the emergency room because of hypovolemic shock. A computed tomography showed four heterogeneous hepatic cystic masses varying from 2.5 to 11.2 cm; one of these with rupture and formation of a subcapsular hematoma. The cyst wall was lined by several layers of neoplastic epithelioid and spindle shaped endothelial cells that in some areas extended to the underlying stroma. They expressed CD31 and CD34, and were negative for cytokeratin. The patient is alive with residual hepatic cystic angiosarcoma. However, follow up is too short to be significant.

Influence of agroclimatic parameters on phenolic and volatile compounds of Chilean virgin olive oils and characterization based on geographical origin, cultivar and ripening stage.

BACKGROUND: This study involved two commercial orchards located in Limarí Valley and Molina from two important Chilean production zones of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The investigation evaluated the effects of climate, soil composition, agricultural practices (fertilization and irrigation) and variety (considering two harvests) on the compounds responsible for the flavor of EVOO (volatiles and phenols) and how these compounds can explain the differences in chemical profiles by geographical origin, cultivar and fruit ripeness stage. RESULTS: Varieties from the Limarí Valley presented the highest content of phenolic compounds. A significant relationship (P < 0.05) between volatile compounds and climate indicated that the compounds produced via the lipoxygenase cascade were affected by the maximum temperature and, to a lesser extent, by evapo-transpiration and irrigation. The selection of different individual phenolic and volatile compounds independently allowed the significant differentiation of EVOOs, principally by geographical origin, crop season, fruit ripeness stage and, in a few cases, by cultivar. CONCLUSION: Soil and climate of the Chilean regions have much more influence than cultivars on the concentration of sensory quality compounds. Difference in latitude between orchards increases the importance of the geographical origin on the virgin olive oil chemical composition while full irrigation decreases the impact of the cultivar.

Cystadenomas of the liver and extrahepatic bile ducts: Morphologic and immunohistochemical characterization of the biliary and intestinal variants.

Cystadenomas of the liver and extrahepatic bile ducts (EHBD) are uncommon but distinctive neoplasms whose terminology and epithelial phenotype have been a source of controversy. We reviewed 20 cases, 16 arising in the liver and 4 in the EHBD. Eighteen patients were women, with a mean age of 36.5 years. Eighteen tumors were multiloculated and 2 were unilocular. The tumor size ranged from 4 to 29 cm (average, 11 cm). The cyst fluid in 13 tumors was described as serous, in 2 as clear, in 2 others as hemorrhagic, and in 1 as serous and mucinous. Only in 2 tumors was the fluid described as mucinous. In 18 cystadenomas, the predominant epithelial lining consisted of a single layer of cuboidal or low-columnar nondysplastic cells similar to those of the gallbladder or bile ducts. This epithelial lining was strongly positive for cytokeratins 7 and 19, and focally positive for MUC1. Only 2 cystadenomas showed predominant intestinal differentiation characterized by mature goblet cells and columnar absorptive cells. These cells expressed CDX2, MUC2, and cytokeratin 20. Admixed with the goblet and columnar cells, there were serotonin-containing cells and Paneth cells. These 2 tumors showed extensive areas of high-grade dysplasia and invasive adenocarcinoma with intestinal phenotype. A subepithelial ovarian-like stroma was present in all tumors. None of the patients died of the tumors. We believe that the term mucinous cystic tumor recommended by the World Health Organization for all cystadenomas of the liver and EHBD is a misnomer.

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors. Survey of 8 cases from a single Mexican medical institution.

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT) is a morphologically heterogeneous soft tissue and bone neoplasm, producing a paraneoplastic syndrome due to phosphate wasting. These tumors produce fibroblast growth factor 23, which is implicated in renal tubule phosphate loss. Medical records of patients seen from 1999 to 2013 with osteomalacia associated or not with a tumor were reviewed. Clinical and laboratory data, radiographic studies, and follow-up of 8 patients were tabulated. Histologic features and the immunoprofile of the tumors were analyzed. There were 208 patients with osteomalacia, but only 8 (3.84%) had osteomalacia associated with a tumor. The median age of the patients was 40 years. The tumor size ranged from 1.5 to 4 cm. Five were located in soft tissues and skin; and 3, in bones. Osteomalacia symptoms lasted from 2 to 14 years with a median of 6 years. Laboratory data showed hypophosphatemia and phosphaturia in all patients. All tumors were histologically benign. Histologically, the salient features were a hemangiopericytoid pattern, chronic hemorrhage, and microcystic areas. All neoplasms were diffusely positive for vimentin and focally positive for epithelial membrane antigen, CD34, and S-100 protein. Ki-67 was positive in approximately 10% of neoplastic cells in 2 cases and less than 1% in the remainder. We report 8 cases of PMTs producing osteomalacia, from a single third-level Mexican medical institution. These tumors occurred in soft tissues, skin, and bones. All tumors were benign, small, not easily detected by physical examination and diagnosed due to the metabolic abnormalities.

Pseudohyperplastic prostate carcinoma: histologic patterns and differential diagnosis.

The similarity between some carcinomas and many benign glandular proliferations has been mentioned in the literature for decades. The description of the main histologic features of pseudohyperplastic carcinoma has been very useful in avoiding errors of interpretation, particularly false-negative results. In recent years, we have found some histologic variants of this neoplasm that have not been mentioned previously. In order to classify the different histologic growth patterns and comment on their differential diagnosis, we reviewed the architectural and cytologic features of 34 cases of pseudohyperplastic adenocarcinoma in 2 radical prostatectomies, 4 transurethral resections, and 28 needle biopsies. Growth patterns most commonly observed included nodular, complex, and mixed (nodular and complex) patterns. Other less frequent histologic varieties included adenosis-like pattern, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia-like pattern, pseudohyperplastic adenocarcinoma with xanthomatous features, and limited pseudohyperplastic adenocarcinoma. Frequent changes in neoplastic glands included papillary infoldings, large/cystic glands, and branching. Criteria associated with malignancy include nuclear enlargement (92%), apparent nucleoli (85%), pink amorphous secretions (78%), and transition to small acinar carcinoma (70%). However, in some biopsies, nuclear atypia was little apparent. Fifteen of the 34 cases were misdiagnosed as benign and 5 as other malignant neoplasms, and included the following diagnoses: hyperplastic nodules (11), prostatic adenosis (2), diffuse adenosis of the peripheral zone (1), benign cystic glands (1), and less frequently other malignant tumors including xanthomatous carcinoma (2), low-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma (2), and atrophic carcinoma (1). It is important to recognize the different growth patterns of this neoplasm in order to avoid an underdiagnosis of malignancy.

Modeling scenarios for the end of AIDS.

At the end of 2012, 3 decades after the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was first identified, neither a cure nor a fully preventive vaccine was available. Despite multiple efforts, the epidemic remains an exceptional public health challenge. At the end of 2012, it was estimated that, globally, 35 million people were living with HIV, 2.3 million had become newly infected, and 1.6 million had died from AIDS-related causes. Despite substantial prevention efforts and increases in the number of individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the epidemic burden continues to be high. Here, we provide a brief overview of the epidemiology of HIV transmission, the work that has been done to date regarding HIV modeling in different settings around the world, and how to finance the response to the HIV epidemic. In addition, we suggest discussion topics on how to move forward with the prevention agenda and highlight the role of treatment as prevention (TasP) in curbing the epidemic.

Comorbidity of dementia: a cross-sectional study of primary care older patients.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiologic study of comorbidities of an index health problem represents a methodological challenge. This study cross-sectionally describes and analyzes the comorbidities associated with dementia in older patients and reviews the existing similarities and differences between identified comorbid diseases using the statistical methods most frequently applied in current research. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 72,815 patients over 64 seen in 19 Spanish primary care centers during 2008. Chronic diseases were extracted from electronic health records and grouped into Expanded Diagnostic Clusters®. Three different statistical methods were applied (i.e., analysis of prevalence data, multiple regression and factor analysis), stratifying by sex. RESULTS: The two most frequent comorbidities both for men and women with dementia were hypertension and diabetes. Yet, logistic regression and factor analysis demonstrated that the comorbidities significantly associated with dementia were Parkinson's disease, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, anemia, cardiac arrhythmia, chronic skin ulcers, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, retinal disorders, prostatic hypertrophy, insomnia and anxiety and neurosis. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the comorbidities associated with an index disease (e.g., dementia) must not be exclusively based on prevalence rates, but rather on methodologies that allow the discovery of non-random associations between diseases. A deep and reliable knowledge about how different diseases are grouped and associated around an index disease such as dementia may orient future longitudinal studies aimed at unraveling causal associations.

Association of urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis with papillary and medullary thyroid carcinomas. A new sporadic neoplastic syndrome?

We describe 2 adult women (72 and 54 years), 1 with a low-grade noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis, who 14 years later developed a papillary carcinoma in 1 thyroid lobe and a medullary carcinoma in the contralateral lobe. Both neoplasms were similar in size and appeared symmetrical. Despite its small size, the medullary carcinoma metastasized in multiple cervical lymph nodes. The second patient had a high-grade invasive papillary urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis that infiltrated the renal parenchyma and metastasized in one of the lungs. Five months later, a papillary carcinoma was discovered in the thyroid gland. The 2 papillary thyroid carcinomas were of the follicular variant. Adjacent to 1 papillary carcinoma, there was a dominant nodule of a colloid and adenomatous goiter. The medullary carcinoma contained stromal amyloid and was immunoreactive for calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen. There was no C-cell hyperplasia (medullary carcinoma in situ). The 2 patients are alive, 1 is living with pulmonary metastasis from the high-grade urothelial carcinoma. Twelve cases of this neoplastic association were registered in the Survey, Epidemiology, and End Results Program from 1980 to 2009. We believe that the combination of these unusual neoplasms in the same patient may represent a new sporadic neoplastic syndrome.

Physicochemical characterization of the pod husk of Theobroma cacao L. of clones CCN51, FEAR5, and FSV41 and its agroindustrial application.

In cocoa production, the harvest and postharvest processes tend to generate residues that, if not properly treated or disposed of, become a source of pests or diseases for the crop and the farmer. The residues are environmental contaminants, which are equivalent to 70%-80% of the total fruit (husk, placenta, leachates). In the case of cacao pod husk (CPH), it is hollow form contributes to the accumulation of water or leachates. These residues with no apparent profitable use may have components of agroindustrial interest, such as pectins, cellulose, and starches, in products with high added value. Thus, the physicochemical characterization CPH of clones Castro Naranjal Collection 51 (CCN51), FEDECACAO Arauquita 5 (FEAR5), and FEDECACAO San Vicente 41 (FSV41) is presented to identify different applications such as biopolymers, bioremediation, and renewable energies and their potential biotechnological use in contributing to the circular economy according to the characteristics of each clone. In conclusion, it is important to continue with the research on CPHs of the different clones and to promote the sustainable development of cocoa in the Department of Risaralda, Colombia.

Corrigendum: Implementing a provisional overarching intervention for COVID-19 monitoring and control in the Brazil-Colombia-Peru frontier.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1330347.].

An analysis of 372 patients with anterior uveitis in a large Ibero-American cohort of spondyloarthritis: the RESPONDIA Group.

OBJECTIVES: This study analysed the frequency of anterior uveitis (AU) and its correlations in a large cohort of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). METHODS: A common protocol of investigation was prospectively applied to 2012 SpA patients in 85 centres from 10 Ibero-American countries. Clinical and demographic variables and disease indexes were investigated. Categorical variables were compared by χ2 and Fisher's exact test, and continuous variables were compared by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. A value of p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: AU was referred by 372 SpA patients (18.5%). AU was statistically associated with inflammatory low back pain (p<0.001), radiographic sacroiliitis (p<0.001), enthesopathies (p=0.004), urethritis/acute diarrhoea (p<0.001), balanitis (p=0.002), hip involvement (p=0.002), HLA-B27 (p=0.003), and higher C-reactive protein (p=0.001), whilst it was negatively associated with the number of painful (p=0.03) and swollen (p=0.005) peripheral joints, psoriatic arthritis (p<0.001), psoriasis (p<0.001), nail involvement (p<0.001), and dactilitis (p=0.062; trend). No association with gender, race, and indices (disease activity, functionality and quality of life) was observed. Logistic regression showed that ankylosing spondylitis (p=0.001) and HLA-B27 (p=0.083; trend) was significantly associated with AU, while extra-articular manifestations (predominantly psoriasis) were negatively associated (p=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Anterior uveitis is a frequent extra-articular manifestation in SpA patients, positively associated with axial involvement and HLA-B27 and negatively associated with peripheral involvement and psoriatic arthritis.

Granulomatous hepatitis caused by Q fever: a differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin.

The differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin (FUO) includes infectious, neoplastic, rheumaticinflammatory and miscellaneous diseases. We report the case of a 35-year-old man with FUO caused by Q fever. A liver biopsy showed the characteristic fibrin-ring lipogranulomas compatible with Q fever. The serologic tests confirmed the diagnosis of acute infection by Coxiella burnetii. The therapeutic response was excellent. In conclusion, we described a patient with acute Q fever and granulomatous hepatitis.