A perspective on the role of uncertainty in sustainability science and engineering.

The Trans-Atlantic Research and Development Interchange on Sustainability Workshop (TARDIS) is a meeting on scientific topics related to sustainability. The 2019 workshop theme was "On the Role of Uncertainty in Managing the Earth for Global Sustainability." This paper presents the perspectives on this topic derived from talks and discussions at the 2019 TARDIS workshop. There are four kinds of uncertainties encountered in sustainability ranging from clear enough futures to true surprises. The current state-of-the-art in assessing and mitigating these uncertainties is discussed.

Factores Pronósticos Determinantes de la Sobrevida del Cáncer Diferenciado de Tiroides en el Servicio de Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello del Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín (HCAM) durante los años 1980 al 2010 / Decisive prognosis factors of survival of differentiated thyroid cancer in the Head and Neck Surgery Department of the Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital (HCAM) during the years 1980 - 2010

Introducción: El cáncer diferenciado de tiroides (CDT) constituye el 80% de los casos de enfermedad maligna de la glándula tiroides. Tiene buen pronóstico y evolución benigna. Varios estudios señalan que factores del paciente y del tipo de tumor influyen en su curso clínico. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar la sobrevida de los pacientes con CDT e identificar factores pronóstico. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo de pacientes con CDT que acudieron al servicio de Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello del Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín (HCAM) durante los años 1980 al 2010 y fueron sometidos a cirugía. Se evaluaron variables demográficas, variables dependientes del tumor y tipo de tratamiento. Se utilizó el método de Kapplan Meier para calcular las curvas de sobrevida y la prueba de Log Rank test para establecer su significancia. El modelo de Cox se utilizó para evaluar factores pronóstico. Resultados: De 353 pacientes estudiados, la sobrevida global a 5 años en el tipo folicular fue 65.4% y en el papilar 90.1%; a 10 años, el tipo folicular fue 41.5% y el papilar 76.9%; a 15 años, el tipo follicular fue 33.2% y el papilar 66.5%. El análisis univariado demostró diferencias significativas para factores como edad (p 0,002), extension extratiroidea (EET) (p 0,001) y ganglios cervicales invadidos (p 0,002). Discusión: La edad, la EET y la presencia de ganglios cervicales invadidos fueron factores pronósticos de la sobrevida de pacientes con CDT.

Abstract Introduction: Differenciated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) stand for 80% of malignant disease of the thyroid gland. DTC generally has a good prognosis and benign course. Several studies concluded that specific patient risk factors and tumor type determine their clinical course. The aim of the study was to define global survival and identify risk factors. Methods: We performed a descriptive and retrospective analysis of DTC patients who were surgically treated at the Head and Neck Surgery Service at Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital from 1980 to 2010. Demographic variables, tumor related variables and type of tumor were recorded. Kaplan Meier survival curves and long Rank test were obtained. Cox model was used to assess prognostic factors. Results: Of 353 DTC treated patients, the 5-year overall survival rate for follicular type was 65.4% and for papillary type 90.1%. A 10-year overall survival rate for follicular type was 41.5% and for papillary tipe 76.9 %. Finally, a 15-year overall survival rate for follicular type was 33.2 % and for papillary type 66.5%. Univariate analysis showed that factors like age (p 0,002), ETE ( p 0,001) and histological lymph node invasion (p 0,002) were significant. Discusion: Variables like age, ETE and histological lymph node invasion were found to be significant prognostic survival factors in DTC patients.

Properties of interfaces and transport across them.

Much of the biological activity in cell cytoplasm occurs in compartments some of which may be formed, as suggested in this book, by phase separation, and many of the functions of such compartments depend on the transport or exchange of molecules across interfaces. Thus a fundamentally based discussion of the properties of phases, interfaces, and diffusive transport across interfaces has been given to further elucidate these phenomena. An operational criterion for the width of interfaces is given in terms of molecular and physical arguments, and the properties of molecules inside phases and interfaces are discussed in terms of molecular arguments. In general, the properties of the interface become important when the molecules diffusing across are smaller than the width of the interface. Equilibrium partitioning, Donnan phenomena, and electrochemical potentials at interfaces are also discussed in detail. The mathematical expressions for modeling transport across interfaces are discussed in detail. These describe a practical and detailed model for transport across interfaces. For molecules smaller than the width of the interface, this includes a detailed model for diffusion inside the interface. Last, the question of the time scale for phase formation and equilibration in biological systems is discussed.

Activity and metabolic roles of the pentose phosphate cycle in several rat tissues.

Activity of the pentose-phosphate pathway in several rat tissues was investigated, developing a new method that gives the activity of each phase (oxidative and non-oxidative) as well as the whole pathway separately. Our results demonstrate that this method is easy to carry out and that it has not the problems of indirect determinations of the previous ones. The activities of the oxidative and non-oxidative phases assayed separately gives us new information on the design of the pathway in the different tissues, from which several conclusions about the physiological role of this pathway can be derived. In all cases the activity of the oxidative phase was much higher than the non-oxidative one, and the global activity of the whole pathway was the same as the activity of the non-oxidative phase. The highest activity was found in lactating mammary gland and adipose tissue. Lung and liver showed to have a moderately high activity. Brain, kidney, skeletal muscle, and intestinal mucosa showed to have also a significant activity although less than other tissues. The switch in the mammary gland from the non-lactating state to the lactating one causes a very high increase of activity of 22 times, remaining the same ratio between the activity of the two phases.

Developments in the application of impact assessment methodologies for pollution prevention.

Pollution prevention requires the assessment of various multimedia environmental impacts to ensure that the alternative selected most closely represents the environmental goals and priorities of the facility. While some facility's environmental policies are easy to assess (e.g., reduce TRI emissions), others require a more sophisticated assessment methodology (e.g., select the most environmentally-friendly manufacturing process). Chemical environmental impact assessment for pollution prevention can be very effective, but can only provide a scientifically defensible decision point if the methodologies, analytical tools, and data quality are consistent with the environmental goals and priorities expressed. In many assessments completed in the past, the assessment methodologies have been overly simplistic when compared to the environmental goals projected. More sophisticated chemical impact assessment methodologies have not been used in the past for a variety of reasons, including: poor study design, poor data quality, inadequate funding, inadequate computer systems and databases, and practitioner's lack of understanding. This paper will describe a broad range of assessment methodologies, the steps involved in various evaluations, various resources available to conduct pollution prevention impact assessments, and on-going methodology development.

Theory of phase formation in aqueous two-phase systems.

Currently there are a number of different mathematical models for phase equilibria in aqueous two-phase systems available. This diversity can create some confusion for model users, since most models seem to perform reasonably well. Choosing a model, thus, becomes rather a difficult task. In trying to address this problem, the principal models and the relevant theory available are reviewed. A discussion of osmotic viral expansions, lattice theory, group contribution, scaling ideas, excluded volume, electrostatics and other modeling approaches is presented. The strengths of the different approaches are critically evaluated and suggestions offered. Choosing a model, however, requires sophistication because each model is typically best at representing only a few particular aspects of system behavior, and the intended use of the model must be considered. Some suggestions for future work are also given.

Statistical thermodynamics of phase separation and ion partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems.

A general model for the phase behavior of polymer-polymer aqueous two-phase systems containing small amounts of added inorganic salts has been developed from statistical thermodynamics. The model is based on the solution theory of Hill and new electrolyte solution model based on Fluctuation Solution Theory. It includes the effect of polymer molecular weight with scaling expressions from the Renormalization Group theory of polymer solutions. The model has been used to calculate the phase diagram and the partitioning of salt for an aqueous two-phase system containing polyethylene glycol (MW = 8000) and dextran (MW = 28,700) with 0.1 mole/kg of added Na2SO4. The calculations have been compared to experimental results with good agreement.

Organización del abastecimiento de los medicamentos en las unidades operativas del Ministerio de Salud Pública / Organization of the supplying of medicines in the operative units of the Ministry of Public Health

Para la elaboración de esta propuesta se ha trabajado en base a un análisis retrospectivo analítico y descriptivo con material informativo de publicaciones oficiales del Minsiterio de Salud Pública MSP, Organización Panamericna de la Salud OPS, Organización Mundial de la Salud OMS, y otros organismos públicos y privados.Los programas nacionales de ajuste para la regulación macroeconómica no han priorizado el sector salud, incrementando de esta manera la brecha de inequidad siendo este un gran desafio del sector social y de toda la sociedad. En gran medida las políticas no son coherentes para garantizar a la comunidad el acceso a medicamentos con una corrrecta práctica de prescripción. La OPS-OMS recomienda promover y aplicar una Política Nacional de Medicamentos orientada fundamentalmente a la equidad