Trapping and manipulation of bubbles with holographic optical tweezers.

A methodology to manipulate bubbles and measure adhesion forces is presented and validated. Holographic optical tweezers are employed to establish a circular array of high intensity points to effectively trap a gas bubble within a liquid medium. This approach includes an efficient calibration protocol based on a theoretical framework for the calculation of optical forces using a ray tracing algorithm, which allows enhancing the versatility of optical manipulation to micro-objects with a lower refractive index than the surrounding medium. As an initial application, the adhesion force between two stable bubbles at different sizes is measured, finding a minimum when they have the same diameter.

Análisis psicométrico del Cuestionario de Empatía de Toronto, aplicado a una muestra española / Psychometric analysis of the Tornto Empathy Questionnaire applied to a spanish sample

La medición de la empatía presenta problemas asociados tanto a la propia definición, como a la naturaleza del constructo, así como a la escasez de investigación sobre el mismo. Como consecuencia, los profesionales disponen de un número limitado de pruebas psicométricas dedicadas a su medición. Por ello, el presente trabajo tiene como finalidad analizar las propiedades psicométricas de una versión en español del Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, un instrumento diseñado para medir de forma unidimensional la empatía, así como su adecuación para su uso en población española en actividades de investigación. Ha sido aplicado a una muestra heterogénea compuesta por 573 sujetos, 65% mujeres (N=373) y 35% hombres (N=201). Los resultados indicaron que para obtener una prueba parsimoniosa se debería crear una escala reducida de 11 ítems, en lugar de los 16 ítems de la escala original. La nueva escala no sería estrictamente unidimiensional, debido a que en el Análisis Factorial Exploratorio fueron aislados cuatro componentes, agrupados en torno a tres dimensiones diferentes.

The measurement of empathy presents problems associated with both the definition itself and the nature of the construct, as well as the scarcity of research on it. As a consequence, professionals have a limited number of psychometric tests dedicated to its measurement. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the psychometric properties of the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, a tool for measuring empathy in a unidimensional way, as well as its suitability for use in the Spanish population in research activities. It has been applied to a heterogeneous sample made up of 573 subjects, 65% women (N=373) and 35% men (N=201). The results indicated that to obtain a parsimonious test, a reduced scale of 11 items should be created, instead of the 16 items of the original scale. The new scale would not be strictly unidimensional, because in the Exploratory Factor Analysis four components were isolated, grouped around three different dimensions.

Objective Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Using Neuroretinal Evaluation and Artificial Intelligence / Diagnóstico objetivo de fibromialgia analizando la neurorretina con inteligencia artificial

ResumenAntecedentes/Objetivo: Identificar biomarcadores objetivos de fibromialgia (FM) apli-cando inteligencia artificial a datos estructurales de retina obtenidos mediante tomogra-fía de coherencia óptica Swept Source (TCO-SS). Método: Se evaluó una cohorte de 29 pacientes con FM y otra de 32 sujetos control, registrando los espesores de la retina completa, de varias capas de la retina [capa de células ganglionares (CCG+), CCG amplia-da (CCG++, entre la membrana limitante interna y los límites de la capa nuclear interna) y capa de fibras nerviosas (CFNR)] y de la coroides, mediante TCO-SS. La capacidad dis-criminante se evaluó mediante el área bajo la curva ROC (AROC) y el algoritmo Relief. Se implementó un sistema de ayuda al diagnóstico con clasificador automático. Resultados: No se observó diferencia significativa (p ≥ 0,660) en la coroides, pero sí en el sector in-ferior del anillo interno de la CFNR (p = 0,010) y en los cuatro sectores del anillo interno en las capas CCG+, CCG++ y retina completa. Utilizando un árbol de decisión ensemble RUSBoosted como clasificador de las características con mayor capacidad discriminante, se obtuvo una predicción alta (AROC = 0,820). Conclusiones: Se identifica un potencial biomarcador objetivo y no invasivo para el diagnóstico de FM basado en el análisis de la neurorretina mediante TCO-SS.

AbstractBackground/Objective: This study aims to identify objective biomarkers of fibromyalgia (FM) by applying artificial intelligence algorithms to structural data on the neuroretina obtained using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Method: The study cohort comprised 29 FM patients and 32 control subjects. The thicknesses of complete retina, 3 retinal layers [ganglion cell layer (GCL+), GCL++ (between the inner limiting membrane and the inner nuclear layer boundaries) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)] and choroid in 9 areas around the macula were obtained using SS-OCT. Discriminant capacity was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) and the Relief algorithm. A diagnostic aid system with an automatic classifier was implemented. Results: No significant difference (p ≥ .660) was found anywhere in the choroid. In the RNFL, a significant difference was found in the inner inferior region (p = .010). In the GCL+, GCL++ layers and complete retina, a significant difference was found in the 4 regions defining the inner ring: temporal, superior, nasal and inferior. Applying an ensemble RUSBoosted tree classifier to the features with greatest discriminant capacity achieved accuracy = .82 and AUC = .82. Conclusions: This study identifies a potential novel objective and non-invasive biomarker of FM based on retina analysis using SS-OCT.

Objective Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Using Neuroretinal Evaluation and Artificial Intelligence.

Background/Objective: This study aims to identify objective biomarkers of fibromyalgia (FM) by applying artificial intelligence algorithms to structural data on the neuroretina obtained using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Method: The study cohort comprised 29 FM patients and 32 control subjects. The thicknesses of complete retina, 3 retinal layers [ganglion cell layer (GCL+), GCL++ (between the inner limiting membrane and the inner nuclear layer boundaries) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)] and choroid in 9 areas around the macula were obtained using SS-OCT. Discriminant capacity was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) and the Relief algorithm. A diagnostic aid system with an automatic classifier was implemented. Results: No significant difference (p ≥ .660) was found anywhere in the choroid. In the RNFL, a significant difference was found in the inner inferior region (p = .010). In the GCL+, GCL++ layers and complete retina, a significant difference was found in the 4 regions defining the inner ring: temporal, superior, nasal and inferior. Applying an ensemble RUSBoosted tree classifier to the features with greatest discriminant capacity achieved accuracy = .82 and AUC = .82. Conclusions: This study identifies a potential novel objective and non-invasive biomarker of FM based on retina analysis using SS-OCT.

Antecedentes/Objetivo: Identificar biomarcadores objetivos de fibromialgia (FM) aplicando inteligencia artificial a datos estructurales de retina obtenidos mediante tomografía de coherencia óptica Swept Source (TCO-SS). Método: Se evaluó una cohorte de 29 pacientes con FM y otra de 32 sujetos control, registrando los espesores de la retina completa, de varias capas de la retina [capa de células ganglionares (CCG+), CCG ampliada (CCG++, entre la membrana limitante interna y los límites de la capa nuclear interna) y capa de fibras nerviosas (CFNR)] y de la coroides, mediante TCO-SS. La capacidad discriminante se evaluó mediante el área bajo la curva ROC (AROC) y el algoritmo Relief. Se implementó un sistema de ayuda al diagnóstico con clasificador automático. Resultados: No se observó diferencia significativa (p ≥ .660) en la coroides, pero sí en el sector inferior del anillo interno de la CFNR (p = .010) y en los cuatro sectores del anillo interno en las capas CCG+, CCG++ y retina completa. Utilizando un árbol de decisión ensemble RUSBoosted como clasificador de las características con mayor capacidad discriminante, se obtuvo una predicción alta (AROC=.820). Conclusiones: Se identifica un potencial biomarcador objetivo y no invasivo para el diagnóstico de FM basado en el análisis de la neurorretina mediante TCO-SS.

High-dose intravenous immunoglobulins might modulate inflammation in COVID-19 patients.

The use of high-dose of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) as immunomodulators for the treatment of COVID-19-affected individuals has shown promising results. IVIG reduced inflammation in these patients, who progressively restored respiratory function. However, little is known about how they may modulate immune responses in COVID-19 individuals. Here, we have analyzed the levels of 41 inflammatory biomarkers in plasma samples obtained at day 0 (pretreatment initiation), 3, 7, and 14 from five hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with a 5-d course of 400 mg/kg/d of IVIG. The plasmatic levels of several cytokines (Tumor Necrosis Factor, IL-10, IL-5, and IL-7), chemokines (macrophage inflammatory protein-1α), growth/tissue repairing factors (hepatic growth factor), complement activation (C5a), and intestinal damage such as Fatty acid-binding protein 2 and LPS-binding protein showed a progressive decreasing trend during the next 2 wk after treatment initiation. This trend was not observed in IVIG-untreated COVID-19 patients. Thus, the administration of high-dose IVIG to hospitalized COVID-19 patients may improve their clinical evolution by modulating their hyperinflammatory and immunosuppressive status.

Development and Psychometric Validation of a Screening Questionnaire to Detect Excessive Menstrual Blood Loss That Interferes in Quality of Life: The SAMANTA Questionnaire.

Background: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) affects up to 35% of women at some point in their lives, and has an important impact on their quality of life (QoL). Current techniques to assess and quantify menstrual blood loss are inconvenient and the correlation between actual and perceived blood loss is poor. This study aimed to develop and validate a screening questionnaire in Spanish to identify HMB in women of reproductive age. Methods: The study consisted of two phases: the conceptual development of a set of items to discriminate between women with and without HMB and the assessment of the sensitivity and specificity of these items. Correlation of the screening tool with women's perception of the intensity of bleeding and the interference in their daily life activities was also assessed. Results: An initial set of 46 items were identified, from which 21 items were selected following the cognitive interviews. For the psychometric validation phase, 389 patients were enrolled, of whom 364 were assessable: 211 cases with Pictorial Blood loss Assessment Chart-confirmed excessive menstrual loss (EML) and 153 controls. Six items met entry criteria in the model and together yielded a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 89.5% to identify cases and controls. These items were weighted according to their contribution to the final model to yield a tool that can be scored from 0 to 10 being 3 the cutoff point to diagnose EML that interferes in QoL. Conclusions: The 6-item SAMANTA questionnaire represents a valid screening tool to easily identify women with EML that interfere with QoL.

Relationship of Geographic Altitude with Foveal Avascular Zone Metrics and Vascular Density Values Assessed by OCT Angiography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate variations in vascular density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) metrics in relation to geographic altitude in healthy subjects from 6 Latin American cities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy volunteers from 6 Latin American cities. METHODS: One hundred eighty-five volunteers were recruited over a 3-month period. The RTVue-XR Avanti system (Optovue, Inc, Fremont, CA) was used along with split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography (SSADA) software 7.1 to obtain OCT angiography (OCTA) images from fovea-centered 3 × 3-mm2 and 6 × 6-mm2 angioscans for both the superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP, respectively). FAZ measurements were performed in a full retina slab based on the full retina vasculature using OCT angiograms. Analyses of variance were performed for all variables, and P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Retinal SCP and DCP VD; FAZ area, perimeter, and parafoveal density at 300 µm (FD-300). RESULTS: Three hundred seventy eyes of 185 participants (71 males and 114 females; mean age, 39.09±15.06 years; age range, 20-80 years) were assessed. The mean VD in the SCP and DCP was 46.94% (±3.11%) and 52.48% (±3.14%), respectively, with 3 × 3-mm2 scans and 50.62% (±3.13%) and 52.87% (±5.5%), respectively, with 6 × 6-mm2 scans. Mean FAZ area, perimeter, and FD-300 were 0.31 (± 0.11 mm2), 2.18 (± 0.43 mm), and 51.44 (± 3.64%), respectively. Mean SCP VD values in 3 × 3-mm2 scans were significantly higher and lower in La Paz and Lima, respectively, compared to those in the other cities (P = 0.001). VD in the 6 × 6 mm2 SCP scans, the DCP (all scans), and FAZ metrics showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: VD showed a direct relationship with geographic altitude in SCP 3 × 3-mm2 scans in this group of healthy Hispanic volunteers. These findings indicate that geographic altitude should be accounted for when performing retinal OCTA evaluation of VD values.

Assembling the Dead, Gathering the Living: Radiocarbon Dating and Bayesian Modelling for Copper Age Valencina de la Concepción (Seville, Spain).

The great site of Valencina de la Concepción, near Seville in the lower Guadalquivir valley of southwest Spain, is presented in the context of debate about the nature of Copper Age society in southern Iberia as a whole. Many aspects of the layout, use, character and development of Valencina remain unclear, just as there are major unresolved questions about the kind of society represented there and in southern Iberia, from the late fourth to the late third millennium cal BC. This paper discusses 178 radiocarbon dates, from 17 excavated sectors within the c. 450 ha site, making it the best dated in later Iberian prehistory as a whole. Dates are modelled in a Bayesian statistical framework. The resulting formal date estimates provide the basis for both a new epistemological approach to the site and a much more detailed narrative of its development than previously available. Beginning in the 32nd century cal BC, a long-lasting tradition of simple, mainly collective and often successive burial was established at the site. Mud-vaulted tholoi appear to belong to the 29th or 28th centuries cal BC; large stone-vaulted tholoi such as La Pastora appear to date later in the sequence. There is plenty of evidence for a wide range of other activity, but no clear sign of permanent, large-scale residence or public buildings or spaces. Results in general support a model of increasingly competitive but ultimately unstable social relations, through various phases of emergence, social competition, display and hierarchisation, and eventual decline, over a period of c. 900 years.

Live birth after replacement of an embryo obtained from a spontaneously in vitro matured metaphase-I oocyte.

This case report describes a live birth after the fresh replacement of an embryo obtained from a spontaneously in vitro matured oocyte. The patient was subjected to controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF treatment, obtaining two oocytes. One was found to be immature at the time of denudation, at metaphase-I. This immature oocyte was kept in culture overnight in standard conditions along with the second oocyte - which was mature but failed to fertilize - spontaneously achieving metaphase-II, and was subjected to ICSI. The resulting embryo was replaced on the second day of development, producing a pregnancy that resulted in a healthy live birth. Post-denudation in vitro maturation could be considered as a tool to improve reproductive outcomes in selected patients, such as poor responders.

Dispositivos para generación de discurso y fundamentos conceptuales del trabajo infantil / Mechanisms for the generation of discourses and fundamental concepts of child work / Dispositivos para geração de discurso e fundamentos conceituais do trabalho infantil

En este avance de investigación proponemos una metodología para el trabajo con niños y niñas, basada en dos dispositivos para la generación de discurso por medio de la actividad lúdica: un dispositivo destinado a la identificación de las dinámicas relacionales en el contexto de la familia, y otro orientado al reconocimiento de las formas en que se reproducen estas dinámicas en el entorno escolar. Igualmente presentamos las categorías analíticas que han servido para definir la situación de la infancia trabajadora, a partir de la identificación de temas centrales en el discurso de revistas especializadas sobre el tema, desplegando estas categorías como los fundamentos hermenéuticos que permitirán identificar a los niños y niñas como actores sociales productivos, y como ciudadanos y ciudadanas con derechos y deberes que demandan ser respetados.

This in-progress research study proposes a methodology for child work, based on two mechanisms for the generation of discourses through ludic activities. The first aims to identify relational dynamics in the family context; the second has the objective of recognizing the ways in which these dynamics are developed in the school environment. This article also presents the analytical categories that have been used to define the situation of the working children, based on the identification of the main topics used in literature from specialized journals. These categories are deployed as hermeneutical principles that will allow for the identification of children as social and productive actors and as citizens with rights and duties that demand to be respected.

Esta investigação propõe uma metodologia para o trabalho com a infância, baseada em dois dispositivos pra geração de discurso por meio da atividade lúdica. Um destinado à identificação das dinâmicas relacionais no contexto da família, outro em relação ao reconhecimento das formas em que se reproduzem estas dinâmicas no âmbito da escola. Igualmente se apresentam as categorias analíticas que servem pra definir a situação da infância trabalhadora, a partir de identificação dos temas centrais no discurso de visitas especializadas no tema, despregando estas categorias como fundamentos hermenêuticos que permitam identificar aos infantes como atores sociais produtivos e como cidadãos com direitos e deveres que pedem ser respeitados.

Tos ferina neonatal, una enfermedad emergente / Newborn pertussis: a re-emergent disease

La tos ferina es una enfermedad del tracto respiratorio superior que ha incrementado últimamente su incidencia. Se ha demostrado que los adultos son la principal fuente de transmisión para los niños susceptibles. En la actualidad, la enfermedad afecta con más frecuencia a los niños menores de 3 meses, entre los cuales, los menores de 1 mes tienen mayor riesgo de complicaciones y letalidad. Se presenta un caso autóctono de una recién nacida de 16 días con episodios de tos quintosa, cianosante y emetizante, cuadro hemático que evidencia leucocitosis y linfocitosis, que se originó en un área donde está implementada, como política de salud pública, la vacunación para tos ferina en niños. La paciente tuvo una evolución tórpida complicada con convulsiones y necesidad de ventilación mecánica. Se identificó en la paciente Bordetella pertussis por inmunofluorescencia, reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y cultivo. Se hace una breve revisión de la literatura, haciendo énfasis en el panorama actual de la vacunación en neonatos.

Neonatal pertussis is an upper respiratory tract infection whose incidence has recently increased. Adults have been demonstrated to be the main source for neonatal infection, accounting for the rising rates of disease in this later population group. Currently, the disease affects chiefly infants under three months of age, among which, those younger than one moth have the highest rates of complication and death. Here we present an indigenous case of a 16 days old newborn that arose in an area where pertussis vaccination during the first months of life is the rule and very few cases had been documented throughout the last years. The patient presented whooping cough with cyanosis and emesis episodes, whose complete blood count showed markedly and increasingly high leukocytosis and lymphocytosis. Her clinical course complicated with seizures and required mechanical ventilation. B. pertussis was demonstrated by means of immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction and culture. A brief literature review is made with emphasis on current landmarks on pertussis vaccination.

Automated detection of breast cancer in thermal infrared images, based on independent component analysis.

Breast cancer, among women, is the second-most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death. It has become a major health issue in the world over the past decades and its incidence has increased in recent years mostly due to increased awareness of the importance of screening and population ageing. Early detection is crucial in the effective treatment of breast cancer. Current mammogram screening may turn up many tiny abnormalities that are either not cancerous or are slow-growing cancers that would never progress to the point of killing a woman and might never even become known to her. Ideally a better screening method should find a way of distinguishing the dangerous, aggressive tumors that need to be excised from the more languorous ones that do not. This paper therefore proposes a new method of thermographic image analysis for automated detection of high tumor risk areas, based on independent component analysis (ICA) and on post-processing of the images resulting from this algorithm. Tests carried out on a database enable tumor areas of 4 × 4 pixels on an original thermographic image to be detected. The proposed method has shown that the appearance of a heat anomaly indicating a potentially cancerous zone is reflected as an independent source by ICA analysis of the YCrCb components; the set of available images in our small series is giving us a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94.7%.

Data acquisition, analysis and transmission platform for a Pay-As-You-Drive system.

This paper presents a platform used to acquire, analyse and transmit data from a vehicle to a Control Centre as part of a Pay-As-You-Drive system. The aim is to monitor vehicle usage (how much, when, where and how) and, based on this information, assess the associated risk and set an appropriate insurance premium. To determine vehicle usage, the system analyses the driver's respect for speed limits, driving style (aggressive or non-aggressive), mobile telephone use and the number of vehicle passengers. An electronic system on board the vehicle acquires these data, processes them and transmits them by mobile telephone (GPRS/UMTS) to a Control Centre, at which the insurance company assesses the risk associated with vehicles monitored by the system. The system provides insurance companies and their customers with an enhanced service and could potentially increase responsible driving habits and reduce the number of road accidents.

Disfagia lusoria: Reporte de un caso y revisión de literatura / Dysphagia lusoria: A case report and review of the literature

La compresión extrínseca del esófago por estructuras vasculares es una causa poco frecuente de disfagia; sin embargo, su diagnóstico es de gran importancia para ofrecer un adecuado manejo y disminuir la repercusión sobre la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Se presenta un caso ilustrativo de disfagia lusoria y posteriormente una revisión sobre su etiología, enfoque diagnóstico y manejo.

Extrinsic esophagus compression produced by vascular structures is a rare cause of dysphagia. Nevertheless, its diagnosis is critical to allow an appropriate management and to lower the impact on the patients’ quality of life. Here, an illustrative case of dysphagia lusoria is presented followed by a review of its etiology, diagnosis approach and its treatment.