Capacitive platform for real-time wireless monitoring of liquid wicking in a paper strip.

Understanding the phenomenon of liquid wicking in porous media is crucial for various applications, including the transportation of fluids in soils, the absorption of liquids in textiles and paper, and the development of new and efficient microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs). Hence, accurate and real-time monitoring of the liquid wicking process is essential to enable precise flow transport and control in microfluidic devices, thus enhancing their performance and usefulness. However, most existing flow monitoring strategies require external instrumentation, are generally bulky and unsuitable for portable systems. In this work, we present a portable, compact, and cost-effective electronic platform for real-time and wireless flow monitoring of liquid wicking in paper strips. The developed microcontroller-based system enables flow and flow rate monitoring based on the capacitance measurement of a pair of electrodes patterned beneath the paper strip along the liquid path, with an accuracy of 4 fF and a full-scale range of 8 pF. Additionally to the wired transmission of the monitored data to a computer via USB, the liquid wicking process can be followed in real-time via Bluetooth using a custom-developed smartphone application. The performance of the capacitive monitoring platform was evaluated for different aqueous solutions (purified water and 1 M NaCl solution), various paper strip geometries, and several custom-made chemical valves for flow retention (chitosan-, wax-, and sucrose-based barriers). The experimental validation delivered a full-scale relative error of 0.25%, resulting in an absolute capacitance error of ±10 fF. In terms of reproducibility, the maximum uncertainty was below 10 nl s-1 for flow rate determination in this study. Furthermore, the experimental data was compared and validated with numerical analysis through electrical and flow dynamics simulations in porous media, providing crucial information on the wicking process, its physical parameters, and liquid flow dynamics.

System Based on an Inertial Measurement Unit for Accurate Flight Time Determination in Vertical Jumps.

The world of elite sports has always been characterized by intense competition, where victories are often determined by minimal differences. This means that every little detail in the preparation of top-level athletes is crucial to their performance at the highest level. One of the most significant aspects to monitor is the jumping capacity, as it enables the measurement of performance, progression, and helps prevent injuries. Herein, we present the development of a system capable of measuring the flight time and height reached by the user, reporting the results through a smartphone using an Android ad-hoc application, which handles all the data processing. The system consists of an affordable and portable circuit based on an accelerometer. It communicates with the smartphone via UART using a Bluetooth module, and its battery provides approximately 9 h of autonomy, making it suitable for outdoor operations. To evaluate the system's precision, we conducted performance tests (counter-movement jumps) with seven subjects. The results confirmed the system's potential for monitoring high-level sports training sessions, as the average deviation obtained was only 2.1% (~0.01 s) in the analysis of flight time and 4.6% (~0.01 m) in jump height.

Cáncer de mama: nueva clasificación molecular / Breast cancer: New molecular classification

A pesar de utilizar criterios histológicos e inmunohistoquímicos, no somos capaces de reflejar la heterogeneidad del cáncer de mama. En 2012 se realiza el estudio Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC), el cual analiza la arquitectura genómica y de transcripción en 2000 cánceres de mama. Aparecieron subtipos moleculares con gran implicación. Tal es la importancia de la biología molecular que, en el AJCC-TNM8 (2017), se incorporaron grupos pronósticos con base en la expresión de biomarcadores (RE, RP, HER2, Ki67). Estos grupos complementan a la clasificación tradicional y añade un enfoque biológico al puramente anatómico existente. Hemos analizado el estudio METABRIC, haciendo hincapié en la nueva línea de investigación que aportó. Realizamos una exhaustiva búsqueda bibliográfica en las principales bases de datos, obteniendo los artículos que exponen los resultados del METABRIC. Desglosamos los 10 grupos integradores descubiertos recientemente, sus variaciones genéticas y su implicación para nuestra práctica clínica. Comprobamos que la clasificación actual del cáncer de mama no es lo suficientemente precisa, cuyas incongruencias se explican por los grupos integradores. Sientan los cimientos para una nueva clasificación o para refinar los subtipos existentes. (AU)

Despite using histological and immunohistochemical criteria, we are unable to reflect the heterogeneity of breast cancer. In 2012 METABRIC analyzed the genomic and transcriptional architecture of 2000 breast cancers. Molecular subtypes were found to be highly implicated. Such is the importance of molecular biology that, in AJCC-TNM8 (2017), prognostic groups based on biomarker expression (ER, PR, HER2, and Ki67) were incorporated. These groups complement the traditional classification and add a biological approach to the existing purely anatomical one. We have analyzed the METABRIC study, emphasizing the new line of research it contributed. We did an exhaustive literature search in the main databases, obtaining the articles presenting the METABRIC results. We broke down the 10 recently discovered integrative clusters, their genetic variations and their implication for our clinical practice. We found that the current classification of breast cancer is not enough accurate, the inconsistencies of which are explained by the integrative clusters. They lay the foundation for a new classification or for refining existing subtypes. (AU)

Epidemiological investigation of a case of malaria in a non-endemic area, Campo de Gibraltar, Cadiz, Spain, January 2022.

We describe a non-imported malaria case reported in January 2022 in Campo de Gibraltar and the investigations by local public health authorities to identify the transmission mechanism and subsequent measures to prevent local transmission. Vector transmission, parenteral transmission, airport malaria, and imported malaria were ruled out. No clear mechanism of transmission was identified. The most probable cause was a hospital-acquired infection since the case was admitted to hospital at the same time as a case of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Digital Optical Ballistocardiographic System for Activity, Heart Rate, and Breath Rate Determination during Sleep.

In this work, we present a ballistocardiographic (BCG) system for the determination of heart and breath rates and activity of a user lying in bed. Our primary goal was to simplify the analog and digital processing usually required in these kinds of systems while retaining high performance. A novel sensing approach is proposed consisting of a white LED facing a digital light detector. This detector provides precise measurements of the variations of the light intensity of the incident light due to the vibrations of the bed produced by the subject's breathing, heartbeat, or activity. Four small springs, acting as a bandpass filter, connect the boards where the LED and the detector are mounted. Owing to the mechanical bandpass filtering caused by the compressed springs, the proposed system generates a BCG signal that reflects the main frequencies of the heartbeat, breathing, and movement of the lying subject. Without requiring any analog signal processing, this device continuously transmits the measurements to a microcontroller through a two-wire communication protocol, where they are processed to provide an estimation of the parameters of interest in configurable time intervals. The final information of interest is wirelessly sent to the user's smartphone by means of a Bluetooth connection. For evaluation purposes, the proposed system has been compared with typical BCG systems showing excellent performance for different subject positions. Moreover, applied postprocessing methods have shown good behavior for information separation from a single-channel signal. Therefore, the determination of the heart rate, breathing rate, and activity of the patient is achieved through a highly simplified signal processing without any need for analog signal conditioning.

Colonización por Staphylococcus aureus en población anciana institucionalizada en el área de la Bahía de Cádiz: prevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados / Staphylococcus aureus colonization in an institutionalized elderly population in the Bay of Cadiz area, Spain: prevalence and associated risk factors

Antecedentes y objetivo: Staphylococcus aureus es un problema para la salud causante de gran variedad de infecciones. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer la prevalencia y factores asociados a personas portadoras de S. aureus institucionalizadas en Cádiz. Pacientes y método: Estudio transversal entre septiembre de 2016 y mayo de 2017. Población: Residentes institucionalizados en los centros sociosanitarios con mayor número de plazas de Cádiz (N=359). La variable respuesta fue ser portador de S. aureus (sensible y resistente a meticilina, SASM y SARM respectivamente). Las variables independientes fueron: edad, sexo, comorbilidad, estado funcional, antibioterapia e ingreso hospitalario en los últimos tres meses. Se realizó análisis bivariado y con regresión logística. Resultados: Prevalencia de colonización: SASM 17,4% y SARM 3,8%. Haber recibido betalactámicos se relacionó significativamente con ser portador de SASM y SARM mediante regresión logística multivariante con una OR=3,3 y OR=3,8 respectivamente. Conclusiones: Existe baja prevalencia de portadores de S. aureus en la población estudiada. Recibir previamente betalactámicos se asoció significativamente con estar colonizado por SASM y SARM. Las prescripciones desde atención primaria son esenciales para el control de cepas patógenas multirresistentes

Background and objective: Staphylococcus aureus is a health problem behind a great variety of infections. The objective of the study was to establish the prevalence and risk factors of S. aureus carriers in community nursing homes in Cadiz. Patients and method: A cross study from September 2016 to May 2017. Population: All residents institutionalized in the largest long-term care facilities centers in Cadiz. The main variable was being a S. aureus carrier (sensitive and resistant to methicillin, MSSA and MRSA). The independent variables were age, sex, comorbidity, functional status, antibiotic therapy and hospitalization in the last three months. Bivariate analysis with logistic regression was conducted. Results: Prevalence of colonization: MSSA 17,4% and MRSA 3.8%. Use of beta-lactams was significantly related to a MSSA and MRSA carrier status using multivariate logistic regression OR = 3.3 and OR = 3.8. Conclusions: There is a low prevalence of S. aureus carriers in the study population. Use of beta-lactams before the study was significantly associated with being a carrier colonized by MSSA y MRSA. Primary care prescriptions are a key in controlling pathogenic multiresistant strains

Staphylococcus aureus colonization in an institutionalized elderly population in the Bay of Cadiz area, Spain: prevalence and associated risk factors. / Colonización por Staphylococcus aureus en población anciana institucionalizada en el área de la Bahía de Cádiz: prevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Staphylococcus aureus is a health problem behind a great variety of infections. The objective of the study was to establish the prevalence and risk factors of S. aureus carriers in community nursing homes in Cadiz. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A cross study from September 2016 to May 2017. POPULATION: All residents institutionalized in the largest long-term care facilities centers in Cadiz. The main variable was being a S. aureus carrier (sensitive and resistant to methicillin, MSSA and MRSA). The independent variables were age, sex, comorbidity, functional status, antibiotic therapy and hospitalization in the last three months. Bivariate analysis with logistic regression was conducted. RESULTS: Prevalence of colonization: MSSA 17,4% and MRSA 3.8%. Use of beta-lactams was significantly related to a MSSA and MRSA carrier status using multivariate logistic regression OR = 3.3 and OR = 3.8. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low prevalence of S. aureus carriers in the study population. Use of beta-lactams before the study was significantly associated with being a carrier colonized by MSSA y MRSA. Primary care prescriptions are a key in controlling pathogenic multiresistant strains.

West Nile virus outbreak in humans and epidemiological surveillance, west Andalusia, Spain, 2016.

In Andalusia, Spain, West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance takes place from April to November, during the active vector period. Within this area seroconversion to this virus was evidenced in wild birds in 2004, affecting horses and two humans for the first time in 2010. Since 2010, the virus has been isolated every year in horses, and national and regional surveillance plans have been updated with the epidemiological changes found. WNV is spreading rapidly throughout southern Europe and has caused outbreaks in humans. Here we describe the second WNV outbreak in humans in Andalusia, with three confirmed cases, which occurred between August and September 2016, and the measures carried out to control it. Surveillance during the transmission season is essential to monitor and ensure prompt identification of any outbreaks.

Recent developments in computer vision-based analytical chemistry: A tutorial review.

Chemical analysis based on colour changes recorded with imaging devices is gaining increasing interest. This is due to its several significant advantages, such as simplicity of use, and the fact that it is easily combinable with portable and widely distributed imaging devices, resulting in friendly analytical procedures in many areas that demand out-of-lab applications for in situ and real-time monitoring. This tutorial review covers computer vision-based analytical (CVAC) procedures and systems from 2005 to 2015, a period of time when 87.5% of the papers on this topic were published. The background regarding colour spaces and recent analytical system architectures of interest in analytical chemistry is presented in the form of a tutorial. Moreover, issues regarding images, such as the influence of illuminants, and the most relevant techniques for processing and analysing digital images are addressed. Some of the most relevant applications are then detailed, highlighting their main characteristics. Finally, our opinion about future perspectives is discussed.

Smartphone-based simultaneous pH and nitrite colorimetric determination for paper microfluidic devices.

In this work, an Android application for measurement of nitrite concentration and pH determination in combination with a low-cost paper-based microfluidic device is presented. The application uses seven sensing areas, containing the corresponding immobilized reagents, to produce selective color changes when a sample solution is placed in the sampling area. Under controlled conditions of light, using the flash of the smartphone as a light source, the image captured with the built-in camera is processed using a customized algorithm for multidetection of the colored sensing areas. The developed image-processing allows reducing the influence of the light source and the positioning of the microfluidic device in the picture. Then, the H (hue) and S (saturation) coordinates of the HSV color space are extracted and related to pH and nitrite concentration, respectively. A complete characterization of the sensing elements has been carried out as well as a full description of the image analysis for detection. The results show good use of a mobile phone as an analytical instrument. For the pH, the resolution obtained is 0.04 units of pH, 0.09 of accuracy, and a mean squared error of 0.167. With regard to nitrite, 0.51% at 4.0 mg L(-1) of resolution and 0.52 mg L(-1) as the limit of detection was achieved.

A compact optical instrument with artificial neural network for pH determination.

The aim of this work was the determination of pH with a sensor array-based optical portable instrument. This sensor array consists of eleven membranes with selective colour changes at different pH intervals. The method for the pH calculation is based on the implementation of artificial neural networks that use the responses of the membranes to generate a final pH value. A multi-objective algorithm was used to select the minimum number of sensing elements required to achieve an accurate pH determination from the neural network, and also to minimise the network size. This helps to minimise instrument and array development costs and save on microprocessor energy consumption. A set of artificial neural networks that fulfils these requirements is proposed using different combinations of the membranes in the sensor array, and is evaluated in terms of accuracy and reliability. In the end, the network including the response of the eleven membranes in the sensor was selected for validation in the instrument prototype because of its high accuracy. The performance of the instrument was evaluated by measuring the pH of a large set of real samples, showing that high precision can be obtained in the full range.