Robust Zero Modes in Non-Hermitian Systems without Global Symmetries.

We present an approach to achieve zero modes in lattice models that do not rely on any symmetry or topology of the bulk, which are robust against disorder in the bulk of any type and strength. Such symmetry-free zero modes (SFZMs) are formed by attaching a single site or small cluster with zero mode(s) to the bulk, which serves as the "nucleus" that expands to the entire lattice. We identify the requirements on the couplings between this boundary and the bulk, which reveals that this approach is intrinsically non-Hermitian. We then provide several examples with either an arbitrary or structured bulk, forming spectrally embedded zero modes in the bulk continuum, midgap zero modes, and even restoring the "zeroness" of coupling or disorder-shifted topological corner states. Focusing on viable realizations using photonic lattices, we show that the resulting SFZM can be observed as the single lasing mode when optical gain is applied to the boundary.

Adaptation to the disease, resilience and optimism in woman with breast cancer.

This research aims to determine the relationship between the variables adaptation to the disease, resilience and dispositional optimism in women with breast cancer in Montería (Colombia). This study is a descriptive-correlational type, evaluating 116 participants. The instruments applied were the Font Quality of Life Questionnaire, to assess the Index of Adaptation to Disease, Wagnild and Young's Resilience Scale (RS) and the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R). The statistical program SPSS 25.0 was used for the analysis of the data. A normality test was performed which led to the application of the Spearman correlation coefficient. Findings indicated the presence of adaptation in the participants and resilient and optimistic characteristics, however, there is no significant relationship between these variables and adaptation to the disease.

Adequacy of the WHOQoL-BREF to Assess the Quality of Life of Victims of Armed Conflicts.

There is a deterioration in the quality of life (QoL) of survivor victims of warlike conflicts. Because there is a need to guarantee the effectiveness of assessment tools for these populations, we studied the adequacy of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF) to assess the QoL of 1,136 surviving victims of the armed conflict in Colombia. Although this questionnaire has yielded promising results, questions remain about its psychometric suitability for specific populations. We used model modification at the item level, comparisons of models with different factor structures, and dimensionality analysis to address the psychometric problems encountered. Dimensionality analysis using a bifactor model suggests that WHOQoL-BREF total scores might be a more appropriate way of reporting results when model fit adequacy is not reached. Conclusions are offered on the psychometric properties of the WHOQoL-BREF, the evaluation of special populations, and possible strategies to address future questionnaire modifications.

Muscle plasticity is influenced by renal function and caloric intake through the FGF23-vitamin D axis.

Skeletal muscle, the main metabolic engine in the body of vertebrates, is endowed with great plasticity. The association between skeletal muscle plasticity and two highly prevalent health problems: renal dysfunction and obesity, which share etiologic links as well as many comorbidities, is a subject of great relevance. It is important to know how these alterations impact on the structure and function of skeletal muscle because the changes in muscle phenotype have a major influence on the quality of life of the patients. This literature review aims to discuss the influence of a nontraditional axis involving kidney, bone, and muscle on skeletal muscle plasticity. In this axis, the kidneys play a role as the main site for vitamin D activation. Renal disease leads to a direct decrease in 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D, secondary to reduction in renal functional mass, and has an indirect effect, through phosphate retention, that contributes to stimulate fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) secretion by bone cells. FGF23 downregulates the renal synthesis of 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D and upregulates its metabolism. Skeletal production of FGF23 is also regulated by caloric intake: it is increased in obesity and decreased by caloric restriction, and these changes impact on 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D concentrations, which are decreased in obesity and increased after caloric restriction. Thus, both phosphate retention, that develops secondary to renal failure, and caloric intake influence 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D that in turn plays a key role in muscle anabolism.

Imaginary Gauge Transformation in Momentum Space and Dirac Exceptional Point.

An imaginary gauge transformation is at the core of the non-Hermitian skin effect. Here, we show that such a transformation can be performed in momentum space as well, which reveals that certain gain- and loss-modulated systems in their parity-time (PT) symmetric phases are equivalent to Hermitian systems with real potentials. Our analysis in momentum space also distinguishes two types of exceptional points (EPs) in the same system. Besides the conventional type that leads to a PT transition upon the continuous increase of gain and loss, we find real-valued energy bands connected at a Dirac EP in hybrid dimensions, consisting of a spatial dimension and a synthetic dimension for the gain and loss strength.

Lesión renal aguda secundaria a mordedura de serpiente del género bothrops: a propósito de un caso

Introducción: el accidente ofídico es una intoxicación ocasionada por la inoculación de veneno a través de la mordedura de una serpiente, la cual genera alteraciones locales y sistémicas. Dicho evento representa un importante problema de salud pública en los países en vía de desarrollo debido a su alta frecuencia y gravedad. Las serpientes del género Bothrops son responsables de la mayoría de los accidentes y esto se debe, en parte, a su amplia distribución geográfica y comportamiento agresivo cuando se sienten amenazadas. La lesión renal aguda es una causa importante de mortalidad en pacientes con mordedura de serpientes de este género. Objetivo: describir el caso de un paciente femenino con lesión renal aguda inducida por mordedura de serpiente del género Bothrops. Simultáneamente se detallan los datos epidemiológicos más relevantes de dicha entidad, sus factores de riesgo, los posibles mecanismos fisiopatológicos que explican la génesis de la misma, su diagnóstico y manejo clínico. Se resalta la importancia de su identificación precoz y tratamiento oportuno. Presentación del caso: se presenta el caso de una paciente de 40 años que ingresa a una institución de cuarto nivel de complejidad por presentar lesión renal aguda y coagulopatía por consumo secundario a mordedura de serpiente del género Bothrops, con presencia de sangrado vaginal y hematuria que progresa a anuria y hematemesis, requiriendo transfusión de hemoderivados y terapia de reemplazo renal, medidas con las cuales presentó una evolución clínica favorable. Discusión y conclusión: la lesión renal aguda asociada a la mordedura de serpientes del género Bothrops es una complicación clínica común y potencialmente mortal que no debe ser olvidada. Los eventos fisiopatológicos responsables de esta complicación incluyen mecanismos inmunológicos, trastornos de la coagulación, pigmenturia, nefrotoxicidad directa y la respuesta inflamatoria con efectos hemodinámicos sistémicos y renales. Se hace imprescindible el conocimiento de dicha entidad en aras de reconocerla de forma precoz e instaurar su tratamiento oportuno con el fin de reducir sus complicaciones potencialmente fatales.

Introduction: The ophidian accident is an intoxication caused by the inoculation of venom through the bite of a snake, which generates local and systemic alterations. This event represents an important public health problem in developing countries due to its high frequency and severity. Snakes of the genus Bothrops are responsible for the majority of accidents, and this is partly due to their wide geographic distribution and aggressive behavior when threatened. Acute kidney injury is an important cause of mortality in patients with snake bites of this genus. Purpose: To describe the case of a female patient with bothrops snakebite-induced acute kidney injury. Simultaneously, the most relevant epidemiological data of said entity, its risk factors, the possible pathophysiological mechanisms that explain its genesis, its diagnosis and clinical management are detailed. The importance of its early identification and timely treatment is highlighted. Case presentation: We present the case of a 40-year-old female patient who was admitted to a fourth level of complexity institution due to acute kidney injury and consumption coagulopathy secondary to bothrops snakebite, with the presence of vaginal bleeding and hematuria that progressed to anuria. and hematemesis; requiring transfusion of blood products and renal replacement therapy, measures with which she presented a favorable clinical evolution. Conclusion and discussion: Acute kidney injury associated with the bite of bothrops snakes is a common and life-threatening clinical complication that should not be overlooked. The pathophysiological events responsible for this complication include immunological mechanisms, coagulation disorders, pigmenturia, direct nephrotoxicity, and the inflammatory response with systemic and renal hemodynamic effects. Knowledge of this entity is essential in order to recognize it early and establish its timely treatment in order to reduce its potentially fatal complications.

Left atrial inflow propagation velocity derived by color M-mode Doppler in acute heart failure.

Left atrial (LA) inflow propagation velocity from the pulmonary vein (LAIF-PV) has been proposed as a novel measure of LA reservoir function and is associated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in critically ill patients. However, data on LAIF-PV in acute heart failure (AHF) are lacking. We sought to examine the feasibility of measuring LAIF-PV and evaluate clinical and echocardiographic correlates of LAIF-PV in AHF. In a prospective cohort study of adults hospitalized for AHF, we used color M-mode Doppler of the pulmonary veins to obtain LAIF-PV in systole. Among 142 patients with appropriate images and no more than moderate mitral regurgitation, LAIF-PV measures were feasible in 76 patients (54%) aged 71 ± 14 years, including 68% men with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 38% ± 13. Mean LAIF-PV was 24.2 ± 5.9 cm/s. In multivariable regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index, New York Heart Association class, LA volume and LVEF, the only independent echocardiographic predictors of LAIF-PV were right ventricular (RV) S' [ß 0.46 cm/s per cm/s (95% CI 0.01-0.91), p = 0.045] and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) [ß 0.28 cm/s per mm (95% CI 0.02-0.54), p = 0.039]. Notably, LAIF-PV was not significantly correlated with measures of LV function, LA function or E/e'. In conclusion, LAIF-PV was measurable in 54% of patients with AHF, and lower values were associated with measures of impaired RV systolic function but not LV or LA function.

Importancia de un modelo de nefroprevención adaptado para Colombia

La enfermedad renal crónica es una afección que, dados sus altos niveles de incidencia y prevalencia, constituye un importante problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. Esta entidad se encuentra dentro de las principales causas de muerte tanto en Colombia como en el mundo y representa una gran carga social y económica, similar a la de otras enfermedades crónicas no trasmisibles como la hipertensión arterial y la diabetes mellitus. Actualmente, los gobiernos han realizado esfuerzos para moderar sus estadísticas; sin embargo, estos no han sido lo suficientemente sólidos para mantener bajo control el efecto que ejercen dichas patologías en la salud de las personas, por lo cual se hace imprescindible fortalecer las acciones que fomenten su prevención y control. En el presente artículo se realiza una revisión narrativa de la literatura, partiendo de la información disponible en las diferentes bases de datos, con el objetivo de resaltar la importancia de implementar un modelo de nefroprevención adaptado para Colombia que permita prevenir y detectar oportunamente los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares y renales, y que además facilite el diagnóstico precoz de la enfermedad renal crónica en aras de disminuir su progresión y sus consecuencias potencialmente letales.

Chronic kidney disease is a condition that, given its high levels of incidence and prevalence, constitutes a major public health problem worldwide. This entity is among the leading causes of death both in Colombia and in the world, and represents a great social an economic burden, similar to that of other chronic non-communicable diseases such as arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Currently, governments have made efforts to moderate their statistics; however, these have not been solid enough to keep under control the effect that these pathologies have on the health of the individuals, for which it is indispensable to strengthen actions that promote their prevention and control. In the present article, a narrative literature review is carried out, based on the information available in the different databases, with the purpose of highlighting the importance of implementing a nephroprevention model adapted for Colombia that allows to timely prevent and detect the cardiovascular and renal risk factors, and also facilitate the early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease in order to slow its progression and its potentially lethal consequences.

Edulcorantes artificiales y su papel en la enfermedad renal crónica: una revisión

Los edulcorantes no calóricos surgieron como una opción segura y saludable en el marco de la alimentación y, por lo tanto, han sido de gran interés en la cultura dietética adquirida en la actualidad; es importante mencionar que en esta cultura adquirida el consumo de comida rápida y con altos niveles de azúcar ha tomado especial fuerza, lo que repercute negativamente en la incidencia de enfermedades metabólicas. En este orden de ideas, los edulcorantes no calóricos se convierten en una mejor opción para la salud en la que no es necesario hacer un cambio drástico en el estilo de vida. No obstante, los beneficios de los edulcorantes artificiales no calóricos no han sido estudiados a profundidad y no se ha evidenciado que una dieta a base de estos sustitutivos provoque un cambio significativo en el desarrollo de enfermedades metabólicas asociadas al consumo de azúcar, por el contrario, se han relacionado con enfermedades como obesidad, diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y síndrome metabólico. Asimismo, estos pueden provocar una serie de cambios metabólicos a través de distintos mecanismos que terminan en proteinuria progresiva y descenso de la tasa de filtrado glomerular. A partir de lo anterior, se hace necesario un análisis del riesgo que se corre al elegir esta opción alimenticia, para así no dejarse llevar por los procesos mediáticos que los promocionan, sino más bien, regirse por los hallazgos científicos.

Non-caloric artificial sweeteners have emerged to offer a safe and healthy option in the framework of food. They have received special attention in recent decades, precisely because of the current food culture, where fast food and high sugar consumption have taken on special strength, which has a negative impact on the incidence of metabolic diseases. In that order of ideas, non-caloric artificial sweeteners propose better health without the need for a drastic change in lifestyle. However, its benefits have not been studied in depth, in addition to the fact that there has been no significant change in the development of metabolic diseases associated with sugar consumption, on the contrary, they have been related to diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Likewise, they cause a series of metabolic changes by different mechanisms that end in progressive proteinuria and a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate. In order with the above, an analysis of the risk to which one is subjected when choosing this food option is necessary, and not be deafened, much less dazzled by the media processes, if not rather, be governed by scientific findings.

Amiloidosis asociada a hemodiálisis: revisión de sus aspectos etiopatogénicos / Hemodialysis-Associated Amyloidosis: Review of its ethiopathogenic aspects

Resumen La amiloidosis constituye una complicación importante en los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica que son sometidos a hemodiálisis durante extensos períodos de tiempo. Al igual que en otras amiloidosis sistémicas, en la amiloidosis asociada a hemodiálisis intervienen diferentes sustancias, algunas de ellas de carácter fibrilar, como la βeta-2-microglobulina, la cual representa una de las proteínas de mayor relevancia dada su implicación etiopatogénica. A pesar de que las técnicas de hemodiálisis han sido mejoradas con el paso de los años, dicha entidad continúa siendo una complicación relativamente frecuente; tal es que se puede presentar hasta en el 80 % de los pacientes con hemodiálisis prolongadas. Por lo tanto, se hizo imprescindible realizar una revisión narrativa partiendo de la literatura científica disponible en las diferentes bases de datos, con el objetivo de contribuir a mejorar y actualizar el conocimiento del médico en dicho tópico; al abarcar desde los aspectos generales y su fisiopatología, hasta su presentación clínica, diagnóstico y tratamiento.

Abstract Amyloidosis is a major complication in patients with chronic kidney disease who undergo hemodialysis for long periods of time. As in other systemic amyloidosis, different substances are involved in amyloidosis associated with different substances, some of them fibrillar in nature, such as βeta-2-microglobulin, which represents one of the most relevant proteins given its etiopathogenic involvement. Despite the fact that hemodialysis techniques have been improved over the years, this entity continues to be a frequent complication; such is that it can occur in up to 80% of patients with prolonged hemodialysis. Therefore, it was essential to carry out a narrative review based on the scientific literature available in the different databases with the aim of contributing to improve and update the doctor's knowledge on this topic; ranging from the general aspects and its pathophysiology, to its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Adaptation to the Disease, Resilience and Optimism in Woman with Breast Cancer. / Adaptación a la enfermedad, resiliencia y optimismo en mujeres con cáncer de mama.

This research aims to determine the relationship between the variables adaptation to the disease, resilience and dispositional optimism in women with breast cancer in Montería (Colombia). This study is a descriptive-correlational type, evaluating 116 participants. The instruments applied were the Font Quality of Life Questionnaire, to assess the Index of Adaptation to Disease, Wagnild and Young's Resilience Scale (RS) and the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R). The statistical program SPSS 25.0 was used for the analysis of the data. A normality test was performed which led to the application of the Spearman correlation coefficient. Findings indicated the presence of adaptation in the participants and resilient and optimistic characteristics, however, there is no significant relationship between these variables and adaptation to the disease.

Data Augmentation of Automotive LIDAR Point Clouds under Adverse Weather Situations.

In contrast to previous works on data augmentation using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), which mostly consider point clouds under good weather conditions, this paper uses point clouds which are affected by spray. Spray water can be a cause of phantom braking and understanding how to handle the extra detections caused by it is an important step in the development of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems)/AV (Autonomous Vehicles) functions. The extra detections caused by spray cannot be safely removed without considering cases in which real solid objects may be present in the same region in which the detections caused by spray take place. As collecting real examples would be extremely difficult, the use of synthetic data is proposed. Real scenes are reconstructed virtually with an added extra object in the spray region, in a way that the detections caused by this obstacle match the characteristics a real object in the same position would have regarding intensity, echo number and occlusion. The detections generated by the obstacle are then used to augment the real data, obtaining, after occlusion effects are added, a good approximation of the desired training data. This data is used to train a classifier achieving an average F-Score of 92. The performance of the classifier is analyzed in detail based on the characteristics of the synthetic object: size, position, reflection, duration. The proposed method can be easily expanded to different kinds of obstacles and classifier types.

Could climate change benefit invasive snakes? Modelling the potential distribution of the California Kingsnake in the Canary Islands.

The interaction between climate change and biological invasions is a global conservation challenge with major consequences for invasive species management. However, our understanding of this interaction has substantial knowledge gaps; this is particularly relevant for invasive snakes on islands because they can be a serious threat to island ecosystems. Here we evaluated the potential influence of climate change on the distribution of invasive snakes on islands, using the invasion of the California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) in Gran Canaria. We analysed the potential distribution of L. californiae under current and future climatic conditions in the Canary Islands, with the underlying hypothesis that the archipelago might be suitable for the species under these climate scenarios. Our results indicate that the Canary Islands are currently highly suitable for the invasive snake, with increased suitability under the climate change scenarios tested here. This study supports the idea that invasive reptiles represent a substantial threat to near-tropical regions, and builds on previous studies suggesting that the menace of invasive reptiles may persist or even be exacerbated by climate change. We suggest future research should continue to fill the knowledge gap regarding invasive reptiles, in particular snakes, to clarify their potential future impacts on global biodiversity.

Nefrolitiasis en la paciente gestante: revisión de la literatura / Renal lithiasis in pregnant patient: a literary review

Resumen La litiasis renal en la paciente gestante es una condición relativamente infrecuente; sin embargo, es la causa más común de dolor no obstétrico durante el embarazo. En el periodo de gestación se producen diversos cambios anatomofisiológicos en el tracto urinario, como la dilatación de los cálices renales, la pelvis renal y los uréteres por causa del efecto que ejerce la progesterona sobre el músculo liso uretral, y la compresión de los uréteres por el útero grávido. Estas modificaciones conducen a un aumento del flujo plasmático renal y de la tasa de filtrado glomerular, ocasionando hiperuricosuria e hipercalciuria. Del mismo modo, durante el embarazo también se produce un aumento de la secreción de inhibidores de cálculos, por lo cual la prevalencia de la formación de cálculos durante el embarazo es similar a la de las mujeres no embarazadas. El bajo índice de sospecha por parte del médico tratante puede entorpecer el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de esta patología, que también son limitados en la gestación debido a los potenciales riesgos teratogénicos. Se realiza una revisión narrativa de la literatura partiendo de la evidencia científica disponible en las diferentes bases de datos y de esta manera se pretende instruir al médico en los aspectos clave de dicho tema.

Abstract Renal lithiasis in pregnant women is a relatively rare condition. However, it is the most common cause of non-obstetric pain during pregnancy. During the gestation period, various anatomical-physiological changes occur in the urinary tract. These changes include dilation of the renal calyces, renal pelvis, and ureters due to the effect of progesterone on urethral smooth muscle and compression of the ureters by the gravid uterus. These modifications lead to an increase in renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate, thus causing hyperuricosuria and hypercalciuria. Similarly, during pregnancy there is also an increase in the secretion of stone inhibitors, therefore, the prevalence of stone formation during pregnancy is similar to non-pregnant women. The low index of suspicion on the part of the treating physician can hinder the diagnosis and treatment of this pathology, which is also limited in pregnancy due to teratogenic risks. A narrative review of the literature is carried out based on the scientific evidence available in the different databases and in this way it is intended to instruct the doctor in the key aspects of said topic.

Non-Hermiticity-Governed Active Photonic Resonances.

Photonic resonances play an essential role in the generation and propagation of light in optical and photonic devices, as well as in light-matter interaction, including nonlinear optical responses. Previous studies in lasers and other open systems have shown exotic roles played by non-Hermiticity on modifying passive resonances, defined in the absence of optical gain and loss. Here we report a new type of resonances in non-Hermitian photonic systems that does not originate from a passive resonance, identified by analyzing a unique quantization condition in the non-Hermitian extension of the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin method. Termed active photonic resonances, these unique resonances are found in non-Hermitian systems with a spatially correlated complex dielectric function, which is related to supersymmetry quantum mechanics after a Wick rotation. Remarkably, such an active photonic resonance shifts continuously on the real frequency axis as optical gain increases, suggesting the possibility of a tunable on-chip laser that can span a wavelength range over 100 nm.

Hemorragia talámica izquierda espontánea: caso ilustrativo / Spontaneous Left Talamic Hemorrhage: Illustrative Case

RESUMEN La hemorragia talámica pertenece al grupo de las hemorragias intracerebrales de etiología no traumática o quirúrgica. Es una entidad relativamente infrecuente y tiene una prevalencia de 6-15 % de los casos dentro de dicho grupo. El tálamo es una estructura anatómica donde convergen múltiples vías neuronales, por lo tanto, sus manifestaciones clínicas no están totalmente descritas. A pesar de ello, se conoce que su presentación clínica más frecuente está asociada al síndrome sensitivo de Déjerine-Roussy, caracterizado por intenso dolor neuropático, alodinia contralateral a la lesión, hemiparesia y hemiataxia. La hemorragia talámica también se puede presentar con alteraciones de la memoria, sueño, emociones y procesamiento de información sensitiva. Se presenta un caso de hemorragia talámica izquierda espontánea en un paciente de 71 años que debutó con cambios en su comportamiento, bradipsiquia y amnesia anterógrada, con posterior recuperación completa de su estado cognitivo y psicológico antes de los 8 días y con hallazgos normales en la panangiografía.

ABSTRACT Thalamic hemorrhage belongs to the group of intracerebral hemorrhages of non-traumatic or surgical etiology. It is relatively rare and has a prevalence of 6-15% of cases. The thalamus is an anatomical structure where multiple neural pathways converge; therefore, its clinical manifestations are not fully described. Despite this, it is known that its most frequent clinical presentation is associated with the Dejerine-Roussy sensory syndrome, characterized by intense neuropathic pain, allodynia contralateral to the lesion, hemiparesis and hemiataxia. Thalamic hemorrhage can also present with alterations in memory, sleep, emotions, and the processing of sensitive information. We present a case of spontaneous left thalamic hemorrhage in a 71-year-old patient who presented with changes in his behavior, bradypsy-chia, and anterograde amnesia, with subsequent complete recovery of his cognitive and psychological state before 8 days and with normal findings in the panangiography.