Instituto Tecnológico de San Luis Potosí

The biological role of zinc-alpha 2-glycoprotein (ZAG) has been associated with lipid mobilization, although this is not entirely clear. The study’s aim was to examine the serum levels of ZAG and zinc (Zn) and the Zn/ZAG in a population of children with overweight (OW) and obesity (OB), and their relationship with biochemical parameters. Our study was a cross-sectional analysis of a group of Mexican children aged 6–10 (n = 72). We analyzed anthropometric data and biochemical parameters, including fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), insulin, and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). ZAG protein levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and serum zinc (Zn) levels were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). The Zn values indicate a statistically significant difference between normal weight (NW) and OW/OB children with Zn concentrations were 91 µg/dL for NW and 66 µg/dL for OW/OB children. ZAG values did not show significant differences between NW and OW/OB, and values were 2.1 mg/dL and 2.3 mg/dL, respectively. The Zn/ZAG ratio was lower in the OW/OB compared to the NW (p = 0.05). Correlations were found between FPG and Zn (p = 0.004) in NW boys, and ZAG (p = 0.046) in OW/OB boys, as well as a negative correlation between insulin and Zn in NW children of both sexes. HOMA-IR shows correlations between Zn (p = 0.008) in OW/OB boys, and ZAG (p = 0.010) in the OW/OB girls. Additionally, correlations were observed between LDLc, TG, and BMIz with Zn and ZAG in the boys. In the same way, we also found that girls with OW/OB had a Zn/ZAG ratio of − 2.32 (p = 0.043) compared to NW boys. In conclusion, our findings highlight the significant roles of Zn and ZAG in glucose and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, Zn/ZAG ratio may provide insights into nutritional deficiencies, adiposity, and metabolic health. However, further studies are necessary to validate our results.

Background: The GWTG initiative has improved global patient care. We introduced GWTG-CAD at Mexico’s largest referral center, the National Institute of Cardiology. This is an independent before/after quality analysis. Hypothesis: Implementing a standardized tool will improve ACS patient management and guideline-recommended therapies. Aims: To compare the center’s data before/after implementing the GWTG-CAD tool registry. Methods: Retrospective, comparative study of ACS patients either transferred from eight referring hospitals or arriving directly to our center. We compared two groups: admissions from July 2022-March 2023 ( before ) and April 2023-April 2024 ( after ). Continuous variables are presented as mean±standard deviation or median and interquartile range, based on their distribution. Data: A total of 473 patients, (202 in the before -period and 271 in the after -period). Age, gender, comorbidities and medical history were non-different between groups. The diagnoses included STEMI 73.2% vs. 58.1%, NSTEMI 23.3% vs. 38.8%, UA 3.4% vs. 2.9%. Symptom onset to first medical contact median time was 504(195-972 min) vs. 395(170-688 min), p=0.28. From the before -period, 32.2% underwent pPCI and 61.7% thrombolysis, vs. 46.2% and 42.9% in the after -period. Among all patients, the median time of arrival at referring hospital to PCI was 2,329(356-5142 min) during the before -period vs. 559(164-1702 min) in the after -period (p=0.002). Among STEMI transfers, the time of arrival at referring hospital to PCI was significantly lower (151[110-460] vs. 106[91-142] min, p=0.02). Among direct arrivals, door-to-balloon time was numerically, but not statistically lower (78.5[51-162] vs. 71[45-90] min, p=0.08). Prescription of guideline-recommended therapies from the before -period vs. after -period was DAPT (93.1% vs. 94.1%, p=0.68), ACEI/ARB (83.7% vs. 85.1%, p=0.68), BB (84.8% vs. 89.8%, p=0.10) and statins (97.3% vs. 95.3%, p=0.26). The overall survival rate was (95.5 vs. 97.4%). Conclusions: In this comparative study we observed a significant reduction of transfer to PCI times in all ACS patients after the implementation of the GWTG-CAD project. High prescription of guideline-recommended therapies at discharge were documented.

Dental restoration materials are susceptible to bacterial biofilm formation, which damages the restorations and causes oral health problems. Therefore, to overcome this, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are studied widely due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and healing properties. The purpose of this study was to develop a strategy for incorporating AgNPs onto the surface of bisacrylic resin (Bis) to evaluate its antibiofilm effects using Streptococcus sanguinis and Actinomyces naeslundii. AgNPs with an average size of 25 nm at two different concentrations were dispersed on the Bis surface (Bis-AgNPs) by mechanical deposition. Ag release was quantified until 7 days of incubation. Bacterial growth was assessed using a viability assay kit and observed using confocal microscopy. The biofilm biomass was quantified using arbitrary fluorescence units. Cell viability was evaluated using an MTT assay. The results showed that Bis-AgNPs significantly inhibited biofilm formation along with a significant difference in the viability of human gingival fibroblasts. The quantification confirmed a decrease in Ag release over time, and elemental mapping showed AgNP penetration up to 10 µm from the surface. Therefore, it was concluded that Bis-AgNPs presented enhanced antibiofilm properties, even at a concentration with no adverse effects. Therefore, this nanocomposite may be a promising alternative for biofilm control in temporary restorative materials.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of hydrogel and zinc oxide nanoparticles on quinoa germination and establishment. Various doses of a commercial potassium-based hydrogel (0, 5, 7, and 9 g), each dissolved in one liter of rainwater, were applied. Additionally, 1.5 g of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) and pre-crushed nitrogen fertilizer, at a rate of 1.6 kg/ha, were added to the solution to achieve a homogeneous mixture. Following the application of hydrogel in the 10-linear-meter rows corresponding to each treatment area in every block, 25 seeds per linear meter of the "Blanca de Juli" quinoa cultivar were sown with a 4 cm spacing between the seeds. Subsequently, a thin layer of soil, approximately 0.5 cm thick, was used to cover the seeds. Ten seedlings were randomly selected and labeled for subsequent evaluations. The experimental design employed in this research was a completely randomized block design. The collected data underwent an analysis of variance, and the means of all the treatments were compared using Tukey's test with a 5% probability. Height and diameter evaluations of the plant neck were conducted every 45 days. The doses used in this study (5, 7, and 9 g of hydrogel per liter of water) significantly enhanced seed germination and increased the number of plants per linear meter (from 82.00 to 90.33) compared to the control dose without hydrogel (14.66), which resulted in an average of one plant per linear meter.

Effective circularization of mRNA molecules is a key step for the efficient initiation of translation. Research has shown that the intrinsic separation of the ends of mRNA molecules is rather small, suggesting that intramolecular arrangements could provide this effective circularization. Considering that the innate proximity of RNA ends might have important unknown biological implications, we aimed to determine whether the close proximity of the ends of mRNA molecules is a conserved feature across organisms and gain further insights into the functional effects of the proximity of RNA ends. To do so, we studied the secondary structure of 274 full native mRNA molecules from 17 different organisms to calculate the contour length (CL) of the external loop as an index of their end‐to‐end separation. Our computational predictions show bigger variations (from 0.59 to 31.8 nm) than previously reported and also than those observed in random sequences. Our results suggest that separations larger than 18.5 nm are not favored, whereas short separations could be related to phenotypical stability. Overall, our work implies the existence of a biological mechanism responsible for the increase in the observed variability, suggesting that the CL features of the exterior loop could be relevant for the initiation of translation and that a short CL could contribute to the stability of phenotypes.

Visual detection of stromata (brown-black, elevated fungal fruiting bodies) is the primary method for quantifying tar spot early in the season because these structures are definitive signs of the disease and essential for effective disease monitoring and management. Here, we present the Stromata Contour Detection Algorithm version 2 (SCDA v2), which addresses the limitations of the previously developed SCDA version 1 (SCDA v1), without the need to empirically search for optimal decision-making input parameters (DMIPs) while achieving higher and consistent accuracy in tar spot stromata detection. SCDA v2 operates in two components: (i) SCDA v1 producing tar spot–like region proposals for a given input corn leaf Red-Green-Blue (RGB) image and (ii) a pretrained convolutional neural network (CNN) classifier identifying true tar spot stromata from the region proposals. To demonstrate the enhanced performance of the SCDA v2, we used datasets of RGB images of corn leaves from field (low, middle, and upper canopies) and glasshouse conditions under variable environments, exhibiting different tar spot severities at various corn developmental stages. Various accuracy analyses (F1 score, linear regression, and Lin’s concordance correlation) showed that SCDA v2 had a greater agreement with the reference data (human visual annotation) than SCDA v1. SCDA v2 achieved 73.7% mean Dice values (overall accuracy) compared with 30.8% for SCDA v1. The enhanced F1 score primarily resulted from eliminating overestimation cases using the CNN classifier. Our findings indicate the promising potential of SCDA v2 for glasshouse and field-scale applications, including tar spot phenotyping and surveillance projects. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Objective To evaluate the utility of low‐cost simulation models to teach surgical techniques for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), included in a multimodal education workshop for PAS. Methods This was an observational, survey‐based study. Participants were surveyed before and after the use of low‐fidelity mannequins to simulate two surgical techniques for PAS (one‐step conservative surgery [OSCS] and modified subtotal hysterectomy [MSTH]), within a multimodal educational workshop. The workshops included pre‐course preparation, didactics, simulated practice of the techniques using low‐cost models, and viewing live surgery. Results Six OSCS/MSTH training workshops occurred across six countries and a total of 270 participants were surveyed. The responses of 127 certified obstetricians and gynecologists (OB–GYNs) were analyzed. Participants expressed favorable impressions of all components of the simulated session. Perceived anatomical simulator fidelity, scenario realism, educational component effectiveness, and self‐assessed performance improvement received ratings of 4–5 (positive end of the Likert scale) from over 90% of respondents. When asked about simulation's role in technique comprehension, comfort level in technique performance, and likelihood of recommending this workshop to others, more than 75% of participants rated these aspects with a score of 4–5 (positively) on the five‐point scale. Conclusion Low‐cost simulation, within a multimodal education strategy, is a well‐accepted intervention for teaching surgical techniques for PAS.

Bioactive peptides derived from plant sources have gained significant attention for their potential use in preventing and treating chronic degenerative diseases. However, the efficacy of these peptides depends on their bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and stability. Encapsulation is a promising strategy for improving the therapeutic use of these compounds. It enhances their stability, prolongs their shelf life, protects them from degradation during digestion, and enables better release control by improving their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. This review aims to analyze the impact of various factors related to peptide encapsulation on their stability and release to enhance their biological activity. To achieve this, it is necessary to determine the composition and physicochemical properties of the capsule, which are influenced by the wall materials, encapsulation technique, and operating conditions. Furthermore, for peptide encapsulation, their charge, size, and hydrophobicity must be considered. Recent research has focused on the advancement of novel encapsulation methodologies that permit the formation of uniform capsules in terms of size and shape. In addition, it explores novel wall materials, including polysaccharides derived from unconventional sources, that allow the precise regulation of the rate at which peptides are released into the intestine.

Epidemiological studies to better understand wheat blast (WB) spatial and temporal patterns were conducted in three field environments in Bolivia between 2019 and 2020. The temporal dynamics of wheat leaf blast (W L B) and spike blast (W S B) were best described by the logistic model compared to the Gompertz and exponential models. The non-linear logistic infection rates (r L ) were higher under defined inoculation in experiments two and three than under undefined inoculation in experiment one, and they were also higher for W S B than for W L B. The onset of W L B began with a spatial cluster pattern according to autocorrelation analysis and Moran’s Index (I) values, with higher severity and earlier onset for defined than for undefined inoculation until the last sampling time. The W S B onset did not start with a spatial cluster pattern; instead, it was detected later until the last sampling date across experiments, with higher severity and earlier onset for defined than for undefined inoculation. Maximum severity (K max ) was 1.0 for W S B, and less than 1.0 for W L B. Aggregation of W L B and W S B was higher for defined than for undefined inoculation. The directionality of hotspot development was similar for both W L B and W S B, mainly occurring concentrically for defined inoculation. Our results show no evidence of synchronized development but suggest a temporal and spatial progression of disease symptoms on wheat leaves and spikes. Thus, we recommend that monitoring and management of WB should be considered during early growth stages of wheat planted in areas of high risk.

Significance People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience changes in fine motor skills, which is viewed as one of the hallmark signs of this disease. Due to its non-invasive nature and portability, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a promising tool for assessing changes related to fine motor skills. Aim We aim to compare activation patterns in the primary motor cortex using fNIRS, comparing volunteers with PD and sex- and age-matched control participants during a fine motor task and walking. Moreover, inter and intrahemispheric functional connectivity (FC) was investigated during the resting state. Approach We used fNIRS to measure the hemodynamic changes in the primary motor cortex elicited by a finger-tapping task in 20 PD patients and 20 controls matched for age, sex, education, and body mass index. In addition, a two-minute walking task was carried out. Resting-state FC was also assessed. Results Patients with PD showed delayed hypoactivation in the motor cortex during the fine motor task with the dominant hand and delayed hyperactivation with the non-dominant hand. The findings also revealed significant correlations among various measures of hemodynamic activity in the motor cortex using fNIRS and different cognitive and clinical variables. There were no significant differences between patients with PD and controls during the walking task. However, there were significant differences in interhemispheric connectivity between PD patients and control participants, with a statistically significant decrease in PD patients compared with control participants. Conclusions Decreased interhemispheric FC and delayed activity in the primary motor cortex elicited by a fine motor task may one day serve as one of the many potential neuroimaging biomarkers for diagnosing PD.

Detergents are highly produced pollutants with environmental problems like foam generation and toxic effects in biota. Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are efficient, economical, and versatile surfactants, used in detergents for more than 40 years due to their detergency capacity. In the environment, NPE biodegrades into the metabolite nonylphenol (NP), classified as an endocrine disruptor. The identification and quantification of 4-NP in a designed detergent and 30 commercially available detergents were performed to prove the degradation of NPE into 4-NP during storage time. This investigation introduces the first evidence of NPE degradation during storage in commercially available detergents, demonstrating a novel exposure pathway in humans that has not been explored before, representing potential human health risks. Therefore, simple, easy, low-cost, and available approaches to remove and substitute NP is paramount. Alkyl polyglucoside (APG) was assessed as a substitute, and the feasibility of this substitution was proven according to physical and chemical properties, cleaning performance, and antimicrobial properties. NPE substitution in detergents is demonstrated as a viable strategy to minimize exposure risks in humans and the environment.

The objective of this research is to find the effectiveness factor of the catalyst particles for the most favorable conditions of the phthalic anhydride production in a fixed bed reactor, with the aim of achieving the highest rate of phthalic anhydride production compared to other secondary products and analyzing the areas of lower effectiveness for the modification of the reactor design. Initially, the material and the energy balances in the catalytic bed are solved to obtain the concentration and temperature profiles based on the radius and length of the reactor, using polymath software(Polymath ® v6.2 Software Minitab 19 Matlab 2019) with the data from literature. Once the profiles reproducibility was verified using the initial data (inlet temperature, pressure in the reactor, reactor wall temperature, reactor radius and mass flow rate) the experimental design 3 5 carry out, which generates 243 "experiments", whose response variable (phthalic anhydride concentration) was obtained using Matlab. Subsequently, the variables were analyzed using the Minitab 18 ® that, through the response surface analysis method, allowed us to obtain the optimal values of the tested variables. Then, Subsequently, material and energy balances coupled with Fourier and Fick's laws, along with the effectiveness factor equation, were applied, resulting in the generation of 9 coupled differential equations. Upon implementing the finite difference method, this yielded 90 nonlinear algebraic equations, which were solved using the Polymath software. A total of 78 particles were preselected based on their radial and axial positions to determine the effectiveness factor profile, with values ranging from 0.83 to near unity. The lower values correspond to the points with higher temperature, as evidenced by the calculations performed.

The accuracy obtained in Art Media Classification (AMC) using CNN is lower compared to other image classification problems, where the acceptable accuracy ranges from 90 to 99%. This article presents an analysis of the performance of three different CNNs with transfer learning for AMC, to answer the question of what challenges arise in this application. We proposed the Art Media Dataset (ArtMD) to train three CNNs. ArtMD contains five classes of art: Drawing, Engraving, Iconography, Painting, and Sculpture. The analysis of the results demonstrates that all the tested CNNs exhibit similar behavior. Drawing, Engraving, and Painting had the highest relationship, showing a strong relationship between Drawing and Engraving. We implemented two more experiments, removing first Drawing and then Engraving. The best performance with 86% accuracy was achieved by removing Drawing. Analysis of the confusion matrix of the three experiments for each CNN confirms that Drawing and Painting have the lowest accuracy, showing a strong misclassification with the other classes. This analysis presents the degree of relationship between the three CNN models and details the challenges of AMC.

From a circular economy perspective, the appropriate management and valorization of winery wastes and by-products are crucial for sustainable development. Nowadays, grape pomace (GP) has attracted increasing interest within the food field due to its valuable content, comprising nutritional and bioactive compounds (e.g., polyphenols, organic and fatty acids, vitamins, etc.). Particularly, GP polyphenols have been recognized as exhibiting technological and health-promoting effects in different food and biological systems. Hence, GP valorization is a step toward offering new functional foods and contributing to solving waste management problems in the wine industry. On this basis, the use of GP as a food additive/ingredient in the development of novel products with technological and functional advantages has recently been proposed. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the bioactivity and health-promoting effects of polyphenolic-rich extracts from GP samples. Advances in GP incorporation into food formulations (enhancement of physicochemical, sensory, and nutritional quality) and information supporting the intellectual property related to GP potential applications in the food industry are also discussed.

This study examines high school student dropout and proposes a support tool that utilizes a neuro-fuzzy system to mitigate this issue. The system analyzes a student’s economic and social information through a human-machine interface, registering data to evaluate dropout risk levels. It is proposed as an innovative alternative and considered a development project that seeks to perform diagnostics without compromising current support mechanisms. The successful implementation of this proposal will result in tangible benefits, particularly when considering the student community in various regions of the State of Chiapas, specifically in vulnerable areas. The system yielded positive results, manifesting its stability and robustness in both design and implementation. This endeavor not only tackles the identified issue, but also functions as an efficacious and dependable mechanism for assessing and averting student attrition, thereby fortifying the education system in these locales.

Understanding the phenomena that cause jet oscillations inside funnel-type thin-slab molds is essential for ensuring continuous liquid steel delivery, improving flow pattern control, and increasing plant productivity and the quality of the final product. This research aims to study the effect of the nozzle’s internal design on the fluid dynamics of the nozzle-mold system, focusing on suppressing vorticity generation below the nozzle’s tip. The optimized design of the nozzle forms the basis of the results obtained through numerical simulation. Mathematical modeling involves fundamental equations, the Reynolds Stress Model for turbulence, and the Multiphase Volume of Fluid model. The governing equations are discretized and solved using the implicit iterative-segregated method implemented in FLUENT®. The main results demonstrate the possibility of controlling jet oscillations even at high casting speeds and deep dives. The proposed modification in the internal geometry of the nozzle is considered capable of modifying the flow pattern inside the mold. The geometric changes correspond with 106% more elongation than the original nozzle; the change is considered 17% of an inverted trapezoidal shape. Furthermore, there was a 2.5 mm increase in the lower part of both ports to compensate for the inverted trapezoidal shape. The newly designed SEN successfully eliminated the issue of jet oscillations inside the mold by effectively preventing the intertwining of the flow. This improvement is a significant upgrade over the original design. At the microscale, a delicate force balance occurs at the tip of the nozzle’s internal bifurcation, which is influenced by fluctuating speeds and ferrostatic pressure. Disrupting this force balance leads to increased oscillations, causing variations in the mass flow rate from one port to another. Consequently, the proposed nozzle optimization design effectively controls microscale fluctuations above this zone in conjunction with changes in flow speed, jet oscillation, and metal–slag interface instability.

The use of antibiotics unbalances the intestinal microbiota. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are alternatives for these unbalances. The effects of a new synbiotic composed of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 and fructans from Agave salmiana (fAs) as prebiotics were assessed to modulate the intestinal microbiota. Two probiotic presentations, the commercial probiotic (CP) and the microencapsulated probiotic (MP) to improve those effects, were used to prepare the synbiotics and feed Wistar rats subjected to antibiotics (AB). Eight groups were studied, including five controls and three groups to modulate the microbiota after the use of antibiotics: G5: AB + MP-synbiotic, G6: AB + CP-synbiotic, and G8: AB + fAs. All treatments were administered daily for 7 days. On days 7 and 21, euthanasia was performed, cecum tissue was recovered and used to evaluate histological analysis and to study microphotograph by TEM, and finally, bacterial DNA was extracted and 16S rRNA gene metabarcode sequencing was performed. Histological analysis showed less epithelial damage and more abundance of the intestinal microbiota in the groups G5, G6, and G8 in comparison with the AB control group after 7 days. Microphotograph of the cecum at 2 weeks post treatment showed that G5 and G6 presented beneficial effects in epithelial reconstruction. Interestingly, in the groups that used the synbiotic without AB (G3 and G4) in addition to contributing to the recovery of the autochthonous microbiota, it promotes the development of beneficial microorganisms; those results were also achieved in the groups that used the synbiotic with AB enhancing the bacterial diversity and regulating the impact of AB.

Contamination by heavy metals and metalloids in water resources, soil, and air is one of the most severe problems that compromise food and water safety and public health globally and locally. Water naturally contains heavy metals; however, its increase, although sometimes also determined by natural enrichment when passing through aquifers containing rocks with a high concentration of this material, is mostly linked to human activity, such as mining and industry, which generates waste such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium, which reach rivers and contaminate groundwater. The danger of heavy metals is greater since they are not chemically or biologically degradable. Once emitted, they can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. In addition, its concentration in living beings increases as they are ingested by others, so the ingestion of contaminated plants or animals can cause symptoms of poisoning. Today we know a great variety of methods and techniques that can be used for the removal of heavy metals from water, each of which shows advantages and disadvantages that must be analyzed. The search for new materials and alternatives for the disinfection of water contaminated with heavy metals, as well as the optimization of those that we know today, is a permanent task for the scientific community.

Fabric analysis is essential for understanding the evolution of volcaniclastic deposits. Here we present a comprehensive and efficient methodology, called “Clast shape-fabric analysis,” which is part of the Quantitative Textural Analysis (QTA). This methodology combines high-resolution image analysis techniques with geospatial data processing tools. The fabric of a deposit refers to the three-dimensional orientation of the particles with respect to space, where the degree of iso-orientation of the major axes of the particles is taken into account. The process begins with the collection of oriented samples in the field. Then, in the laboratory, the samples are processed to obtain high-resolution images. The final stage involves the analysis of these images using the FabricS program, which combines image processing techniques and circular statistics. An application of the method was made at the Joya Honda Maar in Mexico, where shape-fabric analysis was used to identify the emission centers of pyroclastic materials. In summary, the “Clast shape-fabric analysis” is a reliable, low-cost and high-potential methodology that can be applied in several geoscientific disciplines and other areas of scientific research.•New Methodology for shape-fabric analysis is presented. •The methodology involves field work, laboratory work and image analysis. •Identification of particle orientations in volcaniclastic deposits.