Resumen Introducción: La determinación del efecto de reabrir las escuelas sobre las tasas de infección pediátrica por SARS-CoV-2 (síndrome respiratorio agudo grave coronavirus 2) incrementó la necesidad de trasmitir la experiencia de los gobiernos de muchas regiones geográficas para mejores decisiones futuras en emergencias sanitarias similares. Métodos: Mediante un estudio prospectivo basado en una cohorte poblacional se dio seguimiento a los alumnos de 18,988 escuelas del Estado de México que iniciaron con el regreso a clases. Se implementaron filtros sanitarios diarios en cada escuela y cotidianamente se informaban a los enlaces jurisdiccionales a través de una red negativa. Los casos identificados eran confirmados a través de RT-PCR (reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa inversa). Se estimaron frecuencias simples de casos, porcentajes e incidencias de COVID-19. Las incidencias del estado se compararon con la incidencia nacional. Resultados: Un total de 3,586 casos fueron confirmados; 2,048 (57.1%) correspondieron a niños. Veinticuatro (0.6%) fueron hospitalizados por COVID-19 moderado a grave; nueve (37.5%) fallecieron, y solamente una correspondió a un escolar. A partir de la semana 36 se observó una tasa promedio de infecciones de 0.36. En la semana epidemiológica 40 se observó la mayor tasa de infección en escolares (1.01); a partir de esta semana se observa un declive de los casos hasta la semana 50. Conclusiones: La implementación de intervenciones no farmacéuticas tiene más ventajas que limitaciones, siempre y cuando las estrategias sean homogéneas y correctamente ejecutadas, lo que asegurará un adecuado control en los contagios.

Abstract Background: Determining the effect of reopening schools on pediatric SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection rates increased the need to share the experience of governments in many geographic regions for better future decision-making in similar health emergencies. Methods: Through a prospective study based on a population-based cohort, students from 18,988 schools in the State of Mexico who began returning to school were followed. Daily sanitation filters were implemented in each school and district liaisons were informed on a daily basis through a negative network. Identified cases were confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Simple case frequencies, percentages, and incidences of COVID-19 were estimated. State incidences were compared with the national incidence. Results: A total of 3,586 cases were confirmed; 2,048 (57.1%) were children. Twenty-four (0.6%) were hospitalized for moderate to severe COVID-19; nine (37.5%) died, and only one was a schoolchild. From week 36, an average infection rate of 0.36 was observed. The highest infection rate in schoolchildren was observed in epidemiologic week 40 (1.01); from this week on, a decrease in the number of cases was observed until week 50. Conclusions: The use of non-pharmaceutical interventions has more advantages than limitations, as long as the strategies are homogeneous and properly implemented to ensure adequate control of infections.

Resumen Objetivo: Es necesario estudiar las principales comorbilidades de la enfermedad de Parkinson que provocan este aumento de hospitalizaciones. Comparar el promedio de días de estancia hospitalaria de los pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson más una comorbilidad contra el promedio de días de estancia hospitalaria sin esa comorbilidad e informar aquellos que fueron estadísticamente significativos. Metodología: Tomando pacientes con EP desde el Hospital “1 de octubre”, se realizó un estudio observacional, retrospectivo, transversal y analítico en el que se evaluó la relación de los días de hospitalización con y sin comorbilidades, encontrando cuáles serían las comorbilidades que se convierten en un factor de protección o riesgo de prolongar la estancia hospitalaria de los pacientes con EP y así sugerir la prioridad del tratamiento de estas condiciones. Resultados: De los 37 pacientes se encontraron 14 comorbilidades diferentes, de las cuales Hipotiroidismo (= 2), Infarto agudo de miocardio/dislipidemia (= 4), TCE (= 4), presentan una disminución en el número de días Pacientes hospitalizados con respecto a la media de pacientes que no presentan estas comorbilidades, en comparación, úlcera sacra (= 32,5) y neumonía (= 31) muestran un aumento de los días de hospitalización con respecto a la media. Conclusión: Se encontraron 14 comorbilidades en la enfermedad de Parkinson. Los pacientes con úlcera sacra y neumonía son hospitalizados por más tiempo en comparación con las diferentes comorbilidades. Se recomienda prestar especial atención y cuidado para prevenir/tratar estas patologías para reducir el número de días de hospitalización.

Abstract Objective: It is necessary to study the main comorbidities of Parkinson’s disease that causes this increase in hospitalization. The aim of the study was to compare the mean days of hospital stay of patients with Parkinson’s disease plus a comorbidity against the mean days of hospital stay without that comorbidity and to report those which were statistically significant. Methods: Taking patients with PD from “1 de octubre” Hospital, an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, and analytical study was carried out in which the relationship of days of hospitalization with and without comorbidities was evaluated, finding which would be the comorbidities that were they become a factor of protection or risk of prolonging the hospital stay of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and thus suggest the priority of treating these conditions. Results: Of the 37 patients, 14 different comorbidities were found, of which hypothyroidism (= 2), acute myocardial infarction/dyslipidemia (= 4), and traumatic brain injury (= 4) present a decrease in the number of days hospitalized patients with respect to the mean of patients who do not have these comorbidities, in comparison, sacral ulcer (= 32.5) and pneumonia (= 31) show an increase in the days of hospitalization with respect to the mean. Conclusion: Fourteen comorbidities were found in PD. Patients with sacral ulcer and pneumonia are hospitalized for a longer time compared to the different comorbidities. It is recommended to pay special attention and care to prevent/treat these pathologies to reduce the number of days of hospitalization.

The present study reports new presences of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in four localities in Argentina, extending its geographical range in South America. Among the new records, one is located in Mesopotamia region in eastern Argentina, where fies were captured around orange and mulberry orchards. The other record is located at Ticucho, Province of Tucumán, northwest from the previous record, where fies were collected from an unknown host, possibly Opuntia cactus. The other two captures of D. suzukii were performed in raspberries plantations located at the Patagonia region, and represent the southernmost record of this species in South America. All previous reports of D. suzukii in South America are also presented, as a review of the invasion of this pest species to the continent. The data support the scenario of an incipient invasion of D. suzukii in southern latitudes of South America. The geographical distribution of D. suzukii to new areas could imply damages and economic losses for regional economies.

El presente estudio presenta cuatro nuevos registros de Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, 1931 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) en Argentina, extendiendo el área de su distribución geográfica en América del Sur. Un primer registro se localiza al este, en la mesopotamia Argentina, aquí las moscas fueron capturadas en plantaciones de moras y naranjas. Otro registro se localiza en Ticucho, Provincia de Tucumán, al noroeste del registro previo y en huésped desconocido, posiblemente cactus Opuntia . Finalmente, los otros dos registros fueron realizados en plantaciones de frambuesas en localidades de la región Patagónica, siendo los registros más australes de esta especie en el continente. A modo de revisión de la invasión de esta especie plaga en el continente, se recopilan todos los registros de D. suzuki en América del Sur publicados hasta la fecha. Los datos apoyan el escenario de una invasión incipiente de D. suzukii en áreas localizadas en latitudes meridionales de América del Sur. El establecimiento de D. suzukii en estas nuevas áreas puede implicar daños y pérdidas económicas para las economías regionales.

Fingerprint verification is the most important step in the fingerprint-based biometric systems. The matching score is linked to the chance of identifying a person. Nowadays, two fingerprint matching methods are the most popular: the correlation-based method and the minutiae-based method. In this work, three biometric systems were evaluated: Neurotechnology Verifinger 6.0 Extended, Innovatrics IDKit SDK and Griaule Fingerprint SDK 2007. The evaluation was performed according to the experiments of the Fingerprint Verification Competition (FVC). The influence of the fingerprint rotation degrees on false match rate (FMR) and false non-match rate (FNMR) was evaluated. The results showed that the FMR values increase as rotation degrees increase too, meanwhile, the FNMR values decrease. Experimental results demonstrate that Verifinger SDK shows good performance on false non-match testing, with an FNMR mean of 7%, followed by IDKit SDK (6.71% ~ 13.66%) and Fingerprint SDK (50%). However, Fingerprint SDK demonstrates a better performance on false match testing, with an FMR mean of ~0%, followed by Verifinger SDK (7.62% - 9%) and IDKit SDK (above 28%). As result of the experiments, Verifinger SDK had, in general, the best performance. Subsequently, we calculated the regression functions to predict the behavior of FNMR and FMR for different threshold values with different rotation degrees.

La verificación de huellas dactilares es el proceso más importante en los sistemas de autenticación biométricos basados en huella dactilar. De acuerdo a la puntuación obtenida en la correspondencia de huellas se autentica o no a una persona. Actualmente existen dos métodos, muy populares, de correspondencia dactilar, correlación y minucias. En este artículo, se evaluaron tres sistemas biométricos basados en huella dactilar: Neurotechnology Verifinger 6.0 SDK Extended, Innovatrics IDKit SDK y Griaule Fingerprint SDK 2007. La evaluación se llevo a cabo de acuerdo a las pruebas efectuadas en la Fingerprint Verification Competition (FVC). Se evaluó la influencia de la tolerancia de los grados de rotación en las huellas dactilares en las tasas de falsa correspondencia (FMR) y falsa no correspondencia (FNMR). Los resultados muestran que los valores de FMR incrementan a medida que la tolerancia de los grados de rotación también lo hace, en contraparte los valores de FNMR disminuyen. Los resultados mostraron que Verifinger obtuvo un buen desempeño en las pruebas de falsa no correspondencia, con un promedio de 7%, seguido de IDKit (entre 6.71% y 13.66%) y Fingerprint SDK (50%). Fingerprint SDK obtuvo un desempeño superior en las pruebas de falsa correspondencia con un promedio cercano al 0%, seguido por Verifinger (entre 7.62% y 9%) e IDKit (28%). Como resultado Verifinger tuvo el mejor desempeño general. Posteriormente se calcularon las funciones de regresión para predecir el comportamiento de las tasas de falsa correspondencia y falsa no correspondencia con diferentes valores de tolerancia y grados de rotación.

A ação hipoglicemiante do extrato aquoso das cascas do caule de Croton cuneatus Klotz (Euphorbiaceae) foi investigada em ratos com diabetes induzida pela estreptozotocina (STZ). Doses crescentes do extrato aquoso (6,5, 13, 26 e 52 mg/kg i.p.) foram administradas separadamente a grupos de animais normais e diabéticos em jejum. Foram avaliadas as concentrações plasmáticas de glicose e colesterol, assim como mudanças no peso corporal. A administração crônica intraperitoneal (i.p.) do extrato durante 22 dias induziu uma redução significativa nos níveis de glicose sanguínea. Foi feita uma comparação entre o extrato aquoso de C. cuneatus e a droga de referência glibenclamida. Os resultados desse experimento indicam que esta planta possui atividade antidiabética em modelo com animais hiperglicêmicos.

Aqueous extract of the stem barks of Croton cuneatus Klotz (Euphorbiaceae) was investigated for hypoglycaemic activity in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Increasing doses of aqueous extract (6.5, 13, 26 and 52 mg/kg i.p.) were separately administered to groups of fasted normal and diabetic rats. Plasma glucose concentration, cholesterol and changes in body weight were evaluated. The chronic intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of the extract for 22 days was found to induce significant reduction in blood glucose level. A comparison was made between the action of the aqueous extract of C. cuneatus and the reference standard drug glibenclamide. The results of this experimental animal study indicate that this plant has an antidiabetic activity in hiperglycaemic rat models.

Popular science has emphasized the risks of high sodium intake and many studies have confirmed that salt intake is closely related to hypertension. The present mini-review summarizes experiments about salt taste sensitivity and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) and other variables of clinical and familial relevance. Children and adolescents from control parents (N = 72) or with at least one essential hypertensive (EHT) parent (N = 51) were investigated. Maternal questionnaires on eating habits and vomiting episodes were collected. Offspring, anthropometric, BP, and salt taste sensitivity values were recorded and blood samples analyzed. Most mothers declared that they added "little salt" when cooking. Salt taste sensitivity was inversely correlated with systolic BP (SBP) in control youngsters (r = -0.33; P = 0.015). In the EHT group, SBP values were similar to control and a lower salt taste sensitivity threshold. Obese offspring of EHT parents showed higher SBP and C-reactive protein values but no differences in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity. Salt taste sensitivity was correlated with SBP only in the non-obese EHT group (N = 41; r = 0.37; P = 0.02). Salt taste sensitivity was correlated with SBP in healthy, normotensive children and adolescents whose mothers reported significant vomiting during the first trimester (N = 18; r = -0.66; P < 0.005), but not in "non-vomiter offspring" (N = 54; r = -0.18; nonsignificant). There is evidence for a linkage between high blood pressure, salt intake and sensitivity, perinatal environment and obesity, with potential physiopathological implications in humans. This relationship has not been studied comprehensively using homogeneous methods and therefore more research is needed in this field.

Refratários contendo espinélio de aluminato de magnésio (MgAl2O4) são materiais para tecnologia emergentes em várias aplicações tais como cimento e processos siderúrgicos. Com a finalidade de melhorar o entendimento destes refratários, este trabalho apresenta as características microestruturais de um refratário espinélio auto-formado de alumina-magnésia. Várias variáveis tais como teor de MgO, temperatura de queima e formação de espinélio são analisadas por meio de difração de raios X e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados mostram que os processos de formação de espinélio e de nucleação não são fortemente influenciados pelo teor de MgO, mas que o crescimento de cristal é aumentado para amostras com 6.0% em peso de MgO. A ligação hibonita (CA6) na matriz do refratário mostrou uma estrutura tipo agulha que poderia melhorar as propriedades a quente do material. O teor de MgO no refratário parece influenciar o desenvolvimento da hibonita. O desenvolvimento de um refratário tipo espinélio auto-formado sem quaisquer grãos de espinélio sintético parece ser promissor para uso em revestimentos refratários otimizados.

Refractories containing magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) are materials for emerging technology in several applications like cement and steelmaking processes. In order to deep the understanding of these castables, this work presents the microstructural characteristics of an alumina-magnesia/self-forming spinel castable. Several variables such as MgO content, firing temperature and spinel formation are analyzed through XRD and SEM analysis. The results showed that the processes of spinel formation and nucleation are not strongly affected by the MgO content, but that the crystal growth is enhanced for samples with 6.0 wt% MgO. Hibonite (CA6) bonding in the castable matrix showed a needlelike structure that could increase hot properties of the material. MgO content in the castable seems to affect the hibonite development. The development of a self-forming spinel castable without any synthetic spinel grains appears to be promissory for optimum refractory linings.

Este estudo foi desenvolvido, juntamente com a pesquisa descrita na parte I (Cerâmica 45, 292-293 (1999) 93-98), sobre as característic as microestruturais de um refratário espinélio de alumina com várias porcentagens de teor de MgO. A densidade aparente e a resistência à moagem a frio das amostras foram avaliadas a seco e em três temperaturas (1000 oC, 1200 oC e 1400 oC). Os resultados mostram pouca influência das adições de MgO nas propriedades físico-químicas do refratário de espinélio auto-formado de alumina-magnésia. A comparação das características com as reportadas para refratários convencionais de espinélio de alumina não mostrou valores muito diferentes. Consequentemente, o refratário de espinélio auto-formado de alumina-magnésia pode ser um material para substituição do refratário convencional de espinélio de alumina.

This study was carried out in conjunction with the investigation, reported in Part I, on the microstructural characteristics of an alumina-spinel castable with several percentages of MgO content. Bulk density and cold crushing strength of samples were evaluated dried and at three fired states (1000, 1200, 1400 °C). Results indicate little influence of MgO additions on physico-chemical properties of the alumina-magnesia/self-forming spinel castable. Characteristics compared with those reported for conventional alumina-spinel castables did not show large difference in values. Therefore, the alumina-magnesia/self-forming spinel castable could be a possible material for substitution of the conventional alumina-spinel castable.