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Item Elderly people: an experience of social support network from a life center in the municipality of Tunja (Boyacá, Colombia)(Universidad del Norte, 2024) Monsalve Jaramillo, Eliana; Goyeneche Ortegón, Ruth LilianaAging is a human process with multidimensional characteristics, influenced by society via social representations based on discourses and practices, at the cultural level, around it. Because of this, changes regarding old age and aging can be reached, which will lead to new social and cultural precepts, justifying a growing interest towards the resources derived from the social bonds of individuals, as well as the existing relationship between people’s interpersonal connections. To determine the experience of the elderly people of a Centro de Vida in the city of Tunja, Boyacá on social support networks, A qualitative research project with phenomenological approach was undertaken, the experiences related to instrumental, functional, and contextual social support networks were described; in-depth interviews and focus group were applied. It was observed that the social support networks allowed for finding the points of union in terms of the relevance of the Centro de Vida for the elderly. The experiences of the elderly regarding the social support networks were reconfigured and reworked in their own concept of the meaning of the social support network, and it was possible to determine that these are of importance at this stage of the life cycle.Item Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcal disease among adults living with HIV(Asociacion Colombiana de Infectologia, 2024) Alberto Cortés, Jorge; Valderrama Rios, Martha Carolina; Lizarazo, Jairo; Millán Oñate, Jose; Diaz Brochero, Cándida; Gómez Quintero, Carlos Hernando; Nocua Báez, Laura Cristina; Buitrago, Ernesto Martínez; José López, MaríaCryptococcosis is the fungal infection caused by the species complex Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, most frequently developed in people with compromised immune systems. In people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection of great importance, with devastating consequences for patients, society and the health system, due to the increase in morbidity, mortality and costs it generates. This guide contains recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcosis in adults living with HIV, based on evidence, made through the process of adapting international clinical practice guidelines for the Colombian context.Item B meson anomalies within the triplet vector boson model to the light of recent measurements from LHCb(American Physical Society, 2024) Cabarcas J.M.; Muñoz J.H.; Quintero Poveda, Néstor; Rojas, EduardoThe triplet vector boson (TVB) is a simplified new physics model involving massive vector bosons transforming as a weak triplet vector. Such a model has been proposed as a combined explanation of the anomalous b→sμ+μ- and b→cτν¯τ data (the so-called B meson anomalies). In this work, we carry out a revamped view of the TVB model by incorporating the most recent 2022 and 2023 LHCb measurements on the lepton-flavor universality ratios R(D(∗))=BR(B→D(∗)τν¯τ)/BR(B→D(∗)ℓ′ν¯ℓ′), R(Λc)=BR(Λb→Λcτν¯τ)/BR(Λb→Λcμν¯μ), and RK(∗)=BR(B→K(∗)μ+μ-)/BR(B→K(∗)e+e-). We perform a global fit to explore the allowed parameter space by the new data and all relevant low-energy flavor observables including the recent experimental progress from Belle, Belle II, and LHCb. Our results are confronted with the recent high-mass dilepton searches at the LHC. We find that for a heavy TVB mass of 1 TeV a common explanation of the B meson anomalies is possible for all data with the recent LHCb measurements on R(D(∗)), consistent with LHC constraints. However, this framework is in strong tension with LHC bounds when one considers all data along with the world average values reported by the Heavy Flavor Averaging Group (BABAR, Belle, and LHCb) on R(D(∗)). Future measurements will be required in order to clarify such a situation.Item Implications of NSI constraints from ANTARES and IceCube on a simplified Z′ model(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Cabarcas J.M.; Parada, Alexander; Quintero Poveda, NéstorRecently the neutrino experiments ANTARES and IceCube have released new constraints to the non-standard neutrino interaction (NSI) parameter ϵμτd (flavor off-diagonal). These new constraints are stronger than those obtained from a combination of COHERENT and neutrino oscillation data. In the light of the recent constraints from ANTARES and IceCube data on the NSI parameter ϵμτd, in this work, we study the new physics implications on the parameter space of a simplified Z′ model with lepton flavor violating (μτ) couplings. For a Z′ boson with a mass heavier than the τ lepton, our results show that ANTARES and IceCube can provide additional constraints to such a new physics scenario with μτ couplings, when compared to bounds from low-energy flavor physics. Moreover, these neutrino experiments can exclude a similar region than ATLAS experiment, showing the potential to provide complementary information to the one obtained from direct searches at the Large Hadron Collider. The impact of the expected sensitivity at DUNE and Belle II experiments is also studied.Item Design, Synthesis and Antimicrobial Potential of Conjugated Metallopeptides Targeting DNA(MDPI, 2024) Moreno Ramirez, Maria Camila; Arias Bravo, Adriana Stefania; Aragón Muriel, Alberto; Godoy, César Alonso; Liscano, Yamil; Oñate Garzón, Jose; Polo Cerón, DorianAntimicrobial resistance threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an increasingly broad spectrum of infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms. This pressing challenge has intensified the search for alternative antibiotics with new pharmacological properties. Due to the chemical synergy between the biological activity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and the different modes of action, catalytic properties, and redox chemistry of metal complexes, metallopeptides have emerged in recent years as an alternative to conventional antibiotics. In the present investigation, peptide ligands conjugated with 5-carboxy-1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) were prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), and the corresponding copper(II) metallopeptides, Cu-PhenKG and Cu-PhenRG (where K = lysine, R = arginine, and G = glycine), were synthesized and characterized. The antimicrobial activities of these compounds toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, evaluated by the broth microdilution technique, indicate that the metal center in the metallopeptides increases the antimicrobial activity of the complexes against the conjugated peptide ligands. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.5 μg/mL for S. aureus with the Cu-PhenKG complex and 0.63 μg/mL for S. typhimurium with the Cu-PhenRG complex were obtained. The MIC values found for the conjugated peptides in all microorganisms tested were greater than 1.5 μg/mL. The interactions of the conjugated peptides and their metallopeptides with plasmid DNA were evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Alterations on the replication machinery were also studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results indicate that the complexes interact efficiently with pBR322 DNA from E. coli, delaying the band shift. Furthermore, the resulting DNA–metallopeptide complex is not a useful template DNA because it inhibits PCR, since no PCR product was detected. Finally, molecular dynamics and molecular docking simulations were performed to better understand the interactions of the obtained compounds with DNA. The Cu-PhenRG complex shows a significantly higher number of polar interactions with DNA, suggesting a higher binding affinity with the biopolymer.Item Macroevolutionary processes in turtles (Testudines): a view from biomic specialization and historical climatic changes(Frontiers Media SA, 2024) Thomas, Juan S.; Gamboa, Sara; Hernández Fernández, Manuel; Murillo, Oscar; Pelegrin, Jonathan S.The resource-use hypothesis proposed by Elisabeth S. Vrba suggests that lineages display varying tendencies toward generalism or specialization in biome occupancy, with a tendency towards the accumulation of specialists due to their higher rate of speciation through vicariance. It also posits differences in biome occupancy patterns driven by the environmental characteristics of biomes, with a higher presence of biome specialist species in biomes that are placed in the extremes of the global climatic gradients. Here, we tested this hypothesis in turtles, a very ancient and morphologically stable lineage, representing a remarkable diversity with 357 species, many of which are threatened with extinction. We analyzed the resource-use hypothesis in a phylogenetic context within the Testudines lineage. For this purpose, a presence/absence matrix was compiled for all species across all 10 terrestrial biomes. Their distribution across biomes was contrasted with 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations. The relationship between diversification rates and both the biomic specialization index and the biomes occupied by specialists species was evaluated. The results demonstrate strong consistency with Vrba`s hypothesis, revealing a higher number of biome specialist species than expected by chance, with a significant accumulation of species in tropical ecosystems. These trends also were observed for ecological groups (terrestrial and freshwater species). In addition, higher diversification rates were observed for biome specialist species, although the particular biome occupied did not significantly influence their diversification rates.Item DRLBTSA: Deep reinforcement learning based task-scheduling algorithm in cloud computing(Springer, 2024) Mangalampalli, Sudheer; Karri, Ganesh Reddy; Kumar, Mohit; Khalaf, Osama Ibrahim; Tavera Romero, Carlos Andres; Abdul Sahib, Ghaida MuttasharTask scheduling in cloud paradigm brought attention of all researchers as it is a challenging issue due to uncertainty, heterogeneity, and dynamic nature as they are varied in size, processing capacity and number of tasks to be scheduled. Therefore, ineffective scheduling technique may lead to increase of energy consumption SLA violations and makespan. Many of authors proposed heuristic approaches to solve task scheduling problem in cloud paradigm but it is fall behind to achieve goal effectively and need improvement especially while scheduling multimedia tasks as they consists of more heterogeneity, processing capacity. Therefore, to handle this dynamic nature of tasks in cloud paradigm, a scheduling mechanism, which automatically takes the decision based on the upcoming tasks onto cloud console and already running tasks in the underlying virtual resources. In this paper, we have used a Deep Q-learning network model to addressed the mentioned scheduling problem that search the optimal resource for the tasks. The entire extensive simulationsare performed usingCloudsim toolkit. It was carried out in two phases. Initially random generated workload is used for simulation. After that, HPC2N and NASA workload are used to measure performance of proposed algorithm. DRLBTSA is compared over baseline algorithms such as FCFS, RR, Earliest Deadline first approaches. From simulation results it is evident that our proposed scheduler DRLBTSA minimizes makespan over RR,FCFS, EDF, RATS-HM, MOABCQ by 29.76%, 41.03%, 27.4%, 33.97%, 33.57% respectively. SLA violation percentage for DRLBTSA minimized overRR,FCFS, EDF, RATS-HM, MOABCQ by48.12%, 41.57%, 37.57%, 36.36%, 30.59% respectively and energy consumption for DRLBTSA over RR,FCFS, EDF, RATS-HM, MOABCQ by36.58%,43.2%, 38.22%, 38.52%, 33.82%existing approaches.Item Biopolymers as a Potential Alternative for the Retention of Pollutants from Vinasse: An In Silico Approach(MDPI, 2024) Aristizabal, Yesid; Ciro, Yhors; Liscano, Yamil; Salamanca, Constain H.; Oñate Garzón, JoseVinasse, a waste from the bioethanol industry, presents a crucial environmental challenge due to its high organic matter content, which is difficult to biodegrade. Currently, no sustainable alternatives are available for treating the amount of vinasse generated. Conversely, biopolymers such as cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, and chitosan are emerging as an interesting alternative for vinasse control due to their flocculating capacity against several organic compounds. This study seeks to determine the thermodynamic behavior of in silico interactions among three biopolymers (cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, and chitosan) regarding 15 organic compounds found in vinasse. For this, the Particle Mesh Ewald (PME) method was used in association with the Verlet cutoff scheme, wherein the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) was calculated over a 50 ns simulation period. The findings revealed that cellulose showed a strong affinity for flavonoids like cyanidin, with a maximum free energy of −84 kJ/mol and a minimum of −55 kJ/mol observed with phenolic acids and other flavonoids. In contrast, chitosan displayed the highest interactions with phenolic acids, such as gallic acid, reaching −590 kJ/mol. However, with 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG), it reached an energy of −70 kJ/mol. The interaction energy for flavonoid ranged from −105 to −96 kJ/mol. Finally, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) demonstrated an interaction energy with isoquercetin of −238 kJ/mol, while interactions with other flavonoids were almost negligible. Alternatively, CMC exhibited an interaction energy of −124 kJ/mol with MHPG, while it was less favorable with other phenolic acids with minimal interactions. These results suggest that there are favorable interactions for the interfacial sorption of vinasse contaminants onto biopolymers, indicating their potential for use in the removal of contaminants from the effluents of the bioethanol industry.Item The Complete Solution of the Diophantine Equation (Fn+1(k))x-(Fn-1(k))x=Fm(k)(Birkhauser, 2024) Gómez, Carlos A.; Gómez, Jhonny C.; Luca, FlorianThe well-known Fibonacci sequence has several generalizations, among them, the k-generalized Fibonacci sequence denoted by F(k) . The first k terms of this generalization are 0 , … , 0 , 1 and each one afterward corresponds to the sum of the preceding k terms. For the Fibonacci sequence the formula Fn+12-Fn-12=F2n holds for every n≥ 1 . In this paper, we study the above identity on the k-generalized Fibonacci sequence terms, completing the work done by Bensella et al. (On the exponential Diophantine equation (Fm+1(k))x-(Fm-1(k))x=Fn(k) , 2022. arxiv:2205.13168).Item Cannulation of the proximal subclavian vein using an ultrasound-guided approach(Sociedad de Anestesiologia de Chile, 2024) Caballero, Andrés Fabricio L.; Galarza, Andrés; Barahona, Johana Patricia G.; Erazo, Oscar; Viveros, Jefferson J.; Segura, Alejandro O.; Carreño, Diana Paola M.Introduction: Central venous cannulation is of vital importance for the management of critically ill patients. Objectives: This study sought to compare the safety and effectiveness of proximal subclavian vein cannulation with the ultrasound approach versus the standard anatomical approach. Materials and Methods: Prospective observational cohort study carried out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Hospital Universitario del Valle, and in the Fundación Hospital San José, with patients over 18 years of age who required central venous cannulation. To compare the anatomical versus ultrasound-guided approach, chi-square or Fisher’s exact and Mann Whitney U tests were used. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The relative risk (RR) was estimated as a measure of association. Finally, a multivariate binary logistic regression model was fitted. Results: 53 participants were included, with a median age of 60 years. In the anatomical approach group there were 17 participants, while in the ultrasound approach group there were 36. The factor associated with success in the cannulation of the subclavian vein was the approach using the ultrasound-guided method (RR = 1.73 CI 1.09 - 2.74). An image acquisition protocol is proposed that facilitates the success rate on the first attempt. Conclusions: The results obtained show that there is a higher rate of successful cannulation of the proximal subclavian vein on the first attempt when the ultrasound-guided approach is performed.Item Semaglutide Effects on Metabolic Outcomes in Diabetes Mellitus Patients — Real World Study(Dove Medical Press Ltd, 2024) Balcázar Valencia, Carlos Mario; García Ramos, Andrés Felipe; Osorio Toro, Luis Miguel; Ordoñez Guzmán, Yessica Alejandra; Buitrago Gómez, Nathalia; Cabarcas López, William Fernando; Vizcaino Guerrero, Carlos Javier; Daza Arana, Jorge Enrique; Ramírez Rincón, Alex; Restrepo Erazo, KatherinePurpose: Diabetes is a public health problem that requires strategies to impact glycemic control and reduce the risk of long-term medical complications. Pharmacological management is a necessary treatment for this disease. Therefore, semaglutide is an essential tool to achieve the treatment targets. The present study aimed to evaluate the semaglutide effects on a cohort with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Colombia. Materials and Methods: The cohort included 49 patients with T2DM that have been treated in a specialized care center. Their glycemic outcomes, weight, renal function, and adverse events were evaluated through a 3-, 6-and 12-month follow-up. Results: Significant differences were observed in the outcome evaluation: reduction of glycated hemoglobin levels (MD −2.74 CI −1.95 to −3.52 in 6 months), fasting plasma glucose levels, body weight (MD −7.11 CI −5.97 to −8.24), and the albumin-to-creatinine ratio. The results were maintained throughout the treatment period. The adverse event rate was 16.3%, predominating gastrointestinal events. Conclusion: This real-world evidence shows the efficacy of semaglutide in achieving treatment goals in patients with T2DM.Item Report of Henoch-Schönlein purpura associated with trastuzumab emtansine(ecancer Global Foundation, 2024) Escobar Dávila, Santiago Leandro; Rivas Tafurt, Giovanna Patricia; Melo Burbano, Luis Álvaro; Osorio Toro, Luis Miguel; Benítez Escobar, Edith Norela; Galindes Casanova, Duván Arley; Izquierdo Loaiza, Jorge Hernán; Cárdenas Perilla, Rodrigo Andrés; Orozco De la Hoz, CarlosVasculitides are a set of pathologies that can affect one or several organs, in the short and long term. They are associated with various etiologies, among which paraneoplastic syndromes and medications stand out. Although everyday cancer therapies are more directed against a therapeutic target, their use can cause a wide spectrum of complications. Some treatments against human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) have been associated with cutaneous and pulmonary vasculitis. We present the first case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura associated with the use of T-DM1 in a patient with HER2 breast cancer.Item Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HCV-Positive and IVDU-and HIV-Negative Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review(Dove Medical Press Ltd, 2024) Lozada Ramos, Heiler; Álvarez Payares, Jorge; Daza Arana, Jorge Enrique; Salas Marín, Luisa MaríaBackground: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a central nervous system (CNS) infection that occurs mainly in immunocompromised individuals such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, the prevalence of CM in immunocompetent patients has increased. Although CM has been reported in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, it has not yet been fully established whether there is an association between both conditions. CM has also been reported in patients with intravenous drug use (IVDU), which is related to the immunosuppression caused by these drugs. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 24-year-old man who presented with meningitis secondary to Cryptococcus gattii infection. He had a history of IVDU and HCV infection, was HIV-negative and without antiviral treatment. The patient received adequate antifungal treatment during induction, consolidation, and maintenance phases. His condition relapsed, requiring dose adjustment, with an excellent response during clinical follow-up for both meningitis and HCV infection. A brain biopsy was requested during relapse to rule out other co-infection. Conclusion: The case of an individual diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis, who had a history of IVDU and HCV infection, is presented. The coexistence of such events could shadow the prognosis of this group of subjects, related to immunosuppression that can be caused through different pathways. Having HCV and being a IVDU simultaneously could increase the risk of Cryptococcus infection.Item Interdisciplinary Discussions on Colonial Persistence, Decolonization, and Socio-Anthropological and Political Dynamics in Latin America(Universidad de los Andes, 2024) Ávila Rojas, Odín; Matamoros Ponce, Fernando; Melgarejo Pérez, Manuel AlfonsoA central debate in contemporary Latin American social sciences revolves around the enduring presence of colonial patterns, practices, and forms of domination in research methodologies and the subjective framing of societal issues. However, decolonizing initiatives are emerging, concurrently, to challenge the ways coloniality has been entwined with the expansion of capital in the 21st century. This introductory article explores the key debates surrounding colonial persistence and decolonization within the social sciences. The dossier employs a methodology centered on documentary analysis and participatory social and political reflection, particularly through experimental approaches. The articles reviewed reveal that colonial persistence and decolonization are inherently dialectical, contradictory, and conflict-ridden, manifesting across diverse social, cultural, economic, and political domains. The uniqueness of this thematic issue lies in its ability to weave together a theoretical and conceptual discourse on symbolic and imaginary aspects within culture, spanning anthropological, legal, and educational dimensions. The analysis underscores that these issues are pluralistic and deeply intertwined with struggles over land and natural resources, enriching interdisciplinary understanding of the complex dialectical relationships between social, anthropological, economic, and political factors, alongside the aesthetics of cultural practices.Item Electroencephalography-Based Brain-Computer Interfaces in Rehabilitation: A Bibliometric Analysis (2013–2023)(MDPI, 2024) Angulo Medina, Ana Sophia; Aguilar Bonilla, Maria Isabel; Rodríguez Giraldo, Ingrid Daniela; Montenegro Palacios, John Fernando; Cáceres Gutiérrez, Danilo Andrés; Liscano, YamilEEG-based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) have gained significant attention in rehabilitation due to their non-invasive, accessible ability to capture brain activity and restore neurological functions in patients with conditions such as stroke and spinal cord injuries. This study offers a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global EEG-based BCI research in rehabilitation from 2013 to 2023. It focuses on primary research and review articles addressing technological innovations, effectiveness, and system advancements in clinical rehabilitation. Data were sourced from databases like Web of Science, and bibliometric tools (bibliometrix R) were used to analyze publication trends, geographic distribution, keyword co-occurrences, and collaboration networks. The results reveal a rapid increase in EEG-BCI research, peaking in 2022, with a primary focus on motor and sensory rehabilitation. EEG remains the most commonly used method, with significant contributions from Asia, Europe, and North America. Additionally, there is growing interest in applying BCIs to mental health, as well as integrating artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning, to enhance system accuracy and adaptability. However, challenges remain, such as system inefficiencies and slow learning curves. These could be addressed by incorporating multi-modal approaches and advanced neuroimaging technologies. Further research is needed to validate the applicability of EEG-BCI advancements in both cognitive and motor rehabilitation, especially considering the high global prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases. To advance the field, expanding global participation, particularly in underrepresented regions like Latin America, is essential. Improving system efficiency through multi-modal approaches and AI integration is also critical. Ethical considerations, including data privacy, transparency, and equitable access to BCI technologies, must be prioritized to ensure the inclusive development and use of these technologies across diverse socioeconomic groups.Item Use of Serious Games in Interventions of Executive Functions in Neurodiverse Children: Systematic Review(JMIR Publications Inc., 2024) Rodríguez Timaná, Luis Carlos; Castillo García, Javier Ferney; Bastos Filho, Teodiano; Ocampo González, Alvaro Alexander; Hincapié Monsalve, Nazly Rocio; Valencia Jimenez, Nicolas JacoboBackground: Serious games (SG) have emerged as promising tools for cognitive training and therapeutic interventions, especially for enhancing executive functions. These games have demonstrated the potential to support individuals with diverse health conditions, including neurodevelopmental and cognitive disorders, through engaging and interactive experiences. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of SG in enhancing executive functions is needed. Objective: This systematic review aims to assess the impact of serious games on executive functions (EF), focusing on attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. In addition, it explores the integration of SG into educational and therapeutic settings for individuals with cognitive and neurodevelopmental conditions. Only open access articles published from 2019 to the search date were included to capture the most recent advancements in the field. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted on June 20, 2024, across Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. Due to limited direct results linking SG and neurodiversity, separate searches were performed to analyze the relationship between SG and EF, as well as SG and neurodiverse populations. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality and risk of bias of the included studies using the Risk of Bias 2 tool for randomized studies and the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions tool for nonrandomized studies. Results: The review identified 16 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 15 addressed the use of SG for improving EF in neurodiverse populations, such as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and down syndrome. These studies demonstrated significant improvements in various EF domains, including attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. However, there was notable heterogeneity in sample sizes, participant ages, and game types. Three studies specifically focused on individuals with down syndrome, showing promising results in improving cognitive functions. Conclusions: SG hold considerable potential as therapeutic tools for enhancing EF across neurodiverse populations. They have shown positive effects in improving cognitive skills and promoting inclusion in both educational and therapeutic settings. However, further research is required to optimize game design, assess long-term outcomes, and address the variability in study quality. The exclusive inclusion of open access studies may have limited the scope of the review, and future research should incorporate a broader range of studies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of SG’s impact on neurodiversity.Item An Arduino-based interactive tool for pain education: a pilot study(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2024) Argüello Prada, Erick Javier; Gómez, Angie Natalia BarónAs occurs with many other topics of pain curricula, lectures on pain neurophysiology are predominantly theoretical, and the practical experiences required to deliver that content to learners can be problematic regarding sustainability, logistics, and funding. Therefore, this study presents the development and testing of a microcontroller-based interactive tool to assist university-level pain neurophysiology teaching and facilitate a hands-on approach to exploring the functional connectivity of pain pathways. The proposed system consists of a sensing module that conveys electrical signals elicited by thermal and mechanical stimuli to an Arduino Nano board. The latter acts as a processing module and contains a codified version of a Neuroid-based network model of the pain circuitry. Our prototype was tested during a lecture on pain neurophysiology attended by forty-seven undergraduate health sciences students, who were instructed to observe the neural responses to sensory stimulation while altering the pain circuitry’s excitatory-inhibitory balance. We collected participants’ opinions via a 3-point Likert-type scale with seventeen questions regarding the tool’s composition, appropriateness, and theoretical foundation. Besides allowing students to explore the functional connectivity of pain pathways without the limitations posed by in-vivo or in-vitro models, the proposed tool achieved overall positive feedback among the surveyed.Item Clinical, Radiographic, and Histological Changes in Enamel and Dentin, According to Caries Care International Evaluation, in Permanent Posterior Teeth: An Observational Study(Universidad de la Frontera, 2024) Gaviria Delgado, Ángela Sofia; Pulido Patrón, Gisela Margarita; Sinisterra, Gustavo; Arango De la cruz, Maria Cristina; Herrera Rubio, Adriana María; Campo, Juan Diego; Gutiérrez, Bruno; Martínez Cajas, Carlos Humberto; Valencia Llano, Carlos-HumbertoCariesCare International ™ practical guide is a tool for the comprehensive assessment and treatment of caries that synthesizes clinical and radiographic diagnosis and risk factors, classifying the severity, progression, and activity of lesions. The objective of this study was to analyze the validity and prediction characteristics of the proposed dental caries classification in the CariesCare International ™ practical guide as a reference through clinical and radiographic evaluation versus histological evaluation. Ninety-seven permanent posterior teeth were evaluated, and clinical and radiographic diagnoses were determined according to parameters defined in the CariesCare International ™ guide as a reference. Subsequently, histological evaluation was performed to compare each stage of dental caries progression, and statistical analysis was applied. When comparing the validity and prediction values between radiographic and clinical diagnoses in relation to histological evaluation, a low sensitivity and high specificity relationship was found. The sensitivity and specificity percentages between the clinical and radiographic methods show that the clinical method has a lower number of false negatives. Histological changes in dental tissue were evident from the earliest stages of lesions, even in those not related to the caries process, indicating that the dentist should be careful when deciding on a treatment plan and take into account all variables involved in the caries process, as proposed by the CariesCare International ™ guide.Item Inverse heat transfer problem for the characterization of nanofluids produced with different types of palladium nanoparticles(Elsevier Ltd, 2024) Silva, Nilton P.; Varon, Leonardo A.B.; Cruz, Cláudia C.R.; Fonseca, Henrique M.; Costa, Jose M.J.; Cesar, Claudio L.; Santos, Dilson S. Dos; Orlande, Helcio R.B. aThe objective of this work is the measurement of physical properties of distilled water nanofluids containing palladium nanocubes, palladium cerium oxide nanoparticles, and their respective hydrides. Due to their biocompatibility and favorable photothermal effects, palladium nanoparticles can be used to promote localized absorption of external energy sources in the thermal treatment of cancer, aiming at a thermal damage constrained to the tumor region without significant effects to the healthy tissues. An inverse problem is solved here within the Bayesian framework of statistics with the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, by using nonintrusive transient measurements taken with an infrared camera during the heating of different water-based nanofluids. The mathematical model used in this work takes into account natural convection effects, due to the nonuniform heat source caused by the diode-laser that heats the nanofluids. Prior distributions for the model parameters were selected based on additional independent measurements, theoretical models and by the careful implementation of the experiments. The proposed model and the estimated parameters were validated, with an excellent agreement between the measured temperatures and those obtained from stochastic simulations during the solution of the inverse problem.Item Effects of Manganese Carbonate Addition on the Carbocatalytic Properties of Lignocellulosic Waste for Use in the Degradation of Acetaminophen(MDPI, 2024) Mosquera Olano, Camila; Quimbaya, Carolina; Rodríguez, Vanessa; Vanessa Lasso, Angie; Correa, Santiago; Castrillón E.D.C.; Rojas, John; Ávila-Torres, Yenny P.A carbon-based material was synthesized using potato peels (BPP) and banana pseudo-stems (BPS), both of which were modified with manganese to produce BPP-Mn and BPS-Mn, respectively. These materials were assessed for their ability to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in the presence of MnCO3 to degrade acetaminophen (ACE), an emerging water contaminant. The materials underwent characterization using spectroscopic, textural, and electrochemical techniques. Manganese served a dual function: enhancing adsorption properties and facilitating the breaking of peroxide bonds. Additionally, carbonate ions played a structural role in the materials, transforming into CO2 at high temperatures and thereby increasing material porosity, which improved adsorption capabilities. This presents a notable advantage for materials that have not undergone de-lignification. Among the materials tested, BPS exhibited the highest efficiency in the carbocatalytic degradation of ACE, achieving a synergy index of 1.31 within just 5 min, with 42% ACE degradation in BPS compared to BPS-Mn, which achieved 100% ACE removal through adsorption. Reactive oxygen species such as sulfate, hydroxyl, and superoxide anion radicals were identified as the primary contributors to pollutant degradation. In contrast, no degradation was observed for BPP and BPP-Mn, which is likely linked to the lower lignin content in their precursor material. This work addressed the challenge of revalorizing lignocellulosic waste by highlighting its potential as an oxidant for emerging pollutants. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the coexistence of various reactive oxygen species, confirming the capacity of carbon-based matrices to activate PMS.