Due to its great industrial and economic development, and its privileged geographical position, Barranquilla has always been one of the most important cities of Colombia. For this reason, ...Barranquilla is one of the most populated urban conglomerates in the country, having the obligation to ensure the coverage of public services to about 2 million people.
Since 1992, the company Triple A S.A. E.S.P. has been responsible to manage, design and operate the Water Distribution System (WDS) that supplies treated water to the city, which must also supply water to 6 other municipalities in the region. To accomplish this task, the WDS has specialized facilities in each of the main stages of the process: collection, purification and distribution. Refering to collection, the system is able to take directly 7.5 m3/s from the Magdalena River, the principal waterway of Colombia. To achieve this, the system has a dock, a headrace channel and two pumping stations of low pressure. The water is conducted through cast iron and reinforced concrete pipes, from the pumping stations to treatment plants.
To perform the potabilization process, the system has 5 Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) to ensure redundancy and security in the network. The plants have capacities ranging from 0.5 m3/s to 3 m3/s and its operations are based in the conventional treatment train of mixing-flocculation-coagulation-sedimentation-filtration-disinfection. Plant No. 5 can be highlighted, which has the largest capacity and consists of four modules. Regarding with the distribution, after the water potabilization process takes place in the main WTP, the treated water is pumped by the action of four high pressure pumping stations (6.5 m3/s including all the municipalities covered by the network) and is transported from the WTPs to other pumping stations located at strategic points in the city where the water is distributed to points of demand and also pumped again to another pump station located at a higher ground level to attend the new urbanizations in zones with higher elevations. This not allow a correct functioning of the distribution system by gravity.
Additionally, Triple A has a laboratory of water quality control, accredited by ONAC (The National Agency for Accreditation of Colombia) and IDEAM (Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies of Colombia) and authorized by the National Institute of Health in which all the characterizations required in the current Colombian legislation are performed. With the historical record of this monitoring, technical staff of Triple A is able to understand the dynamics of the river and variations in the water quality in order to identify changes that require the implementation of corrective actions.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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In current work, we prepared a series of nine 4-benzyloxy-5-benzylidene-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-diones using a two-step pathway. Compounds 1–9 were tested in vitro using a set of three ...proteins recognized as important targets in diabetes and related diseases: PPARα, PPARγ, and GLUT-4. Compounds 1–3, 5, and 7 showed significant increases in the mRNA expression of PPARγ and GLUT-4, whereas compounds 1–3 did it over PPARα. Compounds 1–3 were identified as a dual PPAR α/γ modulators and were selected for evaluating the in vivo antidiabetic action at 100 mg/kg dose, being orally actives and decreasing blood glucose concentration in a hyperglycemic mice model, as well as reducing the triacylglycerides levels in normolipidemic rats. Docking and molecular dynamics studies were conducted to clarify the dual effect and binding mode of compounds 1–3 on both PPARs. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited robust in vitro and in vivo efficacy and could be considered dual PPAR modulators with antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic effects.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Entropy-based tools are commonly used to describe the dynamics of complex systems. In the last few decades, non-extensive statistics, based on Tsallis entropy, and multifractal techniques have shown ...to be useful to characterize long-range interaction and scaling behavior. In this paper, an approach based on generalized Tsallis dimensions is used for the formulation of mutual-information-related dependence coefficients in the multifractal domain. Different versions according to the normalizing factor, as well as to the inclusion of the non-extensivity correction term are considered and discussed. An application to the assessment of dimensional interaction in the structural dynamics of a seismic real series is carried out to illustrate the usefulness and comparative performance of the measures introduced.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective
To compare the long-term effectiveness, complications, and outcomes of primary obstructive megaureter (POM) treated by endoscopic balloon dilation under fluoroscopic guidance versus not ...using radioscopy during the procedure.
Patients and methods
A comparative study between POM cases treated at our institution by endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) under fluoroscopic guidance (FG) (
n
= 43) vs no fluoroscopic guidance (NFG) (
n
= 48) between the years 2004 and 2018 was conducted. The procedure in FG consisted of performing a retrograde pyelography before dilation. Then, a guidewire is introduced to the renal pelvis, and the dilation of the vesicoureteral junction is performed using high-pressure balloon catheters under fluoroscopic vision. Finally, a double-J stent is placed between the renal pelvis and bladder. The procedure in NFG was performed exclusively under cystoscopic vision without radiological exposure. Complications, outcomes, and success rates were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation test. Mean follow-up was 12.5 ± 2.2 years in FG and 6.4 ± 1.3 years in NFG.
Results
MAG-3 showed significant differences in renal drainage before and after endoscopic treatment in both groups (
p
< 0.001
T
-test). Statistical analysis did not reveal differences between groups in initial technical failure (
r
: − 0.035,
p
= 0.74), early postoperative complications (
r
: − 0.029,
p
= 0.79), secondary VUR (
r
: 0.033,
p
= 0.76), re-stenosis (
r
: 0.022,
p
= 0.84), long-term ureteral reimplantation (
r
: 0.065,
p
=
0.55
), and final outcome (
r
: − 0.054,
p
= 0.61). The endoscopic approach of POM had a long-term success rate of 86.5% in FG VS 89.6% in NFG.
Conclusions
Endoscopic balloon dilation of POM can be done with no radiation exposure with similar results, effectiveness, and outcomes.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Here we describe the elaboration and investigation of composites prepared from the spin-crossover (SCO) complex Fe(pyrazine){Au(CN)2}2 and poly(vinylidene fluoride) matrix, with different contents of ...the active phase (10–35 wt%). Optical measurements demonstrated that all composites preserve temperature induced hysteretic spin transitions. Tensile mechanical analysis showed a non-linear change of the Young's modulus upon increase of the complex content. Thermomechanical analysis upon a constant strain demonstrated pronouncable alterations of the applied stress in the SCO region. Composites with smaller loads require less stress to attain a given strain in the high-spin state, however for those with high loads the behaviour is more sophisticated. The modelling of stress vs. temperature behaviour revealed that this may be interpreted through a miscellaneous interplay of expansion of both the polymer and the complex, the contribution of both components to the elastic properties of composites, and the effects of SCO on these properties.
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•Insertion of a spin-crossover complex into PVDF leads to switchable composites.•Reinforcement of the films with low loads of the complex is observed.•Thermomechanical behaviour of composites reveals mechanical effects of SCO.•Basic tensile properties of SCO composites are emerged.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background
Local anaesthetics are being combined clinically with amikacin in intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP), with limited knowledge on the analgesia provided and its onset and duration ...of action after tourniquet application and release.
Objective
To evaluate the systemic clinical effect, limb withdrawal to nociceptive stimulation, and plasma and synovial fluid concentrations after IVRLP with lidocaine or mepivacaine in standing sedated horses.
Study design
Prospective, controlled, randomised, cross‐over study.
Methods
Six healthy adult horses were sedated and received IVRLP with lidocaine, mepivacaine or saline (negative control), or perineural anaesthesia of the medial and lateral palmar and palmar metacarpal nerves (positive control) in one forelimb with a 3‐week washout period between trials. Electrical and mechanical stimuli were used to test nociceptive threshold of the limb before and after IVRLP/perineural anaesthesia. For lidocaine and mepivacaine trials, blood was collected from the jugular vein and synovial fluid from the radiocarpal joint before, during and out to 24 hours after IVRLP. Drug concentrations were measured using high‐performance liquid chromatography.
Results
Nociceptive thresholds for lidocaine, mepivacaine and perineural anaesthesia trials were significantly increased compared with saline and baseline values at 10, 20 and 30 minutes, with no differences between anaesthetic trials. During this time, horses had lower heart rates than IVRLP with saline. After tourniquet release at 30 minutes, nociceptive thresholds for lidocaine and mepivacaine trials gradually returned to baselines, whereas perineural anaesthesia trial remained unchanged out to an hour. Plasma lidocaine and mepivacaine concentrations were ≤50 ng/mL while the tourniquet was in place, significantly increasing 10 minutes after tourniquet release. Maximal lidocaine and mepivacaine concentrations in synovial fluid were reached 25 minutes after IVRLP injection.
Main limitations
Amikacin was not included in the perfusate.
Conclusion
Similar to perineural anaesthesia, IVRLP with lidocaine or mepivacaine provides anti‐nociception to the distal limb in standing sedated horses while a tourniquet is applied with concentrations remaining below toxic levels in plasma and synovial fluid.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for nuclear phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pepck) and polymerase delta (pold), respectively, have ...been used to differentiate Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, and hybrid Fasciola flukes. However, discrimination errors have been reported in both methods. This study aimed to develop a multiplex PCR based on a novel nuclear marker, the fatty acid binding protein type I (FABP) type I gene. Nucleotide sequence variations of FABP type I were analyzed using DNA samples of F. hepatica, F. gigantica, and hybrid Fasciola flukes obtained from 11 countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. A common forward primer for F. hepatica and F. gigantica and two specific reverse primers for F. hepatica and F. gigantica were designed for multiplex PCR. Specific fragments of F. hepatica (290 bp) and F. gigantica (190 bp) were successfully amplified using multiplex PCR. However, the hybrid flukes contained fragments of both species. The multiplex PCR for FABP type I could precisely discriminate the 1312 Fasciola samples used in this study. Notably, no discrimination errors were observed with this novel method. Multiplex PCR for FABP type I can be used as a species discrimination marker in place of pepck and pold. The robustness of the species-specific primer should be continuously examined using a larger number of Fasciola flukes worldwide in the future since nucleotide substitutions in the primer regions may cause amplification errors.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
OBJECTIVE: To report long‐term outcome in a mare that had extensive rostral mandibulectomy to remove an ameloblastoma. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical report. ANIMALS: A 21‐year‐old mare. METHODS: An ...ameloblastoma, located in the rostral aspect of the mandible, was removed by complete en‐bloc resection of the tumor, removing most of the mandibular symphysis. RESULTS: The day after surgery, the remaining mandibular symphysis (<5 mm) fractured causing marked instability of the hemi‐mandibles. Partial wound dehiscence occurred 5 days after surgery; however, the mare was able to eat well and the incision healed within 2 weeks. At 18 months, there was bony fusion of the hemi‐mandibles and mild protrusion of the tongue. CONCLUSION: Extensive rostral mandibulectomy (up to the caudal edge of the mandibular symphysis) can apparently be performed in a horse without internal or external stabilization, and yield a cosmetic and functional outcome.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Bilayer spin crossover (SCO)@polymer nanocomposites show robust and controllable actuation cycles upon an electrical stimulus. The anisotropic shape of the embedded particles as well as the ...mechanical coupling between the SCO particles and the matrix can substantially intensify the work output of the actuators.
Bilayer spin-crossover nanocomposites show robust and controllable actuation cycles upon an electrical stimulus. The anisotropic shape of the particle and the mechanical coupling with the matrix can intensify the work output of the actuators.
Surgical management of children with Prune-belly syndrome (PBS) can be divided into three categories: urinary tract reconstruction, abdominal wall reconstruction, and orchidopexy. Adequate repair of ...the abdominal wall by abdominoplasty at an early age, allows an adequate aesthetic appearance, but also allows a correct development of walking, breathing, defecation and urination.
To present a novel surgical technique for abdominal wall reconstruction, which combines plication with complete overlap of the fascia and neoumbilicoplasty with an island flap rotated on itself.
A retrospective review of the patients with PBS who underwent surgery in our center between 2009 and 2020.
A new abdominoplasty technique was performed, which consists of plication with complete overlap of the fascia, as well as a neoumbilicoplasty with an island flap rotated on itself.
The skin is then well freed from the rest of planes, and the plication is performed with complete overlapping of the muscle–aponeurotic plane from one side to the other. At this time, the interposition of some type of reinforcement material (mesh) may be required in the event of complete absence or insufficient presence of the fascia and muscle.
Abdominoplasty was performed in four patients. In all patients, bilateral orchidopexy was performed in the same surgical procedure for intra-abdominal testicles.
The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 10,5 years and the average admission time was 4 days.
There were no short-term or long-term complications. Average follow-up time was 7 years.
All patients and their families are satisfied with the aesthetic result obtained.
Abdominoplasty in patients with PBS in addition to aesthetic reconstruction, brings significant improvements to wandering, breathing, urination and defecation, improving the quality of life of the patient.
Compared to the techniques described, the abdominoplasty we propose makes it possible to easily improve the abdominal wall support by means of meshes or synthetic devices if necessary and allows the evaluation and correction of cryptorchidism or other associated renal abnormalities in the same surgical act, as it allows full abdominal exposure.
Likewise our modified abdominoplasty allows the creation of the new umbilicus in a more anatomical way, rectifying its natural position.
In our experience, this modified surgical technique for abdominal wall repair is a novel procedure in the PBS approach, easily reproducible, which provides good aesthetic results in our series of cases. Display omitted
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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