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Surgical care for CHD is increasingly available in low- and middle-income countries, and efforts to optimise outcomes are growing. This study characterises cardiac imaging and prenatal diagnosis infrastructure in this setting. An infrastructure survey was administered to sites participating in the International Quality Improvement Collaborative for CHD. Questions regarding transthoracic, transesophageal and epicardial echocardiography, cardiac CT, cardiac magnetic resonance, prenatal screening and fetal echocardiography were included. Associations with in-hospital and 30-day mortality were assessed. Thirty-seven sites in 17 countries responded. Programme size and geography varied considerably: < 250 cases (n = 13), 250-500 cases (n = 9), > 500 cases (n = 15); Americas (n = 13), Asia (n = 18), and Eastern Europe (n = 6). All had access to transthoracic echo. Most reported transesophageal and epicardial echocardiography availability (86 and 89%, respectively). Most (81%) had cardiac CT, but only 54% had cardiac magnetic resonance. A third reported impediments to imaging, including lack of portable machines, age/size-appropriate equipment and advanced cardiac imaging access and training. Only 19% of centres reported universal prenatal CHD screening in their catchment area, and only 46% always performed fetal echocardiography if screening raised concern for CHD. No statistically significant associations were identified between imaging modality availability and surgical outcomes. Although access to echocardiography is available in most middle-income countries; advanced imaging modalities (cardiac CT and magnetic resonance) are not always accessible. Prenatal screening for CHD is low, and availability of fetal echocardiography is limited. Imaging infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries and associations with outcomes merits additional study.

In recent years, the increase in antibiotic resistance demands searching for new compounds with antimicrobial activity. Phytochemicals found in plants offer an alternative to this problem. The genus Pelargonium contains several species; some have commercial use in traditional medicine such as P. sinoides, and others such as P. peltatum are little studied but have promising potential for various applications such as phytopharmaceuticals. In this work, we characterized the freeze-dried extracts (FDEs) of five tissues (root, stem, leaf, and two types of flowers) and the ethyl acetate fractions from leaf (Lf-EtOAc) and flower (Fwr-EtOAc) of P. peltatum through the analysis by thin-layer chromatography (T.L.C.), gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), phytochemicals quantification, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity. After the first round of analysis, it was observed that the FDE-Leaf and FDE-Flower showed higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities compared to the other FDEs, for which FDE-Leaf and FDE-Flower were fractionated and analyzed in a second round. The antioxidant activity determined by ABTS showed that Lf-EtOAc and Fwr-EtOAc had the lowest IC50 values with 27.15 ± 1.04 and 28.11 ± 1.3 µg/mL, respectively. The content of total polyphenols was 264.57 ± 7.73 for Lf-EtOAc and 105.39 ± 4.04 mg G.A./g FDE for Fwr-EtOAc. Regarding the content of flavonoid, Lf-EtOAc and Fw-EtOAc had the highest concentration with 34.4 ± 1.06 and 29.45 ± 1.09 mg Q.E./g FDE. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration (M.I.C.) of antimicrobial activity was evaluated: Lf-EtOAc and Fwr-EtOAc were effective at 31.2 µg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus and 62.5 µg/mL for Salmonella enterica, while for the Enterococcus feacalis strain, Fwr-EtOAc presented 31.2 µg/mL of M.I.C. According to the GC-MS analysis, the main compounds were 1,2,3-Benzenetriol (Pyrogallol), with 77.38% of relative abundance in the Lf-EtOAc and 71.24% in the Fwr-EtOAc, followed by ethyl gallate (13.10%) in the Fwr-EtOAc and (Z)-9-Octadecenamide (13.63% and 6.75%) in both Lf-EtOAc and Fwr-EtOAc, respectively.

Natural products with antispasmodic activity have been used in traditional medicine to alleviate different illnesses since the remote past. We searched the literature and compiled the antispasmodic activity of 248 natural compounds isolated from terrestrial plants. In this review, we summarized all the natural products reported with antispasmodic activity until the end of 2017. We also provided chemical information about their extraction as well as the model used to test their activities. Results showed that members of the Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families had the highest number of isolated compounds with antispasmodic activity. Moreover, monoterpenoids, flavonoids, triterpenes, and alkaloids were the chemical groups with the highest number of antispasmodic compounds. Lastly, a structural comparison of natural versus synthetic compounds was discussed.

A challenge for the oil refinement industry is the production of high-octane gasoline with a low benzene content. This work reports the calculation of the atmospheric benzene emissions generated from gasoline storage, transfer, and transport operations in Mexico, estimating 1.48 KBPD of environmental release. The aim was to estimate the minimum benzene emissions through operative improvements in refineries, initially by performing simulations of the Naphtha Catalytic Reforming (NCR) process using ASPEN HYSYS® ver. 8.8 (34.0.08909) and then by optimizing the operative conditions to improve the reformate quality while reducing the benzene content. The operative ranges comprised hydrogen/hydrocarbon (H2/HC) feedstock molar ratios from 2.0 to 6.0 and reaction temperatures from 450 to 525 °C, which were used as independent variables to assess the benzene content and the Research Octane Number (RON) of the produced gasoline. The Surface Response Method (SRM) and multi-objective optimization analysis were applied. The improved operative conditions were 491 °C and a H2/HC ratio of 2.0, which allowed us to obtain a RON value of 89.87, an aromatics value of 37.39% (v/v), and a benzene value of 1.48% (v/v), with an estimated 16.44% drop in atmospheric benzene emissions, meaning a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, thus favorably impacting public health by improving refinery operations. The simulation outcomes were compared with industrial-scale data and the experimental results, with significant similitudes being observed.

Since pre-Hispanic times, chan seeds (Hyptis suaveolens L.) have been used as food and in traditional medicine. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic effect of their storage proteins on cancer cells. Thus, these were investigated in this study. The total protein content of the seeds was 19.5% (dry base), and its protein fractions were confirmed via Tris-Tricine-SDS-PAGE electrophoresis as 43.1% glutelins, 30.9% albumins, 23% globulins, and 2.9% prolamins. The antioxidant capacity determined by ABTS showed the highest percentage of inhibition for the prolamins fraction of 23.6% (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50]: 1.38 µg protein/mL) and the lowest percentage for the glutelins fraction of 6.3% (IC50: 4.51 µg protein/mL). The cytotoxic activity against the murine lymphoma L5178Y, human cervical (Hela), and colorectal (Caco-2) cell lines revealed that prolamin exerted superior inhibition on the Hela and Caco-2 cancer cells, with IC50 values of 0.49 and 0.44 mg protein/mL, respectively. This study underscores the potential of chan seed proteins as natural antioxidants and anticancer agents.

Introduction:Overcrowding in the Emergency Room (ER) is a worldwide phenomenon affecting healthcare professionals' ability to apply life-saving interventions to critically wounded and sick patients. Implementing a routine triage system allows the early recognition and treatment of critical conditions such as polytrauma, difficulty in breathing, shock, and altered mental status. Furthermore, a triage system allows the prioritization of patients and the delivery of timely care. We describe the improvements in patient care for the critically ill through the implementation of a triage system in Hospital Escuela (HE), a 1306-bed, academic, tertiary care hospital in HondurasMethod:Demographic data was recovered through paper triage forms from January 2020 until December 2021. From January 2022 to June 2022, the data was primarily recovered from digital triage forms. The data was consolidated, analyzed, and interpreted using Microsoft Excel.Results:During the thirty-month period, there were 161,848 triage consults, with 2.7% being critically wounded and sick patients, classified “red” according to the triage system. Most cases were triaged as yellow (53%), followed by green (23.6%), and then orange (15.8%). Some triage forms (5%) did not assign classifications. One-third (33.4%) of consults were diverted from the ER to the Triage and Urgent Care Room (SATU for the acronym in Spanish). Trauma-related cases accounted for 26.2% of the consults with 3.6% of the overall being weapon wounded.Conclusion:Implementing a triage system in HE enhanced the recognition and treatment of critically wounded and sick patients. This system has improved patient flow and the use of clinical space in the ER by diverting low-acuity patients to the SATU. Multi-disciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals has also improved and the need to create a centralized Resuscitation Room was recognized.

Resilience has been reported to be a protective psychological variable of mental health; however, little is known about its role in COVID-19 survivors. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the levels of depression, anxiety, stress, traumatic impact, and resilience associated with COVID-19, as well as to investigate the role of resilience as a moderating variable. A sample of 253 participants responded to an online survey; all were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 by a nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR test, were older than 18 years, and signed an informed consent form. Significant negative correlations were found between resilience and the mental health variables. Higher resilience was significantly related to a lower impact of the event, stress, anxiety, and depression when the number of symptoms was low. Only when the duration of COVID-19 was short and resilience levels were medium or high was psychological distress reduced. Moreover, resilience moderated the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, even if a relapse occurred. The results emphasize the need for interdisciplinary interventions aimed at providing COVID-19 patients with psychological and social resources to cope with the disease, as well as with probable relapses.

Biodiesel is a mixture of saturated and unsaturated Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) whose composition affects the corrosion behavior of metal containers during storage. This study examines the effect of the C=C bond present in selected FAMEs (Methyl Stearate, Methyl Oleate, and Methyl Linoleate) in aluminum corrosion in the absence of oxygen. First, mass loss assays were carried out at 100, 200, and 280 °C for 1000 h using pure Methyl Stearate (MS), 5% Methyl Oleate in Methyl Stearate (MS-5% MO), and 5% Methyl Linoleate in Methyl Stearate (MS-5% ML). Next, chemical changes in FAMEs were studied using FTIR, TGA, and GC/MS. SEM/EDS analysis allowed us to inspect the aluminum surfaces and their chemical characterization. We estimated higher corrosion rates for MS assays than those of unsaturated methyl ester mixtures. In a separate set of experiments, we used electrochemical techniques (potentiodynamic polarization, linear polarization resistance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) to investigate aluminum corrosion induced by thermal-degraded products from FAMEs at 100, 200, and 280 °C for 300 h able to dissolve in aqueous extracts. These electrochemical experiments revealed that the products in the aqueous extracts from the unsaturated methyl ester mixture form a passive layer on the Al surface thicker than pure MS at the corresponding degradation temperatures.

The C=C double bond is a typical feature in biodiesel components associated with their physicochemical behaviors, including metal degradation. In this work, copper was exposed to the gas-phase atmospheres of Methyl Hexanoate (MH) at 145 °C and 25% Methyl Trans-3-Hexenoate in Methyl Hexanoate (MT3H in MH) at 158 °C during 1000 h, representing saturated and unsaturated thermal degradation environments of biodiesel surrogates. FTIR, 1H NMR, and GC-MS were used to characterize the chemical changes in the gas-phase atmospheres, whereas SEM allowed us to inspect the copper surfaces. Weight loss assays enabled the estimation of corrosion rates for copper exposed to HM and MT3H in MH atmospheres of 3.81 ± 1.27 and 5.08 ± 1.27 μm/year, respectively. Electrochemical measurements (linear polarization resistance (LPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) were used to evaluate the corrosion behavior of copper using aqueous extracts of condensed compounds from gas-phase degraded environments. Our electrochemical results indicate that similar corrosion processes occur in both extracts, remaining nearly unchanged with increasing exposure time. A porous layer of corrosion products on copper revealed that it is more active in the products generated with the MT3H in MH extract, suggesting the significant impact of the C=C bond on copper deterioration.

As in any satellite, onboard antennas for CubeSats are crucial to establish communication with ground stations or other satellites. According to its application, antennas must comply with standardized requirements related to size, bandwidth, operating frequency, polarization, and gain. This paper presents an ultrawideband circularly polarized two-layer crossed-dipole microstrip antenna for S-band CubeSat applications using genetic algorithms optimization tools included in the 3D electromagnetic simulation software Ansys HFSS. The antenna is constructed on a 10 × 10 cm Cuclad-250 substrate with a back copper flat plane, located at λ/4 at 2.25 GHz operating frequency. The backplane with the exact substrate dimensions improves gain and reduces inside satellite radiation. Measured bandwidth defined by S11 at a −10 dB was higher than 1835 MHz with S11 = −24.68 dB at the central frequency of 2.25 GHz, while measured VSWR at the same frequency was 1.124. At 2.25 GHz, the maximum measured gain and the minimum measured axial ratio in the broadside direction were found to be 6 dBi and 0.22 dB, respectively. There are antenna simulations and measurements, as long as its fabrication guarantees application requirements that make it ready for prespace testing.