Abstract: Particle-related pollution (PM10, PM2.5 and soot) was measured in both indoor and outdoor microenvironments at four public elementary schools in Bogota, Colombia. Three of these schools were located alongside major urban roads in which different types of public transit systems are used (bus rapid transit system and conventional transit buses). The fourth school was located on a non-congested road (background school). Pollutant levels at schools situated on major-roads were higher than those found at the low-congestion-road school. Outdoor black carbon daily mean concentrations at the schools located near major roads were up to six times higher than those recorded at the background school. Mean particulate matter concentrations at schools near major roads were above international standards, suggesting that school-age children in Bogota are exposed to pollution levels that are considered to be harmful by environmental and public health authorities. Elevated indoor and outdoor pollutant concentrations documented in this study suggested that traffic has a direct impact on air quality regarding the schools’ characterised microenvironments. Resumen: Se caracterizaron los niveles de material particulado respirable (PM10), material particulado fino (PM2.5) y carbono elemental (BC) en microambientes intramurales y exteriores de cuatro colegios distritales en Bogotá. Tres de estos colegios estaban ubicados en inmediaciones de vías principales consideradas de alto tráfico vehicular, por las que circula distintos tipos de transporte público (colectivo convencional y transporte público masivo). El colegio restante (utilizado como sitio control) se encontraba ubicado sobre una vía secundaria, no congestionada. En general, los niveles de contaminación encontrados en los microambientes de los colegios ubicados en vías con alto tráfico vehicular, fueron significativamente mayores que aquellos reportados en el colegio control. Por ejemplo, las concentraciones de BC documentadas en microambientes exteriores de los colegios ubicados sobre vías principales, fueron hasta seis veces mayores que aquellas encontradas en el colegio control. Las concentraciones promedio reportadas sugieren que los menores en edad escolar en Bogotá se encuentran expuestos a niveles de contaminación considerados como nocivos para la salud por las autoridades internacionales. Adicionalmente, la evidencia recolectada propone que en los colegios evaluados, el tráfico vehicular tiene un impacto importante en la calidad del aire al interior de los mismos.

Abstract: Graphene nanoribbon (GNR) devices are being extensively investigated as possible candidates for replacing silicon-channel devices in the next-generation integrated circuits and systems, due to their attractive physical properties for electronic applications. This requires to implement complete models to effectively predict the electronic transport behavior of the device, which should be modeled in circuit level simulators before reaching commercial production. Different methods for electronic transport simulations in nanoelectronic devices have been studied, comprising first-principle, empirical, semiempirical and analytical. They can be used according to the complexity of the device, and the number of atoms and inter-atomic interactions that need to be considered. This work summarizes the methods and models used to characterize and simulate nanoelectronic devices. Additionally, we review the properties of GNRs, defect issues and the most recent approaches and manufacturing techniques that could be used to design GNR-based logic circuits. Resumen: Los dispositivos basados en Nanocintas de Grafeno son objeto extensivo de investigación como posibles candidatos para reemplazar a los dispositivos con canal de silicio en la próxima generación de circuitos y sistemas, debido a sus atractivas propiedades físicas para aplicaciones electrónicas. Esto requiere implementar modelos completos que permitan predecir el transporte electrónico del dispositivo, que debería ser modelado en un simulador a nivel de circuito antes de alcanzar producción comercial. Distintos métodos para simulaciones de transporte electrónico en dispositivos nanoelectrónicos han sido estudiados, comprendiendo primeros-principios, empíricos, semiempíricos y analíticos. Estos pueden ser usados según la complejidad del dispositivo y el número de átomos e interacciones inter-atómicas que necesiten ser consideradas. Este trabajo resume los métodos y modelos usados para caracterizar y simular dispositivos nanoelectrónicos. Adicionalmente, revisamos las propiedades de las Nanocintas de Grafeno, defectos y las técnicas de fabricación recientes que podrían ser usadas para diseñar circuitos lógicos basados en Nanocintas de Grafeno.

In this work, we measure the thermal and thermoelectric properties of large-area Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 nano-meshed films fabricated by DC sputtering of Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 on highly ordered porous alumina matrices. The Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 film replicated the porous alumina structure resulting in nano-meshed films. Very good control of the nanomesh geometrical features (pore diameter, pitch, neck) was achieved through the alumina template, with pore diameters ranging from 294±5nm down to 31±4 nm.

Abstract: This article reports a self-strangulation suicide in which a double complex group of ligatures was used. Although similar cases have been referenced in forensic literature, this case is notable because of the unusual method used by the victim. A 61-year-old man was found in a locked room with a double elaborate ligature comprising six wire clothes hangers completely encircling the neck and a black rubber band in a double loop. Autopsy also documented parallel superficial cut lesions in proximal forearm interpreted as hesitation marks. It stresses the importance of characteristics such as analysis of number of ligatures, position of the knots, number of knots and turns of ligature marks and the absence of any defense and relevant internal injuries inherent to suicide ligature strangulation cases. Resumen: Este artículo reporta un suicidio de auto-estrangulación en el que se utilizó un grupo doble de ligaduras. Aunque casos similares se han referenciado en la literatura forense, este caso es notable debido al método inusual utilizado por la víctima. Un hombre de 61 años de edad fue encontrado en una habitación cerrada con un muy elaborado conjunto de doble ligadura que constaba de seis perchas de ropa de alambre que rodean completamente el cuello y una banda de goma negra de doble lazada. La autopsia también documentó lesiones paralelas de corte superficial en el antebrazo proximal interpretadas como heridas de vacilación. El artículo destaca la importancia de características tales como el análisis del número de ligaduras, la posición de los nudos, el número de nudos y giros de las ligaduras, la ausencia de signos de defensa y las lesiones internas relevantes en los casos de suicidio por estrangulación con ligadura.

The potential effects of the US Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) on Caribbean food exports to the United States are discussed. We use trade data in order to elucidate trends and a theoretical Value Chain Analysis framework. Our results indicate that the US will continue to be an important market for Caribbean exporters and that FSMA will impose food-safety requirements such as traceability and third-party certification. However, this tightening of food safety standards may open a window of opportunity for Caribbean sustainable development since it encourages firms to place emphasis on quality as opposed to price-based competition.

Miel I is a 188 m high RCC dam that was instrumented with more than 600 devices. The main idea of this instrumentation net was to monitoring dam conditions during construction and operation. Moreover, one of the main instrumentation goals was to control all the devices from the main computer installed in operational control room. Unfortunately, the contractor in charge of this labor was unable to finish the work and not all the devices can be inquired from the main computer. Additionally, the net started to suffer a progressive collapsed, especially multiplexors and datallogers and some instruments such as strain gauges and thermocouples with apparently no reason. For the next couple of years, the dam maintenance group executed routines with the aim to conserve the current instrumentation. However, at one point, the maintenance and replace devices routines were unsustainable and the instrumentation net could be in jeopardy. For that reason, the maintenance group decided to investigated the reason or reasons of the devices failure; finding that the instrumentation net was installed ignoring provider electronical recommendations, lightning protection and electrical isolation. In addition, the maintenance routines were conceived from the geotechnical point of view ignoring the electronical implication that a net like this one required. These problems are aggravated due to tropical conditions and light storms frequency. With this panorama, the Miel I maintenance group redesign the routines, manuals and maintenance periodicity using this new information, problems and findings.

In this work, an hybrid, self-configurable, multilayered and evolutionary subsumption architecture for cognitive agents is developed. Each layer of the multilayered architecture is modeled by one different Machine Learning System (MLS) based on bio-inspired techniques such as Extended Classifier Systems (XCS), Artificial Immune Systems (AIS), Neuro Connectionist Q-Learning (NQL) and Learning Classifier Systems (LCS) among others. In this research an evolutionary mechanism based on Gene Expression Programming (GEP) to self-configure the behaviour arbitration between layers is suggested. In addition, a co-evolutionary mechanism to evolve behaviours in an independent and parallel fashion is used. The proposed approach was tested in an animat environment using a multi-agent platform and it exhibited several learning capabilities and emergent properties for self-configuring internal agent’s architecture.

This paper combines fiscal income at the municipality (equivalent to US-county) level as a proxy for economic performance with yearly data on eradication effort variables during 6 years in Colombia to measure fiscal revenue losses due to the policy of eradication of illicit crops. Using fixed-effects as well as GMM estimators, this article provides evidence suggesting a decrease of nearly one minimum wage in tax collection per person every year, on average, in Colombian municipalities, due to the coca spraying policy.

Abstract: Leishmaniasis is endemic in south-west Europe. Recent data point to the spread and (re-)emergence of this disease in previously endemic and non-endemic European countries. A recent example is the urban community outbreak of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in the south-west of Madrid autonomous community, Spain, which began on 1 July 2009. A total of 446 cases associated to this outbreak were reported up to 31 December 2012. We show molecular typing data for 73 Leishmania infantum isolates obtained from January 2008 to July 2012 from different areas of Madrid, including those affected by the outbreak. Seven different genotypes were identified by combining data from two targets: the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS)-1 and -2 and the haspb (k26) gene. The results contribute to a better understanding of the parasite population circulating in the region, and indicate that most of the outbreak-associated isolates (22/31) were infected by parasites with the same combined genotype. Additional data from 82 L. infantum isolates typed as either MON-1 or MON-24 by isoenzyme analysis indicate that far from concluding that the outbreak was caused by a ‘new’ emerging genotype, further molecular typing-based surveillance studies are required to better understand the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in the region. Resumen: La leishmaniasis es endémica en el suroeste de Europa. Datos recientes apuntan a la difusión y la (re) emergencia de esta enfermedad tanto en países europeos anteriormente endémicos como no endémicos. Un ejemplo reciente es el brote urbano de leishmaniasis cutánea y visceral en el sur- oeste de Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, España, que comenzó el 1 de julio de 2009. Un total de 446 casos relacionados con este brote se registraron hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2012. Se muestran los datos de tipificación molecular de 73 aislados de Leishmania infantum obtenidos de enero de 2008 a julio de 2012 desde las diferentes áreas de Madrid, incluidas las afectadas por el brote. Siete diferentes genotipos fueron identificados mediante la combinación de los datos de dos marcadores moleculares: los espaciadores transcritos internos (ITS) -1 y -2 y el gen (k26) haspb . Nuestros resultados contribuyen a una mejor comprensión de la población de parásitos que circula en la región, e indican que la mayoría de los aislados asociados al brote (22/31) se debían a parásitos con el mismo genotipo combinado. Adicionalmente, caracterizamos 82 aislados de L. infantum tipados como MON -1 o MON- 24 mediante el análisis de isoenzimas, y los datos obtenidos a partir de este segundo conjunto de cepas indican que el brote no fue causado por un genotipo emergente o "nuevo", sin embargo se requieren de estudios de vigilancia en tipificación para entender mejor la epidemiología de la leishmaniasis en la región.

Abstract: Introduction: Moebius syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that is treated by several specialists, moreover the role of the otolaryngologist is not well established and there are no specific guidelines for its management and follow-up. Methods: We made a descriptional, observational and prospective study where patients of all ages with the diagnosis of Moebius syndrome were included between June 2012 and September 2014 in the Otolarygology Department of the General Hospital “Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez”. After a complete otolaryngology history was made, we performed on patients under 4 years otoacoustic emissions and/or auditory brainstem response tests, and a audiometry on patients over 5 years old; besides that a tympanometry and stapedial reflexes were performed. A polysomnography was ordered in case patients had suggestive clinical data of any sleep diorder breathing. Results: The association with other genetic síndromes was low (17.5%) being primarily with Pierre Robin síndrome. Common craneofacial anomalies were wide nasal dorsum and micrognathia (37.5%), as well as mandibular hipoplasia, hiperterlorism and cleft palate. Seventy percent of patients had normal hearing and 52.5% of the tympanometries were abnormal. Patients who had suggestive clinical features for sleep apnea, 92% had a positive result in the polysomnography. Conclusions: There are no specific otolaryngologic clinical manifestations, moreover those who had craniofacial malformations were more susceptible in having them. The evaluation of the otolaryngologist is crucial in order to rule out these features and promote the correct rehabilitation of the patient along with other medical specialties. Resumen: Introducción: El síndrome de Moebius es un trastorno congénito raro, visto por varias especialidades médicas, sin embargo el papel del otorrinolaringólogo no está bien establecido ni existen guías para su manejo y seguimiento. Objetivos: Determinar las manifestaciones otorrinolaringológicas en estos pacientes para establecer un protocolo diagnóstico y terapéutico con fines multidisciplinarios. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, observacional y prospectivo donde se incluyeron a pacientes de todas las edades con diagnóstico de síndrome de Moebius, atendidos entre junio de 2012 a septiembre de 2014 en el servicio de otorrinolaringología del Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González. Posterior a una historia otorrinolaringológica completa, se realizaron emisiones otoacústicas y/o potenciales evocados auditivos de tallo cerebral en menores de 3 años y audiometría en mayores de 4 años, además de timpanometría y reflejos estapediales. Se solicitó una polisomnografía en pacientes con datos clínicos sugestivos de trastornos respiratorios del dormir. Resultados: La asociación con otros síndromes genéticos fue baja (17.5%) siendo principalmente con Pierre Robin (7.5%). Las anormalidades craneofaciales comunes fueron dorso nasal ancho y micrognatia (37.5%), así como hipoplasia maxilar, hipertelorismo y paladar hendido. El 68% presentó normoacusia y el 45% presentaron timpanometrías anormales. De los pacientes con datos sugestivos para apnea del sueño 92% presentaron un resultado positivo por polisomnografía. Conclusiones: No existe un patrón de manifestaciones otorrinolaringológicas específicas, sin embargo aquéllos con malformaciones craneofaciales son más susceptibles a presentarlos. La valoración del otorrinolaringólogo resulta imprescindible para descartarlos y promover la rehabilitación del paciente junto con otras especialidades médicas.