Abstract In this contribution, a nonlinear programming genetic hybrid algorithm for the optimal design of pressurized irrigation networks operating in shifts is presented, and an indicator is implemented to evaluate the flexibility of the resulting designs of the hybrid algorithm. The main objective is the minimization of the economic cost of the pipe network and the evaluation of the flexibility of the system designs. The research considers the allocation of shifts to the irrigation outlets (hydrants) and the sizing of the pipes as decision variables to reduce implementation costs. With the results of the optimization, the flexibility of the hydraulic network is analyzed based on the random reassignment of shifts to the hydrants, which simulates the modifications that may occur during network operation. To validate the algorithm, once calibrated, it was applied to the design of four real irrigation sectors of Ecuador and Spain. The results indicate that the designs obtained improve in cost and flexibility with respect to those found with the traditional algorithm of the Economic Series, and that the assignment of the shifts is of utmost importance to minimize investment costs in pipes. At the same time, it constitutes a determining factor in the flexibility of the system

Resumen En esta contribución se presenta un algoritmo híbrido genético-programación no lineal para el diseño óptimo de redes presurizadas de riego operando a turnos, y se implementa un indicador para evaluar la flexibilidad de los diseños resultantes del algoritmo híbrido. El objetivo principal es la minimización del costo económico de la red de tuberías y la evaluación de la flexibilidad de los diseños del sistema. La investigación considera como variables de decisión la asignación de turnos a las tomas de riego (hidrantes) y el dimensionado de las conducciones para reducir los costos de implementación. Con los resultados de la optimización se analiza la flexibilidad de la red hidráulica con base en la reasignación aleatoria de turno a los hidrantes, que simula las modificaciones susceptibles de ocurrir durante la explotación de la red. Para validar el algoritmo, una vez calibrado, éste fue aplicado al diseño de cuatro sectores de riego reales de Ecuador y España. Los resultados indican que los diseños obtenidos mejoran en costo y flexibilidad respecto a los encontrados con el algoritmo tradicional de la serie económica, y que la asignación de los turnos es de suma importancia para minimizar los costos de inversión en tuberías, lo que a la vez constituye un factor determinante en la flexibilidad del sistema.

Desde su aparición en los años 90, los patrones de software han sido fuente de información para tratar de solucionar problemas recurrentes relacionados con la creación e interacción de programas informáticos. Actualmente existe una gran variedad de estos patrones incluyendo los patrones de interacción, los cuales están enfocados en solucionar problemas relacionados con la comunicación directa entre un usuario y diferentes tipos de sistemas software, como por ejemplo, los videojuegos. Aunque los patrones de interacción también han sido utilizados en el contexto software de entretenimiento intentando mejorar la comunicación entre los diseñadores y jugadores, no resulta sencillo identificar cuáles de los patrones existentes podrían ser considerados para adaptarse al contexto de los videojuegos soportados en smartphones. En ese sentido, en el presente artículo se proponen y evalúan un conjunto de patrones de interacción enfocados en la facilidad de uso, adaptados al diseño de videojuegos soportados en smartphones.

Since the moment they appeared in the 90s, software patterns have been a source of information when trying to solve recurring problems related to the creation and interaction of software. Nowadays, there is a variety of these patterns including interaction patterns, which are focused on solving problems related to direct communication between a user and different kind of software systems, such as videogames. Although interaction patterns have also been used in the context of entertainment software trying to improve communication between designers and players, it is not easy to identify which existing patterns could be considered to be adapted to the context of videogames supported in smartphones. In that sense, this article proposes and evaluates a set of interaction patterns focused on ease of use, adapted to the design of videogames supported in smartphones.

Desde sua aparição nos anos 90, os padrões de software têm sido fonte de informação para tentar solucionar problemas recorrentes relacionados com a criação e interação de programas informáticos. Atualmente existe uma grande variedade destes padrões incluindo os padrões de interação, os quais estão focados em resolver problemas relacionados com a comunicação direta entre um usuário e diferentes tipos de sistemas software, como é o caso, por exemplo, os videojogos. Embora os padrões de interação também têm sido usados no contexto software de entretenimento tentando melhorar a comunicação entre os desenhadores e os jogadores, não é simples identificar quais dos padrões existentes poderiam ser considerados para adaptar-se à contextos dos videojogos suportados em smartphones. Nesse sentido, no presente artigo propõe-se e avaliam um conjunto de padrões de interação adaptados ao desenho de videojogos suportados em smartphones.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to performed a detailed study of the actual behavior of different valves (air intake and exhaust). The first part of the work describes the different experimental techniques used to characterize the valves. The second part uses an air valve bench test developed by Bermad CS at its Evron factory, Israel, to perform statistical studies with different commercial valves. Lastly, a comparative analysis is described of the behavior of the different models analyzed, including an analysis of the best coefficients for the mathematical characterization of these devices.

Resumen: El objetivo del trabajo es estudiar en detalle el comportamiento real de diferentes ventosas (válvulas de admisión y expulsión de aire). La primera parte del trabajo describe las diferentes técnicas experimentales de caracterización de ventosas. En la segunda parte se utiliza el banco de pruebas de válvulas de aire construido por Bermad CS en su fábrica de Evron, Israel, para realizar los ensayos de caracterización estática a diferentes ventosas comerciales. Finalmente se realiza un estudio comparativo del comportamiento de los diferentes modelos analizados, analizando los coeficientes más adecuados para la caracterización matemática de estos elementos.

Undernourished mice infected (UI) submitted to low and long-lasting infections by Schistosoma mansoni are unable to develop the hepatic periportal fibrosis that is equivalent to Symmers’ fibrosis in humans. In this report, the effects of the host’s nutritional status on parasite (worm load, egg viability and maturation) and host (growth curves, biology, collagen synthesis and characteristics of the immunological response) were studied and these are considered as interdependent factors influencing the amount and distribution of fibrous tissue in hepatic periovular granulomas and portal spaces. The nutritional status of the host influenced the low body weight and low parasite burden detected in UI mice as well as the number, viability and maturation of released eggs. The reduced oviposition and increased number of degenerated or dead eggs were associated with low protein synthesis detected in deficient hosts, which likely induced the observed decrease in transformation growth factor (TGF)-β1 and liver collagen. Despite the reduced number of mature eggs in UI mice, the activation of TGF-β1 and hepatic stellate cells occurred regardless of the unviability of most miracidia, due to stimulation by fibrogenic proteins and eggshell glycoproteins. However, changes in the repair mechanisms influenced by the nutritional status in deficient animals may account for the decreased liver collagen detected in the present study.

This paper presents a didactic tool, based on Gowin's Vee, and whose purpose is to facilitate a meaningful learning which allows students to deal with solving physics problems in a creative and constructive way. For that reason we have developed a template which guides the resolution of problems, relating conceptual contents with the procedural ones and which has been applied to the dynamic units appearing in the official curriculum of the high-school courses of physics and chemistry. 43 students participated in this experience, divided into two groups. The first one was formed by students who followed the method proposed in this paper and the other by those who followed the traditional method. A pretest and a test about dynamic knowledge were given, and a study was carried out of the evolution of the resolution of problems before, during and after the instruction on Gowin's Vee. The analysis of the results shows that the method of problem solving by using Gowin's Vee improves the quality of student learning, increasing not only their abilities to solve physics problems but also their abilities to understand concepts related to dynamics issues.

Este trabajo presenta una herramienta didáctica, basada en la V de Gowin, cuya finalidad es facilitar un aprendizaje significativo que permita a los alumnos enfrentarse a la resolución de problemas de física de una forma creativa y constructiva. Para ello se ha elaborado una plantilla que guía la resolución de problemas, relacionando contenidos conceptuales con contenidos de tipo procedimental y ha sido aplicada a los temas de dinámica que aparecen en el curriculum oficial de la asignatura física y química de 1° de bachillerato. En esta experiencia han participado 43 alumnos divididos en dos grupos, uno formado por los alumnos que han seguido el método propuesto en este trabajo y el otro formado por aquellos que siguieron el método tradicional. Se ha realizado un pretest y un postest sobre conocimientos en dinámica así como un estudio de la evolución de la resolución de los problemas sobre este tema, antes, durante y después de la instrucción sobre la V de Gowin. El análisis de los resultados obtenidos muestra que el método de resolución de problemas según la V de Gowin mejora la calidad de aprendizaje de los alumnos, incrementándose tanto sus capacidades en la resolución de problemas de física como en la comprensión de conocimientos sobre temas de dinámica.

OBJETIVOS: Determinar a prevalência de infecção do trato respiratório inferior (ITRI) por Chlamydia trachomatis em lactentes internados e descrever as características clínicas, laboratoriais e radiológicas da doença. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo do tipo corte transversal, realizado durante um período de 12 meses. Foram incluídos todos os lactentes de até 6 meses internados consecutivamente no Centro Pediátrico Professor Hosannah de Oliveira da Universidade Federal da Bahia, em Salvador, BA, com diagnóstico clínico ou clínico-radiológico de ITRI. O diagnóstico de infecção por C. trachomatis foi realizado através da pesquisa de anticorpos da classe IgM, utilizando-se o ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA). A prevalência de ITRI por C. trachomatis foi determinada, e foram calculadas as razões de prevalência para essa infecção e variáveis clínicas e laboratoriais. RESULTADOS: Cento e cinquenta e um lactentes realizaram sorologia para C. trachomatis, das quais 15 (9,9%) foram positivas. A infecção por C. trachomatis ocorreu unicamente entre os menores de 5 meses, principalmente naqueles menores de 2 meses. Três crianças com infecção por C. trachomatis nasceram de parto cesáreo. Conjuntivite e eosinofilia ocorreram em 33,3% dos casos. As radiografias de tórax se mostraram alteradas em 92% dos casos. Demonstrou-se associação da infecção por C. trachomatis com duração de internação superior a 15 dias (p = 0,0398) e com oxigenoterapia (p = 0,0484). CONCLUSÕES: Houve alta prevalência de ITRI por C. trachomatis na população estudada. A infecção por esta bactéria foi associada a uma forma mais grave da doença, demonstrando a importância de se investigar essa infecção na gestante de forma a evitar o adoecimento de recém-nascidos.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) due to Chlamydia trachomatis in newborn infants and to describe the clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of the disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study carried out over a 12-month period. All infants up to 6 months of age admitted consecutively at the Centro Pediátrico Professor Hosannah de Oliveira of the Universidade Federal da Bahia in Salvador, Brazil, and diagnosed with LRTI according to clinical and/or radiological criteria were included in the study. C. trachomatis infection was diagnosed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of IgM-class antibodies. The prevalence of LRTI by C. trachomatis was determined and the prevalence ratios for the infection and clinical or laboratory variables were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-one infants were submitted to serology for C. trachomatis and 15 (9.9%) tested positive. Chlamydial infection was found only in infants under 5 months of age, mainly in those aged under 2 months. Three of the infants with C. trachomatis infection were born by cesarean section. Conjunctivitis and eosinophilia had occurred in 33.3% of the cases. Chest X rays were abnormal in 92.0% of cases. There was an association between C. trachomatis infection and the duration of hospitalization exceeding 15 days (p = 0.0398) and oxygen therapy (p = 0.0484). CONCLUSIONS: There was a high prevalence of C. trachomatis respiratory infection in the population studied. The infection was associated with a more severe form of the disease, emphasizing the importance of testing pregnant women for this infection to avoid infection in the newborn infant.

Home rain harvesting systems are gaining acceptance as an alternative to water supply from distribution networks for non-sanitary uses. This boom has not been accompanied by rigorous technical criteria for the sizing of the elements that make up the system. The aim of this paper is to present some methodologies for sizing rainwater tanks based on functional and/or economical criteria. The result will be a series of equations to calculate the required volume of the tank. In view of the results, it can be verified that the dimensions obtained by applying functional criteria are very different from those resulting from the application of economic criteria and the final decision on the choice of either approach is dependent on the characteristics of the buildings.

Los sistemas domésticos de aprovechamiento de lluvia se están recuperando como una opción alternativa al suministro desde las redes generales de distribución de agua potable para usos no higiénico-sanitarios. Este auge no ha ido acompañado de rigurosos criterios técnicos para el dimensionado de los elementos que forman el sistema. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una serie de metodologías para el dimensionado de depósitos de lluvia basadas en criterios funcionales y/o económicos. El resultado será una serie de expresiones que permiten calcular el volumen necesario del depósito. A la vista de los resultados se podrá comprobar que las dimensiones obtenidas al aplicar criterios funcionales son bien distintas de las que resultan de la aplicación de los criterios económicos, y la decisión final sobre la elección de uno u otro criterio estará condicionada por las características de la edificación.

Pipelines with irregular profiles exhibit a number of peculiarities that cannot be ignored, such as the likely accumulation of air at elevated points. To avoid the risks inherent to the air pockets use is made of air valves, which admit and release air. In any case, air into the pipe must be eventually vented out. But, to avoid undesirable overpressures it must be vented in a controlled way, since, with or without air valves, an air pocket between two liquid columns may cause important peak pressures, especially on the installation start-up. In this paper, the filling of a pipeline with air valves installed at the elevated points and with entrapped air is modelled. The aim is to predict the transient phenomena likely to occur and assess the peak pressures that can be developed. To analyze the behavior of n trapped air pockets in a pipeline of irregular profile with vi air valves, use is made of the so-called rigid model. In this paper, boundary conditions for the most critical function of air valves (the outlet air phase) are reviewed. The isothermal behavior, proposed by standard literature, of the trapped air into the pipe is compared with the adiabatic process, a more realistic approach for fast transients.

Las conducciones con perfil irregular presentan una serie de particularidades que no pueden ser ignoradas, como puede ser la posible acumulación de bolsas de aire en los puntos altos. Para evitar los problemas derivados de esta situación se recurre a la instalación de ventosas (también llamadas válvulas de aire), las cuales permiten la entrada y salida de aire. Pero el aire introducido en la conducción debe ser expulsado y ello debe hacerse de forma adecuada para evitar sobrepresiones indeseables. El aire atrapado entre dos columnas de agua en una conducción a presión, con o sin ventosas, puede provocar importantes picos de presión cuando se arranca la instalación. En el presente trabajo se pretende estudiar y modelar el problema del llenado de tuberías con aire atrapado y ventosas instaladas en los puntos altos, para poder predecir el transitorio que se producirá y tratar de evaluar los peligrosos picos de presión que pudieran generarse. Se utiliza el modelo rígido para analizar el comportamiento de n bolsas de aire atrapado en tuberías de perfil irregular con vi ventosas instaladas. También se revisan las condiciones de contorno de las ventosas en su fase más crítica, la de expulsión de aire. El comportamiento isotermo del aire atrapado, tal cual se propone en los textos estándar, se compara con el comportamiento adiabático que, sin duda, es una hipótesis mucho más realista en el supuesto de transitorios muy rápidos.

In this work we seek to check that the misconceptions that the students possess on the electric circuits of direct current they are commons to students of different ages and they are so strongly ingrained that neither the instruction during many years allows to modify them.

En este trabajo pretendemos comprobar que las preconcepciones que los alumnos poseen sobre los circuitos eléctricos de corriente continua son comunes a alumnos de diferentes edades y están tan fuertemente arraigadas que ni la instrucción durante muchos años permite modificarlas.

Objective: To describe the retinoic acid syndrome, a complication of therapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in acute promyelocitic leukemia (APL). Patients and methods: Retrospective study of five patients with a morphologic diagnosis of APL by the French-American-British (FAB) classification that were treated for remission induction with ATRA and developed the ATRA syndrome. Results: Three patients in newly diagnosed APL and two in leukemia relapse were analyzed. All patients received with ATRA 45 mgrs/m2/day, and three of them also received chemotherapy. Patients developed fever, respiratory distress, pulmonary infiltrates, weight gain and edemas. The onset of this symptom complex occurred from 1 to 11 days after starting treatment and was preceded by an increased in peripheral blood leukocytes. Infections or congestive heart failure were ruled out. The clinical course progressed while patients being treated with wide spectrum antibiotics. Four patients were treated with high doses corticosteroid therapy (dexametasone 10 mgrs intravenously every 12 hours), in three of them full recovery was attained and one died. One patient that did not received steroids died. Conclusions: The use of all-trans retinoic acid to induce hematologic remission in APL patients is associated in same patients with the development of ATRA syndrome, a life threatening complication. Symptoms begin in the first days of treatment. If this syndrome is suspected, early treatment with high dose steroids should be iniciated.

Objetivo: Describir el síndrome del ATRA como complicación del tratamiento con ácido todo-trans-retinoico (ATRA) o tretinoino, en la leucemia promielocítica aguda (LPA). Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, incluyendo cinco pacientes diagnosticados de LPA según los criterios FAB, que recibieron tratamiento de inducción con ATRA y desarrollaron en su evolución el Síndrome del ATRA. Resultados: Tres pacientes fueron tratados al diagnóstico y dos en la recidiva leucémica. Todos ellos recibieron ATRA, 45 mg/m2/día por vía oral en pauta continua, acompañado en tres casos de quimioterapia convencional. Entre el día +1 y el día +11 desde el inicio del tratamiento, los pacientes desarrollaron fiebre, insuficiencia respiratoria con infiltrados pulmonares, ganancia de peso y edemas. El inicio del cuadro fue precedido de leucocitosis en todos los casos. Se descartaron infeccion e insuficiencia cardíaca. La clínica progresó en el contexto de amplia cobertura antibiótica. Cuatro pacientes recibieron tratamiento con dexametasona endovenosa (10 mg/12 horas), de los cuales tres evolucionaron favorablemente y uno falleció. El paciente que no se trató falleció. Conclusión: El síndrome del ATRA es una complicación potencialmente mortal en pacientes con LPA que reciben tratamiento de inducción con ATRA. Habitualmente aparece a los pocos días del inicio del tratamiento. Ante la sospecha de este cuadro clínico debe establecerse tratamiento precoz con esteroides en dosis altas.

Foram investigados todos os óbitos de crianças menores de um ano residentes no Distrito Sanitário de Pau da Lima, Município de Salvador, Brasil, no ano de 1991, através de consultas aos respectivos prontuários hospitalares e visitas domiciliares. O estudo visava a aferir a efetividade dos serviços de saúde por meio da verificação de óbitos potencialmente evitáveis e o grau de adequação dos cuidados médicos prestados às crianças. De um total de 47 óbitos, observou-se que mais da metade dos mesmos ocorreu por causas vulneráveis à ação oportuna dos serviços de saúde, e que 21,3% dos óbitos ocorreram em via pública e domicílios. Houve 76,6% de perdas de informação nas entrevistas com as mães, atribuídas a problemas de preenchimento incompleto ou incorreto da Declaração de óbito, e por mudanças de endereço. A pesquisa dos prontuários nas unidades de saúde registrou perda de 58,3%, revelando o baixo grau de organização das estatísticas hospitalares; prevaleceram atendimentos classificados como pouco adequados e inadequados, principalmente nos itens exame físico e tratamento. Apesar das limitações operacionais do estudo, os resultados apontam problemas de acesso, efetividade e adequação do processo de assistência à saúde.

All deaths of children under one year of age and residing in the Pau da Lima Health District, in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, during the year 1991 were investigated through home visits and analysis of patient files. The study measured effectiveness of health services by verifying potentially avoidable deaths and the level of medical care these children received. More than half of the total of 47 deaths were related to causes considered amenable to prompt action by health services; 10 (21.3%) of the deaths occurred at home or in public (outside of health care facilities). Loss of information occurred in 36 (76.6%) of the mother's interviews, related to incomplete information on the death certificate and to changes of address. Analysis of patient files in the health clinics showed a 58.3% loss of information, indicating low-quality organization of hospital statistics; there was a prevalence of consultations classified as inadequate or barely adequate, due mainly to problems with physical examination and treatment. Despite this study's operational limitations, the results point to problems of access, effectiveness, and adequacy in the health care process.

Foram investigados todos os óbitos de crianças menores de um ano residentes no Distrito Sanitário de Pau da Lima, Município de Salvador, Brasil, no ano de 1991, através de consultas aos respectivos prontuários hospitalares e visitas domiciliares. O estudo visava a aferir a efetividade dos serviços de saúde por meio da verificação de óbitos potencialmente evitáveis e o grau de adequação dos cuidados médicos prestados às crianças. De um total de 47 óbitos, observou-se que mais da metade dos mesmos ocorreu por causas vulneráveis à ação oportuna dos serviços de saúde, e que 21,3% dos óbitos ocorreram em via pública e domicílios. Houve 76,6% de perdas de informação nas entrevistas com as mães, atribuídas a problemas de preenchimento incompleto ou incorreto da Declaração de óbito, e por mudanças de endereço. A pesquisa dos prontuários nas unidades de saúde registrou perda de 58,3%, revelando o baixo grau de organização das estatísticas hospitalares; prevaleceram atendimentos classificados como pouco adequados e inadequados, principalmente nos itens exame físico e tratamento. Apesar das limitações operacionais do estudo, os resultados apontam problemas de acesso, efetividade e adequação do processo de assistência à saúde.

All deaths of children under one year of age and residing in the Pau da Lima Health District, in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, during the year 1991 were investigated through home visits and analysis of patient files. The study measured effectiveness of health services by verifying potentially avoidable deaths and the level of medical care these children received. More than half of the total of 47 deaths were related to causes considered amenable to prompt action by health services; 10 (21.3%) of the deaths occurred at home or in public (outside of health care facilities). Loss of information occurred in 36 (76.6%) of the mother's interviews, related to incomplete information on the death certificate and to changes of address. Analysis of patient files in the health clinics showed a 58.3% loss of information, indicating low-quality organization of hospital statistics; there was a prevalence of consultations classified as inadequate or barely adequate, due mainly to problems with physical examination and treatment. Despite this study's operational limitations, the results point to problems of access, effectiveness, and adequacy in the health care process.