Abstract In this research work, a compact electronic system for measuring volumes in generic cylindrical containers was designed and developed. The system is based on a circular arrangement composed of four Hall effect sensors A1324 and arranged in the form of a quadrature. The theoretical volume calculations obtained based on the angle of inclination of the float for a cylindrical container were correlated with a polynomial function of order 3 with an R2 = 0.99. The analog voltage signal correlated with the theoretical volume was digitized through a microcontroller and a ZigBee transceiver was used as a data transmission channel and through a ZigBee Xbee ZB24 transceiver was used for information transfer. The experimental and theoretical results obtained corroborate a highly accurate and reliable measurement system, which can be applied to different containers and different types of fluids that are to be monitored remotely. Finally based on the theoretical model, this system could be scaled to cylindrical containers of greater capacity without modifying the conditions of the electronic system with the array of Hall effect sensors.

Resumen Objetivo: evaluar efecto genotóxico y mutagénico en linfocitos humanos expuestos a nanotubos de carbono (NTC) prístinos y dopados con Nitrógeno. Métodos: linfocitos humanos fueron expuestos a NTC dopados y prístinos (0.08, 0.09, 0.1mg/mL), se evaluó alteraciones cromosómicas e intercambio de cromátidas hermanas (ICH). Resultados: se presentaron rupturas cromatídicas y cromosómicas en linfocitos expuestos a 0.1mg/mL y 0.08mg/mL de NTC prístinos. NTC dopados, indujeron cromosomas dicéntricos y anillos cromosómicos. Se presentó diferencia significativa en el porcentaje de ICH de células tratadas con NTC dopados versus control negativo y NTC prístinos (p<0.0001). Conclusión: la concentración más alta de NTC prístinos indujo daños cromatídicos y cromosómicos; aunque el porcentaje de la población con daño fue inferior al 10%, se consideran perjudiciales para las células. Linfocitos tratados con NTC dopados presentaron menores porcentajes de AC y altos valores en ICH, lo que muestra mayor reparación de material genético con estos compuestos.

Abstract Objective: evaluate the genotoxic and mutagenic effect in human lymphocytes exposed to pristine and N-doped carbon nanotubes. Methods: Methods: human lymphocytes were exposed to pristine and N-doped carbon nanotubes (NTC) (0.08, 0.09, 0.1mg/mL). Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosomal alterations (CA) tests were evaluated. Results: chromatid breaks and chromosomal breaks (double strand breaks) were identified in lymphocytes exposed to 0.1 and 0.08 mg/mL of the pristine CNT. N-doped CNT, induced dicentric chromosomes and chromosomal rings. There was significant difference in the percentage of SCE of cells treated with doped NTC versus negative control and pristine NTC (p<0.0001). Conclusion: the highest concentration of pristine CNTs induced the most chromatid and chromosomal damage. Although the percentage was less than 10%, such degree of damage is considered harmful to cells. Lymphocytes treated with N-doped CNT presented lower percentages of CA and high percentage of SCE, which shows a greater repair of genetic material with these compounds.

Background: The outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis caused by a virus are currently one of the health problems having the greatest impact on those living in senior citizen facilities. The objective of this study is that of investigating the causes of the start and contagion of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis caused by a Norwalk-Like virus. Method: At a senior citizen living facility with 141 residents and 71 employees exposed, the relations between the disease in question and different independent variables: personal traits, features of location, date of onset of symptoms, clinical pattern of the disease and causal factors (food and drinking water intake). A descriptive study, a contingency table and a hypothesis ?2 test, design of cases and controls with the calculation of the unprocessed and subsequently adjusted Odds Ratio (IC 95%) were carried out using logic regression. Results: No significant differences were found in the personal trait and features of location variables. The attack rate among the residents was 30.1%, being 21.12% among the employees. In the adjusted Odds Ratio calculation, solely the whipped cream mousse showed causal relationship values (adjusted Odds Ratio = 4.66; IC-95% 1.15-18.91; p=0.031). Ten patient stool samples were sent for analysis, no disease-causing bacteria having been detected, Norwalk-Like virus however having been isolated in three samples. Conclusions: The whipped cream mousse having been found to possibly have been responsible for the outbreak is a first involving Norwalk virus, but this result is subject to limitations, such as the possible bias of classification due to failing to recall having eaten foods. Even so, this is an element to be taken into account in the control of acute viral gastroenteritis.

Fundamento: Los brotes de gastroenteritis aguda de origen vírico son actualmente uno de los problemas de salud que más están afectando a las personas residentes en instituciones de la tercera edad. El objetivo del estudio es investigar las causas del origen y transmisión de un brote de gastroenteritis aguda por virus Norwal-Like. Método: En una residencia de ancianos con 141 residentes y 71 trabajadores expuestos, se investigó la relación entre un brote de gastroenteritis aguda y distintas variables: características personales, de lugar, fecha de inicio de los síntomas, clínica de la enfermedad y factores causales (alimentos y agua de consumo). Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, tabla de contingencia y test de hipótesis 2, diseño de casos y controles con el calculo de Odds Ratio cruda y posteriormente ajustada (IC al 95%) utilizando regresión logística. Resultados: No se observaron diferencias significativas en las variables de características personales y de lugar. La tasa de ataque en los residentes fue del 30,1% y en trabajadores fue del 21,12%. En el calculo de la Odds Ratio ajustada sólo tuvo valores de relación causal la mousse de nata (Odds Ratio ajustada=4,66; IC-95% 1,15-18,91; p=0,031). Se remitieron 10 muestras de heces de enfermos para su análisis, no detectándose ninguna bacteria patógena, pero si se aisló en 3 de ellas virus Norwal-Like. Conclusiones: El hallazgo de la mousse de nata como posible responsable del brote supone una primicia en la presencia de virus Norwalk, pero este resultado está sujeto a limitaciones, como el posible sesgo de clasificación por no recuerdo de consumo de alimentos. Aún así, supone un elemento a tener en cuenta en el control de gastroenteritis agudas por virus.

Background: The outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis caused by a virus are currently one of the health problems having the greatest impact on those living in senior citizen facilities. The objective of this study is that of investigating the causes of the start and contagion of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis caused by a Norwalk-Like virus. Method: At a senior citizen living facility with 141 residents and 71 employees exposed, the relations between the disease in question and different independent variables: personal traits, features of location, date of onset of symptoms, clinical pattern of the disease and causal factors (food and drinking water intake). A descriptive study, a contingency table and a hypothesis ?2 test, design of cases and controls with the calculation of the unprocessed and subsequently adjusted Odds Ratio (IC 95%) were carried out using logic regression. Results: No significant differences were found in the personal trait and features of location variables. The attack rate among the residents was 30.1%, being 21.12% among the employees. In the adjusted Odds Ratio calculation, solely the whipped cream mousse showed causal relationship values (adjusted Odds Ratio = 4.66; IC-95% 1.15-18.91; p=0.031). Ten patient stool samples were sent for analysis, no disease-causing bacteria having been detected, Norwalk-Like virus however having been isolated in three samples. Conclusions: The whipped cream mousse having been found to possibly have been responsible for the outbreak is a first involving Norwalk virus, but this result is subject to limitations, such as the possible bias of classification due to failing to recall having eaten foods. Even so, this is an element to be taken into account in the control of acute viral gastroenteritis.

Fundamento: Los brotes de gastroenteritis aguda de origen vírico son actualmente uno de los problemas de salud que más están afectando a las personas residentes en instituciones de la tercera edad. El objetivo del estudio es investigar las causas del origen y transmisión de un brote de gastroenteritis aguda por virus Norwal-Like. Método: En una residencia de ancianos con 141 residentes y 71 trabajadores expuestos, se investigó la relación entre un brote de gastroenteritis aguda y distintas variables: características personales, de lugar, fecha de inicio de los síntomas, clínica de la enfermedad y factores causales (alimentos y agua de consumo). Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, tabla de contingencia y test de hipótesis 2, diseño de casos y controles con el calculo de Odds Ratio cruda y posteriormente ajustada (IC al 95%) utilizando regresión logística. Resultados: No se observaron diferencias significativas en las variables de características personales y de lugar. La tasa de ataque en los residentes fue del 30,1% y en trabajadores fue del 21,12%. En el calculo de la Odds Ratio ajustada sólo tuvo valores de relación causal la mousse de nata (Odds Ratio ajustada=4,66; IC-95% 1,15-18,91; p=0,031). Se remitieron 10 muestras de heces de enfermos para su análisis, no detectándose ninguna bacteria patógena, pero si se aisló en 3 de ellas virus Norwal-Like. Conclusiones: El hallazgo de la mousse de nata como posible responsable del brote supone una primicia en la presencia de virus Norwalk, pero este resultado está sujeto a limitaciones, como el posible sesgo de clasificación por no recuerdo de consumo de alimentos. Aún así, supone un elemento a tener en cuenta en el control de gastroenteritis agudas por virus.