Search Results (35)

Federated learning allows models to be trained on edge devices with local data, eliminating the need to share data with a central server. This significantly reduces the amount of data transferred from edge devices to central servers, which is particularly important in rural areas with limited bandwidth resources. Despite the potential of federated learning to fine-tune deep learning models using data collected from edge devices in low-resource environments, its application in the field of bird monitoring remains underexplored. This study proposes a federated learning pipeline tailored for bird species classification in wetlands. The proposed approach is based on lightweight convolutional neural networks optimized for use on resource-constrained devices. Since the performance of federated learning is strongly influenced by the models used and the experimental setting, this study conducts a comprehensive comparison of well-known lightweight models such as WideResNet, EfficientNetV2, MNASNet, GoogLeNet and ResNet in different training settings. The results demonstrate the importance of the training setting in federated learning architectures and the suitability of the different models for bird species recognition. This work contributes to the wider application of federated learning in ecological monitoring and highlights its potential to overcome challenges such as bandwidth limitations. Full article

Background and Objectives: Globally, there is a demographic transition toward an increase in the number of older adults, and with it, the comorbidities associated with aging. This requires healthcare providers to understand which variables can affect functional independence for performing activities of daily living. The general objective of this study was to determine the predictive effect of left and right handgrip strength, depression, mild to moderate dementia, and cognitive function on functional independence in older adults. Materials and Methods: This study featured a predictive cross-sectional design with n = 84 older adults with some level of physical independence; older adults with completely limited physical independence and those with severe dementia were excluded. To assess depression, the Geriatric Depression Scale was used; for dementia, the Hachinski Ischemic Scale was used; for cognitive impairment, the Folstein version of the MMSE was used; for functional independence, the Barthel Index was used; for handgrip, a 90-kg Dynatron^® professional hydraulic dynamometer (UT 84121) Number Series. 11010141, from the Dynatronics Corporation located in Salt Lake City, Utah USA, was used. Results: In total, 58.8% of the participants were female, with a mean age of 84.89 ± 7.095, with ranges from 68 to 102 years. Multiple regression analysis showed that the level of cognition, left-hand grip strength, and a low level of depression are strong predictors of independence in activities of daily living in the elderly, with an explained variance of R² = 0.34. Conclusions: Cognitive function, left-hand grip strength, and depression significantly predict the independence of older adults. Studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to confirm the veracity of the results and to design methodologically rigorous interventions that include psychological aspects such as cognitive stimulation, promoting physical activity, and addressing depressive problems to improve the functional independence of older adults. Full article

Mammary gland tumors in dogs are very common in clinical practice. Betulinic acid is currently a compound considered to have anticancer properties in human mammary tumors via nanoemulsions. In this study, betulinic acid nanoemulsions with a particle size of less than 300 nm were prepared. Biopsies were obtained from five female dogs with mammary tumors for histopathological analysis, confirming that two were tubular mammary carcinomas (MMTs, malignant) and three were complex mammary adenomas (BMTs, benign). The five female dogs were administered with a daily oral dose of nanoemulsion containing 5 mg/kg of betulinic acid for 30 days. Tumor size was measured every 7 days, and the response to treatment was assessed according to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors) standards. In one of the females with MMTs treated with the nanoemulsion, the tumor size was reduced by approximately 38%, while in the BMT female dogs, the nanoemulsion reduced the tumor size by 25.3%. It was concluded that oral administration of betulinic acid nanoemulsions reduced the size of canine mammary tumors. Experimental studies are still needed to further evaluate this preparation. Full article

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic inflammatory disorders influenced by microbial, environmental, genetic, and immune factors. The introduction of biological agents has transformed IBD therapy, improving symptoms, reducing complications, and enhancing patients’ quality of life. However, approximately 30% of patients exhibit primary non-response, and 50% experience a loss of response over time. Genetic and non-genetic factors contribute to variability in treatment outcomes. This systematic review aims to thoroughly analyze and assess existing studies exploring the relationships between genetic variations and individual responses to biologic drugs, in order to identify genetic markers that are predictive of treatment efficacy, risk of adverse effects, or drug toxicity, thereby informing clinical practice and guiding future research. PubMed and EMBASE papers were reviewed by three independent reviewers according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses [PRISMA] guidelines. Of the 883 records screened, 99 met the inclusion criteria. The findings of this review represent an initial step toward personalized medicine in IBD, with the potential to improve clinical outcomes in biological therapy. Full article

The rapid loss of biodiversity significantly impacts birds’ environments and behaviors, highlighting the importance of analyzing bird behavior for ecological insights. With the growing adoption of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms in the Internet of Things (IoT) domain, edge computing has become essential to ensure data privacy and enable real-time predictions by processing high-dimensional data, such as video streams, efficiently. This paper introduces a set of dimensionality reduction techniques tailored for video sequences based on cutting-edge methods for this data representation. These methods drastically compress video data, reducing bandwidth and storage requirements while enabling the creation of compact ML models with faster inference speeds. Comprehensive experiments on bird behavior classification in rural environments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques. The experiments incorporate state-of-the-art deep learning techniques, including pre-trained video vision models, Autoencoders, and single-frame feature extraction. These methods demonstrated superior performance to the baseline, achieving up to a 6000-fold reduction in data size while reaching a classification accuracy of 60.7% on the Visual WetlandBirds Dataset and obtaining state-of-the-art performance on this dataset. These findings underline the potential of using dimensionality reduction to enhance the scalability and efficiency of bird behavior analysis. Full article

Pyogenic liver abscesses (PLAs) are serious infections in which doctors often fail in identifying the causative agent due to microbiological limitations. These limitations in detecting uncommon pathogens complicate the treatment and recovery. Molecular techniques, like massive sequencing, enable the detection of uncommon pathogens and highlight the shortcomings of traditional cultures. The aim of this work was to characterise the bacterial composition of PLAs through massive sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene in cases where conventional culture methods were negative. Purulent material was collected from three patients with PLAs at Hospital Juárez de México. Classical and molecular microbiological cultures were performed in parallel. Metagenomic DNA was extracted and massively sequenced (16S rRNA gene) using the Illumina MiSeq platform. A bioinformatic analysis was performed to determine the diversity at six different taxa levels and the relative abundances. The culture methods were not sufficient to detect the causative agent of the PLAs. However, the massive sequencing revealed the causative agents of the monomicrobial and polymicrobial infectious foci, with Gardnerella vaginalis, Lactobacillus iners, and Prevotella timonensis as the dominant bacteria. The massive sequencing revealed the presence of unusual pathogens that traditional culture failed to detect. There is an immediate need for molecular or comprehensive microbiological culture techniques to search for unusual bacteria in the diagnosis of PLAs. Full article

Malaria is a significant global health issue, especially in tropical regions. Accurate and rapid diagnosis is critical for effective treatment and reducing mortality rates. Traditional diagnostic methods, like blood smear microscopy, are time-intensive and prone to error. This study introduces a deep learning approach for classifying malaria-infected cells in blood smear images using convolutional neural networks (CNNs); Six CNN models were designed and trained using a large labeled dataset of malaria cell images, both infected and uninfected, and were implemented on the Jetson TX2 board to evaluate them. The model was optimized for feature extraction and classification accuracy, achieving 97.72% accuracy, and evaluated using precision, recall, and F1-score metrics and execution time. Results indicate deep learning significantly improves diagnostic time efficiency on embedded systems. This scalable, automated solution is particularly useful in resource-limited areas without access to expert microscopic analysis. Future work will focus on clinical validation. Full article

Background: The current economic and social crisis in Latin America has caused migration to the USA, bringing with it Public Health challenges due to the importation of various infectious diseases. Migrants, particularly those with chronic conditions, such as HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STI), are at greater risk due to pharmacological interruption and access to medical care, so the timely detection of diseases acquired during their migration, such as malaria, is crucial to avoid health complications. Objective: To outline by a multidisciplinary approach (Infectology, Parasitology, Epidemiology, molecular Biology, Venereology, and Public Health) the diagnosis and management of a male case with malaria imported to Mexican territory, HIV chronic infection, and latent syphilis. Methods: A male migrant of Venezuelan nationality attended the Clínica Especializada Condesa Iztapalapa in Mexico City for health complications. A comprehensive analysis of laboratory and molecular tests was performed to confirm HIV infection. During the STI diagnostic algorithm, latent syphilis was detected and microscopic observation of blood smears revealed parasitic forms compatible with malaria. Standard and molecular tests were applied under the operational definition for malaria cases for identification, diagnosis, and treatment. Finally, study of clinical history and migration route by questioning for the investigation of the imported case was performed. Results: The immigrant was diagnosed with HIV chronic-stage infection with interrupted antiretroviral therapy (ART), latent syphilis, and malaria by Plasmodium vivax. The ART administered was chosen based on the possible drug interaction with antimalarials and genetic barrier to the HLA-B* allele. Finally, antimicrobial therapy against syphilis was penicillin. From the analysis of the migratory route, incubation time of imported malaria, and questioning, we speculated that the migrant acquired the P. vivax infection in Panama. Conclusions: This case highlights the complex health problems faced by migrants with HIV infection, particularly when they contract additional infections such as malaria during migration and highlights the need for comprehensive access to healthcare and ART, antimalarial and antimicrobial treatments to mitigate the health risks of this vulnerable population. Full article

A logic gate is typically an electronic device with a Boolean or other type of function, e.g., adding or subtracting, including or excluding according to its logical properties. They can be used in electronic, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic technology. This paper presents a new method for generating logic gates based on optical systems with an emission frequency equal to that used in current telecommunications systems. It uses an erbium-doped fiber laser in its monostable operating region, in contrast to most results published in the literature, where multistable behavior is required to induce dynamic changes, and where a DC voltage signal in the laser pump current provides the control between obtaining the different logic operations. The proposed methodology facilitates the generation of the gates, since it does not require taking the optical system to critical power levels that could damage the components. It is based on using the same elements that the EDFL requires to operate. The result is a system capable of generating up to five stable and robust logic gates to disturbances validated in numerical simulation and experimental setup. This eliminates the sensitivity to the initial conditions affecting the possible logic gates generated by the system and the need to add noise to the system (as is performed in works based on stochastic logic resonance). The experimental observations confirm the numerical results and open up new aspects of using chaotic systems to generate optical logic gates without bistable states. Full article

This work investigates the enhancement of optical energy in the synchronized dynamics of three erbium-doped fiber lasers (EDFLs) that are diffusively coupled in a unidirectional ring configuration without the need for external pump modulation. Before the system shows stable high-energy pulses, different dynamic behaviors can be observed in the dynamics of the coupled lasers. The evolution of the studied system was analyzed using different techniques for different values of coupling strength. The system shows the well-known dynamic behavior towards chaos at weak coupling, starting with a fixed point at low coupling and passing through Hopf and torus bifurcations as the coupling strength increases. An interesting finding emerged at high coupling strengths, where phase locking occurs between the frequencies of the three lasers of the system. This phase-locking leads to a significant increase in the peak energy of the EDFL pulses, effectively converting the emission into short, high amplitude pulses. With this method, it is possible to significantly increase the peak energy of the laser compared to a continuous EDFL single pulse. Full article

In this work, numerical and experimental implementation of a state observer applied to an erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) has been developed. The state observer is designed through the mathematical model of the EDFL to estimate the non-measurable variable; however, in numerical estimation, the state variables can be measurable given the mathematical model. Only the laser intensity variable was experimentally measured. The state observer estimated the population inversion through the obtained experimental laser intensity time series fitted with their numerical laser intensity using the mean square error (MSE) tool. A bifurcation diagram of the population inversion time series local maximum was built from the state observer. The state space of the experimental laser intensity versus observed population inversion was built. Full article

Lithium, a natural element, has been employed as a mental stabilizer in psychiatric treatments; however, some reports indicate it has an anticancer effect, prompting the consideration of repurposing lithium for cancer treatment. The potential anticancer use of lithium may depend on its form (salt type) and the type of cancer cells targeted. Little is known about the effects of Li₂CO₃ or LiCl on cancer cells, so we focused on exploring their effects on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell cycle as part of the hallmarks of cancer. Firstly, we established the IC₅₀ values on HeLa, SiHa, and HaCaT cells with LiCl and Li₂CO₃ and determined by crystal violet that cell proliferation was time-dependent in the three cell lines (IC₅₀ values for LiCl were 23.43 mM for SiHa, 23.14 mM for HeLa, and 15.10 mM for HaCaT cells, while the IC₅₀ values for Li₂CO₃ were 20.57 mM for SiHa, 11.52 mM for HeLa, and 10.52 mM for HaCaT cells.) Our findings indicate that Li₂CO₃ and LiCl induce DNA fragmentation and caspase-independent apoptosis, as shown by TUNEL, Western Blot, and Annexin V/IP assay by flow cytometry. Also, cell cycle analysis showed that LiCl and Li₂CO₃ arrested the cervical cancer cells at the G1 phase. Moreover, lithium salts displayed an anti-migratory effect on the three cell lines observed by the wound-healing assay. All these findings imply the viable anticancer effect of lithium salts by targeting several of the hallmarks of cancer. Full article

Purpose: Inflammation and neutrophils play a central role in both COVID-19 disease and cancer. We aimed to assess the impact of pre-existing tumor-related inflammation on COVID-19 outcomes in patients with cancer and to elucidate the role of circulating neutrophil subpopulations. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of 524 patients with cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection, assessing the relationship between clinical outcomes and circulating inflammatory biomarkers collected before and during COVID-19 infection. Additionally, a single-center prospective cohort study provided data for an exploratory analysis, assessing the immunophenotype of circulating neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines. The primary endpoints were 30-day mortality and the severity of COVID-19 disease. Results: Prior to COVID-19, 25% of patients with cancer exhibited elevated dNLR, which increased to 55% at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis. We developed the FLARE score, incorporating both tumor- and infection-induced inflammation, which categorized patients into four prognostic groups. The poor prognostic group had a 30-day mortality rate of 68%, significantly higher than the 23% in the favorable group (p < 0.0001). This score proved to be an independent predictor of early mortality. This prospective analysis revealed a shift towards immature forms of neutrophils and higher IL-6 levels in patients with cancer and severe COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: A pre-existing tumor-induced pro-inflammatory state significantly impacts COVID-19 outcomes in patients with cancer. The FLARE score, derived from circulating inflammatory markers, emerges as an easy-to-use, globally accessible, effective tool for clinicians to identify patients with cancer at heightened risk of severe COVID-19 complications and early mortality who might benefit most from immediate and intensive treatment strategies. Furthermore, our findings underscore the significance of immature neutrophils in the progression of COVID-19 in patients with cancer, advocating for further investigation into how these cells contribute to both cancer and COVID-19 disease. Full article

(1) Background: Radical prostatectomy has a high incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED). The aim was to determine if the expression of the nitric oxide synthase-3/soluble guanylate cyclase/phosphodiesterase 5 axis could be detected in buccal mucosa and if it could be differently expressed in patients with and without ED; (2) Methods: Erectile function from 38 subjects subjected to prostatectomy was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function Domain before and one year after surgery. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS3), β1-subunit of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) expressions, and interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 content were measured in the buccal mucosa. PDE5A rs3806808 gene polymorphism was genotyped; (3) Results: One year after prostatectomy, 15 patients had recovered functional erection, and 23 showed ED. NOS3, β1-sGC, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 expressions were not different between patients with and without ED after radical prostatectomy. Buccal mucosa levels of PDE-5 were higher in patients with ED compared to those who recovered erectile functionality. There were no differences found in the genotype of PDE5A polymorphism; (4) Conclusions: One year after prostatectomy, patients with ED had higher PDE5 levels in their buccal mucosa than patients who had recovered erectile function. Rs3806808 PDE5A gene polymorphism was not associated with increased PDE5 expression in buccal mucosa. Full article

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development is associated with altered modifications in DNA methylation, changing transcriptional regulation. Emerging evidence indicates that DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) plays a key role in the carcinogenesis process. This study aimed to investigate how pirfenidone (PFD) modifies this pathway and the effect generated by the association between c-Myc expression and DNMT1 activation. Rats F344 were used for HCC development using 50 mg/kg of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 25 mg/kg of 2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF). The HCC/PFD group received simultaneous doses of 300 mg/kg of PFD. All treatments lasted 12 weeks. On the other hand, HepG2 cells were used to evaluate the effects of PFD in restoring DNA methylation in the presence of the inhibitor 5-Aza. Histopathological, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and western blot analysis were carried out and our findings showed that PFD treatment reduced the amount and size of tumors along with decreased Glipican-3, β-catenin, and c-Myc expression in nuclear fractions. Also, this treatment improved lipid metabolism by modulating PPARγ and SREBP1 signaling. Interestingly, PFD augmented DNMT1 and DNMT3a protein expression, which restores global methylation, both in our in vivo and in vitro models. In conclusion, our results suggest that PFD could slow down HCC development by controlling DNA methylation. Full article