Assessing NPK use efficiency of commercial inoculants in cassava (Manihot esculenta Cratz): an application of data envelopment analysis

Oscar Burbano‑Figueroa1,Jazmin Vanessa Pérez‑Pazos,Milena Moreno‑Moran 한국작물학회 2022 Journal of crop science and biotechnology Vol.25 No.3

Cassava · Commercial inoculants · Data envelopment analysis · DEA · Technical efciency · NPK · Yield gaps · Nutrient-limited yieldPlant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) are inhabitants of the rhizosphere that are able to provide better growth and biomass accumulation. Current agronomic practices have depleted these communities, which has created the opportunity for the development of commercial inoculants. These products use strains that are able to interact with a wide range of plant species and survive in diverse environments. The use of these generalist strains is required for providing a widespread solution that aggregates enough demand to reach market scale. Growth promotion by generalist strains may be suboptimal in comparison to the efect provoked by native and host-specifc populations, but these specialist strains are not a marketavailable solution. In this work, we assess the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) use efciency provided by commercial inoculants to cassava plants using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to demonstrate the advantages of conceiving nutrient-limited yield as a production function. We also estimate the prospective production frontier that commercial inoculants can provide to cassava plants. Our results suggest that commercial inoculants have potential for improving cassava yields via improved NPK use efciency. The methods presented here ofer an ecological/economic production framework for the assessment of PGPMs and PGPMs-based commercial inoculants that can be extended to other laboratory, greenhouse or feld situations. The simple, intuitive and graphical approximation that DEA ofers will facilitate the understanding of the concept of technical efciency and the role of commercial inoculants on closing yield gaps

"Do they see me as a Professional?”: Narratives of an Early Childhood Teacher in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic

Figueroa-Céspedes Ignacio(Figueroa-Céspedes Ignacio),Guerra Paula(Guerra Paula) The Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Ass 2024 Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhoo Vol.18 No.1

This article analyses the experience of a Chilean early childhood (EC) teacher in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of a broader qualitative and narrative research, this article is a case study based on her professional experience during the pandemic. The results reveal four phases in the process: (1) initial confusion, (2) proposal, (3) disappointment and action, (4) balance and dialogue. The narrative shows a series of situations experienced by the EC teacher in her relationship with the children’s families, where identity negotiation emerged linked to the revalidation of her professional role. In addition, developing teaching and collaborative skills to respond to emergency situations is highlighted. Based on this experience, the need to elicit cultural changes that articulate care and pedagogical fields in EC education in Chile is analysed.

Positive inotropic activity induced by a dehydroisoandrosterone derivative in isolated rat heart model

L. Figueroa-Valverde,F. Dı´az-Cedillo,E. Garcı´a-Cervera,E. Pool Go´mez,M. Lo´pez-Ramos,M. Rosas-Nexticapa,R. Martinez-Camacho 대한약학회 2013 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.36 No.10

Experimental studies indicate that some steroidderivatives have inotropic activity; nevertheless, there isscarce information about the effects of the dehydroisoandrosteroneand its derivatives at cardiovascular level. Inaddition, to date the cellular site and mechanism of actionof dehydroisoandrosterone at cardiovascular level is veryconfusing. In order, to clarify those phenomena in this study,a dehydroisoandrosterone derivative was synthesized withthe objective of to evaluate its activity on perfusion pressureand coronary resistance and compare this phenomenon withthe effect exerted by dehydroisoandrosterone. The Langendorfftechnique was used to measure changes on perfusionpressure and coronary resistance in an isolated rat heartmodel in absence or presence of dehydroisoandrosterone andits derivative. Additionally, to characterize the molecularmechanism involved in the inotropic activity induced bydehydroisoandrosterone derivative was evaluated by measuringleft ventricular pressure in absence or presence offollowing compounds; flutamide, prazosin, metoprolol andnifedipine. The results showed that dehydroisoandrosteronederivative significantly increased the perfusion pressure andcoronary resistance in comparison with the control conditionsand dehydroisoandrosterone. Additionally, other dataindicate that dehydroisoandrosterone derivative increase leftventricular pressure in a dose-dependent manner [1 9 10-9–1 9 10-4 mmol]; nevertheless, this phenomenon was significantlyinhibited by nifedipine at a dose of 1 9 10-6mmol. In conclusion, these data suggest that dehydroisoandrosteronederivative induces positive inotropic activitythrough of activation the L-type calcium channel.

Firearms Detection Software Using Deep Learning and IoT for Firearms assaults in Lima – Peru

Mario Figueroa Jimenez,Yun Seon Kim(김윤선) 연세대학교 빈곤문제국제개발연구원 2024 地域發展硏究 Vol.33 No.1

시민의 안전은 페루 리마에서 주요 관심사이다. 특히 총기를 사용한 범죄가 시민들의 일상 생활에 영향을 미치는 중대한 문제로 자리잡고 있다. 데이터에 따르면 2021년 1월부터 6월까지 15세 이상 개인을 대상으로 한 범죄 중 14%에서 총기가 사용되었으며, 6개월 동안 약 102,000건의 범죄 발생 했다. 결과적으로, 정부가 충분한 보호를 제공할 수 없는 상황에서 시민들은 대안적인 보안 조치를 모색하고 있다. 그중 가장 일반적인 방법은 폐쇄 회로 텔레비전(CCTV) 보안 카메라의 설치다. 그러나 이 방식도 모니터링 부족으로 인해 궁극적인 해결책이 될수 없다. 본 연구는 딥러닝 모델과 사물 인터넷(IoT)을 사용하여 보안 상황을 개선할 수 있는 방안을 분석함으로써 이 문제를 해결하고자 한다. 이 연구는 컨볼루션 신경망의 다양한 모델을 평가하여 CCTV 카메라를 통해 총기 범죄를 감지할 수 있는 예측 모델 소프트웨어를 설계하고, 리마에 적합한 모델을 평가하고, 또한 솔루션 개발하여 테스트를 실행한다. 연구의 결과는 딥러닝 및 IoT 기술이 리마와 유사한 상황에 있는 도시의 시민 안전을 개선할 수 있는 방안을 제시하고 더 나은 기술의 발전에 기여할 것이다. Civil security is a major concern in Lima, Peru, where crimes committed with firearms have become a significant issue affecting citizens daily lives. Data indicates that firearms were used in 14% of crimes committed against individuals over 15 years of age from January to June 2021, which represents approximately 102,000 criminal acts in a six-month period. As a result, citizens are seeking alternative security measures, given the limited ability of the government to provide adequate protection. One such measure is the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) security cameras. However, the challenge with this approach is the lack of monitoring, which makes it a reactive solution. The present research aims to address this issue by analyzing the potential of using deep learning models and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance the security situation. The study will evaluate the suitability of different models of convolutional neural networks for designing a predictive model software that can detect criminal acts with firearms through CCTV cameras. This research will also review existing literature on computational vision and deep learning to inform the development of the solution. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the potential of deep learning and IoT technologies to improve civil security in Lima and similar contexts. The findings will be presented and analyzed, along with a discussion of limitations and recommendations for future research.

The Future of VR

Pabol Figueroa 한국정보과학회 2003 한국정보과학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2003 No.2

The Future of VR : Seamless Worlds

Pablo Figueroa 한국HCI학회 2003 한국HCI학회 학술대회 Vol.2003 No.2

Whole-body vibration as a potential countermeasure for dynapenia and arterial stiffness

Arturo Figueroa,Salvador J. Jaime,Stacey Alvarez-Alvarado 한국한의학연구원 2016 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.5 No.3

Age-related decreases in muscle mass and strength are associated with decreased mobility, quality of life, and increased cardiovascular risk. Coupled with the prevalence of obesity, the risk of death becomes substantially greater. Resistance training (RT) has a well-documented beneficial impact on muscle mass and strength in young and older adults, although the high-intensity needed to elicit these adaptations may have a detrimental or negligible impact on vascular function, specifically on arterial stiffness. Increased arterial stiffness is associated with systolic hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and myocardial ischemia. Therefore, improvements of muscle strength and arterial function are important in older adults. Recently, whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise, a novel modality of strength training, has shown to exhibit similar results on muscle strength as RT in a wide-variety of populations, with the greatest impact in elderly individuals with limited muscle function. Additionally, WBV training has been shown to have beneficial effects on vascular function by reducing arterial stiffness. This article reviews relevant publications reporting the effects of WBV on muscle strength and/or arterial stiffness. Findings from current studies suggest the use of WBV training as an alternative modality to traditional RT to countermeasure the age-related detriments in muscle strength and arterial stiffness in older adults.

Poster Session : PS 0153 ; Diabetes : Basal-Bolus Insulin Regimens and a Discharge-Strategy in Hospitalized Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Can Improve and Maintaining Control Glucemic During Several Years

( Pedro Reales Figueroa ),( Yasser Hessein Abdou ),( Maria Martin Toledano Lucas ),( Ibrahim Hamad ),( Adrian Ruiz Fernandez ),( Juan Velasco Franco ),( Marta Salas Cabanas ) 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2014 No.1

Aims: Current guidelines recommend the use of a basal-bolus insulin regimen in hospitalized patients with hyperglycemia or type 2 DM. In addition a simple strategy facilitating the reconciliation of medication on discharge can improve glycemic control post-discharge. With our study we want to test whether this better glycemic control is maintained over time. Methods: Our study is a prospective and observational study during routine clinical practice. It has been held in an Department of Internal Medicine during hospitalization, with follow-up visit at 3 months after discharge and followed up for 3 years. Study patients (30) were treated with a regimen of basal-bolus insulin during hospitalization and an adjustment of their antidiabetic treatment at discharge. As a control group we included patients(30) hospitalized with similar characteristics, treated with other regimen of insulin or oral antidiabetic agents and to which either no treatment adjustment is recommended at discharge. A follow-up to all patients at 3 months after discharge and again after 3 years I realize. Results: Comparing the study group with the control group we found no differences in baseline HbA1c (8,52%±0,81 vs 8,61%±0.72; p:0,652), age (67,7±3,76 vs 67,8±3,71; p:0,86), sex (16 male vs 17 mal) and BMI (30,33±1,62 Kg/m2 vs 30,41±1,63 Kg/m2). Compared with baseline, the HbA1c at 3 months after discharge is lowe r(7,51%±0.81 vs 8,52%±0,81;p:0,001) and 3 years after discharge also remains lower(7,81%±0,81vs8,52%±0,81; p:0,013). Compared with control subjects, patients included in study have lower HbA1c at 3 months after discharge (7,51%±0,81 vs 8,71% ± 0,81:p:0,004) and lower HbA1c at 3 years after discharge (7,81%±0,81 vs 8,91%±0,81; p:0,002). Conclusion: This study confi rm that protocols to manage hyperglycemia with basal-bolus insulin regimens are also feasible and effective in routine clinical practice, and demonstrate that a simple strategy facilitating the reconciliation of medication on discharge can improve glycemic control post-discharge, that remains after 3 years or follow.

Effectiveness of Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy with Gemcitabine in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients with Comorbidities

Hasan Brau-Figueroa,Eder Arango-Bravo,Denisse Castro-Eguiluz,Tatiana Galicia-Carmona,Leopoldo Abraham Lugo-Alferez,Ivette Cruz-Bautista,Roberto Jiménez-Lima,Lucely Cetina-Pérez 대한암학회 2022 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.54 No.2

Purpose The standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) is concomitant chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) followed by brachytherapy. The presence of comorbidities are risk factors for nephrotoxicity and are associated with lower survival. Gemcitabine is a radiosensitizing drug that has shown efficacy and safety in this context. The effectiveness of concomitant chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine was evaluated versus cisplatin in LACC patients with comorbidities and preserved renal function. Materials and Methods An observational, longitudinal and paired study was carried out that included patients treated between February 2003 and December 2015. The primary objectives were to evaluate response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival; the secondary objectives were to evaluate toxicity and renal function. Results Sixty-three patients treated with gemcitabine at 300 mg/m2 weekly and 126 patients treated with CDDP 40 mg/m2 weekly were included. There were no significant differences in response rates and survival rates. Treatment with cisplatin presented a higher frequency of hematological toxicities, while gemcitabine presented a higher frequency of gastrointestinal toxicities. A decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR; baseline vs. 1-year post-treatment) was observed in the cisplatin group (p=0.002), while not in the gemcitabine group (p=0.667). In a multivariate analysis, it is observed that only CDDP correlates with the decrease in GFR (hazard ratio, 2.42; p=0.012). Conclusion In LACC patients with comorbidities, gemcitabine and CDDP show the same efficacy, with different toxicity profiles. Treatment with cisplatin is associated with a significant decrease in GFR during follow-up, compared to treatment with gemcitabine that does not decrease it. PurposeThe standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) is concomitant chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) followed by brachytherapy. The presence of comorbidities are risk factors for nephrotoxicity and are associated with lower survival. Gemcitabine is a radiosensitizing drug that has shown efficacy and safety in this context. The effectiveness of concomitant chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine was evaluated versus cisplatin in LACC patients with comorbidities and preserved renal function. Materials and MethodsAn observational, longitudinal and paired study was carried out that included patients treated between February 2003 and December 2015. The primary objectives were to evaluate response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival; the secondary objectives were to evaluate toxicity and renal function. ResultsSixty-three patients treated with gemcitabine at 300 mg/m2 weekly and 126 patients treated with CDDP 40 mg/m2 weekly were included. There were no significant differences in response rates and survival rates. Treatment with cisplatin presented a higher frequency of hematological toxicities, while gemcitabine presented a higher frequency of gastrointestinal toxicities. A decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR; baseline vs. 1-year post-treatment) was observed in the cisplatin group (p=0.002), while not in the gemcitabine group (p=0.667). In a multivariate analysis, it is observed that only CDDP correlates with the decrease in GFR (hazard ratio, 2.42; p=0.012).ConclusionIn LACC patients with comorbidities, gemcitabine and CDDP show the same efficacy, with different toxicity profiles. Treatment with cisplatin is associated with a significant decrease in GFR during follow-up, compared to treatment with gemcitabine that does not decrease it.

Evaluation of the effect of a school garden as an educational didactic tool in vegetable and fruit consumption in teenagers

Diana Gabriela Figueroa-Pina,Jorge Luis Chavez-Servin,Karina de la Torre-Carbot,Maria del Carmen Caamano-Perez,Gabriela Lucas-Deecke,Patricia Roitman-Genoud,Laura Regina Ojeda-Navarro 한국영양학회 2021 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.15 No.2

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruits in Mexico remains a challenge. Promoting sustainable food production systems through schools may be an effective way to educate young people about food and nutrition issues. A study of nutritional education in adolescents, based on the school garden, is necessary in order to evaluate its effects on the consumption of fruits and vegetables among middle- and upper-income segments of the population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention, accompanied by a school garden as an educational teaching tool, to improve vegetable and fruit consumption by Mexican teenagers attending a private middle/high school. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Teenagers between 12 and 18 years of age (n = 126) attending a private middle/high school in Queretaro, Mexico participated in a 3-arm, controlled, comparative impact study using a vegetable and fruit consumption frequency questionnaire, food consumption diaries, a psychosocial factor assessment questionnaire of vegetable and fruit consumption, and structured interviews. The participants were randomized into 3 experimental groups: 1) food education + school garden (FE + SG), 2) FE only, and 3) control group (CG). RESULTS: The FE + SG and FE groups significantly increased the frequency and daily intake of vegetables and fruits compared to the CG. The FE + SG group showed greater understanding of, reflection upon, and analysis of the information they received about vegetable and fruit consumption, as well as a greater willingness to include these in their daily diet. CONCLUSIONS: FE accompanied by a SG as a teaching tool is more effective at promoting vegetable and fruit consumption than either education alone or control in teenagers in middle-upper income segments of the population.