Simón Bolívar University

About: Simón Bolívar University is a education organization based out in Caracas, Venezuela. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Crystallization. The organization has 5912 authors who have published 8294 publications receiving 126152 citations.

Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), Part I: Effectiveness of a Multidimensional Infection Control Approach on Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Rates in Pediatric Intensive Care Units of 6 Developing Countries

Abstract: Design. A before-after prospective surveillance study to assess the impact of a multidimensional infection control approach for the reduction of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) rates.Setting. Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) of hospital members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from 10 cities of the following 6 developing countries: Colombia, El Salvador, India, Mexico, Philippines, and Turkey.Patients. PICU inpatients.Methods. We performed a prospective active surveillance to determine rates of CAUTI among 3,877 patients hospitalized in 10 PICUs for a total of 27,345 bed-days. The study was divided into a baseline period (phase 1) and an intervention period (phase 2). In phase 1, surveillance was performed without the implementation of the multidimensional approach. In phase 2, we implemented a multidimensional infection control approach that included outcome surveillance, process surveillance, feedback on CAUTI rates, feedback on performance, ...

A portable ECG monitoring device with Bluetooth and Holter capabilities for telemedicine applications

Abstract: A prototype of a portable ECG-monitoring device has been developed for clinical and non-clinical environments as part of a telemedicine system to provide remote and continuous surveillance of patients. The device can acquire, store and/or transmit ECG signals to computer-based platforms or specially configured access points (AP) with Intranet/Internet capabilities in order to reach remote monitoring stations. Acquired data can be stored in a flash memory card in FAT16 format for later recovery, or transmitted via Bluetooth or USB to a local station or AP. This data acquisition module (DAM) operates in two modes: Holter and on-line transmission.

Salinity effects on the leaf water relations components and ion accumulation patterns in Avicennia germinans (L.) L. seedlings.

Abstract: Physiological traits involved in leaf water relations were evaluated in Avicennia germinans (L.) L. seedlings growing at different salinities in the field. Analysis of pressure-volume (P-V) curves and sap osmometry were combined to evaluate osmotic adjustment and cell elasticity, and the contribution of accumulated inorganic ions to osmotic potential was estimated. Seedlings growing in soils with interstitial water salinity above that of normal sea water showed a modification of the relationship between water potential and relative water content. Thus, their leaf osmotic potential at maximum turgor (Ψπ( max )) and at zero turgor (Ψπ(0)) was 1.41 and 1.82 MPa lower respectively, than that of the seedlings from the low salinity site. Volumetric moduli of elasticity () were between 17 and 23 MPa. Thus, ɛ was about 6 MPa lower in high-salinity plants indicating that their cells were slightly more elastic. Ionic concentration analysis showed that Σ [anions] and Σ [cations] were higher in the high-salinity site (22–35%) while the water content per unit dry mass was only 12–17% lower. Reduction in water content was insufficient to explain the increase in ion concentration. Ion concentration explained 73 and 66% of the osmotic potential estimated by P-V curves for leaves from low- and high-salinity sites, respectively. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that leaves of A. germinans seedlings adapt to hypersaline soils by increasing solute concentration by 52% and cell elasticity by 26%. Both processes allow leaf water uptake and turgor maintenance over a large range of soil water potential.

New perspectives in fire management in South American savannas: The importance of intercultural governance

Abstract: Wildfires continue to cause damage to property, livelihoods and environments around the world. Acknowledging that dealing with wildfires has to go beyond fire-fighting, governments in countries with fire-prone ecosystems have begun to recognize the multiple perspectives of landscape burning and the need to engage with local communities and their practices. In this perspective, we outline the experiences of Brazil and Venezuela, two countries where fire management has been highly contested, but where there have been recent advances in fire management approaches. Success of these new initiatives have been measured by the reduction in wildfire extent through prescribed burning, and the opening of a dialogue on fire management between government agencies and local communities. Yet, it is clear that further developments in community participation need to take place in order to avoid the appropriation of local knowledge systems by institutions, and to better reflect more equitable fire governance.