In this paper we report a quantitative laser Biospeckle method using VDRL plates to monitor the activity of Trypanosoma cruzi and the calibration conditions including three image processing algorithms and three programs (ImageJ and two programs designed in this work). Benznidazole was used as a test drug. Variable volume (constant density) and variable density (constant volume) were used for the quantitative evaluation of parasite activity in calibrated wells of the VDRL plate. The desiccation process within the well was monitored as a function of volume and of the activity of the Biospeckle pattern of the parasites as well as the quantitative effect of the surface parasite quantity (proportion of the object’s plane). A statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA, Tukey post hoc and Descriptive Statistics using R and R Commander. Conditions of volume (100μl) and parasite density (2-4x104 parasites/well, in exponential growth phase), assay time (up to 204min), frame number (11 frames), algorithm and program (RCommander/SAGA) for image processing were selected to test the effect of variable concentrations of benznidazole (0.0195 to 20μg/mL / 0.075 to 76.8μM) at various times (1, 61, 128 and 204min) on the activity of the Biospeckle pattern. The flat wells of the VDRL plate were found to be suitable for the quantitative calibration of the activity of Trypanosoma cruzi using the appropriate algorithm and program. Under these conditions, benznidazole produces at 1min an instantaneous effect on the activity of the Biospeckle pattern of T. cruzi, which remains with a similar profile up to 1 hour. A second effect which is dependent on concentrations above 1.25μg/mL and is statistically different from the effect at lower concentrations causes a decrease in the activity of the Biospeckle pattern. This effect is better detected after 1 hour of drug action. This behavior may be explained by an instantaneous effect on a membrane protein of Trypanosoma cruzi that could mediate the translocation of benznidazole. At longer times the effect may possibly be explained by the required transformation of the pro-drug into the active drug.

Disease mapping seeks to represent the risk of a disease. This paper focuses on the spatial analysis of risk for pandemic COVID-19 in Europe and the Mediterranean. Morbidity and mortality data for 54 countries in ratio format were used. Two hypotheses were considered, the first one is that the data are homogeneous and the second one is that the ratios are defined in a heterogeneous manner requiring the stratification on the basis of covariables and the methodology of Jenks’ intervals. Spatial risk models were applied as well as methods for the representation of clusters. The results show that the best representation is obtained with the Poisson-Gamma Model under stratification. The variations in the ratios are due to the individual policies of each country for the management of the pandemic. The cluster analysis shows that there is a high mortality process in Eastern Europe. The behavior of the pandemic should be evaluated in the space-time process as well as in other heterogeneous and highly unequal regions.

Antibiotic susceptibility testing is a necessary step prior to the treatment of clinical infections. A major concern is the time required to obtain a fast and reliable result. The aim of this work is to use Biospeckle laser in a 15min assay for an antimicrobial susceptibility test of Ciprofloxacin in serial two-fold dilutions on Escherichia coli K-12 using Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) plates. Analysis of images by video edition is performed on a quantitatively selected region of interest, and processed with ImageJ-ImageDP; and by the construction of time series and analysis with either statistical diagnostics tests or Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models.Antimicrobial susceptibility tests are also performed for the purpose of quantitative comparison, showing a profile that is comparable to the result obtained with ImageJ-ImageDP processing after 15min of antibiotic action. Only the time series of the least affected bacteria (low Ciprofloxacin concentration) behaves in an expected manner, being non-independent and mainly non-linear, non-normal, and heteroscedastic. The most affected bacteria (higher Ciprofloxacin concentration) are non-independent and tend to be linear, normal and heteroscedastic. Adjustment to a linear regression identifies both, the culture medium without bacteria and the most affected bacteria, normality identifies the most affected bacteria and heteroscedasticity-homoscedasticity distinguishes the presenceabsence of bacteria, respectively. ARIMA models (1,1,1)(1,0,1) 11 and (4,1,1)(1,1,1) 11 fit the time series of the most affected bacteria while the latter also fits the culture medium without bacteria. The time series of the least affected bacteria are identified by a (7,1,2)(1,0,1) 11 model. The non-linear, non-normal and heteroscedastic behavior of this group is probably responsible for its adjustment to a model with a relatively high parameter. The four methods: diagnostic statistical tests, fitting of ARIMA models, ImageJ-ImageDP and antimicrobial susceptibility tests, show similar results, being able to distinguish among the groups of assays with bacteria and Ciprofloxacin below and above the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration.

47Antibiotic susceptibility testing is a necessary step prior to the treatment of clinical 48 infections. A major concern is the time required to obtain a fast and reliable result. The aim 49 of this work is to use Biospeckle laser in a 15min assay for an antimicrobial susceptibility 50 test of Ciprofloxacin in serial two-fold dilutions on Escherichia coli K-12 using Venereal 51 Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) plates. Analysis of images by video edition is 52 performed on a quantitatively selected region of interest, and processed with ImageJ-53 ImageDP; and by the construction of time series and analysis with either statistical 54 diagnostics tests or Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models. 55 Antimicrobial susceptibility tests are also performed for the purpose of quantitative 56 comparison, showing a profile that is comparable to the result obtained with ImageJ-57 ImageDP processing after 15min of antibiotic action. Only the time series of the least 58 affected bacteria (low Ciprofloxacin concentration) behaves in an expected manner, being 59 non-independent and mainly non-linear, non-normal, and heteroscedastic. The most 60 affected bacteria (higher Ciprofloxacin concentration) are non-independent and tend to be 61 linear, normal and heteroscedastic. Adjustment to a linear regression identifies both, the 62 culture medium without bacteria and the most affected bacteria, normality identifies the 63 most affected bacteria and heteroscedasticity-homoscedasticity distinguishes the presence-64absence of bacteria, respectively. ARIMA models () 11 fit the 65 time series of the most affected bacteria while the latter also fits the culture medium 66 without bacteria. The time series of the least affected bacteria are identified by a 67 (7,1,2)(1,0,1) 11 model. The non-linear, non-normal and heteroscedastic behavior of this 68 group is probably responsible for its adjustment to a model with a relatively high 69 parameter. The four methods: diagnostic statistical tests, fitting of ARIMA models, ImageJ-70 ImageDP and antimicrobial susceptibility tests, show similar results, being able to 71 distinguish among the groups of assays with bacteria and Ciprofloxacin below and above 72 the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration. 74 Author Summary 75Biospeckle laser patterns occur when a dynamic surface is illuminated. This research 76 describes its application to the activity of Escherichia coli bacteria and the effect of 18 77 different concentrations of an antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) in a 15min assay, using VDRL 78 plates where the sample has a relatively small volume and is flat shaped. The assay is 79 performed on an anti-vibration table in a dark room with a laser that sequentially 80 illuminates each of the wells of the plate. A camera takes short 30sec videos with 81 approximately 750 frames and sends them to a computer where image processing takes 82 place. In order to select a segment of 80 successive frames to analyze, the region with the 83 higher variation was identified, punched out and edited as a "fl...

Se generó un Modelo Digital de Elevación (MDE) del Compartimiento 9, en la Reserva Forestal El Dorado-Tumeremo, utilizando modelado y simulación Geoestadística, se dispuso de las curvas de nivel a escala 1:20.000. Se obtuvo que los datos no son estacionarios por media, ya que se ajustó un modelo polinomial de segundo orden que sigue dirección Este-Oeste. Se ajustó sobre los residuales un modelo de semivariograma Esférico Isotrópico y se ejecutó un Kriging simple residual cuyo error fue de -0.10 m. Finalmente, ante la falta de información se aplicó un modelo de simulación condicional multi-Gaussiana, de la que se obtuvo nuevas realizaciones que reflejen las mismas propiedades estadísticas de la función aleatoria. Los resultados muestran que, el proceso fue altamente efectivo, reconstruyendo la forma del terreno, pero la simulación corresponde con un proceso altamente volumétrico y de elevado costo computacional que requiere de un adecuado criterio estadístico.