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Effective ventilation plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of infection by airborne contaminants. This study was conducted in a hospital ward of specific dimensions (41.58 m3) equipped with two respiratory thermal manikins: a healthcare worker and an infected patient. Three ventilation strategies were employed in the ventilation system: supply and exhaust air through upper grilles, upper and lower grilles, and swirl diffusers with lower grilles. The air flow rate of the ventilation system was maintained constant at 200 m3/h. The airflow was distributed 50–50 % by a combination of a personalised ventilation system and personalised exhaust system. The effectiveness of a ventilation system and its combination with a personalised exhaust system was investigated using aerosol and tracer gas techniques. The efficacy of contaminant removal was evaluated in both the patient and healthcare inhaled volume. Determination of the clean air flow rate of the three ventilation system strategies at inhaled volume was carried out. Also, the exposure of healthcare worker to the contaminants exhaled by infected patient in the microenvironment formed by both was analysed. Experimental findings revealed that CO2 showed a higher ventilation efficiency compared to particles, independently of the ventilation strategy used. The highest clean air flow rate values were detected in the inhaled volume of patient infected. On the other hand, the highest particle removal efficiency was observed in swirl diffusers with lower grilles, which combined the ventilation system with the PES. This strategy also showed the lowest exposure values in the microenvironment.

Background: Dupilumab is a new targeted therapy for severe atopic dermatitis (AD) with limited real-world evidence. Objective: Explore our experience with dupilumab for AD in clinical practice at a tertiary care center. Material and method: Unicentric observational retrospective study including adult and pediatric patients with severe AD receiving dupilumab between December 2017 and December 2021. The Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (P-NRS) and Sleep disturbance Numerical Rating Scale (S-NRS) were recovered to assess severity and response. Results: Fifty-nine patients received dupilumab: 52, 48, 26 and 13 patients reached 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of treatment, respectively. The EASI-75 response rates were 94.2%, 95.8%, 92.3% and 100% at months 6, 12, 24 and 36. The EASI-90 response rates were 63.5%, 72.9%, 84.6% and 92.3% at months 6, 12, 24 and 36. The EASI

Resumen: Antecedentes: Dupilumab es una nueva terapia dirigida para la dermatitis atópica (DA) grave con una evidencia en la vida real aún limitada. Objetivo: Explorar nuestra experiencia con dupilumab para la DA en práctica clínica en un centro terciario. Material y método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo y unicéntrico que incluye pacientes adultos y pediátricos con DA grave en tratamiento con dupilumab entre diciembre de 2017 y diciembre de 2021. La gravedad y la respuesta se evaluaron con las escalas Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale y Sleep Disturbance Numerical Rating Scale. Resultados: Cincuenta y nueve pacientes recibieron dupilumab: 52, 48, 26 y 13 pacientes alcanzaron los 6, 12, 24 y 36 meses de tratamiento, respectivamente. La tasa de EASI-75 fue del 94,2; 95,8; 92,3 y 100% a los 6, 12, 24 y 36 meses, respectivamente. La tasa de EASI-90 fue del 63,5; 72,9; 84,6 y 92,3% a los 6, 12, 24 y 36 meses, respectivamente. La tasa de EASI

The present technical note reports the new method for the mass production of spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus juveniles. The source of eggs came from a total of 387 spawns obtained in 2013 and 2014. 85 % of the spawns had floating eggs, and 93.5 ± 2.8 % of them had live embryos. The initial stocking density of eggs in the rearing tanks was 165 ± 69 embryos/l. The hatching rate was 88 ± 4%, with 50 ± 8% larval survival at 48 h post-hatch (hph). After 35 days post-hatch (dph), a total of 706,799 pre-juveniles (0.1 ± 0.05 g of body weight) were harvested, obtaining from first feeding 31 ± 20 % larval survival. The larvae grew from an average of 2.55 mm–23.58 mm in five weeks. From nursery I, a total of 664,301 juveniles with 0.6 g to 0.8 g body weight (BW) were harvested (94 % survival) and transferred to nursery II, growing on average from 0.48 g to 14.78 g BW in seven weeks. Finally, from nursery II a total of 596,382 juveniles (5–15 g BW) were harvested at 90 dph (89.8 % survival) and delivered to farmers for grow-out. The new method was integrated with an older rearing protocol, and a pre-commercial number of juveniles was produced with high efficiency, requiring only four 48 hph larvae to produce every 90 dph juvenile. These results provided an improvement in the state-of-the-art of snapper aquaculture and it can be applied at a commercial scale.

Different water treatment processes (physical and chemical) exist to obtain safe water for human or food industry supply. The advanced oxidation technologies are rising as a new alternative to eliminate undesirable chemicals and waterborne diseases. In this work, we analyze the power of the photo-assisted Fenton process using Fe(II)/H2O2 and UV radiation (365 nm) to inactivate Bacillus subtilis spores, considered among the most resistant biological structures known. Different concentrations of Fe(II), H2O2 and UV radiation (365 nm) were used to inactivate wt and some coat spore mutants of B. subtilis. Wt spores of B. subtilis were inactivated after 60 min using this process. In general, all defective coat mutants were more sensitive than the wt spores and, particularly, the double mutant was 10 folds more sensitive than others being inactivated during the first 10 minutes using soft reaction conditions. Presence of Fe(II) ions was found essential for spore inactivating process and, for those spores inactivated using the Fe(II)/H2O2 under UV radiation process, it is suggested that coat structures are important to their resistance to the treatment process. The photo-assisted Fenton process using Fe(II), H2O2 and UV radiation (365 nm) can be used to inactivate any water microorganisms with the same or less resistance that B. subtilis spores to produce safe drinking water in relatively short treatment time.

Asthma often remains uncontrolled, despite the fact that the pharmacological treatment has undergone large changes. We studied changes in the treatment of asthma over a 20-year period and identified factors associated with the regular use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment. Changes in the use of medication were determined in 4617 randomly selected subjects, while changes in adults with persistent asthma were analysed in 369 participants. The study compares data from three surveys in 24 centres in 11 countries. The use of ICSs increased from 1.7% to 5.9% in the general population and the regular use of ICSs increased from 19% to 34% among persistent asthmatic subjects. The proportion of asthmatic subjects reporting asthma attacks in the last 12 months decreased, while the proportion that had seen a doctor in the last 12 months remained unchanged (42%). Subjects with asthma who had experienced attacks or had seen a doctor were more likely to use ICSs on a regular basis. Although ICS use has increased, only one-third of subjects with persistent asthma take ICSs on a regular basis. Less than half had seen a doctor during the last year. This indicates that underuse of ICSs and lack of regular healthcare contacts remains a problem in the management of asthma.

We report the measurement of the one-dimensional charged kaon correlation functions using 600GeV/c Σ−, π− and 540GeV/c p beams from the SELEX (E781) experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. K±K± correlation functions are studied for three transverse pair momentum, kT, ranges and parameterized by a Gaussian form. The emission source radii, R, and the correlation strength, λ, are extracted. The analysis shows a decrease of the source radii with increasing kaon transverse pair momentum for all beam types.

Objetivos: Evaluar la eficacia de un programa de intercambio de jeringuillas (PIJ) en una prisión para reducir la prevalencia de infecciones asociadas al uso de drogas intravenosas, y conocer la aceptación del programa por internos y funcionarios del centro penitenciario. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional con cortes transversales al inicio, 6 y 12 meses y 10 años de desarrollo del programa. Se realizaron entrevistas a los usuarios del programa y encuestas a muestras accidentales de funcionarios en los distintos cortes, y a una muestra aleatoria de internos a los 10 años. Se registraron diariamente los indicadores de actividad del programa, y se valoró la prevalencia de infección por VIH, hepatitis B y C al inicio y a los 10 años. Para el análisis estadístico utilizamos la prueba ji-cuadrado con la corrección de Yates en caso necesario. Resultados: Durante estos diez años se suministraron 15.962 jeringuillas a 429 usuarios (media de 20,2 usuarios/mes), recuperándose 11.327 (70,9%). La prevalencia de infección por VIH pasó del 21% en 1999 al 8,5% en 2009, la de VHC del 40% al 26,1% (pObjectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of NEPs in prison to reduce the prevalence of infections associated with intravenous drug use and to know more about acceptance of the program by inmates and staff. Material and methods: cross-sectional observational study at baseline, 6 and 12 months and 10 years of program development. Interviews were conducted with program users, as well as random sample surveys of officials at the various cuts, and a random sample of inmates from the centre after10 years. Activity indicators of the program were recorded continuously, and the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV at baseline and after 10 years was evaluated. For the statistical analysis, the chi-square test was used with the Yates correction when necessary. Results: In ten years we have supplied a total of 15,962 syringes to 429 users, (average 20.2 users/month), and 11,327 (70.9%) were returned. The prevalence of HIV infection decreased from 21% in 1999 to 8.5% in 2009, HCV prevalence from 40% to 26.1% (p

This article describes data related to the research paper “Simplification of gel point characterization of cellulose nano and microfiber suspensions” [1]. The characterization of fibrillated celluloses that include cellulose nano and microfibrils (CMNFs) is a challenge for their production on an industrial scale, requiring easy techniques that control their quality and reproducibility. Gel point is a convenient parameter commonly used to estimate the aspect ratio (AR) of CMNFs. However, this estimation requires many sedimentation experiments, which are tedious and time consuming. The dataset includes all information related to the traditional experiments and to the simplified experiments for estimating gel point and AR based on only one sedimentation experiment. The full data set is useful to select the initial concentration to carry out the experimentation. This dataset also includes the information for the validation of the proposed simplified methodology and shows that the errors are lower than 7% for the gel point calculation and of 3% for the AR estimation. A larger databased of nanocellulose suspensions can be built with the reuse of this data to allow the estimation of nanocellulose properties in a future.

We report the effect of low temperature vacuum annealing (823 K; 550 °C) on the elemental chemical composition, structural phase transition temperatures, phase structure, and magnetic properties of Ni 50.6 Mn 36.3 Sn 13.1 as-solidified ribbons. Their elemental chemical composition, highly oriented columnar-like microstructure and single-phase character (L2 1 -type crystal structure for austenite) remain unchanged after this low temperature annealing. Annealed ribbons show a reduction of interatomic distances which lead to a small change in the characteristic phase transition temperatures (~3–6 K) but to a significant rise of ~73 and 63% in the saturation magnetization of the martensite and austenite phases, respectively, that can be strictly ascribed to the strengthening of ferromagnetic interactions due to the change in interatomic distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effect of a severe mechanical milling treatment on the microstructure, magnetic and magneto-caloric properties of Pr2Fe17 powders is reported. Bulk alloys showing a rhombohedral Th2Zn17-type crystal structure were mechanically ball milled under Ar atmosphere. After 10h of milling this crystal structure persists and the mean values of the lattice parameters remain almost unchanged. Average grain sizes around 27nm were estimated by both, transmission electron microscopy and neutron powder diffraction measurements. While for the starting bulk alloys the low field temperature of the magnetization, M(T), shows a well-defined and sharp decrease at the Curie temperature, T C =285(2)K, in ball milled samples the transition becomes broad not allowing an accurate determination of Curie point; in addition, this intrinsic parameter seems to be shifted toward a higher temperature [292(10)K]. The magnetocaloric effect at μ o H max =5T was evaluated from the temperature dependence of magnetic entropy change, through the variation of M(H,T) curves. A decrease in the peak value of magnetic entropy change, , from 5.7 to 3.7Jkg−1 K−1, and the broadening of the maximum is observed for the milled sample respect to the bulk alloy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

AbstractIn Peru, there is a lack of information on molecular analysis in pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. At present, the mother-to-child transmission rate is estimated at approximately 2–4%. The objective of this study was to assess the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in infected children. Children with suspected or confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated at two public hospitals between 2002 and 2007. Whole blood samples were obtained from 90 HIV-positive children, who were confirmed to be positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. The specimens were subjected to envelope heteroduplex mobility assay (env HMA) followed by gagand polgene region sequence analysis. Subtype B was found in 88 (98%) of 90 children and 2 (2%) children were subtype BF recombinants. This is the first report of recombinant HIV strains in HIV-infected children in Peru. Understanding the origin, diversity, and spread of HIV strains worldwide will be necessary for the development of an effective vaccine that targets pediatric populations throughout the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Microstructural and magnetic changes induced by ball milling in Nd2Fe17 alloy have been investigated. X-ray and neutron powder diffraction studies have shown that the main crystalline phase present in the as-cast Nd2Fe17 compound is the rhombohedral Th2Zn17-type crystal structure. Contrary to other materials, the crystal structure does not change after milling, and the crystal lattice parameters slightly increases while the induced strain is less than 0.1%. It has been observed from SEM and TEM images that the microstructure consists of agglomerates of nanoparticles with a mean size around 20nm, and from magnetic measurements a broadening of the temperature range in which ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition takes place. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The crystal structure, and magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of rapidly solidified Ni 0.895 Cr 0.105 MnGe 1.05 melt-spun ribbons is reported. The ribbon samples crystallize into a single-phase hexagonal Ni 2 In-type structure at room temperature. The as-quenched ribbons showed a second order magnetic transition at 192 ± 1 K at μ o H  = 5 mT. A magnetic-field-induced transition from an antiferromagnetic (AFM)-like to a ferromagnetic (FM) state of martensite structure was observed in annealed ribbons below the temperature of the martensitic transformation ( T M  ∼ 245 ± 1 K). The annealed ribbons undergo a first-order magnetostructural transition (MST) with a large maximum reversible magnetic entropy change of Δ S M  = 16.1 J kg −1  K −1 (this is about a four-fold increase compared to the Δ S M observed for the bulk sample of the same nominal composition) and RC  = 144 J kg −1 for μ o Δ H  = 5 T at temperature T  =  T M  ∼ 245 ± 1 K. The increase in the Δ S M peak value leads to an improved RC compared to that of the bulk sample (122 J kg −1 ). The observed MCE and quasi-reversible character of Δ S M at the MST illustrates the potential of Ni 0.895 Cr 0.105 MnGe 1.05 ribbons for magnetic cooling technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulsed photoacoustic (PA) technique was used to study the synthesis by laser ablation of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in ethanol. PA technique allowed to determine the production rate per laser pulse and concentration of synthesized Ag-NPs. The samples were produced by using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with 1064 nm of wavelength and 7 ns of pulse duration. The laser pulse energy varied from 10 to 100 mJ. Transmission electron microscopy micrographs demonstrated that the obtained nanoparticles were spherical with an average size close to 10 nm. The absorption spectra of the colloids showed a plasmon absorption peak around 400 nm. The PA analyses showed a significant reduction of the production rate of Ag-NPs during the first hundreds of laser pulses. For a higher number of pulses this rate was kept almost constant. Finally, we found that the root mean square (RMS) value of the PA signal was proportional to the laser pulse fluence on the target surface. Thus PA technique was useful to monitor the ablation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] XPS was used to investigate chemical shift in the Nb2SnC and Nb2SC compounds. [•] Valence band of the Nb2SnC and Nb2SC compounds was studied by XPS. [•] Positive and negative chemical shift are observed in the Nb2SnC and Nb2SC. [•] The charge transfer model can be applicable to the Nb2SnC and Nb2SC compounds. [•] The decrease of the N(E F ) of Nb2SC respect to Nb2SnC explain the decrease of T c . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]