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Coral-like structures of the Y3–xPrxFe5–yYbyO12, (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.04, 0.00 ≤ y ≤ 0.02) compound were synthesized using the sol-gel method. Structural investigation certified the YIG cubic crystal structure formation, without any secondary phase. It is shown that, the relatively large ionic radius of the dopant cations results in an expansion of the lattice parameter, variations in the Iona‒O‒Iondangle, Iona‒O, Iond‒O and Ionc‒O bond distances and decrease in the average crystallite size. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman measurements are essential to testify the single-phase formation of YIG crystal structure and are observed changes in the stretching and vibrational modes, respectively. The morphological study, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectra and textural properties show coral-like structures, peaks associated with Pr3+and Yb3+atoms and the effect of dopants on surface area, diameter, and pore volume, respectively. The optical analysis from diffuse reflectance spectra witnessed an increase in the optical gap band, a decrease in Urbach energy and blue shift in the charge transfer, correlated with the expansion of the unit cell due to the dopant's insertion in the YIG structure. A typical ferrimagnetic behavior is exhibited by the Y3–xPrxFe5–yYbyO12compound. The saturation magnetization (Ms), cubic anisotropy constant (K1) and coercive field (Hc) increase with the Pr3+cations content, as consequence of their magnetic nature and distribution around of Fe3+ions due to the coexistence with the Yb3+. Finally, for the first time, antibacterial tests by mean of the direct contact method were performed for YIG co-doped with Pr3+and Yb3+and it is shown that, relatively high dosages of Pr3+cations favored the activity against S. aureus, therefore, a new biological property for YIG doped with rare earths is presented.

Las vacunas constituyen una herramienta fundamental en la prevención de las enfermedades infecciosas. Tras la vacunación tiene lugar una compleja interacción entre el producto vacunal y el sistema inmunitario del receptor, cuyo resultado es la protección frente a la enfermedad. Se observa una elevada variabilidad en las respuestas inmunitarias a la vacunación tanto individuales como poblacionales; en la actualidad, estas diferencias no son bien comprendidas. Se conocen algunos factores del receptor bien estudiados como la edad, el sexo, la genética, el historial inmunológico… sin embargo, otros como el sobrepeso y la obesidad son menos conocidos. Existe evidencia de que un índice de masa corporal muy alto es un factor de riesgo importante para las infecciones en general, y de que el tejido graso tiene un papel claro en la modulación del sistema inmunitario; también se han observado niveles subóptimos de seroconversión vacunal en personas obesas. A lo largo del documento se ha revisado la inmunidad y la protección inducidas por diversas vacunas en personas con sobrepeso. Se estudia también la reactogenicidad a las vacunas en personas. Finalmente se expone la relación entre microbioma, inmunidad y obesidad que es motivo de recientes investigaciones.

With ageing, changes occur that affect the quality and quantity of sleep. These changes could cause sleep disorders in older adults, causing severe consequences for health and quality of life. However, in Mexico there are no studies addressing the prevalence of sleep disorders in older adults.

Real-time simulation plays an important role not only in the design and commissioning of new control strategies, but also in training the operators before the actual system is installed. There are in the market several simulation environments for carrying out these tasks. However, there is still a need of having more flexible environments that can be easily integrated with other systems and tools such as real-time optimization and advanced data analysis. In this work, several standard tools such as Simulink®/Simulink®, OPC toolbox, RSLogix 5000, and FactoryTalk®are integrated to simulate a control strategy for a SAG mill designed to keep the mill operating in the stable region by manipulating the fresh ore feed. The implementation of this strategy is based on standard control blocks available in the ControlLogix Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach to integrate standard tools, and open new possibilities for further developments in the design of advanced monitoring and control strategies for industrial processes.

Hasta el día de hoy, la resección transuretral de próstata se ha reconocido como el tratamiento quirúrgico estándar del crecimiento prostático. El primer reporte de un procedimiento laparoscópico para el manejo del crecimiento prostático data del 2002, cuando el Dr. Mariano Mirandolino publicó en Brasil un caso anecdótico de una adenomectomía prostática laparoscópica (APL). Se han publicado 19 estudios con reporte de la experiencia con esta técnica laparoscópica. En nuestro hospital se inició el procedimiento a mediados del año 2010.

This study aimed to determine the extent of extraskeletal calcification in uremic Zucker rats, by comparing obese and lean phenotypes, and to evaluate the influence of vitamin E (VitE) on the development of calcifications in both uremic rats and human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) cultured in vitro. Zucker rats of lean and obese phenotypes with normal renal function [control (C); C-lean and C-obese groups] and with uremia [5/6 nephrectomy (Nx); Nx-lean and Nx-obese groups] and uremic rats treated with VitE (Nx-lean + VitE and Nx-obese + VitE groups) were studied. Uremic groups were subjected to Nx, fed a 0.9% phosphorus diet, and treated with calcitriol (80 ng/kg ip). The aortic calcium concentration was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in Nx-obese rats (10.0 ± 2.1 mg/g tissue) than in Nx-lean rats (3.6 ± 1.3 mg/g tissue). A decrease in plasma glutathione peroxidase activity was observed in Nx-obese rats compared with Nx-lean rats (217.2 ± 18.2 vs. 382.3 ± 15.5 nmol·min−1·ml−1, P< 0.05). Treatment with VitE restored glutathione peroxidase activity and reduced the aortic calcium concentration to 4.6 ± 1.3 mg/g tissue. The differences in mineral deposition between Nx-lean, Nx-obese, Nx-lean + VitE, and Nx-obese + VitE rats were also evidenced in other soft tissues. In HVSMCs incubated with high phosphate, VitE also prevented oxidative stress and reduced calcium content, bone alkaline phosphatase, and gene expression of core-binding factor-α1. In conclusion, uremic obese rats develop more severe calcifications than uremic lean rats and VitE reduces oxidative stress and vascular calcifications in both rats and cultures of HVSMCs.

The Spanish Quality Assurance Program applied to the process of donation after brain death entails an internal stage consisting of a continuous clinical chart review of deaths in critical care units (CCUs) performed by transplant coordinators and periodical external audits to selected centers. This paper describes the methodology and provides the most relevant results of this program, with information analyzed from 206,345 CCU deaths. According to the internal audit, 2.3% of hospital deaths and 12.4% of CCU deaths in Spain yield potential donors (clinical criteria consistent with brain death). Out of the potential donors, 54.6% become actual donors, 26% are lost due to medical unsuitability, 13.3% due to refusals to donation, 3.1% due to maintenance problems and 3% due to other reasons. Although the national pool of potential donors after brain death has progressively decreased from 65.2 per million population (pmp) in 2001 to 49 pmp in 2010, the number of actual donors after brain death has remained at about 30 pmp. External audits reveal that the number of actual donors could be 21.6% higher if all potential donors were identified and preventable losses avoided. We encourage other countries to develop similar comprehensive approaches to deceased donation performance.

The main purpose of this work was to produce nanotubes using a two step method: mechanical alloying and heat treatment. Mechanical Alloying (MA) was used to prepare the monometallic Co3C carnide and the bimetallic C-25%at Ni-25%at Mo carbide with Ti impuririties by milling of pure elemental powders of cobalt, molibdenum, titanium and carbon, in a high-energy rotatory mill under an Ar atmosphere. The nanocrystalline carbides were used to produce metal filled nanotubes and nanoparticles, by means of precipitation after heating for 15 minutes at 800°C. Microstructural characterisation of the as-milled and heat-treated powders was performed using Transmisssion Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. It was possible to obtain filled nanotubes, carbide nanorods, and observe a nucleation phenomena inside carbon cavities.

Wetlands are one of the most altered natural systems due to the creation and development of agricultural landscapes. Some of agriculture’s impacts are in relation to water quality decreases, due to the use of potentially toxic herbicides or pesticides, and they are responsible of ecological alterations. This study shows the negative effect that two pesticides generate in a population of the copepod Arctodiaptomus salinus in an aquatic ecosystem that is surrounded by intensive olive tree cultivation. Adult females and egg sacs of that calanoid copepod were exposed to different concentrations of copper sulphate and the pesticide dimethoate, to examine their tolerance response. The adult lethal concentration obtained was lower than the regular dose of pesticide used in olive agriculture. These results also reflect the negative effect over A. salinus secondary production as a consequence of the increase in females and nauplii mortality and by the hatching rate reduction.

The objective of this study was to assess the factors implicated in an increased or decreased risk of pneumonia, with particular attention to the response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the effect of the polysaccharide 23‐valent pneumococcal vaccination in 300 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected adults followed‐up for a median of 35.6 months. Pneumococcal pneumonia occurred in 12 patients and all bacterial pneumonia (pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniaeor other bacteria, as well as those with negative cultures but presumably bacterial in origin) in 40 patients. In the univariate analysis, immunodepressed patients (defined as those with less than 200 CD4+ T cell/μl), those without immunological response to HAART (defined as an increase of 25% of CD4+ T lymphocyte count), patients with previous admissions to hospital and those with cotrimoxazole or Mycobacterium avium intracellulareprophylaxis showed a higher incidence of both pneumococcal and all bacterial pneumonia. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of pneumococcal pneumonia was associated with a CD4+ lymphocyte count at the time of HIV diagnosis <200 cells/μl. The multivariate model that was more valid for prediction of all bacterial pneumonia included a CD4+ T cell count <200 cells/μl and absence of immunological response to HAART. Only in patients with a baseline CD4+ T cell count lower than 200/μl and immunological response to HAART, a near significant lower incidence of all bacterial pneumonia was observed after vaccination. Thus, these results do not support an important additional protective effect of 23‐valent pneumococcal vaccine in HIV‐patients with immunological response to HAART. J. Med. Virol. 72:517–524, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Abstract: Chronic alcoholics frequently show associated malnutrition. Both ethanol and malnutrition exert profound changes on zinc and copper metabolism. In this study, we found higher hair zinc and copper values in 43 male alcoholics than in 39 controls. Hair copper was significantly related to the amount of ethanol consumed, whereas hair zinc was higher in consumers of distilled beverages. No relation was observed between hair zinc and copper and nutritional status, kind of diet consumed, style of life, and liver cirrhosis. Consequently, hair zinc and copper levels are related only with alcohol intake.

Abstract:  An incubation experiment with composted sewage sludge (CSS) just added to the soil was conducted to determine its initial effects on C decomposition, N nitrification and the transformation of organic matter. CSS was mixed with a sandy loam soil from uncultivated ochric epipedon of a Typic Haploxeralf at rates of 0, 40 and 80 t ha–1 (dry weight). The data obtained showed that with regard to the unamended soil, both the 40 and the 80 t ha–1 treatments produced the same result in decreasing respiratory activity, but the addition of increasing amounts of CSS progressively delayed C decomposition. The nitrification index (NI), defined as the relation between nitrate-N and nitrate-N + ammonium-N, increased in correlation with the C mineralization coefficient. Total organic matter decreased after incubation whereas the humic substances increased in relation to the total C mineralized.

The effect of the titanium cation as a doping element in the diffuse phase transition of the (Sr0.255La0.03Ba0.7)(Nb2-yTiy)O6-y/2 ferroelectric ceramic system is studied. Far from the transition temperature, a Curie-Weiss behavior of the dielectric permittivity with temperature is observed with strongly broadened curves in all cases, however, a non Curie-Weiss behavior above the transition temperature is observed. The diffuseness coefficient (δdL) was calculated using Isupov's relation and by a more realistic model assuming a Gaussian distribution for the transition temperatures, in a temperature interval around the maximum permittivity temperature. The conditions under which each expression can be used are discussed.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the T helper 1 (T(H)1)/T helper 2 (T(H)2) lymphocyte cytokine profiles in women and men and to study the in vitro effects of sex hormones on lymphocyte secretion of cytokines. METHODS: Analysis of serum concentration and lymphocyte synthesis of T(H)1 (gamma interferon (INF-gamma) and interleukin 2 (IL-2)) and T(H)2 (interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 10 (IL-10)) cytokines was performed in 20 women and 15 men. Analysis of modifications in cytokine secretion induced by supplementation of lymphocyte culture with increasing concentrations of sex hormones was carried out. RESULTS: Higher levels of INF-gamma and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were detected in the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte culture supernatants of men compared with women; the INF-gamma:IL-4 ratio was significantly higher in men. In women, similar concentrations of all the cytokines were detected in culture supernatants obtained during the follicular and the luteal phases. The addition of sex hormones did not modify the concentration of cytokines in supernatants of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T-cell cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Women present a predominant T(H)2 cytokine profile, which could be involved in immune responses characterized principally by the secretion of antibodies. This could be a factor implicated in the higher concentration of immunoglobulins or the increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases detected in females.

Abstract: This study was performed in order to analyze the relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on hair copper, zinc, manganese, and iron content in four groups of seven animals each which were pair-fed during 8 wk with (1) a nutritionally adequate diet, (2) a 36% (as energy) ethanol-containing isocaloric diet, (3) a 2% protein, isocaloric diet, and (4) a 36% ethanol, 2% protein isocaloric diet, respectively, following the Lieber-DeCarli model, and to analyze the relationship between hair copper, zinc, manganese, and iron content, and the liver and muscle content of these elements. Although there was a trend to higher levels of all the elements analyzed in the the hair of the low-protein fed animals, differences were statistically significant regarding copper and manganese, effects being solely attributable to the low protein diet, not to ethanol. Moreover, hair copper was significantly, inversely related with final weight and weight loss. There were significant relationship between liver zinc and muscle zinc (r=0.57, p=0.002), but not between liver or muscle zinc and hair zinc; no correlations were observed between muscle copper and hair copper, nor between liver manganese and hair manganese. An inverse, statistically significant correlation was observed between liver copper and hair copper (r=−0.39, p<0.05).

The study of the dielectric properties of the stoichiometric Titanium doped Sr0.255La0.03Ba0.7Nb2O6ceramics prepared according to the formula Sr0.225La0.03Ba0.7Nb2–yTiyO6–y/2is reported. A single phase compound is observed for low Ti content (y<0.1) in the XRD spectra, being isostructural with the SBN phase. For high Ti concentrations (y<0.1), the XRD patterns show, besides the SBN phase reflections, several small peaks associated with an additional phase present in the ceramics. A possible liquid phase sintering is analyzed. Strongly broadened dielectric curves are obtained in dielectric measurements, where the transition temperature decreases with the Titanium content. The diffuse phase transition coefficients are calculated, corroborating that Titanium increases the diffuse character of the transition in the monophasic region.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a high ambient pressure of He on vascular contraction induced by noradrenaline and to distinguish the effects of ambient pressure per se from those of increased pressure of inert gas. Rings of thoracic aorta were isolated from male Wistar rats. Isometric tension was measured in preparations exposed to 7.1 MPa (absolute pressure) of He. Dose‐response curves for noradrenaline and contractions elicited by 120 mM KCl were compared with time‐matched experiments performed at atmospheric pressure. The same protocol was also carried out under 7.1 MPa of N2. At the high pressure of He, the contraction elicited by noradrenaline was increased with no change in the response to K(+)ࢤevoked depolarization. The tension developed in response to noradrenaline also increased under 7.1 MPa of N2 but the effects were less marked than during the He experiments. Moreover, the response to KCl was reduced in this circumstance. Hyperbaric conditions enhance the noradrenaline‐induced contraction of rat aorta in vitro. This effect probably results from an action of pressure per se on activation of adrenoceptors. However, the hyperbaric‐induced increase in vascular smooth muscle contraction is partially counteracted by high pressures of inert gases (N2, but also probably He), which impair the efficiency of the contractile machinery.

Abstract: The size-fractionated distribution of chlorophylla was studied in a temporary hypersaline lake situated in the south of Spain during an annual hydrological cycle characterized by low levels of rainfall. The contribution of each size class to the total chlorophylla concentration indicates that ultraplankton (size class <5mgrm) was the most important fraction of phytoplankton biomass during this year.

Summary: A chromatographic method is described for the SFC analysis of complex mixtures of alkyl polyethyleneglycol ethers. Solutes were separated not only according to their hydrophobic chains but also according to their hydrophilic chains. Co-elution of severals compounds was observed, then a liquid preparative scale followed by mass spectrometric analysis was necessary to understand this co-elution. A thermodynamic study was undertaken to elucidate the cause of the retention behaviour.

We studied the effect of incubating peat with lime and sewage sludge in small proportions on biological activity and N mineralization. The peat response was dependent on pH and, in acid peats, on mineralization capacity. In acid peats, the addition of sewage sludge inhibited biological activity. Only the most eutrophic peats (Herbosa) responded with accelerated mineralization. The addition of lime to acid peats favoured organic matter mineralization, shown by a greater CO2 release. The best results were obtained by adding lime and sewage sludge together. In saline peats, the best N levels were obtained without incubation.

Summary The evolution of nuclear and nucleolar sizes throughout interphase have been studied in synchronous caffeine-labeled binucleate cells of onion root meristems by using silver impregnation and stereological methods over semithin sections. Nucleus and nucleolus grow independently, since nucleolus enlarges at its fastest rate in G 1, while nucleus grows mostly in two periods: onset of replication and G 2. Nucleolar size in the cycle seems to be a genecontrolled function, hardly affected by protein synthesis inhibition. Hence, there is a biphasic response to cycloheximide (CHM) in the fast growing nucleoli of both early and late G 1 with an initial stimulation later counterbalanced by a depressed rate, so that nucleolar size in S was similar to control shortly afterwards the start of the CHM treatment. The initial enlargement under CHM was due to an increase of all nucleolar structural components, i.e., fibrillar, granular, vacuolar, and lacunar regions. No cycloheximide effect whatsoever was detected in S and G 2 nucleoli.

Twenty-four of the 25 species of Plantago found in the Iberian Peninsula were studied palynologically by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The data obtained were subjected to Centered Data Analysis. This revealed the taxonomic significance of certain palynological characters.

Temperature effects on the vegetative growth of broadleaf filaree, Erodium botrys (Cav.) Bertol., and subterranean clover, Trijolium subterraneum L., were studied at three diurnal temperature regimes: low (5 to 15 C), medium (10 to 20 C), and high (15 to 25 C). The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of these species to temperatures that reflect the conditions of the annual grassland type during the seedling stage. Chambergrown plants were harvested periodically over a 5‐week period. Filaree was less sensitive to low temperatures and exhibited a temperature optimum between 10 to 20 C and 15 to 25 C, whereas sub clover showed a linear increase in relative growth rate with temperature up to 15 to 25 C. Although sub clover demonstrated a more efficient photosynthetic system, i.e., a greater net assimilation rate, filaree had a higher photosynthetic capacity as shown by a greater leaf area ratio. Filaree partitioned more assimilate into leaf tissue than sub clover which in turn produced more stem and root tissue than filaree. These results indicate that filaree is favored when late fall rains occur along with lower temperatures.

Vaccines are a fundamental tool in the prevention of infectious diseases. Following vaccination, a complex interaction takes place between the vaccine product and the recipient's immune system, the result of which is protection against the disease. High variability is observed in both individual and population immune responses to vaccination; at present, these differences are not well understood. Some well-studied receptor factors such as age, sex, genetics, immune history … however, others such as overweight and obesity are less well known. There is evidence that a very high body mass index is an important risk factor for infections in general and that fatty tissue has a clear role in modulating the immune system; suboptimal levels of vaccine seroconversion have also been observed in obese people. Throughout the document a review of the immunity and protection induced by various vaccines in overweight people is presented. Reactogenicity to vaccines in people is also being studied. Finally, the relationship between the microbiome, immunity and obesity, which is the subject of recent research, is exposed.

The canopy structure of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatusL.) was manipulated with the goal of increasing seed yield. Structure was varied by using two leaf types, willow‐leaflet and normal, in a replacement series (monocultures and mixtures with different proportions of the plant types) and at different total population densities in two field experiments. Yield was not improved by any of the mixtures. Mathematically calculated competition coefficients showed that they competed for the same resources and that the normal type dominated, with its dominance increasing with increasing population density. Leaf area profiles showed that these responses were associated with the preponderance of normal type leaves in the top strata of the canopy, leading to the conclusion that competition was primarily for light. Willow‐leaflet seems to be a character that is detrimental to yield both in mixture with normal and in monoculture.