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Starting from a general transformation for spherically symmetric metrics where g_11=-1/g_00, we analyze coordinates with the common property of conformal flatness at constant solid angle element. Three general possibilities arise: one where tortoise coordinate appears as the unique solution, other that includes Kruskal-Szekeres coordinates as a very specific case, but that also allows other similar transformations, and finally a new set of coordinates with very different properties than the other two. In particular, it represents any causal patch of the spherically symmetric metrics in a compactified form. We analyze general properties of the new proposed "pulsating coordinates", and then proceed to apply the transformation for the Schwarzschild spacetime, as well as for several cosmological solutions, contrasting properties with the Kruskal case. In particular, Anti-de-Sitter solution presents interesting features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pristine Co3O4 and Co3O4–halloysite nanotubes (Co3O4@HNTs) composite were synthesized and characterized using XRD, HR-TEM, Raman, and ATR–FTIR. Then, the catalytic activity of these materials towards dry methane reforming (DMR) either, the direct or indirect pathways were analyzed, through either direct or indirect pathways. The analysis was focused on the influence of different parameters, such as temperature, solid-phase mixture, and feeding gas stream composition. Results showed that both materials have bifunctional catalytic behavior. First, they showed high selectivity towards CO oxidation instead of methane oxidation, and subsequently, these materials also participated in the reaction between CH4 and CO2 to produce H2. The presence of oxygen in the gas stream, as well as the use of the halloysite as support, proved to be determining factors to prevent the formation of coke or metallic cobalt on the catalyst, which increases the H2 production. Finally, the highest H2 production was obtained using the Co3O4@HNTs composite under a gas stream composed of CH4/CO/O2 at 650 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to present a new version of the Bihari inequality with singular kernel and give a simple proof of the fractional Gronwall lemma. Our new ideas rest on the use of Young's and Hölder's inequalities to simplify the complex inequalities. Based on this new type of Bihari inequality we can relax many results of fractional differential equations and inclusions and stochastic differential equations. Also, the obtained inequalities can be used to analyze a specific class of fractional differential equations, both linear and nonlinear. Using the Caputo fractional derivative, the study of an initial valued problem for a fractional differential equation provides some topological proprieties for the solution set, and shows it is the intersection of a decreasing sequence of compact nonempty contractible spaces. We extend the classical Kneser's theorem on the solution structure of the ordinary differential equation and relax some results about the fractional differential equation. Also, we establish existence results for Caputo fractional stochastic differential equations. Finally, we study the existence of solution for fractional differential inclusion in Banach lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesquite tree (Prosopis spp.), is an important species in arid zones, due to its nitrogen-fixing and adaptability to drought seasons, it also provides food for many species of wild animals which feed on its nectar, pollen, leaves and pods. This plant is an excellent source of protein, fiber, sugars and phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, steroids, terpenes and flavonoids. Mesquite has been used in farm animal nutrition as supplement with recommended proportions between 20 and 40%. The nutritional contributions also depend on the usage of pods or foliage, however, most of the studies highly recommend an enzymatic pretreatment to increase the biomass digestibility. Its nutritional characteristics and ability to grow under scarce water conditions turn it as a potential source to replace expensive forages for farm animal feeding especially in semiarid regions; however, the results in animal feeding are diverse. The usage of tree species in arid zones for animal feeding has been long proposed, but, for Prosopis spp. there are few updated studies despite of its potential usage. This work presents a general overview of the mesquite tree usage in animal feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the pentalithium ferrite was synthetized by solid-state method, and it was characterized by XRD and N2 adsorption–desorption techniques. Then, H2 production was obtained through a catalytic conversion process; chemical looping partial oxidation (CLPO) of methane using Li5FeO4 as multifunctional material. The catalytic decomposition of methane is an easy way to obtain clean energy, such as hydrogen, but in this process carbon deposition is also possible. The results showed that this material has the ability to convert methane to hydrogen, but it is also capable to donate oxygen atoms from its crystalline network, producing carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide, limiting the carbon deposition on the ceramic surface. In addition, it was demonstrated that this lithium-based ceramic produces hydrogen over a wide temperature range (550–900 °C), with a stable hydrogen production for 3 h at 825 °C. Furthermore, it was possible to achieve a cyclic test of methane decomposition with a pre-oxidation process between each cycle obtaining an outstanding increase in hydrogen production from 10% in cycle 1 to ~ 100% in the cycle 10. This previous stage not only induces an increase in the decomposition of methane, but also avoids carbon deposition accompanied by the production of both COX compounds. Finally, it must be mentioned that Li5FeO4 is capable to chemisorb both carbon oxides produced, promoting high purity hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Morocco, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease caused by the flagellated protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum. L. infantum is transmitted by the bite of female phlebotomine sandflies, and its main reservoir hosts are domestic dogs. Asymptomatic infection with L. infantum is more frequent than clinically apparent disease. In HIV-infected patients, the risk of clinical VL is increased due to immunosuppression that may reactivate latent infections. However, coinfected subjects do not necessarily develop VL and may remain as asymptomatic carriers depending on their immune status. The present study investigates the asymptomatic carriers of L. infantum in HIV-infected patients in central Morocco, where human cases of visceral leishmaniasis by L. infantum have been reported. A total of 200 HIV-infected patients attending the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Ibn Zohar Hospital of Marrakech participated in the study. Parasitological and serological blood analyses included a direct microscopic examination (DME), culture in Novy-McNeal-Nicolle (NNN) medium, and serology by indirect immunofluorescence (IFI). We found prevalence rates of 5% (10/200) by IFI, 3% (6/200) by DME, and 2.5% (5/200) by culture. The parasite was identified as L. infantum by PCR from positive cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyzed the influence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the spatio-temporal variability of droughts in Ecuador for a 48-year period (1965-2012). Droughts were quantified from 22 high-quality and homogenized time series of precipitation and air temperature by means of the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index. In addition, the propagation of two different ENSO indices (El Niño 3.4 and El Niño 1 + 2 indices) and other atmospheric circulation processes (e.g., vertical velocity) on different time-scales of drought severity were investigated. The results showed a very complex influence of ENSO on drought behavior across Ecuador, with two regional patterns in the evolution of droughts: (1) the Andean chain with no changes in drought severity, and (2) the Western plains with less severe and frequent droughts. We also detected that drought variability in the Andes mountains is explained by the El Niño 3.4 index [sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the central Pacific], whereas the Western plains are much more driven by El Niño 1 + 2 index (SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific). Moreover, it was also observed that El Niño and La Niña phases enhance droughts in the Andes and Western plains regions, respectively. The results of this work could be crucial for predicting and monitoring drought variability and intensity in Ecuador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a modification of the model proposed by Abrams and Strogatz to describe the death of a language when it competes with a stronger one within the same community of speakers. The modification opened the possibility of coexistence of both languages under some conditions, but so far it has not been possible to write down the expression of the equilibrium points. In this paper, we nontrivially use bifurcation theory to calculate under which conditions such coexistence arises; namely, we calculate the specific ranges of the parameters that describe the modified model to have this situation, paying special attention to the cases that yield a stable cohabitation of two monolingual populations along with a bilingual one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk Ni-Sn-O catalysts have been synthesized, tested in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane and characterized by several physicochemical techniques. The catalysts have been prepared by evaporation of the corresponding salts using several additives in the synthesis gel, i.e. ammonium hydroxide, nitric acid, glyoxylic acid or oxalic acid, in the synthesis gel. The catalysts were finally calcined at 500 °C in air. Important changes in the catalytic behaviour have been observed depending on the additive. In fact, an important improvement in the catalytic performance is observed especially when some additives, such as glyoxylic or oxalic acid, are used. Thus the productivity to ethylene multiplies by 6 compared to the reference Ni-Sn-O catalyst if appropriate templates are used, and this is the result of an improvement in both the catalytic activity and the selectivity to ethylene. This improved performance has been explained in terms of the decrease of the crystallite size (and the increase in the surface area of catalyst) as well as the modification of the lattice parameter of nickel oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M-containing tungsten oxides bronzes (M = Ti, Nb or V) with hexagonal tungsten bronze (HTB) structure have been investigated as catalysts for the aerobic transformation of glycerol and methanol. The catalysts were prepared hydrothermally and characterized by several physico chemical techniques, i.e. N-adsorption, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia. Interesting variations in the thermal stability of the HTB-framework were observed according to the element introduced into the oxide structure. In addition, the incorporation of Ti and Nb modified the acid features of the hexagonal tungsten oxides, whereas V introduced new redox sites. The catalytic results for the aerobic transformation of glycerol and methanol in terms of conversion and nature of reaction products are discussed on the basis of the physico-chemical characteristics of catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the increasing levels of polluting emissions and fuel consumption of the road traffic in modern cities directly affect air quality, the city economy, and especially the health of citizens. Therefore, improving the efficiency of the traffic flow is a mandatory task in order to mitigate such critical problems. In this article, a Swarm Intelligence approach is proposed for the optimal scheduling of traffic lights timing programs in metropolitan areas. By doing so, the traffic flow of vehicles can be improved with the final goal global target of reducing their fuel consumption and gas emissions ( CO and N O). In this work we optimize the traffic lights timing programs and analyze their effect in pollution by following the standard HBEFA as the traffic emission model. Specifically, we focus on two large and heterogeneous urban scenarios located in the cities of Malaga and Seville (in Spain). When compared to the traffic lights timing programs designed by experts close to real ones, the proposed strategy obtains significant reductions in terms of the emission rates (23.3 % CO and 29.3 % N O) and the total fuel consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Janibacter comprises nine different species mainly found in the environment. Only two human infections by these microorganisms have been previously reported, one by J. melonis and another one by an undescribed Janibacter sp. Herewith we report the first human cases of infection by J. terrae in four bacteremic patients. The microorganisms were isolated from two consecutive blood cultures taken from four febrile patients with several underlying conditions. All patients were treated with antibiotics, two of them with favorable outcome. Two severely immunocompromised patients died, and one was treated with an antibiotic in vitro active against the isolate. Janibacter terrae was identified by phenotypic and 16S rDNA amplification methods. This report includes also the first data on antimicrobial susceptibility of this opportunistic pathogen. Clinical microbiologists should be aware of this microorganism which can be identified by phenotypic and molecular methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we introduce a q-fractional variant of nonlinear Langevin equation of different orders with q-fractional antiperiodic boundary conditions. The nonlinearity in the proposed problem involves an integral term (a Riemann-Liouville type q-integral) and a non-integral term. Some existence results for solutions of the given problem are established by means of classical tools of fixed point theory. An illustrative example is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of slabs for sour service applications requires stringent control in slab internal quality and secondary processing so as to guarantee resistance against hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC). ArcelorMittal Steelmaking facility at Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico had recently implemented key steelmaking and casting processing technologies for production of sound, centerline free slabs for catering to the growing API Linepipe and off-shore market for sour service applications. State-of-the-art steelmaking with use of residual-free Direct-reduced Iron and continuous casting facilities with dynamic soft reduction were introduced for the production of slabs with ultra clean centerline. Introduction of controlled cooling of slabs for atomic hydrogen control well below 2 ppm has enabled production of slabs suitable for excellent HIC-resistant plate processing. Substantial tonnages of slabs were produced for production of API X52-X65 grade plates and pipes for sour service. Stringent quality control at each stage of steelmaking, casting, and slab inspection ensured slabs with excellent internal quality suitable for HIC resistance to be guaranteed in final product (Plates & Pipes). Details of production steps which resulted in successful HIC-resistant slab production have been described in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allo-SCT has a strong curative potential for AML patients mainly due to a GVL effect. Unfortunately, GvL and GVHD are intimately linked. IFN regulatory factor-3 (IRF3), by modulating innate immune reactions, could impact on the incidence and intensity of GVL and GVHD. We analyzed two gene variants in IRF3 (rs7251 and rs2304205) on the clinical outcome of 249 AML patients submitted to HLA-identical sibling allo-SCT. Patients with a donor carrying the dominant GG gene variant in rs7251 had, as compared with GC and CC variants, a lower acute GVHD (aGVHD) III-IV incidence (4% vs 11% vs 27%; P=0.0078), a higher relapse incidence (49% vs 35% vs 26%; P=0.018), and lower TRM (7% vs 24% vs 18%; P=0.0065). In functional studies, the GG variant was associated with lower production of IFN-γ, decreased lymphocyte proliferation after antigen presentation by DCs, and lower cytotoxic response of mature natural killer cells. Patients carrying the AA dominant variant in rs2304205 had higher relapse incidence (50% vs 39% vs 18%, P=0.0068). The presence of both variants (GG in rs7251 and AA in rs2304205) in donors and patients resulted in a stronger clinical impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Abiotrophia comprises fastidious Gram-positive bacteria previously classified as nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS). The isolation of NVS from the central nervous system (CNS) is very rare. We describe a case of meningitis due to Abiotrophia defectiva in a patient who underwent a total hip arthroplasty 4 days previously. It is possible that the organism could be introduced through the spinal anesthesia. We also review all cases of CNS infections caused by NVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present some results on the existence of mild solutions and study the topological structures of the sets of solutions for the following first-order impulsive semilinear differential inclusions with initial and boundary conditions: and where $ J={{\mathbb{R}}_{+}} $, 0 = t < t < ... < t <..., $ m\in \mathbb{N} $, lim t = ∞, A( t) is the infinitesimal generator of a family of evolution operators U( t, s) in a separable Banach space E and F is a set-valued mapping. The functions I characterize the jumps of solutions at the impulse points t, k = 1, ....The mapping L: PC→ E is a bounded linear operator. We also investigate the compactness of the set of solutions, some regularity properties of the operator solutions, and the absolute retract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkholderia spp. strains collected in Spain over a 13-year period from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) ( n = 148), non-CF patients ( n = 103) and from environmental sources ( n = 64) were characterised. One hundred and forty-one of the examined strains were involved in seven suspected nosocomial disease outbreaks. Strains were identified by their 16s rRNA and recA genes. Their genetic relatedness, the possession of cable pili and the B. cepacia epidemic strain marker (BCESM), and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents were studied using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), cblA and esmR genes analysis, and by the E-test, respectively. The genomovar distribution for the 315 strains was as follows: B. stabilis 29.5 %, B. cepacia 14.9 %, B. multivorans 11.1 %, B. cenocepacia IIIA 9.5 %, B. vietnamiensis 3.8 %, B. cenocepacia IIIB 3.5 %, and B. ambifaria and B. pyrrocinia 0.3 % each. The genetic diversity of the B. cepacia complex (Bcc) was ample, with 57 different SpeI types, showing a genetic similarity of 36.4-96.6 %. No strain carried cblA, whereas 25 B. cenocepacia genotypes harboured BCESM (23 from patients with CF). Antimicrobial resistance rates to tobramycin (TOB; 86 %) and imipenem (IPM; 67 %) were high. The strains from patients with CF showed significantly greater resistance to piperacillin (PIP), levofloxacin (LVX) and co-trimoxazole (SXT) than those isolated from non-CF patients ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, B. cenocepacia was the most prevalent genomovar found in patients with CF (19.1 %), whereas B. cepacia was the most common among non-CF patients (20.7 %). B. stabilis (47.6 %) was the most common environmental genomovar. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents depended on genomovar status and strain origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the modeling and analysis of quantum dissipation phenomena in the Schrödinger picture. More precisely, we do investigate in detail a dissipative, nonlinear Schrödinger equation somehow accounting for quantum Fokker-Planck effects, and see how it is drastically reduced to a simpler logarithmic equation via a nonlinear gauge transformation in such a way that the physics underlying both problems keeps unaltered. From a mathematical viewpoint, this allows for a more easily achievable analysis regarding the local wellposedness of the initial-boundary value problem. This simplification requires the performance of the polar (modulus argument) decomposition of the wavefunction, which is rigorously attained (for the first time to the best of our knowledge) under quite reasonable assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threshold levels of CMV-specific T-cell populations presumably affording protection from active CMV infection in allo-SCT recipients have been proposed, but lack extensive validation. We quantified CMV pp65 and immediate-early 1-specific IFN-γ CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses at days +30, +60 and +90 after transplantation in 133 patients, and established cutoff cell levels protecting from CMV DNAemia within the first 120 days after transplantation. No patients showing IFN-γ CD8+ or IFN-γ CD4+ T-cell counts >1.0 and >1.2 cells/μL, respectively, developed a subsequent episode of CMV DNAemia. Initial or recurrent episodes of CMV DNAemia occurred in the face of IFN-γ T-cell levels below defined thresholds. Negative predictive values at day +30 for the IFN-γ CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell markers were 68.1 and 61.8%, respectively. Recipients of grafts from CMV seropositive, related or HLA-matched donors, or receiving non-myeloablative conditioning had nonsignificant tendencies to reach more frequently protective levels of both T-cell subsets at early and late (day +365) times after transplantation. The use of anti-thymocyte globulin and umbilical cord blood transplantation were associated with impaired CMV-specific T-cell reconstitution. CMV-specific IFN-γ CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell recovery occurred irrespective of detectable CMV DNAemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

im: The objective of this survey is to explore junior doctors' understanding of vulvodynia using a questionnaire. Method: Fifty-six copies of the questionnaire were handed out at three hospitals: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colchester University Hospital, and Royal Free Hospital in London. The questionnaire was anonymous, containing 11 questions asking about different aspects of diagnosis and management of vulvodynia. The doctors were asked to write their post or level of Obstetrics and Gynaecology speciality training e.g. ST1, ST2, ST3, etc. Results: The results highlight the limited amount of awareness and understanding of vulval pain among junior doctors. Conclusion: There is little understanding about vulvodynia among junior gynaecologists. Most of them did not have any form of basic training about the condition even after reaching the final stages of the speciality training. In view of the estimated prevalence, there is a need for including some form of local and/or regional teaching about the causes and management of vulvar pain, particularly for those who are about to finish their speciality training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo assess the interchangeability of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements between combined scanning-slit/Placido disc topography (Orbscan-II) and specular microscopy (Topcon SP-2000P) in patients who underwent laser in situkeratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia.Patients and methodsWe recruited 118 consecutive patients who underwent LASIK for myopia. The CCT was measured using Orbscan-II and Topcon SP-2000P randomly. Orbscan-II and Topcon SP-2000P CCT data were analysed using the paired-sample t-test and the limits of agreement (LoA) were calculated with the method described by Bland–Altman.ResultsThe average CCT measurements by Orbscan-II and Topcon SP-2000P were 447.55±49.78 μm and 461.38±35.35 μm, respectively (P<0.0001; mean difference, 13.83±22.31 μm; 95% confidence interval, 9.77–17.09 μm). The Bland–Altman plot showed an inverse association between the average and the difference between the devices: Topcon–Orbscan-II=174.23 –0.353 × Average (P<0.01). The widths of the crude and regression-based 95% limits of agreement were 87.45 and 63.72 μm, respectively.ConclusionsOrbscan-II measurements of CCT after myopic LASIK were significantly lower than those obtained using Topcon SP-2000P. The limits of agreement between the two devices were too broad and, therefore, both pachymetric values cannot be used interchangeably. Further, the tendency towards comparably Orbscan-II readings in thinner corneas precludes that one technique can directly replace the other. This is important for the adequate medium- and long-term follow-up of the growing LASIK patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to show the longitudinal use of routinely collected clinical data from history and ultrasound evaluation of the endometrium in developing an algorithm to predict the risk of endometrial carcinoma for postmenopausal women presenting with vaginal bleeding.Methods: This prospective study collected data from 3047 women presenting with postmenopausal bleeding. Data regarding the presence of risk factors for endometrial cancer was collected and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.Results: Age distribution ranged from 35 to 97 years with a median of 59 years. A total of 149 women (5% of total) were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma. Women in the endometrial cancer group were significantly more likely to be older, have higher BMI, recurrent episodes of bleeding, diabetes, hypertension, or a previous history of breast cancer. An investigator best model selection approach was used to select the best predictors of cancer, and using logistic regression analysis we created a model, 'Norwich DEFAB', which is a clinical prediction rule for endometrial cancer. The calculated Norwich DEFAB score can vary from a value of 0 to 9. A Norwich DEFAB value equal to or greater than 3 has a positive predictive value (PPV) of 7.78% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.2%, whereas a score equal to or greater than 5 has a PPV of 11.9% and NPV of 97.8%.Conclusion: The combination of clinical information with our investigation tool for women with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding allows the clinician to calculate a predicted risk of endometrial malignancy and prioritise subsequent clinical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNAemia and/or pp65 antigenemia have been observed during pre-emptive ganciclovir therapy in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). We assessed the incidence of this event in our series, and investigated whether its occurrence was associated with an impairment in the CMV-specific T-cell response. A total of 36 allo-SCT recipients experienced one or more episodes of active CMV infection (n=68) that were pre-emptively treated with val(ganciclovir). Rising levels of antigenemia and DNAemia, and an isolated increase in antigenemia, were observed in 39.7 and 2.9% of all episodes, respectively. Receipt of corticosteroids was associated with rising levels of antigenemia and DNAemia. Median increases of 12- and 6.8-fold of IFNγ CD8+ T and IFNγ CD4+ T cells, respectively, were observed at a median of 16.5 days after initiation of therapy in episodes with decreasing levels in antigenemia and DNAemia. In contrast, the numbers of both T-cell subsets at a median of 13.5 days after initiation of therapy did not differ significantly from those of pre-treatment samples in episodes with rising levels of antigenemia and DNAemia. Lack of prompt expansion of CMV pp65 and IE-1-specific IFNγ CD8+ and CD4+ T cells is associated with rising levels in antigenemia and DNAemia during pre-emptive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) occurred over the course of a 27-week period in our adult polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU). Twenty-one patients were affected, and 72 strains were identified from different clinical samples. The strains were resistant to all antibiotics except for colistin and ampicillin/sulbactam. Forty-nine MRAB strains collected from 18 patients were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). This analysis revealed four highly-related PFGE types (genetic similarity index >90%) termed 1, 2, 3 and 4, that were isolated in 13, seven, one, and three patients, respectively. A single PFGE type was identified from five of ten patients with successive isolation of MRAB; in the other five patients, two or three PFGE types were detected. This suggested phased evolution of PFGE types 2, 3 and 4 from PFGE type 1. Global mortality was high (13 patients; 62%). Non-survivors had higher APACHE II scores than survivors on the date that MRAB was isolated (OR = 1.57; 95% CI [1.02, 2.44]). The outbreak was controlled after implementation of an extensive infection control program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note, we establish a sufficient condition for the controllability of a first-order semilinear differential system with nonlocal initial conditions in Banach spaces. The approach used is the Sadovskii fixed-point theorem combined with operator semigroups. Particularly, the compactness of the operator semigroups is not needed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess long-term health effects of ovarian-stimulation drugs we followed-up for over 20 years a British cohort of 7355 women with ovulatory disorders, 43% of whom were prescribed ovarian-stimulation drugs, and identified a total of 274 deaths and 367 incident cancers. Relative to the general population, the cohort experienced lower mortality from most causes, including from all neoplasms combined, and lower incidence of cervical cancer, but higher incidence of cancers of the breast (relative risk: 1.13; 95% CI 0.97, 1.30) and corpus uteri (2.02; 1.37, 2.87). There were, however, no significant differences in the risk of cancers of the breast, corpus uteri, ovary, or of any other site, between women who had been prescribed ovarian-stimulation drugs and those who had not. Further analyses by type of drug and dose revealed a dose-response gradient in the risk of cancer of the corpus uteri (P for linear trend=0.03), with women given >or=2250 mg of clomiphene having a 2.6-fold (2.62; 0.94, 6.82) increase in risk relative to those who were not treated. These findings do not support strong associations between ovulation-stimulation drugs and cancer risks, but they indicate the need for continued monitoring to establish whether risks are elevated in certain subgroups of users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifteen Corynebacterium ureicelerivorans isolates were recovered in pure culture from six patients during a five-year period. Five patients had bacteremia and the other was an infection of ascitic fluid. The API Coryne™ numerical profile obtained corresponds to the profile for C. bovis, while Biolog™ GP2 identified four out of the six isolates as C. jeikeium. The organisms were molecular identified by 16S rDNA and rpoB. The present report also includes information on new phenotypic tests and, for the first time, antimicrobial susceptibility data of C. ureicelerivorans and their rpoB sequences. All macrolide-resistant isolates presented a constitutive MLS phenotype. This organism must be differentiated from other slow-growing, lipophilic, and urea-splitting corynebacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed Ni–W–O catalysts (with a W/(Ni + W) atomic ratio of 0.3) supported on γ-Al2O3 or on mesoporous alumina have been prepared, characterized and tested in the oxidation of ethane. For comparison unsupported and supported NiO as well as bulk Ni–W–O mixed oxides catalysts have also been studied. Supported Ni–W–O materials show interesting catalytic performances in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. They show similar catalytic activities than the corresponding unsupported Ni–W–O catalysts. However, the selectivity to ethylene over supported catalysts was higher than that achieved over unsupported samples (the selectivity to ethylene followed the trend: mesoporous-supported > γ-Al2O3-supported > unsupported Ni–W–O). In addition, it has also been observed that Ni–W–O catalysts are more efficient than the corresponding W-free NiO catalysts. The discussion of the catalytic results will be undertaken on the basis of the modification of active sites of NiO when incorporating WO3 and/or metal oxide supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Betic Ophiolitic Association (BOA) forms part of the Mulhacén Complex and crops out discontinuously along some 250 km in the central and eastern sectors of the Betic Cordillera (SE Spain). It comprises numerous metre- to kilometre-sized lenses of metamorphic rocks, deriving from basic, ultrabasic and/or sedimentary rock types, representing very important relics of the westernmost end of the Jurassic Tethys ocean floor, which almost completely disappeared by subduction during the collision of the European and African plates. Nevertheless, some rare slices of this ocean floor were exhumed and incorporated into the continental margin, forming the BOA. Therefore, we propose that the Betic Ophiolitic Association should be recognised as a very valuable Spanish geological framework, worthy of being protected against exploitation for economic usages, in which the following three outcrops could be selected as its main geosites: the Cóbdar metabasalts and metagabbros, the Lugros eclogites, and the Almirez meta-ultramafic and rodingite rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern sector of the Guadiana River basin (GRB) drains the central-western part of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, an area with many polymetallic sulfide deposits and residues of mining activities that under oxidizing conditions generate an acidic leachate with large quantities of sulfates, metals, and metalloids in solution. These acidic leachates seep into the fluvial system contaminating the surface water bodies and increasing the contamination risk for local populations and riparian habitats. The present study was carried out both in Portugal and Spain with the main aim of identifying the principal contamination sources that produce acid mine drainage (AMD) in the southern part of the GRB and to evaluate the seasonal variations of water quality affected by AMD. The physicochemical parameters determined in the field (temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, redox potential, and dissolved oxygen) are discussed and interpreted together with the hydrochemical analysis of surface water samples collected at 79 points of observation. The data show a strong seasonal variation of surface water quality with poorer water quality standards during the dry season. It is also possible to observe that there is a natural decrease in pollution levels with increasing distance from the pollution source (mining areas). Acidic leachates are gradually neutralized as they drain away from the mining areas depositing Fe-(Cu-Al) bearing secondary minerals. There is also an important contaminant load reduction in the estuary area as a result of the mixing process with seawater. This contributes to a loss of the metals in solution due to both dilution and precipitation, as a result of pH increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused mainly upon existence of solutions for a second-order impulsive hyperbolic differential inclusions with nonlocal initial conditions. By using some well-known fixed-point theorems, existence theorems are established when the multivalued map has convex or nonconvex values. As applications of these main theorems, some consequences are given for the sublinear growth cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali metal-containing Mo-V-Sb-O catalysts ( AMoVSbO, with A = Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs), prepared hydrothermally and activated at 600 °C in N2, have been characterized and tested for the selective oxidation of propane. Alkali-doped catalysts resulted to be more selective to acrylic acid and less selective to acetic acid than the corresponding alkali-free Mo-V-Sb-O catalyst. However, the nature of crystalline phases and the catalytic behaviour strongly depend on the alkali metal added. In this way, the catalytic activity decreases as follows: unpromoted > Li- ~ Na- ~ K- > Rb- > Cs-containing catalyst. However the selectivity to acrylic acid decreases in the order: K- > Rb- ~ Na- > unpromoted > Li- > Cs-containing catalyst. The role of the presence/absence of acid sites and cations on both the nature of crystalline phases and the catalytic performance will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

São Domingos like other long-term activity mines of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) dating back to pre-Roman times, is supposed to produce considerable amounts of mining wastes which cause significant downstream negative environment impact related to the acid mine drainage (AMD) production and high content of potentially toxic metals and metalloids in Chanza and Guadiana Rivers. The AMD production of a given mining waste depends on the ratio of its acid production to neutralizing phases. In this work, a chemical and mineralogical characterization of the sulphide-rich wastes from São Domingos has been developed to discriminate which residues are the main sources of AMD generation. A total of 47 representative samples of the different residue types were collected to estimate their possible contamination hazards through detailed studies of (1) for a mineralogical characterization: reflected-light optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and XRD analysis; and (2) for a chemical characterization: bulk-rock analysis. AMD prediction by the standard acid-base accounting method (ABA) was used in order to determine the acidification potential of each residue type. This study also offers an estimation of the contribution of toxic elements to the environment, being thus, a base for future remediation actions at São Domingos and other abandoned massive sulphide mines within the IPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen Corynebacterium coyleae isolates were recovered from 12 in-patients during a 5-years period. In six patients, the isolates were considered as clinically significant, three definite (sepsis), two probable (sepsis and soft tissue infection), and one possible (post-transfusional bacteremia). In the remaining 6 patients (all neonatal bacteremias), there was not enough data for considering the isolates as clinical significant. API Coryne™ identified all isolates as C. jeikeium, while Biolog GP2™ correctly identified 7 out of the 14 isolates. Definitive identification was achieved in all isolates by the sequencing of a fragment of 724 to 1423 pb of 16S rDNA. Successive isolations from two patients presented identical random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles. All of the isolates were in-vitro-sensitive to β-lactams, gentamicin, rifampin, tetracycline, vancomycin, linezolid, and resistant to clindamycin. Resistance to erythromycin occurred in 83.3% of isolates, all of them presenting phenotype cMLS and harboring the gene ermX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoVTe-Nb oxide catalysts have been prepared by a hydrothermal method and tested in the selective oxidation of propane to acrylic acid and in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene. The influence of the concentration of oxalate anions in the hydrothermal gel has been studied for two series of catalysts, Nb-free and Nb-containing, respectively. Results show that the development of an active and selective active orthorhombic phase (Te2M20O57, M = Mo, V, Nb) requires an oxalate/Mo molar ratio of 0.4–0.6 in the synthesis gel in both types of samples. The presence of Nb favours a higher catalytic activity in both ethane and propane oxidation, and a better production of acrylic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus infections are infrequent in humans. A clinical and epidemiological study of a milk-borne outbreak caused by this organism is described. Fifteen patients (5 females, 10 males) with a median age of 70 years (range 47–86) were infected. Twelve (80%) had underlying diseases. Infection with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus presented as primary bacteremia in six cases, as bacteremia associated with aortic aneurism in four cases, as septic arthritis in two cases, as pneumonia in two cases, and as meningitis in one case. Five (33.3%) patients died. A case-control study proved that consumption of inadequately pasteurized cheese of a specific brand was associated with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus disease (OR=4.5; 95% CI 1.57–19.27; p<0.001). This outbreak serves as a reminder that S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus causes serious infections that are usually zoonoses. Identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci to the species level to detect contaminated foods of animal origin is important for preventing new food-borne outbreaks. For a precise characterization of the isolates, the application of molecular markers is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a rare cause of bacteremia. Over a 2-week period, A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans was isolated from blood cultures of four hemodialysis patients with long-term intravascular catheters. A culture from one atomizer that contained diluted 2.5% chlorhexidine, which had been used to disinfect the skin, yielded A. xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans. No further cases were diagnosed once the use of this atomizer was discontinued. Five outbreak-related strains from the four patients and the atomizer were tested by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) under XbaI restriction. The isolates from the first three patients and the atomizer had identical PFGE patterns, confirming the atomizer as the source of the outbreak. The strain isolated from the fourth patient had six more bands than the outbreak strain and was considered possibly related to the outbreak strain. All patients were treated with intravenous levofloxacin. The catheter was removed in only one patient. The three patients in whom the catheter was left in place were also treated with antibiotic lock therapy with levofloxacin. All four patients were cured. This is believed to be the first reported outbreak of central venous catheter-related bacteremia due to A. xylosoxidans and the second reported outbreak with this organism associated with chlorhexidine atomizers. The use of diluted chlorhexidine via atomizers can be dangerous for the care of venous catheters and should be called into question. Patients with long-term intravascular catheter-related bacteremia due to this organism can be treated successfully with systemic antimicrobial therapy in addition to antibiotic lock therapy without catheter removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE:: To describe the personal and family antecedents and clinical characteristics of patients with eating disorders (EDs) in a population of the south of Spain; to analyse the influence of lifestyles, family functioning, socioeconomic status (SES), and psychological characteristics in these processes. DESIGN:: A university-based case-control study. SETTING:: University Hospital (Andalusia, Spain). SUBJECTS:: A total of 120 patients with EDs and 240 controls. INTERVENTIONS:: SCOFF, EDI, APGAR family, and SES questionnaires. RESULTS:: In all, 67.5%of patients presented anorexia (AN), 15%bulimia (BN), and 17.5%mixed forms. EDs emerged at around 18-20?y (95%CI 17.9-19.8). Factors associated with EDs are psychiatric conditions (depression OR: 4.16, anxiety OR: 4.59), more frequent use of medication (OR: 2.26), dietary fibre (OR: 2.59), and laxatives (OR: 3.47). Toxics consumption, sport activity, SES, and family antecedents of pathology are not associated with EDs. An inverse relationship was found between family functioning and the scores in various subscales of the EDI. CONCLUSIONS:: Eating disorders in Andalusia (Spain) are influenced significantly more by psychological, family, and cultural factors than by social factors.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, 459-462. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602095 Published online 19 January 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small addition of potassium to a Mo–V–Sb mixed oxide catalyst (previously prepared by hydrothermal synthesis) strongly modifies its catalytic behavior. Thus, while acetic acid is mainly observed in the K-free catalysts, acrylic acid is selectively obtained in K-doped catalysts. In this case, a selectivity to acrylic acid of about 30% is achieved at propane conversions of 30%. This catalytic behavior is apparently not due to modification of the crystalline phases in the K-doped catalysts but to the elimination of the acid sites of the undoped Mo–V–Sb mixed oxide catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of the electromagnetic coupling for spin-3/2 particles is discussed. Following supergravity and some previous researches in the field of classical supersymmetric particles, we found that the electromagnetic coupling must not obey a minimal coupling in the sense of coupling the electromagnetic potential, but some kind of an electromagnetic field strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the relationship between different ecological features of shade and the incidence of coffee berry borer, coffee leaf rust and spontaneous herbs in rustic coffee plantations in Chiapas, Mexico. Estimation of the number of vegetation strata; Discovery of a complex agroforestry system; Correlation of the number of strata of shade vegetation with leaf rust.

Since 1990 a clone of gentamicin and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has remained endemic in our hospital, but since January 1996 a gentamicin-sensitive strain has progressively replaced the previous clone. We characterized the phenotypic and molecular pattern of the MRSA strains isolated in our hospital in 1996 and compared prospectively the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary characteristics of ninety patients infected or colonized by gentamicin-sensitive MRSA (GS-MRSA) (49) and by gentamicin-resistant MRSA (GR-MRSA) (41). Finally we studied the variation of aminoglycoside consumption in our hospital from 1989 to 1996. We observed two antibiotypes (GS-MRSA and GR-MRSA) corresponding to two major chromosomal patterns. Patients with GS-MRSA usually acquired the infection 72 hours after hospital admission. No significant differences were observed in epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentation and evolution between patients with GS-MRSA and GR-MRSA. Since 1989 aminoglycoside intake in our hospital has decreased by 46%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Tinto and Odiel are small rivers draining one of the largest sulphide deposits in the world. As a result of these deposits and a large industrial complex, the adjacent marine area receives a high amount of metal input. Mercury distribution in the Tinto-Odiel estuary, the Huelva Ría and the Gulf of Cádiz was assessed in water and suspended particulatematter (SPM) and sediments. In the rivers and estuaries, dissolved (HgD)and particulate (HgP) mercury showed wide variations (13 to 200 pM and0.3 to 330 nmol g-1 respectively) depending on the presence or notof sulphidic waters, phosphogypsum deposits, detrital pyrite and oxyhydroxides.In the Ría, concentrations were lower than 10 pM and 4.5 nmol g-1 for HgD and HgP respectively. In surface waters of the Gulf of Cádiz, the average HgD concentration (pm standard deviation) was 2.9 pm 0.9 pM, which is similar to that of North Atlantic Central Waters. The surface sediments collected in the rivers, the Ría and the Gulf showed systematically enriched mercury compared to pre-industrial levels. Vertical mercury profiles in dated sediment cores were typical of anthropogenically influenced environments starting in the early Roman age. These distribution features suggest that most of the Hg discharged by the Huelva Ría is trapped in the sediments of the Gulf of Cádiz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effect of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) volume on arterial oxygenation in critically ill patients with pneumonia.Design: Randomized clinical comparison.Setting: Six-bed respiratory intensive care unit of a 850-bed tertiary care university hospital.Patients: Thirty-seven intubated and mechanically ventilated patients with clinical suspicion of pneumonia.Interventions: Bronchoscopically guided protected specimen brush (PSB) followed by either a "high volume" BAL (n = 16, protected catheter, mean volume: 131 +/- 14 ml) or a "low volume" BAL (n = 21, protected double-plugged catheter, 40 ml volume for all patients).Measurements: Arterial oxygen tension/fractional inspired oxygen (PaO2/FIO2) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) before and up to 24 h after the intervention. Bacterial growth in quantitative cultures. Analysis of variance for repeated measurements with inter-subject factors.Results: All patients showed a lower PaO2/FIO2 ratio and higher MAP after the diagnostic procedure, without differences between the study arms (p = 0.608 and p = 0.967, respectively). Patients with significant bacterial growth (p = 0.014) and patients without preemptive antibiotic (p = 0.042) therapy showed a more profound and longer decrease in arterial oxygenation after the diagnostic procedure.Conclusions: A decrease in the PaO2/FIO2 ratio was observed in all patients after a combined diagnostic procedure, independent of the BAL volume used. A significant bacterial burden recovered from the alveoli and no preemptive antibiotic therapy were associated with a larger and longer-lasting decrease in arterial oxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the convergence of a sequence of approximate solutions for thefollowing higher-order nonlinear periodic boundary–value problem: Here, $$f \in C(I \times \mathbb{R},\mathbb{R})$$ is such that,for some k ≥ 1, $$k \geqslant 1,\partial ^i f/\partial u^i $$ exists and isa continuous function for i=0, 1, . . . , k. We prove thatit is possible to construct two sequences of approximate solutionsconverging to the extremal solution with rate of convergence of order k. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Escherichia coli protein Hha is a temperature- and osmolarity-dependent modulator of the expression of the hemolysin operon. The Hha protein was purified and its DNA-binding properties analyzed. Hha binds in a non-specific manner throughout the upstream regulatory region of the hemolysin operon in the recombinant hemolytic plasmid pANN202-312. A search for interacting proteins revealed that Hha interacts with H-NS. DNA-binding studies showed that, in vitro, Hha and H-NS together form a complex with DNA that differs from those formed with either protein alone. These data, together with the effects of hha and hns mutations on the expression of the hemolysin genes, suggest that in vivo H-NS and Hha form a nucleoid-protein complex that accounts for the thermo-osmotic regulation of the hemolysin operon in E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which retrospectively examines patient-donor pairs to determine the impact of mismatching for UTA2-1 immunogenic peptide on clinical outcome after allo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from an HLA-identical sibling donor. It reveals the aspect of UTA2-1 mismatch as an infrequent condition in allo-HSCT. Further, it indicates that the presence of UTA2-1 mismatch does not seem to be relevant to the clinical outcome after allo-HSCT.