Search

In this work, we introduce a quantitative methodology to define what is the main trunk and what are the significant branches of a minimum spanning tree (MST). We apply it to the pulsar tree, i.e. the MST of the pulsar population constructed upon a Euclidean distance over the pulsar's intrinsic properties. Our method makes use of the betweenness centrality estimator, as well as of non-parametric tests to establish the distinct character of the defined branches. Armed with these concepts, we study how the pulsar population has evolved throughout history, and analyze how to judge whether a new class of pulsars appears in new data, future surveys, or new incarnations of pulsar catalogs., An updated app of the web application we develop for visualizing the pulsar tree can be found at http://www.pulsartree.ice.csic.es

The PP˙ diagram is a cornerstone of pulsar research. It is used in multiple ways for classifying the population, understanding evolutionary tracks, identifying issues in our theoretical reach, and more. However, we have been looking at the same plot for more than five decades. A fresh appraisal may be healthy. Is the PP˙ -diagram the most useful or complete way to visualize the pulsars we know? Here we pose a fresh look at the information we have on the pulsar population. First, we use principal component analysis over magnitudes depending on the intrinsic pulsar’s timing properties (proxies to relevant physical pulsar features), to analyse whether the information contained by the pulsar’s period and period derivative is enough to describe the variety of the pulsar population. Even when the variables of interest depend on P and P˙⁠, we show that PP˙ are not principal components. Thus, any distance ranking or visualization based only on P and P˙ is potentially misleading. Next, we define and compute a properly normalized distance to measure pulsar nearness, calculate the minimum spanning tree of the population, and discuss possible applications. The pulsar tree hosts information about pulsar similarities that go beyond P and P˙⁠, and are thus naturally difficult to read from the PP˙-diagram. We use this work to introduce the pulsar tree website containing visualization tools and data to allow users to gather information in terms of MST and distance ranking., This work has been supported by the grants PID2021-124581OB-I00 and PGC2018-095512-B-I00. CR is funded by the PhD FPI fellowship PRE2019-090828, and acknowledges the graduate program of the Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona. DFT acknowledges as well USTC and the Chinese Academy of Sciences Presidential Fellowship Initiative 2021VMA0001. AP acknowledges partial support from a Ramon y Cajal fellowship RYC-2017-21810. This work was also supported by the Spanish program Unidad de Excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2020-001058-M.

One of the six selected concepts to be part of Generation IV nuclear reactors is the Supercritical Light Water Cooled Reactor. The High-Performance Light Water Reactor (HPLWR) is the European version and it is a very promising design. In recent years, interest in the study of thorium-based fuel cycles has been renewed and its possibilities for current LWRs have been evaluated. The use of thorium-based fuels will be fundamental in the future sustainability of nuclear energy, since in addition to its abundance in nature, thorium has an important group of advantages. In this paper, performance of thorium-based fuels in the typical fuel assembly of the HPLWR reactor is evaluated, using a computational model based on CFD and Monte Carlo codes for the neutronic/thermal-hydraulic coupled analysis. The volumetric power density profiles, coolant temperature profiles, fuel temperature profiles and others are compared with those obtained for standard UO 2 fuel. When the thorium-based fuels are used, the obtained infinite multiplication coefficients are smaller than the value obtained when UO 2 is used, since the 232 Th isotope has a lower contribution to the multiplicative properties of the medium than 238 U. As a result, a difference of approximately 12 000 pcm was observed. The results verified that the HPLWR is a thermal reactor with a hard spectrum. There are no notable changes in the neutron spectrum if the mass fraction of thorium is slightly varied. With coupled analysis, the potential benefits of the utilization of thorium-based fuels were verified. Moreover, a significant temperature decrease by 136 K on the center line of the fuel elements was observed. When the mass fraction of thorium increases in the oxides mixture, the weighted average temperature on the fuel elements decreases .

In this work, Al 2 O 3:xEu 3+ were synthesized by the combustion method. The atomic concentration percentage of En doping was varied (x = 0%, 1%, 3%, 5% and 7at%). Structural and morphological properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques, respectively. The XRD patterns of the pure (x = 0%) and Eu-doped (x=1at%) show the single Al2O3 corundum phase. For the highest Eu-doped concentrations of x = 3%, x = 5% and x = 7at%, the Al2O3:xEu samples, present a mixture of phases of corundum (Al2O3) and EuAlO3 (perovskite). SEM images show irregular grains with average sizes in the range of 0.1 - 78.8 μm. Photoluminescence (PL) analysis show that all Eu-doped Al2O3 samples exhibits intense red-emission. PL spectra show two main peaks at 615 nm (5D0°7F2) and 700 nm (5D0°7F4). The x = 3at% Eu-doped sample presents the highest intensity under 256 nm excitation. CIE coordinates were calculated from the PL spectra, values around x= 0.6 and y= 0.3 (red emission) were obtained from all samples. Due to its strong luminescence those Al2O3:xEu phosphors could be good candidates for components in solid state lighting.

There is a lack of information concerning the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Mennonites (an ethnic group of Mexican citizens of German descent living in rural communities). The prevalence of anti- T. gondii immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies was examined in 152 Mennonites in Durango State, Mexico, using enzyme-linked immunoassays. In total, 46 (30.3%) of 152 participants (mean age 38.4 ± 15.5 yr) had IgG T. gondii antibodies; 5 (3.3%) also had IgM T. gondii antibodies. Toxoplasma gondii infection was significantly associated with the presence of cats at home (adjusted OR = 3.93; 95% CI: 1.40-11.05), raising cattle (adjusted OR = 3.88; 95% CI: 1.24-12.11), consumption of pigeon meat (adjusted OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.36-6.63), and consumption of untreated water (adjusted OR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.09-5.40). This is the first report of seroprevalence and contributing factors for T. gondii infection in Mennonites and of an association of the consumption of pigeon meat with T. gondii infection. Results of this study should be useful in the design of optimal preventive measures against T. gondii infection.

The epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in rural Mexico is largely unknown. The seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in 439 pregnant women from 9 communities in rural Durango State, Mexico was investigated. Using commercial enzyme-linked immunoassays, sera were tested for T. gondii IgG, IgM, and avidity antibodies. Prevalences of T. gondii IgG antibodies in the communities varied from 0% to 20%. Overall, 36 (8.2%) of the 439 women had IgG T. gondii antibodies. Ten (2.3%) women had also T. gondii IgM antibodies; IgG avidity was high in all IgM-positive women, suggesting chronic infection. None of the women, however, had delivered a known T. gondii-infected child. The seroprevalence was significantly higher (P0.05) in women from low socio-economic conditions (14%) than in those with higher socio-economic status (6.6%). Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii infection was associated with soil floors at home (adjusted OR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.12-7.49). This is the first epidemiological study of T. gondii infection in pregnant women in rural Mexico.

The regional-urban development planning is a relatively recent response to the changes in the economic processes of production and foreign trade which experienced profound changes over the past two decades. With these changes, globalization and national openness impacted the economic, social and territorial relations in the metropolitan area of Mexicali. This area experienced a central expansion increasing the mobility of vehicles. The importance of urban-regional network in its territory also augmented. These changes impacted the economic base, gradually reducing the importance of agriculture and industry while services, mobility and economic diversification in the territory of Mexicali increased. The desert environment, demographic concentration and mobility in a very small territory with a very dry and warm weather, have posed challenges for future sustainable development in its metropolitan territory. From the results and the experience of a collective planning process and of civic integration, key challenges were identified in the scenarios to promote appropriate and successful answers in the planning of sustainable development for an extreme territory and with economical competence.

To study the complications after Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK).Retrospective study of 75 eyes in 67 patients with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy or bullous keratopathy operated on in the Instituto de Oftalmología La Arruzafa from March, 2007 until March, 2010. Phacoemulsification and IOL implantation was involved in 30 cases. All surgical and post-surgical complications, as well as the endothelial cell density were recorded.Graft detachment was the most common complication: 17 cases (22.5%); 16 of them resolved with reintroduction of air in the anterior chamber. The rate of detachment in cases without capsular support (8 eyes) increased up to 50%. Five cases had primary graft failure and, in 2 cases, a medium term failure was observed. Only one case of endothelial rejection was observed (1.3%). Five eyes (6.5%) developed a pupillary block, but of them were solved with the aspiration of the air. In one eye (1.3%), a posterior capsule rupture was observed during the phacoemulsification. This case ended with a retinal detachment. The endothelial cell loss was 42.75%.DSAEK is an effective surgical technique to resolve the corneal oedema due to endothelial failure; however, complications are not uncommon. Graft detachment is the most common complication, but is usually resolved with re-bubbling. There is an evident learning curve and the surgical trauma to the endothelium is the most important factor that influences the endothelial cell loss.

To study the refractive and visual results after Descemet's stripping automated endothelial queratoplasty (DSAEK).Retrospective study of 75 eyes in 67 patients with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy or bullous queratopathy operated on in the Instituto de Oftalmología La Arruzafa from March, 2007 until March, 2010. Phacoemulsification and IOL implantation was involved in 30 cases. We divided all cases into three groups, depending on the potential visual acuity: A (≤ 0.1), B (0.1-0.5) and C (≥ 0.5). Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and refraction were measured.Mean CDVA improved 3 lines compared to preoperative values (P.01). Astigmatism increased by 0.5 dioptres (P=.21). A slight myopic change was found in cases where the donor disc was≥8.5mm, as well as in the cases in which phacoemulsification was associated. No correlation between CDVA and donor disc thickness was found. In the group of patients who only had corneal oedema, the mean CDVA was 0.8. No patients ended with less than 0.6 of CDVA and the mean UCVA was 0.5.After DSAEK, CDVA improved with a slight hyperopic change, without significant changes in astigmatism. Donor disc thickness does not influence the CDVA. DSAEK is an effective surgical technique to restore a good visual acuity in cases with corneal oedema due to endothelial failure.

This paper describes how Baja California and Sonora, located in northwestern Mexico, function as a socioeconomic area to the bordering states and cities of California and Arizona. Since 1999, the Federal, and the Baja California and Sonora Governments, have promoted a tourism corridor in Mar de Cortes and a new alternative port in the Pacific, in the south of Baja California, for the trade between the USA and China. These new actions will have an impact on the fragile natural environment and on the population settled at the south of both Mexican states. This paper studies the projects, evaluates their impact on the natural and social environment of the region and sets a scenario of the socioeconomic and future territorial organization networks in a sustainable framework. The methodology consists of an analysis of the socioeconomic profiles of the areas receiving the projects, evaluates the environmental, economic and social impact of the infrastructure projects and the main actions through an environmental impact matrix, projecting the probable demographic and territorial scenario that is conditioned to the maintenance of an environmental equilibrium, the restructuring of economic activities and the compensating actions for the most vulnerable population.

Chronic infantile neurologic cutaneous articular (CINCA) syndrome is a serious chronic systemic inflammatory disease that presents at a young age and that is characterized by skin, joint, and central nervous system disease. Skin symptoms are the first to appear, in the form of a longstanding nonpruritic urticarial rash, with exacerbations coinciding with episodes of fever, arthritis, and enlarged lymph nodes. The findings of biopsy of skin lesions are extremely variable but characterized by perivascular neutrophilic infiltrate. With the discovery of mutations in the CIAS1 gene, which encodes a protein known as cryopyrin, this entity has been classified as one of the cryopyrin-associated autoinflammatory diseases, along with familial cold urticaria and Muckle-Wells syndrome. This discovery has also made available new therapeutic options. We present the case of a boy diagnosed with CINCA syndrome who presented with an outbreak of painful skin lesions and fever. These lesions were thought to be an exacerbation of underlying lesions during an episode of fever.

Atypical mycobacterial infections are increasingly important in immunosuppressed patients as well as in healthy hosts. The atypical mycobacterium that most commonly affects the skin is Mycobacterium marinum. The infection should be suspected upon the presence of ulcers, nodules or chronic plaques and a history of contact with fresh or salt water. Optimal therapy is yet to be established. We report a case of Mycobacterium marinum infection in a patient receiving immunosuppressive therapy that responded favourably to treatment with doxicycline. We review the different antibiotic regimens prescribed in the past years for the treatment of Mycobacterium marinum infection.

Although complications resulting from a myomectomy are infrequent, the overall risk is probably greater than a hysterectomy. The effect of hysterectomy on the specific women is difficult to quantify, however. Supracervical hysterectomy is a reasonable alternative in the woman with a normal cervix. Moreover, repeated laparotomies are not particularly advisable. In a woman who has previously undergone a myomectomy and has had a recurrent symptomatic myomatous uterus, the decision must be made either to proceed with a repeat myomectomy or to perform a hysterectomy. The chance of successfully achieving a pregnancy after a second myomectomy may be less favorable than after a primary myomectomy. A myomectomy can be a difficult and often time-consuming procedure. With meticulous attention to technique, however, the procedure can be accomplished safely and effectively with relatively ensured hemostasis and minimal blood loss. A myomectomy affords the option of preserving the uterus in those patients with symptomatic uterine myomata who desire to preserve their reproductive organs. However, careful assessment with meticulous counseling of the patient is essential. The potential option for a hysterectomy must always be preserved. Hysteroscopic resection of submucous myomata with endometrial ablation has become the technique of preference in many cases. At the moment, abdominal myomectomy is the preferred technique for the removal of intramural and subserosal myomata. For the present, laparoscopic myomectomy must be viewed as being of very limited acceptability.

To determine the incidence of perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing transvaginal oocyte retrieval and to identify those patients at greatest risk for complications.A retrospective analysis was performed on 674 patients of reproductive age who underwent transvaginal retrieval of oocytes for assisted reproduction technologies during a 3-year period. All procedures were performed by surgeons with extensive experience with transvaginal retrieval. Patients were entered into the program with a primary diagnosis of unexplained infertility (16%), endometriosis (32%), pelvic adhesions and/or tubal occlusion (38%), or infertility from male or immunologic factors (14%).Of the 674 patients studied, ten (1.5%) required hospital admission because of perioperative complications. Nine of these patients needed intravenous antibiotics and one required admission and observation for an expanding broad-ligament hematoma. Six of nine women admitted for antibiotic therapy had a history of extensive pelvic adhesions with or without a history of salpingitis. Five of nine patients had a history of salpingitis. In addition, two patients experienced impressive vaginal arterial bleeding during the procedure.This study suggests that transvaginal retrieval may not be as innocuous as is often expressed and that the primary factor predisposing to perioperative morbidity is a history of previous pelvic inflammatory disease and/or adnexal adhesions.

We present an endometrial Müllerian adenosarcoma in which the sarcomatous component showed prominent nests of foamy cells that accounted for 50% of the neoplastic mesenchyma. Such foamy cells showed occasional cytological atypias and immunohistochemical features of histiocytic (macrophagic differentiation in the absence of changes that could substantiate the presence of an inflammatory infiltration of foamy histiocytes. These facts suggest histiocytic differentiation from neoplastic mesenchymal cells. Such differentiation has been reported in association with malignant mixed mesodermal tumor, but not in Müllerian adenosarcoma.

Forty-one amputee patients because vascular disease, 20 of them diabetics and 21 non-diabetics, with a mean of 68 years, were studied--from psychosocial aspect--by interviewing them 3 or 4 years after their amputation. Different factors were evaluated, like prosthesis usage, personal cares that patient could do by him self, home activities made by the patients, sexual life quality and labor status. For this evaluation different variables were considered, like age, sex, scholar level, familial economic level, original pathology, amputation level, stump status and phantom [correction of fantasm] limb perception. The most important variables correlated with good psychosocial conditions of amputee patients are noted, and considerations and recommendations for a rehabilitation program are established.

The possible action, as risk factor of peripheral arteriosclerosis, of the emotional stress; the effect of the social support to deaden this stress, and some aspects of the personality as fundamental regulator of the individual behaviour, are analyzed. 23 atherosclerotic patients, II degree, were valued and compared with a control group of the same age and sex.

The effect of combined antihistamine and corticosteroid therapy and the effect of dextran on recurrent intraperitoneal adhesion formation were evaluated in 43 monkeys, all of which had been previously used for reproductive tract studies, and, hence, were suffering from adhesion formation to some degree. In a double-blind manner, the monkeys were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups. 1 group received saline injections before and after lysis surgery followed by introduction of saline solution in the peritoneum during surgery. Group 2 was treated with saline injections, as Group 1, except that dextran solution was introduced into the peritoneal cavity. In Group 3, a combined dexamethasone/promethazine therapy was administered before, during, and after surgery. In all of these monkeys, the degree of adhesion reformation after adhesion lysis surgery was essentially the same in all 3 groups. Rather, careful surgical technique was vastly more important than use of corticosteroids or antihistamines as prophylactic measures.

The victim of sexual assault has 5 needs: 1) care of injuries, 2) prevention of venereal disease, 3) prevention/alleviation of psychologic damage, 4) medicolegal examination with documentation for law enforcement authorities, and 5) prevention of pregnancy. The staff of Philadelphia General Hospital, in a program designed to meet these needs, treated 480 (24.6 per 100,000 population) victims of sexual assault in 1968. 70% were ages 14-44, 24% below 14 years of age. In this program, serologic testing and cultures are followed by intramuscular injection of penicillin, 2,400,000 units. Both pediatric and adult victims are treated with reassurance, close follow-up and psychiatric referral as indicated. Detection of motile spermatozoa by examination of vaginal aspirate by a qualified experienced laboratory technician is of utmost importance. Postcoital contraceptive therapy revealed a high incidence of gastrointestinal side effects and 4 pregnancies were established in the treated cycle.