Compact modeling technology for the simulation of integrated circuits based on graphene field-effect transistors

transformatiu CRUE-CSICUTP en procés de revisióAltres ajuts: GraphCAT project reference 001-P-001702The progress made toward the definition of a modular compact modeling technology for graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) that enables the electrical analysis of arbitrary GFET-based integrated circuits is reported. A set of primary models embracing the main physical principles defines the ideal GFET response under DC, transient (time domain), AC (frequency domain), and noise (frequency domain) analysis. Another set of secondary models accounts for the GFET non-idealities, such as extrinsic-, short-channel-, trapping/detrapping-, self-heating-, and non-quasi static-effects, which can have a significant impact under static and/or dynamic operation. At both device and circuit levels, significant consistency is demonstrated between the simulation output and experimental data for relevant operating conditions. Additionally, a perspective of the challenges during the scale up of the GFET modeling technology toward higher technology readiness levels while drawing a collaborative scenario among fabrication technology groups, modeling groups, and circuit designers, is provided

Toxoplasma gondii in Meat for Human Consumption – A Brief Review of the Most Described Strategies for Its Detection and Quantification

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease widely distributed worldwide and is caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The definitive host of T. gondii is the domestic cat and the entire cat family, in which the sexual stages of the parasite develop. T. gondii can also infect a wide range of intermediate hosts, affecting most warm-blooded animals including humans. In humans, toxoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals, but can develop lymphadenopathy and nonspecific symptomatology or even be fatal in infants with congenital toxoplasmosis and in immunocompromised patients. Transmission to humans is mainly through food, especially by eating undercooked meat or meat contaminated with tissue cysts. This has led to various public health organizations worldwide monitoring programs on T. gondii in animals intended for human consumption, especially in meat samples. One of the techniques employed in the laboratory is that based on the polymerase chain reaction and some of its variants, which have proven to be valuable tools for the detection of T. gondii in tissues for human consumption and many other types of biological samples. The development of different strategies for the molecular detection of T. gondii has led to the identification and quantification methodologies varying widely among laboratories. Therefore, this chapter reviews the main methods of extraction, purification, detection and quantification of T. gondii DNA in tissue samples from different species destined for human consumption

Identifying and preventing burnout in young oncologists, an overwhelming challenge in the COVID-19 era: a study of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM)

COVID-19; Esgotament professional; Oncòlegs jovesCOVID-19; Agotamiento profesional; Oncólogos jóvenesCOVID-19; Professional burnout; Young oncologistsBackground Young oncologists are at particular risk of professional burnout, and this could have a significant impact on their health and care of their patients. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced rapid changes in professionals' jobs and training, with the consequent physical and psychological effects. We aimed to characterize burnout levels and determinants in young oncologists, and the effects of the pandemic on their training and health. Methods Two online surveys were conducted among oncology residents and young oncology specialists in Spain. The first addressed professional burnout and its determinants before the COVID-19 pandemic, while the second analyzed the impact of the pandemic on health care organization, training, and physical and psychological health in the same population. Results In total, 243 respondents completed the first survey, and 263 the second; 25.1% reported significant levels of professional burnout. Burnout was more common among medical oncology residents (28.2%), mainly in their second year of training. It was significantly associated with a poor work–life balance, inadequate vacation time, and the burnout score. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) were reassigned to COVID-19 care and 84.3% of residents missed part of their training rotations. Overall, 17.2% of this population reported that they had contracted COVID-19, 37.3% had scores indicating anxiety, and 30.4% moderate to severe depression. Almost a quarter of young oncologists (23.3%) had doubts about their medical vocation. Conclusions Burnout affects a considerable number of young oncologists. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on causes of burnout, making it even more necessary to periodically monitor it to define appropriate detection and prevention strategies.This project received funding from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM)

Job satisfaction: Analysis of predictor variables in a sample of healthcare proffessionals, in Specialty Care, of a sanitary area of the Comunidad de Madrid

Artículos originales[ES] Este trabajo presenta los resultados del estudio de satisfacción laboral realizado a una muestra de 873 trabajadores de la sanidad pública, mediante aplicación de un cuestionario ad hoc, cuya estructura se presenta. A partir de estos resultados, se analizan las variables con capacidad predictiva sobre la satisfacción laboral general en la muestra. El objetivo es la búsqueda de un modelo válido que permita el planteamiento de estrategias preventivas y de intervención en el contexto laboral analizado, como vía para aumentar los niveles de satisfacción y salud laboral. [EN] This work presents the result of a study in job satisfaction performed to a sample of 873 workers of public healthcare by applying an ad hoc questionnaire whose structure will be presented here too. With the support of these results, the variables with predictor potential over the general sample job satisfaction will be analyzed. The main aim of this work is the finding of a valid model that allows the development of prevention and intervention strategies in the job context analyzed, as a way to increase job satisfaction and public health.N

Development of a multiplex assay for antibody detection in serum against pathogens affecting ruminants

Numerous infectious diseases impacting livestock impose an important economic burden and in some cases also represent a threat to humans and are classified as zoonoses. Some zoonotic diseases are transmitted by vectors and, due to complex environmental and socio‐economic factors, the distribution of many of these pathogens is changing, with increasing numbers being found in previously unaffected countries. Here, we developed a multiplex assay, based on a suspension microarray, able to detect specific antibodies to five important pathogens of livestock (three of them zoonotic) that are currently emerging in new geographical locations: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Schmallenberg virus (SBV), Bluetongue virus (BTV) and the bacteria complex Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Using the Luminex platform, polystyrene microspheres were coated with recombinant proteins from each of the five pathogens. The mix of microspheres was used for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against the five corresponding diseases affecting ruminants. The following panel of sera was included in the study: 50 sera from sheep experimentally infected with RVFV, 74 sera from calves and lambs vaccinated with SBV, 26 sera from cattle vaccinated with Mycobacterium bovis, 30 field sera from different species of ruminants infected with CCHFV and 88 calf sera infected with BTV. Finally, to determine its diagnostic specificity 220 field sera from Spanish farms free of the five diseases were assessed. All the sera were classified using commercial ELISAs specific for each disease, used in this study as the reference technique. The results showed the multiplex assay exhibited good performance characteristics with values of sensitivity ranging from 93% to 100% and of specificity ranging from 96% to 99% depending on the pathogen. This new tool allows the simultaneous detection of antibodies against five important pathogens, reducing the volume of sample needed and the time of analysis where these pathogens are usually tested individually

MicroRNAs Sequencing for Understanding the Genetic Regulation of Plant Genomes

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding RNAs that play important regulatory roles in animals and plants by targeting mRNAs for cleavage or translational repression. Small RNAs are classified into different types by their biogenesis and mode of action, such as miRNAs, siRNAs, piRNAs, and snoRNAs. In the case of miRNAs, this specific type regulates gene expression in plants and animals by targeting mRNAs for cleavage and translational repression, respectively. Diverse miRNAs regulate plant development, metabolism, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The identification of miRNAs has been accomplished in diverse species, organs and developmental or diverse biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Novel massive sequencing techniques and further bioinformatics analysis have allowed the identification of hundreds of miRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Malus domestica, Zea mays, Solanum lycopersicum, and other plants. Functional characterization of a given miRNA in a specific biological context has shown their role in the fine-tuning mechanisms of posttranscriptional gene regulation. In this chapter, besides making a summary of genome-wide miRNA profiling in plants, we describe how gain and loss of function approaches influence plant phenotypes that affect development, physiology or stress responses, pointing to miRNAs as effective tools for the generation of new plant phenotypes that improve plant productivity and conservation

Detection of Quantitative Trait Loci Controlling the Content of Phenolic Compounds in an Asian Plum (Prunus salicina L.) F1 Population

Consumption of fresh fruit is known to protect against non-communicable diseases due to the fruit's content in compounds with an antioxidant capacity, among them is polyphenols. Asian plums (Prunus salicina L.) accumulate more than 40 phenolic compounds, with a remarkable diversity in their profiles, depending on the variety and environmental conditions. Although candidate genes have been indicated to control this trait, the loci controlling its phenotypic variation have not yet been defined in this species. The aim of this work was to identify the quantitative trait Loci (QTL) controlling the phenolic compounds content in the Asian plum skin and flesh. Using UHPLC-DAD-Orbitrap-MS, we determined that cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside are the main anthocyanins in Asian plums. Other anthocyanins found to a lesser extent were tentatively identified as cyanidin bound to different sugar and procyanidin moieties. Then we phenotyped fruits of 92 and 80 F1 seedlings from the cross (98 Ang) for two harvest seasons. We used HPLC-DAD to quantify single anthocyanin and spectrophotometric techniques to determine the total content of phenols, flavonoids, procyanidins, and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP). To determine the phenotype-genotype association of phenolic compounds content, phenotypic values (adjusted by linear mixed-effects models), genotypic data and linkage maps were analyzed with the multiple QTL model (MQM) approach. We found a total of 21 significant trait-marker associations: 13 QTLs segregating from “98.99” and 8 QTLs from “Angeleno.” From these associations, 8 corresponded to phenolic compound content in the flesh and 13 in the skin. Phenotype variance was explained by the detected loci, ranging from 12.4 to 27.1%. The identified loci are related to the content of cyanidin-3-glucoside (LG4), cyanidin-3-rutinoside (LG4), total flavonoids and procyanidins (LG5 and LG8), and minor anthocyanin compounds (LG3 and LG4). These results will help improve the efficiency of breeding programs for the generation of Asian plum varieties with high phenolic compound content.This work has been funded by the National Agency of Research and Development (ANID), Chile: Fondecyt start into Research No. 11150662, Fondecyt Regular No. 1191446, and FONDEF Project IT17I0069 Sweet Pekeetah: un modelo tecnológico-comercial para una nueva variedad chilena de fruta; BB and CS-A were supported by BECAS DE DOCTORADO NACIONAL/2020 No. 21200330 and 21191605, respectively. The work of JS was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain through Juan de la Cierva incorporation contract (IJC2018-036623-I

Estudio de las características bibliointegrativas de la revista española de salud pública: un análisis de la promoción y prevención

The objective of this work is to perform a bibliointegrative analysis of the Spanish Journal of Public Health and establish the preference they give to the prevention and promotion, considering for this purpose, the articles original papers, original brief and special collaboration published in the period 2003 - 2010. 365 articles were analyzed. Between 2003 and 2010 original 232 articles (63.6 %), 15 Original short articles (4.1 %) and 118 special collaboration (32.3 %) of a total of 365 articles, 336 (92.05 %) were published in spanish publications and 29 (7.95 %) to foreign publications. The thematic highlights regarding surveillance, planning and health management, infectious and chronic diseases. The type of publication with the highest number of empirical articles is 245 (67.12 %) and the theoretical 120 (32.88 %). The areas of public health with more contributions are: health management, surveillance, prevention and health promotion. Overall, the Spanish Journal of Public Health publishes promotion and prevention of disease in 41.15 % (150), distributed in different areas.El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar un análisis bibliointegrativo de la Revista Española de Salud Pública y establecer la prioridad que se le da a la prevención y promoción, considerando para dicho fin la revisión de los artículos originales, original breve y de colaboración especial publicados en el periodo 2003 - 2010. Se han analizado 365 artículos. Entre el 2003 y el 2010 se publicaron 232 artículos originales (63.6%), 15 artículos original breve (4.1 %) y 118 de colaboración especial (32,3 %). De un total de 365 artículos, 336 (92.05%) corresponde a publicaciones españolas y 29 (7.95 %) a publicaciones extranjeras. En la temática tratada destaca el tratamiento a vigilancia epidemiológica, planificación y administración sanitaria, enfermedades infecciosas y crónicas. El tipo de publicación con mayor número de artículos es la empírica con 245 (67.12%) y la teórica 120 (32.88%). Las áreas de la salud pública con más aportes son: Gestión de salud, vigilancia epidemiológica y prevención y promoción de la salud. En términos generales, la Revista española de Salud Pública, publica artículos de prevención y promoción de la enfermedad en un 41.15% (150), distribuidos en las diferentes áreas de la Salud Pública