Completion of the GOYA photometric survey

The Galaxy Origins and Young Assembly (goya) survey is designed to study the formation and evolution of 1 < z < 3 galaxies with the aim of learning on the epoch and the mechanisms by which galaxies assembled the bulk of their stars and acquired their present structure and dynamics. In 1998 goya proposed, and has since been guiding, the construction of the most ambitious of the common-user instruments for GranTeCan —the emir near-infrared multi-object spectrograph. In preparation for the exploitation of emir, we have conducted a deep near-infrared photometric survey, for sample selection and characterisation. Now that this research has reached its final stages, we provide here details on its current status and its finalisation plans. Overall, this survey has images of 0.5 square degrees of high-latitude sky to limiting ab magnitude Ks = 23.7 (5-¾, 100 aperture) and corresponding depths at U,B, V,R, I and J. The sample of sources obtained is being extended to include fields available to Gemini-S, since a recent collaboration with the Flamingos-2 Early Science Survey Team grants goya privileged access to this pioneering near-infrared multi-object spectrograph.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Determination of Partition Coefficients of Selected Model Migrants between Polyethylene and Polypropylene and Nanocomposite Polypropylene

Studies on nanoparticles have focused the attention of the researchers because they can produce nanocomposites that exhibit unexpected hybrid properties. Polymeric materials are commonly used in food packaging, but from the standpoint of food safety, one of the main concerns on the use of these materials is the potential migration of low molecular substances from the packaging into the food. The key parameters of this phenomenon are the diffusion and partition coefficients. Studies on migration from food packaging with nanomaterials are very scarce. This study is focused on the determination of partition coefficients of different model migrants between the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) and between LDPE and nanocomposite polypropylene (naPP). The results show that the incorporation of nanoparticles in polypropylene increases the mass transport of model migrants from LDPE to naPP. This quantity of migrants absorbed into PP and naPP depends partially on the nature of the polymer and slightly on the chemical features of the migrant. Relation () between partition coefficient and partition coefficient at 60°C and 80°C shows that only BHT at 60°C has a less than 1. On the other hand, bisphenol A has the highest with approximately 50 times more.The study was financially supported by the Xunta de Galicia (Project no. INCITE08PXIB203096). R. Sendon is grateful to the “Parga Pondal” Program financed by “Consellería de Innovación e Industria, Xunta de Galicia” for her postdoctoral contractS

Caracterización mediante pruebas no invasivas de pacientes infartados con disfunsión ventricular izquierda incorporados a programas de rehabilitación

Las pruebas diagnósticas no invasivas son usualmente empleadas en la identificación de pacientes de alto riesgo. Para caracterizar mediante estas pruebas a casos con infarto miocárdico y disfunción ventricular izquierda, fueron estudiados 47 enfermos a los que se les realizó prueba de esfuerzo limitada por síntomas. Holter, ecocardiograma y ventriculografía isotópica en reposo y esfuerzo en los primeros 2 meses de evolución. La serie tuvo una edad media de 53,3"8 años, predominó el infarto de cara anterior y la fracción de eyección media de ventrículo izquierdo (VI) fue de 45,8"10 %, la que no varió con el ejercicio. La carga de trabajo máxima, capacidad funcional, potencia media, consumo máximo de oxígeno y otras variables ergométricas, estuvieron marcadamente disminuidas; 35 pacientes (74,5 %) tuvieron alteraciones del segmento ST en el ECG de esfuerzo, un 31,9 % presentó supradesnivel en la zona infartada y el 25,5 % tuvo infradesnivel en el miocardio residual. Mediante el Holter se detectaron arritmias cardíacas en el 68 % de los casos y en el 51 % por ergometría. El ecocardiograma y la ventriculografía detectaron trastornos de la motilidad de VI en la zona infartada en el 82,9 % de los pacientes, mientras que en el miocardio distante los detectó más frecuentemente el estudio isotópico (40,4 %). Los estudios no invasivos en estos pacientes demostraron muy baja capacidad funcional, una elevada frecuencia de arritmias cardíacas, de supradesniveles del segmento ST durante el esfuerzo y trastornos de la motilidad en la zona infartada, expresando el deterioro funcional del VI

EMIR, the GTC NIR multi-object imager-spectrograph

EMIR, currently entering into its fabrication and AIV phase, will be one of the first common user instruments for the GTC, the 10 meter telescope under construction by GRANTECAN at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (Canary Islands, Spain). EMIR is being built by a Consortium of Spanish and French institutes led by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). EMIR is designed to realize one of the central goals of 10m class telescopes, allowing observers to obtain spectra for large numbers of faint sources in a time-efficient manner. EMIR is primarily designed to be operated as a MOS in the K band, but others a wide range of observing modes, including imaging and spectroscopy, both long slit and multi-object, in the wavelength range 0.9 to 2.5 um. It is equipped with two innovative subsystems: a robotic reconfigurable multi-slit mask and dispersive elements formed by the combination of high quality distraction grating and conventional prisms, both at the heart of the instrument. The present status of development, expected performances, schedule and plans for scientific exploitation are described and discussed. The development and fabrication of EMIR is funded by GRANTECAN and the Plan Nacional de Astronomía y Astrofísica (National Plan for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Spain).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Accurate Identification of ALK Positive Lung Carcinoma Patients: Novel FDA-Cleared Automated Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Scanning System and Ultrasensitive Immunohistochemistry

Background: Based on the excellent results of the clinical trials with ALK-inhibitors, the importance of accurately identifying ALK positive lung cancer has never been greater. However, there are increasing number of recent publications addressing discordances between FISH and IHC. The controversy is further fuelled by the different regulatory approvals. This situation prompted us to investigate two ALK IHC antibodies (using a novel ultrasensitive detection-amplification kit) and an automated ALK FISH scanning system (FDA-cleared) in a series of non-small cell lung cancer tumor samples. Methods: Forty-seven ALK FISH-positive and 56 ALK FISH-negative NSCLC samples were studied. All specimens were screened for ALK expression by two IHC antibodies (clone 5A4 from Novocastra and clone D5F3 from Ventana) and for ALK rearrangement by FISH (Vysis ALK FISH break-apart kit), which was automatically captured and scored by using Bioview's automated scanning system. Results: All positive cases with the IHC antibodies were FISH-positive. There was only one IHC-negative case with both antibodies which showed a FISH-positive result. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the IHC in comparison with FISH were 98% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: The specificity of these ultrasensitive IHC assays may obviate the need for FISH confirmation in positive IHC cases. However, the likelihood of false negative IHC results strengthens the case for FISH testing, at least in some situation

Th1 and Th17 hypercytokinemia as early host response signature in severe pandemic influenza

Abstract Introduction Human host immune response following infection with the new variant of A/H1N1 pandemic influenza virus (nvH1N1) is poorly understood. We utilize here systemic cytokine and antibody levels in evaluating differences in early immune response in both mild and severe patients infected with nvH1N1. Methods We profiled 29 cytokines and chemokines and evaluated the haemagglutination inhibition activity as quantitative and qualitative measurements of host immune responses in serum obtained during the first five days after symptoms onset, in two cohorts of nvH1N1 infected patients. Severe patients required hospitalization (n = 20), due to respiratory insufficiency (10 of them were admitted to the intensive care unit), while mild patients had exclusively flu-like symptoms (n = 15). A group of healthy donors was included as control (n = 15). Differences in levels of mediators between groups were assessed by using the non parametric U-Mann Whitney test. Association between variables was determined by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficient. Viral load was performed in serum by using real-time PCR targeting the neuraminidase gene. Results Increased levels of innate-immunity mediators (IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1β), and the absence of anti-nvH1N1 antibodies, characterized the early response to nvH1N1 infection in both hospitalized and mild patients. High systemic levels of type-II interferon (IFN-γ) and also of a group of mediators involved in the development of T-helper 17 (IL-8, IL-9, IL-17, IL-6) and T-helper 1 (TNF-α, IL-15, IL-12p70) responses were exclusively found in hospitalized patients. IL-15, IL-12p70, IL-6 constituted a hallmark of critical illness in our study. A significant inverse association was found between IL-6, IL-8 and PaO2 in critical patients. Conclusions While infection with the nvH1N1 induces a typical innate response in both mild and severe patients, severe disease with respiratory involvement is characterized by early secretion of Th17 and Th1 cytokines usually associated with cell mediated immunity but also commonly linked to the pathogenesis of autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. The exact role of Th1 and Th17 mediators in the evolution of nvH1N1 mild and severe disease merits further investigation as to the detrimental or beneficial role these cytokines play in severe illness

Proyecto para una educación física de calidad en España. Argumentación científica

Este manuscrito recoge la argumentación científica de las siete medidas presentadas al Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes, en el Posicionamiento del colectivo del Área de Educación Física sobre las mejoras para una Educación Física de Calidad en España.This manuscript includes the scientific arguments of the seven measures submitted to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, in positioning of collective of physical education area on improvements for a physical education of quality in Spain

Posicionamiento del colectivo del área de educación física sobre las mejoras para una educación física de calidad en España

Tras un largo proceso de reflexión y consenso, se presenta al Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes, en nombre de los profesionales de la Educación Física de todos los niveles educativos de España, un posicionamiento único con el fin de trasmitir aquellas pautas y modificaciones que se cree deben acometerse para asegurar a todos los escolares de España, una Educación Física de Calidad. El posicionamiento propuesto consta de siete medidas.After a long process of reflection and consensus, it is submitted to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, on behalf of professionals of physical education of all levels of education in Spain, a unique positioning with the purpose of transmitting those guidelines and modifications that it is believed that they must undertake to ensure a physical education of quality for all Spanish schoolchildren. The proposed positioning consists of seven measures

OMEGA - OSIRIS Mapping of Emission-line Galaxies in A901/2: I. Survey description, data analysis, and star formation and AGN activity in the highest density regions

We present an overview of and first results from the OMEGA (OSIRIS Mapping of Emission-line Galaxies in the multicluster system A901/2) survey. The ultimate goal of this project is to study star formation and active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity across a broad range of environments at a single redshift. Using the tuneable-filter mode of the Optical System for Imaging and low-Intermediate-Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy (OSIRIS) instrument on Gran Telescopio Canarias, we target Hα and [NII] emission lines over an ∼0.5×0.5 deg2 region containing the z∼0.167 multicluster system A901/2. In this paper, we describe the design of the survey, the observations and the data analysis techniques developed. We then present early results from two OSIRIS pointings centred on the cores of the A901a and A902 clusters. AGN and star-forming (SF) objects are identified using the [NII]/Hα versus WHα diagnostic diagram. The AGN hosts are brighter, more massive, and possess earlier type morphologies than SF galaxies. Both populations tend to be located towards the outskirts of the high-density regions we study. The typical Hα luminosity of these sources is significantly lower than that of field galaxies at similar redshifts, but greater than that found for A1689, a rich cluster at z∼0.2. The Hα luminosities of our objects translate into star formation rates (SFRs) between ∼0.02 and 6 Myr−1. Comparing the relationship between stellar mass and Hα-derived SFR with that found in the field indicates a suppression of star formation in the cores of the clusters. These findings agree with previous investigations of this multicluster structure, based on other star formation indicators, and demonstrate the power of tuneable filters for this kind of study

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO