73 research outputs found
Mechanical behavior of InP twinning superlattice nanowires
Taper-free InP twinning superlattice (TSL) nanowires with an average twin
spacing of ~ 13 nm were grown along the zinc-blende close-packed [111]
direction using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The mechanical properties and
fracture mechanisms of individual InP TSL nanowires in tension were ascertained
by means of in situ uniaxial tensile tests in a transmission electron
microscope. The elastic modulus, failure strain and tensile strength along the
[111] direction were determined. No evidence of inelastic deformation
mechanisms was found before fracture, which took place in a brittle manner
along the twin boundary. The experimental results were supported by molecular
dynamics simulations of the tensile deformation of the nanowires that also
showed that the fracture of twinned nanowires occurred in the absence of
inelastic deformation mechanisms by the propagation of a crack from the
nanowire surface along the twin boundary
Is asteroid 2002NY40 a rubble pile gravitationally disrupted
The existence of meteoroid streams
containing meter-sized meteoroids capable of produc-
ing meteorites after atmospheric interaction was pro-
posed quite recently [1]. Their existence has important
implications because they can be naturally delivering
to the Earth different types of rock-forming materials
from Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHA).
The recent identification of Near Earth Object
(NEO) asteroid 2002NY40 as source of meteorite-
dropping bolides [2] opens new questions on the na-
ture of this asteroid, and the physical process that
originated the fireballs detected in 2006 August. Two
of the fireballs exhibited a clear similarity with the
orbit of 2002NY40, while a third meteoroid was hav-
ing an orbit close to NEO 2004NL8. In fact, these five
bodies would be related by the close similarity among
their orbits (Figure 1, and Table 3 of [1]). We try to
focus here on the possible origin of this complex of
bodies on the basis of our present (little) knowledge on
the structure and orbital evolution of asteroids
2002NY40 and 2004NL8
SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibody detection in breast milk from a prospective multicentre study in Spain
Objectives To develop and validate a specific protocol for SARS-CoV-2 detection in breast milk matrix and to determine the impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the presence, concentration and persistence of specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Design and patients This is a prospective, multicentre longitudinal study (April-December 2020) in 60 mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or who have recovered from COVID-19. A control group of 13 women before the pandemic were also included. Setting Seven health centres from different provinces in Spain. Main outcome measures Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in breast milk, targeting the N1 region of the nucleocapsid gene and the envelope (E) gene; presence and levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulins (Igs)-IgA, IgG and IgM-in breast milk samples from patients with COVID-19. Results All breast milk samples showed negative results for presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. We observed high intraindividual and interindividual variability in the antibody response to the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for each of the three isotypes IgA, IgM and IgG. Main Protease (MPro) domain antibodies were also detected in milk. 82.9% (58 of 70) of milk samples were positive for at least one of the three antibody isotypes, with 52.9% of these positive for all three Igs. Positivity rate for IgA was relatively stable over time (65.2%-87.5%), whereas it raised continuously for IgG (from 47.8% for the first 10 days to 87.5% from day 41 up to day 206 post-PCR confirmation). Conclusions Our study confirms the safety of breast feeding and highlights the relevance of virus-specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody transfer. This study provides crucial data to support official breastfeeding recommendations based on scientific evidence. ARS-CoV-2 antibodies but not RNA are found in breast milk from COVID-19 infected mothers
Ten-year follow-up of clinical governance implementation in primary care : Improving screening, diagnosis and control of cardiovascular risk factors
Altres ajuts: CAM was awarded a predoctoral scholarship from the Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol) (http: //www.idiapjordigol.com/index.php/ca/) (7Z06/003).protective effect of having a cardiovascular event (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.44-0.94) or death (HR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.35-0.88) was observed in patients from centres where general practitioners received high frequency feedback. Additionally, these PCCs presented improved cardiovascular health indicators and lower incidence and mortality by CVD, illustrating the impact of this intervention. Current improvement strategies for the control of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) in Europe are based on quality management policies. With the aim of understanding the effect of interventions delivered by primary healthcare systems, we evaluated the impact of clinical governance on cardiovascular health after ten years of implementation in Catalonia. A cohort study that included 1878 patients was conducted in 19 primary care centres (PCCs). Audits that comprised 13 cardiovascular health indicators were performed and general practitioners received periodic (annual, biannual or monthly) feedback about their clinical practice. We evaluated improvement in screening, diagnosis and control of the main CRFs and the effects of the feedback on cardiovascular risk (CR), incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, comparing baseline data with data at the end of the study (after a 10-year follow-up). The impact of the intervention was assessed globally and with respect to feedback frequency. General improvement was observed in screening, percentage of diagnoses and control of CRFs. At the end of the study, few clinically significant differences in CRFs were observed between groups. However, the reduction in CR was greater in the group receiving high frequency feedback, specifically in relation to smoking and control of diabetes and cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)). A
Audiovestibular manifestations in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin affecting up to 1% of the population. Little is known about audiovestibular impairment in patients with AS, especially the presence of cochleovestibular dysfunction in these patients. To investigate audiovestibular manifestations in AS, we studied a series of 50 consecutive patients who fulfilled the modified New York diagnostic criteria for AS and 44 matched controls. Individuals with history of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular complications, peripheral artery disease, renal insufficiency, syphilis, Meniere and other vestibular syndromes, infections involving the inner ear, barotrauma, or in treatment with ototoxic drugs were excluded. Most patients with AS were men (80%). The mean age at the time of study was 52.5 years, and mean age at the onset of symptoms was 34.4 years. Twenty-nine (58%) patients showed abnormal hearing loss in the audiogram compared to only 8 (18%) controls (p < 0.001). Values of audiometric tests (pure-tone average and speech reception threshold) yielded significant differences between patients and controls (p < 0.001). It is noteworthy that the audiogram shape disclosed a predominant pattern of high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss in AS patients (50%) compared to controls (18%) (p = 0.002). Also, AS patients exhibited abnormal vestibular tests more commonly than controls. AS patients had an increased frequency of head-shaking nystagmus (20%) compared to controls (0%) (p < 0.001). Moreover, patients (26%) showed a significantly increased frequency of abnormal caloric test compared to controls (0%) (p < 0.001). Finally, a significantly increased frequency of abnormal clinical test of sensory integration and balance with a predominant vestibular loss pattern was observed in patients (36%) compared to controls (5%) (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the current study demonstrates strong evidence for inner ear compromise in patients with AS
Long-term monitoring of the Iberian ibex population in the Sierra Nevada of the southeast Iberian Peninsula
This dataset provides long-term information on the presence of the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica
hispanica Schimper, 1848) in Sierra Nevada (SE Iberian Peninsula). Data on the abundance and
demographic structure of the Iberian ibex population were compiled over the last three decades.
Transects were laid out to record different variables such as the number of individuals sighted, the
perpendicular distance of each group of Iberian ibex to the transect line and sex as well as age of
individuals in the case of males. These data enabled the calculation of population parameters such as
density, sex ratio, birth rate, and age structure. These parameters are key for Iberian ibex conservation
and management, given that Sierra Nevada harbours the largest population of this species in the
Iberian Peninsula. The data set we present is structured using the Darwin Core biological standard,
which contains 3,091 events (582 transect walk events and 2,509 group sighting events), 5,396
occurrences, and 2,502 measurements. The occurrences include the sightings of 11,436 individuals
(grouped by sex and age) from 1993 to 2018 in a total of 88 transects distributed along Sierra Nevada, of
which 33 have been continuously sampled since 2008.Projects "LIFE-ADAPTAMED: Protection of key ecosystem services by adaptive management of Climate Change endangered Mediterranean socioecosystems"
LIFE14 CCA/ES/000612H2020 project "ECOPOTENTIAL: Improving future ecosystem benefits through earth observations" - European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
641762Elter H2020 project "European Long-Term Ecosystem and Socio-Ecological Research Infrastructure" - European Union's Horizon 2020 programme
654359100100031005001010040016676/2006/A/001571/2007/M/00173/2009/M/00861/11/M/0003/15/M/002016 _00014_M2017-00189
An updated review on pathophysiology and management of burning mouth syndrome with endocrinological, psychological and neuropathic perspectives
Determination of the mechanical properties of amorphous materials through instrumented nanoindentation
A novel methodology based on instrumented indentation is developed to determine the mechanical properties of amorphous materials which present cohesive-frictional behaviour. The approach is based on the concept of a universal hardness equation, which results from
the assumption of a characteristic indentation pressure proportional to the hardness. The actual universal hardness equation is obtained from a detailed finite element analysis of the process of sharp indentation for a very wide range of material properties, and the inverse
problem (i.e. how to extract the elastic modulus, the compressive yield strength and the friction angle) from instrumented indentation is solved. The applicability and limitations of the novel approach are highlighted. Finally, the model is validated against experimental data
in metallic and ceramic glasses as well as polymers, covering a wide range of amorphous materials in terms of elastic modulus, yield strength and friction angle
Influence of elevated-CRP level-related polymorphisms in non-rheumatic Caucasians on the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis
Association between elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels and subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular (CV) events was described in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CRP, HNF1A, LEPR, GCKR, NLRP3, IL1F10, PPP1R3B, ASCL1, HNF4A and SALL1 exert an influence on elevated CRP serum levels in non-rheumatic Caucasians. Consequently, we evaluated the potential role of these genes in the development of CV events and subclinical atherosclerosis in RA patients. Three tag CRP polymorphisms and HNF1A, LEPR, GCKR, NLRP3, IL1F10, PPP1R3B, ASCL1, HNF4A and SALL1 were genotyped in 2,313 Spanish patients by TaqMan. Subclinical atherosclerosis was determined in 1,298 of them by carotid ultrasonography (by assessment of carotid intima-media thickness-cIMT-and presence/absence of carotid plaques). CRP serum levels at diagnosis and at the time of carotid ultrasonography were measured in 1,662 and 1,193 patients, respectively, by immunoturbidimetry. Interestingly, a relationship between CRP and CRP serum levels at diagnosis and at the time of the carotid ultrasonography was disclosed. However, no statistically significant differences were found when CRP, HNF1A, LEPR, GCKR, NLRP3, IL1F10, PPP1R3B, ASCL1, HNF4A and SALL1 were evaluated according to the presence/absence of CV events, carotid plaques and cIMT after adjustment. Our results do not confirm an association between these genes and CV disease in RA
Asteroid 2002NY40 as a source of meteorite-dropping bolides
The existence of asteroidal meteoroid streams capable of producing meteorite-dropping bolides
has long being invoked, but evidence is scarce. Recent modelling of previously reported associations
suggests that the time-scales to keep the orbital coherence of these streams producing
meteorites are too short. We present an unequivocal association between near earth object
(NEO) 2002NY40 and at least one bright fireball detected over Finland in 2006 August. Another
two additional fireballs recorded from Spain and Finland seem to be related, together
producing a fireball-producing stream (β Aquarids). On the basis of historical data, the 2006
finding suggests the existence of a meteoroid complex capable of producing meteorites. Taking
into account present time-scales for orbital decoherence, if 2002NY40 has large meteoroids
associated with it, such behaviour would be the consequence of a relatively recent asteroidal
fragmentation. Supporting our claim, the heliocentric orbits of two recently discovered NEOs,
2004NL8 and 2002NY40, were found to exhibit a good similarity to each other and also to the
orbits of the three bolides. The fireball spectra of the two Finish bolides showed that the chemical
abundances of these objects are consistent with the main elements found in chondrites.
This result is consistent with the probable Low iron, Low metal (LL) chondritic mineralogy
of asteroid 2002NY40. Consequently, this asteroid may be delivering LL chondrites to the
Earth. Additional fireball reports found in the literature suggest that the associated β Aquarid
complex may have been delivering meteorites to the Earth during, at least, the last millennium
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