Quality of care assessment in COPD. AUDIPOC: the Spanish audit experience

There is now general knowledge illustratinga gap between the health care that patients rece-ive and the practice that is recommended by clinical guidelines [...

El telediario en la clase de español LE

La presente comunicación tiene por objetivo divulgar algunos de los aspectos incluidos en un proyecto de investigación que explora las posibilidades de la utilización de las grabaciones de algunas de las noticias de los Telediarios en la clase de Español Lengua Extranjer

Association between sleep-disordered breathing and breast cancer aggressiveness

Background Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been associated with cancer aggressiveness, but studies focused on specific tumors are lacking. In this pilot study we investigated whether SDB is associated with breast cancer (BC) aggressiveness. Methods 83 consecutive women <65 years diagnosed with primary BC underwent a home respiratory polygraphy. Markers of SDB severity included the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the 4% oxygen desaturation index (ODI4). The Ki67 proliferation index, lack of hormone receptors (HR-), Nottingham Histological Grade (NHG), and tumor stage were used as markers of BC aggressiveness. The association between SDB and molecular subtypes of BC was also assessed. Results The mean (SD) age was 48.8 (8.8) years and body mass index was 27.4 (5.4) Kg/m2. 42 women (50.6%) were post-menopausal. The median (IQR) AHI was 5.1 (2–9.4), and ODI4 was 1.5 (0.5–5.8). The median (IQR) AHI did not differ between the groups with Ki67>28% and Ki6728% and Ki67<29% (51.2% vs 52.3%, p = 0.90), HR- and HR+ (58.3% vs 49.1%, p = 0.47), NHG categories (p = 0.89), different tumor stages (p = 0.71), or molecular subtypes (p = 0.73). These results did not change when the ODI4 was used instead of the AHI. Conclusion Our results do not support an association between the presence or severity of SDB and BC aggressiveness.Asociación de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica del Sur (NEUMOSUR) 1/201

High-Luminance QD-LED Device With Digital and Dynamic Lighting Functions for Efficient Automotive Systems

The work of F. M. Gomez-Campos and S. Rodriguez-Bolivar was supported by the Spanish Junta de Andalucia under Project P18-RT-3303.Thiswork reports the design of a 60-segment photoluminescence quantum dot light emitting device (QD-LED) for automotive lighting systems. The QD-LED device was fabricated using a quantum dot film (QDF), incorporating two kinds of quantum dots (QDs) synthesized to emit at 531 nm (green) and 624 nm (red). When the QDF is excited with blue wavelength at 465 nm, a white color output is obtained. Likewise, by using different color filters, all the automotive lighting functions (interior and exterior) can be achieved. In addition, an electronic control module, based on the state-of-the-art multichannel automotive lighting emitting diode (LED) drivers, was specifically designed to control each segment individually to enable the possibility of external digital communication with the vehicle surroundings. That is key to develop the autonomous vehicle by incorporating what is known as car-to-X communication, used to transmit information to other vehicles and road users through light. Furthermore, this work is remarkable due to the low power consumption of the QD-LED device designed, which implies a high electrical efficiency, something critical for the electrical vehicle development. Besides, figures ofmerit and performance indicators are measured, offering promising values to use this nanotechnology in the next future of the vehicle transportation lighting systems.Junta de Andalucia P18-RT-330

Impacto de las plataformas globales en la competencia mediática y los resultados de las empresas de comunicación europeas

The market value and capitalization of traditional media companies have dropped dramatically in the last five years. This is due to the evolution of digital platforms and the emergence of global communications mega-corporations that have since absorbed the distribution of new information and entertainment content. It is also a consequence of the aggregation of value-added services generated through incessant innovation. Communications mega-corporations, the GAFANs (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Netflix), and audiovisual and telecommunications platforms reached market capitalizations ranging from 56% to 170% in the last five years (2012-17) respectively, whilst those of traditional media did not exceed 75 percent. Asymmetries on competition regulations against traditional media and the political alarm ignited by the so-called fake news or scandals due to the mishandling of users data awakened the European states and the EU about the urgency of filling the legal gap existing around the development of such platforms, particularly in order to demand rules and responsibilities comparable to those that apply to editorial groupsLa cotización y capitalización de las empresas de medios tradicionales se ha hundido en los últimos cinco años ante la evolución de las plataformas digitales y la conformación de mega grupos globales de comunicación que absorben la distribución de los nuevos contenidos informativos y de entretenimiento, así como la agregación de los servicios de valor añadido generados a través de su incesante innovación. Los mega grupos de comunicación, los GAFAN (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple y Netflix), y las plataformas de audiovisual y telecomunicaciones lograron en los últimos cinco años (2012-17) capitalizaciones de entre el 560 y el 170% respectivamente, frente a las de los medios tradicionales, que no pasaron del 75 por ciento. La asimetría de la regulación de la competencia frente a los medios tradicionales y la alarma política provocada por las fake news o los escándalos del uso impropio de datos de los usuarios despertó a los estados europeos y a la propia UE sobre la urgencia de llenar el vacío legal sobre el desarrollo de las plataformas para exigirles reglas de juego y responsabilidades como a los grupos editorialesResults included in this article belong to the project “Indicators related to broadcasters governance, funding, accountability, innovation, quality and public service applicable to Spain in the digital context” (Reference CSO2o15-66543-P), which is part of the National Programme for Fostering Excellence in Scientific and Technical Research, National Sub-Programme for Knowledge Generation launched by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, and co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Also, this article is partly based on the activity of the Communication Management International Research Network (REDES 2016 G-1641 XESCOM) supported by the Department of Culture, Education and University Planning of the Xunta de Galicia (reference ED341D R2016 / 019). Marta Rodriguez-Castro is a FPU researcher in the PhD Program of the Faculty of Communication Sciences of the University of SantiagoS

Resistant/Refractory Hypertension and Sleep Apnoea: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Hypertension is one of the most frequent cardiovascular risk factors. The population of hypertensive patients includes some phenotypes whose blood pressure levels are particularly difficult to control, thus putting them at greater cardiovascular risk. This is especially true of so-called resistant hypertension (RH) and refractory hypertension (RfH). Recent findings suggest that the former may be due to an alteration in the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone axis, while the latter seems to be more closely related to sympathetic hyper-activation. Both these pathophysiological mechanisms are also activated in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). It is not surprising, therefore, that the prevalence of OSA in RH and RfH patients is very high (as reflected in several studies) and that treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) manages to reduce blood pressure levels in a clinically significant way in both these groups of hypertensive patients. It is therefore necessary to incorporate into the multidimensional treatment of patients with RH and RfH (changes in lifestyle, control of obesity and drug treatment) a study of the possible existence of OSA, as this is a potentially treatable disease. There are many questions that remain to be answered, especially regarding the ideal combination of treatment in patients with RH/RfH and OSA (drugs, renal denervation, CPAP treatment) and patients’ varying response to CPAP treatment

Monitoring dexamethasone skin biodistribution with ex vivo MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry imaging and confocal Raman microscopy

Two of the most promising techniques in terms of ex vivo skin imaging and quantifying are confocal Raman microscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-TOF MSI). Both techniques were set up, and the semiquantitative skin biodistribution of previously developed dexamethasone (DEX) loaded lipomers was compared using Benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as a tracer of the nanoparticles. In MALDI-TOF MSI, DEX was derivatised with GirT (DEX-GirT) and the semiquantitative biodistribution of both DEX-GirT and BAK was successfully obtained. The amount of DEX measured by confocal Raman microscopy was higher than that measured by MALDI-TOF MSI, but MALDI-TOF MSI proved to be a more suitable technique for tracing BAK. An absorption-promoting tendency of DEX loaded in lipomers versus a free-DEX solution was observed in confocal Raman microscopy. The higher spatial resolution of confocal Raman microscopy (350 nm) with respect to MALDI-TOF MSI (50 mu m) allowed to observe specific skin structures like hair follicles. Nevertheless, the faster sampling rate of MALDI-TOF-MSI, permitted the analysis of larger tissue regions. In conclusion, both techniques allowed to simultaneously analyze semiquantitative data together with qualitative images of biodistribution, which is a very helpful tool when designing nanoparticles that accumulate in specific anatomical regions

A distributed and energy‑efficient KNN for EEG classification with dynamic money‑saving policy in heterogeneous clusters

Universidad de Granada/CBUASpanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities under Grants PGC2018-098813-B-C31,PID2022-137461NB-C32ERDF fund. Funding for open access charge: University of Granada/ CBU

Optical Absorption in N-Dimensional Colloidal Quantum Dot Arrays: Influence of Stoichiometry and Applications in Intermediate Band Solar Cells

We present a theoretical atomistic study of the optical properties of non-toxic InX (X = P, As, Sb) colloidal quantum dot arrays for application in photovoltaics. We focus on the electronic structure and optical absorption and on their dependence on array dimensionality and surface stoichiometry motivated by the rapid development of experimental techniques to achieve high periodicity and colloidal quantum dot characteristics. The homogeneous response of colloidal quantum dot arrays to different light polarizations is also investigated. Our results shed light on the optical behaviour of these novel multi-dimensional nanomaterials and identify some of them as ideal building blocks for intermediate band solar cells.Junta de Andalucia P18-RT-3303School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of LeedsUK Research & Innovation (UKRI)Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Junta de Andaluci

Band-like transport in “green” quantum dot films: The effect of composition and stoichiometry

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was undertaken on ARC3, part of the High Performance Computing Facilities at the University of Leeds, UK. P.R. gratefully acknowledges financial support from EPSRC through a Doctoral Training Grant. F.M.G.C., S.R.B., and E.S.S.-G. received financial support from Project No. P18-RT-3303 from the Spanish Junta de Andalucia. M.C. is thankful to the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, for financial support.SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL https://www.scitation.org/doi/suppl/10.1063/5.0078375 See the supplementary material for the mobility calculations for the rest of the materials considered here. The lowermost conduction miniband visualization in the reciprocal space is also included, along with the tables of flight times and fitting parameters.Two-dimensional quantum dot (QD) arrays are considered as promising candidates for a wide range of applications that heavily rely on their transport properties. Existing QD films, however, are mainly made of either toxic or heavy-metal-based materials, limiting their applications and the commercialization of devices. In this theoretical study, we provide a detailed analysis of the transport properties of “green” colloidal QD films (In-based and Ga-based), identifying possible alternatives to their currently used toxic counterparts. We show how changing the composition, stoichiometry, and the distance between the QDs in the array affects the resulting carrier mobility for different operating temperatures. We find that InAs QD films exhibit high carrier mobilities, even higher compared to previously modeled CdSe (zb) QD films. We also provide the first insights into the transport properties of properly passivated InP and GaSb QD films and envisage how realistic systems could benefit from those properties. Ideally passivated InP QD films can exhibit mobilities an order of magnitude larger compared to what is presently achievable experimentally, which show the smallest variation with (i) increasing temperature when the QDs in the array are very close and (ii) an increasing interdot distance at low operating temperatures (70 K), among the materials considered here, making InP a potentially ideal replacement for PbS. Finally, we show that by engineering the QD stoichiometry, it is possible to enhance the film’s transport properties, paving the way for the synthesis of higher performance devices.Spanish Junta de AndaluciaEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council P18-RT-330