Error characterization in Quantum Information Processing: a protocol for analyzing spatial correlations and its experimental implementation

We present a protocol for error characterization and its experimental implementation with 4 qubits in liquid state NMR. The method is designed to retrieve information about spatial correlations and scales as $O(n^w)$, where $w$ is the maximum number of qubits that have non-negligible interaction. We discuss the practical aspects regarding accuracy and implementation.Comment: Added extra comments to version 2. Accepted in PR

Readability analysis of the package leaflets for biological medicines available on the Internet between 2007 and 2013: an analitycal longitudinal study

Background: The package leaflet included in the packaging of all medicinal products plays an important role in the transmission of medicine-related information to patients. Therefore, in 2009, the European Commission published readability guidelines to try to ensure that the information contained in the package leaflet is understood by patients. Objective: The main objective of this study was to calculate and compare the readability levels and length (number of words) of the package leaflets for biological medicines in 2007, 2010, and 2013. Methods: Thesampleofthisstudyincluded36biologicalmedicinepackageleafletsthatweredownloadedfromtheEuropean Medicines Agency website in three different years: 2007, 2010, and 2013. The readability of the selected package leaflets was obtained using the following readability formulas: SMOG grade, Flesch-Kincaid grade level, and Szigriszt's perspicuity index. The length (number of words) of the package leaflets was also measured. Afterwards, the relationship between these quantitative variables (three readability indexes and length) and categorical (or qualitative) variables were analyzed. The categorical variables were the year when the package leaflet was downloaded, the package leaflet section, type of medicine, year of authorization of biological medicine, and marketing authorization holder. Results: The readability values of all the package leaflets exceeded the sixth-grade reading level, which is the recommended value for health-related written materials. No statistically significant differences were found between the three years of study in the readability indexes, although differences were observed in the case of the length (P=.002), which increased over the study period. When the relationship between readability indexes and length and the other variables was analyzed, statistically significant differences were found between package leaflet sections (P<.001) and between the groups of medicine only with regard to the length over the three studied years (P=.002 in 2007, P=.007 in 2010, P=.009 in 2013). Linear correlation was observed between the readability indexes (SMOG grade and Flesch-Kincaid grade level: r2=.92; SMOG grade and Szigriszt's perspicuity index: r2=.81; Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Szigriszt's perspicuity index: r2=.95), but not between the readability indexes and the length (length and SMOG grade: r2=.05; length and Flesch-Kincaid grade level: r2=.03; length and Szigriszt's perspicuity index: r2=.02). Conclusions: There was no improvement in the readability of the package leaflets studied between 2007 and 2013 despite the European Commission's 2009 guideline on the readability of package leaflets. The results obtained from the different readability formulas coincided from a qualitative point of view. Efforts to improve the readability of package leaflets for biological medicines are required to promote the understandability and accessibility of this online health information by patients and thereby contribute to the appropriate use of medicines and medicine safety

SICAC: an information system for the Conjunto arqueológico de Carmona (Carmona Archaeological Ensemble) (Seville, Spain)

The Roman necropolis and amphitheater of Carmona (Seville, Spain) were excavated and opened to the public at the end of the Nineteenth century. Because of this long continuity, the Carmona Archaeological Ensemble boasts a special trait: a broad archaeological documentary archive. Efficient management of this store of information that is updated and added to on a daily basis required a computer application that could gather, integrate, conserve and facilitate the use of this volume of data from different sources. At the same time, it was considered necessary for researchers to have online access to the core substance of the information. Our information system for CAC was developed over the course of five years and is called SICAC. All of the graphic and alphanumerical data is organized in the same environment, thereby guaranteeing their integration, availability, quality and accessibility. SICAC has three platforms: desktop, online and mobile

Pseudoaneurisma de la arteria geniculada superior lateral secundaria a artroplastia de rodilla: Aportación de un caso

El pseudoaneurisma es una complicación infrecuente en la cirugía ortopédica de rodilla. Los pocos casos descritos generalmente están en relación con cirugía artroscópica. Presentamos un caso de pseudoaneurisma de la arteria geniculada superolateral secundario a artroplastia de rodilla en un varón de 69 años. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante arteriografía. Se trató con éxito mediante hemostasia y resección química.Pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon complication in knee orthopaedic surgery. There are few cases reported an most of them are secondary to arthroscopic techniques. We report a case of pseudoaneurysm of the superolateral genicular artery after knee arthroplasty in a 69-year-old-man. The diagnosis was made with arteriographay, and treatment was a successful hemostasia and surgical resection

Fibrohistiocitoma maligno óseo tras degeneración de enfermedad de Paget Caso clínico y revisión de la literatura

El fibrohistiocitoma maligno óseo es un tumor de estirpe mesenquimal poco frecuente, pero de alta agresividad. Se suele presentar de forma primaria, aunque a veces lo hace sobre lesiones previas en el hueso. Puede ser difícil de diferenciar histológicamente de otros tumores, pero es una entidad propia desde el punto de vista anatomopatológico. Presentamos un paciente con enfermedad de Paget que desarrolló un fibrohistiocitoma maligno óseo en el fémur sobre el hueso pagético. Fue tratado mediante desarticulación de cadera. No se usó quimioterapia como tratamiento coadyuvante debido a su avanzada edad y situación basal. A los 18 meses se encuentra asintomático y sin signos de recurrencia. Se hace una revisión de la literatura acerca de este tumor.Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone is a rare but highly agressive mesenchimal tumor. It usually arises as a primary tumor but sometimes it can be associated with pre-existing bone abnormalities. Histologically it can be missdiagnosed with other tumors. We report a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone in the femur in a patient with Paget's disease treated by hip desarticulation. We didn't use chemotherapy because his elderly status. At 18 months follow up, the patient is symptom-free and neither local recurrence nor metastasis have been found. A review of the literature has been carried out

Readability assessment of package leaflets of biosimilars

Objectives: To assess the degree of readability and the length of the package leaflets of biosimilars. Setting: The package leaflets analysed were downloaded from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) website. Participants The study sample included the package leaflets written in English of all the biosimilars that were authorised by the EMA on 31 August 2017, and whose content was available via the internet on that date (n=35). Design This was a cross-sectional analytical study. The readability of the package leaflets of all biosimilars authorised by the EMA in August 2017 was determined applying the Flesch and Flesch-Kincaid formulas. The influence of the following variables on the readability and length was also analysed: package leaflet section, type of biosimilar, date of first authorisation of the biosimilar and type of medicine. Results: A considerable variation of the package leaflets length was found (3154±803). The readability of all the package leaflets overtook the recommended value for health-related written materials taking into account Flesch-Kincaid Index, and none of the package leaflets were easy to understand according to the Flesch Index. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were observed between the sections of package leaflets in readability indices and length. The most difficult sections to understand were those related with the therapeutic indication of medicine and the possible side effects. Conclusions: Package leaflets for authorised biosimilars may not fulfil the function for which they were designed. The competent organisations could be informed about the possible negative effect on the use of this type of medicines

The prescence of Pseudocolopteryx citreola in eastern Argentina, with comparisons of voice with other doraditos

The Ticking Doradito (Pseudocolopteryx citreola) was included in P. flaviventris until a recent taxonomic revalidation. The plumages of the two species are virtually indistinguishable and so recording their vocalizations is necessary in order to identify the species with any certainty. In Chile P. citreola is found in the centre of the country and it is a migrant but its winter distribution is unknown. In Argentina the situation is more complicated as it is possible to find this species and P. flaviventris in the same areas. In Argentina P. citreola occurs in the foothills of the Andes from Río Negro to Salta and it even reaches low lying areas in Bolivia. We present the first two recordings of P. citreola vocalizations for the eastern sector of the Southern Cone (one from eastern Entre Ríos and the other from southwestern Buenos Aires province, Argentina, both in November). We comment on potential confusions created by our new data in reference to the distribution of P. flaviventris in the Cisandean region. Possibly our new records of P. citreola records represent a west-east migration pattern. A phonetical comparation and sonograms showing the differences between the song of this species and the other Pseudocolopteryx is presented. The voices of P. citreola resemble those of P. dinellianus and (to a lesser extent) those of P. acutipennis, and are markedly different from those of P. flaviventris. The voices of P. citreola in Salta province, northwestern Argentina, are somewhat different from those elsewhere, and merit further research.Fil: López Lanús, Bernabé. Audiornis Producciones; ArgentinaFil: Unterkofler, Darío E.. Aves Argentinas; ArgentinaFil: Ornstein, Ulises. Aves Argentinas; ArgentinaFil: Güller, Roberto. Aves Argentinas; ArgentinaFil: Lejarraga, Reginaldo. No especifica;Fil: Doiny Cabre, Cristobal. No especifica;Fil: Scoffield, Rosemary L.. Refugio de Vida Silvestre Marahué; ArgentinaFil: Kopuchian, Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; Argentin

Prevention strategies to identify LASA errors: building and sustaining a culture of patient safety

Background: Potential look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) errors in outpatient and inpatient prescriptions have been widely described worldwide. However, most strategies of reducing drug name confusion have been only focused on the processes of prescribing and dispensing, often following local rules. Main text: An illustrative recent example about this topic is given: the antidepressant Brintellix® (vortioxetine)(Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.) and the antiplatelet medication Brilinta® (ticagrelor) (AstraZeneca LP). Revision of the initiatives that are currently applied to prevent potential LASA errors in different countries around the world and debate about the emerging strategies that could be implemented in short and mid-term. At present, a common policy worldwide on the authorization of unique names for innovative medicines does not exist. The implication of authorities in topdown strategies and the importance of developing an international health policy on the authorization of unique names for innovative medicines are highlighted in the following piece of opinion. Conclusions: Building and sustaining a culture of patient safety should be considered as a global top-down strategy which involved all the elements in the system (regulatory bodies, manufacturers and suppliers). The precedent established by the FDA in prevention strategies to identify and avoid LASA errors has been extremely important and should lead to international discussion. Coordinated international efforts are urgently needed in this area for the sake of patients' safety

Resistance to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus in Cucurbita spp

[EN] Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is a bipartite begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) first reported in India and its neighbouring countries. ToLCNDV severely affects zucchini crop (Cucurbita pepo) in the main production areas of Southern Spain since 2012. This emerging begomovirus is a serious threat to this and other cucurbit crops. Breeding resistant cultivars is the most promising method for disease control, but requires the identification of sources of resistance in the Cucurbita genus. In this work, we screened for ToLCNDV resistance a large collection of Cucurbita spp. accessions, including landraces and commercial cultivars of the main cultivated species, C. pepo, Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima and wild species. The screening was performed using mechanical and whitefly inoculation. The level of resistance was assessed by scoring symptom severity and bymeasuring the virus content with quantitative polymerase chain reaction in selected genotypes. Diversity in the response was observed within and among species. Severe symptoms and high viral amounts were found at 30 days after mechanical and whitefly inoculation in C. pepo, in all accessions belonging to the Zucchini morphotype and to other morphotypes of both subspecies, pepo and ovifera, and even in the wild relative Cucurbita fraterna. C. maxima was also highly susceptible. This species showed characteristic symptoms of leaf decay and intense yellowing, different from those of mosaic, curling and internode shortening found in C. pepo. The only species showing resistance was C. moschata. Four accessions were symptomless or had some plants with only mild symptoms after three independent rounds of mechanical inoculation with different inoculum sources. Two of them also remained symptomless after virus inoculation with viruliferous whiteflies. ToLCNDV was detected in these asymptomatic accessions at 15 and 30 days post inoculation, but viral amounts were much lower than those found in susceptible genotypes, suggesting a high level of resistance. The symptoms in the susceptible accessions of this specieswere also different, with a characteristic leaf mottling, evolving to a severe mosaic. The newly identified C. moschata resistant accessions are good candidates for breeding programmes to avoid the damage caused by ToLCNDV.This work was supported by Projects E_RTAE2013-00020-C04-03 and E-RTA2013-00020-C04-01 from the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias (INIA) cofunded with FEDER funds.Sáez Sánchez, C.; Martínez Martínez, C.; Ferriol Molina, M.; Manzano, S.; Velasco, L.; Jamilena, M.; López Del Rincón, C.... (2016). Resistance to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus in Cucurbita spp. ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY. 169(1):91-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12283S91105169