Anomalous high-pressure Jahn-Teller behavior in CuWO4

High-pressure optical-absorption measurements performed in CuWO4 up to 20 GPa provide experimental evidence of the persistence of the Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion in the whole pressure range both in the low-pressure triclinic and in the high-pressure monoclinic phase. The electron-lattice couplings associated with the eg(E⊗e) and t2g(T⊗e) orbitals of Cu2+ in CuWO4 are obtained from correlations between the JT distortion of the CuO6 octahedron and the associated structure of Cu2+ d-electronic levels. This distortion and its associated JT energy (EJT) decrease upon compression in both phases. However, both the distortion and associated EJT increase sharply at the phase-transition pressure (PPT=9.9  GPa), and we estimate that the JT distortion persists for a wide pressure range not being suppressed up to 37 GPa. These results shed light on the transition mechanism of multiferroic CuWO4, suggesting that the pressure-induced structural phase transition is a way to minimize the distortive effects associated with the toughness of the JT distortion.C.-Y. Tu is acknowledged for providing us the crystals used to perform the experiments. J. R.-F. is indebted to the FPI research grant (BES-2008-002043) and thanks C. Renero-Lecuna for fruitful discussions on the spectroscopic data. The authors thank the financial support from the MICINN of Spain under Grants No. MAT2010- 21270-C04-01, No. MAT2008-06873-C02-01/02, and No. CSD2007-00045

Effect of pharmaceutical intervention on medication adherence and blood pressure control in treated hypertensive patients: Rationale, design and methods of the AFenPA pilot study.

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de una intervención farmacéutica protocolizada sobre el control de la presión arterial y la adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico en pacientes usuarios de farmacias comunitarias.Material y métodos: Estudio cuasi-experimental con grupo control en el que se comparará el efecto de una intervención farmacéutica (grupo intervención) con el proceso de atención habitual (grupo control), sobre la presión arterial y la adherencia al tratamiento de pacientes hipertensos tratados farmacológicamente en farmacias comunitarias. Los pacientes serán distribuidos de forma equitativa en ambos grupos (n control = n intervención) y serán seguido durante 6 meses. El programa de la intervención farmacéutica constará de tres partes fundamentales: 1) educación/información al paciente sobre aspectos relacionados con la hipertensión y adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico, 2) automonitorización de la presión arterial y, 3) interacción con el médico mediante informes personalizados cuando la media de las cifras de presión arterial realizadas en el domicilio superen el objetivo terapéutico acorde con la situación clínica del paciente. Para evaluar el efecto de la intervención farmacéutica sobre la adherencia terapéutica y la presión arterial se obtendrán medidas de presión arterial en la farmacia y porcentaje de cumplimiento terapéutico mediante recuento de comprimidos en ambos grupos al principio y al final del estudio.Discusión: Según nuestros conocimientos, éste es el primer estudio que se realiza en farmacia comunitaria en España para probar la efectividad de una intervención farmacéutica conjuntamente con la automedida de la presión arterial sobre el control de la presión arterial. Además, la intervención farmacéutica se ha diseñado de forma que pueda integrase como práctica habitual enmarcada dentro de la Atención Farmacéutica.Objective: To assess the effect of a protocol-based pharmacist intervention on blood pressure control and medication adherence among treated hypertensive patients who are users of community pharmacies.Methods: A quasi experimental study design with control group has been designed to compare the effect of pharmaceutical intervention (intervention group) versus the standard healthcare procedure (control group) on blood pressure and medication adherence among hypertensive patients receiving drug therapy in community pharmacies. The patients will be allocated evenly between the two groups (ncontrol = nintervention), with a 6-month follow-up. The pharmaceutical intervention program will comprise three main parts: 1) patient education / information on issues relating to hypertension and medication adherence; 2) self-monitoring of blood pressure; and 3) interaction with the physician through personalized reports when the mean blood pressure values recorded at home exceed the treatment goal according to the clinical condition of the patient. In order to evaluate the effect of the pharmaceutical intervention upon medication adherence and blood pressure, blood pressure recordings will be made in the pharmacy, while percent medication adherence will be established based on pill count in both groups at the start and end of the study.Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study in the community pharmacy setting in Spain to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmaceutical intervention in combination with home blood pressure monitoring on blood pressure control. In addition, the pharmaceutical intervention has been designed for inclusion as standard practice in the context of Pharmaceutical Care

An XMM-Newton Study of the Bright, Nearby Supernova Remnant G296.1-0.5

We present a detailed study of the supernova remnant G296.1-0.5, performed using observations with the EPIC and RGS instruments of the XMM-Newton satellite. G296.1-0.5 is a bright remnant that displays an incomplete multiple-shell morphology in both its radio and X-ray images. We use a set of observations towards G296.1-0.5, from three distinct pointings of EPIC, in order to perform a thorough spatial and spectral analysis of this remnant, and hence determine what type of progenitor gave rise to the supernova explosion, and describe the evolutionary state of the SNR. Our XMM-Newton observations establish that the spectral characteristics are consistent across the X-ray bright regions of the object, and are best described by a model of the emission from a nonequilibrium ionization collisional plasma. The study reveals that the emission from the shell is characterized by an excess of N and an underabundance of O, which is typical of wind material from red supergiant (RSG) and Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. Additionally, we have detected transient X-ray source 2XMMi J115004.8-622442 at the edge of the SNR whose properties suggest that it is the result of stellar flare, and we discuss its nature in more detail.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap

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Abstract:  Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the eighth most prevalent cancer in the world, it has high morbidity and a low survival rate. The identification of biological markers allows increasing the sensitivity or specificity in the early detection or prognosis of malignancy in the population. The aim of this work was to determine the expression pattern of connexin 43 (Cx43) and Ki-67 in OSCC biopsies and control samples. Retrospective study of 24 samples of <18 years old, both genders, patients treated by spontaneous demand between 2014 and 2017 (approved by IRB Protocol No. 1379).OSCCs were diagnosed following the ICD10 classification code C00-C14. The controls were samples of normal gingival epithelium after dental extraction not associated with malignant or premalignant lesions.The expression levels of tumorigenic biomarkers were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining (IHQ). IHQ was analyzed in digital photomicrographs in 3 fields of 10-3 mm2using Image Pro Plus v13 software.Immunostainingwas classified according to the criteria of Tanaka et al. o y col. (2016) for Cx43 as low, medium and high expression, and positive-negative for Ki67 according to Schermaet al.(2017). The comparison between OSCC samples and controls was carried out using the Mann-Whitney test. The correlation was analyzed using the Spearman Coefficient (CS). A p-value <0.05 was set for statistical significance.Cx43 immunostaining was positive in 70% of control samples. Meanwhile, 90% of the cells presented low or null Cx43 immunostaining in OSCC samples (p = 0.0001). Ki67 labelling showed an elevated number of positive cells in CBCE samples concerning controls (p = 0.0007). Likely, in the process of malignant transformation, one of the first alterations in the epithelium of the buccal mucosa is the loss of Cx43 in the membrane, which modifies cell differentiation. In addition, the increase in cyclin Ki67 could be associated with the increase in cell proliferation. Both markers could be useful to identify the early stages of OSCC. (Work funded by FONCYT PICT2016–2358).Resumen:  El carcinoma bucal a células escamosas (CBCE) es el octavo cáncer más prevalente en el mundo, presenta una elevada tasa de morbilidad y baja tasa de supervivencia. La identificación de marcadores biológicos permite aumentar la sensibilidad o especificidad de la detección precoz o pronóstico de malignidad en la población. El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar el patrón de expresión de conexina 43 (Cx43) y Ki-67 en biopsias de CBCEy controles. Estudio retrospectivo de 24 muestras de pacientes mayores de 18 años de ambos géneros atendidos por demanda espontánea entre el año 2014 a 2017 (aprobado por Protocolo IRB No. 1379). LosCBCEfueron diagnosticados siguiendo la clasificación CIE10 código C00-C14. Los controles fueron muestras de epitelio gingival normal post-extracción dentaria no asociadas a lesiones malignas o premalignas. Los niveles de expresión de los biomarcadores tumorigénicos se evaluaron mediante tinción inmunohistoquímica. La inmunomarcación se evaluó en microfotografías digitales en 3 campos de 10-3mm2utilizando el software Image Pro Plus v13. Se clasificó como expresión baja, media y alta según criterios de Tanaka el al (2016) para Cx43, y en positiva-negativa para Ki67 según Scherma et al (2017). La comparación entre muestras CBCE y controles se realizó mediante la Prueba Mann-Whitney. La correlación se analizó mediante el Coeficiente Spearman (CS). Se fijó un p<0,05 para significación estadística. En muestras controles se observó un 70% de inmunomarcación positiva Cx43; mientras que enmuestrasCBCEel 90% de las células presentó inmunomarcaciónbajaonula (p=0,0001).La marcación con Ki67 mostró un elevado número de células positivas en muestras de CBCE en relación a los controles (p=0,0007). Se observó una correlación positiva entre marcación positiva Ki67 y marcación nula o baja de Cx43 en membrana (CS=0,62).Posiblemente, en el proceso de transformación maligna, una de las primeras alteraciones en el epitelio de la mucosa bucal sea la pérdida de Cx43 de membrana, lo cual modifica la diferenciación celular. Además, el aumento de la ciclina Ki67 estaría asociado a un aumento de la proliferación celular. La detección de ambos marcadores podría ser útil para identificar etapas tempranas de CBCE. (Trabajo financiado por FONCYT PICT2016–2358).

Seguimiento Grado en Matemáticas. Curso 13-14

El objetivo principal de esta red ha sido la coordinación y seguimiento de los cursos correspondientes al Grado en Matemáticas que se ha implantado en su totalidad en el presente curso académico en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de Alicante y se engloba dentro del proceso general del seguimiento de todos los títulos de la Facultad de Ciencias. La red está coordinada por la coordinadora del Grado en Matemáticas y formada por los coordinadores de cada uno de los semestres. Se pretende evidenciar los progresos del título en el desarrollo del Sistema de Garantía Interno de Calidad (SGIC), con el fin de detectar las posibles deficiencias en el proceso de implantación del grado y contribuir a sus posibles mejoras elaborando propuestas de acciones para mejorar su diseño y desarrollo

Enfermos crónicos domiciliarios: valoración integral físico-cognitiva y caídas durante 3 años de seguimiento

ObjectiveTo assess the physical and cognitive capacity of chronically ill homebound patients, and the falls they suffered during three years of monitoring.DesignDescriptive, longitudinal study.Setting«Raval Nord» Health District, Barcelona.Patients and other participantsAll the 243 homebound chronic patients registered in the home care programme in May 1996 (67% women, average age 84).Measurements and main resultsAfter three years 16% had gone into an old people's home, 9% had moved house and 38% had died. The probability of not continuing in the programme after three years monitoring was related to less autonomy, presence of comorbidity, and worse cognitive capacity (p < 0.05). Of the 90 patients (37%) who remained active in May 1999, 41% showed disorders on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), with a significant relationship to greater age, less autonomy and the presence of comorbidity. Numerous alterations in analysis (21.6%) and linked illnesses (18.9%) were found in the patients with cognitive deterioration. 42% of the patients active in May'99 had fallen during the monitoring period. 10% of the falls involved fractures. The number of falls was higher when there was visual-auditory loss, consumption of psychiatric drugs or absence of use of orthopaedic aids. There was also a greater probability of falls in patients who only had a part-time carer (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIt is important to assess the autonomy, cognitive capacity and comorbidity of homebound chronic patients when monitoring them. Likewise, cognitive disorders and falls must be properly weighed, as they are common in this class of patient

Structural and vibrational study of Bi2Se3 under high pressure

The structural and vibrational properties of bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) have been studied by means of x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements up to 20 and 30 GPa, respectively. The measurements have been complemented with ab initio total-energy and lattice dynamics calculations. Our experimental results evidence a phase transition from the low-pressure rhombohedral (R-3m) phase (B-Bi2Se3) with sixfold coordination for Bi to a monoclinic C2/m structure (B-Bi2Se3) with sevenfold coordination for Bi above 10 GPa. The equation of state and the pressure dependence of the lattice parameters and volume of a and B phases of Bi2Se3 are reported. Furthermore, the presence of a pressure-induced electronic topological phase transition in B-Bi2Se3 is discussed. Raman measurements evidence that Bi2Se3 undergoes two additional phase transitions around 20 and 28 GPa, likely toward a monoclinic C2/c and a disordered body-centered cubic structure with 8-fold and 9- or 10-fold coordination, respectively. These two high-pressure structures are the same as those recently found at high pressures in Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3. On pressure release, Bi2Se3 reverts to the original rhombohedral phase after considerable hysteresis. Symmetries, frequencies, and pressure coefficients of the Raman and infrared modes in the different phases are reported and discussed.This work was done under financial support from Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under Projects No. MAT2007-66129, No. MAT2010-21270-C04-03/04, and No. CSD-2007-00045 and from the Valencian government under Project No. Prometeo/2011-035. It is also supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic Project No. MSM 0021627501

Enfermos crónicos domiciliarios y consumo de psicofármacos

ObjetivoValorar el consumo de psicofármacos en los pacientes crónicos domiciliarios.DiseñoEstudio longitudinal, descriptivo.EmplazamientoÁrea Básica de Salud Raval Nord de Barcelona.Pacientes u otros participantesTodos los 243 enfermos crónicos domiciliarios registrados en el programa de atención domiciliaria en mayo de 1996. A los 3 años un 16% ha ingresado en una residencia, un 9% se ha trasladado de domicilio, un 38% ha fallecido y un 37% permanecía activo.Mediciones y resultados principalesDe los 90 pacientes que seguían activos, un 40% había consumido algún psicofármaco en mayo de 1999. El 8% de los pacientes que refirió consumir psicofármacos lo hacía por automedicación. El grupo farmacológico más consumido entre los psicofármacos era las benzodiazepinas, en un 64%. El consumo de psicofármacos fue superior en el sexo femenino (45%) y en las personas que vivían solas o en estado de viudedad (50%). El porcentaje de pacientes con consumo de psicofármacos fue superior cuando había peor grado de autonomía según el índice de Katz (67%), déficit cognitivo en el Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) de Pfeiffer (62%) y ante la presencia de comorbilidad (56%) (p < 0,01).ConclusionesExiste un elevado consumo de psicofármacos en los pacientes crónicos domiciliarios, especialmente cuando hay deterioro físico-cognitivo y presencia de comorbilidad.ObjectiveTo assess the consumption of psychiatric drugs by chronic homebound patients.DesignDescriptive, longitudinal study.SettingRaval Nord Health District, Barcelona.Patients and other participantsAll 243 chronically ill homebound patients registered on the home care programme in May 1996. After three years 16% had gone into a home, 9% had moved residence, 38% had died, and 37% remained active.Measurements and main resultsOf the 90 patients still active, 40% took some psychiatric drug in May 1999. 8% of the patients who said they had taken psychiatric drugs did so by self-medication. The most commonly consumed pharmocological group of the psychiatric drugs were benzodiazepines at 64%. Women took more psychiatric drugs (45%), as did persons living alone or who had been bereaved (50%). The proportion of patients taking psychiatric drugs was greater when there was worse autonomy according to the Katz index (67%), a cognitive deficit on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) of Pfeiffer (62%), and in the presence of comorbidity (56%) (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThere is high consumption of psychiatric drugs by chronic homebound patients, especially when there is physical-cognitive deterioration and presence of comorbidity

Peptide metal-organic frameworks under pressure: flexible linkers for cooperative compression

We investigate the structural response of a dense peptide metal-organic framework using in situ powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction under high-pressures. Crystals of Zn(GlyTyr)2 show a reversible compression by 13% in volume at 4 GPa that is facilitated by the ability of the peptidic linker to act as a flexible string for a cooperative response of the structure to strain. This structural transformation is controlled by changes to the conformation of the peptide, which enables a bond rearrangement in the coordination sphere of the metal and changes to the strength and directionality of the supramolecular interactions specific to the side chain groups in the dipeptide sequence. Compared to other structural transformations in Zn(II) peptide MOFs, this behaviour is not affected by host/guest interactions and relies exclusively on the conformational flexibility of the peptide and its side chain chemistry

Numerical Simulations of Wind Accretion in Symbiotic Binaries

We study the dynamical effects of gravitational focusing by a binary companion on winds from late-type stars. In particular, we investigate the mass transfer and formation of accretion disks around the secondary in detached systems consisting of an AGB mass-losing star and an accreting companion. The presence of mass outflows is studied as a function of mass loss rate, wind temperature and binary orbital parameters. A 2-dimensional hydrodynamical model is used to study the stability of mass transfer in wind accreting symbiotic binary systems. In our simulations we use an adiabatic equation of state and a modified version of the isothermal approximation, where the temperature depends on the distance from the mass losing star and its companion. We explore the accretion flow between the components and formation of accretion disks for a range of orbital separations and wind parameters. Our results show the formation of stream flow between the stars and accretion disks of various sizes for certain orbital configurations. For a typical slow and massive wind from an AGB star the flow pattern is similar to a RLOF with accretion rates of 10% of the mass loss from the primary. Stable disks with exponentially decreasing density profiles and masses of the order $10^{-4}$ solar masses are formed when wind acceleration occurs at several stellar radii. The formation of tidal streams and accretion disks is found to be weakly dependent on the mass loss from the AGB star. Our simulations of gravitationally focused wind accretion in symbiotic binaries show the formation of stream flows and enhanced accretion rates onto the compact component.Comment: 13 pages, 17 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap