Properties of electrons near a Van Hove singularity

The Fermi surface of most hole-doped cuprates is close to a Van Hove singularity at the M point. A two-dimensional electronic system, whose Fermi surface is close to a Van Hove singularity shows a variety of weak coupling instabilities. It is a convenient model to study the interplay between antiferromagnetism and anisotropic superconductivity. The renormalization group approach is reviewed with emphasis on the underlying physical processes. General properties of the phase diagram and possible deformations of the Fermi surface due to the Van Hove proximity are described.Comment: Proceedings of SNS-01 to appear in the Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, SNS-0

Design rules for antenna placement on MIMO systems

In recent works, it is demonstrated that, depending on the different spatial distributions and distance between elements, there exists a different true polarization diversity (TPD) configuration that provides a high improvement in terms of capacity. This means that it is necessary to choose the appropriate TPD configuration to maximize the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capacity. In this work, a genetic algorithm is used to optimize the element positions for four new different configurations in combination with the TPD technique. It is shown that, for some configurations, the same polarization option is always found to reach the maximum capacity. Based on this, some novel design rules are provided to maximize MIMO capacity when the area for placing the antennas is very small. This is the case for most of the wireless devices, where the antenna design and location is one of the latest design constraints to be taken into consideration in the device design

Broadband electronically tunable reflectionbased phase shifter for active-steering microwave reflectarray systems in Ku-band

This document provides the design of an electronically reconfigurable microwave phase shifter for reflectarray systems. The phase shifter is based on a hybrid coupler with reflective circuits in three ports. Each reflective circuit introduces a phase variation that can be modified due to the variable capacity value of a varactor inserted in it. The phase shifting process includes three different stages of phase shifting for the incoming signal in its way through the phase shifter: the signal is conducted through the device towards the reflective circuits in four different ways. The input port of the device is also the output one, providing the desired reflective phase shifting effect. This device is of great interest in reflectarray applications in order to provide more than 360° of controllable phase shifting at each array element. The document includes the complete design of the phase shifter along with its design parameters and circuital behaviour

Electronically reconfigurable reflective phase shifter for circularly polarized reflectarray systems

This letter presents the design of a two-port electronically reconfigurable phase shifter for circularly polarized reflectarray systems at microwave frequencies. The phase shifter is based on 3 dB/90? couplers combined with reflective circuits that introduce sequentially the phase variation. Each reflective circuit, formed by printed elements (L) and tunable varactors, produces the phase variation due to the variable capacity value of the varactor. The phase shifting process includes three different stages of phase shifting for the signal in its way from the input port towards the output port through the phase shifter. Both ports are interchangeable, acting either as input or output ports. This fulfils the reflection requirements of circularly polarized reflectarrays, being especially suitable for this purpose. The complete design, together with its circuital behavior and performance results, are depicted in this document

Modelización de los end-members para reconocer fuentes de aporte sedimentario en contornitas: un caso de estudio en el Mar de Alborán

Contourite drifts are one the main morphosedimentary features in the Alboran Sea and their sediments are important archives of the past oceanographic conditions and sedimentary processes. The end-member modelling approach lets to decompose multimodal grain-size distribution into genetically meaningful subpopulation that may be related to different sediment transport mechanisms and source areas. Three end-members have been identified in the contourite drift and moat system located at the southern side of the Dijbouti Ville seamount that have been interpreted in terms of sediment sources. Two end-members point to an eolian source and comprise fine silt (EM1) and coarse silt (EM2) as modal grain-sizes, characterized by high and low contents, respectively, of terrigenous elements (Al, Si, Ti and K). The third end-member (EM3) indicates a fluvial origin and is mainly defined by a clay modal grain-size of intermediate and homogeneous content in terrigenous elements. Downcore variation of the relative proportion of these EMs can be used to decipher paleocenographic and paleoclimatic conditions in the Alboran Sea.Versión del edito

Detección de parásitos gastrointestinales en hurones (Mustela putorius furo) mediante análisis coprológico

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites by coprological examination in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) reared as pets and the role of sex and age. The faeces of 30 ferrets were analysed, 16 [53.3%] from pet stores and 14 [46.7%] from homes in the city of Santiago and Concepción, Chile. Burrows' coprological technique was used for the diagnosis, which allows detecting eggs of protozoan helminths, cysts and trophozoites Three samples (10%) tested positive for protozoa, one for Entamoeba coli, in a 6 month old male from a pet store, and two for Endolimax nana in a 3-month-old female and a 2-year-old male from private homes. This would be the first record for the two species of protozoa commensals in ferrets in Chile, which were probably acquired by the close contact of mustelids with humans.El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la presencia de parásitos gastrointestinales zoonóticos mediante examen coproparasitológico en hurones (Mustela putorius furo) criados como mascotas y el rol de las variables sexo y edad. Se analizaron las heces de 30 hurones, 16 [53.3%] de tiendas de mascotas y 14 [46.7%] de hogares de la ciudad de Santiago y Concepción, Chile. Para el diagnóstico se utilizó la técnica coproparasitaria de Burrows, que permite detectar huevos de helmintos, quistes y trofozoítos de protozoos. Tres muestras (10%) resultaron positivas a protozoos, una a Entamoeba coli, en un macho de 6 meses de una tienda de mascotas, y dos a Endolimax nana en una hembra de 3 meses y un macho se 2 años, ambos de hogares. Este sería el primer registro para las dos especies de protozoos comensales en hurones en Chile, los que probablemente fueron adquiridos por el estrecho contacto de los mustélidos con los humanos. &nbsp

Modeling photosynthetically active radiation from satellite-derived estimations over mainland Spain

A model based on the known high correlation between photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and global horizontal irradiance (GHI) was implemented to estimate PAR from GHI measurements in this present study. The model has been developed using satellite-derived GHI and PAR estimations. Both variables can be estimated using Kato bands, provided by Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM-SAF), and its ratio may be used as the variable of interest in order to obtain the model. The study area, which was located in mainland Spain, has been split by cluster analysis into regions with similar behavior, according to this ratio. In each of these regions, a regression model estimating PAR from GHI has been developed. According to the analysis, two regions are distinguished in the study area. These regions belong to the two climates dominating the territory: an Oceanic climate on the northern edge; and a Mediterranean climate with hot summer in the rest of the study area. The models obtained for each region have been checked against the ground measurements, providing correlograms with determination coefficients higher than 0.99This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) [Project CGL2016-79284-P AEI/FEDER/UE]S

Optimizing CIGB-300 intralesional delivery in locally advanced cervical cancer

Background:We conducted a phase 1 trial in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer by injecting 0.5 ml of the CK2-antagonist CIGB-300 in two different sites on tumours to assess tumour uptake, safety, pharmacodynamic activity and identify the recommended dose.Methods:Fourteen patients were treated with intralesional injections containing 35 or 70 mg of CIGB-300 in three alternate cycles of three consecutive days each before standard chemoradiotherapy. Tumour uptake was determined using 99 Tc-radiolabelled peptide. In situ B23/nucleophosmin was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results:Maximum tumour uptake for CIGB-300 70-mg dose was significantly higher than the one observed for 35 mg: 16.1±8.9 vs 31.3±12.9 mg (P=0.01). Both, AUC 24h and biological half-life were also significantly higher using 70 mg of CIGB-300 (P<0.001). Unincorporated CIGB-300 diffused rapidly to blood and was mainly distributed towards kidneys, and marginally in liver, lungs, heart and spleen. There was no DLT and moderate allergic-like reactions were the most common systemic side effect with strong correlation between unincorporated CIGB-300 and histamine levels in blood. CIGB-300, 70 mg, downregulated B23/nucleophosmin (P=0.03) in tumour specimens.Conclusion:Intralesional injections of 70 mg CIGB-300 in two sites (0.5 ml per injection) and this treatment plan are recommended to be evaluated in phase 2 studies.Fil: Sarduy, M. R.. Medical-surgical Research Center; CubaFil: García, I.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Coca, M. A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: Perera, A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: Torres, L. A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: Valenzuela, C. M.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Baladrón, I.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Solares, M.. Hospital Materno Ramón González Coro; CubaFil: Reyes, V.. Center For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology Havana; CubaFil: Hernández, I.. Isotope Center; CubaFil: Perera, Y.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Martínez, Y. M.. Medical-surgical Research Center; CubaFil: Molina, L.. Medical-surgical Research Center; CubaFil: González, Y. M.. Medical-surgical Research Center; CubaFil: Ancízar, J. A.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Prats, A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: González, L.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Casacó, C. A.. Clinical Investigation Center; CubaFil: Acevedo, B. E.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: López Saura, P. A.. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; CubaFil: Alonso, Daniel Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, R.. Elea Laboratories; ArgentinaFil: Perea Rodríguez, S. E.. Center For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology Havana; Cuba. Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; Cub

Association of common ATM variants with familial breast cancer in a South American population

Background: The ATM gene has been frequently involved in hereditary breast cancer as a low-penetrance susceptibility gene but evidence regarding the role of ATM as a breast cancer susceptibility gene has been contradictory. Methods: In this study, a full mutation analysis of the ATM gene was carried out in patients from 137 Chilean breast cancer families, of which 126 were BRCA1/2 negatives and 11 BRCA1/2 positives. We further perform a case-control study between the subgroup of 126 cases BRCA1/2 negatives and 200 controls for the 5557G > A missense variant and the IVS38-8T > C and the IVS24-9delT polymorphisms. Results: In the full mutation analysis we detected two missense variants and eight intronic polymorphisms. Carriers of the variant IVS24-9delT, or IVS38-8T > C, or 5557G > A showed an increase in breast cancer risk. The higher significance was observed in the carriers of IVS38-8T > C (OR = 3.09 [95% CI 1.11-8.59], p = 0.024). The IVS24-9 T/(-T), IVS38-8 T/C, 5557 G/A composite genotype confered a 3.19 fold increase in breast cancer risk (OR = 3.19 [ 95% CI 1.16-8.89], p = 0.021). The haplotype estimation suggested a strong linkage disequilibrium between the three markers (D' = 1). We detected only three haplotypes in the cases and control samples, some of these may be founder haplotypes in the Chilean population. Conclusion: The IVS24-9 T/(-T), IVS38-8 T/C, 5557 G/A composite genotype alone or in combination with certain genetic background and/or environmental factors, could modify the cancer risk by increasing genetic inestability or by altering the effect of the normal DNA damage response

TRATAMIENTO CON ERITROPOYETINA RECOMBINANTE HUMANA, HIPERTROFIA VENTRICULAR IZQUIERDA Y BALANCE BENEFICIO RIESGO EN LA ERC-3b

RESUMEN INTRODUCCION: La anemia renal es frecuente en la enfermedad renal crónica avanzada y el tratamiento con eritropoyetina recombinante humana la mejora pero aún está a debate cual objetivo de hemoglobina alcanzar y cuál es su repercusión sobre las funciones cardiacas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la mejoría de la anemia tratada con EPOrHu sobre parámetros de la función  cardiovascular ventricular izquierda en ERC 3b y el riesgo beneficio. MATERIAL Y METODO: Ensayo clínico abierto, no controlado, no aleatorizado, multicéntrico, prospectivo, seguimiento de un año. Se evalúan los cambios en la Tasa de Filtracion Glomerular estimada por la fórmula del MDRD y por ecocardiografía la variación al año de la HVI. RESULTADOS: Se observe un incremento significativo del hematocrito en todos los pacientes al final del estudio (n = 33, 0.29 ± 0,02 (V%) versus 0.38 ± 0.03, P (Wilcoxon)= 0.000. Al eco inicial el 90,9% tenían HVI y al final solo el 78.8% con una disminución de 2.2 mm (14 a 11.8 mm), y una correlación inversa lineal entre la HVI y la mejoría de la hemoglobina  (r = -0.379; p = 0.030). La progresión del daño renal fue lenta (mL/min). En los pacientes diabéticos de 37.2 ± 8.4 versus 34.7 ± 6.7, (p Wilcoxon=0.119) y en los no diabéticos de 35.1 ± 7.833.6 ± 7.7 (p Wilcoxon= 0.119). El  48.5% de los pacientes presentaron algún tipo de evento adverso, ninguno falleció o comenzó hemodiálisis durante el seguimiento. El Balance  Beneficio- Riesgo (EA moderados o graves) estimados por el cálculo del Factor de  Bayes fue  a favor del Beneficio (FB=1,5) CONCLUSIONES: La corrección de la anemia renal en pacientes con ERC-3b con EPOrHu cubana mejora la HVI sin provocar otros daños Este trabajo apoya el tratamiento de la anemia severa con EPOrHU Palabras clave: Anemia,  eritropoyetina/ empleo terapéutico  y eventos adversos, enfermedad renal crónica, hipertrofia ventricular izquierda progresión.</p