Polymer-solvent interaction parameters of SBS rubbers by inverse gas chromatography measurements

The solubility parameters of two SBS commercial rubbers with different structures (lineal and radial), and with slightly different styrene content have been determined by inverse gas chromatography technique. The Flory–Huggins interaction parameters of several polymer–solvent mixtures have also been calculated. The influence of the polymer composition, the solvent molecular weight and the temperature over these parameters have been discussed; besides, these parameters have been compared with previous ones, obtained by intrinsic viscosity measurements. From the Flory–Huggins interaction parameters, the infinite dilution activity coefficients of the solvents have been calculated and fitted to the well-known NRTL model. These NRTL binary interaction parameters have a great importance in modelling the separation steps in the process of obtaining the rubber

Adaptación de un protocolo de aproximación neuropsicológica en paciente adultos con epilepsia

L La epilepsia es un trastorno neurológico cuya etiología puede ser resultado de anomalías congénitas, infecciones, tumores, enfermedades vasculares, enfermedades degenerativas o lesiones, entre otras. Además se cuenta con información de que más de las tres cuartas partes de los pacientes con epilepsias debutan antes de los 18 años según la Comisión para el Control de la Epilepsia y sus Consecuencias, y que la incidencia aumenta rápidamente otra vez después de los cincuenta años, reflejando alteraciones vistas con mas frecuencia en la población de más edad (Hauser y Kurland, 1978). Uno de los objetivos más importantes en neuropsicología de la epilepsia es describir el estado cognitivo del paciente, así como conocer el deterioro o mejoría de las funciones superiores, que la evolución de la enfermedad y los distintos tipos de tratamiento producen en el sujeto epiléptico. Para nuestro trabajo como psicólogos las principales preocupaciones con respecto a la epilepsia son la consideración de un diagnostico de epilepsia en un paciente con síntomas psicológicos, las ramificaciones psicosociales que implica un diagnostico de epilepsia para un paciente, y los efectos psicológicos y cognitivos de las drogas antiepilépticas. Con relación a la primera de estas preocupaciones, del 30% al 50% de todas las personas epilépticas tienen dificultades psicológicas en algún momento del curso de su enfermedad. Los síntomas comportamentales más comunes de la epilepsia son cambios de personalidad, seguidos de psicosis, violencia, depresión y deterioro cognitivo. se cuenta con información de que más de las tres cuartas partes de los pacientes con epilepsias debutan antes de los 18 años según la Comisión para el Control de la Epilepsia y sus Consecuencias, y que la incidencia aumenta rápidamente otra vez después de los cincuenta años, reflejando alteraciones vistas con mas frecuencia en la población de más edad (Hauser y Kurland, 1978). Uno de los objetivos más importantes en neuropsicología de la epilepsia es describir el estado cognitivo del paciente, así como conocer el deterioro o mejoría de las funciones superiores, que la evolución de la enfermedad y los distintos tipos de tratamiento producen en el sujeto epiléptico. Para nuestro trabajo como psicólogos las principales preocupaciones con respecto a la epilepsia son la consideración de un diagnostico de epilepsia en un paciente con síntomas psicológicos, las ramificaciones psicosociales que implica un diagnostico de epilepsia para un paciente, y los efectos psicológicos y cognitivos de las drogas antiepilépticas. Con relación a la primera de estas preocupaciones, del 30% al 50% de todas las personas epilépticas tienen dificultades psicológicas en algún momento del curso de su enfermedad. Los síntomas comportamentales más comunes de la epilepsia son cambios de personalidad, seguidos de psicosis, violencia, depresión y deterioro cognitivo.Incluye bibliografí

Transient Hemolytic Anemia after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Stent Shunt

Management of variceal bleeding secondary to portal hypertension constitutes a challenging issue, particularly in child's C cirrhotic patients. Recently, transjugular placement of self-expanding metallic stents in the liver (TIPS), creating a shunt between the portal and hepatic branches has provided a safe and promising therapeutic approach in this clinical situation. We report here the case of a 66-year-old male cirrhotic patient who developed a moderately severe clinical picture of a Coombsnegative hemolytic anemia (serum hemoglobin, 93 g/l, serum bilirubin 160.74 umol/L (9.4 mg/dl), indirect 6.3 mg/dl (107.73 umol/L); serum LDH 1220 u/l, reticulocytes, 5.1%. serum ferritin, 1221 ug/1, schistocytes in peripheral blood smear) the week after undergoing a TIPS, suggesting the development ofa microangiopathic hemolytic anaemia secondary to red blood cell disruption by passing through the metallic network of the stent

Smartphone-Based Localization for Passengers Commuting in Traffic Hubs

Passengers commute between different modes of transportation in traffic hubs, and the passenger localization is a key component for the well-funtioning of these spaces. The smartphone-based localization system presented in this work is based on the 3D step&heading approach, which is adapted depending on the position of the smartphone, i.e. held in the hand or in the front pocket of the trousers. We use the accelerometer, gyroscope and barometer embedded in the smartphone to detect the steps and the direction of movement of the passenger. To correct the accumulated error, we detect landmarks, particularly staircases and elevators. To test our localization algorithm, we have recorded real-world mobility data in out test station in Munich city center where we have ground truth points. We achieve a 3D position accuracy of 12 meters for a smartphone held in the hand and 10 meters when the phone is placed in the front pocket of the trousers

Ghrelin's effects on proinflammatory cytokine mediated apoptosis and their impact on β-cell functionality

Ghrelin is a peptidic hormone, which stimulates cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in several tissues, including pancreas. In preclinical stage of type 1 diabetes, proinflammatory cytokines generate a destructive environment for β-cells known as insulitis, which results in loss of β-cell mass and impaired insulin secretion, leading to diabetes. Our aim was to demonstrate that ghrelin could preserve β-cell viability, turnover rate, and insulin secretion acting as a counter balance of cytokines. In the present work we reproduced proinflammatory milieu found in insulitis stage by treating murine cell line INS-1E and rat islets with a cytokine cocktail including IL-1β, IFNγ, and TNFα and/or ghrelin. Several proteins involved in survival pathways (ERK 1/2 and Akt/PKB) and apoptosis (caspases and Bcl-2 protein family and endoplasmic reticulum stress markers) as well as insulin secretion were analyzed. Our results show that ghrelin alone has no remarkable effects on β-cells in basal conditions, but interestingly it activates cell survival pathways, downregulates apoptotic mediators and endoplasmic reticulum stress, and restores insulin secretion in response to glucose when beta-cells are cytokine-exposed. These data suggest a potential role of ghrelin in preventing or slowing down the transition from a preclinical to clinically established diabetes by ameliorating the effects of insulitis on β-cells.This work was funded by a grant by the Andalusian Government (PI 0765-2011).Peer Reviewe

Estudio de comportamiento de clientes a traves de mineria de datos para una Isapre

65 p.Las empresas del área de la salud, en la actualidad, han visto un gran crecimiento en la capacidad de generacion y almacenamiento de información, por medio de los sistemas informáticos que poseen. A la par, en los últimos 10 años, hemos sido testigos de un gran crecimiento en el desarrollo de procesadores de mayor velocidad y con una mayor cantidad de memoria de almacenamiento. Lo cual ha posibilitado el desarrollo de técnicas de análisis de información, que permiten descubrir conocimiento no trivial en extensas bases de datos, realizando en estas, un análisis automático e inteligente de los datos asistido por un usuario experto. Entonces, debido a la gran cantidad de datos que guardan las empresas, se busca una forma de darle utilidad a esos datos. Una forma de que los datos entreguen utilidad es con la Minería de Datos, que es un conjunto de técnicas que permiten la extracción de información y conocimiento, a partir de los datos que almacenan las organizaciones. En esta memoria se desarrollara Minería de Datos de carácter exploratoria, es decir, se trabajara con una base de datos, aplicando técnicas de Minería de Datos, con el fin de descubrir conocimiento no trivial que ayuden a disminuir el nivel de egresos de una Isapre. Para tal efecto, se desarrollaron 3 técnicas de manera a priori: Clasificación Supervisada, Reglas de Asociación y Secuenciamiento de Patrones. En donde este ultimo punto generó resultados interesantes a estudiar y es en el cual se centra el estudio de esta memoria

Ethanol-Induced Oxidative Stress Modifies Inflammation and Angiogenesis Biomarkers in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells (ARPE-19): Role of CYP2E1 and its Inhibition by Antioxidants

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a key role in retinal health, being essential for the protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Nevertheless, excessive oxidative stress can induce RPE dysfunction, promoting visual loss. Our aim is to clarify the possible implication of CYP2E1 in ethanol (EtOH)-induced oxidative stress in RPE alterations. Despite the increase in the levels of ROS, measured by fluorescence probes, the RPE cells exposed to the lowest EtOH concentrations were able to maintain cell survival, measured by the Cell Proliferation Kit II (XTT). However, EtOH-induced oxidative stress modified inflammation and angiogenesis biomarkers, analyzed by proteome array, ELISA, qPCR and Western blot. The highest EtOH concentration used stimulated a large increase in ROS levels, upregulating the cytochrome P450-2E1 (CYP2E1) and promoting cell death. The use of antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and diallyl sulfide (DAS), which is also a CYP2E1 inhibitor, reverted cell death and oxidative stress, modulating also the upstream angiogenesis and inflammation regulators. Because oxidative stress plays a central role in most frequent ocular diseases, the results herein support the proposal that CYP2E1 upregulation could aggravate retinal degeneration, especially in those patients with high baseline oxidative stress levels due to their ocular pathology and should be considered as a risk factor.LVG was recipient of a pre-doctoral fellowship (EDUCV-PRE-2015-006). Financial support by grant #94/2016 from the PROMETEO program from the Generalitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain, to FJR

Feasibility study: Magnetic-based passenger localization in train stations

Train stations are a key element of any transport network because they concentrate a large amount of passenger traffic on a daily basis. Passenger localization in train stations is though limited nowadays by the lack of satellite reception indoors and underground. A possible solution could be to use magnetometers, since they are embedded in today’s smartphones and are available in all urban environments. One of the most extended algorithms to perform magnetic localization is magnetic fingerprinting, however magnetic fingerprinting has not yet been proved viable in train stations. The aim of this article is to present a feasibility study of the possibility to apply magnetic fingerprinting in train stations to locate passengers. We have measured and analyzed the magnetic maps of different train stations in Munich, Germany. Our results show that, the functioning of the trains and the electric topology of the stations hinder the passenger localization using magnetic fingerprinting

Implementation of anti-HDV reflex testing among HBsAg-positive individuals increases testing for hepatitis D

Chronic hepatitis D; Anti-HDV screening; HDV diagnosisHepatitis crònica D; Cribatge anti-HDV; Diagnòstic de HDVHepatitis crónica D; Cribado anti-HDV; Diagnóstico de HDVBackground & Aims Although EASL guidelines recommend anti-HDV testing in all HBsAg-positive individuals, HDV infection remains an underdiagnosed condition. We describe the impact of an HDV screening program by reflex anti-HDV testing in all HBsAg-positive samples and compare the results before and after its implementation. Methods In total, 2,236 HBsAg-positive determinations were included from January 2018 to December 2021. Only the first sample from each participant was evaluated: 1,492 samples before reflex anti-HDV testing (2018–2020) and 744 samples after (2021). Demographic and clinical characteristics of anti-HDV-positive patients were collected. Results Before reflex testing, anti-HDV had been tested in 7.6% (114/1492) of HBsAg-positive individuals: 23% (91/390) attended in an academic hospital and only 2% (23/1,102) in primary care centres. After reflex testing was established, 93% (691/744) of HBsAg-positive cases were evaluated for anti-HDV: 91% (533/586) in the academic hospital and 100% (158/158) in primary care. The anti-HDV-positive prevalence was similar before and after reflex testing: 9.6% (11/114) and 8.1% (56/691), respectively. However, the absolute number of anti-HDV-positive patients increased. Most anti-HDV-positive patients were young, HBeAg-negative, Caucasian males. HDV-RNA was detectable in 35 (65%) of 54 tested, HBV-DNA was undetectable in 64%, and alanine aminotransferase levels were normal in 48%. Conclusions Anti-HDV reflex testing quintupled the absolute number of diagnoses of chronic hepatitis D infection. Before the reflex test, a large percentage of HBsAg-positive individuals had not undergone any anti-HDV determination. Implementation of reflex testing increases the diagnosis of patients with chronic hepatitis D.This study received support in part from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/01692)

Tin perovskite solar cells with >1,300 h of operational stability in N2 through a synergistic chemical engineering approach

Despite the promising properties of tin-based halide perovskites, one clear limitation is the fast Sn+2 oxidation. Consequently, the preparation of long-lasting devices remains challenging. Here, we report a chemical engineering approach, based on adding Dipropylammonium iodide (DipI) together with a well-known reducing agent, sodium borohydride (NaBH4), aimed at preventing the premature degradation of Sn-HPs. This strategy allows for obtaining efficiencies (PCE) above 10% with enhanced stability. The initial PCE remained unchanged upon 5 h in air (60% RH) at maximum-power-point (MPP). Remarkably, 96% of the initial PCE was kept after 1,300 h at MPP in N2. To the best of our knowledge, these are the highest reported values for Sn-based solar cells. Our findings demonstrate a beneficial synergistic effect when additives are incorporated, highlight the important role of iodide in the performance upon light soaking, and, ultimately, unveil the relevance of controlling the halide chemistry for future improvement of Sn-based perovskite devices