86 research outputs found
Measurement of the Bottom-Strange Meson Mixing Phase in the Full CDF Data Set
We report a measurement of the bottom-strange meson mixing phase \beta_s
using the time evolution of B0_s -> J/\psi (->\mu+\mu-) \phi (-> K+ K-) decays
in which the quark-flavor content of the bottom-strange meson is identified at
production. This measurement uses the full data set of proton-antiproton
collisions at sqrt(s)= 1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector experiment
at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to 9.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity.
We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of \beta_s and the
B0_s decay-width difference \Delta\Gamma_s, and measure \beta_s in [-\pi/2,
-1.51] U [-0.06, 0.30] U [1.26, \pi/2] at the 68% confidence level, in
agreement with the standard model expectation. Assuming the standard model
value of \beta_s, we also determine \Delta\Gamma_s = 0.068 +- 0.026 (stat) +-
0.009 (syst) ps-1 and the mean B0_s lifetime, \tau_s = 1.528 +- 0.019 (stat) +-
0.009 (syst) ps, which are consistent and competitive with determinations by
other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett 109, 171802 (2012
Clinical Predictors of Hyperperfusion Syndrome Following Carotid Stenting: Results From a National Prospective Multicenter Study
[Objectives] The aim of the HISPANIAS (HyperperfusIon Syndrome Post-carotid ANgIoplasty And Stenting) study was to define CHS rates and develop a clinical predictive model for cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) after carotid artery stenting (CAS).[Background] CHS is a severe complication following CAS. The presence of clinical manifestations is estimated on the basis of retrospective reviews and is still uncertain.[Methods] The HISPANIAS study was a national prospective multicenter study with 14 recruiting hospitals. CHS was classified as mild (headache only) and moderate-severe (seizure, impaired level of consciousness, or development of focal neurological signs).[Results] A total of 757 CAS procedures were performed. CHS occurred in 22 (2.9%) patients, in which 16 (2.1%) had moderate-severe CHS and 6 (0.8%) had mild CHS (only headache). The rate of hemorrhages was 0.7% and was associated with high mortality (20%). Pre-operative predictors of moderate-severe CHS in multivariate analysis were female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 3.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11 to 9.47; p = 0.03), older patients (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.17; p = 0.02), left carotid artery treated (OR: 4.13; 95% CI: 1.11 to 15.40; p = 0.03), and chronic renal failure (OR: 6.29; 95% CI: 1.75 to 22.57; p = 0.005). The area under the curve of this clinical and radiological model was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81 to 0.92; p = 0.001).[Conclusions] The rate of CHS in the HISPANIAS study was 2.9%, with moderate-severe CHS of 2.1%. CHS was independently associated with female sex, older age, history of chronic kidney disease, and a treated left carotid artery. Although further investigations are needed, the authors propose a model to identify high-risk patients and develop strategies to decrease CHS morbidity and mortality in the future.This study was supported by a Spanish grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII-FIS IP14/00971, 2014â2017). The ITRIBIS project has the registration number REGPOT-2013-1. Cooperative Cerebrovascular Disease Research Network (INVICTUS+) (RD16/0019/0015). Dr. Mancha is supported by a RĂo Hortega contract (CM16/00015). Abbott and Grifols have partial financial supported the conduction of the HISPANIAS project but had no role in the design of the study, interpretation of the data, or manuscript approval.Peer reviewe
Human resources: the Cinderella of health sector reform in Latin America
Human resources are the most important assets of any health system, and health workforce problems have for decades limited the efficiency and quality of Latin America health systems. World Bank-led reforms aimed at increasing equity, efficiency, quality of care and user satisfaction did not attempt to resolve the human resources problems that had been identified in multiple health sector assessments. However, the two most important reform policies â decentralization and privatization â have had a negative impact on the conditions of employment and prompted opposition from organized professionals and unions. In several countries of the region, the workforce became the most important obstacle to successful reform. This article is based on fieldwork and a review of the literature. It discusses the reasons that led health workers to oppose reform; the institutional and legal constraints to implementing reform as originally designed; the mismatch between the types of personnel needed for reform and the availability of professionals; the deficiencies of the reform implementation process; and the regulatory weaknesses of the region. The discussion presents workforce strategies that the reforms could have included to achieve the intended goals, and the need to take into account the values and political realities of the countries. The authors suggest that autochthonous solutions are more likely to succeed than solutions imported from the outside
Catalytic Transformations of Alkynes via Ruthenium Vinylidene and Allenylidene Intermediates
NOTICE: This is the peer reviewed version of the following book chapter: Varela J. A., GonzĂĄlez-RodrĂguez C., SaĂĄ C. (2014). Catalytic Transformations of Alkynes via Ruthenium Vinylidene and Allenylidene Intermediates. In: Dixneuf P., Bruneau C. (eds) Ruthenium in Catalysis. Topics in Organometallic Chemistry, vol 48, pp. 237-287. Springer, Cham. [doi: 10.1007/3418_2014_81]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Springer Verlag Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.Vinylidenes are high-energy tautomers of terminal alkynes and they can be stabilized by coordination with transition metals. The resulting metal-vinylidene species have interesting chemical properties that make their reactivity different to that of the free and metal Ï-coordinated alkynes: the carbon α to the metal is electrophilic whereas the ÎČ carbon is nucleophilic. Ruthenium is one of the most commonly used transition metals to stabilize vinylidenes and the resulting species can undergo a range of useful transformations. The most remarkable transformations are the regioselective anti-Markovnikov addition of different nucleophiles to catalytic ruthenium vinylidenes and the participation of the Ï system of catalytic ruthenium vinylidenes in pericyclic reactions. Ruthenium vinylidenes have also been employed as precatalysts in ring closing metathesis (RCM) or ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP).
Allenylidenes could be considered as divalent radicals derived from allenes. In a similar way to vinylidenes, allenylidenes can be stabilized by coordination with transition metals and again ruthenium is one of the most widely used metals. Metalallenylidene complexes can be easily obtained from terminal propargylic alcohols by dehydration of the initially formed metal-hydroxyvinylidenes, in which the reactivity of these metal complexes is based on the electrophilic nature of Cα and CÎł, while CÎČ is nucleophilic. Catalytic processes based on nucleophilic additions and pericyclic reactions involving the Ï system of ruthenium allenylidenes afford interesting new structures with high selectivity and atom economy
Mar Menor: una laguna singular y sensible. EvaluaciĂłn cientĂfica de su estado.
Este libro recopila las aportaciones que equipos de investigaciĂłn de la Universidad de Murcia, Universidad PolitĂ©cnica de Cartagena, Instituto GeolĂłgico-Minero de España, Universidad de Alicante, el Instituto Español de OceanografĂa y otros organismos hicieron en las Jornadas CientĂficas del Mar Menor, celebradas en diciembre de 2014.La informaciĂłn recogida en este libro se estructura en dos grandes bloques, uno de BiologĂa y EcologĂa del Mar Menor (capĂtulos 1 al 8) y otro de Condiciones fisicoquĂmicas e impacto de actividades humanas en la laguna (capĂtulos 9 al 14). El primer bloque resume buena parte de los estudios ecolĂłgicos realizados en el Mar Menor, que han servido para mejorar su conocimiento y tambiĂ©n para cambiar antiguas asunciones sobre la naturaleza y el funcionamiento de estos ecosistemas lagunares (CapĂtulo 1). El segundo capĂtulo muestra que esta laguna alberga en zonas someras de su perĂmetro hĂĄbitats fundamentales para mantener y conservar tanto especies migratorias como residentes, que es necesario conocer para paliar el impacto de las actividades humanas que les afectan. En este sentido la reducciĂłn de la carga de nutrientes y contaminantes orgĂĄnicos e inorgĂĄnicos que fluyen hacia el Mar Menor puede ayudar a preservar la laguna en mejores condiciones, bien sea tratando las escorrentĂas (plantas de tratamiento, humedales artificiales u otras tĂ©cnicas) y recuperar este agua para uso agrĂcola o evitar su descarga en la laguna (CapĂtulo 3). Estas actuaciones serĂĄn clave para la conservaciĂłn de especies emblemĂĄticas como el caballito de mar (CapĂtulo 4) y reducir el impacto de las proliferaciones masivas de medusas que se producen en la laguna desde 1993 (CapĂtulo 5). En este mismo sentido los cambios acaecidos en la laguna han favorecido la incursiĂłn de invertebrados marinos alĂłctonos (CapĂtulo 6) y han afectado a la respuesta de la dinĂĄmica poblacional de las aves acuĂĄticas a distintas escalas (CapĂtulo 7). Para completar este bloque se ofrece una perspectiva histĂłrica de la importancia que ha tenido la investigaciĂłn sobre acuicultura realizada en esta laguna, que ha servido de base para su gran desarrollo actual (CapĂtulo 8).
El segundo bloque se inicia con una evaluaciĂłn del origen y evoluciĂłn del Mar Menor desde el punto de vista geolĂłgico, y evidencia su vulnerabilidad ante el deterioro que puede sufrir la desapariciĂłn de la barrera de cierre y/o su colmataciĂłn (CapĂtulo 9). En el CapĂtulo 10 se describe la relevancia que tiene la interacciĂłn de los acuĂferos del Campo de Cartagena con la laguna, que se produce no sĂłlo a nivel superficial sino tambiĂ©n subterrĂĄneo. Esta interacciĂłn permite el acceso de nutrientes a la laguna, a pesar de la cierta capacidad de depuraciĂłn de los humedales que le circundan, y tambiĂ©n de metales traza por los aportes de residuos mineros (CapĂtulo 11). De hecho los metales traza estĂĄn presentes en los sedimentos de la laguna, y su distribuciĂłn se ha caracterizado en la columna sedimentaria relacionĂĄndola con la granulometrĂa y el contenido de materia orgĂĄnica del sedimento (CapĂtulo 12). Posteriormente se describe la entrada de diversos contaminantes orgĂĄnicos, incluyendo pesticidas y fĂĄrmacos a travĂ©s de la rambla del AlbujĂłn, y su distribuciĂłn estacional en agua y sedimento de la laguna (CapĂtulo 13). Este segundo bloque finaliza con el CapĂtulo 14 en el que se describe la bioacumulaciĂłn de hidrocarburos aromĂĄticos policĂclicos, pesticidas y fĂĄrmacos en moluscos y peces del Mar Menor, asĂ como los efectos biolĂłgicos que la carga contaminante que accede a travĂ©s de la rambla del AlbujĂłn produce en los organismos que allĂ habitan. El libro concluye con un breve epĂlogo redactado por los editores de este libro
Mar Menor: una laguna singular y sensible. EvaluaciĂłn cientĂfica de su estado.
Este libro recopila las aportaciones que equipos de investigaciĂłn de la Universidad de Murcia, Universidad PolitĂ©cnica de Cartagena, Instituto GeolĂłgico-Minero de España, Universidad de Alicante, el Instituto Español de OceanografĂa y otros organismos hicieron en las Jornadas CientĂficas del Mar Menor, celebradas en diciembre de 2014.La informaciĂłn recogida en este libro se estructura en dos grandes bloques, uno de BiologĂa y EcologĂa del Mar Menor (capĂtulos 1 al 8) y otro de Condiciones fisicoquĂmicas e impacto de actividades humanas en la laguna (capĂtulos 9 al 14). El primer bloque resume buena parte de los estudios ecolĂłgicos realizados en el Mar Menor, que han servido para mejorar su conocimiento y tambiĂ©n para cambiar antiguas asunciones sobre la naturaleza y el funcionamiento de estos ecosistemas lagunares (CapĂtulo 1). El segundo capĂtulo muestra que esta laguna alberga en zonas someras de su perĂmetro hĂĄbitats fundamentales para mantener y conservar tanto especies migratorias como residentes, que es necesario conocer para paliar el impacto de las actividades humanas que les afectan. En este sentido la reducciĂłn de la carga de nutrientes y contaminantes orgĂĄnicos e inorgĂĄnicos que fluyen hacia el Mar Menor puede ayudar a preservar la laguna en mejores condiciones, bien sea tratando las escorrentĂas (plantas de tratamiento, humedales artificiales u otras tĂ©cnicas) y recuperar este agua para uso agrĂcola o evitar su descarga en la laguna (CapĂtulo 3). Estas actuaciones serĂĄn clave para la conservaciĂłn de especies emblemĂĄticas como el caballito de mar (CapĂtulo 4) y reducir el impacto de las proliferaciones masivas de medusas que se producen en la laguna desde 1993 (CapĂtulo 5). En este mismo sentido los cambios acaecidos en la laguna han favorecido la incursiĂłn de invertebrados marinos alĂłctonos (CapĂtulo 6) y han afectado a la respuesta de la dinĂĄmica poblacional de las aves acuĂĄticas a distintas escalas (CapĂtulo 7). Para completar este bloque se ofrece una perspectiva histĂłrica de la importancia que ha tenido la investigaciĂłn sobre acuicultura realizada en esta laguna, que ha servido de base para su gran desarrollo actual (CapĂtulo 8).
El segundo bloque se inicia con una evaluaciĂłn del origen y evoluciĂłn del Mar Menor desde el punto de vista geolĂłgico, y evidencia su vulnerabilidad ante el deterioro que puede sufrir la desapariciĂłn de la barrera de cierre y/o su colmataciĂłn (CapĂtulo 9). En el CapĂtulo 10 se describe la relevancia que tiene la interacciĂłn de los acuĂferos del Campo de Cartagena con la laguna, que se produce no sĂłlo a nivel superficial sino tambiĂ©n subterrĂĄneo. Esta interacciĂłn permite el acceso de nutrientes a la laguna, a pesar de la cierta capacidad de depuraciĂłn de los humedales que le circundan, y tambiĂ©n de metales traza por los aportes de residuos mineros (CapĂtulo 11). De hecho los metales traza estĂĄn presentes en los sedimentos de la laguna, y su distribuciĂłn se ha caracterizado en la columna sedimentaria relacionĂĄndola con la granulometrĂa y el contenido de materia orgĂĄnica del sedimento (CapĂtulo 12). Posteriormente se describe la entrada de diversos contaminantes orgĂĄnicos, incluyendo pesticidas y fĂĄrmacos a travĂ©s de la rambla del AlbujĂłn, y su distribuciĂłn estacional en agua y sedimento de la laguna (CapĂtulo 13). Este segundo bloque finaliza con el CapĂtulo 14 en el que se describe la bioacumulaciĂłn de hidrocarburos aromĂĄticos policĂclicos, pesticidas y fĂĄrmacos en moluscos y peces del Mar Menor, asĂ como los efectos biolĂłgicos que la carga contaminante que accede a travĂ©s de la rambla del AlbujĂłn produce en los organismos que allĂ habitan. El libro concluye con un breve epĂlogo redactado por los editores de este libro.VersiĂłn del edito
Galaxy bulges and their massive black holes: a review
With references to both key and oft-forgotten pioneering works, this article
starts by presenting a review into how we came to believe in the existence of
massive black holes at the centres of galaxies. It then presents the historical
development of the near-linear (black hole)-(host spheroid) mass relation,
before explaining why this has recently been dramatically revised. Past
disagreement over the slope of the (black hole)-(velocity dispersion) relation
is also explained, and the discovery of sub-structure within the (black
hole)-(velocity dispersion) diagram is discussed. As the search for the
fundamental connection between massive black holes and their host galaxies
continues, the competing array of additional black hole mass scaling relations
for samples of predominantly inactive galaxies are presented.Comment: Invited (15 Feb. 2014) review article (submitted 16 Nov. 2014). 590
references, 9 figures, 25 pages in emulateApJ format. To appear in "Galactic
Bulges", E. Laurikainen, R.F. Peletier, and D.A. Gadotti (eds.), Springer
Publishin
Micromechanical Properties of Injection-Molded StarchâWood Particle Composites
The micromechanical properties of injection molded starchâwood particle composites were investigated as a function of particle content and humidity conditions.
The composite materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The microhardness
of the composites was shown to increase notably with the concentration of the wood particles. In addition,creep behavior under the indenter and temperature dependence
were evaluated in terms of the independent contribution of the starch matrix and the wood microparticles to the hardness value. The influence of drying time on the density
and weight uptake of the injection-molded composites was highlighted. The results revealed the role of the mechanism of water evaporation, showing that the dependence of water uptake and temperature was greater for the starchâwood composites than for the pure starch sample. Experiments performed during the drying process at 70°C indicated that
the wood in the starch composites did not prevent water loss from the samples.Peer reviewe
A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)
Meeting abstrac
TRY plant trait database â enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traitsâthe morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plantsâdetermine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traitsâalmost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
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