Lambda^0 polarization as a probe for production of deconfined matter in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We study the polarization change of Lambda^0's produced in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions with respect to the polarization observed in proton-proton collisions as a signal for the formation of a Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). Assuming that, when the density of participants in the collision is larger than the critical density for QGP formation, the Lambda^0 production mechanism changes from recombination type processes to the coalescence of free valence quarks, we find that the Lambda^0 polarization depends on the relative contribution of each process to the total number of Lambda^0's produced in the collision. To describe the polarization of Lambda^0's in nuclear collisions for densities below the critical density for the QGP formation, we use the DeGrand-Miettinen model corrected for the effects introduced by multiple scattering of the produced Lambda^0 within the nuclear environment.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, uses ReVTeX and epsfig.st

Organizing health care: an ethical perspective

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.Health Care at population level is a complex problem. Having this in mind, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the goods that are ethically relevant in the process of caring for health at this level. We briefly analyze some of the Chilean health statistics that, although they show important improvements along the years, demonstrate that certain conditions are to be deemed as inadequate by both healthcare providers and patients. Ethics is a central component to determine how to structure and organize health care systems and how they should operate. We emphasize Human Dignity as an ethical corner stone of the Health Care System, along with other important values such as Justice and Humanization, under the scope of the Ends of Medicine, and other components such as technical competence of providers and the financing of the whole process. We conclude that as far as a health care system is organized in a way that medical practice is well ordered, primarily and fundamentally according the Ends of Medicine and the good of persons, such a health care system is ethically adequate.http://ref.scielo.org/9bt3z

Algunas amenazas actuales a la confidencialidad en medicina

Social, technical and legal conditions of the current practice of medicine make it necessary to insist on certain actions and circumstances that may jeopardize the confidentiality of information, offered by patients to their health providers. Therefore, some effects of the current Chilean law are analyzed in this respect, regarding access to data from the clinical record of a patient. Also, the risks of putting certain data on social networking sites are analyzed, as well as some of its effects on clinical practice. The reasons because of mandatory reporting of diseases, meaning danger to public health, is allowed, are mentioned. We also discuss the difficulties involved in managing the results of preventative health screenings and its knowledge by third parties, as well as some possible violations of personal privacy, regarding dissemination of some people health information and its further mention or figuration in mass media. We conclude that it is a must for both physicians and other health team members, to safeguard confidentiality of data to which they have had access, as well as the need to know the relevant law, in order to respect human dignity of patients, each one as a person. We address the attention to the possibility that, practicing in a different way, it could endanger the reliability of clinical records, also impairing the quality of people’s health care. (Rev Med Chile 2015; 143: 358-366) Key words: Access to Information; Confidentiality; Information Dissemination; Medical Records; Social Networkin

Ecosistema lacustre: el caso laguna campestre: modelo valorativo simple para jerarquizar componentes morfológicos

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Lightning Impulse Current Tests on Conductive Fabrics

Submitted to "Journal of Industrial Textiles"The large amount of electric current associated to lightning discharges is hazardous for living beings, equipment, structures and buildings. To protect those targets against lightning are used Lightning Protection Systems (LPS). However, there are some temporary outdoor activities and backcountry places where an adequate LPS cannot be set up mainly due to the large dimensions of its components and its heavy weight. On the search of light weight lightning protection materials that can be used as part of special LPS, we research some types of electroconductive fabrics by applying high lightning impulse currents in laboratory. The fabric samples checked were pieces of 10 cm x 10 cm: two rip-stop type, a plain-weave, a non-woven and a carbon-impregnated polymeric, all of them obtained commercially. Under laboratory conditions, these samples were subject to subsequent lightning impulse currents registering the voltage and current signals. Optical and scanning electron microscope inspections were performed after tests. Despite some changes visualized as marks left on the fabric surface, the results show that investigated conductive textiles can endure ground currents produced by atmospheric lightning since they withstand the several applied laboratory lightning impulse currents. The outcomes suggest that the weave pattern of the conductive fabric influences the lightning current tolerance, enabling some conductive fabrics to be used in heavy-current applications and as part of personal LPS for outdoor, backcountry and mobile shelters, particularly when lightweight and portability are mandatory

Respecting patient intimacy

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.Transparency as a general rule for all our professional acts casts doubts about the statement of the Hippocratic Oath that says "Whatever I see or hear in the lives of my patients, I will keep secret, as considering all such things to be private". Medical secrecy protects the intimacy of patients, who reveal to their physicians their most hidden secrets aiming to recover their health. Therefore, physicians should receive those secrets with reverence and care, as servers and not as their owners. The values associated with the respect for personal intimacy are the anthropological basis of medical confidentiality. A medical act is performed by definition between two equally honorable individuals. Therefore, the professional honors the trust of his patient, maintaining strict confidence of what is revealed. Therefore, medical secrecy must be strengthened rather than weakened, pursuing common wealth and dignity.http://ref.scielo.org/cf3mx

An ethical and medical perspective on the voluntary termination of pregnancy

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.“Voluntary termination of pregnancy” can refer to actions intended to make a delivery easier, to provide medical care to the fetus, or to protect the life or health of the mother. All of these are proper medical actions and are by definition voluntary. In other cases, the expression denotes a termination of pregnancy before the embryo or fetus is viable, leading to the death of the latter. This action is constitutive of abortion under current Chilean law. The product of conception living being, who develops in the womb during pregnancy, is an individual, both in the sense that it is different from its mother and father, and in that it is a biological individual. For these reasons, such living being constitutes another patient in itself. The free and voluntary medical action of health care professionals is geared toward disease prevention or health recovery and medical terminations of pregnancy, as distinguished from abortion, are not criminalized in our country. Therefore, the idea of legalizing abortive terminations of pregnancy so that they become “legitimate health care services” is a call to the medical community, which should engage in a debate about the meaning and consequences of an eventual mandate of the State that would be at odds with the Hippocratic tradition. A woman can feel that her health is at risk due to her pregnancy, and she certainly has the right to request medical help. Health professionals should care both at the medical and emotional level for all those who require their services, especially when such persons are undergoing situations of vulnerability and distress. When requested to perform an abortion, the physician faces dilemmas that should be addressed in line with the present state of the medical art.http://ref.scielo.org/c4ypf

Efecto diurético de los extractos acuosos y secos de caesalpinia bahamensis lam (brasilete) en ratas wistar

Caesalpinia bahamensis has been reported in traditional use as a diuretic plant; however, data bases available are not reported pharmacological studies to support this activity. For this reason we evaluated the diuretic effect of aqueous and dry extracts. For the study were used 30 female Wistar rats between 165-200 g of weight, that were divided into six equal groups, two control groups and four focus groups. To determine the diuretic effect were used individual metabolic cages measuring the volume of urine per hour. For processing the results was applied ANOVA and Student - Newman - Keus test using the statistical package PRIMER. The values obtained at the highest peak of diuresis for each group were: furosemide (4.40 ± 0.59) saline solution (1.45 ± 0.34), oven-dried extract (3.12 ± 0.59) and spray (4.00 ± 1.19) aqueous extract obtained by decoction (3.20 ± 0.63) and maceration (3.30 ± 0.74). The control groups have their highest peak in the first hour after administration, whereas the samples tested express the second time, however, found no significant differences (p <0.05) in the biological activity of the samples and furosemide. We show that extracts and isolated products from Caesalpinia bahamensis have a pronounced diuretic effect reaching its maximum effect two hours after drug administrationCaesalpinia bahamensis ha sido informada por su uso tradicional como planta diurética, sin embargo, en las bases de datos revisadas no se informan estudios farmacológicos que corroboren esta actividad. Por este motivo se evaluó el efecto diurético de los extractos acuosos y secos de la planta. Para el estudio se utilizaron 30 ratas Wistar hembras entre 165 – 200 g que se dividieron en seis grupos iguales, dos grupos controles y cuatro grupos muestra. Para determinar el efecto diurético se utilizó la prueba de jaulas metabólicas individuales midiendo el volumen de orina por hora y para el procesamiento de los resultados se aplicó el test de ANOVA y de Student – Newman – Keus usando el paquete estadístico PRIMER. Los valores obtenidos en el pico máximo de diuresis para cada grupo fueron: furosemida (4,40 ± 0,59); solución fisiológica (1,45 ± 0,34); extracto secado en baño de vapor (3,12 ± 0,59) y por atomización (4,00 ± 1,19); extracto acuoso obtenido por decocción (3,20 ± 0,63) y por maceración (3,30 ± 0,74). Los grupos controles tienen su máximo pico de actividad en la primera hora después de la administración, mientras que las muestras evaluadas lo manifiestan a la segunda hora, no obstante, no se encontraron diferencias significativas (p<0.05) en la actividad biológica de las muestras y la Furosemida. Se demuestra que los extractos evaluados de Caesalpinia bahamensis tienen un efecto diurético marcado alcanzando su máximo efecto a las dos horas después de administrado

Determination of aflatoxins in cacao powder and cocoa-derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography

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