Nuclear structure studies on quadrupole and octupole correlations in the vicinity of heavy N=Z nuclei with agata and neda

La evolución de la colectividad es esencial para comprender la estructura de los núcleos alejados de la estabilidad. La región que se encuentra justo por encima de la capa cerrada Z=50, en las proximidades de N=Z, presenta interesantes propiedades colectivas de carácter cuadrupolar y octupolar. El objetivo de esta tesis es estudiar la evolución de la colectividad cuadrupolar y octupolar en isótopos ligeros de Xe, al acercarse a la línea N=Z, mediante la medida de la vida media de los estados excitados de baja energía del 112Xe, para las transiciones que desexcitan dichos estados se han determinado las probabilidades de transiciones reducidas. Partiendo del núcleo semimágico 136Xe, a medida que se vacı́a la capa de neutrones, la colectividad de los isótopos del Xe aumenta hasta el centro de la capa para los neutrones alrededor de N=66. Si se continúa vaciando la capa de neutrones, la colectividad parece disminuir, como se esperaba, hasta N=58 donde hay un cambio inesperado en la tendencia y la colectividad en los isótopos más ligeros del Xe, parece persistir. Para investigar la evolución de la colectividad, se estudia el grado de libertad cuadrupolar a través de la vida media de los estados 2+ y 4+ en el núcleo 112Xe, que se han medido por primera vez utilizando la técnica RDDS. El experimento se realizó en la primera campaña con la combinación de instrumentos AGATA-NEDA+NW-DIAMANT instalado en el laboratorio GANIL. El Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) detecta la radiación gamma, el detector NEDA+NW detecta neutrones y DIAMANT se encarga de detectar partículas cargadas ligeras. El set-up incluyó el dispositivo plunger CSNSM “OUPS” para la determinación de las vidas medias de interés con la técnica Recoil Distance Doppler Shift (RDDS). Se utilizó una reacción de fusión-evaporación para poblar el 112Xe con un haz de 58Ni, a una energía de 250 MeV, que incidía en un blanco de 58Ni de 1mg/cm2. Además del blanco, en el plunger se instaló un degradador de 197Au con un espesor de 5 mg/cm2 para disminuir la energía de los productos de la reacción sin detenerlos, con el fin de maximizar la resolución energética. El experimento se realizó con una condición de trigger de un neutrón identificado en NEDA-NW en coincidencia con dos detectores de AGATA con señal, el cual evita el 90% de los canales de reacción no deseados. La información de DIAMANT se ha utilizado en el análisis off-line, después del experimento, para la identificación de los canales de reacción. Los canales de reacción de interés fueron seleccionados offline con las condiciones de partículas de dos neutrones y 0,1 y 2 protones debido a que nuestro canal de reacción es poblado mediante la evaporación de dos neutrones y dos protones. El análisis de las vidas medias se desarrolló con dos métodos que pertenecientes a la técnica estándar RDDS; el método Decay Curve Method (DCM) y el método Differential Decay Curve Method (DDCM). Se presenta un estudio de la sistemática de los isótopos del Xe. Las vidas medias de las transiciones 4+ → 2+ y 2+ → 0 + en el núcleo 112Xe se han medido y se han determinado sus probabilidades de transición reducidas comparándolas con diferentes modelos teóricos; LSSM, BMF y TRS. Además, se ha medido la vida media de la transición 5- → 4+ del núcleo 112Xe y se ha determinado su probabilidad de transición reducida. Además se ha podido determinar un límite superior para la probabilidad de transición reducida de la transición E3 5- → 2-. Además, la parte final de la tesis está dedicada a mi contribución de la construcción de los detectores de NEDA en el Laboratorio Nazionale di Legnaro-Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN-LNL) para ser utilizados en una campaña de medidas, incluyendo el experimento descrito en la tesis.The evolution of collectivity is essential to understand the structure of nuclei far from stability.The region that lies just above the Z=50 closed shell, in the vicinity of N=Z, exhibits interesting collective properties of quadrupole and octupole character. The aim of this thesis is to study the evolution of the quadrupole and octupole collectivity in light Xe isotopes, when approaching the N=Z line, through the lifetime measurement of the low laying excited states of 112Xe where the reduced transitions probabilities were determined. The collectivity in Xe isotopes when neutrons are removed increases until the mid-shell for neutrons around N=66 as decrease until N=58 where there is a change in the trend and the collectivity in the light Xe seems to persist. To investigate the evolution of collectivity, the quadrupole degree of freedom is studied through the lifetime of the 2+ and 4+ states in the 112Xe nucleus measured for the first time. The experiment was performed in the first campaign with the AGATA-NEDA+NW-DIAMANT setup installed at the GANIL laboratory. The Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) detects gamma-rays, The NEDA+NW array detects neutrons and DIAMANT is in charge of detecting light charge particles. The set-up included the CSNSM “OUPS” plunger device for the determination of the lifetimes of interest with the standard recoil-distance Doppler shift (RDDS) technique. A fusion evaporation reaction was used to populate the 112Xe with a 58Ni beam, with an energy of 250 MeV, impinging on a 58Ni 1 mg/cm2 target. A 197Au degrader with a thickness of 5 mg/cm2 was installed in the plunger device to degrade the reaction products energy without stopping them, in order to maximize the energy resolution. The experiment was performed with a trigger condition of one neutron identified in NEDA-NW in coincidence with two detectors in AGATA which removes the 90% of the unwanted reaction channels. The information of DIAMANT has been used off-line for identification of the reaction channels. The reaction channels of interest were offline selected from 2n0p, 2n1p and 2n2p conditions due to our reaction channel is populated via the evaporation of two neutrons and two protons. The lifetime analysis was performed following two methods within the standard RDDS technique; the Decay Curve Method (DCM) and the Differential Decay Curve Method (DDCM). A study of the systematics on Xe isotopes is exposed. The lifetimes for the 4+ → 2+ and 2+ → 0+ transitions in the 112Xe nucleus have been measured and their reduced transitions probabilities are determined and compared with different theoretical models; LSSM, BMF and TRS. In addition, the lifetime of the 5- → 4+ transition is measured in the 112Xe nucleus and its reduced transition probability is determined. Futhermore, an upper limit for the reduced transition probability for 5- → 2+ transition could be determined. Futhermore, the final part of the thesis is dedicated to my contribution of the construction of the NEDA detectors at Laboratorio Nazionale di Legnaro-Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN-LNL). The construction process including leakage testing, glass checking, filling, bubbling, shaking, closing, assembly and characterization of the NEDA detector is detailed in the tesis. The NEDA detectors are used in a campaign for measurements, including the experiment described in the thesis

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

4to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

Este volumen acoge la memoria académica de la Cuarta edición del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2017, desarrollado entre el 29 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2017 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) en su sede de Guayaquil. El Congreso ofreció un espacio para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones nacionales e internacionales ante la comunidad universitaria que se dio cita en el encuentro. El uso de herramientas tecnológicas para la gestión de los trabajos de investigación como la plataforma Open Conference Systems y la web de presentación del Congreso http://citis.blog.ups.edu.ec/, hicieron de CITIS 2017 un verdadero referente entre los congresos que se desarrollaron en el país. La preocupación de nuestra Universidad, de presentar espacios que ayuden a generar nuevos y mejores cambios en la dimensión humana y social de nuestro entorno, hace que se persiga en cada edición del evento la presentación de trabajos con calidad creciente en cuanto a su producción científica. Quienes estuvimos al frente de la organización, dejamos plasmado en estas memorias académicas el intenso y prolífico trabajo de los días de realización del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad al alcance de todos y todas

Estudio de los contenidos actitudinales en las áreas transversales

La finalidad del proyecto, continuación del realizado el curso anterior, es analizar e incorporar valores y actitudes al Proyecto Curricular del centro. Los objetivos son fomentar las actitudes de diálogo y la colaboración entre los distintos agentes educativos; y desarrollar e implantar valores, actitudes y normas en todas las áreas del curriculum. El plan de trabajo se lleva a cabo por seminarios, jornadas teórico-prácticas a cargo de asesores externos, reuniones de grupo y actividades en el aula, entre las que destacan charlas, talleres, danzas, exposiciones, campañas y cuentos. Los instrumentos de evaluación son cuestionarios previos de conceptos y estereotipos, tests de autoestima, análisis de valores, trabajos, debates y sesiones tutoriales sobre actitudes.Madrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Consejería de Educación y CulturaMadridMadrid (Comunidad Autónoma). Subdirección General de Formación del Profesorado. CRIF Las Acacias; General Ricardos 179 - 28025 Madrid; Tel. + 34915250893ES

Clinical characterization of data-driven diabetes subgroups in Mexicans using a reproducible machine learning approach

Introduction Previous reports in European populations demonstrated the existence of five data-driven adult-onset diabetes subgroups. Here, we use self-normalizing neural networks (SNNN) to improve reproducibility of these data-driven diabetes subgroups in Mexican cohorts to extend its application to more diverse settings.Research design and methods We trained SNNN and compared it with k-means clustering to classify diabetes subgroups in a multiethnic and representative population-based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets with all available measures (training sample: NHANES-III, n=1132; validation sample: NHANES 1999–2006, n=626). SNNN models were then applied to four Mexican cohorts (SIGMA-UIEM, n=1521; Metabolic Syndrome cohort, n=6144; ENSANUT 2016, n=614 and CAIPaDi, n=1608) to characterize diabetes subgroups in Mexicans according to treatment response, risk for chronic complications and risk factors for the incidence of each subgroup.Results SNNN yielded four reproducible clinical profiles (obesity related, insulin deficient, insulin resistant, age related) in NHANES and Mexican cohorts even without C-peptide measurements. We observed in a population-based survey a high prevalence of the insulin-deficient form (41.25%, 95% CI 41.02% to 41.48%), followed by obesity-related (33.60%, 95% CI 33.40% to 33.79%), age-related (14.72%, 95% CI 14.63% to 14.82%) and severe insulin-resistant groups. A significant association was found between the SLC16A11 diabetes risk variant and the obesity-related subgroup (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.83, p=0.008). Among incident cases, we observed a greater incidence of mild obesity-related diabetes (n=149, 45.0%). In a diabetes outpatient clinic cohort, we observed increased 1-year risk (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.51) and 2-year risk (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.31) for incident retinopathy in the insulin-deficient group and decreased 2-year diabetic retinopathy risk for the obesity-related subgroup (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.89).Conclusions Diabetes subgroup phenotypes are reproducible using SNNN; our algorithm is available as web-based tool. Application of these models allowed for better characterization of diabetes subgroups and risk factors in Mexicans that could have clinical applications

Subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin for prevention of disease in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trialResearch in context

Summary: Background: Anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin (hIG) can provide standardized and controlled antibody content. Data from controlled clinical trials using hIG for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 outpatients have not been reported. We assessed the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin 20% (C19-IG20%) compared to placebo in preventing development of symptomatic COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We did a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, in asymptomatic unvaccinated adults (≥18 years of age) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within 5 days between April 28 and December 27, 2021. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a blinded subcutaneous infusion of 10 mL with 1 g or 2 g of C19-IG20%, or an equivalent volume of saline as placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who remained asymptomatic through day 14 after infusion. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of individuals who required oxygen supplementation, any medically attended visit, hospitalisation, or ICU, and viral load reduction and viral clearance in nasopharyngeal swabs. Safety was assessed as the proportion of patients with adverse events. The trial was terminated early due to a lack of potential benefit in the target population in a planned interim analysis conducted in December 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT04847141. Findings: 461 individuals (mean age 39.6 years [SD 12.8]) were randomized and received the intervention within a mean of 3.1 (SD 1.27) days from a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. In the prespecified modified intention-to-treat analysis that included only participants who received a subcutaneous infusion, the primary outcome occurred in 59.9% (91/152) of participants receiving 1 g C19-IG20%, 64.7% (99/153) receiving 2 g, and 63.5% (99/156) receiving placebo (difference in proportions 1 g C19-IG20% vs. placebo, −3.6%; 95% CI -14.6% to 7.3%, p = 0.53; 2 g C19-IG20% vs placebo, 1.1%; −9.6% to 11.9%, p = 0.85). None of the secondary clinical efficacy endpoints or virological endpoints were significantly different between study groups. Adverse event rate was similar between groups, and no severe or life-threatening adverse events related to investigational product infusion were reported. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that administration of subcutaneous human hyperimmune immunoglobulin C19-IG20% to asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection was safe but did not prevent development of symptomatic COVID-19. Funding: Grifols