Life stories: Unraveling the academic configuration of a multifaceted and multidisciplinary field of knowledge

In the field of qualitative research, life stories are consolidated as one of the most important techniques within the biographical method. However, due to the multiplicity of techniques covered by this method and the disciplines in which it is applied, the contributions and scope of life histories do not present a clear delimitation. By contrast, a considerable conceptual confusion persists and the transfer of its production remains very narrow. In this sense, this article aims to clarify the field of knowledge generated through life stories. To this end, it innovatively applies the bibliometric method. Making use of performance analysis and scientific mapping through the VosViewer application, it studies a body of 2670 articles indexed in the Web of Science. The results show how knowledge transferred from psychology through its major schools of thought occupies a central place. This leaves in a secondary position the knowledge produced by other disciplines such as sociology or anthropology, which is not transferred in the main forums of scientific impact. In this way, the conclusion points to the need to open up new lines of research to find out the differences between the different techniques and disciplines when applying this methodolog

Volatile Organic Compounds in Air: Sources, Distribution, Exposure and Associated Illnesses in Children

Background: Toxic volatile organic compounds (VOC), like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), are atmospheric pollutants representing a threat to human health. They are released into the environment from mobile sources in urban settings, but newly polluted areas are gaining importance in countries where accelerated industrialization is taking place in suburban or rural settings. Methods: The review includes studies done in Mexico and Latin-America and countries considered to have emerging economies and are compared with similar studies in developed countries. Data about environmental VOC levels and exposure of children have been included. Also, information about health effects was reviewed. Articles were searched in PubMed and Scopus, and information was also obtained from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the EPAs Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS-EPA) and state reports on air quality of Mexican cities. Results: VOC or BTEX levels reported in industrial and suburban areas were found to be higher due to the burning of fossil fuels and waste emission; whereas, in big cities, VOC emissions were mainly due to mobile sources. Even though TEX levels were under reference values, benzene was found at levels several times over this value in cities and even higher in industrial zones. Elevated VOC emissions were also reported in cities with industrial development in their peripheral rural areas. Public health relevance: Industrial activities have changed the way of life of small towns, which previously had no concern about environmental pollution and chemicals. No air monitoring is done in these places where toxic chemicals are released into rivers and the atmosphere. This work demonstrates the need for environmental monitors to protect human life in suburban and rural areas where industrial growth occurs without planning and ecological or health protection, compromising the health of new generations beginning in fetal development.<p

Manejo anestésico de paciente con Hemofilia tipo A. A propósito de un caso

Haemophilia A is a genetic deficiency in clotting factor VIII, which causes increased bleeding. The management of a patient with haemophilia-A for major surgery has been posible with the availability of factor VIII concentrate. We present the perioperative management of a 18-year-old patient weighing 60 kg with haemophilia-A secheduled for bilateral laminectomy L2 to S1 and resection of tumor lesión.La hemofilia A es un trastorno hemorrágico congénito que cursa con bajos niveles de factor VIII. El manejo del paciente con hemofilia tipo A para cirugía mayor es posible gracias al concentrado del factor VIII. A continuación, presentamos el manejo anestésico de un paciente de 18 años hemofílico tipo A programado para laminectomía bilateral L2 a S1 con exéresis parcial de láminas y resección de lesión tumoral.    

Analysis of the geometric parameters influence in PCB fixtures for 2D multipole magnetization patterning of thin layer micro-magnets

Magnetic actuators, magnetic gears, vibrational energy harvesters and other micro-electromagnetic devices requires micro-magnetic rotors with alternant magnetizations to optimize their performance. Different approaches have been used for multipole magnetization of micro-magnets like fixed micro-fixtures, thermomagnetic patterning or laser machining. The main limitation of the previous techniques is that the inversion of the magnetic polarizations is only partially done. In this work, a concept based on 2D multipole magnetization printing of micro-magnets is proposed and analyzed to overcome current limitations. The fixtures are designed to be printed on a standard 35 μm PCB. The dependence of the magnetizing field with respect to the geometrical parameter of the fixture is analyzed. Maps of the required current for the magnetizing fields are also given. Some design recommendations to optimize the magnetizing field and to minimize current, thus the heat, are given.Universidad de Alcal

Miniaturized high gain flexible spiral antenna tested in human-like tissue

A miniaturized helical antenna is presented in this work. The antenna is flexible, it is 6100 μm long and it has a diameter of 352 μm. This antenna has such a small cross-section, that permits to be implanted in the human body with fine syringes and minimally invasive surgeries. The antenna can be used to receive power and/or send information in medical devices. The antenna is made of biocompatible materials: polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE) and copper. The fundamental parameters of the antenna have been simulated and experimentally measured in animal human-like tissues, showing good agreement. The resonant frequency of the antenna is 4.7 GHz, with a reflection coefficient of −25.1 dB, and a gain of −4.7 dBi. As expected, the resonant frequency decreases inside biological tissues comparing to the free-space open-air measurement. Reducing the resonant frequency is an advantage because power signals can penetrate deeper into body tissues

Model-based systems engineering applied to trade-off analysis of wireless power transfer technologies for implanted biomedical microdevices

Decision-making is an important part of human life and particularly in any engineering process related to a complex product. New sensors and actuators based on MEMS technologies are increasingly complex and quickly evolving into products. New biomedical implanted devices may benefit from system engineering approaches, previously reserved to very large projects, and it is expected that this need will increase in the future. Here, we propose the application of Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to systematize and optimize the trade-off analysis process. The criteria, their utility functions and the weighting factors are applied in a systematic way for the selection of the best alternative. Combining trade-off with MBSE allow us to identify the more suitable technology to be implemented to transfer energy to an implanted biomedical micro device.European Commissio

Medication related to pigmentation of oral mucosa

The diagnosis of oral melanotic lesions is, more often than not, challenging in the clinical practice due to the fact that there are several reasons which may cause an increase in pigmentation on localized or generalized areas. Among these, medication stands out. In this work, we have carried out a review in the reference pharma database: Micromedex® followed by a review of the scientific published literature to analyse coincidences and possible discrepancies. Our findings show that there are several prescription drugs that can cause pigmented lesions in the oral mucosa. This must be known by clinicians in order to properly diagnose pigmented lesions. We have identified a set of 21 medicaments which cause these lesions, some of which are used frequently in the clinic, such as Metronidazole, Amitriptyline, conjugated oestrogens and Chlorhexidine gluconate. We also found discrepancies with the data published in specialized literature, some of which wasn?t reflected in the Summary of Product Characteristics. Our work highlights the importance of the proper communication of adverse drug reactions (ADR) by health professionals in order to provide thorough and accurate information and diagnosis

Colistin Dosage without Loading Dose Is Efficacious when Treating Carbapenem- Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Ventilator- Associated Pneumonia Caused by Strains with High Susceptibility to Colistin.

Objectives This study aims to analyze the mortality and the length of ICU stay (LOS) of A. baumannii VAP compared to respiratory colonization in patients with mechanical ventilation (MV). Methods A prospective cohort study was performed in an ICU of adult patients (February 2010–June 2011). One hundred patients on MV with A. baumannii in lower respiratory airways were recruited, and classified as VAP or airways colonization according to CPIS criteria, with a punctuation 6. LOS, 30-days mortality, A. baumannii bacteremia, and clinical features including antibiotic therapy were recorded. Multivariate analysis (linear and Cox regression) and survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier curves) were performed. Results Fifty-seven VAP and 43 colonized A. baumannii patients were analyzed. Among the A. bau- mannii strains, 99% were non-susceptible to carbapenems and the MIC 90 of colistin was 0.12 mg/l. Therapy was appropriate in 94.6% of VAP patients, most of them with colistin 6 MIU/day, although in 13 (23.6%) cases colistin was started 48 hours after the onset of VAP. Mortality was similar in both groups (VAP 24.6% vs. colonized 27.9%, p = 0.7). Bacteremia and acute kidney insufficiency were associated with decreased survival (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively) in VAP patients. LOS was 21.5 (11.5–42.75) vs. 9 (6–22) days for VAP and colonized patients (p = 0.004). VAP (p = 0.003) and age (p = 0.01) were independently related to a longer LOS. Conclusions Multidrug-resistant A. baumannii VAP treated with colistin does not have a different mortality compared to lower airways colonization, among patients on mechanical-ventilation, in a set- ting of high susceptibility to colistin of A. baumannii.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad REIPI RD12/ 0015/000

Sistematización del seguimiento/acreditación de los títulos de doctorado: Un protocolo de buenas prácticas

El objetivo de este proyecto es diseñar una estrategia de monitorización del Programa de Doctorado en Psicología, junto con un protocolo de buenas prácticas para que cualquier titulación de la UCM pueda superar con éxito el proceso de acreditación.Fac. de PsicologíaFALSEVicerrectorado de Calidad, UCMsubmitte

Effect of the anatomical structure, wood properties and machining conditions on surface roughness of wood

The main aim is to test the influence of anatomical structure (grain direction and elements size), wood hardness and machining conditions on wood surface roughness. 180 samples defect-free were obtained from beech, oak and pine and processed with different machining methods (planning, sanding with 60 grit or sanding with 180 grit). Roughness, hardness, and anatomical structure were analysed using international methodologies. An analysis of variance of the data from all the samples with the four factors in the experimental design were performed. Results showed that machining processes and species are the factors that significantly affect surface roughness, as opposed to grain direction (plane of section and stylus-grain angle), which was only shown to be significant in some subgroups. Roughness parameters of samples sanded with 180 grit were lower in contrast to samples planned or sanded with 60 grit. Hardness was found to be the property of the wood that most clearly affects its final roughness, and makes it difficult to achieve better roughness results as the hardness increases