Short electrodynamic tethers

ED bare theters are best systems to deorbit S/C at end of service. For near polar orbits, usual tethers kept vertical by the gravity gradient, yield too weak magnetic drag. Here we propose keeping tethers perpendicular to the orbital plane. they mus be rigid and short for structural reasons, requiring power supply like Ion thrusters. terher tube-booms that can be rolled up on a drum would lie on each side of the S/C. One boom, carying in idle Hollow Cathode, collects electrons; the opposite boom's HC ejects electrons

Spatial Analysis of the Relationship between Mortality from Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease and Drinking Water Hardness

Previously published scientific papers have reported a negative correlation between drinking water hardness and cardiovascular mortality. Some ecologic and case–control studies suggest the protective effect of calcium and magnesium concentration in drinking water. In this article we present an analysis of this protective relationship in 538 municipalities of Comunidad Valenciana (Spain) from 1991–1998. We used the Spanish version of the Rapid Inquiry Facility (RIF) developed under the European Environment and Health Information System (EUROHEIS) research project. The strategy of analysis used in our study conforms to the exploratory nature of the RIF that is used as a tool to obtain quick and flexible insight into epidemiologic surveillance problems. This article describes the use of the RIF to explore possible associations between disease indicators and environmental factors. We used exposure analysis to assess the effect of both protective factors—calcium and magnesium—on mortality from cerebrovascular (ICD-9 430–438) and ischemic heart (ICD-9 410–414) diseases. This study provides statistical evidence of the relationship between mortality from cardiovascular diseases and hardness of drinking water. This relationship is stronger in cerebrovascular disease than in ischemic heart disease, is more pronounced for women than for men, and is more apparent with magnesium than with calcium concentration levels. Nevertheless, the protective nature of these two factors is not clearly established. Our results suggest the possibility of protectiveness but cannot be claimed as conclusive. The weak effects of these covariates make it difficult to separate them from the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors. We have also performed disease mapping of standardized mortality ratios to detect clusters of municipalities with high risk. Further standardization by levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water shows changes in the maps when we remove the effect of these covariates

Diseño e implementación de juegos en el aula utilizando herramientas de respuesta de audiencia

El aprendizaje basado en juegos se basa en introducir el juego en las aulas para mejorar aspectos como el rendimiento, la concentración y el esfuerzo del alumnado. En la actualidad, proporciona un recurso muy útil para incrementar la motivación del alumnado universitario, generando un mejor clima entre compañeros y entre alumno y profesor, el cual en muchas ocasiones se traduce en mejores resultados académicos. Sin embargo, diseñar juegos que consigan con éxito los objetivos de enseñanza-aprendizaje deseados no es una tarea trivial. Este trabajo propone tres juegos basados en la participación por equipos que pueden ser fácilmente implementados utilizando plataformas online existentes. En el diseño de los mismos, se ha tenido en cuenta la experiencia previa de los alumnos en el uso de herramientas de respuesta de audiencia, así como en su participación en juegos en el aula. Tras llevar a cabo los juegos en distintas asignaturas relacionadas con el campo de las TIC, se ha evaluado el impacto de esta actividad mediante encuestas de satisfacción cumplimentadas por el alumnado.The so-called game-based learning strategies are based on introducing games in the classrooms to improve aspects such as student performance, concentration and effort. Currently, they provide a very useful resource to increase the motivation of university students, generating a better atmosphere among peers and between student and teacher, which in turn is generally translated into better academic results. However, the design of games that successfully achieve the desired teaching-learning objectives is not a trivial task. This paper proposes three games based on team participation that can be easily implemented using existing online platforms. The design of these games has taken into account the previous experience of the students in the use of audience response tools, as well as their participation in games in the classroom. After carrying out the games in different ICT-related subjects, we evaluated the impact of this activity using questionnaires collecting students’ assessments.Este proyecto ha sido financiado por la UV (Servei de Formació Permanent i Innovació Educativa) en el contexto del proyecto UV-SFPIE_GER18-848990

Phase II Clinical Trial With Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (CAELYX®/Doxil®) and Quality of Life Evaluation (EORTC QLQ-C30) in Adult Patients With Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A study of the Spanish Group for Research in Sarcomas (GEIS)

Background: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), a formulation with pharmacokinetic differences with respect to doxorubicin (DXR), might benefit patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) pretreated with DXR

Label-free plasmonic biosensor for rapid, quantitative, and highly sensitive COVID-19 serology: implementation and clinical validation

Serological tests are essential for the control and management of COVID-19 pandemic, not only for current and historical diagnostics but especially for surveillance, epidemiological, and acquired immunity studies. Clinical COVID-19 serology is routinely performed by enzymatic or chemiluminescence immunoassays (i.e., ELISA or CLIA), which provide good sensitivities at the expense of relatively long turnaround times and specialized laboratory settings. Rapid serological tests, based on lateral flow assays, have also been developed and widely commercialized, but they suffer from limited reliability due to relatively low sensitivity and specificity. We have developed and validated a direct serological biosensor assay employing proprietary technology based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). The biosensor offers a rapid -less than 15 min- identification and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies directly in clinical samples, without the need of any signal amplification. The portable plasmonic biosensor device employs a custom-designed multi-antigen sensor biochip, combining the two main viral antigens (RBD peptide and N protein), for simultaneous detection of human antibodies targeting both antigens. The SPR serology assay reaches detection limits in the low ng mL-1 range employing polyclonal antibodies as standard, which are well below the commonly detected antibody levels in COVID-19 patients. The assay has also been implemented employing the first WHO approved anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin standard. We have carried out a clinical validation with COVID-19 positive and negative samples (n=120) that demonstrates the excellent diagnostic sensitivity (99%) and specificity (100%). This positions our biosensor device as an accurate, robust, and easy-to-use diagnostics tool for rapid and reliable COVID-19 serology to be employed both at laboratory and decentralized settings for the management of COVID-19 patients and for the evaluation of immunological status during vaccination, treatment or in front of emerging variants.H2020 Research and Innovation Programme of the European Commission Project, No. 101003544 Spanish Research Agency (AEI, grant no. SEV-2017-0706AEI, grant no. SEV-2017-0706) Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Spanish Research Agency and the European Social Fund (ESF)BES-2017-080527 GENCAT-DGRIS COVID EU H2020 Programme (644956) Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013-2016 ISCIII- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Biobank PT17/0015/0047 European Virus Archive GLOBAL (EVA-GLOBAL) EU Horizon 2020 (grant agreement No. 871029) Fundació Glòria Soler for COVIDBANK collection Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016/0003)N

Supporting information Label-Free Plasmonic Biosensor for Rapid, Quantitative, and Highly Sensitive COVID-19 Serology: Implementation and Clinical Validation

15 pages. -- Content: 1. Supplementary text: 1.1.Chemical and biological reagents; 1.2.SPR biosensor device; 1.3.Plasmonic sensor chip preparation; 1.4.Clinical samples collection; 1.5.Stratification of convalescent COVID patients. Samples collection from Clinic Hospital (Barcelona); 1.6. Standard analytical techniques (ELISA, CLIA and LFA); 1.7.Data analysis; 1.8.Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. -- 2. Figures. -- Tables S1-S3. -- References.Serological tests are essential for the control and management of COVID-19 pandemic (diagnostics and surveillance, and epidemiological and immunity studies). We introduce a direct serological biosensor assay employing proprietary technology based on plasmonics, which offers rapid (<15 min) identification and quantification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in clinical samples, without signal amplification. The portable plasmonic device employs a custom-designed multiantigen (RBD peptide and N protein) sensor biochip and reaches detection limits in the low ng mL–1 range employing polyclonal antibodies. It has also been implemented employing the WHO-approved anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin standard. A clinical validation with COVID-19 positive and negative samples (n = 120) demonstrates its excellent diagnostic sensitivity (99%) and specificity (100%). This positions our biosensor as an accurate and easy-to-use diagnostics tool for rapid and reliable COVID-19 serology to be employed both at laboratory and decentralized settings for the disease management and for the evaluation of immunological status during vaccination or treatment.Peer reviewe

Wide-Geographic and Long-Term Analysis of the Role of Pathogens in the Decline of Pinna nobilis to Critically Endangered Species

A mass mortality event (MME) affecting the fan mussel Pinna nobilis was first detected in Spain in autumn 2016 and spread north- and eastward through the Mediterranean Sea. Various pathogens have been blamed for contributing to the MME, with emphasis in Haplosporidium pinnae, Mycobacterium sp. and Vibrio spp. In this study, samples from 762 fan mussels (necropsies from 263 individuals, mantle biopsies from 499) of various health conditions, with wide geographic and age range, taken before and during the MME spread from various environments along Mediterranean Sea, were used to assess the role of pathogens in the MME. The number of samples processed by both histological and molecular methods was 83. The most important factor playing a main role on the onset of the mass mortality of P. nobilis throughout the Mediterranean Sea was the infection by H. pinnae. It was the only non-detected pathogen before the MME while, during MME spreading, its prevalence was higher in sick and dead individuals than in asymptomatic ones, in MME-affected areas than in non-affected sites, and it was not associated with host size, infecting both juveniles and adults. Conversely, infection with mycobacteria was independent from the period (before or during MME), from the affection of the area by MME and from the host health condition, and it was associated with host size. Gram (-) bacteria neither appeared associated with MME.En prens

Impact of operatoŕs experience on peri-procedural outcomes with Watchman FLX: Insights from the FLX-SPA registry

Background: The Watchman FLX is a device upgrade of the Watchman 2.5 that incorporates several design enhancements intended to simplify left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) and improve procedural outcomes. This study compares peri-procedural results of LAAO with Watchman FLX (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts) in centers with varying degrees of experience with the Watchman 2.5 and Watchman FLX. Methods: Prospective, multicenter, 'real-world' registry including consecutive patients undergoing LAAO with the Watchman FLX at 26 Spanish sites (FLX-SPA registry). Implanting centers were classified according to the center's prior experience with the Watchman 2.5. A further division of centers according to whether or not they had performed ≤ 10 or > 10Watchman FLX implants was prespecified at the beginning of the study. Procedural outcomes of institutions stratified according to their experience with the Watchman 2.5 and FLX devices were compared. Results: 359 patients [mean age 75.5 (SD8.1), CHA2DS2-VASc 4.4 (SD1.4), HAS-BLED 3.8(SD0.9)] were included. Global success rate was 98.6%, successful LAAO with the first selected device size was achieved in 95.5% patients and the device was implanted at first attempt in 78.6% cases. There were only 9(2.5%) major peri-procedural complications. No differences in efficacy or safety results according to the centeŕs previous experience with Watchman 2.5 and procedural volume with Watchman FLX existed. Conclusions: The Watchman FLX attains high procedural success rates with complete LAA sealing in unselected, real-world patients, along with a low incidence of peri-procedural complications, regardless of operatoŕs experience with its previous device iteration or the number of Watchman FLX devices implanted

A New Crocodylian from the Late Maastrichtian of Spain: Implications for the Initial Radiation of Crocodyloids

The earliest crocodylians are known primarily from the Late Cretaceous of North America and Europe. The representatives of Gavialoidea and Alligatoroidea are known in the Late Cretaceous of both continents, yet the biogeographic origins of Crocodyloidea are poorly understood. Up to now, only one representative of this clade has been known from the Late Cretaceous, the basal crocodyloid Prodiplocynodon from the Maastrichtian of North America.The fossil studied is a skull collected from sandstones in the lower part of the Tremp Formation, in Chron C30n, dated at -67.6 to 65.5 Ma (late Maastrichtian), in Arén (Huesca, Spain). It is located in a continuous section that contains the K/P boundary, in which the dinosaur faunas closest to the K/P boundary in Europe have been described, including Arenysaurus ardevoli and Blasisaurus canudoi. Phylogenetic analysis places the new taxon, Arenysuchus gascabadiolorum, at the base of Crocodyloidea.The new taxon is the oldest crocodyloid representative in Eurasia. Crocodyloidea had previously only been known from the Palaeogene onwards in this part of Laurasia. Phylogenetically, Arenysuchus gascabadiolorum is situated at the base of the first radiation of crocodyloids that occurred in the late Maastrichtian, shedding light on this part of the cladogram. The presence of basal crocodyloids at the end of the Cretaceous both in North America and Europe provides new evidence of the faunal exchange via the Thulean Land Bridge during the Maastrichtian

Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.

Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3–5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited