A Microwave Blackbody Target for Cosmic Microwave Background Spectral Measurements in the 10-20GHz range

The Tenerife Microwave Spectrometer (TMS) is a ground-based radio-spectrometer that will take absolute measurements of the sky between 10-20 GHz. To ensure the sensitivity and immunity to systematic errors of these measurements, TMS includes an internal calibration system optimised for the TMS band, and cooled down to 4 K. It consists of an Aluminium core, composed of a baseplate and a bed of pyramidal elements coated with an absorber material and a metallic shield. The absorber coating is made of a commercial resin ECCOSORB CR/MF 117. To achieve the high stability (+/- 1 mK/h), temperature homogeneity (thermal gradients {AT = 0.999) requirements of the reference unit, careful consideration has been given to the RF and thermal properties of the materials, as well as their geometry. In summary, this paper presents a comprehensive account of the design, characterisation, and test results of the TMS reference system.Comment: 45 pages, 36 figures, JINS

Fibrosis in chronic kidney disease: Pathogenesis and consequences

Fibrosis is a process characterized by an excessive accumulation of the extracellular matrix as a response to different types of tissue injuries, which leads to organ dysfunction. The process can be initiated by multiple and different stimuli and pathogenic factors which trigger the cascade of reparation converging in molecular signals responsible of initiating and driving fibrosis. Though fibrosis can play a defensive role, in several circumstances at a certain stage, it can progressively become an uncontrolled irreversible and self-maintained process, named pathological fibrosis. Several systems, molecules and responses involved in the pathogenesis of the pathological fibrosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) will be discussed in this review, putting special attention on inflammation, renin-angiotensin system (RAS), parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), Klotho, microRNAs (miRs), and the vitamin D hormonal system. All of them are key factors of the core and regulatory pathways which drive fibrosis, having a great negative kidney and cardiac impact in CKD

Radiocarbon dates for the late Pleistocene and Early Holocene occupations of Cova Rosa (Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain)

Four excavations have been performed at the archaeological site of Cova Rosa (Asturias, Cantabrian Spain): three of them in the second half of last century and the other in this decade. Although little of the archaeological material found in those excavations has been published, here we attempt the stratigraphic correlation of sections revealed by the different excavations and we present 22 new radiocarbon dates for bones and marine shells, built in a Bayesian statistical model. This has enabled the documentation of occupations that mainly took place during the Last Glacial period, in the Solutrean (middle and upper phases) and Magdalenian (archaic, lower, and upper phases), and also in the early Holocene (Mesolithic). These occupations are compared with the record at other sites in Cantabrian Spain in general and in Asturias, in particular.Introduction Cova Rosa Cave - Geographical and Geological Setting - History of Research - Stratigraphy Radiocarbon dates at Cova Rosa - Method - Validity Analysis - Results and Critical Assessment - Solutrean - Magdalenian - Mesolithic Discussion: 14C chronology of Cova Rosa Conclusion

Differences in results and related factors between hospital-at-home modalities in Catalonia: a cross-sectional study

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this record. Hospital-at-home (HaH) is a healthcare modality that provides active treatment by healthcare staff in the patient's home for a condition that would otherwise require hospitalization. The aims were to describe the characteristics of different types of hospital-at-home (HaH), assess their results, and examine which factors could be related to these results. A cross-sectional study based on data from all 2014 HaH contacts from Catalonia was designed. The following HaH modalities were considered-admission avoidance (n = 7,214; 75.1%) and early assisted discharge (n = 2,387; 24.9%). The main outcome indicators were readmission, mortality, and length of stay (days). Multivariable models were fitted to assess the association between explanatory factors and outcomes. Hospital admission avoidance is a scheme in which, instead of being admitted to acute care hospitals, patients are directly treated in their own homes. Early assisted discharge is a scheme in which hospital in-care patients continue their treatment at home. In the hospital avoidance modality, there were 8.3% readmissions, 0.9% mortality, and a mean length of stay (SD) of 9.6 (10.6) days. In the early assisted discharge modality, these figures were 7.9%, 0.5%, and 9.8 (11.1), respectively. In both modalities, readmission and mean length of stay were related to comorbidity and type of hospital, and mortality with age. The results of HaH in Catalonia are similar to those observed in other contexts. The factors related to these results identified might help to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the different HaH modalities

Evidence of telomere attrition and a potential role for DNA damage in systemic sclerosis

[Background]: To investigate the role of cell senescence in systemic sclerosis (SSc), we analyzed telomere shortening (TS) in SSc patients and the effect of targeting DNA damage in the bleomycin model of skin fibrosis. [Results]: Telomere length (TL) in blood leukocytes of 174 SSc patients and 68 healthy controls was measured by Southern blot, and we found shorter age-standardized TL in SSc patients compared to healthy controls. TL was shorter in SSc patients with ILD compared to those without ILD and in anti-topoisomerase I positive compared to anti-centromere positive patients. To analyze the potential role of DNA damage in skin fibrosis, we evaluated the effects of the DNA protective GSE4 peptide in the bleomycin mouse model of scleroderma and the fibrotic response of cultured human dermal fibroblasts. Administration of GSE4-nanoparticles attenuated bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis as measured by Masson’s staining of collagen and reduced Acta2 and Ctgf mRNA expression, whereas transduction of dermal fibroblasts with a lentiviral GSE4 expression vector reduced COL1A1, ACTA2 and CTGF gene expression after stimulation with bleomycin or TGF-β, in parallel to a reduction of the phospho-histone H2A.X marker of DNA damage. [Conclusions]: SSc is associated with TS, particularly in patients with lung disease or anti-topoisomerase I antibodies. Administration of GSE4 peptide attenuated experimental skin fibrosis and reduced fibroblast expression of profibrotic factors, supporting a role for oxidative DNA damage in scleroderma.The authors received financial support from Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI19/01129, PI20/00335, and RIER network RD16/0012 RETICS program), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)

Clinical Characteristics and Long-term outcomes of patients undergoing combined heart-kidney transplantation: a single-center experience

[Abstract] Background. The purpose of the study was to describe clinical characteristics and long-term survival of patients undergoing combined heart-kidney transplant in a single center. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 22 consecutive patients who underwent combined heart-kidney transplant at our institution between 1995 and 2013. Long-term outcomes were analyzed by means of the Kaplan-Meier method. Results. Four patients underwent re-do transplant (2 cardiac re-transplants, 1 kidney re-transplant, and 1 combined heart-kidney re-transplant). Most frequent underlying cardiac conditions were coronary artery disease (54%), dilated cardiomyopathy (23%), and chronic rejection of a previous heart graft (18%). Known causes of chronic renal dysfunction were nephroangioesclerosis (23%), drug-related toxicity (14%), and Wegener granulomatosis (5%). Non-specified chronic renal dysfunction was present in 50% patients. In-hospital postoperative mortality rate was 5 of 22 (23%). Causes of early death were directly related to kidney transplant surgery in 4 of 5 (80%) patients. Among the remaining 17 patients who surmounted the postoperative period, long-term survival rates 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years after HKT were 88%, 82%, and 65%, respectively. Over a mean follow-up of 6.7 ± 6.4 years, cumulative incidences of cytomegalovirus infection, coronary allograft vasculopathy, malignancy, and acute cardiac graft rejection were 41%, 6%, 24%, and 41%, respectively. There was no episode of acute renal graft rejection. At the end of follow-up, all survivors (n = 11) were in functional New York Heart Association class I. Mean creatinine serum level was 1.68 mg/dL. Conclusions. In our experience, combined heart-kidney transplant is a feasible therapeutic option that yielded favorable long-term outcomes, with a low cumulative incidence of cardiac graft dysfunction. These results were obtained at the expense of a significant risk of early postoperative mortality, which was mainly related to complications of kidney transplant surgery

Níveis de calcidiol e manutenção da função muscular, capacidade funcional e densidade mineral óssea em uma população espanhola não selecionada.

Introduction: Vitamin D has beneficial effects that supposedly contribute to the maintenance of musculoskeletal function. Objective: To analyze in an unselected population the effect of calcidiol levels on the muscular function of both hands, on the activities of daily living and on changes in bone mineral density (BMD). Material and methods: The cohort of the EVOS study was used, which performed, among others, measurements of muscle strength of grasping both hands, questions related to the difficulty in performing daily activities, densitometric study of the lumbar and hip spine and biochemistry for determination calcidiol levels. Results: Calcidiol values ​​≥20 ng / mL were associated with increased grip muscle strength in both hands. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI and seasonality, calcidiol levels <20 ng / mL were independently associated with decreased muscle grip strength only in the left hand (OR = 2.35, 95% CI 1.03 -5, 38) Likewise, the inability or difficulty in "picking up a book or object on a high shelf" and "getting out of bed" was significantly associated with calcidiol levels <20 ng / mL. Calcidiol levels <20 ng / mL were associated with greater losses of BMD in the femoral neck and in the total hip. These associations were maintained in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: The maintenance of calcidiol levels ≥20 ng / mL was associated with greater muscle grip strength in the hands, maintenance of daily activities and less loss of BMD in the hip. This study corroborates the usefulness of maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D to maintain musculoskeletal function.Introdução: A vitamina D tem efeitos benéficos que supostamente contribuem para a manutenção da função músculo-esquelética. Objetivo: Analisar em uma população não selecionada o efeito dos níveis de calcidiol na função muscular de ambas as mãos, nas atividades da vida diária e nas alterações na densidade mineral óssea (DMO). Material e métodos: Utilizou-se a coorte do estudo EVOS, que realizou, entre outras, medidas de força muscular de preensão nas duas mãos, questões relacionadas à dificuldade na realização das atividades diárias, estudo densitométrico da coluna lombar e quadril e bioquímica para determinação dos níveis de calcidiol. Resultados: Valores de calcidiol ≥20 ng / mL foram associados ao aumento da força muscular de preensão em ambas as mãos. Após o ajuste para idade, sexo, IMC e sazonalidade, os níveis de calcidiol <20 ng / mL foram associados de forma independente à diminuição da força de preensão muscular apenas na mão esquerda (OR = 2,35, IC 95% 1,03-5, 38) Da mesma forma, a incapacidade ou dificuldade em "pegar um livro ou objeto em uma prateleira alta" e "sair da cama" foi significativamente associada a níveis de calcidiol <20 ng / mL. Níveis de calcidiol <20 ng / mL foram associados a maiores perdas de DMO no colo do fêmur e no quadril total. Essas associações foram mantidas na análise multivariada. Conclusões: A manutenção de níveis de calcidiol ≥20 ng / mL foi associada a maior força de preensão muscular nas mãos, manutenção das atividades diárias e menor perda de DMO no quadril. Este estudo corrobora a utilidade de manter níveis adequados de vitamina D para manter a função músculo-esquelética

Initial psychometric evidence of a brief measure of cancer worry

Objective: The cancer worry is associated with preventive behaviors for the detection of this disease; However, there is no instrument with evidence of validity and reliability to measure this construct in Latin American countries, including Peru. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the evidence of validity based on the internal structure and reliability of the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS) ina sample of people without cancer diagnosis with a family history of cancer. Method: It counted withthe participation of 215 healthy people with a family history of cancer who attended the outpatientservice of two public and private health institutions in the city of Chimbote with an average age of42.10 years (SD = 14.05). For the collection of information, an ad hoc sociodemographic record andthe Cancer Worry Scale were used. Results: The one-dimensional model presented a good fit of the data(SBχ2 (8) = 14.39, SB χ2 / df = 1.79, CFI = 0.991, SRMR = 0.025, RMSEA = 0.061 [IC90%: 0.000-0.111], AIC = 47.701) and adequate reliability (ω corrected = 0.90; IC95%: 0.88-0.92). Conclusion: Itis concluded that the CWS presents adequate psychometric properties, being a measure that providesvalid and reliable interpretations of the cáncer worry in the peruvian context

Classical T Tauri stars with VPHAS+ -I : H α and u-band accretion rates in the Lagoon Nebula M8

We estimate the accretion rates of 235 Classical T Tauri star (CTTS) candidates in the Lagoon Nebula using $ugri$H$\alpha$ photometry from the VPHAS+ survey. Our sample consists of stars displaying H$\alpha$-excess, the intensity of which is used to derive accretion rates. For a subset of 87 stars, the intensity of the $u$-band excess is also used to estimate accretion rates. We find the mean variation in accretion rates measured using H$\alpha$ and $u$-band intensities to be $\sim$ 0.17 dex, agreeing with previous estimates (0.04-0.4 dex) but for a much larger sample. The spatial distribution of CTTS align with the location of protostars and molecular gas suggesting that they retain an imprint of the natal gas fragmentation process. Strong accretors are concentrated spatially, while weak accretors are more distributed. Our results do not support the sequential star forming processes suggested in the literature.Peer reviewe