An Alternative Method to Achieve Metrological Confirmation in Measurement Processes

Metrological confirmation process must be designed and implemented to ensure that metrological characteristics of the measurement system meet metrological requirements of the measurement process. The aim of this paper is to present an alternative method to the traditional metrological requirements about the relationship between tolerance and measurement uncertainty, to develop such confirmation processes. The proposed way to metrological confirmation considers a given inspection task of the measurement process into the manufacturing system, and it is based on the Index of Contamination of the Capability, ICC. Metrological confirmation process is then developed taking into account the producer risks and economic considerations on this index. As a consequence, depending on the capability of the manufacturing process, the measurement system will be or will not be in adequate state of metrological confirmation for the measurement process

Necesidades de información en las empresas: estudio de un caso

The study of information needs in companies is a complex and urgent task, undertaken in different ways, in arder to have a good knowledge on this type of information user. In this way, the information needs of the American companies of the Indiana State are studied in this article, from severa) meetings with local librarians and persons in charge of different services which assist development of the local companies. In the study, a survey performed by the Indiana State University, which analyzed the information use and the types of information more frequently required by the companies was also used.El estudio de las necesidades de información en las empresas es una tarea compleja y urgente que se está acometiendo desde distintas vertientes, con el fin de ir completando el conocimiento que se tiene de este tipo de usuario de información. En este sentido, en el trabajo se estudian las necesidades de información de las empresas norteamericanas del estado de Indiana, a partir de una serie de entrevistas con responsables de centros de información y servicios de desarrollo, que atendían las distintas demandas de las empresas. Asimismo, en el trabajo se ha utilizado una encuesta realizada por la Universidad del Estado de Indiana sobre el uso y los tipos de información más demandados por las empresas

Extracellular vesicles from airway secretions: New insights in lung diseases

Lung diseases (LD) are one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Although it is known that chronic airway inflammation and excessive tissue repair are processes associated with LD such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or idiopathic pulmonary fibro-sis (IPF), their specific pathways remain unclear. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are heterogeneous na-noscale membrane vesicles with an important role in cell-to-cell communication. EVs are present in general biofluids as plasma or urine but also in secretions of the airway as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), induced sputum (IS), nasal lavage (NL) or pharyngeal lavage. Alterations of airway EV cargo could be crucial for understanding LD. Airway EVs have shown a role in the pathogenesis of some LD such as eosinophil increase in asthma, the promotion of lung cancer in vitro models in COPD and as biomarkers to distinguishing IPF in patients with diffuse lung diseases. In addition, they also have a promising future as therapeutics for LD. In this review, we focus on the importance of airway secretions in LD, the pivotal role of EVs from those secretions on their pathophysiology and their potential for biomarker discovery

Calidad de visión y satisfacción del paciente usuario de pantallas de visualización de datos tras cirugía

Función visual[ES] dad de vida y satisfacción de los trabajadores usuarios de pantallas de visualización de datos (PVD) que se asocia a la mejora de la función visual tras queratomileusis in situ con láser excimer (LASIK). MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional y longitudinal en una población de 96 pacientes intervenidos de cirugía refractiva con láser excimer según técnica LASIK mediante aplicación de un cuestionario construído al efecto aplicado antes y después de cirugía por un observador independiente. RESULTADOS: Agudeza visual y refracción ocular han mejorado tras LASIK, siendo el índice de eficacia de 1.1. La sensibilidad al contraste tras cirugía mejora en todas las frecuencias (6 c/g, 3 c/g y 1 c/g) en el ojo derecho. Mientras que en el ojo izquierdo no hay diferencias significativas. La calidad de visión con y sin corrección es mejor tras LASIK (significativa p < 0.05). Volverían a intervenirse y recomendarían este procedimiento quirúrgico a otros pacientes el 84.38 % de pacientes. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados muestran que el LASIK mejora la a función visual y la calidadde vida de estos pacientes.[EN] PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence in quality of vision and satisfaction of video display terminal (VDT) users related to improvement of visual functions following excimer laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: Longitudinal and observational study in a population of 96 patients that underwent LASIK using a questionnaire made for that, applied before and after surgery by an independent observer. RESULTS: Visual acuity and ocular refraction have improved after LASIK, being the efficiency index 1.1. Contrast sensitivity postoperative improved at all spatial frequencies in the right eye (6 c/g, 3 c/g and 1 c/). While in the left eye there were no significant differences. Quality of vision with and without correction is also better after LASIK (p < 0.05). And 84.38 % of patients would repeat themselves and recommend this surgery to other patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that LASIK improves visual function and quality of life of patients.N

4,5-Dibromo-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-9H-thioxanthene

In the title compound, C23H28Br2S, the thioxanthene unit is twisted, showing a dihedral angle of 29.3 (5)° between the benzene rings. When projected along [001], the packing shows two types of channels. The crystal studied was a racemic twin

Alignment of Palladium Complexes into Columnar Liquid Crystals Driven by Peripheral Triphenylene Substituents

Producción CientíficaMono- and dinuclear ortho-palladated complexes based on a triphenylene-imine ligand that display columnar mesophases (Col) at temperatures close to ambient have been isolated. The mesophase stability is large, and their structures consist of Pd-containing columnar zones supported by fully organic columns formed by the triphenylene moieties.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (CTQ2011-25137)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (MAT2012-38538-C03-02)Junta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación – Ref. VA302U13

Optimizing the clinical utility of PCA3 to diagnose prostate cancer in initial prostate biopsy

Background: PCA3 has been included in a nomogram outperforming previous clinical models for the prediction of any prostate cancer (PCa) and high grade PCa (HGPCa) at the initial prostate biopsy (IBx). Our objective is to validate such IBx-specific PCA3-based nomogram. We also aim to optimize the use of this nomogram in clinical practice through the definition of risk groups. Methods: Independent external validation. Clinical and biopsy data from a contemporary cohort of 401 men with the same inclusion criteria to those used to build up the reference’s nomogram in IBx. The predictive value of the nomogram was assessed by means of calibration curves and discrimination ability through the area under the curve (AUC). Clinical utility of the nomogram was analyzed by choosing thresholds points that minimize the overlapping between probability density functions (PDF) in PCa and no PCa and HGPCa and no HGPCa groups, and net benefit was assessed by decision curves. Results: We detect 28 % of PCa and 11 % of HGPCa in IBx, contrasting to the 46 and 20 % at the reference series. Due to this, there is an overestimation of the nomogram probabilities shown in the calibration curve for PCa. The AUC values are 0.736 for PCa (C.I.95 %:0.68–0.79) and 0.786 for HGPCa (C.I.95 %:0.71–0.87) showing an adequate discrimination ability. PDF show differences in the distributions of nomogram probabilities in PCa and not PCa patient groups. A minimization of the overlapping between these curves confirms the threshold probability of harboring PCa >30 % proposed by Hansen is useful to indicate a IBx, but a cut-off > 40 % could be better in series of opportunistic screening like ours. Similar results appear in HGPCa analysis. The decision curve also shows a net benefit of 6.31 % for the threshold probability of 40 %. Conclusions: PCA3 is an useful tool to select patients for IBx. Patients with a calculated probability of having PCa over 40 % should be counseled to undergo an IBx if opportunistic screening is required

Nanoprobes for biomedical imaging with tunable near-infrared optical properties obtained via green synthesis

Ideally, any material used should be nontoxic and produced with safe, inexpensive, and energy-effective processes. In the case of optically active nanoparticles, this is often not the case, as they are frequently composed of hazardous heavy metals and/or produced with methods far from being environmentally friendly. Herein, the preparation of Ag2S-based nanoparticles via a simple green synthesis route is explored. Aqueous extracts of roasted coffee are used as sources of coordinating molecules. Optimization of the reaction conditions yields dimeric Ag Ag2S nanoparticles, whose near-infrared photoluminescence can be switched on via H2O2-mediated oxidation. This oxidation transforms suitable photoacoustic contrast agents into fluorescence imaging probes. Theoretical calculations further clarify the role of metallic silver in determining the optical properties of Ag2S. Overall, it is demonstrated that nanomaterials with tangible applicative potential can be prepared via cost- and energy-effective synthesis strategies that entail benign, renewable chemical

Soluble RAGE in COPD, with or without coexisting obstructive sleep apnoea

Background: Hypoxia can reduce the levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), a new anti-inflammatory biomarker of COPD. We assessed sRAGE in patients with hypoxia-related diseases such as COPD, OSA and OSA-COPD overlap. Methods: Plasma levels of sRAGE were measured in 317 subjects at baseline (57 heathy nonsmokers HNS], 84 healthy smokers HS], 79 OSA, 62 COPD and 35 OSA-COPD overlap patients) and in 294 subjects after one year of follow-up (50 HNS, 74 HS, 77 OSA, 60 COPD and 33 overlap). Results: After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status and body mass index, sRAGE levels showed a reduction in OSA (- 12.5%, p = 0.005), COPD (- 14.8%, p < 0.001) and OSA-COPD overlap (- 12.3%, p = 0.02) compared with HNS. There were no differences when comparing sRAGE plasma levels between overlap patients and those with OSA or COPD alone. At follow-up, sRAGE levels did not change significantly in healthy subjects, COPD and OSA or OSA-COPD overlap nontreated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Moreover, in patients with OSA and OSA-COPD overlap who were treated with CPAP, sRAGE increased significantly. Conclusions: The levels of sRAGE are reduced in COPD and OSA. Treatment with CPAP appears to improve sRAGE levels in patients with OSA who also had COPD

Soluble RAGE in COPD, with or without coexisting obstructive sleep apnoea

Background: Hypoxia can reduce the levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), a new anti-infammatory biomarker of COPD. We assessed sRAGE in patients with hypoxia-related diseases such as COPD, OSA and OSA-COPD overlap. Methods: Plasma levels of sRAGE were measured in 317 subjects at baseline (57 heathy nonsmokers [HNS], 84 healthy smokers [HS], 79 OSA, 62 COPD and 35 OSA-COPD overlap patients) and in 294 subjects after one year of follow-up (50 HNS, 74 HS, 77 OSA, 60 COPD and 33 overlap). Results: After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status and body mass index, sRAGE levels showed a reduction in OSA (− 12.5%, p=0.005), COPD (− 14.8%, p<0.001) and OSA-COPD overlap (− 12.3%, p=0.02) compared with HNS. There were no diferences when comparing sRAGE plasma levels between overlap patients and those with OSA or COPD alone. At follow-up, sRAGE levels did not change signifcantly in healthy subjects, COPD and OSA or OSA-COPD overlap nontreated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Moreover, in patients with OSA and OSA-COPD overlap who were treated with CPAP, sRAGE increased signifcantly. Conclusions: The levels of sRAGE are reduced in COPD and OSA. Treatment with CPAP appears to improve sRAGE levels in patients with OSA who also had COPD.The EPIOSA study (NCT02131610) was supported by Grants Number PI12/02175, PI15/01940 and PI18/01524 from the Instituto Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health, Madrid, Spain and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and by a Grant Number 01/2010 from the SADAR-Pneumo Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain