Improved thermal isolation of silicon suspended platforms for an all-silicon thermoelectric microgenerator based on large scale integration of Si nanowires as thermoelectric material

Special suspended micro-platforms have been designed as a part of silicon compatible planar thermoelectric microgenerators. Bottom-up grown silicon nanowires are going to bridge in the future such platforms to the surrounding silicon bulk rim. They will act as thermoelectric material thus configuring an all-silicon thermoelectric device. In the new platform design other additional bridging elements (usually auxiliary support silicon beams) are substituted by low conductance thin film dielectric membranes in order to maximize the temperature difference developed between both areas. These membranes follow a sieve-like design that allows fabricating them with a short additional wet anisotropic etch step. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Changes in serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease (2005–2007 vs. 1997–1999) in children under 2 years of age in a population with intermediate coverage of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine

AbstractSerotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children aged <2 years in Catalonia (Spain) before and after licensing of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (7vPCV) were assessed, using samples taken during 1997–1999 and 2005–2007 respectively. The distribution of serotypes causing IPD within these groups was obtained by serotyping strains sent by 22 Catalan hospitals to the Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid. Between 1997–99 and 2005–2007, the proportion of vaccine serotypes causing IPD in Catalonia fell from 70.54% to 31.67% (p <0.0001). The proportion of vaccine-related serotypes, mainly serotype 19A, increased from 9.82% to 32.50% (p <0.0001). The proportion of non-vaccine, non-related serotypes (serotypes not related to vaccine serotypes) rose from 19.64% to 35.83% (p <0.05). Within this group, the proportions of serotype 24F increased significantly. There has been a change in the distribution of serotypes isolated from cases of IPD in children <2 years old in Catalonia, comprising a reduction in the proportion of 7-valent vaccine serotypes, a rise in vaccine-related serotypes, especially 19A, and a smaller rise in non-vaccine, non-related serotypes, especially serotype 24F. A new 13-valent vaccine will cover 77.91% of the serotypes causing IPD in children <2 years old in Catalonia from 2005 to 2007

16 years against smoking in Catalonia (1982-1998)

Tabaquisme; Prevenció; CatalunyaSmoking; Prevention; CataloniaTabaquismo; Prevención; CataluñaAquest document recull les principals activitats desplegades pel Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social de la Generalitat de Catalunya en matèria de prevenció del tabaquisme durant el període 1982-1998.This document contains a description of the principal activities in the field of smoking prevention undertaken by the Generalitat of Catalonia’s Department of Health and Social Security over the last sixteen years