Undiagnosed Patent Foramen Ovale Presenting as Retinal Artery Occlusion—An Emerging Association

Purpose. To report patent foramen ovale (PFO) as the cause of retinal artery occlusion in a young and previously fit male and discuss the appropriate medical and surgical management options. Methods. Interventional case report with serial fundus photographs of an 18-year-old male presenting to the eye casualty with sudden onset left visual loss. Results. Visual acuities were 6/24 left and 6/4 right with a left afferent pupillary defect. Slitlamp examination confirmed a left hemiretinal artery occlusion and subsequent cardiology review with transoesophageal echocardiography revealed patent foramen ovale which was closed surgically. Conclusions. PFO is not uncommon and is often covert but predisposes individuals to embolic events. These events may be ophthalmic with visual sequelae and so ophthalmologists, physicians, and other healthcare personnel should be aware of this important and emerging association

Optimal Control of One-Qubit Gates

We consider the problem of carrying an initial Bloch vector to a final Bloch vector in a specified amount of time under the action of three control fields (a vector control field). We show that this control problem is solvable and therefore it is possible to optimize the control. We choose the physically motivated criteria of minimum energy spent in the control, minimum magnitude of the rate of change of the control and a combination of both. We find exact analytical solutions.Comment: 5 page

Test-Anchored Vibration Response Predictions for an Acoustically Energized Curved Orthogrid Panel with Mounted Components

A rich body of vibroacoustic test data was recently generated at Marshall Space Flight Center for a curved orthogrid panel typical of launch vehicle skin structures. Several test article configurations were produced by adding component equipment of differing weights to the flight-like vehicle panel. The test data were used to anchor computational predictions of a variety of spatially distributed responses including acceleration, strain and component interface force. Transfer functions relating the responses to the input pressure field were generated from finite element based modal solutions and test-derived damping estimates. A diffuse acoustic field model was employed to describe the assumed correlation of phased input sound pressures across the energized panel. This application demonstrates the ability to quickly and accurately predict a variety of responses to acoustically energized skin panels with mounted components. Favorable comparisons between the measured and predicted responses were established. The validated models were used to examine vibration response sensitivities to relevant modeling parameters such as pressure patch density, mesh density, weight of the mounted component and model form. Convergence metrics include spectral densities and cumulative root-mean squared (RMS) functions for acceleration, velocity, displacement, strain and interface force. Minimum frequencies for response convergence were established as well as recommendations for modeling techniques, particularly in the early stages of a component design when accurate structural vibration requirements are needed relatively quickly. The results were compared with long-established guidelines for modeling accuracy of component-loaded panels. A theoretical basis for the Response/Pressure Transfer Function (RPTF) approach provides insight into trends observed in the response predictions and confirmed in the test data. The software modules developed for the RPTF method can be easily adapted for quick replacement of the diffuse acoustic field with other pressure field models; for example a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) model suitable for vehicle ascent. Wind tunnel tests have been proposed to anchor the predictions and provide new insight into modeling approaches for this type of environment. Finally, component vibration environments for design were developed from the measured and predicted responses and compared with those derived from traditional techniques such as Barrett scaling methods for unloaded and component-loaded panels

Evidence for spin-triplet superconducting correlations in metal-oxide heterostructures with non-collinear magnetization

Heterostructures composed of ferromagnetic La0.7Sr0.3MnO3, ferromagnetic SrRuO3, and superconducting YBa2Cu3Ox were studied experimentally. Structures of composition Au/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrRuO3/YBa2Cu3Ox were prepared by pulsed laser deposition, and their high quality was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and reflectometry. A non-collinear magnetic state of the heterostructures was revealed by means of SQUID magnetometry and polarized neutron reflectometry. We have further observed superconducting currents in mesa-structures fabricated by deposition of a second superconducting Nb layer on top of the heterostructure, followed by patterning with photolithography and ion-beam etching. Josephson effects observed in these mesa-structures can be explained by the penetration of a triplet component of the superconducting order parameter into the magnetic layers.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Reacciones adversas asociadas al uso de antipsicóticos en la unidad de salud mental del Hospital Universitario de Neiva

Psychiatric disorders are diseases that occur frequently in the world. In Colombia is estimated that 40% of the population may suffer from any of these, which will lead to increasing the use of antipsychotic drugs with its adverse reactions. In order to identify adverse reactions related to the administration of antipsychotic medications in patients hospitalized at the Mental Health Unit of University Hospital in Neiva, it was performed an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of pharmacovigilance from February 8 to April 8, 2012. Twenty two (18%) out of 118 patients hospitalized at the Mental Health Unit, had a reaction to antipsychotic medication, documenting a total of 39 cases (33%) of adverse reactions, since some patients had more than one reaction. Haloperidol was the most common administered drug by 89.7% of cases, being the intramuscular route the most frequent one (83%), a dose of 5 mg (79.3%), showing 72.4% of adverse reactions during the first 3 days of administration. 77% of all cases of adverse reactions to drugs (ARDs) secondary to administration of antipsychotics correspond to the so-called extrapyramidal syndrome from which dystonia appeared by 49% of cases, mainly on face by 53% of cases, followed by sialorrhea by 10.3%. Implementation of strategies for monitoring and timely detection of ADRs in patients receiving antipsychotics, mainly intramuscular haloperidol could result in reduction of these and subsequent major complications.  Los trastornos psiquiátricos son enfermedades que se manifiestan con frecuencia en el mundo, en Colombia se estima que el 40% de la población podrá padecer alguno, incrementándose el uso de medicamentos antipsicóticos con sus consecuentes reacciones adversas. Con el objetivo de identificar las reacciones adversas relacionadas con la administración de medicamentos antipsicóticos en los pacientes hospitalizados en la Unidad de Salud Mental del Hospital Universitario de Neiva, se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal de farmacovigilancia durante el 8 de febrero y el 8 de abril de 2012. De 118 pacientes hospitalizados en la Unidad de Salud Mental, 22 (18%) presentaron alguna reacción al medicamento antipsicótico, documentándose en total 39 casos (33%) de reacciones adversas, debido que algunos pacientes presentaron más de una reacción. El haloperidol fue el medicamento que con mayor frecuencia se administró en un 89,7% de los casos, siendo la vía intramuscular la más frecuente (83%) a dosis de 5 mg (79,3%), presentándose el 72,4% de las reacciones adversas durante los 3 primeros días de administración. El 77% del total de casos de Reacciones Adversas a Medicamentos (RAM) secundaria a la administración de antipsicóticos corresponden a las denominadas síndromes extrapiramidales, de los cuales la distonía se presentó en el 49% de los casos, principalmente en cara en el 53% de los casos, seguido de la sialorrea con el 10,3%. El planteamiento de estrategias para el seguimiento y detección de manera oportuna de RAM en aquellos pacientes que reciben antipsicóticos, principalmente haloperidol por vía intramuscular podrían lograr la reducción de estas y mayores complicaciones subsecuentes

Homocysteine and cardiovascular disease

ABSTRACT: Homocysteine is a no essential sulfured aminoacid, that contains a thiol group in its structure. The homocysteine is produced in almost all human tissues for the methionine metabolism. In 1990, The Framingham study, demostrated that homocysteine (Hcy) could be a possible risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Since 2003 Hcy has been considered an “emergent” risk factor. The hiperhomocysteinemia is defined when plasmatic levels of total Hcy is above of 15 μmol/L. It`s classified according to three severity stages, moderate 15-30 μmol/L, intermediate 31-100 μmol/L and severe, higher than 100 μmol/L. Hiperhomocysteinemia can be produced by enzymatic deficiency in any of its metabolic routes, and also due to low plasmatic levels of folic acid, vitamins B6 or B12 and renal failure, because kidney is the main organ to eliminate the Hcy from plasma. Folic acid diet supplementation could reduce Hcy blood concentration about 25%, and supplementation with vitamin B12 about 7%, however the supplementation with vitamin B6 has not shown any effect. Healthy life style, quit smoking, and balanced diet with a moderate consumption of coffee and alcohol may reduce Hcy plasmatic levels.RESUMEN: La homocisteína es un aminoácido sulfurado no esencial, que contiene un grupo tiol y se genera en casi todos los tejidos humanos, como producto del metabolismo de la metionina. Desde el año 1990, el estudio de Framingham reconoció la homocisteína (Hcy) como un posible factor de riesgo para enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) y en el año 2003 lo declaró como factor de riesgo “emergente”. La hiperhomocisteinemia se define como el aumento de los niveles plasmáticos de Hcy total (unida a proteínas más fracción libre), por encima de 15 μmol/L y se clasifica en tres niveles de severidad, moderado de 15-30 μmol/L, intermedio de 31-100 μmol/L y severo mayor de 100 μmol/L. La hiperhomocisteinemia puede producirse por una deficiencia enzimática en alguno de los pasos de su metabolismo, también se puede presentar por bajos niveles plasmáticos del ácido fólico y las vitaminas B6 y/o B12. La insuficiencia renal puede ser otra causa, debido a que el riñón es la ruta para eliminar la Hcy del plasma. La suplementación dietaria con ácido fólico reduce las concentraciones de Hcy en sangre en un 25%, la suplementación con vitamina B12 en un 7%, mientras que la suplementación con vitamina B6 no tiene efecto en esta disminución. Un estilo de vida saludable, una dieta balanceada con un moderado consumo de café y alcohol y dejar de fumar, contribuye en la reducción de los niveles plasmáticos de Hcy

An NMR tool for cyclodextrin selection in enantiomeric resolution by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Complexation-induced chemical shifts and diffusion coefficients (HR-DOSY) of enantiomers with native and derivatized cyclodextrins were used for calculations of the apparent binding constants of three cyclohexanone inclusion complexes. Correlations between these data and high-performance liquid chromatography were established, revealing that this approach can be applied as an alternative method to predict enantiomeric discrimination

Influence of La and Mn vacancies on the electronic and magnetic properties of LaMnO₃ thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

With pulsed laser deposition, we have grown c axis oriented thin films of the nominal composition LaMnO3 (LMO) on LSAT(001) substrates. We find that, depending on the oxygen background pressure during growth, the LMO films contain sizeable amounts of La and/or Mn vacancies that strongly influence their electronic and magnetic properties. Specifically, we show that the Mn/La ratio can be systematically varied from 0.92 at 0.11 mbar to 1.09 at 0.30 mbar of oxygen. The cationic vacancies have markedly different effects that become most pronounced once the samples are fully oxygenated and thus strongly hole doped. All as-grown and thus slightly oxygen-deficient LMO films are ferromagnetic insulators with saturation moments in excess of 2.5 μB per Mn ion, their transport and optical properties can be understood in terms of trapped ferromagnetic polarons. Upon oxygen annealing, the most La-deficient films develop a metallic response with an even larger ferromagnetic saturation moment of 3.8 μB per Mn ion. In contrast, in the oxygenated Mn-deficient films, the ferromagnetic order is strongly suppressed to less than 0.5 μB per Mn ion, and the transport remains insulatorlike. We compare our results with the ones that were previously obtained on bulk samples and present an interpretation in terms of the much stronger disruption of the electronic and magnetic structure by the Mn vacancies as compared to the La vacancies. We also discuss the implications for the growth of LMO thin films with well-defined physical properties that are a prerequisite for the study of interface effects in multilayers

PENSAMIENTO COMPUTACIONAL Y EDUCACIÓN STEM: REFLEXIONES PARA UNA EDUCACIÓN INCLUSIVA DESDE LAS PRÁCTICAS PEDAGÓGICAS

This pedagogical reflection, which arises from a significant experience in an official institution in the city of Manizales (Colombia) on the use and appropriation of computational thinking in regular classrooms characterized by having a high percentage of students with disabilities, has the purpose of demonstrating how inclusive education is not a limitation to develop this thinking. To this end, a dialogue was held between the teachers about their classroom practices, disconnected activities were carried out and technological tools were used. The above made them aware of the importance of its use and allowed them to include in the curriculum some strategies of education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and computational thinking to be part of the institutional culture, taking into account the diversity present in the classroom. The results of the reflection show that: a. in addition to computational thinking, STEM strategies allow the development of 21st century skills, b. students with disabilities respond in an assertive and motivated way, c. Peer work enriches own and collective learning, d. the greater the number of teachers linked, the more coverage the project reaches. This article contributes to the field of knowledge as a motivating and guiding reference for those who wish to incorporate new practices and use of technologies in educational contexts with a diverse population, also contributing to the reduction of imaginary established by fear or misinformation about working with a population that has a disability.Esta reflexión pedagógica, que nace de una experiencia significativa en una institución oficial de la ciudad de Manizales (Colombia) sobre el uso y apropiación del pensamiento computacional en aulas regulares caracterizadas por tener un porcentaje alto de estudiantes con discapacidad, tiene el propósito de demostrar cómo la educación inclusiva no es una limitante para desarrollar este pensamiento. Para tal fin se sostuvo un diálogo entre los docentes acerca de sus prácticas de aula, se realizaron actividades desconectadas y se usaron herramientas tecnológicas. Lo anterior los concientizó acerca de la importancia de su utilización y les permitió incluir en el currículo algunas estrategias de la educación en Ciencia, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas (STEM) y del pensamiento computacional para ser parte de la cultura institucional, teniendo en cuenta la diversidad presente en el aula. Los resultados de la reflexión demuestran que: a. además del pensamiento computacional, las estrategias STEM permiten desarrollar competencias propias del siglo XXI, b. los estudiantes con discapacidad responden de forma asertiva y motivada, c. el trabajo entre pares enriquece los aprendizajes propios y colectivos, d. a mayor número de docentes vinculados, más cobertura alcanza el proyecto. Este artículo contribuye al campo de conocimiento como referente motivador y orientador para quienes deseen efectuar incorporación de nuevas prácticas y empleo de tecnologías en contextos educativos con población diversa, aportando también a la disminución de imaginarios instaurados por el miedo o la desinformación sobre el trabajo con población que presenta discapacidad

Descripción Anatómica e Histológica del Aparato Digestivo de la Sabaleta (Brycon henni), Antioquia, Colombia

The present study describes the anatomical and histological pattern of the digestive system of the ‘sabaleta’ (Brycon henni). Six adult male and female individuals were fished in Guaracu creek, Antioquia, Colombia, between May and June 2016. The fish weighed 151.2 g and were 22.7 cm in total length. The organs of the digestive system were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed with routine histological techniques. The most remarkable structures, due to their specific anatomical pattern and histological complexity, were the gill rakers (4), the pyloric caeca (13 in females and 8 in males), the bulky and lobate hepato-pancreas, and the anterior, middle and posterior intestine with villi and microvilli. The ‘sabaleta’, according to the digestive pattern as to teeth, gill rakers, stomach, and intestinal structure and length, suggests that it is a kind of omnivorous food habit species, but with a carnivorous tendency.El presente estudio hace un análisis del patrón anatómico e histológico del sistema digestivo de la sabaleta (Brycon henni). Fueron capturados seis individuos machos y hembras adultos en la quebrada Guaracú, Antioquia, Colombia, entre mayo y junio de 2016. Los peces pesaron 151.2 g y midieron 22.7 cm de longitud total. Los órganos del aparato digestivo fueron fijados en formol buferado al 10% y procesados con técnicas histológicas de rutina. Las estructuras más resaltantes, debido a su patrón anatómico específico y complejidad histológica fuero las branquiespinas (4), los ciegos pilóricos (13 en hembras y 8 en machos), el hepato-páncreas voluminoso y lobulado, y el intestino anterior, medio y posterior con vellosidades y microvellosidades. La sabaleta, según el patrón digestivo en cuanto a la clase de dientes, branquiespinas, estómago, longitud y estructura intestinal, sugiere que es una especie de hábito alimenticio omnívoro, pero con tendencia carnívora