Criticality in confined ionic fluids

A theory of a confined two dimensional electrolyte is presented. The positive and negative ions, interacting by a $1/r$ potential, are constrained to move on an interface separating two solvents with dielectric constants $\epsilon_1$ and $\epsilon_2$. It is shown that the Debye-H\"uckel type of theory predicts that the this 2d Coulomb fluid should undergo a phase separation into a coexisting liquid (high density) and gas (low density) phases. We argue, however, that the formation of polymer-like chains of alternating positive and negative ions can prevent this phase transition from taking place.Comment: RevTex, no figures, in press Phys. Rev.

X chromosome inactivation does not necessarily determine the severity of the phenotype in Rett syndrome patients

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder usually caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. Since the MECP2 gene is located on the X chromosome, X chromosome inactivation (XCI) could play a role in the wide range of phenotypic variation of RTT patients; however, classical methylation-based protocols to evaluate XCI could not determine whether the preferentially inactivated X chromosome carried the mutant or the wild-type allele. Therefore, we developed an allele-specific methylation-based assay to evaluate methylation at the loci of several recurrent MECP2 mutations. We analyzed the XCI patterns in the blood of 174 RTT patients, but we did not find a clear correlation between XCI and the clinical presentation. We also compared XCI in blood and brain cortex samples of two patients and found differences between XCI patterns in these tissues. However, RTT mainly being a neurological disease complicates the establishment of a correlation between the XCI in blood and the clinical presentation of the patients. Furthermore, we analyzed MECP2 transcript levels and found differences from the expected levels according to XCI. Many factors other than XCI could affect the RTT phenotype, which in combination could influence the clinical presentation of RTT patients to a greater extent than slight variations in the XCI pattern

The energy spectrum of cosmic rays beyond the turn-down around 10^17 eV as measured with the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

We present a measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum above 100 PeV using the part of the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory that has a spacing of 750 m. An inflection of the spectrum is observed, confirming the presence of the so-called second-knee feature. The spectrum is then combined with that of the 1500 m array to produce a single measurement of the flux, linking this spectral feature with the three additional breaks at the highest energies. The combined spectrum, with an energy scale set calorimetrically via fluorescence telescopes and using a single detector type, results in the most statistically and systematically precise measurement of spectral breaks yet obtained. These measurements are critical for furthering our understanding of the highest energy cosmic rays

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Incidence and behavior of salmonella and escherichia coli on whole and sliced zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo) fruit

Background. Cognitive impairment is an important clinical issue among elderly patients with depression and has a more complex etiology because of the variable rate of neurodegenerative changes associated with depression. The aim of the present work was to examine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and depression in a representative sample of adults aged ? 60 years. Methods. The presented work was a cross-sectional study on the prevalence of cognitive impairment and depression. Door-to-door interview technique was assigned in condition with multistage probability random sampling to obtain subjects that represent a population of the Guadalajara metropolitan area (GMA), Mexico. Cognitive function and depression were assessed by applying standardized Mini-Mental State Examination of Folstein (MMSE) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), respectively. Results. Prevalence of cognitive impairment was 13.8% (14.5% women, 12.6% men); no significant differences by gender and retired or pensioner were found. Prevalence of depression was 29.1% (33.6% women, 21.1% men); no significant differences by retired or pensioner were found. Cognitive impairment was associated with depression (OR = 3.26, CI 95%, 2.31-4.60). Prevalence of cognitive impairment and depression is associated with: being woman, only in depression being older than 75 years being married, and a low level of education. Conclusion. Cognitive impairment and depression are highly correlated in adults aged ? 60. " 2012 Genaro G. Ortiz et al.",,,,,,"10.1155/2012/175019",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/43868","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84871364189&partnerID=40&md5=5fa023306d01b929dbed77b84512cd6e",,,,,,,,"Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research",,,,"2012",,"Scopus",,,,,,,,,,,,"Prevalence of cognitive impairment and depression among a population aged over 60 years in the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara, Mexico",,"Article" "43933","123456789/35008",,"Castro-Rosas, J., Centro de Investigations Químicas, Instiruto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo Km. 4.5, Mineral de la reforma, Hidalgo, CP. 42183, Mexico; Santos López, E.M., Centro de Investigations Químicas, Instiruto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo Km. 4.5, Mineral de la reforma, Hidalgo, CP. 42183, Mexico; Gómez-Aldapa, C.A., Centro de Investigations Químicas, Instiruto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo Km. 4.5, Mineral de la reforma, Hidalgo, CP. 42183, Mexico; Ramírez, C.A.G., Centro de Investigations Químicas, Instiruto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo Km. 4.5, Mineral de la reforma, Hidalgo, CP. 42183, Mexico; Villagomez-Ibarra, J.R., Centro de Investigations Químicas, Instiruto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo Km. 4.5, Mineral de la reforma, Hidalgo, CP. 42183, Mexico; Gordillo-Martínez, A.J., Centro de Investigations Químicas, Instiruto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo Km. 4.5, Mineral de la reforma, Hidalgo, CP. 42183, Mexico; López, A.V., Laboratorio de Microhiología Sanitaria, Centra Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingeniería, Universidad de Guadalajara, Marcelino García Barragán 1451, Guadalajara 44430, Mexico; Del Refugio Torres-Vitela, M., Laboratorio de Microhiología Sanitaria, Centra Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingeniería, Universidad de Guadalajara, Marcelino García Barragán 1451, Guadalajara 44430, Mexico",,"Castro-Rosas, J

PI controller design for a class of distributed parameter systems

Cognitive impairment or its recovery has been associated with the absence or reestablishment of estrogenic actions in the central nervous system of female experimental animals or women. It has been proposed that these cognitive phenomena are related to estrogen-mediated modulatory activity of synaptic transmission in brain structures involved in cognitive functions. In the present work a morphological study was conducted in adult female ovariectomized rats to evaluate estradiol-dependent dendritic spine sprouting in hippocampal pyramidal neurons, and changes in the presynaptic marker synaptophysin. Three or ten days after estradiol treatment (10 ?g/day, twice) in the ovariectomized rats, a significant increase of synaptophysin was observed, which was coincident with a significant higher numerical density of thin (22%), stubby (36%), mushroom (47%) and double spines (125%), at day 3, without significant changes of spine density at day 10, after treatment. These results may be interpreted as evidence of pre- and postsynaptic plastic events that may be involved in the modulation of cognitive-related behavioral performance after estrogen replacement therapy. " 2012 Elsevier B.V. Al l rights reserved.",,,,,,"10.1016/j.brainres.2012.06.012",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/43665","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84864631843&partnerID=40&md5=749f95853ca69901d126612899f0bb4e",,,,,,,,"Brain Research",,"