Ionoluminescence induced by swift heavy ions in silica and quartz: A comparative analysis

Ionoluminescence (IL) of the two SiO 2 phases, amorphous silica and crystalline quartz, has been comparatively investigated in this work, in order to learn about the structural defects generated by means of ion irradiation and the role of crystalline order on the damage processes. Irradiations have been performed with Cl at 10 MeV and Br at 15 MeV, corresponding to the electronic stopping regime (i.e., where the electronic stopping power S e is dominant) and well above the amorphization threshold. The light-emission kinetics for the two main emission bands, located at 1.9 eV (652 nm) and 2.7 eV (459 nm), has been measured under the same ion irradiation conditions as a function of fluence for both, silica and quartz. The role of electronic stopping power has been also investigated and discussed within current views for electronic damage. Our experiments provide a rich phenomenological background that should help to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for light emission and defect creationThis work has been supported by Spanish Ministry MICINN through the project MAT-2008-06794-C03-03, JCI-2009-05681, and by Madrid Community through the project TECHNOFUSION (S2009/ENE-1679). OPR is grateful to CONACyT, Mexico, for extending a postdoctoral fellowshi

Microfluidic-based dynamic BH3 profiling predicts anticancer treatment efficacy

Cancer therapy; Predictive markers; Translational researchTerapia del cáncer; Marcadores predictivos; Investigación traslacionalTeràpia del càncer; Marcadors predictius; Recerca translacionalPrecision medicine is starting to incorporate functional assays to evaluate anticancer agents on patient-isolated tissues or cells to select for the most effective. Among these new technologies, dynamic BH3 profiling (DBP) has emerged and extensively been used to predict treatment efficacy in different types of cancer. DBP uses synthetic BH3 peptides to measure early apoptotic events (‘priming’) and anticipate therapy-induced cell death leading to tumor elimination. This predictive functional assay presents multiple advantages but a critical limitation: the cell number requirement, that limits drug screening on patient samples, especially in solid tumors. To solve this problem, we developed an innovative microfluidic-based DBP (µDBP) device that overcomes tissue limitations on primary samples. We used microfluidic chips to generate a gradient of BIM BH3 peptide, compared it with the standard flow cytometry based DBP, and tested different anticancer treatments. We first examined this new technology’s predictive capacity using gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cell lines, by comparing imatinib sensitive and resistant cells, and we could detect differences in apoptotic priming and anticipate cytotoxicity. We then validated µDBP on a refractory GIST patient sample and identified that the combination of dactolisib and venetoclax increased apoptotic priming. In summary, this new technology could represent an important advance for precision medicine by providing a fast, easy-to-use and scalable microfluidic device to perform DBP in situ as a routine assay to identify the best treatment for cancer patients.Ramon y Cajal Programme, Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad grant RYC-2015–18357. (J.M.). Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades grant RTI2018-094533-A-I00 (J.M.). CELLEX foundation (J.M., A.M.). Beca Trienal Fundación Mari Paz Jiménez Casado (J.M.). European Research Council, grant ERC-StG-DAMOC 714317 (J.R.-A.). European Research Council, H2020 EU framework FET-open BLOC 863037 (J.R.-A.). Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, “Severo Ochoa” Program for Centers of Excellence in R&D SEV-2020-2023 (J.R.-A.). Generalitat de Catalunya. CERCA Programme 2017-SGR-1079 (J.R.-A., J.S.). Fundación Bancaria “la Caixa”- Obra Social “la Caixa” (project IBEC-La Caixa Health Ageing) (J.R.-A.). Fero Foundation (C.S.). Networking Biomedical Research Center (CIBER). CIBER is an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&i Plan 2008–2011, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program, CIBER Actions, and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (RD16/0006/0012), with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (J.S.)

Ionoluminescence induced by swift heavy ions in silica and quartz: a comparative analysis

Ionoluminescence (IL) of the two SiO2 phases, amorphous silica and crystalline quartz, has been comparatively investigated in this work, in order to learn about the structural defects generated by means of ion irradiation and the role of crystalline order on the damage processes. Irradiations have been performed with Cl at 10 MeV and Br at 15 MeV, corresponding to the electronic stopping regime (i.e., where the electronic stopping power Se is dominant) and well above the amorphization threshold. The light-emission kinetics for the two main emission bands, located at 1.9 eV (652 nm) and 2.7 eV (459 nm), has been measured under the same ion irradiation conditions as a function of fluence for both, silica and quartz. The role of electronic stopping power has been also investigated and discussed within current views for electronic damage. Our experiments provide a rich phenomenological background that should help to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for light emission and defect creation

Descriptive Analysis of Sports Tourists in Spain

Sports tourism is a decisive factor in geographical mobility for leisure purposes. These activities entail certain acts and consequences inherent in their execution, which are worthy of study from the perspective of sustainable and reasonable tourism. Previous studies tried to show the characteristics of this type of tourist but did not provide relevant information to offer the necessary services to provide, to understand their patterns of habits, and to be able to act correctly. This paper aims to study the profile of the sports tourism consumer. Data provided by the National Institute of Statistics for the year 2019 was analyzed, taking a sample of 1496 people for statistical analysis. From these statistical analyses, key information on consumer profiles can be gleaned. Findings showed that people with Spanish nationality predominate, being mainly men. Both sexes show that they are over 40 years of age, with higher education, mostly married, cohabitation with a partner with children at home, with permanent employment contracts and certain patterns of behavior such as the use of their private car, and staying mainly in hotels or aparthotels. Therefore, from the point of view of sustainable tourism, it is vital to draw up profiles and patterns of consumers of this tourism, to evaluate and study its ecological, environmental, and social impact, as well as taking the appropriate measures to balance the balance between sports tourism and sustainability.El turismo deportivo es un factor decisivo en la movilidad geográfica con fines de ocio. Estas actividades conllevan ciertos actos y consecuencias inherentes a su ejecución, que son dignos de estudio desde la perspectiva del turismo sostenible y razonable. Estudios anteriores trataron de mostrar las características de este tipo de turista pero no aportaron información relevante para ofrecer los servicios necesarios a prestar, para conocer sus patrones de hábitos y poder actuar correctamente. Este trabajo pretende estudiar el perfil del consumidor de turismo deportivo. Se han analizado los datos proporcionados por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística para el año 2019, tomando una muestra de 1496 personas para su análisis estadístico. De estos análisis estadísticos se puede extraer información clave sobre el perfil del consumidor. L os resultados mostraron que predominan las personas con nacionalidad española, existiendo una proporción mayor de hombres que de mujeres. De ambos sexos se desprende que son mayores de 40 años, con estudios superiores, mayoritariamente casados, con convivencia en pareja y con hijos en el hogar, con contratos laborales indefinidos y con ciertas pautas de comportamiento como el uso de su coche particular, y alojándose principalmente en hoteles o apartahoteles. Por lo tanto, desde el punto de vista del turismo sostenible, es vital elaborar perfiles y patrones de los consumidores de este turismo, para evaluar y estudiar su impacto ecológico, ambiental y social, así como tomar las medidas aptas para equilibrar la balanza entre el turismo deportivo y la sostenibilidad

Morphofunctional and Molecular Assessment of Nutritional Status in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Systemic Treatment: Role of Inflammasome in Clinical Nutrition

Malnutrition in patients with head and neck cancer is frequent, multifactorial and widely associated with clinical evolution and prognosis. Accurate nutritional assessments allow for early identification of patients at risk of malnutrition in order to start nutritional support and prevent sarcopenia. We aimed to perform a novel morphofunctional nutritional evaluation and explore changes in inflammasome-machinery components in 45 patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing systemic treatment. To this aim, an epidemiological/clinical/anthropometric/biochemical evaluation was performed. Serum RCP, IL6 and molecular expression of inflammasome-components and inflammatory-associated factors (NOD-like-receptors, inflammasome-activation-components, cytokines and inflammation/apoptosis-related components, cell-cycle and DNA-damage regulators) were evaluated in peripheral-blood mononuclear-cells (PBMCs). Clinical-molecular correlations/associations were analyzed. Coherent and complementary information was obtained in the morphofunctional nutritional assessment of the patients when bioimpedance, anthropometric and ultrasound data were analyzed. These factors were also correlated with different biochemical and molecular parameters, revealing the complementary aspect of the whole evaluation. Serum reactive C protein (RCP) and IL6 were the most reliable parameters for determining patients with decreased standardized phase angle, which is associated with increased mortality in patients with solid malignancies. Several inflammasome-components were dysregulated in patients with malnutrition, decreased phase angle and dependency grade or increased circulating inflammation markers. A molecular fingerprint based on gene-expression of certain inflammasome factors (p27/CCL2/ASC) in PBMCs accurately differentiated patients with and without malnutrition. In conclusion, malnutrition induces a profound alteration in the gene-expression pattern of inflammasome-machinery components in PBMCs. A comprehensive nutritional assessment including novel morphofunctional techniques and molecular markers allows a broad characterization of the nutritional status in cancer patients. Profile of certain inflammasome-components should be further studied as potential targets for nutrition-focused treatment strategies in cancer patients

Rede de Aerobiologia da Extremadura

The development of aerobiological networks in Spain has been made at the level of the autonomous communities. In Extremadura the sampling is conducted by the University of Extremadura. It began in 1993 with a station in Badajoz (BA). Two towns have had sampling on a temporary basis: Cáceres (CC 1996-2001) and Merida (ME 1996-1998). Currently there are 3 more sampling stations, which have been running since 2011: Plasencia (PL), Don Benito (DB) and Zafra (ZA), and CC again recently. The Annual Pollen Index (annual daily amounts) has shown an average of more than 50.000 pollen grains/m3 (23.532-92.655). In Badajoz (23 years) the results show a downward trend. The maximum daily concentration peaks were reached in 1997, with values of 6.102 grains/ m3 (CC 21/3) and 5.041 grains/m3 (BA 23/3). The five most important pollen types represent 78% of all the pollen registered. Their importance varies from one station to another. Quercus, Poaceae, Olea, Cupressaceae and Platanus, in this order, are the most abundant pollen types in all stations, except Platanus, which is the second most abundant in DB, and Olea, which is second in ZA. The data have been available on the research group’s website (www.aerouex.es) since 2006, and the record of visitors to the site shows a signi cant correlation with the concentration of pollen. Extremadura stands out for its high pollen concentrations of Poaceae and Quercus, due to its wide expanses of oak and cork trees. Pollen from ornamental sources –Cupressaceae and Platanus— shows a strong dependence on their abundance and distribution.El desarrollo de redes aerobiológicas en España se ha realizado a nivel de las comunidades autónomas. En Extremadura el muestreo llevado a cabo por la Universidad de Extremadura comenzó en 1993 con la estación de Badajoz (BA). Dos localidades han tenido muestreo de forma temporal, Cáceres (CC 1996-2001) y Mérida (ME 1996-1998). En la actualidad se cuenta con 3 estaciones de muestreo más, funcionando desde 2011: Plasencia (PL), Don Benito (DB) y Zafra (ZA) y, de forma reciente, nuevamente CC. El Índice Polínico Anual (la suma de las concentraciones de polen diarias para un año) ha mostrado un promedio de más de 50.000 granos/m3 (23.532-92.655). Para Badajoz (23 años) se aprecia una tendencia a la reducción. Los picos de concentración diaria máxima se alcanzaron en 1997 con valores de 6.102 granos/m3 (CC 21/3) y 5.041 granos/m3 (BA 23/3). Los cinco tipos polínicos más relevantes representan el 78% del total de polen registrado. Su importancia varía de una estación a otra. Quercus, Poaceae, Olea, Cupressaceae y Platanus, en este orden, son los tipos más abundantes en todas las estaciones, excepto Platanus que es el segundo en DB y Olea que es el segundo en ZA. Desde 2006 los datos están disponibles a través de la página web del grupo de investigación (www.aerouex.es) y el registro de los accesos a dicho sitio muestra una correlación significativa con la concentración de polen. Extremadura se destaca por los altos valores de concentración de polen de Quercus y Poaceae, debido a la gran extensión de encinares y alcornocales. El polen de fuentes ornamentales, Cupressaceae y Platanus, muestra una importante dependencia de su abundancia y distribución en las localidades estudiadas.O desenvolvimento das redes de aerobiologia em Espanha foi realizado ao nível das comunidades autónomas. Na Extremadura a amostragem levada a cabo pela Universidade de Extremadura começou em 1993 com a estação de Badajoz (BA). Duas localidades foram temporariamente estudadas como pontos de amostragem, Cáceres (CC 1996-2001) e Mérida (ME 1996-1998). Existem, atualmente, em execução desde 2011, mais 3 estações de amostragem: Plasencia (PL), Don Benito (DB) e Zafra (ZA) e, recentemente, de novo CC. O Índice Polínico Anual (somas diárias anuais) mostrou uma média de mais de 50.000 grãos/m3 (23.532-92.655). Em Badajoz (23 anos) verifica-se uma tendência para a redução da concentração. Os picos de concentração máximos diários foram alcançados em 1997 com os valores de 6.102 grãos/m3 (CC 21/3) e 5.041 grãos/m3 (BA 23/3). Os cinco tipos polínicos mais importantes representam 78% de pólen total registrado. A sua importância varia de uma estação para outra. Quercus, Poaceae, Olea, Cupressaceae e Platanus, nesta ordem, são os tipos mais abundantes em todas as estações, exceto Platanus que é o segundo em DB e Olea que é o segundo em ZA. Os dados estão disponíveis desde 2006 através do site do grupo de investigação (www. aerouex.es) e o registro de acessos mostra uma correlação significativa com a concentração de pólen. A Extremadura destaca-se pelos valores elevados de concentração de pólen de Poaceae e de Quercus, devido à grande extensão de azinheiras e sobreiros. O pólen de origens ornamentais, Cupressaceae e Platanus, mostra uma dependência significativa de sua abundância e distribuição nas localidades estudadas

First-line panitumumab plus FOLFOX4 or FOLFIRI in colorectal cancer with multiple or unresectable liver metastases: A randomised, phase II trial (PLANET-TTD)

Abstract Background: In first-line wild-type (WT)-Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), panitumumab (Pmab) improves outcomes when added to FOLFOX [folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin] or FOLFIRI [folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, and irinotecan]. However no trial has directly compared these combinations. Methods: Multicentre, open-label study in untreated patients 18 years with (WT)-KRAS mCRC and multiple or unresectable liver-limited disease (LLD) randomised to either Pmab-FOLFOX4 or Pmab-FOLFIRI. The primary end-point was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary end-points included liver metastases resection rate (R0 þ R1), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), adverse events and perioperative safety. Exploratory end-points were: response by RAS status, early tumour shrinkage (ETS) and depth of response (DpR) in WT-RAS patients. Results: Data on 77 patients were analysed (38 Pmab-FOLFOX4; 39 Pmab-FOLFIRI; WTRAS: 27/26, respectively). ORR was 74% with Pmab-FOLFOX4 and 67% with Pmab- FOLFIRI (WT-RAS: 78%/73%). Out of the above, 45% and 59% underwent surgical resection, respectively (WT-RAS: 37%/69%). The R0-R1 resection rate was 34%/46% (WTRAS: 26%/54%). Median PFS was 13/14 months (hazard ratio [HR] Pmab-FOLFIRI versus Pmab-FOLFOX4: 0.9; 95% confidence interval: [0.6e1.5]; WT-RAS:13/15; HR: 0.7 [0.4 e1.3]). Median OS was 37/41 months (HR:1.0 [0.6e1.8]; WT-RAS: 39/49; HR:0.9 [0.4 e1.9]). In WT-RAS patients with confirmed response, median DpR was 71%/66%, and 65%/77% of patients showed ETS 30%/ 20% at week 8, without significant differences between arms; these patients had longer median PFS and OS and higher resectability rates. Surgery was associated with longer survival. Perioperative and overall safety were similar, except for higher grade 3/4 neutropenia (40%/10%; p Z 0.003) and neuropathy (13%/0%; p Z 0.025) in the Pmab-FOLFOX4 arm. Conclusions: In patients with WT-KRAS mCRC and LLD, both first-line Pmab-FOLFOX4 and Pmab-FOLFIRI resulted in high ORR and ETS, allowing potentially curative resection. No significant differences in efficacy were observed between the two regimens. (clinicaltrials.gov:NCT00885885

Ferroionic inversion of spin polarization in a spin-memristor

Magnetoelectric coupling in artificial multiferroic interfaces can be drastically affected by the switching of oxygen vacancies and by the inversion of the ferroelectric polarization. Disentangling both effects is of major importance toward exploiting these effects in practical spintronic or spinorbitronic devices. We report on the independent control of ferroelectric and oxygen vacancy switching in multiferroic tunnel junctions with a La_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)MnO_3 bottom electrode, a BaTiO_3 ferroelectric barrier, and a Ni top electrode. We show that the concurrence of interface oxidation and ferroelectric switching allows for the controlled inversion of the interface spin polarization. Moreover, we show the possibility of a spin-memristor where the controlled oxidation of the interface allows for a continuum of memresistance states in the tunneling magnetoresistance. These results signal interesting new avenues toward neuromorphic devices where, as in practical neurons, the electronic response is controlled by electrochemical degrees of freedom

Risk Factors for COVID-19 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A National, ENEIDA-Based Case–Control Study (COVID-19-EII)

(1) Scant information is available concerning the characteristics that may favour the acquisition of COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess these differences between infected and noninfected patients with IBD. (2) This nationwide case-control study evaluated patients with inflammatory bowel disease with COVID-19 (cases) and without COVID-19 (controls) during the period March-July 2020 included in the ENEIDA of GETECCU. (3) A total of 496 cases and 964 controls from 73 Spanish centres were included. No differences were found in the basal characteristics between cases and controls. Cases had higher comorbidity Charlson scores (24% vs. 19%; p = 0.02) and occupational risk (28% vs. 10.5%; p < 0.0001) more frequently than did controls. Lockdown was the only protective measure against COVID-19 (50% vs. 70%; p < 0.0001). No differences were found in the use of systemic steroids, immunosuppressants or biologics between cases and controls. Cases were more often treated with 5-aminosalicylates (42% vs. 34%; p = 0.003). Having a moderate Charlson score (OR: 2.7; 95%CI: 1.3-5.9), occupational risk (OR: 2.9; 95%CI: 1.8-4.4) and the use of 5-aminosalicylates (OR: 1.7; 95%CI: 1.2-2.5) were factors for COVID-19. The strict lockdown was the only protective factor (OR: 0.1; 95%CI: 0.09-0.2). (4) Comorbidities and occupational exposure are the most relevant factors for COVID-19 in patients with IBD. The risk of COVID-19 seems not to be increased by immunosuppressants or biologics, with a potential effect of 5-aminosalicylates, which should be investigated further and interpreted with caution

Controlled sign reversal of electroresistance in oxide tunnel junctions by electrochemical-ferroelectric coupling

The persistence of ferroelectricity in ultrathin layers relies critically on screening or compensation of polarization charges which otherwise destabilize the ferroelectric state. At surfaces, charged defects play a crucial role in the screening mechanism triggering novel mixed electrochemical-ferroelectric states. At interfaces, however, the coupling between ferroelectric and electrochemical states has remained unexplored. Here, we make use of the dynamic formation of the oxygen vacancy profile in the nanometerthick barrier of a ferroelectric tunnel junction to demonstrate the interplay between electrochemical and ferroelectric degrees of freedom at an oxide interface. We fabricate ferroelectric tunnel junctions with a La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO_3 bottom electrode and BaTiO_3 ferroelectric barrier. We use poling strategies to promote the generation and transport of oxygen vacancies at the metallic top electrode. Generated oxygen vacancies control the stability of the ferroelectric polarization and modify its coercive fields. The ferroelectric polarization, in turn, controls the ionization of oxygen vacancies well above the limits of thermodynamic equilibrium, triggering the build up of a Schottky barrier at the interface which can be turned on and off with ferroelectric switching. This interplay between electronic and electrochemical degrees of freedom yields very large values of the electroresistance (more than 10^6% at low temperatures) and enables a controlled switching between clockwise and counterclockwise switching modes in the same junction (and consequently, a change of the sign of the electroresistance). The strong coupling found between electrochemical and electronic degrees of freedom sheds light on the growing debate between resistive and ferroelectric switching in ferroelectric tunnel junctions, and moreover, can be the source of novel concepts in memory devices and neuromorphie computing