UDP: an integral management system of embedded scripts implemented into the IMaX instrument of the Sunrise mission

The UDP (User Defined Program) system is a scripting framework for controlling and extending instrumentation software. It has been specially designed for air- and space-borne instruments with flexibility, error control, reuse, automation, traceability and ease of development as its main objectives. All the system applications are connected through a database containing the valid script commands including descriptive information and source code. The system can be adapted to different projects without changes in the framework tools, thus achieving great level of flexibility and reusability. The UDP system comprises: an embedded system for the execution of scripts by the instrument software; automatic tools for aiding in the creation, modification, documentation and tracing of new scripting language commands; and interfaces for the creation of scripts and execution control.Comment: This paper has been presented in the SPIE 2008, Marselle, Franc

Canine zoonotic parasites from two coastal neighborhoods in Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las zoonosis son enfermedades compartidas entre animales vertebrados y humanos. La secuencia de transmisión comienza con la exposición del humano a elementos infectivos en el ambiente. Muchas patologías mantienen su reservorio en la población canina. Según estudios previos en la región, un 47% de las muestras de heces caninas ambientales (HCA) recolectadas en plazas y paseos públicos contenían al menos una especie parasitaria. El objetivo del trabajo fue actualizar la frecuencia de aparición de parásitos de importancia zoonótica en HCA recogidas en plazas de dos barrios costeros de la ciudad de Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut) entre marzo y diciembre de 2018. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal en Caleta Córdova (BCC) y Stella Maris (BSM), donde se recolectaron por conglomerados en forma de guarda griega, aleatoria y sistemática, 156 muestras de HCA. RESULTADOS: Se concentraron y observaron muestras al microscopio, resultando positivas para parásitos 83%; 63% presentó más de un género parasitario. Se destacaron 15 géneros con capacidad para infectar al humano. Los parásitos más abundantes fueron Toxocara spp. y Blastocystis spp. en BCC y Toxocara spp. y Giardia spp. en BSM. En BCC se reportó Mesostephanus spp. por primera vez en Argentina. DISCUSIÓN: Es necesario dimensionar la contaminación ambiental por parásitos zoonóticos, a fin de implementar intervenciones de salud pública adecuadas a cada escenario y contexto epidemiológico.INTRODUCTION: Zoonoses are diseases shared between vertebrate animals and humans. The transmission pattern starts with the exposure of human beings to infectious elements in the environment. Many pathologies keep their reservoirs in the dog population. According to previous studies in the region, 47% of the canine fecal samples (CFS) collected in parks and public spaces contained at least one parasitic species. The aim of this study was to update the frequency of parasites of zoonotic importance in CFS collected from parks located in two coastal neighborhoods in the city of Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut) from March to December 2018. METHODS: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in Caleta Córdova (BCC) and Stella Maris (BSM), where 156 CFS were randomly and systematically collected by clusters using a snake-like pattern. RESULTS: Samples were concentrated and observed by optical microscopy, 83% of them being positive for parasites; 63% showed more than one parasitic genus. There were 15 species able to infect humans. The most frequent parasites were Toxocara spp. and Blastocystis spp. in BCC, and Toxocara spp. and Giardia spp. in BSM. Mesostephanus spp. was reported in BCC, for the first time in Argentina. DISCUSSION: It is necessary to evaluate the environmental contamination by zoonotic parasites in order to implement adequate public health interventions for each scenario and epidemiological context.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Parásitos zoonóticos de interés en salud pública en <i>Mytilus edulis platensis</i> de la costa del golfo San Jorge, Patagonia argentina

En las costas patagónicas, habita un grupo de bivalvos -mitílidos- Mytilus edulis platensis, que reciben el nombre de “mejillones azules”. Estos actúan como bioindicadores, útiles para monitorear contaminantes del medio acuático, ya que son filtradores y sésiles. Estos mejillones son utilizados para alimentación. El objetivo fue estudiar la presencia y frecuencia de aparición de parásitos zoonóticos en moluscos bivalvos (Mytilus edulis platensis) en la costa del Golfo San Jorge (Patagonia Argentina) entre los años 2015 y 2018. Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal en la restinga de dos barrios de Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut, Argentina): Caleta Córdova y Stella Maris; y en la playa Punta Maqueda (Santa Cruz, Argentina), alejada de la actividad antrópica. Recolectamos 614 mejillones, en forma de pools, se procesaron por método parasitológico y hallamos en Barrio Caleta Córdova Giardia spp (30%), Cryptosporidium spp (4%), furcocercarias de trematodes, y huevos de trematodes morfológicamente compatibles con Mesostephanus spp (40%); en Barrio Stella Maris se encontraron Giardia spp (30%) y Cryptosporidium spp (7%). En Punta Maqueda no se hallaron parásitos. Se confirmó por inmunofluorescencia directa la presencia de Giardia spp y Cryptosporidium spp en el Barrio Caleta Córdova, en Barrio Stella Maris solo de Giardia spp. Este ha sido el primer reporte de Cryptosporidium spp, Giardia spp y Mesostephanus spp en M. edulis platensis en Argentina. La dinámica de transmisión de Mesostephanus spp en la región es desconocida. La infectividad de estos parásitos frente a las temperaturas de cocción es incierta. En nuestro país, el Código Alimentario Argentino no regula la presencia de parásitos en moluscos bivalvos. Es necesario implementar diagnóstico estandarizado de parásitos en mejillones, en la rutina microbiológica de este alimento, a los fines de garantizar la inocuidad y seguridad alimentaria del mismo y prevenir así las enfermedades parasitarias transmitidas por alimentos en los consumidores.Centro Universitario de Estudios Microbiológicos y Parasitológico

Measurement of the quasi-elastic axial vector mass in neutrino-oxygen interactions

The weak nucleon axial-vector form factor for quasi-elastic interactions is determined using neutrino interaction data from the K2K Scintillating Fiber detector in the neutrino beam at KEK. More than 12,000 events are analyzed, of which half are charged-current quasi-elastic interactions nu-mu n to mu- p occurring primarily in oxygen nuclei. We use a relativistic Fermi gas model for oxygen and assume the form factor is approximately a dipole with one parameter, the axial vector mass M_A, and fit to the shape of the distribution of the square of the momentum transfer from the nucleon to the nucleus. Our best fit result for M_A = 1.20 \pm 0.12 GeV. Furthermore, this analysis includes updated vector form factors from recent electron scattering experiments and a discussion of the effects of the nucleon momentum on the shape of the fitted distributions.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 6 table

Measurement of the B+ --> p pbar K+ Branching Fraction and Study of the Decay Dynamics

With a sample of 232x10^6 Upsilon(4S) --> BBbar events collected with the BaBar detector, we study the decay B+ --> p pbar K+ excluding charmonium decays to ppbar. We measure a branching fraction Br(B+ --> p pbar K+)=(6.7+/-0.5+/-0.4)x10^{-6}. An enhancement at low ppbar mass is observed and the Dalitz plot asymmetry suggests dominance of the penguin amplitude in this B decay. We search for a pentaquark candidate Theta*++ decaying into pK+ in the mass range 1.43 to 2.00 GeV/c2 and set limits on Br(B+ --> Theta*++pbar)xBr(Theta*++ --> pK+) at the 10^{-7} level.Comment: 8 pages, 7 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D (Rapid Communications

Search for rare quark-annihilation decays, B --> Ds(*) Phi

We report on searches for B- --> Ds- Phi and B- --> Ds*- Phi. In the context of the Standard Model, these decays are expected to be highly suppressed since they proceed through annihilation of the b and u-bar quarks in the B- meson. Our results are based on 234 million Upsilon(4S) --> B Bbar decays collected with the BABAR detector at SLAC. We find no evidence for these decays, and we set Bayesian 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions BF(B- --> Ds- Phi) Ds*- Phi)<1.2x10^(-5). These results are consistent with Standard Model expectations.Comment: 8 pages, 3 postscript figues, submitted to Phys. Rev. D (Rapid Communications

EuReCa ONE—27 Nations, ONE Europe, ONE Registry A prospective one month analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes in 27 countries in Europe

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of the EuReCa ONE study was to determine the incidence, process, and outcome for out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) throughout Europe.MethodsThis was an international, prospective, multi-centre one-month study. Patients who suffered an OHCA during October 2014 who were attended and/or treated by an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) were eligible for inclusion in the study. Data were extracted from national, regional or local registries.ResultsData on 10,682 confirmed OHCAs from 248 regions in 27 countries, covering an estimated population of 174 million. In 7146 (66%) cases, CPR was started by a bystander or by the EMS. The incidence of CPR attempts ranged from 19.0 to 104.0 per 100,000 population per year. 1735 had ROSC on arrival at hospital (25.2%), Overall, 662/6414 (10.3%) in all cases with CPR attempted survived for at least 30 days or to hospital discharge.ConclusionThe results of EuReCa ONE highlight that OHCA is still a major public health problem accounting for a substantial number of deaths in Europe.EuReCa ONE very clearly demonstrates marked differences in the processes for data collection and reported outcomes following OHCA all over Europe. Using these data and analyses, different countries, regions, systems, and concepts can benchmark themselves and may learn from each other to further improve survival following one of our major health care events