Theory and experiment of the ESR of Co2+^{2+} in Zn2_2 % (OH)PO4_4 and Mg2_2(OH)AsO4_4

Experiments of Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) were performed on Co$$ substituting Zn$^{2+}$ or Mg$^{2+}$ in powder samples of Zn$_2$(OH)PO$_4$ and Mg$_2$(OH)AsO$_4$. The observed resonances are described with a theoretical model that considers the departures from the two perfect structures. It is shown that the resonance in the penta-coordinated complex is allowed, and the crystal fields that would describe the resonance of the Co$^{2+}$ in the two environments are calculated. The small intensity of the resonance in the penta-coordinated complex is explained assuming that this site is much less populated than the octahedral one; this assumption was verified by a molecular calculation of the energies of the two environments, with both Co and Zn as central ions in Zn$_2$(OH)PO$_4$.Comment: 43 pages, LaTex file, 6 figures, EPS. submitted to Journal of Physics Condens

Rose Bengal test: diagnostic yield and use for the rapid diagnosis of human brucellosis in emergency departments in endemic areas

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to analyse the diagnostic yield of the rose Bengal test for the rapid diagnosis of human brucellosis in an emergency department in an area where the disease is endemic. The study included 711 patients diagnosed initially with brucellosis and 270 controls. Brucellosis patients were divided into three groups: group I, individuals with no regular exposure to or history of brucellosis; group II, individuals exposed repeatedly to Brucella infection; and group III, individuals infected with Brucella who had received appropriate treatment during the previous 12 months. Blood cultures were positive for 445 (62.6%) brucellosis patients, while the remaining 266 (37.4%) patients were diagnosed according to clinical and serological criteria. The overall sensitivity of the rose Bengal test was 92.9%. The specificities for groups I, II and III were 94.3%, 91.7% and 76.9%, respectively, with positive likelihood ratios of 16.5, 10.4 and 4.2, respectively. The diagnostic gain after the performance of the rose Bengal test was good or very good in patients with no previous exposure to Brucella or history of brucellosis, but poor in patients who were exposed repeatedly to Brucella or had a history of brucellosis and a low pre-test probability. Use of the rose Bengal test as the sole technique for the diagnosis of brucellosis in endemic areas should be considered very carefully in the context of patients who are exposed repeatedly to Brucella or have a history of brucellosis

Routes to develop a [S]/([S]+[Se]) gradient in wide band-gap Cu2ZnGe(S,Se)4 thin-film solar cells

Wide band-gap kesterite-based solar cells are very attractive to be used for tandem devices as well as for semi-transparent photovoltaic cells. Here, Cu2ZnGe(S,Se)4 (CZGSSe) thin films have been grown by sulfurization of co-evaporated Cu2ZnGeSe4. The influence of a NaF precursor layer and of a Se capping film on CZGSSe absorbers and solar cells has been investigated. It has been found that the distribution of [S]/([S]+[Se]) through the CZGSSe absorber layer is strongly dependent on the Na content. Na promotes the diffusion of S towards the bulk of the absorber layer. Thicker NaF layers>6 nm lead to a higher S content in the bulk of the absorber layer, but to a decreased accumulation of sulphur at the surface, as detected by GIXRD, GD-OES, and Raman spectroscopy measurements. A relationship between Jsc, FF and Na-content supplied was found; higher Na content resulted in improved solar cell efficiencies. It has also been possible to modify the [S]/([S]+[Se])-gradient throughout the CZGSSe film by the absence of the Se capping layer, achieving devices with 2.7% performance and Eg = 2.0 eV. This work reveals two ways to control the [S]/([S]+[Se]) depth-profile to produce wide band gap CZGSSe absorber layers for efficient solar cells

Resumen ejecutivo del Documento de Consenso de la Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC) y de la Asociación Española de Cirujanos (AEC) en profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía

La profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía es una de las medidas más eficaces para la prevención de la infección de localización quirúrgica, aunque su uso es con frecuencia inadecuado, pudiendo incrementar el riesgo de infección, toxicidades y resistencias bacterianas. Debido al avance en las técnicas quirúrgicas y la emergencia de microorganismos multirresistentes las actuales pautas de profilaxis precisan ser revisadas. La Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas (SEIMC), conjuntamente con la Asociación Española de Cirujanos (AEC) ha revisado y actualizado las recomendaciones de profilaxis antimicrobiana para adaptarlas a cada tipo de intervención quirúrgica y a la epidemiología actual. En este documento se recogen las recomendaciones de los antimicrobianos utilizados en profilaxis en los diferentes procedimientos, las dosis, la duración, la profilaxis en huéspedes especiales, y en situación epidemiológica de multirresistencia, de tal forma que permitan un manejo estandarizado, un uso racional, seguro y efectivo de los mismos en la cirugía electiva. Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery is one of the most effective measures for preventing surgical site infection, although its use is frequently inadequate and may even increase the risk of infection, toxicities and antimicrobial resistance. As a result of advances in surgical techniques and the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, the current guidelines for prophylaxis need to be revised. The Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas (Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology) (SEIMC) together with the Asociación Española de Cirujanos (Spanish Association of Surgeons) (AEC) have revised and updated the recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery to adapt them to any type of surgical intervention and to current epidemiology. This document gathers together the recommendations on antimicrobial prophylaxis in the various procedures, with doses, duration, prophylaxis in special patient groups, and in epidemiological settings of multidrug resistance to facilitate standardized management and the safe, effective and rational use of antibiotics in elective surgery

Análisis del switch guiado por farmacocinética de factores VIII de semivida estándar a factores de semivida extendida

CO-170 Introducción y objetivos: Los factores VIII (FVIII) de semivida extendida (EHL) han mostrado en los ensayos clínicos mejoras de al menos 1, 3 veces la semivida plasmática (t1/2) y 1, 25 veces el área bajo la curva (AUC) respecto a los FVIII estándar (SHL). Herramientas basadas en modelos farmacocinéticos (PK) poblacionales permiten estimar los parámetros PK individuales y ajustar la profilaxis. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el switch PK-guiado de SHL a EHL en pacientes con hemofilia A (HA). Métodos: Estudio multicéntrico comparativo, cruzado, prospectivo que analiza las diferencias PK tras el cambio de factores SHL a EHL (Elocta® y Adynovi®) en pacientes con HA grave/moderada en profilaxis. Se ha empleado el PopPK WAPPS-Hemo® con 2-3 muestras para realizar un perfil PK individualizado de los valores de FVIII. Los parámetros PK analizados son: t1/2, AUC, nivel pico (NP), nivel valle a las 24, 48 y/o 72 h (NV24/NV48/NV72) y tiempo para alcanzar niveles de FVIII del 5%, 2% y 1% (T5%/T2%/T1%). También analizamos los ratios de t1/2 y AUC, el nº dosis semanales y la dosis/kg/semana. Para comparar los parámetros PK entre ambos periodos empleamos los test de Wilcoxon y Kruskal-Wallis (SPSS®). Los resultados se expresaron con la mediana y el rango o rango intercuartílico (RIC). Resultados: Se han analizado 64 pacientes procedentes de 8 hospitales españoles (48 switch a Elocta® y 16 a Adynovi®), 62 con HA grave y 2 con HA moderada, con una mediana de edad de 32 años (rango=5-64) y sin diferencias en el peso entre ambos periodo [71, 0 (rango=12-116) vs 72, 0 (16, 9- 116) kg; p=0, 156]. La dosis/kg/semana se redujo tras el switch a EHL [74, 5 (RIC:59, 2-108, 1) vs 69, 2 (RIC:46, 2-96, 7) UI/kg/semana; p<0, 0001], así como ..

7th Drug hypersensitivity meeting: part two

No abstract availabl

Observation of a new Xi(b) baryon

The first observation of a new b baryon via its strong decay into Xi(b)^- pi^+ (plus charge conjugates) is reported. The measurement uses a data sample of pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.3 inverse femtobarns. The known Xi(b)^- baryon is reconstructed via the decay chain Xi(b)^- to J/psi Xi^- to mu^+ mu^- Lambda^0 pi^-, with Lambda^0 to p pi^-. A peak is observed in the distribution of the difference between the mass of the Xi(b)^- pi^+ system and the sum of the masses of the Xi(b)^- and pi^+, with a significance exceeding five standard deviations. The mass difference of the peak is 14.84 +/- 0.74 (stat.) +/- 0.28 (syst.) MeV. The new state most likely corresponds to the J^P=3/2^+ companion of the Xi(b).Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Measurement of the charge ratio of atmospheric muons with the CMS detector

This is the pre-print version of this Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2010 ElsevierWe present a measurement of the ratio of positive to negative muon fluxes from cosmic ray interactions in the atmosphere, using data collected by the CMS detector both at ground level and in the underground experimental cavern at the CERN LHC. Muons were detected in the momentum range from 5 GeV/c to 1 TeV/c. The surface flux ratio is measured to be 1.2766 \pm 0.0032(stat.) \pm 0.0032 (syst.), independent of the muon momentum, below 100 GeV/c. This is the most precise measurement to date. At higher momenta the data are consistent with an increase of the charge ratio, in agreement with cosmic ray shower models and compatible with previous measurements by deep-underground experiments