Convergence-confinement curve analysis of excavation stress and strain resulting from blast-induced damage

Using the convergence-confinement curves methodology, we analysed excavation behaviour for a range of rock masses of different geotechnical qualities, taking into account blast-induced damage. The novelty of the research is (i) we include blast-induced damage to the rock mass in ground reaction curve construction, and (ii) we analyse results for 54 rock mass and rock geotechnical quality scenarios. The research, an application of a previously developed methodology (González-Cao et al., 2013), provides practical guidelines for the preliminary design phase for an excavation resulting from blasting. Our main conclusions are (i) that rock mass quality has a greater bearing on the plastic radius and excavation maximum displacement than blast-induced damage, and (ii) that the plastic radius and maximum displacement around an excavation increase with the level of blast-induced damage, most especially for poor quality rock masses. This would justify the need to limit blast-induced damage in poor quality rock masses.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. BIA2014-53368

Inducible Slc7a7 Knockout Mouse Model Recapitulates Lysinuric Protein Intolerance Disease

Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is a rare autosomal disease caused by defective cationic amino acid (CAA) transport due to mutations in SLC7A7, which encodes for the y+LAT1 transporter. LPI patients suffer from a wide variety of symptoms, which range from failure to thrive, hyperammonemia, and nephropathy to pulmonar alveolar proteinosis (PAP), a potentially life-threatening complication. Hyperammonemia is currently prevented by citrulline supplementation. However, the full impact of this treatment is not completely understood. In contrast, there is no defined therapy for the multiple reported complications of LPI, including PAP, for which bronchoalveolar lavages do not prevent progression of the disease. The lack of a viable LPI model prompted us to generate a tamoxifen-inducible Slc7a7 knockout mouse (Slc7a7-/-). The Slc7a7-/- model resembles the human LPI phenotype, including malabsorption and impaired reabsorption of CAA, hypoargininemia and hyperammonemia. Interestingly, the Slc7a7-/- mice also develops PAP and neurological impairment. We observed that citrulline treatment improves the metabolic derangement and survival. On the basis of our findings, the Slc7a7-/- model emerges as a promising tool to further study the complexity of LPI, including its immune-like complications, and to design evidence-based therapies to halt its progression

Terahertz Emission of Gallium Arsenide on Textured p-type Silicon (100) Substrates Grown via Molecular Beam Epitaxy

This study presents the terahertz (THz) emission of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) on surface textured p-type Silicon (p- Si) (100) substrates. Surface texturing was achieved by anisotropic wet chemical etching using 5% wt Potassium Hydroxide (KOH): Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) (50:1) solution for 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. Reflectivity measurements for the textured p-Si(100) substrates indicated that the overall texturing increases with longer etching times. Raman spectroscopy of the post-growth samples confirmed GaAs growth. The THz emission intensities were the same order of magnitude. The GaAs grown on p-Si(100) textured for 60 minutes exhibited the most intense THz emission attributed to the increased absorption from a larger surface-to-volume ratio due to surface texturing. All GaAs on textured p-Si(100) samples had frequency bandwidth of ~2.5 THz

Evaluation of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio after cardiac surgery as a predictor of outcome during hospital stay

Background: the arterial partial pressure of O2 and the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio is widely used in ICUs as an indicator of oxygenation status. Although cardiac surgery and ICU scores can predict mortality, during the first hours after cardiac surgery few instruments are available to assess outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of PaO2/FIO2 ratio to predict mortality in patients immediately after cardiac surgery. Methods: we prospectively studied 2725 consecutive cardiac surgery patients between 2004 and 2009. PaO2/FiO2 ratio was measured on admission and at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after ICU admission, together with clinical data and outcomes. Results: all PaO2/FIO2 ratio measurements differed between survivors and non-survivors (p  242; Group 2, with PaO2/FIO2 from 202 to 242; and Group 3, with PaO2/FIO2 < 202. Group 3 showed higher in-ICU mortality and ICU length of stay and Groups 2 and 3 also showed higher respiratory complication rates. The presence of a PaO2/FIO2 ratio < 202 at 3 h after admission was shown to be a predictor of in-ICU mortality (OR:1.364; 95% CI:1.212-1.625, p < 0.001) and of worse long-term survival (88.8% vs. 95.8%; Log rank p = 0.002. Adjusted Hazard ratio: 1.48; 95% CI:1.293-1.786; p = 0.004). Conclusions: a simple determination of PaO2/FIO2 at 3 h after ICU admission may be useful to identify patients at risk immediately after cardiac surgery

Early surgery with neuraxial anaesthesia in patients on chronic antiplatelet therapy with a proximal femur fracture : Multicentric randomised clinical trial

Background: Patients with proximal femur fracture on antiplatelet treatment benefit from early surgery. Our goal was to perform early surgery under neuraxial anaesthesia when indicated by the platelet function test. Methods: We conducted a multicentre randomised open-label parallel clinical trial. Patients were randomised to either early platelet function-guided surgery (experimental group) or delayed surgery (control group). Early surgery was programmed when the functional platelet count (as measured by Plateletworks) was >80 × 10 /L. The primary outcome was the emergency admission-to-surgery interval. Secondary outcomes were platelet function, postoperative bleeding, medical and surgical complications, and mortality. Results: A total of 156 patients were randomised, with 78 in each group, with a mean (SD) age of 85.96 (7.9) years, and 67.8% being female. The median (IQR) time to surgery was 2.3 (1.5-3.7) days for the experimental group and 4.9 (4.4-5.6) days for the control group. One-third of patients did not achieve the threshold functional platelet count on the first day of admission, requiring more than one test. There was no difference in clinical outcomes between groups. Conclusions: A strategy individualised according to the platelet function test shortens the time to proximal femur fracture surgery under neuraxial anaesthesia in patients on chronic antiplatelet treatment. Better powered randomised clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the clinical impact and safety of this strategy

Infección por SARS-CoV-2 : implicaciones para la salud sexual y reproductiva. Una declaración de posición de la Asociación Española de Andrología, Medicina Sexual y Reproductiva (ASESA)

El objetivo de esta revisión es resumir la evidencia disponible sobre los posibles efectos adversos del SARS-CoV-2 en el sistema reproductor masculino y proporcionar una declaración de posición oficial de la Asociación Española de Andrología, Medicina Sexual y Reproductiva (ASESA). Se realizó una búsqueda exhaustiva en las bibliotecas Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, Cochrane y MedRxiv. No se ha confirmado la orquitis como una posible complicación de la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Un estudio informó que el 19% de los hombres con COVID-19 presentaban molestias escrotales sugestivas de orquitis viral, que no se pudo confirmar. Es posible que el virus no infecte los testículos directamente, si no que desencadene una respuesta autoinmune secundaria y que cause una orquitis autoinmune. COVID-19 se ha asociado con anormalidades en la coagulación por lo que la orquitis podría ser el resultado de una vasculitis segmentaria. Los datos disponibles sobre la presencia del virus en semen son contradictorios. Sólo un estudio informó de la presencia de ARN en el 15,8% de enfermos de COVID-19. La presencia de ácido nucleico o antígeno en el semen no implica la existencia de virus con capacidad de replicación o infección. En hombres con COVID-19 se ha observado un incremento significativo de LH en suero y una drástica disminución de la ratio T/LH y FSH/LH, congruente con un hipogonadismo subclínico. Los datos disponibles y los hallazgos de los estudios recientes se basan en tamaños de muestra pequeños y proporcionan informaciones contradictorias. Existe la posibilidad teórica de que pueda producirse daño testicular y posterior infertilidad después de la infección por COVID-19, por lo que especialmente para aquellos hombres en edad reproductiva, se debe sugerir consulta y evaluación de la función gonadal y análisis de semen. En cuanto a la posibilidad de transmisión sexual, no hay evidencia suficiente para respaldar la necesidad de que las parejas asintomáticas eviten las relaciones sexuales para protegerse contra la transmisión del virus. Se necesita más investigación para comprender los impactos a largo plazo del SARS-CoV-2 en la función reproductiva masculina, incluidos sus posibles efectos sobre la fertilidad y la función endocrina testicular

The language of the urban domestic architecture as an expression of identity in the Roman world

[EN] This volume reveals the results of the International Seminars “Il linguaggio dell’architettura domestica urbana come espressione d’identità”, which took place in Rome on February 25th, 2020 and “The language of urban domestic architecture as an expression of identity in the Roman world. The African and Eastern provinces”, which was held online on March 18th, 2021. These forums were framed within the line of research of the Archaeology of political spaces: urban domestic architecture of Roman ages developed in Escuela Española de Historia y Arqueología en Roma (CSIC) and the Universidad Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla. The different case studies analysed throughout the nine chapters of this book make up a significant cast at a spatial level that includes general reflections on Roman houses and their Etruscan and Greek influences, the residential spaces of the city of Rome, as well as the expansion of the lifestyle of Roman society to the western and eastern provinces. For all these reasons, this publication can be considered a solid base and a framework for projecting broader questions about the urban domestic space in the Roman Empire.[ES] En el presente volumen se exponen los resultados de los Seminarios Internacionales “Il linguaggio dell’architettura domestica urbana come espressione d’identità”, que tuvo lugar en Roma el 25 de febrero de 2020 y “The language of urban domestic architecture as an expression of identity in the Roman world. The African and Eastern provinces”, que se celebró online el 18 de marzo de 2021. Estos foros se enmarcaron dentro de la línea de investigación de la Arqueología de los espacios políticos: arquitectura doméstica urbana de época romana desarrollada en la Escuela Española de Historia y Arqueología en Roma (CSIC) y la Universidad Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla. Los distintos estudios de casos analizados a lo largo de los nueve capítulos de este libro componen un elenco significativo a nivel espacial que abarca reflexiones generales sobre las casas romanas y sus influencias etruscas y griegas, los espacios residenciales de la ciudad de Roma, así como la expansión del estilo de vida de la sociedad romana a las provincias occidentales y orientales. Por todo ello, esta publicación puede considerarse una sólida base y un marco de trabajo para proyectar cuestiones más amplias sobre el espacio doméstico urbano en el Imperio Romano.Esta publicación ha sido posible gracias a la Ayuda Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación de la Agencia Estatal de Investigación: Arqueología de los espacios políticos. Arquitectura doméstica urbana romana (IJC2018- 037041-I); al Proyecto del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN) y Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI): Vivere In Urbe. Arquitectura residencial y espacio urbano en Augusta Emerita (PID2019-105376GB-C44) y al Proyecto FEDER-UPO: La creación y trasmisión de modelos adrianeos en el mediterráneo. Villa Adriana y la Bética (UPO-1266148).Peer reviewe

Uma breve descrição sobre vasculite urticariforme / A brief description of urticarial vasculitis

A vasculite urticariforme é uma entidade clinicopatológica rara que se caracteriza como uma das formas de apresentação da vasculite leucocitoclástica dos pequenos e médios vasos sanguíneos. Trata-se de uma patologia que pode ocorrer em qualquer idade, sendo mais prevalente na quinta década de vida, e manifestando-se com maior incidência entre as mulheres. Sua etiologia não é totalmente conhecida, estando provavelmente relacionada à deposição de imunocomplexos em arteríolas, capilares e vênulas pós-capilares presentes na pele. Em geral, possui uma semelhança clínica em relação à urticária, porém a vasculite urticariforme surge acompanhada de dor, ardência e sensação de queimadura e, menos frequentemente, associa-se com prurido