Combined grazing incidence RBS and TEM analysis of luminescent nano-SiGe/SiO2 multilayers.

Multilayer structures with five periods of amorphous SiGe nanoparticles/SiO2 layers with different thickness were deposited by Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition and annealed to crystallize the SiGe nanoparticles. The use of grazing incidence RBS was necessary to obtain sufficient depth resolution to separate the signals arising from the individual layers only a few nm thick. The average size and areal density of the embedded SiGe nanoparticles as well as the oxide interlayer thickness were determined from the RBS spectra. Details of eventual composition changes and diffusion processes caused by the annealing processes were also studied. Transmission Electron Microscopy was used to obtain complementary information on the structural parameters of the samples in order to check the information yielded by RBS. The study revealed that annealing at 900 °C for 60 s, enough to crystallize the SiGe nanoparticles, leaves the structure unaltered if the interlayer thickness is around 15 nm or higher

First recorded case of leucism in the velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae)

Poster presentado en el SIBIC 2022 IX Iberian Congress of IchthyologyThe capture of a female specimen of the velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax with abnormal skin coloration is reported. The specimen was captured off northern Spain (Bay of Biscay, North-Eastern Atlantic) in 2021 by bottom trawling. The lack of dermal melanophores combined with a normal retinal pigmentation, lead us to considérate the specimen as leucistic. This is the first case of leucism in E. spinax and the second record of colour aberration in the family Etmopteridae

Evaluación de calidad de agua en un sistema ribereño utilizado para riego agrícola de subsistencia

En la evaluación del impacto de la contaminación en el ambiente, existen diversas herramientas y técnicas que se aplican para conocer la calidad ambiental de los recursos naturales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la calidad del agua en un sistema ribereño en San Luis Potosí, México asociado al impacto del uso agrícola, urbano e industrial. Fueron establecidos cinco puntos de muestreo asociado a diversos usos y descargas residuales en donde se evaluaron 28 muestras durante cuatro días de muestro. Estas fueron distribuidas a los 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 y 120 minutos del trayecto determinando con un medidor multiparámetro los sólidos disueltos totales (SDT), temperatura (T), conductividad eléctrica (CE), pH y oxígeno disuelto (OD). El resultado más destacado de las 28 muestras diarias y del total de 112 que los promedios oxígeno disuelto indican condición hipoxia que indica la desaparición de organismos y especies sensibles, concluyendo que el área ribereña requiere un constante monitoreo y diversificación de parámetros para evaluar su condición para actividades agrícolas.In the assessment of the impact of pollution on the environment, there are various tools and techniques that are applied to know the environmental quality of natural resources. The objective of this work was to evaluate water quality in a river system in San Luis Potosí, Mexico associated with the impact of agricultural, urban and industrial use. Five sampling points associated to various uses and residual discharges were established where 28 samples were evaluated during four days of sampling. The total dissolved solids (SDT), temperature (T), electrical conductivity (CE), pH and dissolved oxygen (OD) were distributed at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 minutes of the path. The most outstanding result of the 28 daily samples and the total of 112 that dissolved oxygen averages indicate hypoxia condition indicating the disappearance of sensitive organisms and species, concluding that the riparian area requires constant monitoring and diversification of parameters to evaluate agricultural activities.Fil: Alcalá Jáuregui, J. A. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Acosta Doporto Geiler, A. Instituto Tecnológico Superior de los Ríos de Balancan (México)Fil: Rodríguez Ortiz, J.C. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Hernández Montoya, A. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Martínez Carretero, Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Filippini, Maria Flavia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Díaz Flores, P. E. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Lara Mireles, J. L. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de Agronomí

Sol-gel deposition of hydroxyapatite coatings on porous titanium for biomedical applications

The stress shielding and the poor osseointegration in titanium implants are still problems to be resolved. In this context, this work proposes a balanced solution. Titanium samples were fabricated, with a porosity of 100-200 µm of pore size employing space-holder technique (50 vol. % NH4HCO3, 800 MPa at 1250 ºC during 2h under high vacuum conditions), obtaining a good equilibrium between stiffness and mechanical resistance. The porous titanium substrates were coated with hydroxyapatite, obtained by sol-gel technique: immersion, dried at 80ºC and heat treatment at 450ºC during 5h under vacuum conditions. Phases, surface morphology and interfacial microstructure of the transverse section were analyzed by Micro-Computed Tomography, SEM and confocal laser, as well as the infiltration capability of the coating into the metallic substrate pores. The FTIR and XRD showed the crystallinity of the phases and the chemical composition homogeneity of the coating. The size and interconnected pores obtained allow the infiltration of hydroxyapatite (HA), possible bone ingrowth and osseointegration. The scratch resistance of the coating corroborated a good adherence to the porous metallic substrate. The coated titanium samples have a biomechanical and biofunctional equilibrium, as well as a potential use in biomedical applications (partial substitution of bone tissue).Junta de Andalucía-FEDER (Spain) Project Ref. P12-TEP-1401Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Grant No. MAT2015-71284-

Determinants and Differences in Satisfaction with the Inhaler Among Patients with Asthma or COPD

Satisfaction with the inhaler is an important determinant of treatment adherence in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies have compared these 2 groups to identify the factors associated with satisfaction with the inhaler. To assess and compare satisfaction with the inhaler in patients with asthma or COPD and to determine the variables associated with high inhaler satisfaction. A multicenter, cross-sectional study of 816 patients (406 with asthma and 410 with COPD) was conducted. Satisfaction was assessed with the Feeling of Satisfaction with Inhaler (FSI-10) questionnaire. All participants completed the Test of Adherence to Inhalers and either the Asthma Control Test (ACT) or the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Overall, the asthma group was significantly more satisfied with the inhaler (mean [standard deviation] FSI-10 scores: 44.1 [6.5] vs 42.0 [7.7]; P <.001) and more satisfied on most (7 of 10; 70%) items. Patients with asthma were significantly more satisfied with the inhaler regardless of the adherence level or the type of nonadherence pattern. Younger age, good disease control (ACT ≥20 or CAT ≤10), previous inhaler training, and absence of unwitting nonadherence were all independently and significantly associated with high inhaler satisfaction. Age, disease control, and training in inhalation technique all play a more significant role than the specific diagnosis in explaining satisfaction with the device in patients with asthma and COPD. These findings underscore the need to provide better training and more active monitoring of the inhalation technique to improve patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes

Consenso colombiano de atención, diagnóstico y manejo de la infección por SARS-COV-2/COVID-19 en establecimientos de atención de la salud Recomendaciones basadas en consenso de expertos e informadas en la evidencia

The “Asociación Colombiana de Infectología” (ACIN) and the “Instituto de Evaluación de Nuevas Tecnologías de la Salud” (IETS) created a task force to develop recommendations for Covid 19 health care diagnosis, management and treatment informed, and based, on evidence. Theses reccomendations are addressed to the health personnel on the Colombian context of health services. © 2020 Asociacion Colombiana de Infectologia. All rights reserved

Anisotropy studies around the galactic centre at EeV energies with the Auger Observatory

Data from the Pierre Auger Observatory are analyzed to search for anisotropies near the direction of the Galactic Centre at EeV energies. The exposure of the surface array in this part of the sky is already significantly larger than that of the fore-runner experiments. Our results do not support previous findings of localized excesses in the AGASA and SUGAR data. We set an upper bound on a point-like flux of cosmic rays arriving from the Galactic Centre which excludes several scenarios predicting sources of EeV neutrons from Sagittarius $A$. Also the events detected simultaneously by the surface and fluorescence detectors (the `hybrid' data set), which have better pointing accuracy but are less numerous than those of the surface array alone, do not show any significant localized excess from this direction.Comment: Matches published versio

Atmospheric effects on extensive air showers observed with the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Atmospheric parameters, such as pressure (P), temperature (T) and density, affect the development of extensive air showers initiated by energetic cosmic rays. We have studied the impact of atmospheric variations on extensive air showers by means of the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The rate of events shows a ~10% seasonal modulation and ~2% diurnal one. We find that the observed behaviour is explained by a model including the effects associated with the variations of pressure and density. The former affects the longitudinal development of air showers while the latter influences the Moliere radius and hence the lateral distribution of the shower particles. The model is validated with full simulations of extensive air showers using atmospheric profiles measured at the site of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

The exposure of the hybrid detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It consists of a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level and a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The "hybrid" detection mode combines the information from the two subsystems. We describe the determination of the hybrid exposure for events observed by the fluorescence telescopes in coincidence with at least one water-Cherenkov detector of the surface array. A detailed knowledge of the time dependence of the detection operations is crucial for an accurate evaluation of the exposure. We discuss the relevance of monitoring data collected during operations, such as the status of the fluorescence detector, background light and atmospheric conditions, that are used in both simulation and reconstruction.Comment: Paper accepted by Astroparticle Physic

The Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a hybrid detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It combines a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level together with a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The fluorescence detector comprises 24 large telescopes specialized for measuring the nitrogen fluorescence caused by charged particles of cosmic ray air showers. In this paper we describe the components of the fluorescence detector including its optical system, the design of the camera, the electronics, and the systems for relative and absolute calibration. We also discuss the operation and the monitoring of the detector. Finally, we evaluate the detector performance and precision of shower reconstructions.Comment: 53 pages. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section