System size resonance in an attractor neural network

We study the response of an attractor neural network, in the ferromagnetic phase, to an external, time-dependent stimulus, which drives the system periodically two different attractors. We demonstrate a non-trivial dependance of the system via a system size resonance, by showing a signal amplification maximum at a certain finite size.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, submitted to Europhys. Let

Seasons and Other Factors Affecting the Quality of Life of Asthmatic Children

[email protected]: To study the effect of seasons on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of asthmatic children. Methods: Four groups of asthmatic children 7 to 14 years old were recruited by pediatricians during each season of the year. Their HRQL was assessed by means of the Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ). Other factors surveyed were asthma severity, atopy, medical treatment, immunotherapy, obesity, parental smoking, and anti-allergic measures. Results: The mean (SD) overall PAQLQ score was highest in summer at 6.2 (1.0) and lowest in autumn at 5.5 (1.2). The same trend was found for domains in summer and autumn, respectively: symptoms, 6.2 (1.0) vs 5.4 (1.4); emotions, 6.5 (0.8) vs 6.0 (1.0); and activities, 5.9 (1.4) vs 5.0 (1.5). Factors such as male gender (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% confi dence interval [CI], 0.41–0.87), being on immunotherapy (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38–0.92), living in an urban environment (OR, 0.56; 0.33–0.93), and residing on the northern coast of Spain along the Bay of Biscay (OR, 0.56; 0.36-0.89) were independent protective factors against having a total PAQLQ score in the lower tertile. Conversely, being recruited in a primary care setting (OR, 1.55; 1.01–2.38) and having more severe asthma were risks for being in the lower tertile. Conclusions: Irrespective of the severity of the disease, season has a significant influence on the HRQL of asthmatic [email protected]

Quinine doped hybrid sol-gel coatings for wave guiding and optical applications

Pure and quinine doped silica coatings have been prepared over sodalime glasses. The coatings were consolidated at low temperature (range 60-180 A degrees C) preserving optical activity of quinine molecule. We designed a device to test the guiding properties of the coatings. We confirmed with this device that light injected in pure silica coatings is guided over distances of meters while quinine presence induces isotropic photoluminescence. With the combined use of both type of coatings, it is possible to design light guiding devices and illuminate regions in glass elements without electronic circuits

Lenalidomide and dexamethasone with or without clarithromycin in patients with multiple myeloma ineligible for autologous transplant: a randomized trial

Although case-control analyses have suggested an additive value with the association of clarithromycin to continuous lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Rd), there are not phase III trials confirming these results. In this phase III trial, 286 patients with MM ineligible for ASCT received Rd with or without clarithromycin until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). With a median follow-up of 19 months (range, 0-54), no significant differences in the median PFS were observed between the two arms (C-Rd 23 months, Rd 29 months; HR 0.783, p = 0.14), despite a higher rate of complete response (CR) or better in the C-Rd group (22.6% vs 14.4%, p = 0.048). The most common G3-4 adverse events were neutropenia [12% vs 19%] and infections [30% vs 25%], similar between the two arms; however, the percentage of toxic deaths was higher in the C-Rd group (36/50 [72%] vs 22/40 [55%], p = 0.09). The addition of clarithromycin to Rd in untreated transplant ineligible MM patients does not improve PFS despite increasing the ?CR rate due to the higher number of toxic deaths in the C-Rd arm. Side effects related to overexposure to steroids due to its delayed clearance induced by clarithromycin in this elderly population could explain these results. The trial was registered in clinicaltrials.gov with the name GEM-CLARIDEX: Ld vs BiRd and with the following identifier NCT02575144. The full trial protocol can be accessed from ClinicalTrials.gov. This study received financial support from BMS/Celgene

Virtualización del Título Propio en Olivicultura y Elaiotecnia. Elaboración de Materiales

Es conocido que España es primer país productor de aceite de oliva del mundo, con un 40 % de la producción mundial y el 50 % de la producción de la Unión Europea, siendo la provincia de Jaén, con el 38,4 % de la producción española, la mayor zona productora del mundo en aceite de oliva. Sin embargo, se trata de un sector en el que la escasa profesionalización es, tal vez, su mayor debilidad.La Universidad de Jaén, consciente del importante papel que ha de jugar como Institución dinamizadora del desarrollo de su entorno, en el que el sector del olivar y del aceite de oliva tiene una enorme importancia, considera que es urgente formar titulados universitarios de grado superior que posean conocimientos integrales y solventes en olivicultura y elaiotecnia de modo que incorporados a las empresas del sector del olivar y el aceite de oliva o creando las suyas propias, lo modernicen y desarrollen, contribuyendo a dotarlo de cultura empresarial y al desarrollo socioeconómico y, por ende, al bienestar de los ciudadanos de la provincia

The Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in southern Iberia

New data and a review of historiographic information from Neolithic sites of the Malaga and Algarve coasts (southern Iberian Peninsula) and from the Maghreb (North Africa) reveal the existence of a Neolithic settlement at least from 7.5 cal ka BP. The agricultural and pastoralist food producing economy of that population rapidly replaced the coastal economies of the Mesolithic populations. The timing of this population and economic turnover coincided with major changes in the continental and marine ecosystems, including upwelling intensity, sea-level changes and increased aridity in the Sahara and along the Iberian coast. These changes likely impacted the subsistence strategies of the Mesolithic populations along the Iberian seascapes and resulted in abandonments manifested as sedimentary hiatuses in some areas during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition. The rapid expansion and area of dispersal of the early Neolithic traits suggest the use of marine technology. Different evidences for a Maghrebian origin for the first colonists have been summarized. The recognition of an early North-African Neolithic influence in Southern Iberia and the Maghreb is vital for understanding the appearance and development of the Neolithic in Western Europe. Our review suggests links between climate change, resource allocation, and population turnover. (C) 2011 University of Washington. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (Portugal); European Science Foundation [PTDC/HAH/64548/2006]; European Union; Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain [HAR 2008-1920, CGL2009-07603, CTM2009-07715, CSD2006-00041, HAR2008-06477-C03-03/HIST]; European Research Council [2008-AdG 230561]; MARM [200800050084447]; Project RNM [05212]; Junta de Andalucia, Spain [0179]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/26525/2006]; CSIC "JAE-Doc"info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phase II Clinical and Pharmacokinetic Study of Plitidepsin 3-Hour Infusion Every Two Weeks Alone or with Dexamethasone in Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Purpose: This trial evaluated the antitumor activity and safety of the marine-derived cyclodepsipeptide plitidepsin in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Experimental Design: This was a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase II trial with plitidepsin at 5 mg/m2 as a 3-hour i.v. infusion every two weeks. The protocol was amended to allow patients with suboptimal response to single-agent plitidepsin to add 20 mg/day on days 1 to 4 of oral dexamethasone every two weeks. Results: Fifty-one patients started treatment with plitidepsin and 47 were evaluable for efficacy. The overall response rate (complete response plus partial response plus minimal response) was 13% with plitidepsin alone and 22% in the cohort of patients with the addition of dexamethasone (n = 19, 18 evaluable). Both plitidepsin alone and with dexamethasone were feasible and well tolerated. Anemia (29%) and thrombocytopenia (18%) were the most frequent grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities. Fatigue (16%), muscular toxicity (6%), and transient alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (27%) and creatine phosphokinase (23%) increases were the most relevant nonhematologic side effects. A prolonged plasma half-life was observed in responding patients as compared with nonresponding patients (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Single-agent plitidepsin has limited but reproducible activity in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients. Activity observed after dexamethasone addition merits further study. Both regimens were well tolerated in this heavily pretreated population

Phase II Clinical and Pharmacokinetic Study of Plitidepsin 3-Hour Infusion Every Two Weeks Alone or with Dexamethasone in Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Purpose: This trial evaluated the antitumor activity and safety of the marine-derived cyclodepsipeptide plitidepsin in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Experimental Design: This was a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase II trial with plitidepsin at 5 mg/m2 as a 3-hour i.v. infusion every two weeks. The protocol was amended to allow patients with suboptimal response to single-agent plitidepsin to add 20 mg/day on days 1 to 4 of oral dexamethasone every two weeks. Results: Fifty-one patients started treatment with plitidepsin and 47 were evaluable for efficacy. The overall response rate (complete response plus partial response plus minimal response) was 13% with plitidepsin alone and 22% in the cohort of patients with the addition of dexamethasone (n = 19, 18 evaluable). Both plitidepsin alone and with dexamethasone were feasible and well tolerated. Anemia (29%) and thrombocytopenia (18%) were the most frequent grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities. Fatigue (16%), muscular toxicity (6%), and transient alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (27%) and creatine phosphokinase (23%) increases were the most relevant nonhematologic side effects. A prolonged plasma half-life was observed in responding patients as compared with nonresponding patients (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Single-agent plitidepsin has limited but reproducible activity in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients. Activity observed after dexamethasone addition merits further study. Both regimens were well tolerated in this heavily pretreated population