A New Reference Sample for High-Frequency Multipactor Testing

[EN] Multipactor (MP) is a high-power effect severely limiting the performance of satellite communication links. A reference sample is normally used in the experimental setups for MP testing in order to verify its correct operation. However, the low gaps required for high frequencies jeopardize the manufacturability of the devices traditionally used for this purpose. A new reference sample, based on a stepped-impedance resonator (SIR), is proposed in this letter. The key design considerations are also outlined. A prototype operating between 17 and 18 GHz has been manufactured and tested, proving the novel structure allows higher gaps, and is, thus, suitable for higher frequency bands.This work was supported in part by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Spanish Government) under Research and Development Project PID2019-103982RB-C41, in part by the European Space Agency(ESA) through several research and development activities, and in part by the ESA-VSC European High Power RF and Space Materials Laboratories for contributing with its installations through the European Regional Development Fund. The work of Pablo Gonzalez was supported by the FPU Fellowship ofthe Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte under Grant FPU17/02901.González-Santatecla, P.; Smacchia, D.; Alcaide-Guillén, C.; Soto Pacheco, P.; Rodríguez Pérez, AM.; Morro, JV.; Mata-Sanz, R.... (2023). A New Reference Sample for High-Frequency Multipactor Testing. IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters. 33(6):675-678. https://doi.org/10.1109/LMWT.2023.323941967567833

Effectiveness of an intervention for improving drug prescription in primary care patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy:Study protocol of a cluster randomized clinical trial (Multi-PAP project)

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias ISCIII (Grant Numbers PI15/00276, PI15/00572, PI15/00996), REDISSEC (Project Numbers RD12/0001/0012, RD16/0001/0005), and the European Regional Development Fund ("A way to build Europe").Background: Multimorbidity is associated with negative effects both on people's health and on healthcare systems. A key problem linked to multimorbidity is polypharmacy, which in turn is associated with increased risk of partly preventable adverse effects, including mortality. The Ariadne principles describe a model of care based on a thorough assessment of diseases, treatments (and potential interactions), clinical status, context and preferences of patients with multimorbidity, with the aim of prioritizing and sharing realistic treatment goals that guide an individualized management. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention that implements the Ariadne principles in a population of young-old patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The intervention seeks to improve the appropriateness of prescribing in primary care (PC), as measured by the medication appropriateness index (MAI) score at 6 and 12months, as compared with usual care. Methods/Design: Design:pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial. Unit of randomization: family physician (FP). Unit of analysis: patient. Scope: PC health centres in three autonomous communities: Aragon, Madrid, and Andalusia (Spain). Population: patients aged 65-74years with multimorbidity (≥3 chronic diseases) and polypharmacy (≥5 drugs prescribed in ≥3months). Sample size: n=400 (200 per study arm). Intervention: complex intervention based on the implementation of the Ariadne principles with two components: (1) FP training and (2) FP-patient interview. Outcomes: MAI score, health services use, quality of life (Euroqol 5D-5L), pharmacotherapy and adherence to treatment (Morisky-Green, Haynes-Sackett), and clinical and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis: primary outcome is the difference in MAI score between T0 and T1 and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Adjustment for confounding factors will be performed by multilevel analysis. All analyses will be carried out in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: It is essential to provide evidence concerning interventions on PC patients with polypharmacy and multimorbidity, conducted in the context of routine clinical practice, and involving young-old patients with significant potential for preventing negative health outcomes. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02866799Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Didáctica de la Música Comtemporánea en los Conservatorios de Música

Resumen basado en el de la publicaciónSe incluye archivo con anexosLa formación en arte moderno, muy particularmente en música, resulta muy compleja tanto a nivel primario como secundario. La enseñanza musical se canaliza a través de enseñanzas de régimen general y de régimen especial, formación cultural y formación técnica. Pero en ningún caso la propia legislación apuesta por los valores actuales, sino por la tradición, obviando en buena medida la evolución acaecida en música en los últimos cien años y sus aportaciones. Las principales causas de esta desatención podrían relacionarse con la eficiencia y con la innovación. La actividad docente – en última instancia – viene determinada por el cumplimiento de unas programaciones de amplios contenidos, que requieren una atención muy continuada y que dificultan la ampliación de dichos contenidos con el mismo tiempo de atención. Además, la innovación en contenidos requiere innovación en metodología, así como ampliación de recursos y conocimientos. Aplicar la innovación en términos de eficiencia, requiere del docente un esfuerzo verdaderamente extraordinario de puesta al día en conocimiento de estilos, repertorio, material didáctico (normalmente de difícil acceso, y principalmente editados en el extranjero), grabaciones… y saber adecuarlo a las circunstancias. El proyecto de innovación “Didáctica de la música contemporánea en los conservatorios de música” realizado en el Conservatorio Profesional de Música, C.P.M. “Marcos Redondo" de Ciudad Real, pretende paliar ese déficit de formación en los profesores, que termina por incidir en los alumnos. El hecho de tratarse de un proyecto de innovación supone un incentivo importante para la actividad docente individual, así como para priorizar esta cuestión a nivel de Centro.Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes de Castilla-La ManchaCastilla La ManchaES

Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos : su vigencia para los Estados y para los ciudadanos : ideas para profesores y universitarios

Se aborda el Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos, detallando los temas de raza, mujer, tortura, niño, emigración, discapacidad, trata, corrupción, sistemas regionales de protección o tribunales que juzgan su incumplimiento. Incluye ocho anexos para ser utilizados en materia de docencia, periodismo, medios culturales, profesionales o familiares.CataluñaBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín 5 -3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; [email protected]

Mortality after surgery in Europe: a 7 day cohort study

Background: Clinical outcomes after major surgery are poorly described at the national level. Evidence of heterogeneity between hospitals and health-care systems suggests potential to improve care for patients but this potential remains unconfirmed. The European Surgical Outcomes Study was an international study designed to assess outcomes after non-cardiac surgery in Europe.Methods: We did this 7 day cohort study between April 4 and April 11, 2011. We collected data describing consecutive patients aged 16 years and older undergoing inpatient non-cardiac surgery in 498 hospitals across 28 European nations. Patients were followed up for a maximum of 60 days. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcome measures were duration of hospital stay and admission to critical care. We used χ² and Fisher’s exact tests to compare categorical variables and the t test or the Mann-Whitney U test to compare continuous variables. Significance was set at p<0·05. We constructed multilevel logistic regression models to adjust for the differences in mortality rates between countries.Findings: We included 46 539 patients, of whom 1855 (4%) died before hospital discharge. 3599 (8%) patients were admitted to critical care after surgery with a median length of stay of 1·2 days (IQR 0·9–3·6). 1358 (73%) patients who died were not admitted to critical care at any stage after surgery. Crude mortality rates varied widely between countries (from 1·2% [95% CI 0·0–3·0] for Iceland to 21·5% [16·9–26·2] for Latvia). After adjustment for confounding variables, important differences remained between countries when compared with the UK, the country with the largest dataset (OR range from 0·44 [95% CI 0·19 1·05; p=0·06] for Finland to 6·92 [2·37–20·27; p=0·0004] for Poland).Interpretation: The mortality rate for patients undergoing inpatient non-cardiac surgery was higher than anticipated. Variations in mortality between countries suggest the need for national and international strategies to improve care for this group of patients.Funding: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, European Society of Anaesthesiology