Climate simulations of large scale conditions associated with the genesis of medicanes

Póster elaborado para la European Conference on Severe Storms celebrada en Palma de Mallorca del 3 al 7 de octubre de 2011Project Medicanes (GCL2008-01271/CLI) from Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain)

Hand’s Asymmetries in Fine Motor Precision and Speed Performance in Different Age Groups

Rose (1970) showed that women had more symmetrical precision in movements in hands, whereas men performed more asymmetrically (with dominance for right hand). These findings were congruent with Ananiev’s (1968) scheme differentiated for sexes, in which for men there was a need for use of additional adaptive mechanisms (asymmetry) whereas women passed with basic ones (symmetry). Our study aimedto check the hands symmetry/asymmetry and correlations in fine motor precision and speed in both sexes and how they change in different age groups. The results of our study showed that the highest asymmetry in fine motor precision was related (for both sex groups and among all movement types) to the developmental periodof life (12-17 years old) followed by group age of 64-95 due to ageing processes. In our study women performed with less asymmetry between both hands for majority of observable variables compared to men in all age groups. The highest frequency of asymmetrical performance in fine motor precision for both sexes was observed in the Frontal movement type, followed by the Transversal, and least, in the Sagittal. For the speed performance, the highest frequency of asymmetrical performance was shown in the Transversal movement type. Keywords: fine motor precision; speed; sex differences; age-depended differences; Proprioceptive diagnostics; M.K.P

Mediterranean cyclones in a changing climate. Results from JMA-GSM model

Póster elaborado para la 11th PLINIUS Conference in Mediterranean Storms celebrada del 7 al 11 de septiembre de 2009 en Barcelona.This work has been framed within the MEDEX project, and has had the support from MEDICANES/CGL2008-01271/CLI project, from Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

Nickel Silicide Formation Using Excimer Laser Annealing

AbstractIn this work, we report on a self-aligned nickel silicide formation technique based on excimer laser annealing (ELA). We evaluate this process for the front contact formation of industrial PERC type solar cells on random pyramid textured Si surfaces where damage to surface texture, emitter passivation, or to the shallow junction should be avoided or minimized. PERC type solar cells obtained by POCl3 diffusion were processed on large area (12.5x12.5cm2) CZ-Si. Self-aligned litho-free Ni/Cu contacts defined by ps-laser ablation of the SiO2/SiNx anti-reflective coating (ARC) and subsequent ELA of the Ni layer were compared to conventional Ag screen printed contacts.The novel ELA process results in an absolute gain in Jsc of 0.8mA/cm2 as well as a drop of 0.3Ω.cm2 in series resistance (Rs) compared to SP Ag contacts due to reduced shading and resistance losses. This leads to 0.5% absolute increase in efficiency from 19.3% to 19.7% since other characteristics (Voc, pFF) could be maintained to the same level. In this work, the best performing cell with the ELA process reached an outstanding 20.0% energy conversion efficiency with Jsc=39.3mA/cm2, Voc=649.8mV, and FF=78.3%

Fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in sow diets modifies oxylipins and immune indicators in colostrum and milk

Colostrum and milk are the first nutrient sources for newborn piglets. In addition, n-3 fatty acids (FAs) and their oxygenated derivatives (oxylipins) have the capacity to modulate immune components. The aim of the current study was to include a fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in sow diets to promote an increase of anti-inflammatory molecules in colostrum and milk to benefit piglets. Thirty-six sows were randomly assigned from insemination to the end of lactation to either a control diet with animal fat (15 g/kg in gestation and 30 g/kg in lactation) or an n-3 diet in which animal fat was totally (gestation) or half (lactation) replaced by an equivalent amount of solid fish oil. Performance of sows and piglets was monitored during the study. Colostrum and milk samples were obtained after the birth of the first piglet and at weaning, respectively. From all samples (n = 18 per treatment), FAs were quantified by gas chromatography and immunoglobulins and cytokines by ELISA. Three samples per treatment were randomly selected to analyse oxylipin composition by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In colostrum and in milk, the n-3 FA (P = 0.020 and P < 0.001), particularly EPA (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) and DHA (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), and also their oxygenated derivatives were increased in samples from sows fed n-3 diet. Fish oil had no effect on immunoglobulin concentrations, but reduced tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) (P = 0.011) and a tendency to reduce interleukin 10 (IL10) (P = 0.059) were observed in milk. In conclusion, fish oil in sow diets increased n-3 FA, particularly EPA and DHA, and their oxygenated derivatives in colostrum and milk, reducing TNFα and IL10 in milk.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rickettsiosis

Las rickettsiosis son consideradas enfermedades desatendidas, poco reconocidas o confundidas con otras patologías en las áreas tropicales y subtropicales. En Colombia, a pesar de tener identificadas zonas endémicas de rickettsiosis son pocos los estudios realizados sobre la enfermedad y son escasos los trabajos de vigilancia en salud pública. Actualmente se están realizando esfuerzos para entender los mecanismos moleculares patogénicos de las diferentes especies de rickettsia, sin embargo, grandes avances deben realizarse para comprender mejor la epidemiologia y desarrollar métodos de diagnóstico rápidos, sensibles y reproducibles para aquellas zonas donde estas zoonosis aparecen de forma impredecible

Presentación atípica de una tiroiditis supurativa en una paciente inmunocompetente con compromiso vascular (síndrome de Lemierre)

La patología de la glándula tiroidea, en su mayor porcentaje, está constituida por las tiroiditis, una amplia gama de enfermedades de diversa etiología (infecciosa, autoinmune o de ocurrencia desconocida) y su duración (agudas, subagudas o crónicas). Desde el punto de vista fisiológico pueden variar en su presentación y causar hipotiroidismo o tirotoxicosis o no alterar el funcionamiento de las hormonas tiroideas. La tiroiditis supurativa aguda tiene una causa principalmente infecciosa. Es una condición inusual, ya que la tiroides normal es particularmente resistente a las infecciones debido a su extenso drenaje venoso y linfático, además de su alto contenido de yodo y la presencia de una cápsula fibrosa, que sirve como escudo ante agentes nocivos externos. Las infecciones de la tiroides representan aproximadamente el 0,7% de toda la patología quirúrgica en relación con esta glándula (1-3) y son más frecuentes en una tiroides anormal. A pesar de lo extraño de esta condición, es importante conocer cuál es su presentación y su asociación con los pacientes inmunocompetentes, como la extensión vascular presente en el síndrome de Lemierre que presentó esta paciente. El objetivo de este informe es presentar un caso clínico de una paciente que cursó con un episodio de tiroiditis infecciosa, su manejo y las diferentes causas de tiroiditis. Se realizó una revisión actualizada del tema y las diferentes opciones de tratamiento. Este caso se manejó rápidamente con corticoides y terapia antibiótica, al igual que drenaje quirúrgico. La paciente se recuperó respondiendo satisfactoriamente al manejo quirúrgico y farmacológico instaurado. Se concluyó que el tratamiento efectuado fue exitos

Optimization of Rear Point Contact Geometry by Means of 3-D Numerical Simulation

Abstract In this work three-dimensional (3-D) numerical simulations, validated by the experimental measurements of a reference cell, have been performed to optimize the rear contact geometry of a PERC-type solar cell, featuring a high sheet resistance (140 Ω/sq) phosphorus-doped emitter and a front-side metallization with narrow and highly-conductive electro-plated copper lines (40 μm wide) on lowly resistive Ti contacts. The simulation results show that an optimization of the rear point contact design potentially leads to an efficiency improvement of 0.68%abs compared to the reference cell

Infecciones por hantavirus

Hantaviruses are the causative agents of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in humans in the Americas; The primary reservoirs are in the rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae. In South America, cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome caused by numerous viral genotypes have been diagnosed. In Colombia, different serological studies have reported the circulation of hantavirus in humans and rodents. These viruses act in an intimate association with a rodent species that serves as a reservoir and have a distribution around the wild rodent, being limited to a specific geographic region. In South America, the first HPS-associated hantavirus was described in 1993 in Brazil and was called Juquitiva and from 1993 to 2012, more than 1400 cases had been identified in Brazil. This syndrome should be suspected in all patients with respiratory distress syndrome of unclear etiology, in areas endemic for the disease, especially if accompanied by fever, marked leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia and bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Hemorrhagic febrile syndrome has not yet been described in the Americas. There are no clinical or laboratory signs that are pathognomonic of hantavirus infection. The treatment is based on adequate hydration, use of antipyretics and anti-inflammatories and patients with signs of severity should establish a more aggressive management. Triage is indispensable, patients with co-morbidities have a higher mortality risk and therefore should be hospitalized. Future research in Colombia should be directed to multidisciplinary studies that include viral isolation, different clinical forms of case presentation, epidemiological differences, risk factors, and taxonomy of viruses and rodents.Los hantavirus, virus que son los agentes causantes de síndrome pulmonar por hantavirus en humanos en America; los reservorios primarios están en los roedores de la sub-familia Sigmodontinae. En Suramérica, se han diagnosticado casos del síndrome pulmonar por hantavirus y se han identifico numerosos genotipos virales. En Colombia, se han publicado diferentes estudios serológicos que reportaron la circulación de hantavirus en humanos y roedores. Estos virus actúan en una íntima asociación con una especie de roedor que le sirve de reservorio y presentan una distribución alrededor del roedor silvestre, limitándose a una región geográfica especifica. En Suramérica, el primer hantavirus asociado a SPH fue descrito en 1993 en Brasil y se denominó Juquitiva y desde 1993 hasta el 2012, se habían identificado más de 1400 casos en Brasil. Se debe sospechar de este síndrome en todo paciente con síndrome de distrés respiratorio de etiología no clara, en las zonas endémicas para la enfermedad sobre todo si se acompaña de fiebre, leucocitosis marcada y trombocitopenia e infiltrados intersticiales bilaterales. El síndrome febril hemorrágico aún no se han descrito casos en las Américas. No existen signos clínicos o de laboratorio que sean patognomónicos de la infección por hantavirus. El tratamiento se hace con base en una adecuada hidratación y del uno de antipiréticos y antiinflamatorios y los pacientes con signos de severidad se debe instaurar un manejo más agresivo. El triage es indispensable, pacientes con co-morbilidades tienen un riesgo de mortalidad mayor y por lo tanto deben ser hospitalizados. La investigación futura en Colombia deberá encaminarse a estudios multidisciplinarios que incluyan el aislamiento viral, las diferentes formas clínicas de presentación de los casos, las diferencias epidemiológicas, los factores de riesgo y la taxonomía de virus y roedores

Infecciones por arenavirus

The infectious syndromes associated with arenaviruses in South America are four: febrile syndrome of viral origin; Haemorrhagic fevers with or without neurological involvement; Aseptic meningitis and meningo-encephalitis. Among the Arenavirus of the new world is the Tacaribe complex where the viruses are found: Junín (Argentina), Guanarito (Venezuela), Machupo (Bolivia) and Sabiá (Brazil), which are characterized by hemorrhagic fevers. In Colombia the arenavirus Pichindé was isolated in 1965, from the rodent Oryzomys albigularis, in the valley of Pichindé (Valle del Cauca). This arenavirus produces a persistent infection in its host and is not pathogenic for the man. There is evidence of the circulation of the Guanarito virus in rodents from Córdoba, but there are no cases diagnosed in humans; In Colombia, the genome of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was detected in the brains of rodents Mus musculus. The diagnosis is based on the knowledge of local epidemiology and the suspicion of a patient with fever in endemic areas, where infections such as malaria, dengue and leptospirosis, sepsis of bacterial origin and rickectomy have been excluded. Virus isolation in the feverish period is the gold standart, but it implies contact with the virus that is highly infectious, which represents a public health problem. Serology has been used for diagnosis, but there is no commercial evidence and only research groups and large public health laboratories have these tests. Most of the patients present a moderate severity, which needs adequate hydration, antipyretics and anti-inflammatories. All patients with severe signs should be aggressively treated. The use of drugs has not demonstrated a decrease in mortality but a significant reduction in viremia.Los síndromes infecciosos asociados a arenavirus en América del sur son cuatro: síndrome febril de origen viral; fiebres hemorrágicas con o sin compromiso neurológico; meningitis asépticas y meningo-encefalitis. Entre los Arenavirus del nuevo mundo, está el complejo Tacaribe donde se encuentran los virus: Junín (Argentina), Guanarito (Venezuela), Machupo (Bolivia) y Sabiá (Brasil), que se caracterizan por causar fiebres hemorrágicas. En Colombia fue aislado el arenavirus Pichindé en 1965, del roedor Oryzomys albigularis, en el valle de Pichindé (Valle del Cauca). Este arenavirus produce una infección persistente en su hospedero y no es patógeno para el hombre. Hay evidencias de la circulación del virus Guanarito en roedores de Córdoba, pero no existen casos diagnosticados en humanos; en Sincelejo (Colombia) se detectó el genoma del virus coriomeningitis linfocítica en cerebros de roedores Mus musculus. El diagnóstico se basa en el conocimiento de la epidemiología local y la sospecha de un paciente con un cuadro febril en zonas endémicas, donde se han excluido infecciones como: malaria, dengue y leptospirosis, sepsis de origen bacteriano y rickectsiosis. El aislamiento viral en periodo febril es el gold standart, pero implica el contacto con el virus que es altamente infectante, lo que representa un problema de salud pública. Se ha usado la serología para el diagnóstico, pero no hay pruebas comerciales y sólo grupos de investigación y grandes laboratorios de salud pública poseen estas pruebas. La mayor parte de los pacientes presentan un cuadro de gravedad moderada, que necesita una adecuada hidratación, antipiréticos y antiinflamatorios. Todos los pacientes con signos de severos deben tener un manejo agresivo. El uso de medicamentos no ha demostrado una disminución de la mortalidad, pero si una reducción significativa de la viremia