Photocarrier extraction in GaAsSb/GaAsN type-II QW superlattice solar cells

Photocarrier transport and extraction in GaAsSb/GaAsN type-II quantum well superlattices are investigated by means of inelastic quantum transport calculations based on the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism. Evaluation of the local density of states and of the spectral current flow enables the identification of different regimes for carrier localization, transport, and extraction as a function of configurational parameters. These include the number of periods, the thicknesses of the individual layers in one period, the built-in electric field, and the temperature of operation. The results for the carrier extraction efficiency are related to experimental data for different symmetric GaAsSb/GaAsN type-II quantum well superlattice solar cell devices and provide a qualitative explanation for the experimentally observed dependence of photovoltaic device performance on period thickness.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in Applied Physics Letter

Cryptococcus agrionensis sp. nov., a basidiomycetous yeast of the acidic rock drainage ecoclade, isolated from an acidic aquatic environment of volcanic origin

Seventy-one strains were isolated from the River Agrio–Lake Caviahue acidic aquatic environment in Argentina. Strains were isolated mainly from the most acidic section of the river (pH 1.8–2.7). According to the mini/microsatellite-primed PCR technique and physiological data, these strains are representatives of a single novel species of the genusCryptococcus. Analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large-subunit rRNA gene showed that the strains belong to the order Filobasidiales of the subphylum Agaricomycotina. The novel isolates formed a phylogenetic group withCryptococcus ibericus,Cryptococcus aciditoleransandCryptococcus metallitolerans, the most closely related species.This group, which is phylogenetically related to the Gastricus clade, is considered to be an ecoclade due to its peculiar ecology and physiology. The nameCryptococcus agrionensissp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these isolates, with strain CRUB 1317T(=CBS 10799T=JCM 15321T) as the type strain

Identification of the Segregation Kinetics of Ultrathin GaAsSb/GaAs Films Using AlAs Markers

For optoelectronic devices from the near to the far infrared, the advantages of using ultrathin III-Sb layers as quantum wells or in superlattices are well known. However, these alloys suffer from severe surface segregation problems, so that the actual profiles are very different from the nominal ones. Here, by inserting AlAs markers within the structure, state-of-the-art transmission electron microscopy techniques were used to precisely monitor the incorporation/segregation of Sb in ultrathin GaAsSb films (from 1 to 20 monolayers (MLs)). Our rigorous analysis allows us to apply the most successful model for describing the segregation of III-Sb alloys (three-layer kinetic model) in an unprecedented way, limiting the number of parameters to be fitted. The simulation results show that the segregation energy is not constant throughout the growth (which is not considered in any segregation model) but has an exponential decay from 0.18 eV to converge asymptotically towards 0.05 eV. This explains why the Sb profiles follow a sigmoidal growth model curve with an initial lag in Sb incorporation of 5 MLs and would be consistent with a progressive change in surface reconstruction as the floating layer is enriched

Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a propensity-weighted cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a hyperinflammatory condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, has emerged as a serious illness in children worldwide. Immunoglobulin or glucocorticoids, or both, are currently recommended treatments. METHODS: The Best Available Treatment Study evaluated immunomodulatory treatments for MIS-C in an international observational cohort. Analysis of the first 614 patients was previously reported. In this propensity-weighted cohort study, clinical and outcome data from children with suspected or proven MIS-C were collected onto a web-based Research Electronic Data Capture database. After excluding neonates and incomplete or duplicate records, inverse probability weighting was used to compare primary treatments with intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, or glucocorticoids alone, using intravenous immunoglobulin as the reference treatment. Primary outcomes were a composite of inotropic or ventilator support from the second day after treatment initiation, or death, and time to improvement on an ordinal clinical severity scale. Secondary outcomes included treatment escalation, clinical deterioration, fever, and coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN69546370. FINDINGS: We enrolled 2101 children (aged 0 months to 19 years) with clinically diagnosed MIS-C from 39 countries between June 14, 2020, and April 25, 2022, and, following exclusions, 2009 patients were included for analysis (median age 8·0 years [IQR 4·2-11·4], 1191 [59·3%] male and 818 [40·7%] female, and 825 [41·1%] White). 680 (33·8%) patients received primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, 698 (34·7%) with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, 487 (24·2%) with glucocorticoids alone; 59 (2·9%) patients received other combinations, including biologicals, and 85 (4·2%) patients received no immunomodulators. There were no significant differences between treatments for primary outcomes for the 1586 patients with complete baseline and outcome data that were considered for primary analysis. Adjusted odds ratios for ventilation, inotropic support, or death were 1·09 (95% CI 0·75-1·58; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids and 0·93 (0·58-1·47; corrected p value=1·00) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Adjusted average hazard ratios for time to improvement were 1·04 (95% CI 0·91-1·20; corrected p value=1·00) for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids, and 0·84 (0·70-1·00; corrected p value=0·22) for glucocorticoids alone, versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Treatment escalation was less frequent for intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids (OR 0·15 [95% CI 0·11-0·20]; p<0·0001) and glucocorticoids alone (0·68 [0·50-0·93]; p=0·014) versus intravenous immunoglobulin alone. Persistent fever (from day 2 onward) was less common with intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids compared with either intravenous immunoglobulin alone (OR 0·50 [95% CI 0·38-0·67]; p<0·0001) or glucocorticoids alone (0·63 [0·45-0·88]; p=0·0058). Coronary artery aneurysm occurrence and resolution did not differ significantly between treatment groups. INTERPRETATION: Recovery rates, including occurrence and resolution of coronary artery aneurysms, were similar for primary treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin when compared to glucocorticoids or intravenous immunoglobulin plus glucocorticoids. Initial treatment with glucocorticoids appears to be a safe alternative to immunoglobulin or combined therapy, and might be advantageous in view of the cost and limited availability of intravenous immunoglobulin in many countries. FUNDING: Imperial College London, the European Union's Horizon 2020, Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Foundation, UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, and National Institutes of Health

Immunogold Labeling to Detect Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 in Cell Culture and Tissues by Electron Microscopy

Final publication is available from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers https://doi.org/10.1089/crispr.2019.0032.The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a powerful and yet precise DNA-editing tool in rapid development. By combining immunogold labeling and electron microscopy with the novel CRISPR-Cas9 system, we propose a new method to gain insight into the biology of this tool. In this study, we analyzed different Cas9-induced systems such as HEK293T cell line, murine oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, brain and liver to detect Cas9 expression by immunoelectron microscopy. Our results show that while Cas9 expression could be found in the nuclei and nucleopores of transfected HEK293T cells, in transfected oligodendrocyte precursor cells, Cas9 was found in cytoplasmic vesicles. In Cas9 constitutively expressing oligodendrocyte precursors, the enzyme was located in the cytoplasm of nondividing cells. Finally, while in the liver Cas9 was detected in different cell types, in the brain we found no specifically labeled cells. In conclusion, immunoelectron microscopy opens a new spectrum of opportunities to study the CRISPR-Cas9 system in a more precise manner

Satisfacción laboral de los profesionales de Atención Primaria del Área 10 del Insalud de Madrid

total requiere conocer la satisfacción laboral de los trabajadores. Pretendemos averiguar el nivel de satisfacción global y de cada uno de los componentes en la Atención Primaria del Area 10. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en el Area 10 del @salud de Madrid, Atención Primaria. Trabajan en este Area 668 profesionales sanitarios y no sanitarios. Se utiliza el cuestionario de satisfacción Font Roja, adaptado por J. Aranaz, que mide la satisfacción laboral a través de una escala de 1 (menor grado de satisfacción) a 5 (mayor grado de satisfacción). Resultados: Respondió el cuestionario un 80% de la población. La puntuación media de la satisfacción es de 3,12 (Error Típico ET= 0,017). Las dimensiones menos valoradas han sido la tensión relacionada con el trabajo, con una media de 2,30 (ET= 0,041) y la promoción profesional con una media de 2,42 (ET= 0,038). La dimensión más valorada es la competencia profesional con una media de 4,0 1 (ET= 0,058). Conclusiones: Los profesionales se encuentran medianamente satisfechos en su frabajo. Comparando este estudio con el realizado en este Area en 1992, concluimos que las dimensiones tensi& laborul y promoción profesional siguen siendo las peor valoradas, lo que debería de activar medidas correctoras por parte de los equipos directivos

Microbiological quality of high-demand food from three major cities in Ecuador

Las enfermedades bacterianas transmitidas por los alimentos se encuentran entre los problemas de salud pública más importantes a nivel mundial, pero en Ecuador los informes sobre la calidad microbiológica de los alimentos son escasos. En este estudio transversal, se recolectaron 450 muestras de comida ecuatoriana de alta demanda, incluyendo bolón, encebollado, salsas, ceviche, fruta, jugo de fruta, ensalada de frutas, queso, pollo crudo y carne molida, de mercados callejeros populares en el ciudades de Guayaquil, Quito y Cuenca. Las poblaciones de bacterias aerobias mesófilas totales, coliformes totales, coliformes fecales, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica y Listeria monocytogenes se examinaron en muestras compuestas por recuento en placa siguiendo las normas locales (Norma Técnica Ecuatoriana, Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalización) para cada tipo de alimento. Los efectos individuales y de interacción de la ciudad y el tipo de alimento en los niveles de cada grupo bacteriano se evaluaron mediante un análisis de varianza de dos vías. Las colonias seleccionadas de cada cultivo se identificaron utilizando Biolog OmniLog ID y la secuenciación de la región V3 a V4 en el gen 16S rRNA. Los niveles promedio de bacterias mesófilas aeróbicas totales, coliformes totales, coliformes fecales y E. coli fueron 5,10 ± 0,12, 2,50 ± 0,16, 1,09 ± 0,12 y 0,83 ± 0,12 log CFU/g o mL, respectivamente, con variaciones significativas entre las ciudades. La prevalencia de Salmonella en pollo y salsas y L. monocytogenes en queso y ensalada de frutas fue superior al 20%. Los patógenos oportunistas, incluidos Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus sciuri y Enterococcus spp. fueron identificados con frecuencia en las muestras de las tres ciudades. También se observó una alta prevalencia de microorganismos de deterioro como Bacillus amyloliquefaciens y bacterias de control biológico como Lactococcus lactis. Este es el primer informe sobre la calidad microbiológica de los alimentos del Ecuador.Bacterial foodborne diseases are among the most important public health issues worldwide, but in Ecuador, reports on the microbiological quality of food are scarce. In this cross-sectional study, 450 samples of high-demand Ecuadorian food, including bolon, encebollado, sauces, ceviche, fruit, fruit juice, fruit salad, cheese, raw chicken, and ground beef, were collected from popular street markets in the cities of Guayaquil, Quito, and Cuenca. Populations of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes were examined on composited samples by plate count following the local regulations (Norma Tecnica Ecuatoriana, Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalización) for each kind of food. The individual and interaction effects of the city and food type on the levels of each bacterial group were assessed by two-way analysis of variance. Selected colonies from each culture were identified using Biolog OmniLog ID and sequencing of the V3 to V4 region on the 16S rRNA gene. Average total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. coli levels were 5.10 6 0.12, 2.50 6 0.16, 1.09 6 0.12, and 0.83 6 0.12 log CFU/g or mL, respectively, with significant variations among the cities. The prevalence of Salmonella in chicken and sauces and L. monocytogenes in cheese and fruit salad was greater than 20%. Opportunistic pathogens including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus sciuri, and Enterococcus spp. were frequently identified in the samples from all three cities. High prevalence of spoilage microorganisms such as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and biocontrol bacteria such as Lactococcus lactis was also observed. This is the first report on the microbiological quality of food from Ecuador

Five strategies for labor insertion and entrepreneurship with bachelor and master students

El proyecto ha sido de gran utilidad entre los alumnos de grado en la asignatura de organización institucional, dadas las implicaciones que tiene el proyecto con el área de conocimiento. Se realización varios pre-proyectos educativos que tenían como base este proyecto de innovaciónDesarrollamos 5 estrategias para el emprendimiento a través de un equipo eficiente y eficaz que va hacia emprender y reemprender ideas que emergen en las aulas universitarias y construir un futuro. Lo importante es abrir la mente hacia la creatividad.In the futures lines we develop 5 strategies for entrepreneurship through an efficient and effective team that goes towards undertaking ideas that emerge in university classrooms and building a future. The most important is to open the mind to creativity.Depto. de Estudios EducativosFac. de EducaciónFALSEUniversidad Complutense e Instituciones Privadassubmitte