Properties of HxTaS2

The preparation of Hx TaS2 (0 \u3c x \u3c 0.87) is described. The compounds are only marginally stable at room temperature, slowly evolving H2S and H2 (and possibly Hp in air). Magnetic susceptibility data show that a low temperature transformation in 2H ... TaS2 (at so•K) is suppressed with the addition of hydrogen, and· at the same time the superconducting transition temperature T c rises from 0.8 to ~4.2•K at x = 0.11. Heat capacity measurements near this concentration show the superconductivity to be a bulk effect. Finally, by correlation of this data with susceptibility and T c measurements in other intercalation compounds, we suggest that the rise of T c (at low electron transfer) is due to suppression of the low temperature transformation and not due to an excitonic mechanism of superconductivity

Selection of adequate optimization criteria in chromatographic separations

Computer-assisted optimization of chromatographic separations is still a fruitful activity. In fact, advances in computerized data handling should make the application of systematic optimization strategies much easier. However, in most contemporary applications, the optimization criterion is not considered to be a key issue (Vanbel, J Pharm Biomed, 21:603–610, 1999). In this paper, an update of the importance of selecting adequate criteria in chromatographic separation is presented

Impact of biological agents on postsurgical complications in inflammatory bowel disease: A multicentre study of Geteccu

Background: The impact of biologics on the risk of postoperative complications (PC) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still an ongoing debate. This lack of evidence is more relevant for ustekinumab and vedolizumab. Aims: To evaluate the impact of biologics on the risk of PC. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 37 centres. Patients treated with biologics within 12 weeks before surgery were considered “exposed”. The impact of the exposure on the risk of 30-day PC and the risk of infections was assessed by logistic regression and propensity score-matched analysis. Results: A total of 1535 surgeries were performed on 1370 patients. Of them, 711 surgeries were conducted in the exposed cohort (584 anti-TNF, 58 vedolizumab and 69 ustekinumab). In the multivariate analysis, male gender (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2–2.0), urgent surgery (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2–2.2), laparotomy approach (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1–1.9) and severe anaemia (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3–2.6) had higher risk of PC, while academic hospitals had significantly lower risk. Exposure to biologics (either anti-TNF, vedolizumab or ustekinumab) did not increase the risk of PC (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.97–1.58), although it could be a risk factor for postoperative infections (OR 1.5; 95% CI: 1.03–2.27). Conclusions: Preoperative administration of biologics does not seem to be a risk factor for overall PC, although it may be so for postoperative infections

Diffusion-based structural connectivity patterns of multiple sclerosis phenotypes

Background: We aimed to describe the severity of the changes in brain diffusion-based connectivity as multiple sclerosis (MS) progresses and the microstructural characteristics of these networks that are associated with distinct MS phenotypes.Methods: Clinical information and brain MRIs were collected from 221 healthy individuals and 823 people with MS at 8 MAGNIMS centres. The patients were divided into four clinical phenotypes: clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive and primary progressive. Advanced tractography methods were used to obtain connectivity matrices. Then, differences in whole-brain and nodal graph-derived measures, and in the fractional anisotropy of connections between groups were analysed. Support vector machine algorithms were used to classify groups.Results: Clinically isolated syndrome and relapsing-remitting patients shared similar network changes relative to controls. However, most global and local network properties differed in secondary progressive patients compared with the other groups, with lower fractional anisotropy in most connections. Primary progressive participants had fewer differences in global and local graph measures compared with clinically isolated syndrome and relapsing-remitting patients, and reductions in fractional anisotropy were only evident for a few connections. The accuracy of support vector machine to discriminate patients from healthy controls based on connection was 81%, and ranged between 64% and 74% in distinguishing among the clinical phenotypes.Conclusions: In conclusion, brain connectivity is disrupted in MS and has differential patterns according to the phenotype. Secondary progressive is associated with more widespread changes in connectivity. Additionally, classification tasks can distinguish between MS types, with subcortical connections being the most important factor

Programa de autoayuda para la toma de decisiones al finalizar la Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO). C.E.S.O.F./06

ABSTRACTThe proposed program is a powerful comprehensive tool for decisions making within Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO). It appears in printed format (Student's Book and Tutor's Handbbok) and in electronic format, as an interactive CD-Rom. The first one has been designed for its use throughout three tutorised 60 minute long sessions. If applied in an autonomous way, it allows the student free management of the work sessions. The interactive format can be either completed in a single 60 minute session or adapted to the student's needs. The program has been asessed and validated, both internally and externally, and it has proved to be useful, user-friendly and efficient from the point of view of time consumption and equipment requirements. It provides the student with a quality decisions making method, which is very likely to be successful. It also improves personal opinion exchanges within the family, opens up interesting discussions for the guidance process and becomes a motivating tool for any task related to the tutorial action.RESUMENEl programa que presentamos constituye un método completo y eficaz para la toma de decisiones en la Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO). Se presenta en formato texto (Cuaderno del alumno y Manual del tutor) y en un CE-Rom interactivo. El formato texto está diseñado para aplicarse en tres sesiones de 60 minutos supervisadas por el tutor. Si se aplica de forma autónoma, las sesiones pueden organizarse a criterio del sujeto. El formato interactivo puede completarse en una sesión única de 60 minutos o adaptarse a las necesidades del sujeto. El programa ha sido contrastado y validado interna y externamente y ha demostrado su utilidad, facilidad de manejo, economía de tiempo y de recursos. Permite una toma de decisiones con garantía de éxito, facilita el intercambio de opiniones en el seno familiar, abre debates sugerentes en el proceso orientador y se convierte en un instrumento motivador de las tareas propias de la acción tutorial.ABSTRACTThe proposed program is a powerful comprehensive tool for decisions making within Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO). It appears in printed format (Student's Book and Tutor's Handbbok) and in electronic format, as an interactive CD-Rom. The first one has been designed for its use throughout three tutorised 60 minute long sessions. If applied in an autonomous way, it allows the student free management of the work sessions. The interactive format can be either completed in a single 60 minute session or adapted to the student's needs. The program has been asessed and validated, both internally and externally, and it has proved to be useful, user-friendly and efficient from the point of view of time consumption and equipment requirements. It provides the student with a quality decisions making method, which is very likely to be successful. It also improves personal opinion exchanges within the family, opens up interesting discussions for the guidance process and becomes a motivating tool for any task related to the tutorial action