Estado de salud y demanda de servicios de salud de la población ecuatoriana en España

Análisis del estado de salud y del grado de acceso a los servicios de salud de los inmigrantes ecuatorianos en la provincia de Alicante. La finalidad es descriptiva y práctica: realizar un diagnóstico comunitario de salud básico y una aproximación al nivel de demanda de los servicios sanitarios. El análisis se centra en la evaluación de la hipótesis del inmigrante sano, pero vulnerable, y en el tipo de consumo de servicios de salud realizado. Para valorar esta hipótesis se ha procedido a comparar los datos obtenidos en una encuesta a población ecuatoriana residente en la provincia de Alicante, con los de la última Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2003 y el PHOGUE (2000). Los resultados indican que el estado de salud de la población ecuatoriana es similar al de la población española que participa en el mismo mercado de trabajo que la inmigración económica (trabajadores con baja cualificación), aunque se observan algunos elementos de vulnerabilidad (en especial, en términos de salud emocional).La presente investigación ha sido financiada por el Instituto de Salud Carlos III, ref. PI042287

Dynamic Control of a Novel Planar Cable-Driven Parallel Robot with a Large Wrench Feasible Workspace

Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) are special manipulators where rigid links are replaced with cables. The use of cables offers several advantages over the conventional rigid manipulators, one of the most interesting being their ability to cover large workspaces since cables are easily winded. However, this workspace coverage has its limitations due to the maximum permissible cable tensions, i.e., tension limitations cause a decrease in the Wrench Feasible Workspace (WFW) of these robots. To solve this issue, a novel design based in the addition of passive carriages to the robot frame of three degrees-of-freedom (3DOF) fully-constrained CDPRs is used. The novelty of the design allows reducing the variation in the cable directions and forces increasing the robot WFW; nevertheless, it presents a low stiffness along the x direction. This paper presents the dynamic model of the novel proposal together with a new dynamic control technique, which rejects the vibrations caused by the stiffness loss while ensuring an accurate trajectory tracking. The simulation results show that the controlled system presents a larger WFW than the conventional scheme of the CDPR, maintaining a good performance in the trajectory tracking of the end-effector. The novel proposal presented here can be applied in multiple planar applications

Aportaciones a la flora de Andalucía.

New data on the Andalusian flora. Palabras clave. Papaver, Erica, Convolvulus, Teucrium, flora, corología, Andalucía, España.Key words. Papaver, Erica, Convolvulus, Teucrium, flora, chorology, Andalusia, Spain

Serum levels and removal by haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration of tryptophan-derived uremic toxins in ESKD patients

Tryptophan is an essential dietary amino acid that originates uremic toxins that contribute to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patient outcomes. We evaluated serum levels and removal during haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration of tryptophan and tryptophan-derived uremic toxins, indoxyl sulfate (IS) and indole acetic acid (IAA), in ESKD patients in different dialysis treatment settings. This prospective multicentre study in four European dialysis centres enrolled 78 patients with ESKD. Blood and spent dialysate samples obtained during dialysis were analysed with high-performance liquid chromatography to assess uremic solutes, their reduction ratio (RR) and total removed solute (TRS). Mean free serum tryptophan and IS concentrations increased, and concentration of IAA decreased over pre-dialysis levels (67%, 49%, -0.8%, respectively) during the first hour of dialysis. While mean serum total urea, IS and IAA concentrations decreased during dialysis (-72%, -39%, -43%, respectively), serum tryptophan levels increased, resulting in negative RR (-8%) towards the end of the dialysis session (p < 0.001), despite remarkable Trp losses in dialysate. RR and TRS values based on serum (total, free) and dialysate solute concentrations were lower for conventional low-flux dialysis (p < 0.001). High-efficiency haemodiafiltration resulted in 80% higher Trp losses than conventional low-flux dialysis, despite similar neutral Trp RR values. In conclusion, serum Trp concentrations and RR behave differently from uremic solutes IS, IAA and urea and Trp RR did not reflect dialysis Trp losses. Conventional low-flux dialysis may not adequately clear Trp-related uremic toxins while high efficiency haemodiafiltration increased Trp losses

A search for AGN in the most extreme UV-selected starbursts using the European VLBI Network

We have used the European VLBI Network (EVN) to observe a sample of Lyman Break Analogs (LBAs), nearby (z < 0.3) galaxies with properties similar to the more distant Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs). The study of LBGs may help define the feed-back relationship between black holes (BHs) and their host galaxies. Previous VLA observations have shown that the kpc-scale radio emission from LBAs is dominated by starbursts. The main targets of this VLBI experiment were selected because they possessed emission-line properties between starbursts and Type 2 (obscured) AGN. Eight targets (three star-forming LBAs, four composite LBAs, and one Type 1 AGN) were observed at 5 GHz, four of which were also observed at 1.7 GHz. One star-forming LBA and one composite LBA were detected above 5 \sigma at 1.7 GHz (only), while the AGN was detected at 5 GHz. In both LBAs, the radio luminosity (LR) exceeds that expected from supernovae (remnants) based on a comparison with Arp220, Arp229A and Mrk273, by factors of 2 - 8. The composite LBA exhibits a compact core emitting around 10% of the VLA flux density. The high Tb of 3.5E7 K and excess core L_R with respect to the L_R/L_X relation of radio-quiet AGN indicate that this LBA possesses an obscured AGN (MBH ~ E5-E7 M_sun). While weak AGN may co-exist with the starbursts as shown in at least one of the LBAs, their contribution to the total radio flux is fairly minimal. Our results show that the detection of such weak AGN presents a challenge at radio, X-ray and optical emission-line wavelengths at z ~ 0.2, indicating the great difficulties that need to be overcome in order to study similar processes at high redshift when these types of galaxies were common.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Análisis biomecánico del pie protésico Bioc-dm2

La marcha humana es uno de los aspectos que comprometen directamente el nivel de bienestar del ser humano, además deimpactar de manera emocional y física, también en el cotidiano vivir. Para este estudio nos encontramos inmersos en el reto de poder mejoraralgunas condiciones de la marcha en un paciente que haya sufrido pérdida de miembros inferiores, específicamente a nivel transtibial o transfemoral.Dado que nuestro propósito fue el análisis, diseño y manufactura de un componente protésico de miembro inferior que supla las necesidades propiasy de funcionalidad, es necesario construir un pie con todos los estándares de calidad que constituya todos y cada uno de los movimientos requeridospara formar el complejo patrón fundamental de la marcha; además que pueda soportar el peso fácilmente y el uso cotidiano además de lascaracterísticas físicas de nuestro paciente objeto de estudio. Al realizar la validación física y en la marcha humana, se observa una respuestaadecuada en términos mecánicos, de material de construcción y el dinamismo del componente, evidenciando la adecuada construcción y ensambledel componente. Por otro lado, podemos evidenciar que el diseño y la verificación del componente nos muestra un elemento competitivo, comparadocon los elementos existentes en el mercado; Haciendo necesario la verificación ante Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y AlimentosINVIMA, y la puesta en marcha del dispositivo replicador de uso, para la verificación del componente frente a la norma ISO 10328.Walking is one of the aspects directly compromising human wellbeing, as it has a physical and emotional impact in daily life.For this study, we delve into the challenge of improving some walking conditions in a patient suffering lower limb loss, specifically at transtibialor transfemoral levels. Given that our purpose was the analysis, design and manufacture of a lower-limb prosthetic component, which fills the needsfor functionality, it became necessary to build a foot with all the quality standards associated to each and all movements required to form thecomplex fundamental pattern of walking. Besides, this foot should also easily endure weight, daily use and physical characteristics of the patientobject of this study. When performing physical validation and during human walk, a proper response is observed in terms of mechanics, materialsand dynamics of the component, thus making evident proper construction and assembly. On the other hand, it is feasible that design and verificationof the component provided a competitive element, as compared to existing elements currently in the market. The previous situation generated theneed for verification from the National Institute for Medications and Food (INVIMA), as well as the revision of the use replying device, forcomponent verification, in accordance with ISO 10328

Lavados por aspiración colonoscópica para el perfil metataxonómico mucoso de las alteraciones del tracto gastrointestinal asociadas a la espondiloartritis

El estudio de la microbiota del tracto GI de pacientes con espondiloartritis (SpA) se ha centrado en el análisis de muestras de heces, que retratan principalmente la microbiota luminal. El objetivo de este estudio era determinar la contribución de la microbiota de la mucosa y la microbiota luminal a la disbiosis intestinal en la espondiloartritis, utilizando lavados por aspiración colonoscópica (LAC), una alternativa reciente para los estudios regionales del tracto gastrointestinal. Se analizaron 59 CAL (de colon sigmoide e íleon distal), y 41 muestras de heces, de 32 pacientes con SpA y 7 individuos sanos, utilizando perfiles metataxonómicos dirigidos al gen 16S rRNA. Se halló una alta prevalencia de manifestaciones del tracto gastrointestinal entre los pacientes con SpA (65,3%). El perfil metataxonómico confirmó que las muestras de CAL del tracto GI inferior (colon o íleon) presentaban un bacterioma distintivo e indiferenciado, distinto del encontrado en las muestras de heces o en el inicio del tracto GI (cavidad oral [OC]). Las muestras del tracto gastrointestinal inferior y las heces de los pacientes con EI mostraron un comportamiento similar al de la microbiota del grupo con EII, con una riqueza y diversidad microbianas reducidas, en comparación con los controles sanos. Curiosamente, se observó un aumento de los taxones proinflamatorios en los pacientes con EI, como la familia Enterobacteriaceae (principalmente en el íleon), Succinivibrio spp. y Prevotella stercorea. Por el contrario, los pacientes con EA presentaron una disminución significativa de los productores de AGCC Coprococcus catus y Eubacterium biforme. Nuestros datos apoyan el valor de las muestras de CAL para el estudio regional del tracto gastrointestinal y aportan información sobre los posibles "taxones perturbadores" implicados en los trastornos asociados al tracto gastrointestinal observados en los pacientes con SpA.he study of the GI-tract microbiota of spondylarthritis (SpA) patients has focused on the analysis of feces samples, that picture mostly the luminal microbiota. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of mucosal and luminal microbiome to the gut dysbiosis in SpA, using colonoscopy aspiration lavages (CAL), a recent alternative for regional studies of the GI-tract. We analyzed 59 CAL (from sigmoid colon and distal ileum), and 41 feces samples, from 32 SpA patients and 7 healthy individuals, using 16S rRNA gene-targeted metataxonomic profiling. It was found high prevalence of GI-tract manifestations among SpA patients (65.3%). Metataxonomic profiling, confirmed CAL samples from the lower GI tract (colon or ileum) presented a distinctive and undifferentiated bacteriome and separate from that found in feces’ samples or in the beginning of the GI tract (oral cavity (OC)). Lower GI-tract samples and feces of SpA patients exhibited similar behavior to the microbiota of IBD group with reduced microbial richness and diversity, comparing to the healthy controls. Interestingly, it was found increase in proinflammatory taxa in SpA patients, such as Enterobacteriaceae family (mostly in the ileum), Succinivibrio spp. and Prevotella stercorea. Conversely, SpA patients presented significant decrease in the SCFA producers Coprococcus catus and Eubacterium biforme. Our data support the value of CAL samples for the regional study of GI-tract and contribute with information of potential “disruptor taxa” involved in the GI-tract associated disorders observed in SpA patients

The nuclear starburst in Arp 299-A: From the 5.0 GHz VLBI radio light-curves to its core-collapse supernova rate

The nuclear region of the Luminous Infra-red Galaxy Arp 299-A hosts a recent ($\simeq 10$ Myr), intense burst of massive star formation which is expected to lead to numerous core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe). Previous VLBI observations, carried out with the EVN at 5.0 GHz and with the VLBA at 2.3 and 8.4 GHz, resulted in the detection of a large number of compact, bright, non-thermal sources in a region \lsim150 pc in size. We aim at establishing the nature of all non-thermal, compact components in Arp 299-A, as well as estimating its core-collapse supernova rate. We use multi-epoch European VLBI Network (EVN) observations taken at 5.0 GHz to image with milliarcsecond resolution the compact radio sources in the nuclear region of Arp 299-A. We also use one single-epoch 5.0 GHz Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) observation to image the extended emission in which the compact radio sources --traced by our EVN observations-- are embedded. Twenty-six compact sources are detected, 8 of them are new objects not previously detected. The properties of all detected objects are consistent with them being a mixed population of CCSNe and SNRs. We find clear evidence for at least two new CCSNe, implying a lower limit to the CCSN rate of \nu_{\rm SN}\gsim0.80 SN/yr indicating that the bulk of the current star formation in Arp 299-A is taking place in the innermost $\sim 150$ pc. Our MERLIN observations trace a region of diffuse, extended emission which is co-spatial to the region where all compact sources are found. From this diffuse, non-thermal radio emission we obtain an independent estimate for the core-collapse supernova rate, which is in the range $\nu_{\rm SN}=0.40$ - 0.65 SN/yr, roughly in agreement with previous estimates and our direct estimate of the CCSN rate from the compact radio emission.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication on Astronomy & Astrophysic

Wide-field global VLBI and MERLIN combined monitoring of supernova remnants in M82

From a combination of MERLIN (Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network) and global VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) observations of the starburst galaxy M82, images of 36 discrete sources at resolutions ranging from ~3 to ~80 mas at 1.7 GHz are presented. Of these 36 sources, 32 are identified as supernova remnants, 2 are HII regions, and 3 remain unclassified. Sizes, flux densities and radio brightnesses are given for all of the detected sources. Additionally, global VLBI only data from this project are used to image four of the most compact radio sources. These data provide a fifth epoch of VLBI observations of these sources, covering a 19-yr time-line. In particular, the continued expansion of one of the youngest supernova remnants, 43.31+59.3 is discussed. The deceleration parameter is a power-law index used to represent the time evolution of the size of a supernova remnant. For the source 43.31+59.3, a lower limit to the deceleration parameter is calculated to be 0.53+/-0.06, based on a lower limit of the age of this source.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, 7 table

The Core-Collapse Supernova Rate in Arp299 Revisited

We present a study of the CCSN rate in nuclei A and B1 of the luminous infrared galaxy Arp299, based on 11 years of Very Large Array monitoring of their radio emission at 8.4 GHz. Significant variations in the nuclear radio flux density can be used to identify the CCSN activity in the absence of high-resolution very long baseline interferometry observations. In the case of the B1-nucleus, the small variations in its measured diffuse radio emission are below the fluxes expected from radio supernovae, thus making it well-suited to detect RSNe through flux density variability. In fact, we find strong evidence for at least three RSNe this way, which results in a lower limit for the CCSN rate of 0.28 +/- 0.16 per year. In the A-nucleus, we did not detect any significant variability and found a SN detection threshold luminosity which allows only the detection of the most luminous RSNe known. Our method is basically blind to normal CCSN explosions occurring within the A-nucleus, which result in too small variations in the nuclear flux density, remaining diluted by the strong diffuse emission of the nucleus itself. Additionally, we have attempted to find near-infrared counterparts for the earlier reported RSNe in the Arp299 nucleus A, by comparing NIR adaptive optics images from the Gemini-N telescope with contemporaneous observations from the European VLBI Network. However, we were not able to detect NIR counterparts for the reported radio SNe within the innermost regions of nucleus A. While our NIR observations were sensitive to typical CCSNe at 300 mas from the centre of the nucleus A, suffering from extinction up to A_v~15 mag, they were not sensitive to such highly obscured SNe within the innermost nuclear regions where most of the EVN sources were detected. (abridged)Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures and 7 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA