Amplificación del efecto destructivo de los desprendimientos rocosos por deslizamiento sobre suelos volcánicos (Tenerife y Madeira)

This work provides geomorphological and geotechnical observations on the amplification of the destructive behaviour of rock falls developed in rocky slopes with a soil rich in organic matter, which are both exposed to high rainfall regimes. The determinant factor of this process would be related to the low geotechnical quality that the organic matter gives to the soil, which experience a sudden change in its fabric related to the dynamic load, similar to those observed in the quick clays in the fjords of Norway

Transversalidad de las técnicas de modelado matemático en Farmacia con la ayuda de una hoja de cálculo

The implementation of the EHEA in Pharmacy studies will lead to foster student self-learning. This way the student abilities to apply knowledge, learned in some subjects, to search knowledge in any other will be tested. Among such applicative knowledge, we can consider the mathematical modelling techniques, included in the field of Mathematics. This article draws attention to the usefulness of popular spreadsheets for Pharmacy students interested in the application of mathematical modelling techniques. Roughly speaking, a pharmacy student will probably have to perform mathematical calculations and experimental data visualizations, especially in the practice syllabus of some of his subjects. The use of software is important in this respect, not only in the learning step of the mathematical concepts in the corresponding math subject, but also in its application to other Pharmacy subjects. What application software can be chosen for the students? Although there are many candidates, a spreadsheet offers some capabilities that make it ideal for a Pharmacy student: short learning time, wide availability on different computer platforms and flexibility to carry out a variety of computational tasks. Finally, we present a Web page which provides self-learning material to Pharmacy students for harnessing the potential offered by the spreadsheets Excel (Microsoft Office) and Calc (OpenOffice.org) in the study of their subjects in Pharmacy.La implantación del EEES en las titulaciones en Farmacia va a significar la potenciación del autoaprendizaje por parte del alumno. Esto va a poner a prueba la capacidad de aplicar conocimientos adquiridos en unas materias, para entender y conocer otras. Entre dichos conocimientos, se encuentran las técnicas de modelado matemático, incluidas en el campo de las Matemáticas. El presente artículo reflexiona acerca de la utilidad de las populares hojas de cálculo como software dirigido al alumno. Un alumno de Farmacia, probablemente, tendrá que realizar cálculos matemáticos y representaciones gráficas con datos experimentales, muy especialmente en las prácticas de algunas de sus asignaturas. La utilización de un software es, en este sentido, especialmente importante, no sólo en la fase de aprendizaje de dichos conocimientos matemáticos en la correspondiente asignatura del título, sino a la hora de disponer de una herramienta que facilite su aplicación en otras. ¿Qué software podemos elegir para el alumno? A pesar de que existen multitud de candidatos, una hoja de cálculo reúne una serie de características que la hacen idónea para un alumno de Farmacia: corto tiempo de aprendizaje, amplia disponibilidad en distintas plataformas y flexibilidad para poder realizar una gran diversidad de tareas, entre otras propiedades. Finalmente, como ejemplo se presenta una página Web, http://www.ugr.es/~focana/farmaspreadsheet.htm, que facilita material para ayudar al alumno de Farmacia a aprovechar las posibilidades que ofrecen las hojas de cálculo Excel (Microsoft Office) y Calc (OpenOffice.org) en el estudio de sus asignaturas en Farmacia

Drugs use in pregnancy in the Valencia Region and the risk of congenital anomalies

Background Despite the potential risks of drug use during pregnancy, consumption has increased in recent decades. Objective To identify the risk of congenital anomalies (CA) associated with the use of drugs in primary care in pregnant women resident in the Valencia Region. Methods A case-control study, considering a case as a less than one year old live birth in 2009–2010, diagnosed with a CA and resident in the Valencia Region, obtained from the CA population-based registry. Controls were selected from the Metabolic Disease Registry, and the drugs prescribed and dispensed from the Integral Management of Pharmaceutical Services. Crude odds ratio (OR) was calculated with its 95% confidence intervals and adjusted OR was calculated using logistic regression. Results A total of 1.913 cases and 3.826 controls were identified. The most frequently used drug groups were those acting on the musculoskeletal, nervous and respiratory systems, on the blood and blood forming organs, and anti-infection drugs. The most common drugs used were ibuprofen, dexketoprofen, paracetamol, amoxicillin, ferrous sulphate, and a combination of folic acid. A significantly increased risk of CA was identified for drugs acting on the musculoskeletal system (adjusted OR 1.14 [95% confidence interval 1.02–1.28]). A significantly decreased risk was observed for drugs acting on the blood and blood forming organs (adjusted OR 0.87 [95% confidence interval 0.78–0.98]). Conclusions Associations between drugs and CA in pregnant women resident in the Valencia Region have been identified for drugs that act as risk factors of CA, and for drugs that act as protective factors of CA. Antecedentes El consumo de medicamentos durante el embarazo se ha incrementado en las últimas décadas. Objetivo Identificar el riesgo de anomalías congénitas (AC) asociado a la utilización de medicamentos en atención ambulatoria en embarazadas residentes en la Comunitat Valenciana. Métodos Estudio de casos-controles, considerando caso a menores de un año nacidos vivos en 2009-2010 diagnosticados de AC y residentes en la Comunitat Valenciana, obtenidos del registro poblacional de AC. Los controles se seleccionaron del Registro de Metabolopatías y la medicación prescrita y dispensada se obtuvo del módulo Gestión Integral de Prestación Farmacéutica. Se calcularon las odds ratio (OR) y los intervalos de confianza al 95% y las OR ajustadas mediante regresión logística. Resultados Se identificaron 1.913 casos y 3.826 controles. Los grupos de medicamentos más frecuentemente prescritos y dispensados fueron: los que actúan sobre los sistemas musculoesquelético, nervioso, respiratorio, sobre la sangre y órganos hematopoyéticos, y antiinfecciosos. Los medicamentos más habituales fueron: ibuprofeno, dexketoprofeno, paracetamol, amoxicilina, sulfato de hierro y una combinación de ácido fólico. Se identificó un aumento del riesgo de anomalías congénitas significativo para los fármacos de acción sobre el sistema musculoesquelético (OR ajustada de 1,14 [intervalo de confianza al 95% 1,02-1,28]). Se observó una disminución del riesgo significativa en el grupo que actúa sobre la sangre y los órganos hematopoyéticos (OR ajustada de 0,87 [intervalo de confianza al 95% 0,78-0,98]). Conclusiones Se han identificado asociaciones de medicamentos con AC en mujeres embarazadas residentes en la Comunitat Valenciana, tanto para fármacos que actúan como factores de riesgo de AC como para fármacos que actúan como factores protectores de AC

Pindo: proyecto de investigación en la práctica docente

El cambio en el paradigma educativo de los últimos años trae consigo la organización de espacios supranacionales de educación y exige una revisión profunda de las metodologías docentes. Los diversos escenarios que han ido surgiendo con la revolución tecnológica nos permiten alcanzar un consenso en la forma de evaluar las competencias que los estudiantes han de adquirir en los diferentes niveles educativos. Para que este cambio sea efectivo es necesaria una organización de los equipos profesionales que excede el ámbito local (departamentos) y nacional (colaboración interuniversitaria en un país). Por este motivo, los profesores que participamos en este estudio, junto con varias instituciones de educación superior europeas y latinoamericanas, hemos desarrollado una propuesta acorde con las nuevas necesidades educativas en la universidad. Dicha propuesta, con su motivación, los objetivos que se consideran y la metodología para alcanzarlos, se detallan a lo largo de este artículo, con la finalidad de generar un debate que logre mejorarla e involucrar a más universidades para que aporten nuevos puntos de vista

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with IGH translocations are characterized by a distinct genetic landscape with prognostic implications

Chromosome 14q32 rearrangements/translocations involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) are rarely detected in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The prognostic significance of the IGH translocation is controversial and its mutational profile remains unknown. Here, we present for the first time a comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of 46 CLL patients with IGH rearrangement (IGHR-CLLs) and we demonstrate that IGHR-CLLs have a distinct mutational profile with recurrent mutations in NOTCH1, IGLL5, POT1, BCL2, FBXW7, ZMYM3, MGA, BRAF and HIST1H1E genes. Interestingly, BCL2 and FBXW7 mutations were significantly associated with this subgroup and almost half of BCL2, IGLL5 and HISTH1E mutations reported were previously identified in non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Notably, IGH/BCL2 rearrangements were associated with a lower mutation frequency and carried BCL2 and IGLL5 mutations, while the other IGHR-CLLs had mutations in genes related to poor prognosis (NOTCH1, SF3B1 and TP53) and shorter time to first treatment (TFT). Moreover, IGHR-CLLs patients showed a shorter TFT than CLL patients carrying 13q-, normal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and +12 CLL, being this prognosis particularly poor when NOTCH1, SF3B1, TP53, BIRC3 and BRAF were also mutated. The presence of these mutations not only was an independent risk factor within IGHR-CLLs, but also refined the prognosis of low-risk cytogenetic patients (13q-/normal FISH). Hence, our study demonstrates that IGHR-CLLs have a distinct mutational profile from the majority of CLLs and highlights the relevance of incorporating NGS and the status of IGH by FISH analysis to refine the risk-stratification CLL model

Implementation and analysis of list mode algorithm using tubes of response on a dedicated brain and breast PET

In this work we present an innovative algorithm for the reconstruction of PET images based on the List-Mode (LM) technique which improves their spatial resolution compared to results obtained with current MLEM algorithms. This study appears as a part of a large project with the aim of improving diagnosis in early Alzheimer disease stages by means of a newly developed hybrid PET-MR insert. At the present, Alzheimer is the most relevant neurodegenerative disease and the best way to apply an effective treatment is its early diagnosis. The PET device will consist of several monolithic LYSO crystals coupled to SiPM detectors. Monolithic crystals can reduce scanner costs with the advantage to enable implementation of very small virtual pixels in their geometry. This is especially useful for LM reconstruction algorithms, since they do not need a pre-calculated system matrix. We have developed an LM algorithm which has been initially tested with a large aperture (186 mm) breast PET system. Such an algorithm instead of using the common lines of response, incorporates a novel calculation of tubes of response. The new approach improves the volumetric spatial resolution about a factor 2 at the border of the field of view when compared with traditionally used MLEM algorithm. Moreover, it has also shown to decrease the image noise, thus increasing the image quality. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work was supported by the Centre for Industrial Technological Development co-funded by FEDER through the Technology Fund (DREAM Project, IDI-20110718), by the Spanish Plan Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica, Desarrollo e Innovacion Tecnologica (I+D+I) under Grant. No. FIS2010-21216-CO2-01TEO 2008/114.Moliner Martínez, L.; Correcher, C.; González Martínez, AJ.; Conde Castellanos, PE.; Hernández Hernández, L.; Orero Palomares, A.; Rodríguez Álvarez, MJ.... (2013). Implementation and analysis of list mode algorithm using tubes of response on a dedicated brain and breast PET. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 702:129-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.08.029S12913270

Monolithic crystals for PET devices: optical coupling optimization

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A [Volume 731, 11 December 2013, Pages 288–294] DOI 10.1016/j.nima.2013.05.049[EN] In this work we present a method to efficiently collect scintillation light when using monolithic scintillator crystals. The acceptance angle of the scintillation light has been reduced by means of optical devices reducing the border effect which typically affects continuous crystals. We have applied this procedure on gamma detectors for PET systems using both position sensitive PMTs and arrays of SiPMs. In the case of using SiPMs, this approach also helps to reduce the photosensor active area. We evaluated the method using PMTs with a variety of different crystals with thicknesses ranging from 10 to 24 mm. We found that our design allows the use of crystal blocks with a thickness of up to 18 mm without degrading the spatial resolution caused by edge effects and without a significant detriment to the energy resolution. These results were compared with simulated data. The first results of monolithic LYSO crystals coupled to an array of 256 SiPMs by means of individual optical light guides are also presented.This work was supported by the Centre for Industrial Technological Development co-funded by FEDER through the Technology Fund (DREAM Project, IDI-20110718), the Spanish Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica (I+D +I) under Grant no. FIS2010-21216-CO2-01 and the Valencian Local Government under Grant PROMETEO 2008/114.González Martínez, AJ.; Peiró, A.; Conde, P.; Hernández Hernández, L.; Moliner Martínez, L.; Orero Palomares, A.; Rodríguez-Álvarez, M.... (2013). Monolithic crystals for PET devices: optical coupling optimization. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 731:288-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2013.05.049S28829473

Design of the PET–MR system for head imaging of the DREAM Project

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, Volume 702, 21 February 2013, Pages 94–97 DOI 10.1016/j.nima.2012.08.028In this paper we describe the overall design of a PET–MR system for head imaging within the framework of the DREAM Project as well as the first detector module tests. The PET system design consists of 4 rings of 16 detector modules each and it is expected to be integrated in a head dedicated radio frequency coil of an MR scanner. The PET modules are based on monolithic LYSO crystals coupled by means of optical devices to an array of 256 Silicon Photomultipliers. These types of crystals allow to preserve the scintillation light distribution and, thus, to recover the exact photon impact position with the proper characterization of such a distribution. Every module contains 4 Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) which return detailed information of several light statistical momenta. The preliminary tests carried out on this design and controlled by means of ASICs have shown promising results towards the suitability of hybrid PET–MR systems.This work was supported by the Centre for Industrial Technological Development co-funded by FEDER through the Technology Fund (DREAM Project, IDI-20110718), the Spanish Plan Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica, Desarrollo e Innovacion Tecnologica (I + D + I) under Grant no. FIS2010-21216-CO2-01 and the Valencian Local Government under Grant PROMETEO 2008/114.González Martínez, AJ.; Conde, P.; Hernández Hernández, L.; Herrero Bosch, V.; Moliner Martínez, L.; Monzó Ferrer, JM.; Orero Palomares, A.... (2013). Design of the PET–MR system for head imaging of the DREAM Project. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 702:94-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.08.028S949770

Expectation maximization (EM) algorithms using polar symmetriesfor computed tomography(CT) image reconstruction

We suggest a symmetric-polar pixellation scheme which makes possible a reduction of the computational cost for expectation maximization (EM) iterative algorithms. The proposed symmetric-polar pixellation allows us to deal with 3D images as a whole problem without dividing the 3D problem into 2D slices approach. Performance evaluation of each approach in terms of stability and image quality is presented. Exhaustive comparisons between all approaches were conducted in a 2D based image reconstruction model. From these 2D approaches, that showing the best performances were finally implemented and evaluated in a 3D based image reconstruction model. Comparison to 3D images reconstructed with FBP is also presented. Although the algorithm is presented in the context of computed tomography (CT) image reconstruction, it can be applied to any other tomographic technique as well, due to the fact that the only requirement is a scanning geometry involving measurements of an object under different projection angles. Real data have been acquired with a small animal (CT) scanner to verify the proposed mathematical description of the CT system.This work was supported by the Spanish Plan Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica, Desarrollo e Innovacion Tecnologica (I+D+I) under Grant, FIS2010-21216-CO2-01, Valencian Local Government under Grant Nos. PROMETEO 2008/114 and APOSTD/2010/012. The authors would like to thank Brennan Holt for checking and correcting the text.Rodríguez Álvarez, MJ.; Soriano Asensi, A.; Iborra Carreres, A.; Sánchez Martínez, F.; González Martínez, AJ.; Conde, P.; Hernández Hernández, L.... (2013). Expectation maximization (EM) algorithms using polar symmetriesfor computed tomography(CT) image reconstruction. Computers in Biology and Medicine. 43(8):1053-1061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2013.04.015S1053106143