Colossal heating efficiency via eddy currents in amorphous microwires with nearly zero magnetostriction

It is well stablished that heating efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles under radiofrequency fields is due to the hysteresis power losses. In the case of microwires (MWs), it is not clear at all since they undergo non-coherent reversal mechanisms that decrease the coercive field and, consequently, the heating efficiency should be much smaller than the nanoparticles. However, colossal heating efficiency has been observed in MWs with values ranging from 1000 to 2800W/g, depending on length and number of microwires, at field as low as H = 36 Oe at f = 625 kHz. It is inferred that this colossal heating is due to the Joule effect originated by the eddy currents induced by the induction field B = M + chi H parallel to longitudinal axis. This effect is observed in MWs with nearly zero magnetostrictive constant as Fe_ (2.25)Co_(72.75)Si_(10)B_(15) of 30 mu m magnetic diameter and 5 mm length, a length for which the inner core domain of the MWs becomes axial. This colossal heating is reached with only 24 W of power supplied making these MWs very promising for inductive heating applications at a very low energy cost

Advanced data acquisition system implementation for the ITER Neutron Diagnostic use case using EPICS and FlexRIO technology on a PXIe platform

In the framework of the ITER Control Breakdown Structure (CBS), Plant System Instrumentation & Control (I&C) defines the hardware and software required to control one or more plant systems [1]. For diagnostics, most of the complex Plant System I&C are to be delivered by ITER Domestic Agencies (DAs). As an example for the DAs, ITER Organization (IO) has developed several use cases for diagnostics Plant System I&C that fully comply with guidelines presented in the Plant Control Design Handbook (PCDH) [2]. One such use case is for neutron diagnostics, specifically the Fission Chamber (FC), which is responsible for delivering time-resolved measurements of neutron source strength and fusion power to aid in assessing the functional performance of ITER [3]. ITER will deploy four Fission Chamber units, each consisting of three individual FC detectors. Two of these detectors contain Uranium 235 for Neutron detection, while a third "dummy" detector will provide gamma and noise detection. The neutron flux from each MFC is measured by the three methods: . Counting Mode: measures the number of individual pulses and their location in the record. Pulse parameters (threshold and width) are user configurable. . Campbelling Mode (Mean Square Voltage): measures the RMS deviation in signal amplitude from its average value. .Current Mode: integrates the signal amplitude over the measurement perio

TMT: una herramienta para guiar a los usuarios en la búsqueda de información sobre textos clínicos

La gran cantidad de información médica disponible a través de internet, tanto en formato estructurado como en formato texto, hace que los distintos tipos de usuario se encuentren con diferentes problemas a la hora de efectuar una búsqueda efectiva. Por un lado, los estudiantes de medicina, el personal sanitario y los investigadores en el área de la biomedicina disponen de una gran variedad de fuentes y herramientas de características dispares, que precisan de un periodo de aprendizaje a veces insalvable. Por otro lado, los pacientes, sus familiares y personas que no pertenecen a la profesión médica, se encuentran con el problema añadido que supone no estar suficientemente familiarizados con la terminología médica. En este artículo presentamos una herramienta que permite extraer conceptos médicos relevantes presentes en un texto clínico, haciendo uso de técnicas para el reconocimiento de entidades nombradas, aplicadas sobre listas de conceptos, y técnicas de anotación a partir de ontologías. Para proponer los conceptos se hace uso de un recurso no formal de conocimiento, como es Freebase, y de recursos formales como son Medlineplus y Pubmed. Nosotros argumentamos que la combinación de estos recursos, con información menos formal y en lenguaje más divulgativo (como es Freebase), con información formal y en lenguaje más divulgativo (como es Medlineplus) o con información formal y en lenguaje más especializado (como son las publicaciones científicas de Pubmed), optimiza el proceso de localización de información médica sobre un caso clínico complejo a usuarios con diferentes perfiles y necesidades, tales como son los pacientes, los médicos o los investigadores. Nuestro objetivo último es la construcción de una plataforma que permita albergar diferentes técnicas para facilitar la práctica de la medicina traslacional.The large amount of medical information available through the Internet, in both structure and text formats, makes that different types of users will encounter different problems when they have to carry out an effective search. On the one hand, medical students, health staff and researchers in the field of biomedicine have a variety of sources and tools of different characteristics which require a learning period sometimes insurmountable. On the other hand, patients, family members and people outside of the medical profession, face the added problem of not being sufficiently familiarized with medical terminology. In this paper we present a tool that can extract relevant medical concepts present in a clinical text, using techniques for named entity recognition, applied on lists of concepts, and annotation techniques from ontologies. To propose these concepts, our tool makes use of a non formal knowledge source, such as Freebase, and formal resources such as MedlinePlus and PubMed. We argue that the combination of these resources, with information less formal and more plain language (like Freebase), with formal information and more plain language (like Medlineplus) or with formal information and more technical language (such as the Pubmed scientific literature), optimize the process of discover medical information on a complex clinical case to users with different profiles and needs, such as are patients, doctors or researchers. Our ultimate goal is to build a platform to accommodate different techniques facilitating the practice of translational medicine

Scattering of microwaves by a passive array antenna based on amorphous ferromagnetic microwires for wireless sensors with biomedical applications

Co-based amorphous microwires presenting the giant magnetoimpedance effect are proposed as sensing elements for high sensitivity biosensors. In this work we report an experimental method for contactless detection of stress, temperature, and liquid concentration with application in medical sensors using the giant magnetoimpedance effect on microwires in the GHz range. The method is based on the scattering of electromagnetic microwaves by FeCoSiB amorphous metallic microwires. A modulation of the scattering parameter is achieved by applying a magnetic bias field that tunes the magnetic permeability of the ferromagnetic microwires. We demonstrate that the OFF/ON switching of the bias activates or cancels the amorphous ferromagnetic microwires (AFMW) antenna behavior. We show the advantages of measuring the performing time dependent frequency sweeps. In this case, the AC-bias modulation of the scattering coefficient versus frequency may be clearly appreciated. Furthermore, this modulation is enhanced by using arrays of microwires with an increasing number of individual microwires according to the antenna radiation theory. Transmission spectra show significant changes in the range of 3 dB for a relatively weak magnetic field of 15 Oe. A demonstration of the possibilities of the method for biomedical applications is shown by means of wireless temperature detector from 0 to 100 degrees C

Hardware timestamping for image acquisition system based on FlexRIO and IEEE 1588 v2 Standard

Current fusion devices consist of multiple diagnostics and hundreds or even thousands of signals. This situation forces on multiple occasions to use distributed data acquisition systems as the best approach. In this type of distributed systems, one of the most important issues is the synchronization between signals, so that it is possible to have a temporal correlation as accurate as possible between the acquired samples of all channels. In last decades, many fusion devices use different types of video cameras to provide inside views of the vessel during operations and to monitor plasma behavior. The synchronization between each video frame and the rest of the different signals acquired from any other diagnostics is essential in order to know correctly the plasma evolution, since it is possible to analyze jointly all the information having accurate knowledge of their temporal correlation. The developed system described in this paper allows timestamping image frames in a real-time acquisition and processing system using 1588 clock distribution. The system has been implemented using FPGA based devices together with a 1588 synchronized timing card (see Fig.1). The solution is based on a previous system [1] that allows image acquisition and real-time image processing based on PXIe technology. This architecture is fully compatible with the ITER Fast Controllers [2] and offers integration with EPICS to control and monitor the entire system. However, this set-up is not able to timestamp the frames acquired since the frame grabber module does not present any type of timing input (IRIG-B, GPS, PTP). To solve this lack, an IEEE1588 PXI timing device its used to provide an accurate way to synchronize distributed data acquisition systems using the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) IEEE 1588 2008 standard. This local timing device can be connected to a master clock device for global synchronization. The timing device has a buffer timestamp for each PXI trigger line and requires tha- a software application assigns each frame the corresponding timestamp. The previous action is critical and cannot be achieved if the frame rate is high. To solve this problem, it has been designed a solution that distributes the clock from the IEEE 1588 timing card to all FlexRIO devices [3]. This solution uses two PXI trigger lines that provide the capacity to assign timestamps to every frame acquired and register events by hardware in a deterministic way. The system provides a solution for timestamping frames to synchronize them with the rest of the different signals

Boosting the tunable microwave scattering signature of sensing array platforms consisting of amorphous ferromagnetic Fe_2.25Co_72.75Si_10B_15 microwires and its amplification by intercalating cu microwires

The following work addresses new configurations of sensing array platforms that are composed of Co-based amorphous ferromagnetic microwires (MWs) to obtain an enhanced modulation of the microwave scattering effects through the application of low strength DC or AC magnetic fields. An amorphous MW is an ultrasoft ferromagnetic material (coercivity similar to 0.2 Oe) with a circumferential magnetic anisotropy that provides a high surface sensitivity when it is subjected to an external magnetic field. Firstly, microwave scattering experiments are performed as a function of the length and number of MWs placed parallel to each other forming an array. Subsequently, three array configurations are designed, achieving high S_21 scattering coefficients up to about -50 dB. The influence of DC and AC magnetic fields on S_21 has been analyzed in frequency and time domains representation, respectively. In addition, the MWs sensing array has been overlapped by polymeric surfaces and the variations of their micrometric thicknesses also cause strong changes in the S_21 amplitude with displacements in the frequency that are associated to the maximum scattering behavior. Finally, a new concept for amplifying microwave scattering is provided by intercalating Cu MWs into the linear Co-based arrays. The designed mixed system that is composed by Co-based and Cu MWs exhibits a higher S_21 coefficient when compared to a single Co-based MW system because of higher electrical conductivity of Cu. However, the ability to modulate the resulting electromagnetic scattering is conferred by the giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effects coming from properties of the ultrasoft amorphous MWs. The mixed array platform covers a wide range of sensor applications, demonstrating the feasibility of tuning the S_21 amplitude over a wide scattering range by applying AC or DC magnetic fields and tuning the resonant frequency position according to the polymeric slab thickness

Recursos didácticos de formación en el área de magnetismo y electromagnetismo para profesores y estudiantes de ESO y Bachillerato

Este proyecto persigue un doble objetivo. Por un lado, por medio de acciones formativas específicas, facilitar al personal docente de secundaria y bachillerato los medios para el montaje y realización de experimentos sencillos de bajo coste, que no requieran un equipamiento especial para su ejecución, y que sirvan como introducción a la explicación de conceptos científicos, tales como campo magnético, inducción electromagnética, etc. Por otro, abrir el Instituto de Magnetismo Aplicado (IMA) de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid a la comunidad educativa en las modalidades ya desarrolladas en el IMA, como charlas, prácticas experimentales, prácticas de empresa, etc. y ofrecer la posibilidad de realizar en un entorno controlado diversos tipos de ensayos, experimentos y prácticas de laboratorio

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 viremia is associated with genetic variants of genes related to COVID-19 pathogenesis

IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 viral load has been related to COVID-19 severity. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 viremia and SNPs in genes previously studied by our group as predictors of COVID-19 severity.Materials and methodsRetrospective observational study including 340 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in the University Hospital La Princesa between March 2020 and December 2021, with at least one viremia determination. Positive viremia was considered when viral load was above the quantifiable threshold (20 copies/ml). A total of 38 SNPs were genotyped. To study their association with viremia a multivariate logistic regression was performed.ResultsThe mean age of the studied population was 64.5 years (SD 16.6), 60.9% patients were male and 79.4% white non-Hispanic. Only 126 patients (37.1%) had at least one positive viremia. After adjustment by confounders, the presence of the minor alleles of rs2071746 (HMOX1; T/T genotype OR 9.9 p &lt; 0.0001), rs78958998 (probably associated with SERPING1 expression; A/T genotype OR 2.3, p = 0.04 and T/T genotype OR 12.9, p &lt; 0.0001), and rs713400 (eQTL for TMPRSS2; C/T + T/T genotype OR 1.86, p = 0.10) were associated with higher risk of viremia, whereas the minor alleles of rs11052877 (CD69; A/G genotype OR 0.5, p = 0.04 and G/G genotype OR 0.3, p = 0.01), rs2660 (OAS1; A/G genotype OR 0.6, p = 0.08), rs896 (VIPR1; T/T genotype OR 0.4, p = 0.02) and rs33980500 (TRAF3IP2; C/T + T/T genotype OR 0.3, p = 0.01) were associated with lower risk of viremia.ConclusionGenetic variants in HMOX1 (rs2071746), SERPING1 (rs78958998), TMPRSS2 (rs713400), CD69 (rs11052877), TRAF3IP2 (rs33980500), OAS1 (rs2660) and VIPR1 (rs896) could explain heterogeneity in SARS-CoV-2 viremia in our population

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure fl ux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defi ned as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (inmost higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium ) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the fi eld understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation it is imperative to delete or knock down more than one autophagy-related gene. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways so not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field