MODELLING WITHIN-PLANT SPATIAL DEPENDENCIES OF COTTON YIELD

In field experiments during 1987-1990, cotton plants were grown under 8 different levels of nitrogen application to assess the impact of nitrogen fertilization on the fruiting and yield distribution of cotton within the plant (Boquet et al. 1993).lr.dividual boll weights and average seedcotton yield were determined at each fruiting site fur each main-stem node along the plant. Various models of dependence and independence are possible to explain and account for the dependencies of the yields among the sites and nodes of the plant. Here we investigate models of total yield per node and yield per node adjusted for the number of sites using several models for the spatial dependence among the nodes. Typical univariate models would either assume a simple homogeneous error structure or a compound symmetry error structure among the nodes, leading to the split-plot-type models. A multivariate unstructured approach ignores obvious spatial dependencies among the nodes. Spatial models and ante-dependence models permit a parsimonious summary of the error structure and are compared with the compound symmetry and multivariate models

Improving the Management and Follow-up of Atopic Dermatitis: A Delphi Process Report of Consensus Between Hospital Dermatologists and Pharmacists

[spa] El control de la dermatitis atópica (DA), una de las dermatosis más frecuentes, es en muchas ocasiones un reto terapéutico. En el presente estudio se ha utilizado la metodología Delphi con el objetivo de poner en común las perspectivas del dermatólogo y del farmacéutico hospitalario ante el manejo de la DA y establecer una serie de recomendaciones de actuación adaptadas a las diferentes situaciones que plantea la enfermedad. El cuestionario Delphi ha sido definido por un comité científico y se ha dividido en 2 bloques: (1) valoración de la respuesta al tratamiento del paciente con DA y (2) cooperación entre Dermatología y Farmacia Hospitalaria (FH). Como resultado del estudio, se ha alcanzado un consenso total del 86%. Se concluye que el dermatólogo y el farmacéutico hospitalario deben tener una buena comunicación y trabajar coordinados para conseguir optimizar el manejo del paciente con DA y su respuesta al tratamiento.[eng] Managing atopic dermatitis, one of the most common dermatologic conditions, is often challenging. To establish consensus on recommendations for responding to various situations that arise when treating atopic dermatitis, a group of hospital pharmacists and dermatologists used the Delphi process. A scientific committee developed a Delphi survey with 2 blocks of questions to explore the group's views on 1) evaluating response to treatment in the patient with atopic dermatitis and 2) cooperation between the dermatology department and the hospital pharmacy service. The experts achieved an overall rate of consensus of 86% during the process. Conclusions were that dermatologists and hospital pharmacists must maintain good communication and coordinate their interventions to optimize the management of atopic dermatitis and patients' responses to treatment

Relativistic models of magnetars: structure and deformations

We find numerical solutions of the coupled system of Einstein-Maxwell's equations with a linear approach, in which the magnetic field acts as a perturbation of a spherical neutron star. In our study, magnetic fields having both poloidal and toroidal components are considered, and higher order multipoles are also included. We evaluate the deformations induced by different field configurations, paying special attention to those for which the star has a prolate shape. We also explore the dependence of the stellar deformation on the particular choice of the equation of state and on the mass of the star. Our results show that, for neutron stars with mass M = 1.4 Msun and surface magnetic fields of the order of 10^15 G, a quadrupole ellipticity of the order of 10^(-6) - 10^(-5) should be expected. Low mass neutron stars are in principle subject to larger deformations (quadrupole ellipticities up to 10^(-3) in the most extreme case). The effect of quadrupolar magnetic fields is comparable to that of dipolar components. A magnetic field permeating the whole star is normally needed to obtain negative quadrupole ellipticities, while fields confined to the crust typically produce positive quadrupole ellipticities.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figures, submitted to MNRA

Carga asociada a la administración de rivastigmina transdérmica y a su presentación oral en cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer

Introducción: La enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) es la demencia más común en la vejez, y conlleva un elevado estrés y una importante carga familiar. Objetivo: Evaluar las diferencias en satisfacción y carga asociada a la administración de rivastigmina por vía transdérmica y oral en cuidadores de pacientes con EA. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, transversal y multicéntrico que incluyó a cuidadores de pacientes con EA de leve a moderadamente grave tratados con rivastigmina. Se evaluó la molestia asociada a la administración, la carga soportada y la satisfacción con el tratamiento. Resultados: Se incluyeron 497 cuidadores/grupo. La edad media de los cuidadores fue de 58,1 ± 14,2 años, y cerca del 75% eran mujeres. La mayoría de cuidadores eran parientes cercanos. La dificultad para tragar la medicación supuso molestias medias o elevadas al 38,2% de los cuidadores del grupo oral, mientras que la dificultad para colocar el parche lo fue para el 4,6%. El tratamiento transdérmico alcanza molestias medias de 6,7 puntos y el oral de 10,1 (p <0,0001); la sobrecarga no mostró diferencias significativas (21,4 ± 7,2 frente a 21,5 ± 6,9, respectivamente). Respecto a la facilidad de uso, el 88,3% consideró fácil o muy fácil el parche, y el 71,2% la cápsula. La afectación de la vida del cuidador fue nula o muy ocasional en el 66,4% con tratamiento transdérmico, frente al 51,1% con tratamiento oral. El 75,1% se mostraron satisfechos con el tratamiento transdérmico, frente al 55,9% con el oral (p <0,0001). Conclusiones: Los cuidadores de pacientes con EA mostraron una mayor satisfacción con el tratamiento de rivastigmina transdérmica y menores molestias asociadas

Carga asociada a la administración de rivastigmina transdérmica y a su presentación oral en cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer

Introducción: La enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) es la demencia más común en la vejez, y conlleva un elevado estrés y una importante carga familiar. Objetivo: Evaluar las diferencias en satisfacción y carga asociada a la administración de rivastigmina por vía transdérmica y oral en cuidadores de pacientes con EA. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, transversal y multicéntrico que incluyó a cuidadores de pacientes con EA de leve a moderadamente grave tratados con rivastigmina. Se evaluó la molestia asociada a la administración, la carga soportada y la satisfacción con el tratamiento. Resultados: Se incluyeron 497 cuidadores/grupo. La edad media de los cuidadores fue de 58,1 ± 14,2 años, y cerca del 75% eran mujeres. La mayoría de cuidadores eran parientes cercanos. La dificultad para tragar la medicación supuso molestias medias o elevadas al 38,2% de los cuidadores del grupo oral, mientras que la dificultad para colocar el parche lo fue para el 4,6%. El tratamiento transdérmico alcanza molestias medias de 6,7 puntos y el oral de 10,1 (p <0,0001); la sobrecarga no mostró diferencias significativas (21,4 ± 7,2 frente a 21,5 ± 6,9, respectivamente). Respecto a la facilidad de uso, el 88,3% consideró fácil o muy fácil el parche, y el 71,2% la cápsula. La afectación de la vida del cuidador fue nula o muy ocasional en el 66,4% con tratamiento transdérmico, frente al 51,1% con tratamiento oral. El 75,1% se mostraron satisfechos con el tratamiento transdérmico, frente al 55,9% con el oral (p <0,0001). Conclusiones: Los cuidadores de pacientes con EA mostraron una mayor satisfacción con el tratamiento de rivastigmina transdérmica y menores molestias asociadas

Properties of Graphene: A Theoretical Perspective

In this review, we provide an in-depth description of the physics of monolayer and bilayer graphene from a theorist's perspective. We discuss the physical properties of graphene in an external magnetic field, reflecting the chiral nature of the quasiparticles near the Dirac point with a Landau level at zero energy. We address the unique integer quantum Hall effects, the role of electron correlations, and the recent observation of the fractional quantum Hall effect in the monolayer graphene. The quantum Hall effect in bilayer graphene is fundamentally different from that of a monolayer, reflecting the unique band structure of this system. The theory of transport in the absence of an external magnetic field is discussed in detail, along with the role of disorder studied in various theoretical models. We highlight the differences and similarities between monolayer and bilayer graphene, and focus on thermodynamic properties such as the compressibility, the plasmon spectra, the weak localization correction, quantum Hall effect, and optical properties. Confinement of electrons in graphene is nontrivial due to Klein tunneling. We review various theoretical and experimental studies of quantum confined structures made from graphene. The band structure of graphene nanoribbons and the role of the sublattice symmetry, edge geometry and the size of the nanoribbon on the electronic and magnetic properties are very active areas of research, and a detailed review of these topics is presented. Also, the effects of substrate interactions, adsorbed atoms, lattice defects and doping on the band structure of finite-sized graphene systems are discussed. We also include a brief description of graphane -- gapped material obtained from graphene by attaching hydrogen atoms to each carbon atom in the lattice.Comment: 189 pages. submitted in Advances in Physic

Joint Arthroplasties other than the Hip in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Transplantation Surgery has undergone a great development during the last thirty years and the survival of solid organ recipients has increased dramatically. Osteo-articular diseases such as osteoporosis, fractures, avascular bone necrosis and osteoarthritis are relatively common in these patients and joint arthroplasty may be required. The outcome of hip arthroplasty in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head after renal transplantation has been studied and documented by many researchers. However, the results of joint arthroplasties other than the hip in solid organs recipients were only infrequently reported in the literature. A systematic review of the English literature was conducted in order to investigate the outcome of joint arthroplasties other than the hip in kidney, liver or heart transplant recipients. Nine pertinent articles including 51 knee arthroplasties, 8 shoulder arthroplasties and 1 ankle arthroplasty were found. These articles reported well to excellent results with a complication rate and spectrum comparable with those reported in nontransplant patients