South American perspective of the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters"

International audienceThe International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" is about joint operations and tasking of imaging satellites and other space resources of the member space agencies and operators in the delivery of information products to assist in responding to disasters of natural and technological causes. Authorized Users, who are the civil protection, emergency response or similar organizations of a state that is member of the Charter, can request the data and products. A specialist, called the Project Manager (PM), manages the overall data acquisition and delivery process. Regional initiatives, as for the Latin American countries, are under way to involve PMs from non-member states to have access to satellite data and apply these to disaster coverage in their respective regions. Volcanic eruptions are typical examples of disasters that affect the Latin American countries. A few Charter activations on this disaster type are described to highlight the information products provided under the Charter

Deposition of SiNx : H thin films by the electron cyclotron resonance and its application to Al/SiNx : H/Si structures

We have analyzed the electrical properties and bonding characteristics of SiNx:H thin films deposited at 200 degrees C by the electron cyclotron resonance plasma method. The films show the presence of hydrogen bonded to silicon (at the films with the ratio N/Si<1.33) or to nitrogen (for films where the ratio N/Si is higher than 1.33). In the films with the N/Si ratio of 1.38, the hydrogen content is 6 at. %. For compositions which are comprised of between N/Si=1.1 and 1.4, hydrogen concentration remains below 10 at. %. The films with N/Si=1.38 exhibited the better values of the electrical properties (resistivity, 6x10(13) Omega cm; and electric breakdown field, 3 MV/cm). We have used these films to make metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) devices on n-type silicon wafers. C-V measurements accomplished on the structures indicate that the interface trap density is kept in the range (3 - 5) x 10(11) cm(-2) eV(-1) for films with the N/Si ratio below 1.38. For films where the N/Si ratio is higher than 1.3, the trap density suddenly increases, following the same trend of the concentration of N-H bonds in the SiNx:H films. The results are explained on the basis of the model recently reported by Lucovsky [J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 14, 2832 (1996)] for the electrical behavior of (oxide-nitride-oxide)/Si structures. The model is additionally supported by deep level transient spectroscopy measurements, that show the presence of silicon dangling bonds at the insulator/semiconductor interface (the so-called P-bN0 center), The concentration of these centers follows the same trend with the film composition of the interface trap density and, as a consequence, with the concentration of N-H bonds. This result further supports the N-H bonds located at the insulator/semiconductor interface which act as a precursor site to the defect generation of the type . Si=Si-3, i.e., the P-bN0 centers. A close relation between interface trap density, P-bN0 centers and N-H bond density is established

A database about the tornadic activity in Catalonia (NE Spain) since 1994

Póster elaborado para la 11th PLINIUS Conference in Mediterranean Storms celebrada del 7 al 11 de septiembre de 2009 en Barcelona

Foreign bodies on lateral neck radiographs in adults: Imaging findings and common pitfalls

Foreign-body (FB) ingestion is less common in adults than in children, but still occurs. Diagnostic management of patients with suspected FB ingestion in emergency departments depends on FB type and location, both of which are related to the patient profile. In adults, fish and chicken bones are the most common FB types, and the oropharynx and cricopharyngeal muscle are the most common locations. Once accidentally swallowed, an FB may become lodged in the oropharynx, and in such cases indirect or fiberoptic laryngoscopy is the first clinical management option. For FBs that have passed beyond this location, radiologic study is recommended, including anteroposterior and lateral neck radiographs (LNRs) using the soft-tissue technique. This is a quick and simple imaging method that in emergency departments achieves detection rates of 70%-80% in assessing FBs in the hypopharynx and upper cervical esophagus. Careful initial evaluation using LNRs can determine the presence and nature of an FB, which helps with predicting the location and risk assessment, making further imaging—including computed tomography—unnecessary. Prevertebral soft-tissue swelling is a nonspecific indirect sign, which in the appropriate clinical context raises suspicion of a radiolucent FB or related complications. LNRs can sometimes be difficult to interpret due to the presence of multiple overlapping soft-tissue structures and variable patterns of laryngeal cartilage calcification in adults. Adequate performance in interpreting LNRs along with familiarity with the full diagnostic process in these patients will enable radiologists to use the right imaging technique for the right patient, as described in the clinical algorithm proposed by the authors

Economic and Humanistic Burden of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer; Economic burdenCáncer de mama triple negativo; Carga económicaCàncer de mama triple negatiu; Càrrega econòmicaBackground Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 10–20% of all breast cancers (BCs). It is more commonly diagnosed in younger women and often has a less favorable prognosis compared with other BC subtypes. Objective The objective of this study was to provide a literature-based extensive overview of the economic and humanistic burden of TNBC to assist medical decisions for healthcare payers, providers, and patients. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using multiple databases, including EMBASE, MEDLINE, Econlit, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, from database inception to 16 May 2021. In addition, a targeted search was performed in the Northern Light Life Sciences Conference Abstracts database from 2016 through June 2021. The bibliographies of included articles were reviewed to identify other potentially relevant publications. Quality assessment of the included studies was conducted. Results The review identified 19 studies assessing the economic burden and 10 studies assessing the humanistic burden of TNBC. Studies varied widely in study design, settings, patient populations, and time horizons. The estimates of mean per-patient annual direct medical costs ranged from around $20,000 to over$100,000 in stage I–III TNBC and from $100,000 to$300,000 in stage IV TNBC. Healthcare costs and resource utilization increased significantly with disease recurrence, progression, and increased cancer stage or line of therapy. Compared with the costs of systemic anticancer therapy, cancer management costs comprised a larger portion of total direct costs. The estimates of indirect costs due to productivity loss ranged from $207 to$1573 per patient per month (all costs presented above were adjusted to 2021 US dollars). Cancer recurrence led to significantly reduced productivity and greater rates of leaving the workforce. A rapid deterioration of health utility associated with disease progression was observed in TNBC patients. Treatment with pembrolizumab or talazoparib showed significantly greater improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with chemotherapy, as measured by EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-BR23, and FACT-B. Conclusion TNBC is associated with a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems and societies and considerably reduced productivity and HRQoL for patients. This study synthesized the published literature on the economic and humanistic burden of TNBC and highlighted the need for continued research due to the rapidly changing landscape of TNBC care

Pembrolizumab monotherapy for previously treated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: cohort A of the phase II KEYNOTE-086 study

Immunoterapia; Pembrolizumab; neoplàsies mamàries triple-negativesInmunoterapia; Pembrolizumab; neoplasias mamarias triple-negativasImmunotherapy; Pembrolizumab; triple-negative breast neoplasmsBackground: Treatment options for previously treated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) are limited. In cohort A of the phase II KEYNOTE-086 study, we evaluated pembrolizumab as second or later line of treatment for patients with mTNBC. Patients and methods: Eligible patients had centrally confirmed mTNBC, ?1 systemic therapy for metastatic disease, prior treatment with anthracycline and taxane in any disease setting, and progression on or after the most recent therapy. Patients received pembrolizumab 200mg intravenously every 3 weeks for up to 2 years. Primary end points were objective response rate in the total and PD-L1–positive populations, and safety. Secondary end points included duration of response, disease control rate (percentage of patients with complete or partial response or stable disease for ?24 weeks), progression-free survival, and overall survival. Results: All enrolled patients (N¼170) were women, 61.8% had PD-L1–positive tumors, and 43.5% had received ?3 previous lines of therapy for metastatic disease. ORR (95% CI) was 5.3% (2.7–9.9) in the total and 5.7% (2.4–12.2) in the PD-L1–positive populations. Disease control rate (95% CI) was 7.6% (4.4–12.7) and 9.5% (5.1–16.8), respectively. Median duration of response was not reached in the total (range, 1.2þ–21.5þ) and in the PD-L1–positive (range, 6.3–21.5þ) populations. Median PFS was 2.0 months (95% CI, 1.9–2.0), and the 6-month rate was 14.9%. Median OS was 9.0 months (95% CI, 7.6–11.2), and the 6-month rate was 69.1%. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 103 (60.6%) patients, including 22 (12.9%) with grade 3 or 4 AEs. There were no deaths due to AEs. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab monotherapy demonstrated durable antitumor activity in a subset of patients with previously treated mTNBC and had a manageable safety profile.This work was supported by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA