Crystalline Composition of Equine Urinary Sabulous Deposits

The composition and crystal morphology of 141 equine sabulous deposits were determined by infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The IR analysis revealed that all investigated deposits contained calcium carbonates (calcite, CaCO3, and/or vaterite, CaCO3) as major constituents; 42 samples were composed of calcite and vaterite, 33 of calcite, 18 of calcite/vaterite and calcium oxalate, and 17 of vaterite. The remaining specimens contained calcite/vaterite and other compounds (calcium phosphates, sulphate and/or oxalates and/or silica). The examination of 44 selected samples by means of SEM/EDX, revealed the characteristic morphology and elemental composition of the constituents of the sabulous deposits. Calcite crystals showed a typical spherical shape, as well as other less common rhombohedral habit. Vaterite displayed a flower or star appearance and also a mulberry shape. Less frequent was a spherular habit for vaterite resembling that of calcite. Elemental analysis of both calcite and vaterite crystals showed, besides calcium, varying proportions of magnesium and potassium. It is concluded that calcite and vaterite were mainly present in a substituted form. Calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals showed their characteristic bi pyramidal morphology. Calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals, which were less frequent, exhibited dumbbell or hour-glass shape

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

The relationship between instrumental tests and sensory determinations of peach and nectarine texture

In this work, we evaluate the relationship between the rheological and the sensory texture of fresh peach and nectarine varieties. Two non-melting fleshed varieties (NMF), 'Andross' and 'Carson, and four melting fleshed nectarines (MF), 'Andes nec-1', 'Andes nec-2, 'Andes nec-3', and 'Venus, were harvested and kept in a ripening chamber for four days. A sensory trained panel using the sensory texture descriptors 'hardness, 'crispness, 'crunchiness, 'melting, and 'juiciness' determined the sensory profile of each variety. Penetration tests, texture profile analysis (TPA), and mechanical acoustic analysis profile tests were performed using a TA-XT Plus texture meter. Principal component analysis defined the most influential rheological variables of each test. We also performed regression analysis by partial least squares (RPLS); as regressor variables we used the set of the rheological variables and the sensory attributes as dependent variables. The RPLS model explained 62% of the relationship between rheological and sensory variables. The strongest relationships were between 'hardness' and the TPA variables, and 'melting' and quantity of juice and the TPA variables. Finally, using a regression tree for the attributes 'hardness' and 'melting, we determined that the variable 'TPA hardness' was the most relevant to define both descriptors, thus classifying the varieties into two groups by obtaining a critical value for each attribute

Cross-calibration and combined analysis of the CTA-LST prototype and the MAGIC telescopes

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is the next-generation gamma-ray observatory that is expected to reach one order of magnitude better sensitivity than that of current telescope arrays. The Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) have an essential role in extending the energy range down to 20 GeV. The prototype LST (LST-1) proposed for CTA was built in La Palma, the northern site of CTA, in 2018. LST-1 is currently in its commissioning phase and moving towards scientific observations. The LST-1 camera consists of 1855 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) which are sensitive to Cherenkov light. PMT signals are recorded as waveforms sampled at 1 GHz rate with Domino Ring Sampler version 4 (DRS4) chips. Fast sampling is essential to achieve a low energy threshold by minimizing the integration of background light from the night sky. Absolute charge calibration can be performed by the so-called F-factor method, which allows calibration constants to be monitored even during observations. A calibration pipeline of the camera readout has been developed as part of the LST analysis chain. The pipeline performs DRS4 pedestal and timing corrections, as well as the extraction and calibration of charge and time of pulses for subsequent higher-level analysis. The performance of each calibration step is examined, and especially charge and time resolution of the camera readout are evaluated and compared to CTA requirements. We report on the current status of the calibration pipeline, including the performance of each step through to signal reconstruction, and the consistency with Monte Carlo simulation