Hacia un monitoreo in-situ de calidad de agua subterránea: revisión de parámetros

Este trabajo revisa los parámetros de calidad de agua subterránea, así como los mecanismos e instrumentos que permiten el monitoreo in-situ. A su vez, lista sus posibles causas y efectos en la salud. Los mecanismos considerados fueron las Redes de Sensores Inalámbricos (WSN) y el Monitoreo Ciudadano (MC). Los resultados muestran que, utilizando instrumentos co- mo sensores, test de colorimetría y medidores digitales, será posible realizar el monitoreo in-situ del 65% de los parámetros considerados. Entre ellos se encuentran contaminantes cuya ingesta genera efectos nocivos en la salud. Sin embargo, otros, como el antimonio, bario y urario no pueden ser monitoreados utilizando los instrumentos mencionados. Al final, se incluye una estimación de costos de instrumentos de medición necesarios para implementar el monitoreo in-situ en un escenario específico. Se espera que la revisión ayude en la selección de mecanismos, instrumentos y parámetros a monitorear.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Maximizing Exchange Bias in Co/CoO Core/Shell Nanoparticles by Lattice Matching between the Shell and the Embedding Matrix

The exchange bias properties of 5 nm Co/CoO ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic core/shell nanoparticles, highly dispersed in a CuO matrix, have been optimized by matching the lattice parameter of the matrix with that of the CoO shell. Exchange bias and coercivity fields as large as H = 7780 Oe and H = 6950 Oe are linked to the presence of a CuO matrix (0.3% lattice mismatch with respect to the shells). The small mismatch between CuO and CoO plays a dual role: it (i) structurally stabilizes the CoO and (ii) favors the existence of a large amount of uncompensated moments in the shell that enhance the exchange bias effects. The results indicate that lattice matching may be a very efficient way to improve the exchange bias properties of core/shell nanoparticles, paving the way to novel approaches to tune their magnetic properties

De malignitate Plutarchi: Plutarch, Herodotus, and the Persian Wars

Sign.: [ ]5, [calderón]-2[calderón]4, A4, B7, C-Y4, Z5, [calderón]7Antep.Front. calc. a comienzo de libro: "Laurenti Aguesca Oscae F."Grab. calc. a comienzo de libro: "Empresa de D. Vicencio Iuan de Lastanosa Señor de Figaruelas"Las il. corresponden a h. de grab. calc.: "Jan P san fe", numeradas de 21 a 52 y de 222 a 224, no incluidas en signaturas, y según consta en p. 116, realizadas por Lorenzo Aguesc

Antagonistic effects of T-Ag and VP16 reveal a role for RNA pol II elongation on alternative splicing

Here we investigate the promoter control of alternative splicing by studying two transcriptional activators on templates under replicating conditions. SV40 large T-antigen (T-Ag) activates template replication only 2-fold but transcription 25-fold. T-Ag-mediated replication, reported to inhibit RNA polymerase II elongation, provokes a 10- to 30-fold increase in the inclusion of the fibronectin EDI exon into mature mRNA. The T-Ag effect is exon specific, occurs in cis and depends strictly on DNA replication and not on cell transformation. VP16, an activator of transcriptional initiation and elongation, has a similar effect on transcription but the opposite effect on splicing: EDI inclusion is inhibited by 35-fold. VP16 completely reverts the T-Ag effect, but a VP16 mutant with reduced elongation ability provokes only partial reversion. Both T-Ag and VP16 promote conspicuous co-localization of mRNA with nuclear speckles that contain the SR protein SF2/ASF, a positive regulator of EDI inclusion. Therefore, we conclude that co-localization of transcripts and speckles is not sufficient to stimulate EDI inclusion

España y política exterior de la UE

Durante el primer semestre de 2002, España ejerció la Presidencia del Consejo de la Unión Europea, por tercera vez. Las relaciones exteriores de la Unión son cada vez más complejas y amplias. España afrontó esta Presidencia con una agenda, en la que sumaba sus tradicionales áreas de influencia a la gestión continuista de la política exterior de la Unión. En este sentido, el Observatorio de Política Exterior Europea del Institut Universitari d'Estudis Europeus, que se presenta como un grupo de investigadores cuyo principal interés es el análisis de la dimensión exterior de la UE, hace balance en este Quadern de las prioridades y resultados efectivos del programa de la Presidencia.Durant el primer semestre de 2002, Espanya va exercir la Presidència del Consell de la Unió Europea, per tercera vegada. Les relacions exteriors de la Unió són cada vegada més complexes i àmplies. Espanya va afrontar aquesta Presidència amb una agenda, on sumava seus tradicionals àrees d'influència a la gestió continuista de la política exterior de la Unió. En aquest sentit, l'Observatori de Política Exterior Europea de l'Institut Universitari d'Estudis Europeus, que es presenta com un grup d'investigadors el principal interès és l'anàlisi de la dimensió exterior de la UE, fa balanç en aquest Quadern de les prioritats i resultats efectius del programa de la Presidència

Low zinc levels at admission associates with poor clinical outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background: Zinc is an essential micronutrient that impacts host-pathogen interplay at infection. Zinc balances immune responses, and also has a proven direct antiviral action against some viruses. Importantly, zinc deficiency (ZD) is a common condition in elderly and individuals with chronic diseases, two groups with an increased risk for severe severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. We hypothesize that serum zinc content (SZC) influences COVID-19 disease progression, and thus might represent a useful biomarker. Methods: We ran an observational cohort study with 249 COVID-19 patients admitted in Hospital del Mar. We have studied COVID-19 severity and progression attending to SZC at admission. In parallel, we have studied severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) replication in the Vero E6 cell line modifying zinc concentrations. Findings: Our study demonstrates a correlation between serum zinc levels and COVID-19 outcome. Serum zinc levels lower than 50 µg/dL at admission correlated with worse clinical presentation, longer time to reach stability, and higher mortality. Our in vitro results indicate that low zinc levels favor viral expansion in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. Interpretation: Low SZC is a risk factor that determines COVID-19 outcome. We encourage performing randomized clinical trials to study zinc supplementation as potential prophylaxis and treatment with people at risk of zinc deficiency.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, through grants PID2019-106755RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 to R.V. and PID2019-106959RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 to J.D.; an institutional “Maria de Maeztu” Programme for Units of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000792-M) to R.V. and J.D.; and by the 2017 SGR 909 grant from the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Economia i Coneixement of the Generalitat de Catalunya to J.D. R.G.-F. received support and funding from Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES) (grant number CB16/10/00245), FEDER funds, and the FIS Project from Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (grant number (PI19/00019)

Comparison of hospitalized COVID-19 and influenza patients requiring supplemental oxygen in a cohort study: clinical impact and resource consumption

Data de publicació electrònica: 20-04-2022Background: To compare clinical characteristics, outcomes, and resource consumption of patients with COVID-19 and seasonal influenza requiring supplemental oxygen. Methods: Retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary-care hospital. Patients admitted due to seasonal influenza between 2017 and 2019, or with COVID-19 between March and May 2020 requiring supplemental oxygen were compared. Primary outcome: 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes: 90-day mortality and hospitalization costs. Attempted sample size to detect an 11% difference in mortality was 187 patients per group. Results: COVID-19 cases were younger (median years, 67 (IQR 54-78) vs 76 (IQR 64-83); p < 0.001) and more frequently overweight whereas influenza cases had more hypertension, immunosuppression, and chronic heart, respiratory and renal disease. Compared to influenza, COVID-19 cases had more pneumonia (98% vs 60%, <0.001), higher MEWS and CURB-65 scores and were more likely to show worse progression on the WHO ordinal scale (33% vs 4%; p < 0.001). The 30-day mortality rate was higher for COVID-19 than for influenza: 15% vs 5% (p = 0.001). The median age of non-surviving cases was 81 (IQR 74-88) and 77.5 (IQR 65-84) (p = 0.385), respectively. COVID-19 was independently associated with 30-day (HR 4.6, 95%CI, 2-10.4) and 90-day (HR 5.2, 95%CI, 2.4-11.4) mortality. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses, including a subgroup considering only patients with pneumonia, did not show different trends. Regarding resource consumption, COVID-19 patients had longer hospital stays and higher critical care, pharmacy, and complementary test costs. Conclusions: Although influenza patients were older and had more comorbidities, COVID-19 cases requiring supplemental oxygen on admission had worse clinical and economic outcomes

Delaying surgery for patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection

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