Deep excursion beyond the proton dripline. I. Argon and chlorine isotope chains

The proton-unbound argon and chlorine isotopes have been studied by measuring trajectories of their decay-in-flight products by using a tracking technique with microstrip detectors. The proton (1p) and two-proton (2p) emission processes have been detected in the measured angular correlations "heavy-fragment"+p and "heavy-fragment"+p+p, respectively. The ground states of the previously unknown isotopes Cl30 and Cl28 have been observed for the first time, providing the 1p-separation energies Sp of -0.48(2) and -1.60(8), MeV, respectively. The relevant systematics of 1p- and 2p-separation energies have been studied theoretically in the core+p and core+p+p cluster models. The first-time observed excited states of Ar31 allow one to infer the 2p-separation energy S2p of 6(34) keV for its ground state. The first-time observed state in Ar29 with S2p=-5.50(18) MeV can be identified as either a ground state or an excited state according to different systematics

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Informe de Pasant\ueda en DISTRIBUIDORA BIGOTT, C.A.

Las pasant\uedas fueron realizadas en DISTRIBUIDORA BIGOTT, C.A. Regi\uf3n Barquisimeto, donde se pudo obtener una visi\uf3n m\ue1s clara de lo que representa el desempe\uf1o de actividades en una organizaci\uf3n privada y de como es realmente el ambiente laboral. El prop\uf3sito fundamental a realizar la pasant\ueda profesional en dicha empresa, fue el de hacer pr\ue1cticos los conocimientos adquiridos durante la carrera universitaria y el de adquirir nuevos conocimientos sobre las actividades y tareas realizadas en el departamento de administraci\uf3n. El presente informe describe brevemente una rese\uf1a hist\uf3rica sobre la empresa, en la cual se hace menci\uf3n a la raz\uf3n social de la empresa, ubicaci\uf3n f\uedsica, estructura organizativa, departamentos que la integran as\ued como una descripci\uf3n de la misi\uf3n de cada uno de ellos, entre otros aspectos de importancia; en el segundo cap\uedtulo se plasman los objetivos tanto generales como espec\uedficos que se persiguen cumplir con el per\uedodo de pasant\uedas, para lo cual se requer\ueda del cumplimiento de diversas actividades a realizar un diagn\uf3stico de la situaci\uf3n actual (tercer cap\uedtulo), los recursos utilizados y las conclusiones las cuales se ubican en el cap\uedtulo cuatro y cinco respectivamente y finalmente quedan plasmadas las recomendaciones presentadas

Isotopic Labeling Studies Reveal the Patulin Detoxification Pathway by the Biocontrol Yeast Rhodotorula kratochvilovae LS11.

Patulin (1) is a mycotoxin contaminant in fruit and vegetable products worldwide. Biocontrol agents, such as the yeast Rhodotorula kratochvilovae strain LS11, can reduce patulin (1) contamination in food. R. kratochvilovae LS11 converts patulin (1) into desoxypatulinic acid (DPA) (5), which is less cytotoxic than the mycotoxin (1) to in vitro human lymphocytes. In the present study, we report our investigations into the pathway of degradation of patulin (1) to DPA (5) by R. kratochvilovae. Isotopic labeling experiments revealed that 5 derives from patulin (1) through the hydrolysis of the \u3b3-lactone ring and subsequent enzymatic modifications. The ability of patulin (1) and DPA (5) to cause genetic damage was also investigated by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay on in vitro human lymphocytes. Patulin (1) was demonstrated to cause much higher chromosomal damage than DPA (5)

Study of the volatile profile of high quality vinegars by Stir Bar sorptive extraction

A stir bar sorptive extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SBSE-GC-MS) method has been used for the characterization of the volatile composition of 26 high quality vinegars of three different protected geographical indications (traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena, balsamic vinegar of Modena, and Sherry vinegar). SBSE technique provided the identification of 113 volatile compounds, which belong to different chemical families (short-chain esters, acids, acetates and alcohols, phenols, lactones and benzenic and furanic compounds). 39 volatile compounds were never previously reported in wine vinegars. This characterization contributed to the differentiation of the 100% of the studied samples on the basis of raw material (two different types of wine, and cooked must), aging type (static and dynamic) and aging time (&lt; 5 years, between 5 and 25 years, and > 25 years). Furanes and terpenes together with acids and alkanes were the most discriminant variables for raw material and aging time, respectively, whereas for aging type, these ones were acetates and esters

TECHNICAL TRAINING COURSES: A TEACHING METHODOLOGY WITH A PRACTICAL POINT OF VIEW

Taking into account the new European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the internationalization and cooperation among different universities is an essential aspect to be developed. The new Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (CeiA3) of Andalusia provides the possibility to researchers and professional workers of the Agrifood sector of improving their training by means of different courses of specialization called \u201cTechnical Training Courses\u201d. A group of professors from the University of C\ue1diz, with the cooperation of a foreign professor from the University of Bologna (Italy) developed one of these courses in the academic year 2011/2012, whose title was \u201cAnalysis of oenological products by means of advanced chromatographic techniques\u201d, and it was focused on graduates and professional of the agricultural sector from any part of Andalusia. The length of the course was 35 hours, a part of it was taught in English. The main teaching objectives of this course were on the one hand, to develop lessons from a very practical point of view, avoiding the typical master class and to establish a close report with students. And on the other hand, to improve the training of researchers and professional workers, offering them the possibility of receiving a course in a different place from them, with the most exhaustive and comprehensive scientific material. The mobility of the students was finally achieved because a high percentage of them were external from the University of C\ue1diz. Moreover, as can be derived from a final questionnaire submitted to students, the obtained opinions of the course were excellent and all the students were very satisfied with both the scientific material provided and the practical teaching methodology. However, only with a low number of students (10), this methodology could be successfully carried out. Finally, during the development of the mentioned course, the different professors involved improved as well several adeptness or competences, that are included in the Grade titles and therefore are evaluated during the academic teaching activity. Examples of these competences can be the following: oral expression, work group, resolution of practical scientific problems or communication in a second languag

Outcome of operation in patients with adrenocortical cancer invading the inferior vena cava-a European Society of Endocrine Surgeons (ESES) survey.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with adrenocortical cancer (ACC) continue to present with advanced disease. Invasion into the inferior vena cava (IVC) defines stage III disease and the management of such patients raises additional difficulties. METHOD: A multicentre survey was organized by emailing a standardized proforma to members of the European Society of Endocrine Surgery (ESES). Anonymised retrospective clinical data were collected. RESULTS: Replies were received from 18 centres in nine countries. ACC with IVC invasion was encountered in 38 patients (18F:20M, age 15-84 years, median 54 years). There were 16 nonfunctioning tumours and 22 functioning tumours predominantly right-sided (26R:12L) and measuring 18-255 mm (median 115 mm). Fourteen patients had metastatic disease at presentation. Tumour thrombus extended in the prehepatic IVC (n=21), subdiaphragmatic IVC (n=6) or into the SVC/right atrium (n=3). Open adrenalectomy was associated with resection of surrounding viscera in 24 patients (nephrectomy n=16, liver resection n=14, splenectomy n=3, Whipple procedure n=2). IVC was controlled locally (n=27), at suprahepatic levels (n=6) or necessitated cardiac bypass (n=5). Complete resection (R0, n=20) was achieved in the majority of patients, with a minority having microscopic persistent disease (R1, n=7) or macroscopic residual disease (R2, n=4). Perioperative 30-day mortality was 13% (n=5). Postoperative Mitotane was used in 23 patients and chemotherapy in eight patients. Twenty-five patients died 2-61 months after their operation (median 5 months). Currently, 13 patients are alive at 2-58 months (median 16 months) with known metastatic disease (n=7) or with no signs of distant disease (n=6).CONCLUSION: This dataset is limited by the lack of a denominator as it remains unknown how many other patients with ACC presenting with IVC invasion did not undergo surgery. The relatively low perioperative mortality and the long disease-free survival achieved by some patients should encourage surgeons with adequate experience to offer surgical treatment to patients presenting with advanced adrenocortical cancers

Demonstration of integrated polarization control with a 40\u2009\u2009dB range in extinction ratio

Polarization controllers are key elements in many fields of optics, including coherent communications, optical imaging, and quantum applications. Here we present a technology-independent polarization controller scheme based on electrically tunable phase shifters and polarization rotators with largely relaxed fabrication tolerances. Using this scheme, we experimentally demonstrate a fully integrated polarization controller in the silicon-on-insulator platform that is tunable over the complete C-band and achieves a polarization extinction range of 40 dB (\ub120\u2009\u2009dB ). These results constitute, to the best of our knowledge, the highest polarization extinction range achieved in a fully integrated device, and overcome the existing limitation in the trade-off between integration and performance in polarization management circuits.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Demonstration of integrated polarization control with a 40\u2009\u2009dB range in extinction ratio

Polarization controllers are key elements in many fields of optics, including coherent communications, optical imaging, and quantum applications. Here we present a technology-independent polarization controller scheme based on electrically tunable phase shifters and polarization rotators with largely relaxed fabrication tolerances. Using this scheme, we experimentally demonstrate a fully integrated polarization controller in the silicon-on-insulator platform that is tunable over the complete C-band and achieves a polarization extinction range of 40 dB (\ub120\u2009\u2009dB ). These results constitute, to the best of our knowledge, the highest polarization extinction range achieved in a fully integrated device, and overcome the existing limitation in the trade-off between integration and performance in polarization management circuits.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye