[Mortality, cardiovascular risk, and health status in a male cohort initiated in 1968. The Manresa study]. / Mortalidad, riesgo cardiovascular y estado de salud actual de una cohorte de varones iniciada en el año 1968. Estudio Manresa.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse mortality and its causes in the Manresa male cohort followed over 42 years; to compare the initial risk of cardiovascular mortality with actual mortality; and to describe the health status of the participants at the end of the study. METHODS: Prospective observational study, in which an analysis of the cumulative incidence of mortality was performed. The association of cardiovascular risk factors with mortality was calculated with a logistic regression analysis of mixed effect. The risk of mortality of individuals was evaluated and compared with true cardiovascular mortality using ROC curves. At the end of the study, a descriptive analysis of CVRF and health status of participants in the last survey was performed. RESULTS: The number of deaths was 457 (43%). Cumulative incidence for cardiovascular diseases was 10.6%. Cardiovascular risk factors significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality were age, cholesterol, and smoking. The use of risk score charts for cardiovascular mortality was found to be useful, and there were no differences between tables. In the last health screening of cardiovascular risk factors levels in an elderly population, a high prevalence was found of hypertension and of regular physical activity, together with a low prevalence of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular mortality remained high, although it has become the second cause after tumoural diseases. The comparison of predictions from cardiovascular mortality risk tables with actual mortality rates in our area over more than 4 decades demonstrated the importance of assessing cardiovascular risk in the adult population.

Ultra-high critical current densities of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films in the overdoped state.

The functional properties of cuprates are strongly determined by the doping state and carrier density. We present an oxygen doping study of YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) thin films from underdoped to overdoped state, correlating the measured charge carrier density, [Formula: see text], the hole doping, p, and the critical current density, [Formula: see text]. Our results show experimental demonstration of strong increase of [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], up to Quantum Critical Point (QCP), due to an increase of the superconducting condensation energy. The ultra-high [Formula: see text] achieved, 90 MA cm-2 at 5 K corresponds to about a fifth of the depairing current, i.e. a value among the highest ever reported in YBCO films. The overdoped regime is confirmed by a sudden increase of [Formula: see text], associated to the reconstruction of the Fermi-surface at the QCP. Overdoping YBCO opens a promising route to extend the current carrying capabilities of rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) coated conductors for applications.

Ultrafast transient liquid assisted growth of high current density superconducting films.

The achievement of high growth rates in YBa2Cu3O7 epitaxial high-temperature superconducting films has become strategic to enable high-throughput manufacturing of long length coated conductors for energy and large magnet applications. We report on a transient liquid assisted growth process capable of achieving ultrafast growth rates (100 nm s-1) and high critical current densities (5 MA cm-2 at 77 K). This is based on the kinetic preference of Ba-Cu-O to form transient liquids prior to crystalline thermodynamic equilibrium phases, and as such is a non-equilibrium approach. The transient liquid-assisted growth process is combined with chemical solution deposition, proposing a scalable method for superconducting tapes manufacturing. Additionally, using colloidal solutions, the growth process is extended towards fabrication of nanocomposite films for enhanced superconducting properties at high magnetic fields. Fast acquisition in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) become crucial measurements in disentangling key aspects of the growth process.

Thermoelectric stack sample cooling modification of a commercial atomic force microscopy.

Enabling temperature dependent experiments in Atomic Force Microscopy is of great interest to study materials and surface properties at the nanoscale. By studying Curie temperature of multiferroic materials, temperature dependent phase transitions on crystalline structures or resistive switching phenomena are only a few examples of applications. We present an equipment capable of cooling samples using a thermoelectric cooling stage down to -61.4 °C in a 15 × 15 mm2 sample plate. The equipment uses a four-unit thermoelectric stack to achieve maximum temperature range, with low electrical and mechanical noise. The equipment is installed into a Keysight 5500LS Atomic Force Microscopy maintaining its compatibility with all Electrical and Mechanical modes of operation. We study the contribution of the liquid cooling pump vibration into the cantilever static deflection noise and the temperature dependence of the cantilever deflection. A La0.7Sr0.3MnO3-y thin film sample is used to demonstrate the performance of the equipment and its usability by analyzing the resistive switching phenomena associated with this oxide perovskite.

Author Correction: Angular flux creep contributions in YBa2Cu3O7-δ nanocomposites from electrical transport measurements.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Angular flux creep contributions in YBa2Cu3O7-δ nanocomposites from electrical transport measurements.

The shape of the electric-field-current-density (E-J) curve is determined by flux pinning and also by dynamics of vortices. Here, we propose a novel methodology to study the normalized flux creep rate S in YBa2Cu3O7-δ measured from E-J curves obtained by electrical transport measurements that provides a fast and versatile way to foresee the flux magnetic relaxation in films and disentangle angular flux creep contributions by the scaling of the isotropic contribution of S. After a detailed comparison of various pristine and nanocomposite films with differentiated nanostructures, we focus on the roles that intrinsic pinning and stacking faults (YBa2Cu4O8-intergrowths) play when the magnetic field is applied parallel to the superconducting CuO2 planes. This study reveals that the emerging intergrowths provide advanced pinning properties that additionally reduce the thermal activated flux magnetic relaxation. For this purpose, creep analysis becomes a very appropriate tool to elucidate the dominance of the different pinning sites at different regions of the magnetic-field-temperature diagram.

Synergistic arsenic(v) and lead(ii) retention on synthetic jarosite. I. Simultaneous structural incorporation behaviour and mechanism.

Jarosite [KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6] minerals are effective scavengers of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and are abundant, for example, in acid rock/mine drainage scenarios. The retention process is highly relevant for environmental attenuation of heavy metals and metalloids since these are usually highly soluble and thus mobile under acidic conditions. We investigated both macroscopically and at the molecular scale the extent and the effects of concomitant incorporation of As(v) and Pb(ii) into synthetic jarosite at different As/Pb starting molar ratios, using XRD-Rietveld, SEM, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and wet chemistry. The amount of arsenate substituted in the jarosite structure was larger when Pb(ii) was also incorporated, the former filling up to approximately 33% of the tetrahedral sites normally occupied by SO42-, as compared to 21% when Pb(ii) was absent. Similarly, the amount of Pb(ii) incorporated in the structure was larger when As(v) was also taken up. The jarosite unit cell volume increased as higher amounts of As(v) incorporated into its structure, but simultaneous Pb(ii) incorporation seemed to limit this increase due to its smaller size as compared to K+. The extent to which As and Pb can accommodate in the jarosite structure was found to be limited by concentration maxima under the imposed synthesis conditions. At As/Pb ratios up to 1, Pb-As-jarosites were the only crystalline products. Above this ratio, a mixture of Pb-As-jarosite, anglesite (PbSO4) and poorly-crystalline ferric arsenate (AFA) phases was observed. At the highest As/Pb ratio investigated of 1.80 Pb-As-jarosite was no longer formed. Infrared spectroscopy analysis was applied for the first time here to substituted jarosites with both cations and anions, showing spectral changes in the solids as the As/Pb ratio increased: a characteristic As-O doublet at ∼810 and ∼855 cm-1 was observed upon Pb incorporation, showing an indirect effect of Pb(ii) on the As-O bonds in the jarosite structure. Thus, structural incorporation of Pb plays a pivotal role in the unit cell environment of jarosite to balance the distortion caused by AsO4-for-SO4 substitution. The retention processes found in this work have important environmental implications and impacts: through the synergistic incorporation encountered, remediation enhancement of cationic pollutants such as Pb(ii) is possible in a concomitant fashion with As(v) attenuation in acidic mining and metallurgical environments.

A highly transmissible tuberculosis outbreak: the importance of bars.

The transmission of tuberculosis (TB) in bars is difficult to study. The objective was to describe a large TB outbreak in a company's bar and other leisure settings. A descriptive study of a TB outbreak was carried out. Contacts were studied in the index case's workplace bar (five circles of contacts) and other recreational areas (social network of three bars in the index case's neighbourhood). Chest X-rays were recommended to contacts with positive tuberculin skin tests (TST) (⩾5 mm). The risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) was determined using an adjusted odds ratio. The dose-response relationship was determined using the chi-square test for linear trend. We studied 316 contacts at the index case's workplace and detected five new cases of TB. The prevalence of LTBI was 57·9% (183/316) and was higher in the first circle, 96·0% (24/25), and lower in the fifth, 46·5% (20/43) (P < 0·0001). Among 58 contacts in the three neighbourhood bars, two TB cases were detected and the LTBI prevalence was 51·7% (30/58). Two children of one secondary TB company patient became ill. Bars may be transmission locations for TB and, as they are popular venues for social events, should be considered as potential areas of exposure.

Piezo-generated charge mapping revealed through direct piezoelectric force microscopy.

While piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials play a key role in many everyday applications, there are still a number of open questions related to their physics. To enhance our understanding of piezoelectrics and ferroelectrics, nanoscale characterization is essential. Here, we develop an atomic force microscopy based mode that obtains a direct quantitative analysis of the piezoelectric coefficient d33. We report nanoscale images of piezogenerated charge in a thick single crystal of periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN), a bismuth ferrite (BiFO3) thin film, and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) by applying a force and recording the current produced by these materials. The quantification of d33 coefficients for PPLN (14 ± 3 pC per N) and BFO (43 ± 6 pC per N) is in agreement with the values reported in the literature. Even stronger evidence of the reliability of the method is provided by an equally accurate measurement of the significantly larger d33 of PZT.

Competition between Superconductor - Ferromagnetic stray magnetic fields in YBa2Cu3O7-x films pierced with Co nano-rods.

Superconductivity and ferromagnetism are two antagonistic phenomena that combined can lead to a rich phenomenology of interactions, resulting in novel physical properties and unique functionalities. Here we propose an original hybrid system formed by a high-temperature superconducting film, patterned with antidots, and with ferromagnetic nano-rods grown inside them. This particular structure exhibits the synergic influence of superconductor (SC) - ferromagnetic (FM) stray fields, in both the superconducting behaviour of the film and the three-dimensional (3D) magnetic structure of nano-rods. We show that FM stray fields directly influence the critical current density of the superconducting film. Additional functionalities appear due to the interaction of SC stray fields, associated to supercurrent loops, with the non-trivial 3D remanent magnetic structure of FM nano-rods. This work unravels the importance of addressing quantitatively the effect of stray magnetic fields from both, the superconductor and the ferromagnet in hybrid magnetic nano-devices based on high temperature superconductors.

Untangling surface oxygen exchange effects in YBa2Cu3O6+x thin films by electrical conductivity relaxation.

The kinetics of oxygen incorporation (in-diffusion process) and excorporation (out-diffusion process), in YBa2Cu3O6+x (YBCO) epitaxial thin films prepared using the chemical solution deposition (CSD) methodology by the trifluoroacetate route, was investigated by electrical conductivity relaxation measurements. We show that the oxygenation kinetics of YBCO films is limited by the surface exchange process of oxygen molecules prior to bulk diffusion into the films. The analysis of the temperature and oxygen partial pressure influence on the oxygenation kinetics has drawn a consistent picture of the oxygen surface exchange process enabling us to define the most likely rate determining step. We have also established a strategy to accelerate the oxygenation kinetics at low temperatures based on the catalytic influence of Ag coatings thus allowing us to decrease the oxygenation temperature in the YBCO thin films.

Very low level viraemia and risk of virological failure in treated HIV-1-infected patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate whether very low level viraemia (VLLV) (20-50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL) was associated with increased risk of virological failure (VF) as compared with persistent full suppression (< 20 copies/mL). METHODS: From the VACH Cohort database, we selected those patients who started antiretroviral therapy (ART) after January 1997 and who achieved effective viral suppression [two consecutive viral loads (VLs) < 50 copies/mL] followed by full suppression (at least one VL <20 copies/mL). We carried out survival analyses to investigate whether the occurrence of VLLV rather than maintaining full suppression at < 20 copies/mL was associated with virological failure (two consecutive VLs > 200 copies/mL or one VL > 200 copies/mL followed by a change of ART regimen, administrative censoring or loss to follow-up), adjusted for nadir CD4 cell count, sex, age, ethnicity, transmission group, type of ART and time on effective suppression at < 50 copies/mL. RESULTS: Of 21 480 patients who started ART, 13 674 (63.7%) achieved effective suppression at < 50 copies/mL, of whom 4289 (31.4%) further achieved full suppression at < 20 copies/mL after May 2009. A total of 2623 patients (61.1%) remained fully suppressed thereafter, while 1666 had one or more episodes of VL detection > 20 copies/mL (excluding virological failure). A total of 824 patients had VLLV after suppression at < 20 copies/mL. VLLV was not associated with virological failure as compared with persistent full suppression [hazard ratio (HR) 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44-1.00], independently of the number of blips recorded (from one to 18). CONCLUSIONS: In our population of HIV-infected patients on ART who achieved viral suppression at < 20 copies/mL, the risk of virological failure was no different for patients who remained fully suppressed compared with those who experienced subsequent episodes of VLLV.

Removal from liver transplantation list of a hepatitis C virus-HIV co-infected patient after successful treatment with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir.

We present a human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient with severe decompensated hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation (LT) who received a 24-week course of interferon/ribavirin-free antiviral treatment with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir on a compassionate basis. Rapid viral suppression was associated with progressive improvement of his liver function tests. The patient achieved a sustained virological response and concomitant clinical improvement, which prompted removal from the LT list 12 weeks after the end of treatment.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate treatment reduces thermal hyperalgesia after spinal cord injury by down-regulating RhoA expression in mice.

BACKGROUND: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major polyphenolic constituent found in green tea. It has been reported that may be a natural agent for reducing thermal and mechanical pain after nervous system injuries. However, the molecular pathways implicated in these beneficial effects have not been completely elucidated. This study aimed to assess the EGCG treatment effects on thermal hyperalgesia, spinal cord gliosis and modulation of Ras homologue gene family member A (RhoA), fatty acid synthase (FASN) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression after spinal cord contusion in mice. METHODS: Animals were subjected to a spinal cord contusion. Thirty minutes after contusion and daily during the first week post-surgery, animals were treated with EGCG or dimethyl sulfoxide-saline (DMSO-saline). At 7 and 14 days post-operation, motor recovery was evaluated using the Basso Mouse Scale, and nociceptive response was evaluated using the Hargreaves test. Furthermore, at 14 days, the expression of RhoA, FASN and TNF-α proteins was quantified in the lesion site of spinal cord by Western blot technique. Finally, spinal cord samples were processed by immunohistochemical techniques for observing astrocytes, microglia and afferent nerve fibres. RESULTS: At short time, EGCG treatment reduced significantly thermal hyperalgesia but had no effect on locomotor recovery in spinal cord injured mice. Furthermore, EGCG treatment down-regulated the RhoA, FASN and TNF-α proteins expression, and decreased astro- and microglia reactivity in spinal cord. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that at short time EGCG treatment reduces thermal hyperalgesia and gliosis via FASN and RhoA pathway, causing a decrease in cytokines in spinal cord.

Chemical solution route to self-assembled epitaxial oxide nanostructures.

Self-assembly of oxides as a bottom-up approach to functional nanostructures goes beyond the conventional nanostructure formation based on lithographic techniques. Particularly, chemical solution deposition (CSD) is an ex situ growth approach very promising for high throughput nanofabrication at low cost. Whereas strain engineering as a strategy to define nanostructures with tight control of size, shape and orientation has been widely used in metals and semiconductors, it has been rarely explored in the emergent field of functional complex oxides. Here we will show that thermodynamic modeling can be very useful to understand the principles controlling the growth of oxide nanostructures by CSD, and some attractive kinetic features will also be presented. The methodology of strain engineering is applied in a high degree of detail to form different sorts of nanostructures (nanodots, nanowires) of the oxide CeO2 with fluorite structure which then is used as a model system to identify the principles controlling self-assembly and self-organization in CSD grown oxides. We also present, more briefly, the application of these ideas to other oxides such as manganites or BaZrO3. We will show that the nucleation and growth steps are essentially understood and manipulated while the kinetic phenomena underlying the evolution of the self-organized networks are still less widely explored, even if very appealing effects have been already observed. Overall, our investigation based on a CSD approach has opened a new strategy towards a general use of self-assembly and self-organization which can now be widely spread to many functional oxide materials.

Ferromagnetic 1D oxide nanostructures grown from chemical solutions in confined geometries.

This review summarizes the capabilities and recent developments of nanoporous polymeric template systems directly supported on different substrates for the confined growth of epitaxial ferromagnetic complex oxide 1D nanostructures. In particular, we describe the versatility and potentiality of chemical solutions combined with track-etched polymers to synthesize (i) vertical polycrystalline La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 nanorods on top of single crystal perovskites, (ii) single crystalline manganese based octahedral molecular sieve (OMS) nanowires on silicon substrates, and (iii) the epitaxial directional single crystal OMS nanowires on top of fluorite-type substrates. The influence of the distinct growth parameters on the nanostructural evolution of the resulting nanostructures and their magnetic properties is further discussed in detail.

Long-term benefits of nevirapine-containing regimens: multicenter study with 506 patients, followed-up a median of 9 years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term outcomes in patients maintaining a nevirapine (NVP)-based regimen. METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter, cohort study including patients currently receiving an NVP regimen that had been started at least 5 years previously. Demographic, clinical, and analytical variables were recorded. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 8.9 (5.7-11.3) years. Baseline characteristics: 74% men, 47 years old, 36% drug users, 40% AIDS, 40% HCV+, 51.4% detectable HIV-1 viral load, CD4 count 395 (4-1,421)/µL, 19% CD4 < 200/µL, 27% ALT grade 1-2, 36% AST grade 1-2. Thirty percent ART-naive, 83%received NVP associated with 2 nucleoside analogues during the study period, and 17% a protease inhibitor. A significant improvement was observed in general health status markers, including hemoglobin, platelets, and albumin, regardless of HCV coinfection. CD4 cell gain was +218 and +322/µL after 6 and 9 years, respectively (+321 and +391 in naive patients). Triglycerides significantly decreased in pretreated patients, whereas the percentage of patients with HDLc < 1.03 mmol/L and LDL-c > 3.37 mmol/L significantly decreased in a subsample with available values. A significant decrease in transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and Fib4 score was observed, mainly in HCV+ and ARV-naive patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who tolerate NVP therapy, (even those with HCV coinfection), long term benefits may be significant in terms of a progressive improvement in general health status markers and CD4 response, a favorable lipid profile, and good liver tolerability.

Nanoscale strain-induced pair suppression as a vortex-pinning mechanism in high-temperature superconductors.

Boosting large-scale superconductor applications require nanostructured conductors with artificial pinning centres immobilizing quantized vortices at high temperature and magnetic fields. Here we demonstrate a highly effective mechanism of artificial pinning centres in solution-derived high-temperature superconductor nanocomposites through generation of nanostrained regions where Cooper pair formation is suppressed. The nanostrained regions identified from transmission electron microscopy devise a very high concentration of partial dislocations associated with intergrowths generated between the randomly oriented nanodots and the epitaxial YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7) matrix. Consequently, an outstanding vortex-pinning enhancement correlated to the nanostrain is demonstrated for four types of randomly oriented nanodot, and a unique evolution towards an isotropic vortex-pinning behaviour, even in the effective anisotropy, is achieved as the nanostrain turns isotropic. We suggest a new vortex-pinning mechanism based on the bond-contraction pairing model, where pair formation is quenched under tensile strain, forming new and effective core-pinning regions.

Soluble fatty acid synthase relates to bone biomarkers in prepubertal children.

SUMMARY: Circulating soluble fatty acid synthase (FASN, a key enzyme in de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids, expressed in both adipocytes and osteoblasts) is clinically related to a less favorable bone profile in healthy prepubertal children. Soluble FASN may participate in the reciprocal regulation between fat and bone metabolism. INTRODUCTION: Fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme in de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids, is expressed in adipocytes and osteoblasts. We hypothesized that FASN may participate in the crosstalk between fat and bone. To this aim, we studied the relation between circulating soluble FASN (an extracellular FASN that reflects previously intracellular enzymatic activity) and adipose tissue and bone biomarkers in prepubertal children. METHODS: Circulating soluble FASN, total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, bone biomarkers [osteocalcin (OC), uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP)], and a profile of energy metabolism [body fat, insulin resistance and secretion (HOMA), serum lipids] were assessed in 84 asymptomatic prepubertal children (44 girls, 40 boys, age 6.8 ± 0.1 year). Serum 25-OH Vitamin D (Vit D) was additionally measured. RESULTS: Circulating soluble FASN increased with increasing HMW adiponectin (r = 0.29, p = 0.01) and decreasing serum Vit D (r = -0.21, p < 0.05), and was related to a less favorable bone profile, showing negative associations with bone-derived metabolic parameters [total OC (r = -0.33, p = 0.002) and ucOC (r = -0.37, p < 0.0001)] and a positive association with the CTX-to-BSAP ratio (r = 0.31, p < 0.01). These correlations were not explained by age, gender, body fat, insulin resistance or secretion or serum lipids; however, they were predominant in those subjects with Vit D levels below the population median. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating soluble FASN relates to both adipose tissue and bone biomarkers in prepubertal children, with associations that are dependent on Vit D concentrations. These findings suggest that FASN may participate in the crosstalk between fat and bone metabolism.