On the Use of Embedded Fiber Optic Sensors for Measuring Early-Age Strains in Concrete.

Detailed information about concrete behavior in real structures is an important issue in controlling its performance during its service life, and the use of embedded sensors to obtain desired information such as temperature, onset of the cracking process and evolution of strains, has gained the attention of the building concrete industry. Data obtained using this technology can provide valuable information for decision making about the need for corrective interventions that can ensure the integrity and safety of concrete structures for long period of time. This paper presents a review of the current state-of-the-art of embedded fiber optic sensors used to assess concrete information of a wide range of aspects, comprising: existing alternative technologies, characteristics and advantages, practical applications and future developments. Complementarily, the work presents preliminary results of the use of fiber optic sensors to automatically and continuously perform expansion readings of AAR in concrete elements that facilitate both the storage-with elimination of the usual interruptions for manual readings-and the availability of continuous results of expansion data that are not possible to obtain with usual AAR tests code reading recommendations.

A single dose of dietary nitrate supplementation protects against endothelial ischemia-reperfusion injury in early postmenopausal women.

The onset of menopause and accompanying changes to ovarian hormones often precedes endothelial dysfunction in women. In particular, accelerated impairments in macrovascular and microvascular function coincide with the loss of estrogen, as does impaired endothelial responses to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. In healthy, early postmenopausal women (n = 12; 3.9 ± 1.5 years since menopause) we tested the hypothesis that acute dietary nitrate (NO3-) supplementation would improve endothelial function and attenuate the magnitude of endothelial dysfunction following whole-arm IR in comparison with placebo. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study we tested participants before and after NO3--rich (BRnitrate) and NO3--depleted (BRplacebo) beetroot juice (BR) consumption, as well as following IR injury, and 15 min after IR to assess recovery. Analyses with repeated-measures general linear models revealed a condition × time interaction for brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD; P = 0.04), and no interaction effect was found for the near-infrared spectroscopy-derived reperfusion slope (P = 0.86). Follow-up analysis showed a significant decline in FMD following IR injury with BRplacebo in comparison with all other timepoints (all, P < 0.05), while this decline was not present with BRnitrate (all, P > 0.05). Our findings demonstrate that a single dose of dietary NO3- minimizes IR-induced macrovascular endothelial dysfunction in healthy, early postmenopausal women, but does not improve resting macrovascular and microvascular function. Trial registration number: NCT03644472. Novelty: In healthy, early postmenopausal women, a single dose of NO3--rich BR can protect against IR-induced endothelial dysfunction. This protection may be due to nitric oxide bioactivity during IR rather than improved endothelial function prior to the IR protocol per se.

Fast Monte Carlo simulation on a voxelized human phantom deformed to a patient.

PURPOSE: A method for performing fast simulations of absorbed dose using a patient's computerized tomography (CT) scan without explicitly relying on a calibration curve is presented. METHODS: The method is based on geometrical deformations performed on a standard voxelized human phantom. This involves spatially transforming the human phantom to align it with the patient CT image. Since the chemical composition and density of each voxel are given in the phantom data, a calibration curve is not used in the proposed method. For this study, the Monte Carlo (MC) code PENELOPE has been used as the simulation of reference. The results obtained with PENELOPE simulations are compared to those obtained with PENFAST and with the collapsed cone convolution algorithm implemented in a commercial treatment planning system. RESULTS: The comparisons of the absorbed doses calculated with the different algorithms on two patient CTs and the corresponding deformed phantoms show a maximum distance to agreement of 2 mm, and in general, the obtained absorbed dose distributions are compatible within the reached statistical uncertainty. The validity of the deformation method for a broad range of patients is shown using MC simulations in random density phantoms. A PENFAST simulation of a 6 MV photon beam impinging on a patient CT reaches 2% statistical uncertainty in the absorbed dose, in a 0.1 cm3 voxel along the central axis, in 10 min running on a single core of a 2.8 GHz CPU. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method of the absorbed dose calculation in a deformed voxelized phantom allows for dosimetric studies in the geometry of a patient CT scan. This is due to the fact that the chemical composition and material density of the phantom are known. Furthermore, simulation using the phantom geometry can provide dosimetric information for each organ. The method can be used for quality assurance procedures. In relation to PENFAST, it is shown that a purely condensed-history algorithm (class I) can be used for absorbed dose estimation in patient CTs.

[Lung function and exposure to tobacco smoke among adolescents]. / Función pulmonar y exposición al humo del tabaco en adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To study lung function in adolescents in relation to smoking (active and passive smokers) and to investigate the repercussion on spirometric parameters. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We studied 301 healthy adolescents with no history of bronchial asthma or colds in the month prior to the study. A questionnaire on tobacco exposure was administered and spirometry (Datospir-92) was performed. RESULTS: There were 165 boys (54.5%) and 136 girls (45.5%) aged between 14 and 20 years old (16.40+/-1.32). A total of 27.2% were non-smokers and were not exposed to tobacco smoke (NS), 31.3% were passive smokers, with household exposure of 10 cigarettes per day during at least the previous year (PS), and 41.5% were current smokers who had been smoking>or=10 cigarettes/day for at least 1 year (CS). Significant differences were found between age and smoking habits (p=0.0001) and between smoking habits and female sex (girls CS: 33.9% vs boys CS: 21.8 %) (p=0.007). A significant association was found between smoking (NS, PS and CS) and spirometric parameters (ANOVA): forced vital capacity (FVC) (p=0.001), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (p=0.0001), FEV1/FVC (p=0.004), peak expiratory flow (PEF) (p=0.0001), midexpiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity (MEF25%) (p=0.01), MEF50% (p=0.0001) and MEF25-75% (p=0.0001); CS in relation to NS was as follows: FEV1, PEF, MEF50%, MEF25-50% (p=0.0001) and FVC, FEV1/FVC, MEF25% (p=0.01); CS in relation to PS: FEV1/ FVC (p=0.02), PEF (p=0.004), MEF50% and MEF25-75% (p=0.003), PS in relation to NS: FVC and FEV1 (p=0.02). Significant differences in FVC, FEV1 and MEF25-75% were found in female CS in comparison with boys. CONCLUSIONS: The CS group showed a significant decrease in spirometric parameters in relation to the NS group. The airway was affected sooner in the female group of smokers than in the male group, even though the intensity and time of exposure were the same in both groups.

Improved cardiovascular risk profile of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and renal failure after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The prognosis of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure improves after simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation. Good control of glycemia and other cardiovascular risk factors may positively influence prognosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in cardiovascular risk factors after SKP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 13 patients (aged 36 +/- 8 years, 7 women) before and 12 months after SPK transplantation. All were treated with thymoglobulin, prednisone, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. We compared the following pre- and post-SPK parameters: glycemia, HbA(1)c, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, systolic (sBP), diastolic blood pressure (dBP), and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Twelve months after SPK transplantation, glycemia, HbA(1)c and triglycerides significantly decreased (P < .001; P < .001, and P < .002, respectively), as did sBP (P < .002) and dBP (P < .001). No changes were found for BMI or total, HDL and LDL cholesterol values. The number of patients requiring antihypertensive therapy fell (13 versus 3; P < .002), as did the number of drugs (2.3 +/- 0.8 versus 0.4 +/- 0.7; P < .001). The number of patients requiring statins also fell (11 versus 3; P < .002). At 12 months, all patients had normal renal function (creatinine clearance 85 +/- 10 mL/min) and required no insulin; four had microalbuminuria. CONCLUSION: These interim results show an improved cardiovascular risk profile 12 months after SPK transplantation, which lays the basis for a more favorable long-term prognosis.

[Complications and morbidity and mortality rates in a postanesthetic intensive care unit]. / Patología y morbimortalidad en una Unidad de Reanimación Obstétrica.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the complications leading to admission of obstetric patients to intensive care or intensive postanesthetic care units. To describe the morbidity and mortality rates in such patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a descriptive study based on patient records of 23,246 births at the Hospital Materno Infantil belonging to the University Hospitals Virgen del Rocio in Sevilla, Spain, over a 3-year period (2001-2003). RESULTS: In the 23,246 births reviewed, 746 women (3%) required admission to the obstetric postoperative intensive care unit. The most common reasons were pre-eclampsia in 146 cases (19%), ectopic pregnancy in 97 cases (13%), and postpartum bleeding in 75 cases (10%). Among the 146 cases of preeclampsia treated in the unit, there were 8 cases of eclampsia and 7 of acute pulmonary edema. Two deaths (0.3%) occurred, due to eclampsia in 1 case and to pulmonary thromboembolism in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric patients are at risk of serious complications that require admission to intensive care or intensive postanesthetic care units, and we therefore emphasize the need to create such units at tertiary care hospitals.

Development of an integrative DNA transformation system for the yeast Candida utilis.

We report here the development of an auxotrophic transformation system for the food yeast Candida utilis. To facilitate molecular studies in Candida utilis, we isolated auxotrophic strains for uracil biosynthesis by the combination of NTG-mutagenesis and 5-fluorotic acid (FOA) selection. The ura-mutation could be functionally complemented by the homologous URA3 gene. We used both, LiAc and electroporation methods to direct insertions at the ura3 locus through homologous recombination.

Purification and characterization of an invertase from Candida utilis: comparison with natural and recombinant yeast invertases.

A periplasmic invertase from the yeast Candida utilis was purified to homogeneity from cells fully derepressed for invertase synthesis. The enzyme was purified by successive Sephacryl S-300, and affinity chromatography and shown to be a dimeric glycoprotein composed of two identical monomer subunits with an apparent molecular mass of 150 kDa. After EndoH treatment, the deglycosylated protein showed an apparent molecular weight of 60 kDa. The apparent K(m) values for sucrose and raffinose were 11 and 150 mM, respectively, similar to those reported in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The range of optimum temperature was 60-75 degrees C. The optimum pH was 5.5 and the enzyme was stable over pH range 3-6.

Experimental determination of the convolution kernel for the study of the spatial response of a detector.

One of the most important parameters in the characterization of a detector is its spatial convolution kernel. This kernel contains all of the information about the influence that the detector size has on the measured beam profile. In this paper we present an experimental method for the determination of the spatial convolution kernel for commonly used detectors that are employed in the x-ray profile measurement: film + densitometer, diode, and ionization minichamber. Our work is based on first assuming a step function pattern on a photographic film is known and is a perfect step function. The kernel of the densitometer system was then derived from the deconvolution of the scanned profile to the step function. Next a film was exposed to a penumbra area of an x-ray beam from a linac. The film was scanned using the same densitometer. The "real profile" that emerges from a linear accelerator was derived by the deconvolution of the scanned profile using the now known kernel of the film densitometer. Under the same irradiation condition the x-ray profile was measured with other detectors and with this information we obtained the convolution kernels for these detectors by solving numerically their basic convolution integrals. The results show that the Gaussian convolution kernel is the most consistent with the measurements. The best numerical values for the FWHM of the kernels are 1.1 mm, 2.2 mm, and 5.4 mm for densitometer, diode, and minichamber, respectively.

Secretions of somatostatin and VIP in cultures of fetal rat neuroblasts increased by amino acids.

Neuroblasts obtained from 17 day old rat embryos were incubated for 8 days, after which half of them were treated with 10(-6) M FACE (a mixture of amino acids high in glycine, alanine and aspartic acid), and the other half were left as controls. At the end of 20 days, levels of somatostatin (SRIF) were over 6,000 pg/plate in neuroblasts treated with FACE, versus 500 pg/plate in controls. At this time vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels were over 230 pg/plate in the FACE treated cultures, while their controls contained less than 150 pp/plate. Protein totals were similar (about 1,000 micrograms/plate) in all FACE treated cultures and controls, indicating that increases in SRIF and VIP were not determined by changes in cell population, but by their synthetic and/or secretory activities triggered by minute amounts of FACE. These results may be of interest in the understanding of Alzheimer's disease.

Intraoperative radiation therapy in malignant glioma: early clinical results.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) with high energy electron beams is a treatment modality that has been included in multimodal programs in oncology to improve local tumor control. From August 1991 to December 1993, 17 patients with primary (8) or recurrent (9) high grade malignant gliomas, anaplastic astrocytoma (4), anaplastic oligodendroglioma (6) and glioblastoma multiforme (7), underwent surgical resection and a single dose of 10-20 Gy intraoperative radiation therapy was delivered in tumor bed. Fourteen patients received either pre-operative (8) or post-operative (6) external beam radiation therapy. Primary gliomas: 18-months actuarial survival rate has been 56% (range: 1-21+ months) and the median survival time has not yet been achieved. Four patients developed tumor progression (median time to tumor progression: 9 months). Recurrent gliomas: 18-months actuarial survival rate and median survival time has been 47% and 13 months (range: 6-32+ months) respectively. The median time to tumor progression was 11 months. No IORT related mortality has been observed. IORT is an attractive, tolerable and feasible treatment modality as antitumoral intensification procedure in high grade malignant gliomas.

Exact analytical solution of the convolution integral equation for a general profile fitting function and Gaussian detector kernel.

One of the most important aspects in the metrology of radiation fields is the problem of the measurement of dose profiles in regions where the dose gradient is large. In such zones, the 'detector size effect' may produce experimental measurements that do not correspond to reality. Mathematically it can be proved, under some general assumptions of spatial linearity, that the disturbance induced in the measurement by the effect of the finite size of the detector is equal to the convolution of the real profile with a representative kernel of the detector. In this work the exact relation between the measured profile and the real profile is shown, through the analytical resolution of the integral equation for a general type of profile fitting function using Gaussian convolution kernels.

Effects of arsenite on central monoamines and plasmatic levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in mice.

We studied the effects of chronic arsenic exposure on brain monoamines and plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) of mice. After weaning, mice received arsenic (0, 20, 40, 60 or 100 ppm) in drinking water over a period of 9 weeks. Monoamine content was quantified in different brain regions, arsenic was quantified in brain tissue and ACTH levels in plasma. Brain arsenic concentrations up to 200 ng/g showed a significant correlation with exposure levels and produced slight modifications in regional monoamine levels. ACTH plasma levels were significantly associated with norepinephrine (NE) concentrations in the medulla and pons, but not with hypothalamic NE levels. ACTH levels were significantly higher in the group exposed to 20 ppm. Dopamine showed significant dose-related decreases in the hypothalamus. These results show that chronic sodium arsenite exposure produces changes in central monoamines, which are not associated on a dose-dependent basis with major alterations in plasma ACTH.

Neuronal imprinting of human values.

In the 21st century, psychophysiology will face the challenge of establishing ethical principles and practical means for the genetic and social influencing of the development of human beings. Neuronal imprinting of beliefs and morality within infantile minds will be necessary for the peaceful coexistence of races and cultures. This process requires study and consideration, among others, of the following psychophysiological facts: (1) Genes do not transmit moral values. (2) Material support of physiological activities is necessary for the existence and development of mental functions. (3) Imprinting of human values is based on material changes within neuronal structures. (4) Early neuronal imprinting is performed without personal awareness or consent of the individual and depends on sensory inputs, mainly from the social structure of the group. (5) Biological structures lack values. Personal and social antagonisms do not depend on genes, but on cultural indoctrination. (6) Pleasure and punishment (positive and negative reinforcement) are the two main elements, which regulate animal and human behavior. (7) Values must be chosen by adults, who decide the questions 'why'? 'when'? 'which ones'?, 'who should teach'?, 'what?' and 'how'? (8) Many biological imperatives are shared by all animals and by all people. Human beings may be considered the 'crickets of the Universe', unable to understand the mysteries of nature because of our insufficient neuronal capacity. (9) Our emotional life is mainly related to the structure of the limbic system controlled by the neocortex. (10) New theories based on the integration of physics, chemistry, biology and other specific areas of knowledge, as proposed by the General Theory of Systems, will avoid 'opposites', favoring the acceptance of complementary aspects of reality. (11) Early education will promote preferential learning which depends on both genetic endowment and neuronal development influenced by experience. It is the responsibility of psychophysiology to establish the guidelines for better education, clarifying the material and psychological aspects of the mind.

Detection of factors influencing nitrite determination in meat.

A critical assessment was made of the official Spanish method for determining nitrite content in meat, using a 2((k-p)) fold-over Plackett-Burman experiment to identify influencing factors (IF) affecting the analytical method; these factors were drawn from seven apparent critical factors (ACF): sample weight (W(S)), extraction temperature (T(E)), stirring extraction time (S(ET)), addition of Carrez I reagent (C(I-R)), addition of Carrez II reagent (C(II-R)), addition of borax reagent (B(R)) and color development time (D(CT)). In the experimental conditions assayed, the analytical method does not require protein precipitation. In addition, a negative effect of the Carrez reagent on nitrite determination was detected; it is thus proposed that this reagent be eliminated, in accordance with AOAC method 973.31. The use of borate improved nitrite extraction, but the W(S)/B(R) ratio must be adjusted to determine the best ratio and to eliminate any negative effect when the ratio increases.

[Cross-stimulation in endocardiac AV sequential demand DVI pacemaker associated with great dilatation of the right atrial appendage]. / Estimulación cruzada en un marcapasos secuencial endocárdico asociada con gran dilatación de la orejuela derecha.

We report on a case of ventricular stimulation by an atrial electrode in endocardiac DVI sequential pacemaker implanted in a patient with cardiomegaly and great atrial appendage. The appropriately placement of the electrode was confirmed by open-heart surgery in the valve replacement. This rare malfunction could be exceptionally studied anatomically.

Aspartate kinase and homoserine dehydrogenase of Candida utilis.

Aspartate kinase and homoserine dehydrogenase activity were assayed in a dialyzed cell-free extract of Candida utilis. Aspartate kinase was partly inhibited by ATP-Mg and by Mg2+ alone. There appear to be two isoenzymes of aspartate kinase in the yeast, one heat-labile, the other relatively heat-stable. The first is subject to feedback inhibition by threonine, the other is threonine-resistant. Neither aspartate kinase nor homoserine dehydrogenase is the rate-limiting enzyme in methionine biosynthesis. Homoserine dehydrogenase measured in the forward direction showed an activity five times higher than aspartate kinase. No regulatory interaction could be demonstrated for this enzyme. No repression of aspartate kinase and homoserine dehydrogenase synthesis by threonine, methionine or both amino acids was observed.

Methionine-defective mutants in Candida utilis.

Ethionine-resistant mutants of Candida utilis CCY-158 overproducing methionine have been isolated. In these mutants the intracellular methionine concentration decreased significantly during the stationary phase. The wild-type strain CCY-158 and the ethionine-resistant mutants isolated were able to use methionine as the nitrogen source but not as the carbon source. From these ethionine-resistant mutants we isolated mutants unable to use methionine as nitrogen source (Mec- mutants), the principal alteration being at the level of methionine uptake. Some of the Mec mutants lost also the ability to use other amino acids as nitrogen source.

[Arterial hypertension in the island of Tenerife. I. Incidence (author's transl)]. / La hipertensión arterial en la isla de Tenerife. I. Frecuencia.

Arterial hypertension is one of the most frequent pathologic situations in general practice. The purpose of the present study has been to discover the real incidence of blood hypertension among people in the island of Tenerife, and its possible relation to several factors, such as age, sex, constitution, type of work, alimentary habits, and pathologic background, as well as the distribution of the disease according to the different altimetric zones of the island. A total of 1,728 individuals of both sexes (ages ranged from 13 to 74 years) were included in the study. Arterial hypertension was demonstrated in 19 percent of the subjects, borderline values were recorded in 11 percent of the individuals; 70 percent of the population exhibited normal arterial tension values. The incidence of blood hypertension increased progressively with age, and was similar in both sexes up until 44 years of age; in the older group hypertension was significantly higher among women. An important finding was the discovery that 90 percent of the hypertensive people were unaware of their condition, were aware but received no treatment, or were treated but were not kept under control. The younger the individual was, the higher was the proportion of subjects without treatment; 32 percent of the patients were under 45 years of age. In this group of young hypertensive people 83 percent of them did not receive anti-hypertensive therapy. while 16 percent of the same group were taking medication but did not have the disease under control.

Care of the patient with Parkinson's disease: surgical and nursing interventions.

Parkinson's disease (PD), occurring in one million people with 50,000 new cases each year, is the most prevalent degenerative neurological disorder. With symptoms occurring insidiously and gradually, PD typically strikes in the sixth decade of life. Parkinsonian signs and symptoms include the classic combination of resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability. The impact of the disease varies among individuals. Since the experiences of patients with Parkinson's disease are so varied and complex, nurses must play a pivotal role in their care. The quality of life of individuals with PD has changed dramatically since the advent of levodopa (L-Dopa) and other anti-Parkinson drugs. Recently autotransplantation of the adrenal medulla into the caudate nucleus, an investigational surgical treatment for Parkinson's disease, has been developed. Success with this procedure has been reported in two case studies. Autotransplantation is performed in several institutions in the United States. In this paper, the acute nursing care of individuals who have undergone autotransplantation, as well as short-term effects of the procedure on the lives of two patients and their families will be examined. This article addresses traditional medical treatment, physiology of movement and autotransplantation in addition to two case studies.