Monte Carlo simulations of two-component Coulomb gases applied in surface electrodes.

In this work, we study the gapped surface electrode (SE), a planar system composed of two-conductor flat regions at different potentials with a gapGbetween both sheets. The computation of the electric field and the surface charge density requires solving Laplace's equation subjected to Dirichlet conditions (on the electrodes) and Neumann boundary conditions over the gap. In this document, the gapless surface electrode is modeled as a two-dimensional classical Coulomb gas having punctual charges +qand -qon the inner and outer electrodes, respectively, interacting with an inverse power law 1/r-potential. The coupling parameter Γ between particles inversely depends on temperature and is proportional toq2. Precisely, the density charge arises from the equilibrium states via Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. We focus on the coupling and the gap geometry effect. Mainly on the distribution of particles in the circular and the harmonically-deformed gapped SE. MC simulations differ from electrostatics in the strong coupling regime. The electrostatic approximation and the MC simulations agree in the weak coupling regime where the system behaves as two interacting ionic fluids. That means that temperature is crucial in finite-size versions of the gapped SE where the density charge cannot be assumed fully continuous as the coupling among particles increases. Numerical comparisons are addressed against analytical descriptions based on an electric vector potential approach, finding good agreement.

Burden of obstructive lung disease in a rural setting in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with COPD in a rural setting in the Philippines. METHODS: The study was conducted in two municipalities in Nueva Ecija province in the Philippines. Using the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) protocol and study design, non-hospitalized men or women, aged 40years or older, were recruited by multi-stage random sampling procedures. Participants completed questionnaires on respiratory symptoms and exposure to potential risk factors for COPD, including smoking, occupation and exposure to burning of biomass fuel. Spirometry was performed according to American Thoracic Society criteria. RESULTS: Of the 1188 individuals selected for recruitment, 722 had acceptable post-bronchodilator spirometry and were classified according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage. The overall prevalence of COPD for all stages was 20.8%. The prevalence of COPD at GOLD Stage I or higher was greater in men compared with women (26.5% vs 15.3%), and increased between the ages of 40 to >70years. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between all stages of COPD and farming for >40years (odds ratio (OR) 2.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.43-4.30), use of firewood for cooking for >60years (OR 3.48, 95% CI: 1.57-7.71), a smoking history of ≥20 pack-years (OR 2.86; 95% CI: 1.78-4.60), and a history of tuberculosis (OR 6.31, 95% CI: 2.67-15.0). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence COPD in a rural community in Nueva Ecija, Philippines was 20.8% for GOLD Stage I or higher, and 16.7% for GOLD Stage II or higher. In addition to smoking history, the use of firewood for cooking, working on a farm and a history of tuberculosis were significantly associated with fixed airflow obstruction, as assessed by spirometry.

Valoración de la función ventricular izquierda con ecocardiografía bi-dimensional en el infarto agudo del miocardio pre y posterapia trombolítica

Se estudian 26 pacientes que ingresan cursando infarto agudo del miocardio (IAM). Se compara la fracción de eyección ventricular (FEV) medida por ventriculografía invasiva y ecocardiografía 2-D y se hacen mediciones de le FEV antes de iniciar la terapia, a las 72 horas, 8 días, y 6 semanas. En los pacientes que son tratados en forma médica convencional la FEV inicial de 37.7+-7 por ciento no se modifica durante el estudio permaneciendo en 37.2+-2 por ciento a las 6 semanas. En los 11 pacientes tratados en Estreptoquinasa intracoronaria la FEV inicial de 36.8+-4.04 por ciento no varía a las 72 horas paro se eleva desde los 8 días a 42,2+-5.8 por ciento y se mantiene a las 6 semanas (P<0.05). En pacientes tratados con estreptoquinasa endovenosa la FEV inicial de 42.5+-3.53 por ceinto no varía a las 72 horas y aumenta a 45.5+-2.5 por ciento desde el 8 día manteniendose a las 6 semanas (P<0.05). 5 pacientes tratados con estreptoquinasa y angioplastia no evidencian cambio a las 72 horas de la FEV inicial, por pérdida en el seguimiento no hay datos posteriores. Concluimos que la evaluación por ecocardiografía 2-D de la FEV en forma cualitativa se correlaciona adecuadamente con el ventriculograma (P<0.05) y el tratamiento con estreptoquinasa resulta en mejoría de la FEV, la cual se evidencia solo después de 72 horas y permanece en le tiempo