Investigating theoretical and experimental cross sections for elastic electron scattering from isoflurane.

We present a comprehensive analysis of elastic electron scattering from isoflurane in the intermediate energy range of 50-300 eV. This research is motivated by the significant impact of this molecule on global warming effects. We conducted this investigation through experimental measurements using a crossed-beam apparatus and covering a wide angular range from 25 to 125 degrees. Relative differential cross sections (DCSs) were obtained and subsequently normalized on an absolute scale by using the relative flow technique, with argon as the reference gas. These DCS values were then extrapolated and integrated to determine the experimental integral cross sections (ICSs). Additionally, we employed the independent atom model and the screening corrected additivity rule with incorporated Interference effects (IAM-SCAR+I) to calculate the theoretical differential and integral cross-sections. Remarkably, the calculated cross sections align closely with the experimental measurements across the entire energy and angular range. Furthermore, this study involved a comparison of the DCSs for isoflurane with previously published DCS values for two other volatile anesthetics, sevoflurane and halothane.

Elastic and electronically inelastic scattering of electrons by the pyrazine molecule.

We report on elastic and electronically inelastic integral and differential cross sections as well as ionization and total cross sections for electron collisions with the pyrazine molecule. The Schwinger multichannel method is applied in calculations carried out according to the minimal orbital basis for single configuration interactions strategy from the 1-channel up to 139-channels close-coupling level of approximation. With these calculations we have obtained integral and differential cross sections as well as excitation functions for elastic electron scattering and, also, integral and differential cross sections for electronic excitation from the ground state to the 3B1u, 3B2u, 3B3u, 1B1u, 1B2u and 1B3u excited states of pyrazine by electron impact. By summing the total ionization cross section obtained by means of the binary-encounter-Bethe model to these elastic and electronically inelastic contributions, we provided an estimate for the total cross section describing the electron-pyrazine interaction process. The independent atom model with the screening-corrected additivity rule plus interference terms method was also used in the present study to determine elastic integral and differential as well as ionization and total cross sections for electron collisions from pyrazine. The present results were, whenever possible, critically compared to the experimental and theoretical data available in the literature. In general, the overall agreement between the present results and the experiment is quite encouraging.

Integral Electron Scattering Cross Sections from N2O for Impact Energies Ranging from 1 to 1000 eV.

Accurate total cross sections (TCS), within 5%, for electron scattering by N2O molecules have been measured with a magnetically confined electron transmission apparatus for impact energies ranging from 1 to 200 eV. For higher energies, these measurements have been complemented with our independent atom-based screening corrected additivity rule, including interference (IAM-SCAR + I) method to determine a complete reference TCS data set in the energy range (1-1000 eV). After a critical discussion that includes our calculated integral elastic and ionization cross sections and the theoretical and experimental data available in the literature, a complete set of integral elastic and inelastic (rotational, vibrational, and electronic excitation, ionization and electron attachment) cross sections, consistent with the reference TCS data, have been derived. This update on the N2O collisional database may help to improve the accuracy of radiation-induced transport models.

Understanding the Nonlinear Response of SiPMs.

A systematic study of the nonlinear response of Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) was conducted through Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The MC code was validated against experimental data for two different SiPMs. Nonlinearity mainly depends on the balance between the photon rate and the pixel recovery time. Additionally, nonlinearity has been found to depend on the light pulse shape, the correlated noise, the overvoltage dependence of the photon detection efficiency, and the impedance of the readout circuit. Correlated noise has been shown to have a minor impact on nonlinearity, but it can significantly affect the shape of the SiPM output current. Considering these dependencies and a previous statistical analysis of the nonlinear response of SiPMs, two phenomenological fitting models were proposed for exponential-like and finite light pulses, explaining the roles of their various terms and parameters. These models provide an accurate description of the nonlinear responses of SiPMs at the level of a few percentages for a wide range of situations.

Dependence of Induced Biological Damage on the Energy Distribution and Intensity of Clinical Intra-Operative Radiotherapy Electron Beams.

The survival fraction of epithelial HaCaT cells was analysed to assess the biological damage caused by intraoperative radiotherapy electron beams with varying energy spectra and intensities. These conditions were achieved by irradiating the cells at different depths in water using nominal 6 MeV electron beams while consistently delivering a dose of 5 Gy to the cell layer. Furthermore, a Monte Carlo simulation of the entire irradiation procedure was performed to evaluate the molecular damage in terms of molecular dissociations induced by the radiation. A significant agreement was found between the molecular damage predicted by the simulation and the damage derived from the analysis of the survival fraction. In both cases, a linear relationship was evident, indicating a clear tendency for increased damage as the averaged incident electron energy and intensity decreased for a constant absorbed dose, lowering the dose rate. This trend suggests that the radiation may have a more pronounced impact on surrounding healthy tissues than initially anticipated. However, it is crucial to conduct additional experiments with different target geometries to confirm this tendency and quantify the extent of this effect.

Electron Scattering from 1-Methyl-5-Nitroimidazole: Cross-Sections for Modeling Electron Transport through Potential Radiosensitizers.

In this study, we present a complete set of electron scattering cross-sections from 1-Methyl-5-Nitroimidazole (1M5NI) molecules for impact energies ranging from 0.1 to 1000 eV. This information is relevant to evaluate the potential role of 1M5NI as a molecular radiosensitizers. The total electron scattering cross-sections (TCS) that we previously measured with a magnetically confined electron transmission apparatus were considered as the reference values for the present analysis. Elastic scattering cross-sections were calculated by means of two different schemes: The Schwinger multichannel (SMC) method for the lower energies (below 15 eV) and the independent atom model-based screening-corrected additivity rule with interferences (IAM-SCARI) for higher energies (above 15 eV). The latter was also applied to calculate the total ionization cross-sections, which were complemented with experimental values of the induced cationic fragmentation by electron impact. Double differential ionization cross-sections were measured with a reaction microscope multi-particle coincidence spectrometer. Using a momentum imaging spectrometer, direct measurements of the anion fragment yields and kinetic energies by the dissociative electron attachment are also presented. Cross-sections for the other inelastic channels were derived with a self-consistent procedure by sampling their values at a given energy to ensure that the sum of the cross-sections of all the scattering processes available at that energy coincides with the corresponding TCS. This cross-section data set is ready to be used for modelling electron-induced radiation damage at the molecular level to biologically relevant media containing 1M5NI as a potential radiosensitizer. Nonetheless, a proper evaluation of its radiosensitizing effects would require further radiobiological experiments.

Perception of parents regarding their children's weight.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2003 was 63.6% in P.R. and 60.1% in USA. An overweight school-aged child with an obese parent has over 70% chance of being obese in young adulthood. OBJECTIVES: To study perceptions of parents about their children's weight and to determine which factors are associated with parent's failure to perceive when their children are overweight. METHODS: Cross sectional survey, the sample was population of children and their parents, selected by availability, between 4-12 years old in elementary schools (private and public schools), N=234. The instrument was a self-administered questionnaire of 23 questions. SSPS version 10.0 was used for analysis with significance of p<0.05. RESULTS: 51% of parents perceived themselves overweight while they perceived their children in adequate weight (62%), so they don't get professional help. There's no significant difference between genders and schools. The study revealed that children's weight follows the role modeling of their parents (p<0.001). In BMI curve (>85%) showed that 84.3% children have at least one parent with overweight (ow) or obesity (ob) while 15.7% children have no parent with ow/ob (p<0.05). Study showed that 33% of parents do nothing about their children's weight. Parents consider themselves to be responsible for childhood obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the parents does not perceive their children at risk of becoming overweight or be overweight, so they do not get help early.

Impulsiveness and Child-to-Parent Violence: The Role of Aggressor's Sex.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of minors' impulsiveness in the perpetration of child-to-parent violence (CPV), controlling for sex, age, interest allocated to studies, and participant´s and parent´s drug consumption habits, as well as to test the moderating role of the aggressor's sex on impulsiveness. The sample comprised 934 students from high school centers (438 boys and 496 girls), aged between 13 and 21 years. Impulsiveness was assessed through the Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), whereas CPV perpetration was assessed employing the Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that both attentional (ß = .09, p < .05; ß = .12, p < .001) and motor impulsiveness (ß = .26, p < .001; ß = .25, p < .001) were related to the perpetration of CPV. Interaction analyses showed a moderating role of the aggressor's sex over motor impulsiveness in the case of CPV towards the father (ß = .29, p < .05), and over attentional impulsiveness in the case of CPV towards the mother (ß = .45, p < .001). Results confirm the idea that minors' impulsiveness has an effect on the probability of CPV perpetration, which differs according to the sex of the perpetrator.

Influence of psychopathology on the perpetration of child-to-parent violence: differences as a function of sex / Influencia de la psicopatología en la comisión de violencia filio-parental: diferencias en función del sexo

The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of the psychopathologic symptomatology of participants on the perpetration of child-to-parent violence (CPV), as well as to test the moderator role of the participant sex on the psychopathology. The sample comprised 855 students from middle school, high school and vocational education (399 boys and 456 girls). Age range varies among 13- 21 years old (M = 16.09; DT = 1.34), being 307 (35.9%) among 13-15, 501 (58.6%) 16-18 and 47 (5.5%) 19-21. Most of them (91%) had Spanish citizenship. Psychopathology was assessed with the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised, whereas CPV perpetration was assessed employing the Child-toParent Aggression Questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that the most important psychopathologic symptoms were hostility, paranoid ideation and depression, being related higher scores on hostility and paranoid ideation, and lower on depression, with the perpetration of CPV. Interaction analyses showed a moderator role of the participant sex with the interpersonal sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive in the case of CPV to the father, and interpersonal sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive and paranoid ideation in the case of CPV to the mother. Results confirm the idea that the existence of psychopathologic symptomatology by the minors has an effect on the probability of perpetration CPV, being this effect different depending on the sex of the perpetrator

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar el papel de la sintomatología psicopatológica de los participantes sobre la comisión de violencia filio-parental, así como comprobar el rol moderador del sexo del participante sobre dicha sintomatología. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 855 estudiantes de 3º y 4º de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, 1º y 2º de Bachillerato y Formación Profesional (399 chicos y 456 chicas). Sus edades estaban comprendidas entre los 13 y 21 años (M = 16.09; DT = 1.34), teniendo 307 (35.9%) de ellos entre 13 y 15 años, 501 (58.6%) entre 16 y 18, y 47 (5.5%) entre 19 y 21. La gran mayoría (91%) tenían nacionalidad española. La existencia de psicopatología se evaluó mediante la escala Symptom-Checklist-90-Revised, mientras que la comisión de la VFP se evaluó mediante el Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire. Los análisis de regresión lineal múltiple jerárquica indicaron que los principales síntomas psicopatológicos en la comisión de VFP son la hostilidad, ideación paranoide y depresión, estando relacionadas puntuaciones superiores en hostilidad e ideación paranoide, e inferiores en depresión con la comisión de VFP. El análisis de interacciones mostró un papel moderador del sexo del participante con la sensitividad interpersonal y las obsesiones, en el caso de la VFP hacia el padre, y sensitividad interpersonal, obsesiones e ideación paranoide en el caso de la VFP hacia la madre. Los resultados confirman la idea de que la existencia de una sintomatología psicopatológica por parte de los menores tiene un efecto sobre la probabilidad de comisión de la VFP, siendo este efecto diferente en función del sexo de la persona agresora

[Importance of the distal airway in COPD]. / Importancia de la vía aérea pequeña en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by inflammation causing airflow obstruction. However, the initial histological lesion of COPD occurs in the respiratory bronchiole and spirometry is unable to detect involvement of this area until the disease is advanced. Major advances have been made in characterizing the inflammatory process in the small airways. However, in clinical practice, a non-invasive marker of small airways involvement, which would allow injury and the effect of treatment to be monitored, is lacking. To date, the combination of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids is recommended for the most severe cases, although the effects of this therapeutic option on the small airways are not well known. New treatments that reach the distal airways and novel techniques to assess the small airways will allow a more complete approach to this disease.

Impulsiveness and child-to-parent violence: the role of aggressor’s sex

The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of minors’ impulsiveness in the perpetration of child-toparent violence (CPV), controlling for sex, age, interest allocated to studies, and participant´s and parent´s drug consumption habits, as well as to test the moderating role of the aggressor’s sex on impulsiveness. The sample comprised 934 students from high school centers (438 boys and 496 girls), aged between 13 and 21 years. Impulsiveness was assessed through the Barratt’s Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), whereas CPV perpetration was assessed employing the Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that both attentional (β = .09, p < .05; β = .12, p < .001) and motor impulsiveness (β = .26, p < .001; β = .25, p < .001) were related to the perpetration of CPV. Interaction analyses showed a moderating role of the aggressor’s sex over motor impulsiveness in the case of CPV towards the father (β = .29, p < .05), and over attentional impulsiveness in the case of CPV towards the mother (β = .45, p < .001). Results confirm the idea that minors’ impulsiveness has an effect on the probability of CPV perpetration, which differs according to the sex of the perpetrator (AU)

No disponible

Importancia de la vía aérea pequeña en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Importance of the distal airway in COPD

La enfermedad pulmonar obstrutica crónica (EPOC) se caracteriza por ser una enfermedad inflamatoria quecursa con obstrucción al flujo aéreo. Sin embargo, la lesión histológica inicial de la EPOC sucede a nivel delbronquiolo respiratorio y la espirometría es incapaz de detectar su afectación hasta que la enfermedad estáavanzada. Se han producido importantes avances en la caracterización del proceso inflamatorio a nivel de lapequeña vía aérea, pero sin embargo, no disponemos en la clínica de un marcador no invasivo de la afectacióna dicho nivel que nos permita evaluar el daño y monitorizar el efecto del tratamiento. Hasta la fecha, la combinaciónde tratamientos broncodilatadores y corticoides inhalados es la opción terapéutica recomendadapara los casos más graves, aunque sus efectos sobre la pequeña vía aérea son poco conocidos. Nuevos tratamientosque alcanzan la vía aérea distal y nuevas técnicas de evaluación de la pequeña vía aérea nos permitiránhacer un abordaje más completo de la enfermedad(AU)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by inflammation causing airflow obstruction.However, the initial histological lesion of COPD occurs in the respiratory bronchiole and spirometry is unableto detect involvement of this area until the disease is advanced. Major advances have been made incharacterizing the inflammatory process in the small airways. However, in clinical practice, a non-invasivemarker of small airways involvement, which would allow injury and the effect of treatment to be monitored,is lacking. To date, the combination of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids is recommended for themost severe cases, although the effects of this therapeutic option on the small airways are not well known.New treatments that reach the distal airways and novel techniques to assess the small airways will allow amore complete approach to this disease(AU)

Monitorización de la carboxihemia con monitor de gases respiratorios versus gasometría arterial en el colcistectomía laparoscópica, Quito, 1995

Se realizó un estudio longuitudinal descriptivo, en el que se comparó la carboxihemia medida con gasometría arterial vs los datos obtenidos con el monitor de gases respiratorios 5250 (RGM), en dos momentos anestésicos , en pacientes colecistectomizados, por vía laparoscópica, riesgo anestésico I-II-III, con saturación basal de oxígeno apropiada para la edad a 2800 m sobre el nivel del mar, mayores de 18 años con valores de HB mayores de 12.3 g/dl y sin patología pleuropulmonar, atendidos en el Hospital General de las Fuerzas Armadas de Quito. Se estableció la exactitud y la presión de los dos métodos en base a la relación lineal, sensibilidad y especificidad. Los resultados de la investigación demostraron que no existe linearidad entre la capnografía y la gasometría (r=0.34 con 95 por ciento de intervalo de confianza 0.12