Evidence of Partial Seniority Conservation in the πg_{9/2} Shell for the N=50 Isotones.

The reduced transition probabilities for the 4_{1}^{+}→2_{1}^{+} and 2_{1}^{+}→0_{1}^{+} transitions in ^{92}Mo and ^{94}Ru and for the 4_{1}^{+}→2_{1}^{+} and 6_{1}^{+}→4_{1}^{+} transitions in ^{90}Zr have been determined in this experiment making use of a multinucleon transfer reaction. These results have been interpreted on the basis of realistic shell-model calculations in the f_{5/2}, p_{3/2}, p_{1/2}, and g_{9/2} proton valence space. Only the combination of extensive lifetime information and large scale shell-model calculations allowed the extent of the seniority conservation in the N=50 g_{9/2} orbital to be understood. The conclusion is that seniority is largely conserved in the first πg_{9/2} orbital.

Contact Dermatitis to Allergens in the Spanish Standard Series: Patch Test Findings in the South of Gran Canaria. / Dermatitis de contacto a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en población del sur de Gran Canaria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Contact dermatitis is a common reason for consultation in dermatology. Sensitization levels and frequency, however, vary from one population to the next. The aim of this study was to review patch test results showing sensitization to allergens in the Spanish standard series in the Canary Islands, where a large proportion of the population works in tourism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, descriptive study of data from the dermatology department's contact dermatitis unit at Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. We studied results recorded for patients patch tested with the Spanish standard series between January 2005 and June 2018. RESULTS: Data for 1568 patients were studied; 71.6% were women, and overall rates of atopy (14.2%) and occupational dermatitis (15.8%) were low. Most patients with a positive test (65.2%) were older than 40years. The main allergens eliciting positive reactions were nickel (36.5%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (11.9%), methylisothiazolinone (11.8%), paraphenylenediamine (7.5%), and potassium dichromate (6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Contact sensitization rates were higher than those reported elsewhere in Spain for most of the allergens studied. The differences were particularly notable for nickel, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, and paraphenylenediamine.

Isospin Mixing in

The isospin mixing was deduced in the compound nucleus ^{80}Zr at an excitation energy of E^{*}=54 MeV from the γ decay of the giant dipole resonance. The reaction ^{40}Ca+^{40}Ca at E_{beam}=136 MeV was used to form the compound nucleus in the isospin I=0 channel, while the reaction ^{37}Cl+^{44}Ca at E_{beam}=95 MeV was used as the reference reaction. The γ rays were detected with the AGATA demonstrator array coupled with LaBr_{3}:Ce detectors. The temperature dependence of the isospin mixing was obtained and the zero-temperature value deduced. The isospin-symmetry-breaking correction δ_{C} used for the Fermi superallowed transitions was extracted and found to be consistent with ß-decay data.

Quadrupole transition strength in the (74)Ni nucleus and core polarization effects in the neutron-rich Ni isotopes.

The reduced transition probability B(E2;0(+)→2(+)) has been measured for the neutron-rich nucleus (74)Ni in an intermediate energy Coulomb excitation experiment performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. The obtained B(E2;0(+)→2(+))=642(-226)(+216) e(2) fm(4) value defines a trend which is unexpectedly small if referred to (70)Ni and to a previous indirect determination of the transition strength in (74)Ni. This indicates a reduced polarization of the Z=28 core by the valence neutrons. Calculations in the pfgd model space reproduce well the experimental result indicating that the B(E2) strength predominantly corresponds to neutron excitations. The ratio of the neutron and proton multipole matrix elements supports such an interpretation.

Hindered Gamow-Teller decay to the odd-odd N=Z (62)Ga: absence of proton-neutron T=0 condensate in A=62.

Search for a new kind of superfluidity built on collective proton-neutron pairs with aligned spin is performed studying the Gamow-Teller decay of the T=1, J(π)=0+ ground state of (62)Ge into excited states of the odd-odd N=Z nucleus (62)Ga. The experiment is performed at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Shwerionenforshung with the (62)Ge ions selected by the fragment separator and implanted in a stack of Si-strip detectors, surrounded by the RISING Ge array. A half-life of T1/2=82.9(14) ms is measured for the (62)Ge ground state. Six excited states of (62)Ga, populated below 2.5 MeV through Gamow-Teller transitions, are identified. Individual Gamow-Teller transition strengths agree well with theoretical predictions of the interacting shell model and the quasiparticle random phase approximation. The absence of any sizable low-lying Gamow-Teller strength in the reported beta-decay experiment supports the hypothesis of a negligible role of coherent T=0 proton-neutron correlations in (62)Ga.

Revisiting methods for the assessment of naturally-occurring radioactivity in drinking water.

A comprehensive radioactivity characterisation of Castilla y León (Spain) groundwater intakes intended for human consumption is addressed between 2017 and 2021. This study responds to the radiological requirements stated in the European Council Directive 51/2013/EURATOM concerning drinking water for public health. Given that the gross α- and gross ß-activity determination is used as a screening strategy for water radioactivity monitoring, the reliability of the thin-source deposit method (ISO 10704, 2019) has been improved to achieve representative values of the total activity coming from α- and ß-particle emitters in the samples. More than 400 groundwater samples have been considered for this purpose, analysing their 238,235,234U, 228,226Ra, 210Pb, and 210Po activity concentrations, which are needed for the indicative dose assessment. These results, considered reference activity values, are compared with the gross α- and gross ß-activities determined by the different procedure approaches. Ultimately, the results of the liquid scintillation counting method (ISO 11704, 2018) are also used to validate the optimised method.

Precise 210Pb determination with high-efficiency gamma spectrometry for dating of marine sedimentary cores.

In order to establish the chronology of deep-sea sediments from high-resolution 210Pb-dating, the determination of 210Pb and 226Ra activity concentrations needs to be improved. Gamma spectrometry allows determining simultaneously both radionuclides. However, spectrum background is still an issue to obtain high sensitivity. Four deep-sea sediment cores were dated using Mazinger, a gamma spectrometer with high-efficiency and very low-background, and the Constant Rate and Supply model was applied to obtain recent ages.

[Efficacy of recombinant activated factor VII for massive bleeding after cardiac surgery: experience with 32 patients]. / Eficacia del factor VII recombinante activado en el tratamiento de la hemorragia masiva en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca: experiencia en 32 pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) to treat massive bleeding refractory to conventional treatment following cardiac surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 32 adults who underwent cardiac surgery and received rFVIIa to treat life-threatening postoperative bleeding after conventional means of correcting coagulopathy had failed. RESULTS: After administration of rFVIIa (90 microg x kg(-1), coagulation parameters soon became normal and blood loss decreased, with drainage going from a mean (SD) of 463 (321) mL in the hour when rFVIIa was infused to 155 (101) mL in the next hour (P < .001). Blood loss decreased by between 22% and 90% (mean, 66%), and the reduction was over 75% in 45% of the patients. Decreases in the transfusion of packed red blood cells (from 7A.4 [4.1] units to 2.7 [ 2.9] units; P < .001), plasma (from 4.7 [2.9] units to 1.6 [2.0] units; P < .001), and platelets were also noted. Mortality was 25%, although only 1 patient died from hemorrhagic shock. One patient developed thromboembolic complications (ischemic stroke). CONCLUSION: rFVIIa was effective in treating refractory bleeding after cardiac surgery, reducing blood loss and transfusion requirements and restoring blood parameters to normal.

A method for the complete analysis of NORM building materials by γ-ray spectrometry using HPGe detectors.

A methodology including software tools for analysing NORM building materials and residues by low-level gamma-ray spectrometry has been developed. It comprises deconvolution of gamma-ray spectra using the software GALEA with focus on the natural radionuclides and Monte Carlo simulations for efficiency and true coincidence summing corrections. The methodology has been tested on a range of building materials and validated against reference materials.

[Febrile neutropenia in children with cancer in a medical center of Santiago, Chile]. / Neutropenia febril en niños con cáncer en un centro asistencial en Santiago, Chile.

Febrile neutropenia in cancer patients is a common complication associated to chemotherapy and can be the first manifestation of a potentially lethal infection. In order to adapt our clinical practice to national clinical guidelines, we performed a retrospective review of clinical charts of all children admitted to the Pediatric Unit of Clinica Davila, from May 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004, with cancer, fever and neutropenia. A total of 57 febrile neutropenic episodes occurred in 25 children and in 44% (25/57) of them an infectious focus could be identified; respiratory infections were the most common (11/25). A microorganism could be identified in 16/57 (x%) of episodes, e.g. 12 recovered from blood cultures (42% coagulase negative Staphylococcus, 17% group viridans Streptococci, 17% Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp, Candida albicans y Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 8% each one), 3 from a catheter (coagulase negative Staphylococci) and 1 from a bronchoalveolar lavage (Pneumocystis jiroveci). At admission, 63% of children received treatment with 2 antibiotics, mostly ceftazidime and amikacin (39%) and 21% received vancomycin. In 37% of patients therapy required adjustment due to a poor response. Fifty six episodes had a favorable resolution with one patient diying of septic shock. Frequency of microorganism detection, the distribution of species recovered and the favorable resolution are comparable to that reported from industrialized countries.

Mazinger, a γ-ray spectrometry system of high efficiency and very low background for paloeoclimate applications.

The study of changes in climate on the scale of the entire history of Earth requires absolute dating methods that cover the total time period. 230Th and 234U disequilibria, as well as 231Pa and 235U, have shown as good candidates to provide ages older than 50ky. Therefore, they are the basis for a method that allows extending the 14C dating up to 500ky or even further. The wide variety of samples, their high number and the fact that several radionuclides are needed to obtain samples' chronology make γ spectrometry to be a suitable technique in this task. However, its low efficiency and high background, therefore, high detection limits in comparison with α spectrometry, need to be improved to become a real alternative in samples with very low activity levels. With this purpose, Mazinger, a new γ spectrometry system based on two HPGe detectors, which are surrounded by active and passive shieldings and placed 12m underground, has been set up in the Ionizing Radiation Laboratory of the University of Salamanca. In this work, the Mazinger's performance is studied at the full energy range useful for natural radionuclides. In composite detectors, energy resolution is a consequence of the electronics adjustments, which have to enable the raw spectra to be summed without resolution worsening. Therefore, the method used to set up electronics and add spectra is described. Detector background is also analysed and compared with the one of a single low-background HPGe detector as a function of the different shielding elements, obtaining gross values of order 10-4cps. Efficiency and figure of merit are obtained for the main natural radionuclides in marine sediments belonging to the Mediterranean MD99-2348 core. Special focus is made on the 230Th determination whose results are compared with the ones provided by α spectrometry. Results show that Mazinger´s performance, in terms of figure of merit, is four times better than the one of a low-level background HPGe detector, specially suited to detect natural radionuclides, being comparable to the performance of α spectrometry in the 230Th determination, which is the radionuclide of lower γ intensity, and doing Mazinger a first class in radiometry of natural radionuclides.

Dermatitis de contacto a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en población del sur de Gran Canaria / Contact Dermatitis to Allergens in the Spanish Standard Series: Patch Test Findings in the South of Gran Canaria

Introducción y objetivos El eccema de contacto es un motivo frecuente de consulta. El grado y la frecuencia de sensibilización a alérgenos varían dependiendo de la población de referencia atendida. Revisamos los resultados de sensibilización a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en una población dedicada mayoritariamente al sector turístico (Islas Canarias). Material y métodos Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo tomando la base de datos de la Unidad de Dermatitis de Contacto del Servicio de Dermatología del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, incluyéndose pacientes parcheados con la Batería Estándar Española desde enero de 2005 hasta junio de 2018. Se recogieron edad, sexo, atopia, localización, positividades y relevancia. Resultados Se estudiaron 1.568 pacientes. El 71,6% fueron mujeres, con una baja proporción de atopia (14,2%) y dermatitis ocupacional (15,8%). La mayoría fueron mayores de 40años (65,2%). Los alérgenos positivos más frecuentes fueron níquel (36,5%), metilcloroisotiazolinona/metilisotiazolinona (11,9%), metilisotiazolinona (11,8%), parafenilendiamina (7,5%) y dicromato potásico (6,3%). Conclusiones En la población estudiada se observa una mayor frecuencia de sensibilización respecto al resto de España para la mayoría de los alérgenos, siendo estas diferencias especialmente llamativas en el caso del níquel, de la metilcloroisotiazolinona/metilisotiazolinona y de la parafenilendiamina (AU)

Background and objectives Contact dermatitis is a common reason for consultation in dermatology. Sensitization levels and frequency, however, vary from one population to the next. The aim of this study was to review patch test results showing sensitization to allergens in the Spanish standard series in the Canary Islands, where a large proportion of the population works in tourism. Material and methods Retrospective, descriptive study of data from the dermatology department's contact dermatitis unit at Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. We studied results recorded for patients patch tested with the Spanish standard series between January 2005 and June 2018. Results Data for 1568 patients were studied; 71.6% were women, and overall rates of atopy (14.2%) and occupational dermatitis (15.8%) were low. Most patients with a positive test (65.2%) were older than 40years. The main allergens eliciting positive reactions were nickel (36.5%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (11.9%), methylisothiazolinone (11.8%), paraphenylenediamine (7.5%), and potassium dichromate (6.3%). Conclusions Contact sensitization rates were higher than those reported elsewhere in Spain for most of the allergens studied. The differences were particularly notable for nickel, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, and paraphenylenediamine (AU)

[Translated article] Contact Dermatitis to Allergens in the Spanish Standard Series: Patch Test Findings in the South of Gran Canaria / Dermatitis de contacto a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en población del sur de Gran Canaria

Background and objectives Contact dermatitis is a common reason for consultation in dermatology. Sensitization levels and frequency, however, vary from one population to the next. The aim of this study was to review patch test results showing sensitization to allergens in the Spanish standard series in the Canary Islands, where a large proportion of the population works in tourism. Material and methods Retrospective, descriptive study of data from the dermatology department's contact dermatitis unit at Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. We studied results recorded for patients patch tested with the Spanish standard series between January 2005 and June 2018. Results Data for 1568 patients were studied; 71.6% were women, and overall rates of atopy (14.2%) and occupational dermatitis (15.8%) were low. Most patients with a positive test (65.2%) were older than 40years. The main allergens eliciting positive reactions were nickel (36.5%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (11.9%), methylisothiazolinone (11.8%), paraphenylenediamine (7.5%), and potassium dichromate (6.3%). Conclusions Contact sensitization rates were higher than those reported elsewhere in Spain for most of the allergens studied. The differences were particularly notable for nickel, methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, and paraphenylenediamine (AU)

Introducción y objetivos El eccema de contacto es un motivo frecuente de consulta. El grado y la frecuencia de sensibilización a alérgenos varían dependiendo de la población de referencia atendida. Revisamos los resultados de sensibilización a alérgenos de la Batería Estándar Española en una población dedicada mayoritariamente al sector turístico (Islas Canarias). Material y métodos Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo tomando la base de datos de la Unidad de Dermatitis de Contacto del Servicio de Dermatología del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, incluyéndose pacientes parcheados con la Batería Estándar Española desde enero de 2005 hasta junio de 2018. Se recogieron edad, sexo, atopia, localización, positividades y relevancia. Resultados Se estudiaron 1.568 pacientes. El 71,6% fueron mujeres, con una baja proporción de atopia (14,2%) y dermatitis ocupacional (15,8%). La mayoría fueron mayores de 40años (65,2%). Los alérgenos positivos más frecuentes fueron níquel (36,5%), metilcloroisotiazolinona/metilisotiazolinona (11,9%), metilisotiazolinona (11,8%), parafenilendiamina (7,5%) y dicromato potásico (6,3%). Conclusiones En la población estudiada se observa una mayor frecuencia de sensibilización respecto al resto de España para la mayoría de los alérgenos, siendo estas diferencias especialmente llamativas en el caso del níquel, de la metilcloroisotiazolinona/metilisotiazolinona y de la parafenilendiamina (AU)

Behavior and inflammation of the rumen and cecum in Holstein bulls fed high-concentrate diets with different concentrate presentation forms with or without straw supplementation.

Twenty-four individually housed Holstein bulls (395 ± 7.3 kg BW and 252 ± 3.1 d age) were exposed to a 2 × 2 factorial design (meal vs. pellets; with vs. without straw) to evaluate the effect of concentrate form and provision of straw in finishing diets on behavior and expression of rumen and cecum epithelium genes related to inflammation and behavior. Concentrate and straw consumption were recorded monthly and behavior (self-grooming, social, oral nonnutritive, tongue rolling, eating, drinking, ruminating, and lying) was recorded every two weeks. Bulls were slaughtered after 64 d of exposure to treatments, lesions on the rumen and liver were assessed, and samples of the rumen and cecum were collected. Straw supplementation tended ( = 0.08) to increase concentrate intake (8.0 vs. 7.4 ± 0.26 kg/d), increased ( < 0.01) the proportion of time ruminating (9.4 vs. 3.1 ± 1.02%), and decreased ( < 0.01) the occurrence of oral nonnutritive behaviors (0.52 vs. 1.34 ± 0.123 times/15 min) relative to bulls deprived of straw. Provision of straw increased ruminal pH, but the magnitude of the change was greater when the concentrate was provided as meal compared with pellets (interaction, < 0.05). When straw was not supplemented, all rumen samples had papillae fusion, whereas only 16.7% of bulls fed pellets and straw had papillae fusions (interaction, < 0.05). Vacuole grading of the rumen papillae was less ( < 0.01) in bulls provided straw compared with bulls without straw. For the ruminal epithelium, straw provision tended to increase the relative expression ratio of (which stimulates peptide YY, PYY, and serotonin secretion; = 0.06) and α (which modulates immune reactions and behavior; = 0.09) and increased and (tight junction proteins; < 0.05), along with ß and (proinflammatory cytokines; < 0.01) and ( < 0.01) in the rumen. Moreover, it also tended to increase the relative gene expression ratio of ß (an antimicrobial peptide; = 0.10) and ( = 0.10). Bulls fed pellets had a decreased ruminal relative expression ratio of α ( < 0.05). Bulls without straw had increased ( < 0.05) the cecum relative expression ratio of ß. In conclusion, the lack of straw supplementation in bulls fed high-concentrate diets modifies behavior and affects rumen macroscopic morphology and expression of epithelial genes that could be related to behavior and inflammation.

Fattening Holstein heifers by feeding high-moisture corn (whole or ground) ad libitum separately from concentrate and straw.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of high-moisture corn (HMC), either whole or ground, fed separately from concentrate and straw on feeding behavior, rumen fermentation, whole tract digestibility, and nitrogen balance. Twenty-four Holstein heifers (199 ± 5.5 kg BW and 157 ± 6.9 d age) housed in individual pens were assigned to 3 treatments: 1) whole (unprocessed) HMC fed along with concentrate and barley straw, all fed separately and ad libitum (WHMC); 2) HMC ground through a 0.4-cm screen before ensiling and fed along with concentrate and barley straw, all fed separately and ad libitum (GHMC); and 3) a concentrate composed of mainly corn meal, ground through a roller mill with screen openings of 6 mm, and barley straw, both fed separately and ad libitum (Control). Concentrate, HMC, and straw were offered separately ad libitum in a free-choice situation and consumption was recorded daily and BW was recorded weekly. Apparent nutrient digestibility and N balance were determined at the beginning, middle, and end of the study. At the same time points, rumen fluid was collected through rumenocentesis to determine rumen pH and VFA concentrations. Feeding behavior was monitored throughout the study. Animals were harvested after 134 d and HCW, rumen and cecum wall lesions, and liver abscesses were recorded. Treatment did not affect total DMI, feed efficiency, ADG, final BW, and carcass weight or classification. Concentrate consumption (6.6 ± 0.35 kg/d) of Control heifers was greater ( < 0.001) than that of GHMC (4.1 ± 0.35 kg/d) and WHMC heifers (2.8 ± 0.35 kg/d), and GHMC heifers consumed less ( < 0.001) HMC than WHMC heifers (2.3 ± 0.31 and 4.2 ± 0.31 kg/d, respectively). Dietary treatments did not affect rumination, self-grooming, nonnutritive oral behaviors, and rumen pH. However, rumen acetate to propionate ratio decreased when heifers received HMC (1.77 ± 0.276) compared with when heifers received the Control (2.82 ± 0.276). Total tract starch apparent digestibility was greater in Control (97.7 ± 0.47%) and GHMC heifers (99.4 ± 0.47%) than in WHMC heifers (95.2 ± 0.47%), although an interaction between treatment and time was observed ( < 0.01). Treatments did not affect N retention. Feeding HMC, either whole or ground, separately from concentrate and straw resulted in performance and behavioral patterns similar to feeding only concentrate and straw.

[Imported dengue: an emerging arbovirosis in Spain]. / Dengue importado: arbovirosis emergente en España.

Dengue is caused by one of 4 serotypes of dengue virus. Only imported cases have been reported in Spain. The main clinical findings are fever and exanthema, although there may be severe forms, particularly in secondary infections. Five children with a primary, non severe dengue infection are presented. The diagnosis was based on clinical suspicion and epidemiological history, and confirmed by immunochromatography and ELISA tests. The outcome was favourable in all cases. It is important to consider this diagnosis in international travellers that present with fever within the 14 days of returning from an endemic area, in order to get an early diagnosis, adequate treatment and a good prognosis.

The insulin-sensitizing agent troglitazone improves metabolic and reproductive abnormalities in the polycystic ovary syndrome.

We performed this study to investigate the hypothesis that insulin resistance plays a role in the pathogenesis of reproductive abnormalities in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Twenty-five women with PCOS were enrolled in a double-blind randomized 3-month trial of two doses of the insulin-sensitizing agent, troglitazone, 21 of whom completed the study: 200 mg, n = 10; 400 mg, n = 11. Baseline hormonal parameters and glucose tolerance were compared with 12 age- and weight-matched ovulatory control women. There were no significant changes in body mass index during the study. Fasting (P < 0.01) and 2-h post-75-g glucose load insulin levels (P < 0.05), as well as integrated insulin responses to the glucose load, decreased (P < 0.05), and insulin sensitivity assessed by a frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test increased significantly (P < 0.001) during troglitazone treatment. This was accompanied by significant decreases in the levels of nonsex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone (P < 0.01), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (P < 0.001), estradiol (P < 0.01), and estrone (P < 0.001). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that decreases in nonsex hormone-binding globulin testosterone levels were significantly correlated with decreases in integrated insulin responses to the glucose load (r2 0.44, P < 0.01). The only significant changes at the 200-mg troglitazone dose were an increase in insulin sensitivity (P < 0.05) and decreases in dehydro-epiandrosterone sulfate (P < 0.01) and estrone (P < 0.05) levels. At the 400-mg dose, in addition to the changes noted in the entire troglitazone treatment group, increases in the disposition index (the product of insulin sensitivity and secretion) achieved significance, as did decreases in androstenedione (P < 0.01) and LH (P < 0.05) levels and increases in sex hormone-binding globulin levels (P < 0.01). Two PCOS women had ovulatory menses. We conclude that 1) troglitazone improves total body insulin action in PCOS, resulting in lower circulating insulin levels; 2) insulin resistance, probably via hyperinsulinemia, results in a general augmentation of steroidogenesis and LH release in PCOS; and 3) insulin-sensitizing agents, such as troglitazone, may provide a novel therapy for PCOS.