[Analysis of the incidence and epidemiology of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections in the health area III of Aragón]. / Análisis de la incidencia y epidemiología de las infecciones por micobacterias no tuberculosas en el área de salud III de la comunidad autónoma de Aragón.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of our investigation was to know the incidence and epidemiology of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in our area and the prevalence of comorbidities in patients with MNT infection. As secondary objectives, we studied the distribution by species of MNT, the forms of disease and the type of sample used for its diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in which all the isolates of mycobacteria carried out by the microbiology laboratory of the Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza during the period between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2018 were included. RESULTS: A total of 533 mycobacteria were isolated, of which 295 (55.35%) were tuberculosis (MTB) and 238 (44.65%) were MNT. Of the whole MNT isolates, only 15.54% were considered clinically significant. Twenty-one species were identified being the most frequent: M. gordonae (26.89%), M. fortuitum (19.75%) and M. avium (16.39%). 32.72% of the MNT isolates were found in people over 70 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: We can confirm that the reported number of MNT isolates in our area is higher than in previous periods. MNT infection is more common in men and those older than 70 years. The epidemiology, especially the risk factors, of MNT disease is changing.

Lanthanoid single-ion magnets based on polyoxometalates with a 5-fold symmetry: the series [LnP5W30O110]12- (Ln3+ = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb).

A robust, stable and processable family of mononuclear lanthanoid complexes based on polyoxometalates (POMs) that exhibit single-molecule magnetic behavior is described here. Preyssler polyanions of general formula [LnP(5)W(30)O(110)](12-) (Ln(3+) = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) have been characterized with static and dynamic magnetic measurements and heat capacity experiments. For the Dy and Ho derivatives, slow relaxation of the magnetization has been found. A simple interpretation of these properties is achieved by using crystal field theory.

Molecular prototypes for spin-based CNOT and SWAP quantum gates.

We show that a chemically engineered structural asymmetry in [Tb2] molecular clusters renders the two weakly coupled Tb3+ spin qubits magnetically inequivalent. The magnetic energy level spectrum of these molecules meets then all conditions needed to realize a universal CNOT quantum gate. A proposal to realize a SWAP gate within the same molecule is also discussed. Electronic paramagnetic resonance experiments confirm that CNOT and SWAP transitions are not forbidden.