Pd-C Catalytic Thin Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering for the Decomposition of Formic Acid.

Formic acid is an advantageous liquid organic hydrogen carrier. It is relatively nontoxic and can be synthesized by the reaction of CO2 with sustainable hydrogen or by biomass decomposition. As an alternative to more widely studied powdery catalysts, supported Pd-C catalytic thin films with controlled nanostructure and compositions were newly prepared in this work by magnetron sputtering on structured supports and tested for the formic acid decomposition reaction. A two-magnetron configuration (carbon and tailored Pd-C targets) was used to achieve a reduction in Pd consumption and high catalyst surface roughness and dispersion by increasing the carbon content. Activity and durability tests were carried out for the gas phase formic acid decomposition reaction on SiC foam monoliths coated with the Pd-C films and the effects of column width, surface roughness and thermal pre-reduction time were investigated. Activity of 5.04 molH2·gPd-1·h-1 and 92% selectivity to the dehydrogenation reaction were achieved at 300 °C for the catalyst with a lower column width and higher carbon content and surface roughness. It was also found that deactivation occurs when Pd is sintered due to the elimination of carbon and/or the segregation and agglomeration of Pd upon cycling. Magnetron sputtering deposition appears as a promising and scalable route for the one-step preparation of Pd-C catalytic films by overcoming the different deposition characteristics of Pd and C with an appropriate experimental design.

Identificación de criterios de orden legal y científico en el derecho probatorio del sistema penal que incidieron en el proferimiento de sentencias de los enjuiciados por delitos sexuales entre el 2009-2010 en dos municipios del Valle del Cauca / Identification of criteria of legal and scientific nature in the probative law of the criminal system having influenced the delivery of judgments and the passing of sentences for those having been prosecuted or tried for sexual crimes during 2009-2010 in two Valle del Cauca municipalities / Identificação de critérios para a ordem jurídica e científica no direito probatório do sistema de justiça criminal que afetaram o proferimento das sentenças dos processados por ofensas sexuais entre 2009-2010 em dois municípios de Valle del Cauca

El objetivo fue identificar los criterios de orden legal y científico en el derecho probatorio del sistema penal que incidieron en el proferimiento de sentencias de los enjuiciados por delitos sexuales entre el 2009-2010 en dos municipios del Valle del Cauca. El método utilizado consistió en el estudio de casos en 21 fallos entre el 2009-2010, con aplicación de variables sociodemográficas, médicolegales/ científico-forenses utilizadas para la descripción de los casos. En los análisis realizados en SPSS, se calcularon medidas de tendencia central, posición y dispersión a los datos cuantitativos, y a los cualitativos se les calcularon proporciones y razones. Se usó el test de chi cuadrado y un valor de p ≤=0,05 fue considerado como significante. Los resultados obtenidos evidenciaron que las mujeres entre 5-14 años fueron las más afectadas, y sus agresores, prevalentes familiares. La mayoría de los casos fueron actos sexuales abusivos, dos de acto sexual agravado en concurso homogéneo y heterogéneo. El informe médico-legal estuvo en todas las sentencias, y le siguió, en orden de frecuencia, el de psicología forense. Los ausentes en su mayor proporción fueron los de biología o genética forense. La investigación realizada permitió concluir que es tarea de los jueces garantizar la integridad de los menores víctimas de abuso sexual; no obstante, para ello cuentan con poco acervo probatorio científico-forense.

The objective was to identify criteria of legal and scientific nature in the probative law of the criminal system having influenced the delivery of judgments and the passing of sentences for those having been prosecuted or tried for sexual crimes over 2009-2010 in two Valle del Cauca municipalities. The method used involved case studies in 21 court decisions taking place from 2009 through 2010 with the application of socio-demographic, medical-legal/scientific forensic variables used in the respective descriptions. In analyses conducted with SPSS, central trend measures, position and dispersion were calculated for quantitative data, and proportions and rations for those of qualitative nature. The Chi-square test was used, and a p ≤=0.05 value was deemed significant. The results obtained evidenced that females between the ages of 5 through 14 were the most aff ected, aggressors being often family members. Most cases referred to abusive sexual acts, two of them aggravated, in multiple and concomitant combination. In order of frequency, in all judgments there were medicallegal and forensic psychology reports. In a larger proportion, reports concerning biology or forensic-genetics were not available. Research carried out helped conclude that judges should be in charge of ensuring the integrity of minors having been victims of any form of sexual abuse; notwithstanding this responsibility, their probatory material and scientific-forensic evidence on hand are very poor.

O objetivo foi identificar os critérios de ordem legal e científica no dereito probatório do sistema de justiça criminal que afetaram a proferimento das sentenças dos processados por crimes sexuais entre 2009-2010 em dois municípios de Valle del Cauca. O método utilizado foi o estudo de casos em 21 senteças entre 2009-2010, com aplicação de variáveis sociodemográficas médico-legais / científico-forenses, utilizadas na descrição dos casos. Nas análises realizadas no SPSS, as medidas de tendência central, posição e dispersão foram calculadas aos dados quantitativos e proporções e razões foram calculadas aos qualitativos. O teste de qui-quadrado e um valor p ≤=0,05 foi usado e foi considerado como significativo. Os resultados mostraram que as mulheres com idade entre 5-14 anos foram as mais afetadas, e seus agressores, prevalentes parentes. A maioria dos casos foram atos sexuais abusivos, dois de ato sexual agravado em concurso homogêneo e heterogêneo. O relatório médico-legal estave em todas as senteças, e seguido, em ordem de freqüência, um de psicologia forense. Os ausentes em maior proporção foram os de biologia ou genética forense. A pesquisa levou à conclusão de que é a tarefa dos juízes garantir a integridade das crianças vítimas de abuso sexual; no entanto, para isso têm pouca evidência forense científica.

Segmentation of the thoracic aorta in noncontrast cardiac CT images.

Studies have shown that aortic calcification is associated with cardiovascular disease. In this study, a method for localization, centerline extraction, and segmentation of the thoracic aorta in noncontrast cardiac-computed tomography (CT) images, toward the detection of aortic calcification, is presented. The localization of the right coronary artery ostium slice is formulated as a regression problem whose input variables are obtained from simple intensity features computed from a pyramid representation of the slice. The localization, centerline extraction, and segmentation of the aorta are formulated as optimal path detection problems. Dynamic programming is applied in the Hough space for localizing key center points in the aorta which guide the centerline tracing using a fast marching-based minimal path extraction framework. The input volume is then resampled into a stack of 2-D cross-sectional planes orthogonal to the obtained centerline. Dynamic programming is again applied for the segmentation of the aorta in each slice of the resampled volume. The obtained segmentation is finally mapped back to its original volume space. The performance of the proposed method was assessed on cardiac noncontrast CT scans and promising results were obtained.

Náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios en cirugía mayor traumatológica / Postoperative nausea and vomiting in major trauma surgery

Objetivo: Las náuseas y vómitos son complicaciones frecuentes durante el postoperatorio, causan un gran malestar en el paciente y pueden aumentar la morbilidad. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es determinar la prevalencia de náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios (NVPO), qué factores influyen en su aparición y obtener un modelo predictivo de factores pronóstico. Método Se realizó un estudio observacional prospectivo a 201 pacientes intervenidos de cirugía mayor Traumatológica y Ortopédica en el año 2008. Para la recogida de datos se elaboró un cuestionario que constaba de los datos demográficos del paciente, de los intraoperatorios, de los postoperatorios y del registro del tratamiento antiemético postoperatorio según el protocolo del servicio. Resultados Presentaron NVPO el 39,8% de los pacientes. Del total de mujeres padecieron NVPO el 46,6% y el 75% eran pacientes con antecedentes de NVPO previos. Se obtuvo mayor prevalencia en cirugías consideradas más agresivas. El horario en el que hubo mayor número de episodios fue a las 17 y 19 h PM y a las 8 h a. m. Obtuvimos nuestro modelo predictivo a partir de la siguiente fórmula: Y (probabilidad de náuseas y vómitos)=−1,334+0,753*S+1,5602*NVP+0,769*IQa. Conclusiones La prevalencia de NVPO en este estudio ha sido elevada, ya que más de un tercio de la población estudiada las presentaron. El modelo predictivo nos permitirá saber cuál es el riesgo de cada paciente de padecer NVPO, y por lo tanto marcará la estrategia terapéutica tanto preoperatoria como postoperatoria. Ser mujer, tener antecedentes de náuseas y vómitos previos y estar sometido a una cirugía agresiva son factores de riesgo. La movilización del paciente y las visitas de los familiares producen mayor número de episodios de NVPO (AU)

Objective: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common complications during the postoperative period, causing important discomfort to the patient and also can increase morbidity. The objective of our article is to predict the prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, the factors that have an influence on its appearance, and to obtain a predictive model based on prognostic factors. Method: A prospective observational study was conducted on 201 patients who underwent major Orthopaedic and Trauma surgery during the year 2008. A questionnaire was designed to collect the required data as established previously by a standardized protocol, in which was requested, patient demographics, intraoperative and postoperative data, as well as details on any antiemetic treatment that was needed in the recovery ward. Results: A total of 39.8% patients suffered PONV. Of the females, 46.6% suffered PONV, and 75% had previous history of PONV. A higher prevalence was observed in patients who were subjected to more aggressive surgery. There was a concentration of cases between 5 pm and 7 pm, and also at 8 am. The predictive model was obtained from this formula: Y = −1,334 + 0,753*S + 1,5602*NVP + 0,769*IQa. Conclusions: The prevalence of PONV in this study has been high, as more a third of the studied population suffered from it. The predictive model should help determine the specific risk of each patient of suffering from PONV, thus being able to define a therapeutic strategy during the preoperative period as well as during the postoperative period. Being female, a previous history of PONV, and undergoing an aggressive surgical procedure are risk factors. Patient mobilization and family visits increase the number of PONV episodes (AU)

[Postoperative nausea and vomiting in major trauma surgery]. / Náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios en cirugía mayor traumatológica.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common complications during the postoperative period, causing important discomfort to the patient and also can increase morbidity. The objective of our article is to predict the prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, the factors that have an influence on its appearance, and to obtain a predictive model based on prognostic factors. METHOD: A prospective observational study was conducted on 201 patients who underwent major Orthopaedic and Trauma surgery during the year 2008. A questionnaire was designed to collect the required data as established previously by a standardized protocol, in which was requested, patient demographics, intraoperative and postoperative data, as well as details on any antiemetic treatment that was needed in the recovery ward. RESULTS: A total of 39.8% patients suffered PONV. Of the females, 46.6% suffered PONV, and 75% had previous history of PONV. A higher prevalence was observed in patients who were subjected to more aggressive surgery. There was a concentration of cases between 5 pm and 7 pm, and also at 8 am. The predictive model was obtained from this formula: Y= -1,334 + 0,753*S + 1,5602*NVP + 0,769*IQa CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PONV in this study has been high, as more a third of the studied population suffered from it. The predictive model should help determine the specific risk of each patient of suffering from PONV, thus being able to define a therapeutic strategy during the preoperative period as well as during the postoperative period. Being female, a previous history of PONV, and undergoing an aggressive surgical procedure are risk factors. Patient mobilization and family visits increase the number of PONV episodes.