Tuning the aspect ratio of silver nanospheroids embedded in silica: erratum.

We present a corrigendum to our Letter [Opt. Lett.35, 703 (2010)10.1364/OL.35.000703]. In the original Letter we inadvertently included in Fig. 2(a) a TEM micrograph corresponding to a different, but very similar, sample. This corrigendum replaces Fig. 2(a) with a correct version. Since the main results are rather based in optical absorption measurements, and their modeling by using the T-matrix method, this correction does not affect the results and conclusions of the original Letter.

Characterization of ancestry informative markers in the Tigray population of Ethiopia: A contribution to the identification process of dead migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

Determination of bio-geographical ancestry by means of DNA ancestry informative markers (AIMs) can contribute to the identification of human remains in missing person cases and mass disasters. While the presence of Eastern Africans among the migrant victims of trafficking accidents in the Mediterranean Sea is often suspected, few studies have addressed the ability of autosomal AIM panels in current use in forensic laboratories to provide differentiation of populations within the African continent. In this study, two assays consisting of 46 AIM-Indels and 31 AIM-SNPs were typed in a Tigray population sample from Northern Ethiopia. STRUCTURE analysis showed that the Tigray population is characterized by a strong (∼50 %) non-African genetic component shared with European and Middle Eastern populations. The intermediate position of the Tigray sample between sub-Saharan African and European / Middle Eastern reference population samples was confirmed by principal component analysis. Both AIM panels provided effective differentiation between Tigray and sub-Saharan African populations. Classification accuracy of other populations involved in the current Mediterranean migrant crisis, like South Asians, was superior with the AIM-SNP panel compared to the AIM-Indel panel. Misclassification of Middle Eastern samples as Tigray was frequent with both AIM-indel (∼30 % misclassified) and AIM-SNPs (∼20 %). However, with AIM-SNPs, error rates were reduced to acceptable levels by applying cautionary minimum thresholds to assignment likelihoods. Establishment of an Eastern African reference database of AIMs that can be genotyped by means of low cost, small-scale assays compatible with capillary electrophoresis, sets a balance between the need for ancestry inference tools and the budget limitations faced by Italian laboratories engaged in the humanitarian identification of dead migrants recovered from the Mediterranean Sea.

Low-level arsenic exposure during pregnancy and its association with postpartum depression: A cohort study of women from Arica, Chile.

BACKGROUND: While the relationship between inorganic arsenic exposure and psychological impairment has been studied previously, the association between low-level arsenic exposure during pregnancy and postpartum depression has not yet been examined. The objective is to estimate the association between low-level arsenic exposure during pregnancy and the Edinburgh score. METHODS: A sample of 223 women was collected from five public health services in Arica, Chile. Participation was voluntary and written consent was mandatory. Sociodemographic data related to arsenic exposure and urine samples for total inorganic arsenic assessments were collected during the second trimester. Postpartum depression symptoms were estimated by the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale. We examined descriptive statistics and ran multiple linear regressions. The modifying effect of age and depression history was evaluated separately. RESULTS: The median for total urinary inorganic arsenic was 14.6µg/L (range: 2-69.2µg/L), the median for postpartum depression score was 8 points (range: 0-27 points) and 20.6% of women were considered as postpartum depressed. For women older than 25years old without depression history, the adjusted coefficient for the total urinary natural logarithm of inorganic arsenic in multiple linear regressions was -2.51 (95% CI: -4.54, -0.48; P-value=0.02). For women older than 25years old with a depression history, this value was 2.09 (95% CI: -0.90, 5.08; P-value=0.16). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, the number of children, physical perception, depression history, stressful maternity, and age were associated with postpartum depression score. The Edinburgh score was associated with inorganic arsenic in women older than 25years without depression history.

Phylogeographic and genome-wide investigations of Vietnam ethnic groups reveal signatures of complex historical demographic movements.

The territory of present-day Vietnam was the cradle of one of the world's earliest civilizations, and one of the first world regions to develop agriculture. We analyzed the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) complete control region of six ethnic groups and the mitogenomes from Vietnamese in The 1000 Genomes Project (1000G). Genome-wide data from 1000G (~55k SNPs) were also investigated to explore different demographic scenarios. All Vietnamese carry South East Asian (SEA) haplotypes, which show a moderate geographic and ethnic stratification, with the Mong constituting the most distinctive group. Two new mtDNA clades (M7b1a1f1 and F1f1) point to historical gene flow between the Vietnamese and other neighboring countries. Bayesian-based inferences indicate a time-deep and continuous population growth of Vietnamese, although with some exceptions. The dramatic population decrease experienced by the Cham 700 years ago (ya) fits well with the Nam tien ("southern expansion") southwards from their original heartland in the Red River Delta. Autosomal SNPs consistently point to important historical gene flow within mainland SEA, and add support to a main admixture event occurring between Chinese and a southern Asian ancestral composite (mainly represented by the Malay). This admixture event occurred ~800 ya, again coinciding with the Nam tien.

Nanoscale conductive pattern of the homoepitaxial AlGaN/GaN transistor.

The gallium nitride (GaN)-based buffer/barrier mode of growth and morphology, the transistor electrical response (25-310 °C) and the nanoscale pattern of a homoepitaxial AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) have been investigated at the micro and nanoscale. The low channel sheet resistance and the enhanced heat dissipation allow a highly conductive HEMT transistor (Ids > 1 A mm(-1)) to be defined (0.5 A mm(-1) at 300 °C). The vertical breakdown voltage has been determined to be ∼850 V with the vertical drain-bulk (or gate-bulk) current following the hopping mechanism, with an activation energy of 350 meV. The conductive atomic force microscopy nanoscale current pattern does not unequivocally follow the molecular beam epitaxy AlGaN/GaN morphology but it suggests that the FS-GaN substrate presents a series of preferential conductive spots (conductive patches). Both the estimated patches density and the apparent random distribution appear to correlate with the edge-pit dislocations observed via cathodoluminescence. The sub-surface edge-pit dislocations originating in the FS-GaN substrate result in barrier height inhomogeneity within the HEMT Schottky gate producing a subthreshold current.

FAS system deregulation in T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

The acquisition of resistance towards FAS-mediated apoptosis may be required for tumor formation. Tumors from various histological origins exhibit FAS mutations, the most frequent being hematological malignancies. However, data regarding FAS mutations or FAS signaling alterations are still lacking in precursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas (T-LBLs). The available data on acute lymphoblastic leukemia, of precursor origin as well, indicate a low frequency of FAS mutations but often report a serious reduction in FAS-mediated apoptosis as well as chemoresistance, thus suggesting the occurrence of mechanisms able to deregulate the FAS signaling pathway, different from FAS mutation. Our aim at this study was to determine whether FAS-mediated apoptotic signaling is compromised in human T-LBL samples and the mechanisms involved. This study on 26 T-LBL samples confirms that the FAS system is impaired to a wide extent in these tumors, with 57.7% of the cases presenting any alteration of the pathway. A variety of mechanisms seems to be involved in such alteration, in order of frequency the downregulation of FAS, the deregulation of other members of the pathway and the occurrence of mutations at FAS. Considering these results together, it seems plausible to think of a cumulative effect of several alterations in each T-LBL, which in turn may result in FAS/FASLG system deregulation. Since defective FAS signaling may render the T-LBL tumor cells resistant to apoptotic cell death, the correct prognosis, diagnosis and thus the success of anticancer therapy may require such an in-depth knowledge of the complete scenario of FAS-signaling alterations.

Quantitative Raman spectroscopy as a tool to study the kinetics and formation mechanism of carbonates.

We have carried out a systematic study of abiotic precipitation at different temperatures of several Mg and Ca carbonates (calcite, nesquehonite, hydrocalcite) present in carbonaceous chondrites. This study highlights the capability of Raman spectroscopy as a primary tool for performing full mineralogical analysis. The precipitation reaction and the structure of the resulting carbonates were monitored and identified with Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy enabled us to confirm that the precipitation reaction is very fast (minutes) when Ca(II) is present in the solution, whereas for Mg(II) such reactions developed at rather slow rates (weeks). We also observed that both the composition and the reaction mechanisms depended on temperature, which might help to clarify several issues in the fields of planetology and geology, because of the environmental implications of these carbonates on both terrestrial and extraterrestrial objects.

Contención mecánica: su uso en cuidados intensivos / Mechanical Restraint: Its Use In Intensive Cares

Objetivo: Analizar la incidencia del uso de contención mecánica (CM) o restricción física en una unidad de cuidados intensivos y valorar el procedimiento. Procedimientos básicos Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo. Criterios de inclusión: pacientes que precisaron CM desde marzo a junio de 2010. Variables: demográficas, situación clínica, indicaciones, técnicas y dispositivos... Análisis estadístico con media, desviación estándar y porcentajes, con el programa SPSS 14.0.Resultados85 casos: 65,9% hombres, edad media de 64,19 (±17,9) y con NEMS de 29,3 (±8,2). Incidencia de CM: 15,6%. Indicación principal de CM: riesgo de interrupción grave de procesos terapéuticos (80%). Fue decisión enfermera (94,1%). Medida urgente: 85,9%. Registro del procedimiento: 57,6%. Información a la familia: 9,4%. Alternativa previa: contención verbal (100%), farmacológica (48,2%).Conclusiones Existe incidencia relevante de CM. Motivo principal: evitar la interrupción de procesos terapéuticos. La enfermera toma la decisión inicial. Es necesario la información/formación de los profesionales por sus repercusiones éticas y legales (AU)

Objective: To analyze the impact of the use of mechanical restraint (MR) or physical restraints in a Critical Care unit and to evaluate the procedure. Basic Procedures: A descriptive, prospective study. Inclusion criteria: patients who required MR from March to June 2010. Variables: demographic, clinical presentation, indications, techniques and devices. A statistical analysis with mean, standard deviation and percentages using the program SPSS 14.0.Results: A total of 85 cases were studied: 65.9% male, mean age 64.19 (±17.9), NEMS 29.3(±8.2). Incidence of MR: 15.6%. Main indication for MR: Risk of serious disruption of treatment processes (80%). Decision nurse (94.1%). Urgent action: (85.9%). Registration procedure: 57.6%.Information to the family: 9.4%. Previous actions: verbal containment (100%), pharmacological(48.2%).Conclusions: There is a relevant incidence of MR. The principal reason is that of avoiding interruption of the therapeutic process. The nurse makes the initial decision. Necessary information/training of professionals for legal and ethical repercussions is needed (AU)

[Mechanical restraint: its use in intensive cares]. / Contención mecánica: su uso en cuidados intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the use of mechanical restraint (MR) or physical restraints in a Critical Care unit and to evaluate the procedure. BASIC PROCEDURES: A descriptive, prospective study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: patients who required MR from March to June 2010. VARIABLES: demographic, clinical presentation, indications, techniques and devices. A statistical analysis with mean, standard deviation and percentages using the program SPSS 14.0. RESULTS: A total of 85 cases were studied: 65.9% male, mean age 64.19 (±17.9), NEMS 29.3 (±8.2). Incidence of MR: 15.6%. Main indication for MR: Risk of serious disruption of treatment processes (80%). Decision nurse (94.1%). Urgent action: (85.9%). Registration procedure: 57.6%. Information to the family: 9.4%. Previous actions: verbal containment (100%), pharmacological (48.2%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a relevant incidence of MR. The principal reason is that of avoiding interruption of the therapeutic process. The nurse makes the initial decision. Necessary information/training of professionals for legal and ethical repercussions is needed.

Nanoscale investigation of AlGaN/GaN-on-Si high electron mobility transistors.

AlGaN/GaN HEMTs are devices which are strongly influenced by surface properties such as donor states, roughness or any kind of inhomogeneity. The electron gas is only a few nanometers away from the surface and the transistor forward and reverse currents are considerably affected by any variation of surface property within the atomic scale. Consequently, we have used the technique known as conductive AFM (CAFM) to perform electrical characterization at the nanoscale. The AlGaN/GaN HEMT ohmic (drain and source) and Schottky (gate) contacts were investigated by the CAFM technique. The estimated area of these highly conductive pillars (each of them of approximately 20-50 nm radius) represents around 5% of the total contact area. Analogously, the reverse leakage of the gate Schottky contact at the nanoscale seems to correlate somehow with the topography of the narrow AlGaN barrier regions producing larger currents.

Respuesta inmune respiratoria al año de vida en el niño prematuro / Respiratory immune response in first year of a preterm infant

Introducción: Existe un gran desconocimiento acerca de la evolución del sistema inmune en la mucosa respiratoria del niño prematuro a largo plazo. La inmadurez y las infecciones respiratorias pueden influir sobre la respuesta inmune de las mucosas. El propósito de este estudio era evaluar la secreción respiratoria de los mediadores inmunológicos al año de vida en niños prematuros. Pacientes y métodos: Desde octubre de 2008 hasta abril de2009 se reclutaron 77 prematuros nacidos en 6 servicios de pediatría de Castilla y León, así como 14 controles sanos a término. Los prematuros fueron citados al año de edad gestacional corregida y los niños a término al año de vida, momento en el cual se les realizó un lavado nasal para determinar los niveles de 27 mediadores inmunológicos mediante un ensayo de Biorad®. Resultados: Los niños prematuros tenían niveles más elevados de quimiocinas (eotaxina, IP-10), citocinas Th-1 (IFN-epsilon), Th-2 (IL-13), Th-17 (IL-17) y factores de crecimiento celular (PDGF-bb, VEGF, FGF-b, G-CSF y GM-CSF) que los niños a término. Cuando se compararon los niveles de mediadores entre los niños que habían recibido profilaxis para el virus respiratorios incitial con palivizumab y los que no, los segundos tenían niveles significativamente más altos de MCP-1, IL-1RA, IL-10,IL-12p70 y VEGF (p <0,05) que los primeros. Conclusiones: Este trabajo demuestra por vez primera la influencia de la prematuridad sobre los perfiles de secreción respiratoria de las citocinas y quimiocinas a largo plazo. Por otra parte, nuestros resultados indican que la evaluación del impacto de la profilaxis de la infección respiratoria es un camino interesante para comprender la maduración de la respuesta inmune de la mucosa respiratoria del prematuro(AU)

Introduction: There is a big unawareness about a long term respiratory mucous immune system evolution in the preterm infant. Immaturity and respiratory infections can have a big influence on the mucous immune responses. This investigation’s purpose is the evaluation of respiratory secretion of inflammatory immunological mediators in the first year of a preterm infant. Patients and methods: Between October 2008 and April 2009, 77 preterm infants were born in 6 pediatric services of Castilla y Leon, plus to another 14 healthy controls results. Children were invited on their first corrected gestational age and the ones of healthy controls results. Nasal washing were applied to determine 27 immunological mediators’ levels by applying a Biorad test. Results: The preterm infants has higher chemokine (eotaxin,IP-10), cytokines Th-1 (IFN-epsilon), Th-2 (IL-13), Th-17 (IL-17) and cell growing factors (PDGF-bb, VEGF, FGF-b, G-CSF and GM-CSF)levels than a healthy control results children. When a comparison was made between children that received prophylaxis for their respiratory syncytial virus with palivizumab and the ones that did not receive it, the second group showed higher MCP-1, IL-1RA, IL-10, IL-12p70 and VEGF (p <0,05) levels. Conclusions: This work proves, for the first time, the influence of the premature birth on chemokine and cytokines respiratory secretion levels in a long term concepts. On other hand, our results indicate that prophylaxis impact in the respiratory infection is an interesting way to understand respiratory mucous immune response maturation in the preterm infant(AU)

Farmacovigilancia y errores de medicación / Pharmacovigilance and medication errors. Role of nursing professionals

La seguridad en el uso de los medicamentos incluye dos aspectos conocidos y en muchas ocasiones interrelacionados: la detección y el análisis de las reacciones adversas y de los errores de medicación. El Real Decreto 1344/2007 considera los errores de medicación que causen daño al paciente como reacciones adversas. En estos campos enfermería tiene un rol esencial, que no siempre alcanza el protagonismo que debiera. Su contribución al Sistema Español de Farmacovigilancia de Medicamentos de Uso Humano (SEFV-H) es menor de lo que cabría esperar; por ello el objetivo de este trabajo es aumentar la motivación y participación del personal de enfermería en las tareas de farmacovigilancia. Pensamos que entre los motivos de esta baja participación puede estar el desconocimiento del programa. Por este motivo, tras unas pinceladas de historia de la farmacovigilancia, describimos el funcionamiento del SEFV-H y el programa de notificación espontánea. Analizamos su rol en relación a la comunicación de los errores de medicación y reacciones adversas en general, reflexionando también sobre la importancia de su labor en este campo. En conclusión, el conocimiento del funcionamiento del SEFV-H por parte de los/las enfermeros/as les permitirá: identificar la importancia de la notificación espontánea de las reacciones adversas asociadas a los medicamentos y/o de los errores de medicación, aumentar su comunicación voluntaria, contribuir a la prevención e identificación tanto de errores como de reacciones adversas asociadas a medicamentos (AU)

Safety in the use of medications includes two well-known and often interrelated aspects: detection and analysis of adverse drug reactions and medication errors. Royal Decree 1344/2007 considers medication errors that cause damage to the patient such as adverse reactions. In these fields, nursing has an essential role, which not always reaches the protagonist that should. His contribution to the system Spanish of pharmacovigilance of medicinal products for human use (SEFV-H) is less than would be expected; therefore the aim of this work is to increase motivation and participation of nurses in pharmacovigilance tasks. We believe that among the reasons for this low turnout may be ignorance of the program. For this reason, after a drizzle of history of pharmacovigilance, we describe the operation of the SEFV-H and spontaneous reporting program. We analyze their role in relation to the communication of adverse reactions and medication errors in general, also reflecting on the importance of its work in this field. In conclusion, the knowledge of the operation of the SEFV-H by enfermerosas loslas allowed: know the importance of spontaneous reporting of adverse reactions associated with the medicines I medication errors, increasing its voluntary communication, contribute to prevention and identification both errors and adverse reactions associated with medications (AU)

A novel mutation in the OFD1 (Cxorf5) gene may contribute to oral phenotype in patients with oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1.

BACKGROUND: Oral-facial-digital syndrome (OFDS) type 1 (OFD1) is an X-linked dominant condition associated with embryonic male lethality. It almost always affects the oral cavity, face, and digits. It is considered to be a ciliopathy caused by mutations in the OFD1 gene. A variety of mutations have been described, and a genotype-phenotype correlation has been suggested. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The proband was an 8-year-old Spanish girl with suspected OFD1. We extended the pedigree to three proband's generations, performing a thorough physical examination and screening for OFD1 mutations in nine individuals. RESULTS: The proband, her mother, and her sister showed oral findings consistent with OFD1. Ultrasound evaluation revealed the existence of renal cysts only in the proband's mother. The rest of the family (all male) had no relevant morphological abnormalities. A single-base deletion in exon 16 of OFD1 (c.2183delG) leading to a frameshift was detected in the proband, her mother, and her sister. CONCLUSION: Because all three women had a similar oral phenotype, this new mutation might be involved in the development of the OFD1 oral manifestations. In cases of OFDS, physical examination (including the oral cavity and renal function) and genetic screening of the probands and their relatives are mandatory.