Real-space observation of ultraconfined in-plane anisotropic acoustic terahertz plasmon polaritons.

Thin layers of in-plane anisotropic materials can support ultraconfined polaritons, whose wavelengths depend on the propagation direction. Such polaritons hold potential for the exploration of fundamental material properties and the development of novel nanophotonic devices. However, the real-space observation of ultraconfined in-plane anisotropic plasmon polaritons (PPs)-which exist in much broader spectral ranges than phonon polaritons-has been elusive. Here we apply terahertz nanoscopy to image in-plane anisotropic low-energy PPs in monoclinic Ag2Te platelets. The hybridization of the PPs with their mirror image-by placing the platelets above a Au layer-increases the direction-dependent relative polariton propagation length and the directional polariton confinement. This allows for verifying a linear dispersion and elliptical isofrequency contour in momentum space, revealing in-plane anisotropic acoustic terahertz PPs. Our work shows high-symmetry (elliptical) polaritons on low-symmetry (monoclinic) crystals and demonstrates the use of terahertz PPs for local measurements of anisotropic charge carrier masses and damping.

Remediation of pesticides in commercial farm soils by solarization and ozonation techniques.

Soil contamination by pesticides is a growing environmental problem. Even though nowadays numerous soil remediation technologies are available, most of them have not been tested at field scale. This study attempts to demonstrate the efficiency of solarization-ozonation techniques for the removal of twelve pesticides at full scale. Initial solarization and ozonation trials were conducted in plots located in a greenhouse using freshly and aged contaminated soils under controlled pilot conditions. The combination of solarization and ozonation treatment was efficient for all the studied pesticides both in freshly and in aged contaminated soils, being the lower degradation values found for the second type. This low removal suggests that the increase of pesticides' adsorption on soil resulting from ageing decreases their availability. Once the essays were carried out at pilot scale, the solarization-ozonation applicability was evaluated in a commercial farm soil. This trial was carried out in a greenhouse whose soil had previously been contaminated with some of the pesticides studied. A significant degradation (53.8%) was observed after 40 days of treatment. Pesticides' main metabolites were identified during the different remediation experiments. In addition, the cost of the combined solarization and ozonation technology was evaluated. Finally, our results suggest that this combination of techniques could be considered a promising technology to degrade pesticides in soil.

Evolución funcional y del estado de ánimo de pacientes tras ingreso por COVID-19 en una unidad de Cuidados Intensivos / Functional evolution and mood of patients after admission for COVID-19 to intensive care unit

Objetivo: Describir la situación funcional de los pacientes al mes y a los dos meses tras el ingreso por neumonía COVID-19 en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y afectación del estado de ánimo al mes del alta hospitalaria. Diseño: Estudio de cohortes prospectivo. Pacientes: Ingresados en UCI por neumonía COVID-19 durante los meses de febrero a julio de 2020. Variables de interés: Datos demográficos, mortalidad, estancia media en UCI y hospitalización, destino al alta, situación funcional (índice de Barthel) basal, tras el alta, al mes y a los dos meses, fisioterapia realizada y repercusión en el estado de ánimo (Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión). Resultados: Ingresaron en la UCI 89 pacientes. La mortalidad en UCI fue del 48,3%. Entre los supervivientes, 42 pacientes completaron seguimiento a los dos meses. Se objetivó un deterioro funcional al alta de UCI en el 97,6% y al alta hospitalaria en el 76,2%. En el seguimiento, un 66,7% había recuperado su nivel funcional basal al mes de salida del hospital y un 85,7% lo había hecho a los dos meses. Al mes del alta, el 12% presentaban resultados compatibles con ansiedad y un 20% compatibles con depresión. Conclusiones: Los pacientes ingresados en UCI por neumonía COVID-19 presentan una mortalidad hospitalaria elevada y los supervivientes presentan un deterioro funcional severo. A los dos meses del alta, la mayoría recupera su situación funcional basal y estado emocional previos al ingreso.(AU)

Objective: Describe the functional situation of patients one and two months after admission for COVID-19 pneumonia in an intensive care unit (ICU) and affect their mood one month after hospital discharge. Design: Prospective cohort study was carried out. Patients: Patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 pneumonia during the months of February to July 2020.Primary variables of interest: Demographic data, mortality, ICU stay and hospital stay, destination at discharge, functional status at baseline (Barthel Index), after discharge, at one month and two months, physiotherapy treatment and impact on mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Results: 89 patients were admitted in ICU with a mortality rate of 48.3% in the ICU. Among the survivors, 42 patients completed the follow-up at two months. Functional deterioration was observed at ICU discharge in 97.6% and at hospital discharge in 76.2%. At follow-up, 66.7% of patients had recovered their baseline functional level one month after leaving the hospital and 85.7% had done so after two months. One month after discharge, 12% of the patients had results compatible with anxiety and 20% had results compatible with depression. Conclusions: Patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 pneumonia have high hospital mortality, and those who survive show severe functional deterioration after admission. Two months after hospital discharge, most survivors recover their baseline functional status and mood prior to admission.(AU)

[Functional evolution and mood of patients after admission for COVID-19 to intensive care unit]. / Evolución funcional y del estado de ánimo de pacientes tras ingreso por COVID-19 en una unidad de Cuidados Intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the functional situation of patients one and two months after admission for COVID-19 pneumonia in an intensive care unit (ICU) and affect their mood one month after hospital discharge. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study was carried out. PATIENTS: Patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 pneumonia during the months of February to July 2020. PRIMARY VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Demographic data, mortality, ICU stay and hospital stay, destination at discharge, functional status at baseline (Barthel Index), after discharge, at one month and two months, physiotherapy treatment and impact on mood (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). RESULTS: 89 patients were admitted in ICU with a mortality rate of 48.3% in the ICU. Among the survivors, 42 patients completed the follow-up at two months. Functional deterioration was observed at ICU discharge in 97.6% and at hospital discharge in 76.2%. At follow-up, 66.7% of patients had recovered their baseline functional level one month after leaving the hospital and 85.7% had done so after two months. One month after discharge, 12% of the patients had results compatible with anxiety and 20% had results compatible with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 pneumonia have high hospital mortality, and those who survive show severe functional deterioration after admission. Two months after hospital discharge, most survivors recover their baseline functional status and mood prior to admission.

CYB5R3 homozygous pathogenic variant as a rare cause of cyanosis in the newborn.

Detailed below is a very illustrative case of a rare pathology of recessive congenital methemoglobinemia. The patient, a newborn female, was homozygous for c.535G > A, p.(Ala179Thr) a pathogenic variant in the CYB5R3 gene. The reported population frequency of the allele is 0.853%, demonstrating why it is remarkable to find both parents are heterozygous carriers without consanguinity. A brief review of previously published cases is also presented.

Remediation of triazole, anilinopyrimidine, strobilurin and neonicotinoid pesticides in polluted soil using ozonation and solarization.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ozonation and solarization techniques for the removal of different types of pesticides from soil during the summer season. The effect of two experimental parameters (temperature and ozone application mode) on the pesticide degradation was evaluated. The results showed that solarization (S), solarization with surface ozonation (SOS), and solarization with deep ozonation (SOD) enhanced pesticide degradation rates in comparison with the control (untreated soil, C). The triazole, anilinopyrimidine, strobilurin and neonicotinoid pesticides showed similar behaviour under S and SOS conditions. The highest decrease was found in SOD, indicating the significant effect of temperature and ozone application mode on the efficiency of the ozonation treatment. Thus, a higher soil temperature and a longer accumulated time at high temperature in treatments S, SOS and SOD were observed due to solarization process. In addition, the removal efficiency was enhanced with exposure time. Finally, the main 15 transformation products were identified during SOD treatment. The results suggest that solarization combined with ozonation techniques allows decontamination of soil containing pesticide residues.

Onset of Nut Allergy in a Pediatric Cohort: Clinical and Molecular Patterns in the AFRUSEN Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nut allergy is a growing problem, yet little is known about its onset in children. Objective: To characterize the onset of nut allergy in children in southern Europe. METHODS: The study population comprised consecutive patients up to 14 years of age who visited allergy departments with an initial allergic reaction to peanut, tree nut, or seed. The allergy work-up included a clinical history, food challenge, skin prick testing, determination of whole-extract sIgE, and ImmunoCAP ISAC-112 assay. RESULTS: Of the 271 children included, 260 were first diagnosed with nut allergy at a mean age of 6.5 years and at a mean (SD) of 11.8 (21.2) months after the index reaction. The most common culprit nuts at onset were walnut (36.5%), peanut (28.5%), cashew (10.4%), hazelnut (8.5%), pistachio (5.4%), and almond (5%). Onset of peanut allergy was more frequent in children ≤6 years and walnut in those aged >6 years (P=.032). In 65% of cases, the allergic reaction occurred the first time the patient consumed the nut, and 35% of reactions were anaphylactic. Overall, polysensitization to nuts was detected by skin prick testing in 64.9% of patients, although this rate was lower among walnut-allergic children (54.7%) and peanut-allergic children (54.1%) (P<.0001). Sensitization to 2S albumins was predominant (75%), especially Jug r 1 (52.8%), whereas sensitization to lipid transfer proteins was less relevant (37%). CONCLUSION: In the population we assessed, the onset of nut allergy occurred around 6 years of age, slightly later than that reported in English-speaking countries. Walnut was the main trigger, followed by peanut. 2S albumin storage proteins, especially Jug r 1, were the most relevant allergens. This study will help guide management and may contribute to preventive strategies in pediatric nut allergy.

Onset of Nut Allergy in a Pediatric Cohort: Clinical and Molecular Patterns in the AFRUSEN Study

Background: Nut allergy is a growing problem, yet little is known about its onset in children. Objective: To characterize the onset of nut allergy in children in southern Europe. Methods: The study population comprised consecutive patients up to 14 years of age who visited allergy departments with an initial allergic reaction to peanut, tree nut, or seed. The allergy work-up included a clinical history, food challenge, skin prick testing, determination of whole-extract sIgE, and ImmunoCAP ISAC-112 assay. Results: Of the 271 children included, 260 were first diagnosed with nut allergy at a mean age of 6.5 years and at a mean (SD) of 11.8 (21.2) months after the index reaction. The most common culprit nuts at onset were walnut (36.5%), peanut (28.5%), cashew (10.4%), hazelnut (8.5%), pistachio (5.4%), and almond (5%). Onset of peanut allergy was more frequent in children ≤6 years and walnut in those aged >6 years (P=.032). In 65% of cases, the allergic reaction occurred the first time the patient consumed the nut, and 35% of reactions were anaphylactic. Overall, polysensitization to nuts was detected by skin prick testing in 64.9% of patients, although this rate was lower among walnut-allergic children (54.7%) and peanut-allergic children (54.1%) (P<.0001). Sensitization to 2S albumins was predominant (75%), especially Jug r 1 (52.8%), whereas sensitization to lipid transfer proteins was less relevant (37%). Conclusion: In the population we assessed, the onset of nut allergy occurred around 6 years of age, slightly later than that reported in English-speaking countries. Walnut was the main trigger, followed by peanut. 2S albumin storage proteins, especially Jug r 1, were the most relevant allergens. This study will help guide management and may contribute to preventive strategies in pediatric nut allergy (AU)

Antecedentes: La alergia a frutos secos es un problema creciente. Sin embargo, existe poca información relativa al inicio de su establecimiento en la población infantil. Objetivos: Describir el debut de alergia a frutos secos en niños del sur de Europa. Métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes de hasta 14 años que acudieron de forma consecutiva a la consulta de alergia debido a una reacción inicial con cacahuete, frutos secos o semillas. El estudio alergológico incluyó realización de historia clínica, provocación oral, prueba intraepidérmica (SPT), determinación de IgE específica para extracto completo y mediante ImmunoCAP ISAC-112. Resultados: De los 271 niños incluidos, 260 se diagnosticaron de alergia a frutos secos por primera vez a los 6,5 años de media, habiendo tenido la reacción índice 11,8 (±21,2SD) meses antes. Los frutos secos responsables en el debut fueron nuez (36,5%), cacahuete (28,5%), anacardo (10,4%), avellana (8,5%), pistacho (5,4%) y almendra (5%). La instauración de la alergia a cacahuete fue más frecuente en niños ≤6 años y para nuez en >6 años (p=0,032). En el 65% de los casos, la reacción alérgica sucedió en la primera vez en que el paciente consumía el fruto seco, y el 35% de las reacciones fueron anafilaxia. En conjunto, la polisensibilización a frutos secos se identificó en el 64,9% de los pacientes, aunque este porcentaje fue significativamente inferior en niños alérgicos a nuez (54,7%) y cacahuete (54,1%) (p<0,0001). La sensibilización a albúminas 2S fue predominante (75%), especialmente a Jug r 1 (52,8%), mientras que la identificación de LTP fue menos relevante (37%). Conclusión: En nuestra población, el debut de alergia a frutos secos sucedió alrededor de los 6 años de edad, ligeramente más tardío al reportado en países anglosajones. La nuez fue el principal desencadenante, seguido de cacahuete, y las albúminas de almacenamiento 2S, especialmente Jug r 1, fueron los alérgenos más relevantes (AU)

Nuevas experiencias educacionales. La educación centrada en el estudiante: una experiencia y su potencial / New educational experiences. Student-centered education: an experience and its potential

ntroducción: La enseñanza de la Farmacología tradicionalmente se ha caracterizado por la transmisión de información donde las estrategias pedagógicas se han centrado en el profesor, privilegiando el conocimiento teórico, las clases magistrales y los exámenes memorísticos. Es imprescindible la introducción de elementos nuevos para aumentar la participación activa del estudiante en la construcción del conocimiento y en la evaluación del logro de sus competencias; el desarrollo de la creatividad y el trabajo en equipo. Esta metodología busca romper la noción de enseñanza tradicional, cambiar la idea de una evaluación por la nota a una evaluación con una motivación propia (del estudiante), para internalizar el conocimiento y hacerlo parte desu estructura de pensamiento. Objetivo: Desarrollar una estrategia de enseñanza y evaluación que permita a los estudiantes participar activamente. Materiales y métodos: Participaron 172 estudiantes que cursaron la asignatura de Farmacología y Terapéutica "B", entre marzo y septiembre de 2017. Se desarrollaron cuatro actividades individuales y complementarias relacionadas con la prescripción de medicamentos, para la evaluación del proceso y desempeño de los estudiantes se emplearon rúbricas normalizadas de evaluación, se aplicó una encuestade percepción a los estudiantes sobre la utilidad de la estrategia en su formación. Resultados: Los resultados muestran un buen desempeño de los estudiantes en las actividades de prescripción de medicamentos, un mejoramiento significativo en el desempeño al comparar los resultados. Los estudiantes consideran que la estrategia es útil para el desarrollo de sus competencias profesionales, les permite tener un papel activo en el proceso de aprendizaje y la metodología de evaluación les permite reconocer los elementos que deben reforzar para llegar a un óptimo desarrollo de su competencia

Solar homogeneous catalysis to the removal of organic matter from slaughterhouse effluents undergone to a prior biological process.

This study shows the effectiveness of the wastewater treatment from a municipal slaughterhouse that has undergone a previous biological treatment applying a sequence of stages, reaching a 75% of elimination of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) using sedimentation in combination with coagulation-flocculation, using 0.5 g/L FeCl3 which is one of the best known inorganic coagulants. Then, the elimination of COD was around 98% adding the Fenton process in which 1,000 mg/L H2O2 and FeSO4 were used. In addition to the COD, other water quality parameters were measured to evaluate the level of purification of the test samples, such as solids of different types, pH, DOC and so on. With the above process, it can be noted that the Fenton process produced a slight improvement in the effluent quality by using a solar concentrator in the now-called photo-Fenton process, reaching around 99% of COD removal (0.36 g/L), 91% of total suspended solids (0.32 g/L) and 89% of dissolved organic carbon (0.20 g/L). These results were the best achieved within a proposed treatment train for this type of complex wastewater. Moreover, this last part of the process adds an improvement by the usage of renewable energy sources such as sunlight.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strain T2.31D-1, Isolated from a Drilling Core Sample Obtained 414 Meters below Surface in the Iberian Pyrite Belt.

We report the draft genome of Pseudomonas sp. strain T2.31D-1, which was isolated from a drilling core sample obtained 414 m below surface in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The genome consists of a 4.7-Mb chromosome with 4,428 coding sequences, 1 rRNA operon, 59 tRNA genes, and a 31.8-kb plasmid.

In situ Near-Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Reveals the Influence of Photon Flux and Water on the Stability of Halide Perovskite.

For several years, scientists have been trying to understand the mechanisms that reduce the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells. In this work, we examined the effect of water and photon flux on the stability of CH3 NH3 PbI3 perovskite films and solar cells using in situ near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and current density-voltage (J-V) characterization. The used amount of water vapor (up to 1 mbar) had a negligible impact on the perovskite film. The higher the photon flux, the more prominent were the changes in the NAP-XPS and FESEM data; also, a faster decline in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and a more substantial hysteresis in the J-V characteristics were observed. Based on our results, it can be concluded that the PCE decrease originates from the creation of Frenkel pair defects in the perovskite film under illumination. The stronger the illumination, the higher the number of Frenkel defects, leading to a faster PCE decline and more substantial hysteresis in the J-V sweeps.

Coronavirus Optimization Algorithm: A Bioinspired Metaheuristic Based on the COVID-19 Propagation Model.

This study proposes a novel bioinspired metaheuristic simulating how the coronavirus spreads and infects healthy people. From a primary infected individual (patient zero), the coronavirus rapidly infects new victims, creating large populations of infected people who will either die or spread infection. Relevant terms such as reinfection probability, super-spreading rate, social distancing measures, or traveling rate are introduced into the model to simulate the coronavirus activity as accurately as possible. The infected population initially grows exponentially over time, but taking into consideration social isolation measures, the mortality rate, and number of recoveries, the infected population gradually decreases. The coronavirus optimization algorithm has two major advantages when compared with other similar strategies. First, the input parameters are already set according to the disease statistics, preventing researchers from initializing them with arbitrary values. Second, the approach has the ability to end after several iterations, without setting this value either. Furthermore, a parallel multivirus version is proposed, where several coronavirus strains evolve over time and explore wider search space areas in less iterations. Finally, the metaheuristic has been combined with deep learning models, to find optimal hyperparameters during the training phase. As application case, the problem of electricity load time series forecasting has been addressed, showing quite remarkable performance.