Search

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). BACKGROUND: HCV affects 185 million people worldwide and leads to death and morbidities. HCV has a high genetic diversity and is classified into seven genotypes and 67 subtypes. Novel anti-HCV drugs (Direct-Acting-Antivirals) eligibility, resistance and cure rates depend on HCV geno/subtype (GT). OBJECTIVES: Analysis of epidemiological information and viral GT from patients undergoing viral genotyping in 2011-2015. STUDY DESIGN: Anonymized information from 52 centers was analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: 37,839 samples were included in the study. We show that the GT distribution is similar throughout Western European countries, with some local differences. Here GTs 1 and 2 prevalences are lower and of GT4 higher than in all previous reports. Israel has a unique GT pattern and in South Russia the GT proportions are more similar to Asia. GTs 5 and 6 were detected in very low proportions. Three cases of the recombinant genotype P were reported in Munich (Germany). In addition, we observed that GT proportion was dependant on patientś gender, age and transmission route: GTs 1b and 2 were significantly more common in female, older, nosocomially-infected patients, while GTs 1a, 3 and 4 were more frequent in male, younger patients infected by tattooing, drug consume, and/or sexual practices. In infections acquired by drug consume, GTs 1a (35.0%) and 3 (28.1%) prevailed. In infections related to sexual practices lower proportion of GT3 (14.0%) and higher of GT4 (20.2%) were detected. GT4 was mostly abundant in MSM (29.6%). HIV coinfection was significantly associated with higher proportions GTs 1a and 4 (42.5% and 19.3%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Genotype prevalence evolves and correlates to epidemiological factors. Continuous surveillance is necessary to better assess hepatitis C infection in Europe and to take appropriate actions info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The electricity reform in Colombia has exhibited gains in terms of reliability but its effects on firms efficiency and service quality have not been clear. Previous studies evaluating the performance of distribution companies after the reform have not found evidence of improvements, although large differences in efficiency have been found among firms. This suggests high inefficiency persistence and heterogeneity in the Colombian distribution sector. In this paper, we propose an extension of dynamic stochastic frontier models that accounts for unobserved heterogeneity in the inefficiency persistence and in the technology. The model incorporates total expenses, service quality and energy losses in an efficiency analysis of Colombian distributors over fifteen years after the reform. We identify the presence of high inefficiency persistence in the sector, and important differences between firms. In particular, rural companies and firms with small customers present low persistence and evidence the largest gains in efficiency during the period. However, increases in efficiency are only manifested during the last five years when the main improvements in service quality and energy losses are presented. Overall, inefficiency persistence, customer density and consumption density are found to be important criteria to be considered for regulatory purposes.

[Resumen] Este trabajo muestra un ejemplo de la interacción entre ondas cerebrales y plataformas robóticas. Concretamente se realiza el control de un robot móvil mediante el dispositivo llamado Mindwave, producido por la compañía Neurosky. Dicho dispositivo, a pesar de poderse considerar en la categoría de bajo precio, es capaz de proporcionar los niveles de atención, entre otros, de un usuario a partir de la medida de las señales eléctricas generadas por su cerebro. La plataforma desarrollada se basa en un software diseñado en el entorno Matlab, para identificar las intenciones del usuario y transmitir las órdenes correspondientes al robot. Los resultados de las pruebas realizadas son diferentes a los reportados en la literatura, logrando una aplicación práctica, que consigue reducir los tiempos de retardo y requiere un nivel de entrenamiento reducido. Se presentan resultados de una simulación virtual. Dichos resultados han sido corroborados mediante experimentos reales. https://doi.org/10.17979/spudc.9788497498081

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether patients age 65 years and over with a recent stroke or TIA benefit from statin treatment to a similar degree as younger patients. METHODS: The 4,731 patient cohort in the SPARCL study was divided into an elderly group (65 and over) and a younger group. The primary endpoint (fatal or nonfatal stroke) and secondary endpoints were analyzed, with calculation of the hazard ratio (HR) and p values from a Cox regression model. RESULTS: There were 2,249 patients in the elderly group and 2,482 in the younger group. The baseline LDL (133 mg/dL) and total cholesterol were comparable in the two groups. The elderly and younger groups had a 61.4 mg/dL and 58.7 mg/dL decrease in mean LDL during the trial. The primary endpoint was reduced by 26% in younger patients (HR 0.74, 0.57-0.96, p = 0.02) and by 10% in elderly subjects (HR 0.90, 0.73-1.11, p = 0.33). A test of heterogeneity for a treatment-age interaction was not significant (p = 0.52). The risk of stroke or TIA (HR 0.79, p = 0.01), major coronary events (HR 0.68, p = 0.035), any coronary heart disease event (HR 0.61, p = 0.0006), and revascularization procedures (HR 0.55, p = 0.0005) was reduced in the elderly group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no heterogeneity in the stroke reduction seen with atorvastatin in the elderly and younger groups. Cardiac events and revascularization procedures were also lower in both the elderly and younger subgroups treated with atorvastatin. These results support the use of atorvastatin in elderly patients with recent stroke or TIA.

1- Introduccion Desde el Sistema de Asistencia al Regante del Instituto de Investigacion y Formacion Agraria y Pesquera de Andalucia (IFAPA) en el Centro de Chipiona (Cadiz) se esta desarrollando una labor de experimentacion de cultivos horticolas al aire libre. En esta linea se estan ensayando cultivos para evaluar la eficiencia del riego y abonado nitrogenado. El objetivo final de estos ensayos es generar unas recomendaciones de riego y fertirrigacion utiles para el sector. El cultivo de la patata es un cultivo muy extendido en la zona de Costa Noroeste por su precocidad en la comarca. En el mercado nacional los precios son muy oscilantes y requieren de una mayor profesionalizacion del sector. Con este objetivo hemos llevado a cabo el ensayo en dos parcelas experimentales de los dos factores mencionados. Para el diseno hemos contados con riego localizado en ambas parcelas y en una de ellas tambien con riego por aspersion. Generalmente los productores en la zona de Costa Noroeste de Cadiz lo hacen con aspersion. El objetivo especifico del ensayo es determinar de todos los posibles manejos de riego y abonado cual es la opcion mas eficiente y mas productiva. Para ello se ha contado dos dosis distintitas de riego con respecto a la teorica y dos dosis de abonado diferentes. La dosis del teorica es el 100% de las necesidades de riego del cultivo y esta se ha ensayado a su vez en dos sistemas de riego distintos (localizado y aspersion) con sus correspondientes manejos de aplicacion de abono (fertirrigacion en riego localizado y abonado tradicional en riego por aspersion). Con los resultados se han generado distintos escenarios productivos que realmente han de trasladarse al sector a traves de actividades formativas y de recomendaciones del portal Web del IFAPA (SERVIFAPA). 2- Metodologia Para ambas parcelas se ha programado el riego, segun el metodo de Balance de agua en el Suelo con el coeficiente de cultivo propuesto por el manual FAO 56 y con los datos agroclimaticas de la Red de Informacion Agroclimaticas. Se han utilizado dos dosis mas de riego ademas de la teorica segun se muestra en la tabla 1 y se ha introducido una estrategia mas de riego (R4) para cubrir las necesidades de riego teoricas a traves de riego por aspersion. Para cada una de las estrategias de riego, se han utilizado dos tipos de abonados, definidos en la tabla 2. Tabla 1. Tratamientos de riego* Tabla 2- Tratamientos de abonando* El diseno experimental es en bloques al azar con parcelas dividas (split plot) con tres repeticiones de cada una de las variables. Este diseno se ha aplicado a dos parcelas representativas de la comarca, para incluir la dualidad de tipos de suelos existentes para este sector productivo: franco-arcilloso y arenoso. La unica diferencia en el diseno entre ambas ha sido que en la parcela de suelo arenoso se ha incluido el tratamiento R4 de aspersion. 3- Conclusiones Los datos obtenidos ratifican las ventajas del sistema de riego localizado y la fertirrigacion para este cultivo, pero genera una serie de matices en cuanto a la cuatificacion de la produccion en cada caso. Para la parcela con el suelo franco arcilloso se observa lo siguiente: - Una clara influencia de la variable abonado en el rendimiento, en relacion a la significacion de la variable dosis riego. - El aumento del abonado nitrogenado influye de forma determinante en el aumento de produccion en las tres dosis de riego, siendo la dosis del 100% de las necesidades, la que mejor responde a este aumento de nitrogeno. - En la dosis de riego del 80 % de las necesidades existe una media de produccion mas alta pero no significativa para ambos niveles de abonado. Esto concluye con que una recomendacion en este nivel reduzca el uso de agua, lo que redunda en un ahorro para el agricultor. Para la parcela con el suelo arenoso, se ha obtenido las siguientes conclusiones: - Una influencia determinante de la dosis de riego en el rendimiento, ademas con suficiente significacion, pero en menor medida, la variable abonado influye en el rendimiento y menos cuando la dosis de riego es mas alta. - Queda claramente diferenciado que el riego de 120% produce un mayor rendimiento y esto puede ser explicado por diversas razones: Por el tipo de suelo (90% de arena), con poca de retencion. Por tanto al ser un riego localizado, el mayor tiempo de riego implica un mayor volumen de humectacion y un mayor tiempo de riego. No teniendo en este caso excesiva influencia el abonado por realizarse en todos al final del riego y de abono disponible, pues el abonado se hace al final del riego. La calidad del agua, esta tiene una conductividad electrica de 3,09 mS/cm, valor bastante elevado que aun habiendo hecho el precedente lavado, provoca una ligera barrera en la absorcion de agua y nutrientes. - El tratamiento de riego por aspersion con el 100% de la dosis, obtiene el menor rendimiento medio, esto se debe a la menor uniformidad en la aplicacion de riego y al metodo de aplicacion del abono (aplicacion de fondo y dos coberteras). - Para un riego del 100% en riego localizado existe una mayor respuesta al abonado que en el resto de los riegos. Las producciones mas altas de la parcela 1 con respecto a la parcela 2 concluye con que es necesario regar la parcela 1 con mas de un ciclo de riego diario, tanto por el suelo, como por el posible efecto de la salinidad. * Para ver tablas consultar resumen completo DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/CNRiegos.2015.1506

The status of the solar axion search with the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) will be presented. Recent results obtained by the use of $^3$He as a buffer gas has allowed us to extend our sensitivity to higher axion masses than our previous measurements with $^4$He. With about 1 h of data taking at each of 252 different pressure settings we have scanned the axion mass range 0.39 eV$ \le m_{a} \le $ 0.64 eV. From the absence of an excess of x rays when the magnet was pointing to the Sun we set a typical upper limit on the axion-photon coupling of g$_{a\gamma} \le 2.3\times 10^{-10}$ GeV$^{-1}$ at 95% C.L., the exact value depending on the pressure setting. CAST published results represent the best experimental limit on the photon couplings to axions and other similar exotic particles dubbed WISPs (Weakly Interacting Slim Particles) in the considered mass range and for the first time the limit enters the region favored by QCD axion models. Preliminary sensitivities for axion masses up to 1.16 eV will also be shown reaching mean upper limits on the axion-photon coupling of g$_{a\gamma} \le 3.5\times 10^{-10}$ GeV$^{-1}$ at 95% C.L. Expected sensibilities for the extension of the CAST program up to 2014 will be presented. Moreover long term options for a new helioscope experiment will be evoked., Comment: 4 pages, 2 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the 24th Rencontres de Blois V2 A few affiliations were not corrected in previous version V3 Author added

Estimation of the one sided error component in stochastic frontier models may erroneously attribute firm characteristics to inefficiency if heterogeneity is unaccounted for. However, unobserved inefficiency heterogeneity has been little explored. In this work, we propose to capture it through a random parameter which may affect the location, scale, or both parameters of a truncated normal inefficiency distribution using a Bayesian approach. Our findings using two real data sets, suggest that the inclusion of a random parameter in the inefficiency distribution is able to capture latent heterogeneity and can be used to validate the suitability of observed covariates to distinguish heterogeneity from inefficiency. Relevant effects are also found on separating and shrinking individual posterior efficiency distributions when heterogeneity affects the location and scale parameters of the one-sided error distribution, and consequently affecting the estimated mean efficiency scores and rankings. In particular, including heterogeneity simultaneously in both parameters of the inefficiency distribution in models that satisfy the scaling property leads to a decrease in the uncertainty around the mean scores and less overlapping of the posterior efficiency distributions, which provides both more reliable efficiency scores and rankings.

The CERN Axion Solar Telescope has finished its search for solar axions with 3He buffer gas, covering the search range 0.64 eV ¿ ma ¿ 1.17 eV. This closes the gap to the cosmological hot dark matter limit and actually overlaps with it. From the absence of excess x rays when the magnet was pointing to the Sun we set a typical upper limit on the axion-photon coupling of ga¿ ¿ 3.3 × 10-10 GeV-1 at 95% C.L., with the exact value depending on the pressure setting. Future direct solar axion searches will focus on increasing the sensitivity to smaller values of ga¿, for example by the currently discussed next generation helioscope International AXion Observatory.

Interpatient variability in drug response can be widely explained by genetically determined differences in metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters, and drug targets, leading to different pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic behaviors of drugs. Genetic variations affect or do not affect drug responses depending on their influence on protein activity and the relevance of such proteins in the pathway of the drug. Also, the frequency of such genetic variations differs among populations, so the clinical relevance of a specific variation is not the same in all of them. In this study, a panel of 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 14 different genes (ABCB1, ABCC2, ABCG2, CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, MTHFR, NOD2/CARD15, SLCO1A2, SLCO1B1, TPMT, and UGT1A9), encoding for the most relevant metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters relating to immunosuppressant agents, was analyzed to determine the genotype profile and allele frequencies in comparison with HapMap data. A total of 570 Spanish white recipients and donors of solid organ transplants were included. In 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms, statistically significant differences in allele frequency were observed. The largest differences (>100%) occurred in ABCB1 rs2229109, ABCG2 rs2231137, CYP3A5 rs776746, NOD2/CARD15 rs2066844, TPMT rs1800462, and UGT1A9 rs72551330. In conclusion, differences were recorded between the Spanish and other white populations in terms of allele frequency and genotypic distribution. Such differences may have implications in relation to dose requirements and drug-induced toxicity. These data are important for further research to help explain interindividual pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability in response to drug therapy.

Vafeiadis, T. "Status of CAST and Solar Chameleon searches" in Proceedings, 10th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs (AXION-WIMP 2014) / Tsesmelis, Emmanuel, Maroudas, Marios (eds.), Verlag Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron : 2014 ; AXION-WIMP 2014 : 10th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs, 2014-06-29 - 2014-07-04, Geneva 10th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs, AXION-WIMP 2014, Geneva, Switzerland, 29 Jun 2014 - 4 Jul 2014 ; DESY-PROC 156-161(2014). doi:10.3204/DESY-PROC-2014-03/vafeiadis_theodoros, CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) is the most powerful axion helioscope searching for axions and axion-like particles produced in the Sun. CAST completed its search for solar axions with $^{3}$He buffer gas in the magnet bores, covering axion masses up to 1.2 eV. In the absence of excess X-rays it has set the best experimental limit on the axion-photon coupling constant over a broad range of axion masses. In 2013 CAST has improved its sensitivity to solar axions with rest mass below 0.02 eV by using Micromegas detectors and it will continue in 2014 with the implementation of a second X-ray optic and a new type detector (InGrid). In 2013 CAST has extended its sensitivity into the sub-keV energy range using a silicon detector (SDD), to search for solar chameleons, extending its searches to the dark energy sector. This search will be continued in 2014 and 2015 as well with the InGrid detector. Future axion searches can improve the current axion sensitivity by 1 to 1.5 orders of magnitude with a new generation axion telescope (IAXO)., Published by Verlag Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg

The CAST (CERN Axion Solar Telescope) experiment is searching for solar axions by their conversion into photons inside the magnet pipe of an LHC dipole. The analysis of the data recorded during the first phase of the experiment with vacuum in the magnet pipes has resulted in the most restrictive experimental limit on the coupling constant of axions to photons. In the second phase, CAST is operating with a buffer gas inside the magnet pipes in order to extent the sensitivity of the experiment to higher axion masses. We will present the first results on the $^{4}{\rm He}$ data taking as well as the system upgrades that have been operated in the last year in order to adapt the experiment for the $^{3}{\rm He}$ data taking. Expected sensitivities on the coupling constant of axions to photons will be given for the recent $^{3}{\rm He}$ run just started in March 2008., Comment: Proceedings of the ICHEP 2008 conference

The CERN Axion Solar Telescope has finished its search for solar axions with 3He buffer gas, covering the search range 0.64 eV < m_a < 1.17 eV. This closes the gap to the cosmological hot dark matter limit and actually overlaps with it. From the absence of excess X-rays when the magnet was pointing to the Sun we set a typical upper limit on the axion-photon coupling of g_aγ < 3.3×10^(−10) GeV^(−1) at 95% C.L., with the exact value depending on the pressure setting. Future direct solar axion searches will focus on increasing the sensitivity to smaller values of g_aγ, for example by the currently discussed next generation helioscope International AXion Observatory.

The CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) has finished its search for solar axions with 3^He buffer gas, covering the search range 0.64 eV < m_a The CERN Axion Solar Telescope has finished its search for solar axions with He3 buffer gas, covering the search range 0.64 eV≲ma≲1.17

Lakic, B. "IAXO-the Future Axion Helioscope" in Proceedings, 9th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs (AXION-WIMP 2013) / Oberlack, Uwe, Sissol, Pierre (eds.), 2013 ; AXION-WIMP 2013 : 9th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs , 2013-06-23 - 2013-06-28, Mainz 9th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs, AXION-WIMP 2013, Mainz, Germany, 24 Jun 2013 - 28 Jun 2013; Hamburg : Verlag Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, DESY-PROC 115-118 (2013). doi:10.3204/DESY-PROC-2013-04/lakic_biljana_IAXO, International Axion Observatory (IAXO) is a new generation axion helioscope aiming to search for axions and axion-like particles with a sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling that is 1 to 1.5 orders of magnitude beyond the one achieved by currently the most sensitive axion helioscope, CAST. IAXO relies on large improvements in magnetic field volume, X-ray focusing optics and detector backgrounds with respect to CAST. Additional IAXO searches would include electron-coupled axions, relic axions, and other more generic axion-like particles., Published by Verlag Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg

Lakic, B. "Status and Perspectives of the CAST Experiment" in Proceedings, 9th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs (AXION-WIMP 2013) / Oberlack, Uwe, Sissol, Pierre (eds.), 2013 ; AXION-WIMP 2013 : 9th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs , 2013-06-23 - 2013-06-28, Mainz 9th Patras Workshop on Axions, WIMPs and WISPs, AXION-WIMP 2013, Mainz, Germany, 24 Jun 2013 - 28 Jun 2013; Hamburg : Verlag Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, DESY-PROC 119-122 (2013). doi:10.3204/DESY-PROC-2013-04/lakic_biljana_CAST, CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST) is currently the most sensitive axion helioscope designed to search for axions and axion-like particles produced in the Sun. CAST is using a Large Hadron Collider prototype magnet where axions could be converted into X-rays. So far, no evidence of signal has been found and CAST set the best experimental limit on the axion-photon coupling constant over a broad range of axion masses up to ∼ 1 eV., Published by Verlag Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg