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Heat and mass transfer effects in evaporating solution droplets (20–40 μm in diameter) containing dissolved hexahydrated cerium nitrate in a stationary rf Ar–O 2 thermal plasma were investigated using a model. The evaporation occurred under reduced pressure. The impact of different plasma operating parameters on temperature and dissolved solid content profiles was studied: surrounding plasma temperature, initial salt content and droplet size, plasma gas composition, and system pressure. Temperature and composition dependant thermophysical properties were used. The model was solved in a moving frame (ALE method) and considered Stefan flow. The results indicate that a salt supersaturation limit is reached at the droplet surface which leads to salt precipitation and formation of a crust in all cases analyzed. This is favored by higher plasma temperatures, lower pressures, oxygen-rich plasma and higher salt content. Smaller droplets developed a crust faster than larger droplets.

Background: Anxiety is an unpleasant emotion that most intensive care patients experience. This emotion is an important issue in intensive care settings because of its prevalence, adverse effects and severity. Little is known about the factors associated with state and trait anxiety during critical illness.\ud \ud Objectives: To describe the patterns of state anxiety reported by intensive care patients, and identify factors associated with state and trait anxiety. \ud \ud Design: Prospective observational cohort study.\ud \ud Settings: One mixed intensive care unit in Brisbane, Australia.\ud \ud Participants: Adults (n=141, ≥18 years), admitted to the intensive care unitfor ≥24 hours; able to communicate verbally or non-verbally; understand English; and, open their eyes spontaneously or in response to voice.\ud \ud Methods: Outcomes were state anxiety as measured by the Faces Anxiety Scale and trait anxiety as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Pre-intensive care factors tested for possible associations with both state and trait anxiety were: age, gender, marital status, employment status, level of education, smoking status, personality trait of optimism and evidence of mental health care/treatment. Intra-intensive care factors tested were: reason for admission to the intensive care unit, delirium, pain, airway status, hours of mechanical ventilation, severity of illness, days of stay in intensive care, exposure to corticosteroids, opioids, benzodiazepines, anxiolytics, antidepressants, beta-blockers, anesthetic agents and analgesics; length of sedation and analgesia and total doses of sedatives and analgesics. \ud \ud Results: Of 141 participants, 98 (70%) were male with an average age of 54 (Standard Deviation [SD]: ±15) years and stayed in intensive care for about (Interquartile Range [IQR]: 3-7) days. The majority (n=115; 82%) of participants experienced state anxiety at least once during their stay in intensive care, with 57% reporting moderate to severe levels. Moderate levels of anxiety were predominantly reported from days 6 to 12 and then decreased. Trait anxiety in these participants (median 36 IQR: 29-47) was very similar to the Australian population. Factors related to state anxiety in intensive care were pain and trait anxiety. Factors associated with trait anxiety were trait optimism, state anxiety, evidence of mental health care/treatment and age. \ud \ud Conclusion:\ud This study provides a better understanding of contributing factors for anxiety in the critically ill. Trait anxiety and state anxiety were significantly associated with each other, namely, patients who were anxious by nature experienced higher levels of state anxiety, which persisted throughout their stay in the intensive care unit. Recognising the importance of state and trait anxiety assessments using validated tools and determining ways to manage anxiety in the critically ill are critical aspects of the intensive care nurses role.

Objectives: Patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) often experience distressing memories during recovery that have been associated with poor psychological and cognitive outcomes. The aim of this literature review was to synthesise the literature reporting on relationships between elements of ICU treatment and memories after discharge in adult ICU survivors. Review method used: Integrative review methods were used to systematically search, select, extract, appraise and summarise current knowledge from the available research and identify gaps in the literature. Data sources: The following electronic databases were systematically searched: PubMed, Ovid EMBASE, EBSCOhost CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Additional studies were identified through searches of bibliographies. Original quantitative research articles written in English that were published in peer-review journals were included. Review methods: Data extracted from studies included authors, study aims, population, sample size and characteristics, methods, ICU treatments, ICU memory definitions, data collection strategies and findings. Study quality assessment was based on elements of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme using the checklists developed for randomised controlled trials and cohort studies. Results: Fourteen articles containing data from 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The relatively limited evidence about the association between elements of ICU treatment and memories after ICU discharge suggest that deep sedation, corticoids and administration of glucose 50% due to hypoglycaemia contribute to the development of delusional memories and amnesia of ICU stay. Conclusions: The body of literature on the relationship between elements of ICU treatment and memories after ICU discharge is small and at its early stages. Larger studies using rigorous study design are needed in order to evaluate the effects of different elements of ICU treatment on the development of memories of the ICU during recovery.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been isolated from water, soil, air, food, protozoa, plants, animals, and humans. Although most NTM are saprophytes, approximately one-third of NTM have been associated with human diseases. In this study, we did a comparative proteomic analysis among five NTM strains isolated from several sources. There were different numbers of protein spots fromM. gordonae(1,264),M. nonchromogenicumtype I (894),M. nonchromogenicumtype II (935),M. peregrinum(806), andM. scrofulaceum/Mycobacterium mantenii(1,486) strains, respectively. We identified 141 proteins common to all strains and specific proteins to each NTM strain. A total of 23 proteins were selected for its identification. Two of the common proteins identified (short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase SDR and diguanylate cyclase) did not align withM. tuberculosiscomplex protein sequences, which suggest that these proteins are found only in the NTM strains. Some of the proteins identified as common to all strains can be used as markers of NTM exposure and for the development of new diagnostic tools. Additionally, the specific proteins to NTM strains identified may represent potential candidates for the diagnosis of diseases caused by these mycobacteria.

Background Although efforts continue to find new therapies to regenerate infarcted heart tissue, knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved remains poor. Objectives This study sought to identify the origin of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in the infarcted heart to better understand the pathophysiology of ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI). Methods Permanent genetic tracing of epicardium-derived cell (EPDC) and bone marrow–derived blood cell (BMC) lineages was established using Cre/LoxP technology. In vivo gene and protein expression studies, as well as in vitro cell culture assays, were developed to characterize EPDC and BMC interaction and properties. Results EPDCs, which colonize the cardiac interstitium during embryogenesis, massively differentiate into CFs after MI. This response is disease-specific, because angiotensin II–induced pressure overload does not trigger significant EPDC fibroblastic differentiation. The expansion of epicardial-derived CFs follows BMC infiltration into the infarct site; the number of EPDCs equals that of BMCs 1 week post-infarction. BMC-EPDC interaction leads to cell polarization, packing, massive collagen deposition, and scar formation. Moreover, epicardium-derived CFs display stromal properties with respect to BMCs, contributing to the sustained recruitment of circulating cells to the damaged zone and the cardiac persistence of hematopoietic progenitors/stem cells after MI. Conclusions EPDCs, but not BMCs, are the main origin of CFs in the ischemic heart. Adult resident EPDC contribution to the CF compartment is time- and disease-dependent. Our findings are relevant to the understanding of post-MI ventricular remodeling and may contribute to the development of new therapies to treat this disease.

Gliders have become an efficient and reliable oceanographic platform for measuring physical and biogeochemical properties of the seawater, and the global glider fleet is rapidly expanding. In Chile, glider observations have been carried out in very different oceanographic environments, from the mild upwelling region of subtropical northern Chile to the channels of southern Patagonia. Herein, we briefly present observations and results obtained in the oxygen minimum zone off Concepcion (∼36°30′S). Many new features have been observed in this region thanks to the relatively high resolution of the glider measurements. Future plans for the glider program include an oceanic time series off central Chile that will contribute to the regional observing system of the ocean and allow evaluations of low-frequency changes like those associated with El Niño and La Niña events.

The inlets of southern Chile are characterized by a well-defined pycnocline which, acting in concert with the biological characteristics of larvae, is believed to influence planktonic lar- val distribution. Here, we assessed the effects of stratified flow over a sill on the spatial abundance and distribution of epineustonic competent larvae of Concholepas concholepas. We used measure- ments of velocity profiles using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), intensive plankton col- lections combined with simultaneous conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiles, monitoring of the pycnocline depth, and temperature records from moored thermistors. Evidence of Bernoulli aspiration and an intratidal transient front was observed over the sill from CTD data and an echo- sounder trace. ADCP measurements showed intensified recirculation in the residual flow over the sill. This oceanographic feature coincided with high abundances of epineustonic competent larvae of C. concholepas over the sill area. We found evidence indicating that physical mechanisms related to sill processes can influence epineustonic competent larval distribution in a stratified system. We also propose a conceptual model that brings together larval behaviour and stratified flow patterns to explain the rise of epineustonic larvae to the surface and larval aggregation over a sill.

Measurements of velocity and density profiles were used to describe the tidal and mean flow structure across and along a sill in Refugio Channel, a fjord-like inlet in Southern Chile (43.9°S). These are the first oceanographic measurements of any kind effected in Refugio Channel. Current profiles were obtained with a 307.2-kHz acoustic Doppler current profiler during two semidiurnal cycles along a repeated triangular circuit. Two along-channel transects formed the sides of the triangle that crossed the sill and were identified as the western and eastern transects. One cross-channel transect, the base of the triangle, was located on the seaward side of the sill. Density profiles were obtained at the corners of the triangle. The longitudinal mean flow in the western transect showed a two-layer exchange structure over the landward side of the sill. The structure of net seaward flow at the surface and landward flow at depth was disrupted by the sill in such a way that over the seaward side of the sill, only seaward flow was observed throughout the water column. This likely resulted from the blocking of landward net flow by the sill. In the eastern transect, two-layer exchange dominated over most of the transect and was consistent with the observed density profiles. Over the seaward side of the sill, a surface layer, ∼10m deep, flowed landward as a third layer. This feature should have been caused by river input further seaward (to the north) and produced a surface convergence region over the sill. In terms of tidal flows, the greatest tidal current amplitudes were 40cm s−1 over the sill as the flow accelerated through the reduced cross-sectional area of the channel. Near-surface flow convergences were identified over both along-channel transects.

Gene expression over time is, biologically, a continuous process and can thus be represented by a continuous function, i.e. a curve. Individual genes often share similar expression patterns (functional forms). However, the shape of each function, the number of such functions, and the genes that share similar functional forms are typically unknown. Here we introduce an approach that allows direct discovery of related patterns of gene expression and their underlying functions (curves) from data without a priori specification of either cluster number or functional form. Smoothing spline clustering (SSC) models natural properties of gene expression over time, taking into account natural differences in gene expression within a cluster of similarly expressed genes, the effects of experimental measurement error, and missing data. Furthermore, SSC provides a visual summary of each cluster's gene expression function and goodness-of-fit by way of a 'mean curve' construct and its associated confidence bands. We apply this method to gene expression data over the life-cycle of Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans to discover 17 and 16 unique patterns of gene expression in each species, respectively. New and previously described expression patterns in both species are discovered, the majority of which are biologically meaningful and exhibit statistically significant gene function enrichment. Software and source code implementing the algorithm, SSClust, is freely available (http://genemerge.bioteam.net/SSClust.html).

Introducción: Las uniones consanguíneas ocurren en todas las poblaciones, las de primos segundos o con parentesco más cercano son las que se han observado con influencia genética. Entre las posibles consecuencias clínicas, se estima que se incrementa al doble el riesgo de tener descendencia con malformaciones congénitas (MC). Material y métodos: De un registro hospitalario de recién nacidos (RN) con MC, se seleccionó a los que tuvieron antecedente de consanguinidad, y dos grupos controles, uno sano y otro malformado sin antecedentes de consanguinidad, correspondiente a los nacimientos siguientes al malformado consanguíneo del mismo sexo. Se analizaron variables familiares, sociodemográficas y antropométricas, así como la gravedad de las MC entre los dos grupos malformados. Los RN con MC se agruparon en cinco categorías: MC multiples mayores (MC Múlt+), MC múltiples menores (MC Múlt–), MC aisladas mayores (MC Ais+), MC aisladas menores (MC Ais–), y patologías específicas. Adicionalmente, se analizó a la subpoblación indígena maya. Resultados: De 1.117 RN con MC, se encontró antecedente de consanguinidad en 21, y 8 entre los controles sanos, odds ratio 2,4 (1,05-5,95). El grado de parentesco más frecuente fue el de primos segundos, con mayor frecuencia de consanguinidad en el grupo étnico maya. Se encontró mayor número de afectados malformados múltiples entre las uniones consanguíneas, que entre las no consanguíneas. No hubo relación entre la gravedad de las MC y el parentesco. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de consanguinidad de 1,9 y 0,8% encontradas entre RN malformados y controles es similar a la de otras poblaciones latinas. El grupo étnico maya presentó mayor prevalencia, y las MC múltiples mayores fueron más frecuentes entre los malformados consanguineous que entre los no consanguíneos. : Introduction: Consanguineous unions occur in all populations around the world. Couples related as second cousins or closer have been observed with deleterious effect. Among the clinical effects of parental consanguinity, the incidence of offspring with congenital malformations (CM) increases approximately two-fold. Materials and methods: A hospital database of neonates with CM was searched to select neonates with parental consanguinity and two control groups. One control group consisted of healthy neonates and the other control group consisted of neonates with CM but without parental consanguinity. Both control groups consisted of the first neonate of the same sex to be born after a consanguineous neonate with CM. Family, sociodemographic and anthropometric variables, as well as the severity of the malformations, were compared between the two groups with CM. Neonates with CM were grouped into five categories: Major multiple CM, minor multiple CM, isolated major CM, isolated minor CM, and specific diseases. The indigenous Mayan subpopulation was also analyzed. Results: Among 1117 neonates with CM, parental consanguinity was found in 21. Parental consanguinity was also found in 8 neonates in the group of healthy controls (OR 2.4 [1.05-5.95]). The most common form of consanguinity was between second cousins and was more frequent in the Mayan subpopulation. Major multiple CM were more frequent among consanguineous than among nonconsanguineous couples. No association was found between the severity of CM and the degree of relationship. Conclusions: The prevalence of consanguinity found in neonates with CM and healthy controls (1.9 % and 0.8 %) was similar to that found in other Latin populations. A higher prevalence was found in the Mayan population. Mayor multiple CM were more frequent among the neonates of consanguineous than among nonconsanguineous couples.

The particle size distributions (PSDs) of metal oxide powders are often determined by analyzing suspensions of powders using laser diffraction (e.g. Malvern MasterSizer 2000). Particle agglomeration can effectively bias the resulting distribution towards “unrealistic” particle sizes. Solutions to avoid this problem must be found if a particle distribution based on the elemental or primary particle sizes is desired. In this work, the particle size distribution of doped-CeO2 powders was studied. These powders show a crystalline single phase structure of controlled stoichiometry as determined by X-ray diffraction and ICP analysis. The apparent size distribution was found to be a strong function of suspension stability. Dispersant agents (PBTCA and phosphonoacetic acid) and suspension pH affected stability as characterized by zeta potential measurements. Sonication of the suspensions further enhanced particle de-agglomeration. Finally, only the combined effect of a dispersant agent, pH adjustment of the suspension and sonication provided a primary particle size distribution. The results presented in this work can be used in the analysis of similar ceramic powders in which strong particle agglomeration is present.

Doped cerium oxide (CeO2) based electrolytes are attractive alternative materials to replace the existing yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) used as electrolyte for SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells). Cerium oxide electrolytes offer a similar performance to YSZ electrolytes at a lower cell operating temperature (~600--800 °C), therefore reducing thermal stresses and solid state reactions among the cell components.Doped Ce1-xMexO2-x/2(Me = Gd, Sm or Y) fine \hbox{powders} were synthesized from nitrate salts dissolved in water using a radio frequency inductively coupled plasma reactor. It was demonstrated that the relative concentrations of Ce and dopants fed in the solutions were retained in the synthesized powders. The products were all nano-crystalline with the basic crystal structure of CeO2 and the crystal size of the products was essentially independent of the dopant used. The particle size distributions obtained were multimodal and in most cases trimodal. The results obtained differ from a previously reported mechanism of particle synthesis from liquid precursors.

Resumen Objetivo Presentar un programa de atencion farmaceutica a pacientes pediatricos en tratamiento antirretroviral. Metodo Para establecer el procedimiento de actuacion farmaceutica se han revisado los trabajos publicados hasta 2004 sobre atencion farmaceutica a pacientes en tratamiento antiretroviral mediante busqueda en Medline y en la revista Farmacia Hospitalaria. Ademas se han seleccionado las fuentes bibliograficas que deberan utilizarse de manera sistematica para analizar la farmacoterapia de cada paciente. Resultados El procedimiento de actuacion de la atencion farmaceutica se divide en tres fases: recogida de datos, analisis del perfil farmacoterapeutico y resolucion de problemas relacionados con la medicacion detectados, que se desarrollan mediante la realizacion de una entrevista de tipo semiestructurada. Para poder sistematizar la actuacion del farmaceutico se ha elaborado una tabla con informacion de los medicamentos antirretrovirales usados en pediatria, un triptico informativo y una hoja de recogida de datos. Conclusiones El programa reune los objetivos de proceso de atencion farmaceutica definidos en las recomendaciones GESIDASEFH- Plan Nacional del SIDA del ano 2004 y sistematiza las estrategias de intervencion propuestas, intentando que paciente y cuidador reciban la informacion necesaria para la consecucion de un optimo tratamiento, de la forma mas completa posible y ajustada a sus propias caracteristicas.

This research note seeks to provide the most detailed analysis yet of passenger behaviour towards the airport catering industry. With the broadest sample to date among similar studies, namely 37,000 passengers surveyed at 8 different airports with 38 explanatory variables, a large number of conclusions have been drawn. The most important of these is that the factors that most influence a passenger's using a catering establishment during his/her stay at an airport are his/her physiological needs and social reasons. However, contrary to what was anticipated a priori, socioeconomic status only has a moderate influence, while having a wide range and variety of foodstuffs on offer does not result in passengers consuming more. It is also observed that low-cost airline passengers consume less than those of traditional airlines, probably due to the stress related to boarding with these types of airlines.

Hydrographic and underway water velocity profiles were measured at the entrance to Concepcion Bay, an equatorward facing embayment in central Chile, in order to illustrate the wind-induced exchange flow. Observations took place over a 25-h period (5–6 January 2002) during the austral summer, which is characterized by upwelling winds in the region. One portion of the observational transect was directly influenced by the wind and the other was protected from such influence by an island. The portion of the transect influenced by wind showed a surface layer, delimited by a pycnocline, moving downwind owing to the direct action of wind stress. This surface transport should have caused an onshore decrease of surface elevation that would drive upwind flow below the surface layer. The portion of the transect protected by the island was influenced by its wake and perhaps forced by a semidiurnal tide. This study is one of the few observational examples of wind-induced flow that documents the wind-induced exchange pattern under weak internal friction (low Ekman number). This pattern consists of downwind flow in an upper layer delimited by the pycnocline and upwind flow below.

Very little is known about molecular evolution in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Given the potentially important role that introns play in directing transcription and the posttranscriptional control of gene expression, we compare rates of intron/gain loss and intronic substitution in P. falciparum and the rodent malaria P. y. yoelii in both orthologous and duplicate genes. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that intron gain/loss and protein evolution is accelerated in duplicate genes versus orthologous genes in both parasites using the genome sequence of both species. We find that duplicate genes in both P. falciparum and P. y. yoelii exhibit a dramatic acceleration of both intron gain/loss and protein evolution in comparison with orthologs, suggesting increased directional and/or relaxed selection in duplicate genes. Further, we find that rates of intron gain/loss and protein evolution are weakly coupled in orthologs but not paralogs, supporting the hypothesis that selection acts on genes as functionally integrated units after speciation but not necessarily after gene duplication. In contrast, we find that rates of nucleotide substitution do not differ significantly between intronic sites and synonymous sites among duplicate genes, implying that a large fraction of intronic sites in Plasmodium evolve under little or no selective constraint.

Summary Bittersweet nightshade, Solanum dulcamara L. (Solanales: Solanaceae), was sampled at numerous locations in Washington and Idaho. Adults of 8 species of thrips (Thysanoptera) from 3 families were collected, including the worldwide plant pests Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thripidae), which are vectors of the serious plant viruses in the genus Tospovirus. Aeolothrips fasciatus Hinds (Aeolothripidae), a predator of small insects, also was collected.

The availability of a complete genome sequence allows the detailed study of intraspecies variability. Here we use high-density oligonucleotide arrays to discover 11,115 single-feature polymorphisms (SFPs) existing in one or more of 14 different yeast strains. We use these SFPs to define regions of genetic identity between common laboratory strains of yeast. We assess the genome-wide distribution of genetic variation on the basis of this yeast population. We find that genome variability is biased toward the ends of chromosomes and is more likely to be found in genes with roles in fermentation or in transport. This subtelomeric bias may arise through recombination between nonhomologous sequences because full-gene deletions are more common in these regions than in more central regions of the chromosome.

This paper analyses the effects that the largest aviation accident in Spain in the last 25 years affected decisions by potential passengers. There evidence is of a long-lasting “Rainman effect”, with passengers penalising the airline involved with a 20% long-term reduction in traffic. There were also substitution effects towards other means of transport at Madrid-Barajas, where the accident happened, although these were limited in time. There have been no significant effects on other companies or on the total traffic at the aeroplane's destination airport, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), where there are no comparable substitutes for air transport.

It has been hypothesized that evolutionary changes will be more frequent in later ontogeny than early ontogeny because of developmental constraint. To test this hypothesis, a genomewide examination of molecular evolution through ontogeny was carried out using comparative genomic data in Caenorhabditis elegans and Caenorhabditis briggsae. We found that the mean rate of amino acid replacement is not significantly different between genes expressed during and after embryogenesis. However, synonymous substitution rates differed significantly between these two classes. A genomewide survey of correlation between codon bias and expression level found codon bias to be significantly correlated with mRNA expression (r(s) = -0.30 and P < 10(-131)) but does not alone explain differences in dS between classes. Surprisingly, it was found that genes expressed after embryogenesis have a significantly greater number of duplicates in both the C. elegans and C. briggsae genomes (P < 10(-20) and P < 10(-13)) when compared with early-expressed and nonmodulated genes. A similarity in the distribution of duplicates of nonmodulated and early-expressed genes, as well as a disproportionately higher number of early pseudogenes, lend support to the hypothesis that this difference in duplicate number is caused by selection against gene duplicates of early-expressed genes, reflecting developmental constraint. Developmental constraint at the level of gene duplication may have important implications for macroevolutionary change.

Introduction Around 30% of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) fail from vascular, infectious or mechanical complications. Patients with cancer are at highest risk, and this increases morbidity, mortality and costs. Effective PICC dressing and securement may prevent PICC failure; however, no large randomised controlled trial (RCT) has compared alternative approaches. We designed this RCT to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of dressing and securements to prevent PICC failure. Methods and analysis Pragmatic, multicentre, 2×2 factorial, superiority RCT of (1) dressings (chlorhexidine gluconate disc (CHG) vs no disc) and (2) securements (integrated securement dressing (ISD) vs securement device (SED)). A qualitative evaluation using a knowledge translation framework is included. Recruitment of 1240 patients will occur over 3 years with allocation concealment until randomisation by a centralised service. For the dressing hypothesis, we hypothesise CHG discs will reduce catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) compared with no CHG disc. For the securement hypothesis, we hypothesise that ISD will reduce composite PICC failure (infection (CABSI/local infection), occlusion, dislodgement or thrombosis), compared with SED. Secondary outcomes: types of PICC failure; safety; costs; dressing/securement failure; dwell time; microbial colonisation; reversible PICC complications and consumer acceptability. Relative incidence rates of CABSI and PICC failure/100 devices and/1000 PICC days (with 95% CIs) will summarise treatment impact. Kaplan-Meier survival curves (and log rank Mantel-Haenszel test) will compare outcomes over time. Secondary end points will be compared between groups using parametric/non-parametric techniques; p values

The connection between road traffic safety and criminal behavior has recently become a topic of interest in the literature, although little emphasis placed on the relationship with road accidents. Evidence worldwide shows that people who commit other offences characteristic of antisocial attitudes, are more prone to suffer road traffic accidents and infringe traffic laws. Here we examine the records of the 28 current member states of the European Union over the period 1999-2010. Our aim is to test the hypothesis that crime rates (and specifically, motor vehicle-related crimes) may be considered as predictors of fatal road traffic accidents. If they may, this could justify, at least prima facie, the tendency in several countries to consider traffic offences as crimes in their penal codes and to toughen the punishment imposed on those who commit them. We also analyze the effect of the severity of the legal system applied to traffic offences. Our results reveal that road traffic fatality rates are higher in countries whose inhabitants have more aggressive behavior, while the rates are lower in countries with more severe penal systems.

Summary Tuberculosis is a disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTb). In 2011, global mortality due to tuberculosis was 1·4 million individuals. The only available vaccine is the attenuated M. bovis [bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG)] strain, which confers variable protection against pulmonary tuberculosis. Some widely distributed non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), such as M. avium and M. arupense, are also potential pathogens for humans. This work aimed to produce and characterize monoclonal antibodies against the M. bovis BCG Mexico strain of the MTb, M. avium subs. hominissuis and the M. arupense strain from NTM. Hybridomas were produced from splenocytes of BALB/c female mice immunized with radiation-inactivated mycobacteria, and the immunoglobulin (Ig)G2a antibody-producing clones with the highest antigenic recognition were selected. The selected clones, Mbv 2A10 for M. bovis BCG Mexico, Mav 3H1 for M. avium and Mar 2D10 for M. arupense, were used in further studies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immune proteomics analyses characterized the clones as having the highest cross-reactivity with mycobacteria. Using mass spectrometry, a number of proteins recognized by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) clones were identified. These proteins had roles in metabolic processes, hypoxia, cell cycle and dormancy. In addition, a Clustal W and Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) in-silico analysis was performed in protein sequences that result in the conserved regions within probability epitopes that could be recognized for Mbv2A10 and Mav3H1 clones.

The purpose of the study was to describe infrastructures, treatment modalities, and workload in radiation oncology (RO) in Spain, referred particularly to prostate cancer (PC). An epidemiologic, cross-sectional study was performed during 2008-2009. A study-specific questionnaire was sent to the 108 RO-registered departments. One hundred and two departments answered the survey, and six were contacted by telephone. Centers operated 236 treatment units: 23 (9.7 %) cobalt machines, 37 (15.7 %) mono-energetic linear accelerators, and 176 (74.6 %) multi-energy linear accelerators. Sixty-one (56.4 %) and 33 (30.5 %) departments, respectively, reported intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided RT (IGRT) capabilities; three-dimensional-conformal RT was used in 75.8 % of patients. Virtual simulators were present in 95 departments (88.0 %), 35 use conventional simulators. Fifty-one departments (47.2 %) have brachytherapy units, 38 (35.2 %) perform prostatic implants. Departments saw a mean of 24.9 new patients/week; the number of patients treated annually was 102,054, corresponding to 88.4 % of patients with a RT indication. In 56.5 % of the hospitals, multidisciplinary teams were available to treat PC. Results provide an accurate picture of current situation of RO in Spain, showing a trend toward the progressive introduction of new technologies (IMRT, IGRT, brachytherapy).

Over the past decade, evidence of abrupt latitudinal changes in the dynamics, structure and genetic variability of intertidal and subtidal benthic communities along central-northern Chile has been found consistently at 30-32°S. Changes in the advective and thermal environment in nearshore waters have been inferred from ecological patterns, since analyses of in situ physical data have thus far been missing. Here we analyze a unique set of shoreline temperature data, gathered over 4-10 years at 15 sites between 28-35°S, and combine it with satellite-derived winds and sea surface temperatures to investigate the latitudinal transition in nearshore oceanographic conditions suggested by recent ecological studies. Our results show a marked transition in thermal conditions at 30-31°S, superimposed on a broad latitudinal trend, and small-scale structures associated with cape-and-bay topography. The seasonal cycle dominated temperature variability throughout the region, but its relative importance decreased abruptly south of 30-31°S, as variability at synoptic and intra-seasonal scales became more important. The response of shoreline temperatures to meridional wind stress also changed abruptly at the transition, leading to a sharp drop in the occurrence of low-temperature waters at northern sites, and a concurrent decrease in corticated algal biomass. Together, these results suggest a limitation of nitrate availability in nearshore waters north of the transition. The localized alongshore change results from the interaction of latitudinal trends (e.g., wind stress, surface warming, inertial period) with a major headland-bay system (Punta Lengua de Vaca at 30.25°S), which juxtaposes a southern stretch of coast characterized by upwelling with a northern stretch of coast characterized by warm surface waters and stratification. This transition likely generates a number of latitude-dependent controls on ecological processes in the nearshore that can explain species-specific effects, and add strength to the suggestion of an oceanography-driven, major spatial transition in coastal communities at 30-31°S.

The skeletal muscles in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the mdx mouse model lack functional dystrophin and undergo repeated bouts of necrosis, regeneration, and growth. These processes have a high metabolic cost. However, the consequences for whole body energy and protein metabolism, and on the dietary requirements for these macronutrients at different stages of the disease, are not well-understood. This study used juvenile (4- to 5- wk-old) and adult (12- to 14-wk-old) male dystrophic C57BL/10ScSn-mdx/J and age-matched C57BL/10ScSn/J control male mice to measure total and resting energy expenditure, food intake, spontaneous activity, body composition, whole body protein turnover, and muscle protein synthesis rates. In juvenile mdx mice that have extensive muscle damage, energy expenditure, muscle protein synthesis, and whole body protein turnover rates were higher than in age-matched controls. Adaptations in food intake and decreased activity were insufficient to meet the increased energy and protein needs of juvenile mdx mice and resulted in stunted growth. In (non-growing) adult mdx mice with less severe dystropathology, energy expenditure, muscle protein synthesis, and whole body protein turnover rates were also higher than in age-matched controls. Food intake was sufficient to meet their protein and energy needs, but insufficient to result in fat deposition. These data show that dystropathology impacts the protein and energy needs of mdx mice and that tailored dietary interventions are necessary to redress this imbalance. If not met, the resultant imbalance blunts growth, and may limit the benefits of therapies designed to protect and repair dystrophic muscles.

We have determined the effect of delayed addition of G-CSF after chemotherapy on PBPC mobilization in a group of 30 patients with high risk breast cancer (HRBC) undergoing standard chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous SCT. Patients received FAC chemotherapy every 21 days followed by G-CSF at doses of 5 microg/kg/day starting on day +15 (groups 1 and 2) or +8 (group 3) after chemotherapy. PBPC collections were performed daily starting after 4 doses of G-CSF and continued until more than 2.5 x 10(6) CD34+ cells had been collected. In group 1, steady-state BM progenitors were also harvested and used for SCT. Groups 2 and 3 received PBPC only. The median number of collections was three in each group. Significantly more PB CD34+ cells were collected in patients receiving G-CSF starting on day 8 vs day 15 (9.43 x 10(6)/kg and 6.2 x 10(6)/kg, respectively) (P < 0.05). After conditioning chemotherapy all harvested cells including BM and PBPC were reinfused. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment was significantly faster in patients transplanted with day 8 G-CSF-mobilized PBPC (P < 0.05) and was associated with lower transplant related morbidity as reflected by days of fever, antibiotics or hospitalization (P < 0.05). Both schedules of mobilization provided successful long-term engraftment with 1 year post-transplant counts above 80% of pretransplant values. In conclusion, we demonstrate that delayed addition of G-CSF results in successful mobilization and collection of PBPC with significant advantage of day 8 G-CSF vs day 15. PBPC collections can be scheduled on a fixed day instead of being guided by the PB counts which provides a practical advantage. Transplantation of such progenitors results in rapid short-term and long-term trilineage engraftment.

The potential use of faecal n-alkanes for estimation of intake and diet composition over periods of 1–2 days was assessed in two experiments. The aim was to determine the accuracy with which intake and diet composition could be estimated by characterizing faecal excretion of n-alkanes following a discrete dose as opposed to steady state kinetics used in previous work.In the first experiment, 16 sheep were fed mixtures of spinach (rich in C31-alkane) and cabbage (rich in C29-alkane) in known proportions and amounts for two days. Artificial n-alkanes (C28- and C32-alkane) were dosed on four occasions during this time. Total intakes were controlled at 0·2, 0·3, 0·4 or 0·5 kg dry matter (DM) per day and nominal amounts of spinach offered (as a proportion of the total diet) were 0·00, 0·15, 0·30 and 0·45. Each sheep received a unique combination of intake and dietary proportions (four intake rates×four proportions). Sheep were fed fresh grass (timothy, Phleum pratense) before and after feeding spinach and cabbage. Sequential rectal grab samples of faeces were collected at regular intervals and total faecal collections were carried out over 144 h from the start of the spinach/cabbage feeding period to obtain samples for n-alkane analysis. In the second experiment, fresh grass was sprayed with two combinations of artificial n-alkanes (C24- and C32- or C28- and C36-alkane) and fed to 16 sheep over a 24 h period. Each sheep received one of four intake rates (0·8, 1·0, 1·2 or 1·4 kg DM/day) and, within intake rates, each sheep received one of four different proportions of the herbage sprayed with the combinations of n-alkanes (0·2, 0·4, 0·6 or 0·8), in a similar fashion to the first experiment. In order to estimate intake, C26- and C34-alkanes were dosed at the start of the feeding period. Faecal sampling procedures were the same as those in the first experiment.Different parameters of faecal excretion curves of dosed and natural n-alkanes were used to estimate dietary proportions and intake. Parameters tested included area under the excretion curve and curve maximum. Dietary proportions were calculated using an iterative minimization procedure employing faecal and herbage n-alkane concentrations. Intakes were estimated using ratios of dosed:natural faecal n-alkanes.The best estimates of dietary proportions were obtained using faecal concentrations at a single point in time in both experiments (>80% variation explained for regressions of estimated v. actual proportions). Intake estimates required the calculation of the area under the excretion curve to obtain acceptable estimates (70–90% variance explained for regressions of estimated v. actual intakes in Expt 2). The experiments demonstrate that precise estimates of diet composition can be obtained using single faecal samples following consumption of simple herbage mixtures over 24–48 h. Intake may also be estimated using this technique provided that a series of faecal samples are collected over 4–5 days following the period of ingestion.

The preparation of the solid solution Bi4Ti3-XCuXO12 (0.005 < × < 0.25) has been recently reported. In this work we present the results of studies of the thermal properties done by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) from room temperature up to 550° C. There exists a pronounced change in the slope of the DSC curve in the range between 460°C and 500°C, which could be associated to a complex structural rearrangement. From measurements of thermal photoacoustic and thermal relaxation methods the thermal conductivity deduced is of the order of 1.3 W/mK. There is a correlation between copper content and the herein reported properties

Time of permanence is a useful measure of success in last generation antiretroviral (LGA) therapy: raltegravir, darunavir, etravirine and maraviroc. The aim of our study was to analyze the permanence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) containing at least one LGA, and to compare it with other ART used in experienced patients.Observational case-control study. It included adult outpatients whose ART was switched between 01/05/2008 and 01/09/2009. Cases (patients with at least one LGA) were matched (1:1) with pretreated patients who switched to an ART without any LGA (controls). The primary endpoint was the permanence of ART. The follow-up was conducted from the modification of ART to a year after the closure of the inclusion period. Results were adjusted for confounding variables: CD4 and viral load (VL) at baseline, MDR HIV infection and time from the first ART.112 patients were included in each group. The permanence of ART was 16.7 months (cases) vs 16.8 months (controls), although statistically significant differences were not found after adjusting for confounding variables. Toxicity was the main reason of discontinuation (53.3% in cases vs 45.2% in controls, p = 0.70). The mean decrease in the logarithm of the VL was 0.89 in cases and 0.58 in controls (p = 0.223). The increase of CD4/microL was 77 and 73 respectively (p = 0.480).The permanence of ART in patients whose treatment contains a LGA is similar to those without any LGA.Introducción: La permanencia es una medida útil del éxito de los tratamientos antirretrovirales de última generación (AUG): raltegravir, darunavir, etravirina y maraviroc. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue analizar la permanencia de los tratamientos antirretrovirales (TAR) que contenían al menos un AUG, y compararla con otros TAR utilizados en pacientes experimentados. Métodos: Estudio observacional, de casos y controles, de pacientes adultos externos cuyo TAR fue modificado entre 01/05/2008 y 01/09/2009. Los casos (pacientes con al menos un AUG) fueron emparejados (relación 1:1) con pacientes pretratados que cambiaron a un TAR sin AUG (controles). La variable principal fue la permanencia del TAR. El seguimiento se realizó desde la modificación del TAR hasta un año después del cierre del período de inclusión. Los resultados se ajustaron por las variables de confusión: CD4 y carga viral (CV) basales, infección VIH multirresistente y tiempo desde el primer TAR. Resultados: Se incluyeron 112 pacientes en cada grupo. El tiempo de permanencia del TAR fue 16,7 meses (casos) vs 16,8 meses (controles), sin encontrarse diferencias estadísticamente significativas ajustando por las variables de confusión. La toxicidad fue el principal motivo de discontinuación (53,3% en casos vs 45,2% en controles, p = 0,70). La media en la disminución del logaritmo de la CV fue 0,89 en los casos y 0,58 en los controles (p = 0,223). El incremento de CD4/microL fue 77 y 73 respectivamente (p = 0,480). Conclusión: La permanencia del TAR en los pacientes cuyo tratamiento contiene algún AUG es similar a la de los pacientes que no lo contienen.

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (CMPN) characterized by clonal proliferation of the pluripotent hematopoietic germinal cell, fibrosis, and bone marrow angiogenesis, and with extra medullary hematopoiesis. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory and antiangiogenic agent that has shown clinical benefit in MF patients in several phase II clinical trials. In this work, we present the results of the retrospective assessment of a series of 32 patients diagnosed with MF that received treatment with lenalidomide within the Spanish program of hospital compassionate use.Multicenter, retrospective study of a case series of MF patients receiving compassionate treatment with lenalidomide.We gathered information on 32 MF patients that were treated with lenalidomide at 17 Spanish hospitals. The mean age was 68 years (range, 50-83), 72% males. Twenty-six (81%) patients had intermediate-high risk according to Dupriez prognostic score. In 16 patients, the daily dose scheduled was 10 mg/day for 21 days in 28-day cycles; the remaining patients received lower doses or other regimes. In 29 out of 32 patients, response assessment was available. Two patients had complete clinical and hematologic response and 14 had partial response. The most common adverse events observed were neutropenia (56%), thrombocytopenia (50%), and anemia (40%).Continuous treatment with lenalidomide is active in MF patients pretreated heavily. Lenalidomide-induced myelosuppression and other associated toxicities are manageable with dose adjustments.Objetivo: La mielofibrosis (MF) es una neoplasia mieloproliferativa crónica (NMPc) caracterizada por la proliferación clonal de la célula germinal hematopoyética multipotente, fibrosis y angiogénesis de la médula ósea, y con hematopoyesis extramedular. Lenalidomida es un agente inmunomodulador y antiangiogénico, que ha mostrado beneficio clínico en pacientes con MF en diversos ensayos clínicos de fase II. En el presente trabajo presentamos los resultados de la evaluación retrospectiva de una serie de 32 pacientes diagnosticados de MF que recibieron tratamiento con lenalidomida dentro de un programa de uso compasivo en hospitales españoles. Método: Estudio multicéntrico, retrospectivo de una serie de casos de MF en tratamiento compasivo con lenalidomida. Resultados: Se recogió información de 32 pacientes con MF que habían sido tratados con lenalidomida en 17 hospitales españoles. La mediana de edad fue de 68 años (extremos, 50-83), el 72% eran varones. Veintiséis (81%) pacientes presentaban un riesgo intermedio-alto según la puntuación pronóstica de Dupriez. La dosis de lenalidomida programada fue en 16 pacientes de 10 mg/día durante 21 días en ciclos de 28 días; el resto de los pacientes recibió dosis inferiores u otros esquemas. Se dispuso de la evaluación de respuesta en 29 de los 32 pacientes. Dos pacientes presentaron respuesta clínico-hematológica completa y 14 presentaron respuesta parcial. Los acontecimientos adversos más frecuentemente observados fueron neutropenia (56%), trombocitopenia (50%), y anemia (40%). Conclusiones: El tratamiento continuado con lenalidomida es activo en pacientes con MF fuertemente pretratados. La mielosupresión que provoca la lenalidomida y otras toxicidades asociadas son manejables con ajustes de dosis.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of extinction when the reinforcer was present versus absent. These effects were examined with 2 human operant procedures (i.e., a computer program and a mechanical apparatus) with college students as participants. Discriminable properties of the apparatus appeared to influence responding during extinction. In general, responding during extinction was less likely with the mechanical apparatus when the reinforcer was absent and more likely with the computer program.

This study uses data for the EU-27 countries in the period 1999-2009 to estimate determinants of road traffic fatality rates. Controlling for country attributes and road safety policy variables, we examine the influence of variables related with the national health systems; the number of hospital beds per kilometer and the percentage of health expenditures over gross domestic product. We find evidence that the density of hospital beds contributes substantially to the fall in traffic-related fatalities. Furthermore, the quality of general medical facilities and technology associated with increases in health expenditure may be also a relevant factor in reducing road traffic fatalities.

This article seeks to analyse the factors that determine the dynamics of the balance between supply and demand in the Spanish fresh fish market. For this, the time-series of fresh fish landed in the 1973–2009 period is analysed through an estimation of the series of transfer function models. Among other things, the findings in the Spanish case show a complex relationship between the amount of fish landed and price; a clear substitution relationship between fresh fish and aquaculture; a negative impact of labour costs in a manual labour-intensive sector such as fishing, which in developed countries is being affected by an exodus of manpower to other sectors where there is less uncertainty surrounding labour conditions; the impact of Spain being barred from international fishing grounds a result of the delimitation of exclusive economic zones (EEZs); and the dwindling importance of fisheries traffic as a result of the port devolution process begun in Spain in the early 1990s. The non-significance of a priori key factors, such as the price of oil and Spain's entry into the EEC, can be explained by widespread energy subsidies and contradictions in the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy, respectively.

La creatividad es una parte perteneciente a la naturaleza humana, aunque con los años puede no seguir creciendo con el ser humano, debido a que durante muchas décadas no ha sido contemplada como parte indispensable del desarrollo del adolescente. El presente artículo consiste en una revisión teórica partiendo de un recorrido por la historia de la creatividad y una revisión por su conceptualización, con el fin de promover la importancia de la creatividad a través de una serie de actividades y estrategias propuestas para su desarrollo., Proyecto de Innovación Docente, ReiDoCrea. Departamento de Psicología Social. Universidad de Granada.

We present the first description of a nest of the Ocellated Antbird (Phaenostictus mcleannani), an understory species that ranges from southeastern Honduras to northwestern Ecuador. The open-cup nest was found in June 2002, in the Republic of Panama, and was located on the leaf litter between the buttresses of a Virola surinamensis tree. The nest contained two ovoid, whitish eggs with reddish-brown speckles and longitudinal streaks.

Introduction In Spain there are 14 public holidays (PH) per year in which radiotherapy treatments are not administered. This reason causes 45% of the unscheduled stops registered in our department and a loss in local control probability (LCP) of the disease, or the increase of likelihood of biochemical failure (BF) in cases of prostate tumors. Purpose Our department has an interruptions management program since 2011. This work shows the benefit that it would have been obtained on 2292 radiotherapy treatments (1 March 2011 to 15 August 2015) if treatments had not stopped on PH. Materials and methods To study the impact of PH working, the disappearance of these interruptions in each patient will be simulated. This will cause overall treatment time (OTT) to decrease. This decrease in OTT will result in an improvement of the LCP, or a decrease in BF. This absolute improvement, named Btreat, is calculated from the published data of the influence of OTT in final outcomes of radiotherapy combined with the OTT data obtained in our patient sample. Results The mean value of Btreat are: 1.7%, 1.5%, 0.5%, 0.7% and 1.1% for head and neck, lung, cervix, breast and prostate cancer respectively. In addition 13.3%, 11.1%, 0.0%, 7.9% and 9.4% of these treatments had a Btreat > 4% due to PH working. Conclusion The effects of PH working improve the outcome of fractionated radiotherapy in certain pathologies, specially HN, lung and prostate cancer, with a relatively low cost and could be implemented in any radiotherapy service.

Transmission-blocking (TB) vaccines are considered an important tool for malaria control and elimination. Among all the antigens characterized as TB vaccines against Plasmodium vivax, the ookinete surface proteins Pvs28 and Pvs25 are leading candidates. These proteins likely originated by a gene duplication event that took place before the radiation of the known Plasmodium species to primates. We report an evolutionary genetic analysis of a worldwide sample of pvs28 and pvs25 alleles. Our results show that both genes display low levels of genetic polymorphism when compared to the merozoite surface antigens AMA-1 and MSP-1; however, both ookinete antigens can be as polymorphic as other merozoite antigens such as MSP-8 and MSP-10. We found that parasite populations in Asia and the Americas are geographically differentiated with comparable levels of genetic diversity and specific amino acid replacements found only in the Americas. Furthermore, the observed variation was mainly accumulated in the EGF2- and EGF3-like domains for P. vivax in both proteins. This pattern was shared by other closely related non-human primate parasites such as Plasmodium cynomolgi, suggesting that it could be functionally important. In addition, examination with a suite of evolutionary genetic analyses indicated that the observed patterns are consistent with positive natural selection acting on Pvs28 and Pvs25 polymorphisms. The geographic pattern of genetic differentiation and the evidence for positive selection strongly suggest that the functional consequences of the observed polymorphism should be evaluated during development of TBVs that include Pvs25 and Pvs28., Author Summary Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent human malarial parasite outside Africa. The fact that patients can relapse due to the parasite dormant liver stages, among other biologic and epidemiologic characteristics of vivax malaria, facilitates the persistence of the disease in many endemic areas. These challenges have fueled the search for new control tools, including transmission blocking (TB) vaccines targeting the parasite sexual stages. Here we study the genetic diversity of two major TB vaccine antigens, Pvs25 and Pvs28. We show that these genes are relatively conserved worldwide but still harbor diversity that is not evenly distributed across the genes. These patterns are shared by the same proteins in closely related parasite species suggesting their functional importance. We also identify strong geographic differentiation between the circulating variants found in Asia and the Americas. Finally, evolutionary genetic analyses indicate that the observed variation in both genes could be maintained by natural selection. Thus, these polymorphisms may confer an adaptive advantage to the parasite. These results indicate that the genetic variation found in these genes and their geographic distribution should be considered by vaccine developers.

patient deterioration and CRRT issues. Two sub-themes emerged: recognising and responding to critically ill AKI patient conditions andCRRTproblems. ICUnurses’ performancevariedbetweenworking rapidly, slowly and incompetently to identify and act on CRRT problems. Conclusion: A high level of professional competence is crucial for ICU nurses to manage the complexity of critically ill AKI patients and CRRT technology. This study suggests that there is a need for ongoing education, competency development and training evaluations with CRRT technology and the deteriorating AKI patient.

Background Survivors of intensive care units (ICUs) commonly present with symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during recovery. A number of factors have been identified as predictors of these adverse emotional outcomes, but the role of state anxiety during critical illness in the development of these emotional problems remains unknown. Purpose The Intensive Care Anxiety and Emotional Recovery (ICARe) study protocol proposes the development of a statistical model to determine the relationship between state anxiety during ICU stay and symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD at three occasions; after ICU discharge but prior to hospital discharge and at the third and sixth months post ICU discharge. Methods Prospective study including adult patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary metropolitan Australian hospital for ≥24 h who are able to: (1) communicate verbally or nonverbally; (2) understand English and (3) open their eyes spontaneously or in response to voice to respond to the Faces Anxiety Scale (state anxiety assessment). One hundred and seventy patients will be assessed for their levels of state anxiety during their ICU stay to achieve a sample size of about 104 patients six months after discharge. The outcomes of the ICARe study will include symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD assessed by standardised questionnaires widely used in intensive care research. Demographic, clinical, and social support information will also be collected. Results The projected sample size will provide sufficient power to evaluate the association between state anxiety and adverse emotional outcomes, as well as a variety of variables that will be entered into a multivariate regression analysis. Conclusion This study will provide new evidence to improve care during critical illness and reduce adverse outcomes during recovery with the potential to decrease unnecessary suffering, promote comfort and improve long-term recovery.

Cardiovascular disease is currently the predominant cause of mortality worldwide and its incidence is expected to increase significantly during the next decades owing to the unhealthy effects of modern lifestyle habits (e.g., obesity and lack of physical exercise). Cardiovascular death is frequently associated with acute myocardial infarction or stroke, which are generally the ultimate consequence of an underlying atherosclerotic process. Small and big animal models are valuable tools to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerotic plaque formation and progression, as well as the occurrence of associated ischemic events. Moreover, animal models of atherosclerosis are pivotal for testing mechanistic hypothesis and for translational research, including the assessment of dietary and/or pharmacological interventions and the development of imaging technologies and interventional devices. In this chapter, we will describe the most widely used animal models that have permitted major advances in atherosclerosis research and significant improvements in the treatment and diagnosis of atherosclerotic disease.