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This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of the diversity of international research on the multiple ways in which Indigenous and Traditional peoples (ITP) are engaged in occupying and governing forest landscapes, consistent with their rights, values, knowledge and customs. This Introduction begins by reviewing our evolving understanding of two key questions: what rights are held by ITP; and how "Indigenous" and "Traditional" are actually defined. Papers in this Special Issue examine different concepts in more than a dozen countries on five continents and, while each study and each people is distinct, we identify several common themes. Firstly, traditional knowledge, values, and practices are central to the relationship between ITP and forest landscapes and underlie the effectiveness of other interventions. Secondly, early efforts to use forests to promote economic development have given way to a deeper understanding of the ways in which diverse products, services, and cultural values of forest landscapes support livelihoods for both ITP and other populations. Thirdly, governance is a common theme in this Special Issue, especially in terms of relations between ITP and the State and in the effectiveness of policies and programs. A fourth theme is that of understanding how the knowledge, practices and values of individuals and groups can help predict perceptions of forests and preferences for management. Finally, this Special Issue showcases a wide variety of methodological approaches, both qualitative and quantitative, helping researchers recognize the advantages and limits of each. Taken together, the papers in this Special Issue illustrate multiple characteristics of relationships between ITP and forest landscapes, and their aspirations to maintain their culture, their knowledge, their rights, and their livelihoods. more...

Synthesis of permanent magnet powders through mechanically and thermally activated reduction of metal oxides with calcium, which allows for the production of fine single crystal particles, may contribute to the ongoing search for alternatives to the Nd-Fe-B magnets. The reviewed efforts demonstrate the possibilities to prepare (1) high-coercivity SmCo5 nanoparticles for anisotropic exchange-coupled nanocomposites, (2) YCo5/LaCo5 powders with the magnetic properties superior to those obtained through other manufacturing methods and (3) submicron Mn-Bi powders with large concentration of the MnBi phase. Also discussed are less successful attempts to prepare Mn-Al, Zr-Co and Hf-Co hard magnetic alloys in which the principal phases are known or likely to be metastable. more...

The rehabilitation of severely mentally-ill patients and their return to the community are related to historical progress. Their potential of achieving these goals is higher or lower depending on the presence of more or less stigma attached to their condition. Watts and Bennett have divided psychiatric rehabilitation into three phases: Phase 1: Very little was done because there was not much to be done. Patients were rejected and received mistreatment. Phase 2: Their vulnerability was admitted and protection was given to the disabled; services were provided by charity and voluntary religious institutions; there was no clear distinction between illness and poverty. Phase 3: Modern psychiatric rehabilitation began after the two World Wars in the 20th century, with attempts to modify and to oppose disability with the development of other skills. Psychiatric rehabilitation programs help these patients to resume life in the community and prevent their social isolation. By ensuring continuity of their treatment, rehabilitation programs reduce relapses and hospitalizations, thereby contributing to preserve family life and social inclusion. This reduces treatment costs to both families and communities, while promoting patients' reinsertion and recovery in the community according to their individual needs. more...

We have demonstrated accelerated degradation studies of organic photovoltaic materials using concentrated sunlight, where the atmosphere, temperature and illumination intensity were independently controlled. Testing various schemes for controlling the sample temperature under concentrated sunlight showed that heating of P3HT:PCBM was caused by photons at the absorbed wavelength range and dissipation of excess photon energy, and not necessarily by IR photon absorption. Sunlight chopping was found to be an effective method for independent temperature control under illumination by concentrated sunlight. The first accelerated degradation tests using sunlight concentration applied to P3HT:PCBM blends were reported. P3HT:PCBM blends exposed to concentrated sunlight in the presence of traces of oxygen/ humidity showed degradation induced by photo-oxidation of the P3HT backbone within the P3HT:PCBM blend, which is significantly thermally accelerated, in agreement with previous observations. However, this could be demonstrated in a time scale of minutes and hours, that is, significantly accelerated. Exposure of well encapsulated P3HT:PCBM films to concentrated sunlight demonstrated stability up to 3,600 sun⁎hours, corresponding to about 1.6 years of operating time. This result was obtained at 300 suns exposure after merely 12 h, demonstrating the advantage of using concentrated sunlight for accelerated stability tests. These tests can therefore combine extremely high acceleration factors with profound understanding of the effect of various, independently controlled factors on the degradation mechanisms. more...

The Tm2Fe19-xMnx (x = 0 - 1.5) and Tm2Fe16, Tm2Fe17, Tm2Fe18, Tm2Fe19 intermetallic compounds were synthesized and their magnetic and structural properties were studied. Magnetic measurements, X-ray and neutron diffraction investigations were used. The compounds crystallize in a disordered variant of the hexagonal Th2Ni17-type structure. The lattice parameters a, c increases in the Tm2Fe19-xMnx system, whereas c decreases and a increases in the Tm2Fe19 - Tm2Fe16 system as Fe content decreases. The temperatures of ferromagnetic ordering and spin-reorientation increase as Fe content decreases in these systems. Apparently, the decrease of occupation of defected dumbbell Fe (4e) site causes these regularities. more...

In this work we report fabrication and microstructural characterization of single crystalline Sm2Co17 nanoparticles with an average size of 103.7 nm. These particles are fabricated using mechanochemical method and can be used for fabrication of high performance permanent magnets due to their high coercivity (20 kOe). Microstructure analysis reveals the inhomogeneity and defects in the nanoparticles. The origin of these defects was analyzed and discussed by systematic microstructural investigation of the as-milled, annealed, and washed samples. On the basis of these results, by further optimizing the processing parameters, properties of the nanoparticles can be improved. more...

Many children are now able to survive into adulthood with conditions that only a few years ago were early death sentences. Nurses are now seeing these children grow into productive adults. This chapter looks at how pediatric nurses can help these children and their families’ transition to adult care models smoothly. And interestingly, there are examples of how health care providers see handing patients off to the next care provider. Several national experts have written this chapter that looks at current models of care and gives an overview of the current recommendation for this population. more...

The Pr–Co–In phase equilibria related to the indium-added PrCo 5 permanent magnets have been systematically studied. The 800 °C isotherm and the PrCo 5 –PrCo 2 In polythermal section reveal several compounds never reported for this system. One of them, the orthorhombic Pr 3 Co 9 In 2 , forms peritectically at 957 °C and it is believed to be responsible for the increased coercivity of Pr–Co–In sintered magnets subjected to a post-sintering annealing. The Pr 3 Co 9 In 2 compound forms a two-phase equilibrium with PrCo 5 ; it is paramagnetic at room temperature and exhibits an antiferromagnetic ordering at 198 K. Also observed were the hexagonal PrIn 2 compound possibly stabilized by a small amount of cobalt and an unidentified ternary phase with the approximate composition Pr 45 Co 15 In 40 . The work provides recommendations for the development and improvement of PrCo 5 permanent magnets via indium additions. more...

A commentary about the activities of the ECNP, whose congresses have become a new destination for many professionals interested in clinic and high level research in psychiatry and brain is made. The author presents the goals of the ECNP, the meeting activities in general, and, in particular, the press conferences that took place during the congresses. The 26th Congress (Barcelona, Spain, October, 2013) and the 27th Congress (Berlin, Germany, October, 2014) are reviewed. The high scientific level of both congresses is highlighted. more...

Antecedentes El NT-proBNP se asocia con disfunción ventricular y mala evolución en síndromes coronarios agudos sin elevación del ST (SCA-SEST). La evidencia sobre su valor pronóstico en pacientes con SCA-SEST y función sistólica conservada es escasa. Objetivos Explorar el valor pronóstico del NT-proBNP en pacientes con SCA-SEST sin disfunción ventricular. Material y métodos De una cohorte de pacientes con SCA-SEST sometidos a angiografía se seleccionaron 393 con fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo =?40%. Laboratorios centrales independientes analizaron las angiografías y las determinaciones de NT-proBNP, troponina T, mioglobina y proteína C reactiva. Se empleó un punto de corte de NT-proBNP de 586 pg/ml El punto final primario fue la incidencia de muerte o infarto a los 180 días. Resultados Ochenta y tres pacientes (21%) tuvieron NT-proBNP =?586 pg/ml y 310 (79%) niveles < 586 pg/ml. Los pacientes con NT-proBNP elevado eran más añosos, con mayor frecuencia de sexo femenino; tuvieron una proporción mayor de marcadores séricos elevados y una proporción mayor de enfermedad coronaria extensa y de lesiones coronarias complejas. Estos pacientes, comparados con aquellos con NT-proBNP < 586 pg/ml, tuvieron una incidencia mayor de muerte (9,6% versus 2,3%; p = 0,002), infarto (9,6% versus 3,2%; p = 0,01) y muerte o infarto (16,9% versus 5,5%; p = 0,001) a los 180 días. Ajustando por variables clínicas, electrocardiográficas y angiográficas, el NT-proBNP resultó ser un predictor independiente del punto final combinado de muerte o infarto a los 6 meses y de muerte por cualquier causa. Conclusiones El NT-proBNP es un predictor independiente de muerte e infarto y de muerte global a los 6 meses en pacientes con SCA-SEST sin disfunción ventricular. more...

Background There is no literature evaluating the effect of exercise on patients with aortic stenosis, in which patients with and without coronary artery disease were assessed separately. Objective To assess the effects of isometric exercise on the diastolic function in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Methods 18 patients with AS, and 5 control patients were studied (group 1, G1). Patients with AS were divided in: group 2 (G2, n =10), without coronary lesion, and group 3 (G3, n =8), with coronary lesion. All patients underwent cardiac catheterization and performed isometric exercise until heart rate increased 32±9%. Left ventricular systolic pressure and end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), t 1/2 (relaxation index), and the +d P /d t max were all measured. Results The +d P /d t max increased in G1, G2, and G3 during exercise returning to their basal values once exercise had concluded. While exercising, the LVEDP increased in G1, G2 and G3, returning to its original baseline value only in G1 and G2. The t 1/2 increased, while exercising, in G2 and G3, and continued to be elevated after the exercise in both groups although it was only statistically significant in G3. The control group did not show significant changes. Conclusions Isometric exercise decreases relaxation rate and increases LVEDP in patients with AS. After exercise, relaxation and LVEDP remained altered only in the patients with coronary lesion. The alteration in lusitropism and increased LVEDP after exercising suggest the presence of stunned myocardium. more...

BACKGROUND Inflammatory markers have been associated with adverse clinical outcome in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In addition, angiographic plaque morphology and extension of coronary artery disease has been related to worse prognosis in this group of patients. The aim of the present study was to determine if the clinical prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, can by associated with the angiographic findings in patients with non-ST elevation ACS. METHODS This prospective multicenter cohort study included 1253 patients with non-ST elevation ACS. CRP, which was considered positive (+) if >/=3 mg/l, was measured at a median of 9 h from symptoms onset and were kept blinded until the end of the study. Coronary angiography was performed in 633 patients (50%). The presence of complex coronary lesions (CCLs) was defined as the presence of any of the following: thrombus (+), Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow more...

Bulk magnetic hardening of cast Y2Co17-based alloys was systematically studied for different compositions and heat treatments. Additions of Cu and Zr, Hf, or Ti to the Y–Co were found to be essential for developing coercivity. The performance of Y–Co–Cu–Zr magnets can be significantly improved by partial Pr and Fe substitutions for Y and Co, respectively. Anisotropic (Y0.8Pr0.2)11.5Zr2.75Co56.75Fe14Cu15 powders with intrinsic coercivity of 7.8 kOe and energy product of 14.4 MG Oe were obtained after annealing at 900 °C for 15 min and cooling to 200 °C at the rate of 4 °C/min. We also explored the effects of some other rare earths (La, Nd, Gd) and transition metals (Mn, Ni) on the magnetic properties of the Y–Co–Cu–Zr magnets. The phases present and the microstructure were analyzed with x-ray diffraction, thermomagnetic analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The cellular/lamellar microstructure of the bulk-hardened alloys is similar to that of Sm–Co–Cu–Zr magnets. Among the most noticeable distinc... more...

We reconsider the spectrum of the Luttinger liquid (LL) usually understood in terms of phonons (density fluctuations), and within the context of bosonization we give an alternative representation in terms of fractional states. This allows to make contact with Bethe Ansatz which predicts similar fractional states. As an example we study the spinon operator in the absence of spin rotational invariance and derive it from first principles: we find that it is not a semion in general; a trial Jastrow wavefunction is also given for that spinon state. Our construction of the new spectroscopy based on fractional states leads to several new physical insights: in the low-energy limit, we find that the $S_{z}=0$ continuum of gapless spin chains is due to pairs of fractional quasiparticle-quasihole states which are the 1D counterpart of the Laughlin FQHE quasiparticles. The holon operator for the Luttinger liquid with spin is also derived. In the presence of a magnetic field, spin-charge separation is not realized any longer in a LL: the holon and the spinon are then replaced by new fractional states which we are able to describe., Revised version to appear in Physical Review B. 27 pages, 5 figures. Expands cond-mat/9905020 (Eur.Phys.Journ.B 9, 573 (1999)) more...

Standard bosonization techniques lead to phonon-like excitations in a Luttinger liquid (LL), reflecting the absence of Landau quasiparticles in these systems. Yet in addition to the above excitations some LL are known to possess solitonic states carrying fractional quantum numbers (e.g. the spin 1/2 Heisenberg chain). We have reconsidered the zero modes in the low-energy spectrum of the gaussian boson LL hamiltonian both for fermionic and bosonic LL: in the spinless case we find that two elementary excitations carrying fractional quantum numbers allow to generate all the charge and current excited states of the LL. We explicitly compute the wavefunctions of these two objects and show that one of them can be identified with the 1D version of the Laughlin quasiparticle introduced in the context of the Fractional Quantum Hall effect. For bosons, the other quasiparticle corresponds to a spinon excitation. The eigenfunctions of Wen's chiral LL hamiltonian are also derived: they are quite simply the one dimensional restrictions of the 2D bulk Laughlin wavefunctions. more...

The row model for frustrated XY spins on a triangular lattice in 2D is used to study incommensurate{IC}) spiral and commensurate{C} antiferromagnetic (AF) phases, in the regime where a C-IC transition occurs. Using fluctuating boundary conditions and specific histogram techniques, a detailed Monte Carlo (MC) study reveals more structure in the phase diagram than found in previous MC simulations of the full parameter space. On the (C) side, equilibrium configurations consist of alternating stripes of spiral phases of opposite chirality separated by walls of the (C) phase. For this same parameter regime, thermodynamic quantities are computed analytically using the NSCHA, a generalization of the self consistent harmonic approximation appropriate for chiral systems. On the commensurate side of the (C)-(IC) boundary, NSCHA predicts an instability of the (C) phase. This suggests that the state is spatially inhomogeneous, consistent with the present MC result: it resembles the smectic-A phase of liquid crystals, and its existence implies that the Lifshitz point is at ${T=0}$ for modulated XY spins in 2D. The connection between frustrated XY systems and the vortex state of strong type II superconductors suggests that the smectic phase may correspond to a vortex liquid phase of superconducting layers., Comment: Single Postscript file containing 24 pages of text and 8 figures. To appear in May 1 issue of Phys. Rev. B, Vol. 57 more...

We present c-axis resistivity measurements performed on the organic conductors and under pressure. The aim is to probe the density of states of quasi-one dimensional compounds the high temperature properties of which are those of a Luttinger liquid. It is found that the 1-D Luttinger description breaks down below a specific pressure-dependent temperature, giving rise to a transient regime. The Fermi liquid behaviour is however restored at low temperature i.e. around 10 K, as evidenced by NMR measurements. Accordingly, two different energy scales 100 K and 10 K are required to get a fair understanding of all observed physical phenomena. Our interpretation supports the picture of a power law exponent for the correlation functions of the order of 0.25–0.30. more...

We study the thermal fluctuations of anisotropic order parameters (OP) in layered superconductors. In particular, for copper oxides and a d-wave OP, we present some experimental consequences of fluctuations in the direction normal to the layers. It is shown that the c-axis penetration depth $\lambda_c$ can have a "disorder-like" quadratic temperature dependence at low temperature. The fluctuations are analyzed in the framework of a Lawrence-Doniach model with an isotropic Fermi surface. Anisotropies pin the orientation of the OP to the crystallographic axes of the lattice. Then we study an extended t-J model that fits Fermi suface data of bilayers $YBCO$ and $BSCCO$. This leads to a d-wave OP with two possible orientations and, including the thermal fluctuations, yields the announced temperature dependence of $\lambda_c$. Furthermore a reservoir layer is introduced. It implies a finite density of states at the Fermi energy which is successfully compared to conductance and specific heat measurements., Comment: 21 pages, Latex, 3 uuencoded figures more...

The etiology of Kawasaki disease remains unknown despite extensive studies. Some researchers suggest that it is caused by an infectious agent. This is a case report where a patient with incomplete Kawasaki disease was found to have evidence compatible with acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. This is one of the several case reports linking Mycoplasma pneumoniae to Kawasaki disease as a possible trigger. This is perhaps due to a superantigen or is mediated by some other mechanism. Accurate and timely testing for Mycoplasma infections is difficult and has its limitations. Despite this, Mycoplasma pneumoniae should be considered in the differential and workup for Kawasaki disease. more...

Various authors have measured deviations from the linear-in-T resistivity of superconducting cuprates in the vicinity of the superconducting transition temperature. These deviations have been succesfully analysed in terms of Aslamasov-Larkin paraconductive contributions to conductivity. We show that such an excess conductivity, resulting from Gaussian fluctuations, is compatible with the slave-boson gauge field approach to strong electronic correlations. more...

The fully frustrated triangular lattice of XY spins has nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions and a locally ordered state with three spins per unit cell, at 120\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to one another. Using mean-field theory and a fluctuation analysis, we have studied three generalizations, as a function of a parameter \ensuremath{\eta}, each of which reduces to the original model for \ensuremath{\eta}=1. The investigation arose from an attempt to obtain, for the fully frustrated triangular lattice of XY spins, the same type of generalization that was obtained by Berge et al. for Villain's ``odd'' model of fully frustrated XY spins on the square lattice. The three generalizations are: the ``row'' model, which has a preferred direction and one spin per unit cell in its Hamiltonian; the ``centered honeycomb'' model, which has three spins per unit cell in its Hamiltonian; and the ``staggered row'' model, which has three spins per unit cell and a preferred direction in its Hamiltonian. The ``staggered row'' model is the most complex of the three, with aspects of each of the other models and an (\ensuremath{\eta},T) phase diagram possessing five ordered phases and two tetracritical points. Its spiral (with three spins per unit cell) SP3 and its antiferromagnetic (with six spins per unit cell) AF6 phases are much like the spiral SP and antiferromagnetic AF phases of the row model; its ferrimagnetic (FI) and AF3 phases have the same symmetry as the corresponding phases of the ``centered honeycomb'' model, and its noncollinear NC6 phase is related to the NC3 phase of the ``centered honeycomb'' model.Comparison between the models enables us to distinguish those properties that are due to three spins per unit cell from those due to the preferred direction. From the phase diagrams, we conclude that the ``centered honeycomb'' lattice is the sought-after generalization. An analysis of the various transitions in all three models is made, to identify Ising-like and XY-like transitions. For the ``staggered row'' model, a fluctuation analysis that includes phase fluctuations but not amplitude fluctuations is also performed, yielding insight into the nature of the ordered phases, and the significance of the two tetracritical points. Our analysis of the phase diagram for the ``centered honeycomb'' model suggests that ${\mathrm{RbFeBr}}_{3}$ may, at low enough temperatures, undergo a phase transition from a collinear to a canted state. more...

The “anomalous” nonmonotonic temperature dependence of coercivity, reported in Sm–Zr–Co–Cu magnets, has also been observed in bulk-hardened Y–Zr–Co–Fe–Cu alloys with a similar microstructure. The phenomenon appears to be universal for all R–Co magnets (R=rare earth) having a microstructure consisting of R2Co17 cells surrounded by the RCo5 phase. The effect of R and Cu on the temperature dependence of coercivity cannot be simply explained by traditional domain-wall pinning model based on the difference in a domain wall energy. Possibility that the coercivity is controlled by nucleation of reversed domains in magnetically isolated R2Co17 cells is discussed. more...

The Pr–Co–In phase equilibria related to the indium-added PrCo 5 permanent magnets have been systematically studied. The 800 °C isotherm and the PrCo 5 –PrCo 2 In polythermal section reveal several compounds never reported for this system. One of them, the orthorhombic Pr 3 Co 9 In 2 , forms peritectically at 957 °C and it is believed to be responsible for the increased coercivity of Pr–Co–In sintered magnets subjected to a post-sintering annealing. The Pr 3 Co 9 In 2 compound forms a two-phase equilibrium with PrCo 5 ; it is paramagnetic at room temperature and exhibits an antiferromagnetic ordering at 198 K. Also observed were the hexagonal PrIn 2 compound possibly stabilized by a small amount of cobalt and an unidentified ternary phase with the approximate composition Pr 45 Co 15 In 40 . The work provides recommendations for the development and improvement of PrCo 5 permanent magnets via indium additions. more...

We report on a study of magnetotransport in LaAlO3 /SrTiO3 interfaces characterized by mobilities of the order of several thousands cm2/V s. We observe Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations whose period depends only on the perpendicular component of the magnetic field. This observation directly indicates the formation of a two-dimensional electron gas originating from quantum confinement at the interface. From the temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude we extract an effective carrier mass m* ≃ 1.45 m(e). An electric field applied in the back-gate geometry increases the mobility, the carrier density, and the oscillation frequency. more...

It is not possible to work on alternatives to chronic institutionalization without taking into account a reform of the mental health care system. A great deal of experience has been accumulated and a lot of unsolved problems have arisen since the beginning of the deinstitutionalization in USA and Europe in the 60s. The aim was the closing of psychiatric hospitals, and so the accent was put on the physical place of treatment instead on the quality of the treatment or on the actual needs of the people involved. A review of the experiences is made and some clues are given to avoid the major problems and errors that have presented. Political decisions, experienced professionals, a stable and sufficient budget, modification of some laws, the creation of community institutions that fulfill the patient's needs before moving them, postgraduate training in rehabilitation, flexibility and creativity with empirical and scientific grounds are needed for a successful reform of the mental health care system. more...

A methodology for working with children and adolescents with disruptive behavior is presented. This program has been in use since 1998 in a boarding home for boys in Buenos Aires. A common issue in this sample is the presence of non-functional families with high levels of violence between their members. more...

INTRODUÇÃO: A valvuloplastia aórtica por balão voltou a ganhar interesse desde o início da era da substituição percutânea da valva aórtica, por ser um procedimento que pode ser repetido como ponte e também por ser boa estratégia para a seleção de pacientes para o novo procedimento. MÉTODO: De janeiro de 2001 a janeiro de 2009, 174 pacientes consecutivos com estenose aórtica sintomática grave e alto risco cirúrgico calculado pelo EuroSCORE/ STS foram submetidos a valvuloplastia aórtica por balão na França e na Argentina, utilizando-se a mesma técnica. Desse total, 21 (12,1%) precisaram repetir a valvuloplastia aórtica por balão em decorrência de reestenose e os resultados foram comparados aos dos 153 pacientes que realizaram somente o primeiro procedimento. A técnica mais utilizada foi o acesso retrógrado com abordagem femoral utilizando introdutores de 10 F, 12 F ou 14 F, com tamanhos de balão variando de 20 mm a 23 mm. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 80,4 ± 9,7 anos e o EuroSCORE foi de 21 ± 2%. Abordagem femoral retrógrada foi utilizada em 95% dos casos. Os resultados do procedimento primário foram os seguintes: a área valvar aórtica aumentou de 0,9 ± 19 cm² para 1,02 ± 0,20 cm² e o gradiente médio caiu de 50 ± 21 mmHg para 22 ± 11 mmHg. Os resultados foram semelhantes após a repetição da valvuloplastia aórtica por balão em termos da área valvar aórtica, com melhora de 0,60 ± 0,1 cm² para 1,01 ± 0,25 cm² em um período de 13 ± 9 meses entre os dois procedimentos. As taxas de complicações hospitalares foram: morte, 3,3% vs. 9,5% (P = 0,20); acidente vascular cerebral embólico, 1,3% vs. 0 (P = 0,20); regurgitação aórtica maciça, 3,3% vs. 9,5% (P = 0,20); ruptura do balão, 1,3% vs. 0 (P = 0,20); tamponamento pericárdico, 0 vs. 5% (P = 0,12); e complicações vasculares, 3,9% vs. 9,5% (P = 0,25). No total, 48 pacientes (27,5%) foram selecionados como bons candidatos para substituição percutânea da valva aórtica durante o período de acompanhamento nos dois países, dos quais 36 realizaram o procedimento na França e 4, na Argentina. CONCLUSÕES: A repetição da valvuloplastia aórtica por balão é uma estratégia útil em pacientes idosos nãocirúrgicos com estenose aórtica sintomática grave para aliviar os sintomas após reestenose e como ponte para a substituição percutânea da valva aórtica. Essa técnica pode ser repetida com baixa taxa de complicações. BACKGROUND: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) has regained interest since the onset of percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR) as it can be repeated as a bridge to transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and is also a good strategy for patient selection. METHOD: From January 2001 to January 2009, 174 consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) and high surgical risk calculated by EuroSCORE/STS underwent BAV in France and Argentina using the same technique. Twenty one (12.1%) of these patients underwent repeat BAV for restenosis and the results were compared with those of the 153 patients undergoing the primary procedure. The most used technique was retrograde access by femoral approach, using 10, 12 or 14 F introducers, with balloons sizes ranging from 20 to 23 mm. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 80.4 ± 9.7 years and EuroSCORE was 21 ± 2%. The retrograde femoral approach was used in 95% of the cases. Results of the primary procedure were as follows: aortic valve area (AVA) increased from 0.9 ± 19 cm² to 1.02 ± 0.20 cm² and mean gradient decreased from 50 ± 21 mmHg to 22 ± 11 mmHg. The results were similar after repeat BAV in terms of AVA, with an improvement of 0.60 ± 0.1 cm² to 1.01 ± 0.25 cm² in a period of 13 ± 9 months between the two procedures. The rates of complications were: death, 3.3% vs. 9.5% (P = 0.20); embolic stroke, 1.3% vs. 0 (P = 0.20); massive aortic regurgitation, 3.3% vs. 9.5% (P = 0.20); balloon burst, 1.3% vs. 0 (P = 0.20); pericardial tamponade, 0 vs. 5% (P = 0.12); and vascular complications, 3.9% vs. 0.5% (P = 0.25). Forty eight patients (27.5%) were selected as good candidates for PAVR during the follow up period in both countries. Thirty six patients underwent PAVR in France and four patients in Argentina. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat BAV is a useful strategy in nonsurgical elderly patients with severe symptomatic AS to relieve symptoms after restenosis and as a bridge to transcatheter aortic valve implantation. This technique can be repeated with low complication rates. more...

To better understand the phase diagram for XY spins on the fully frustrated triangular lattice, we generalize that model, giving one class of bonds a ``tunable'' strength -\ensuremath{\eta}J, where \ensuremath{\eta}=1 gives the conventional model. As a consequence, the sites are no longer all equivalent. Using mean-field theory, the phase diagram has been determined as a function of \ensuremath{\eta}, the applied field H, and the temperature T. For H=0, the phase diagram is very similar to that for the generalization of Berge et al. of the fully frustrated XY square lattice model. For H\ensuremath{\ne}0 and -0.51., a nonuniform collinear phase intervenes between two noncollinear phases (one chiral and the other nonchiral). This nonuniform collinear phase is an extension of the paramagnetic phase (which, in a field, also is nonuniform and collinear), rather than being the (spontaneous symmetry-breaking) nonuniform collinear Potts phase of the \ensuremath{\eta}=1 Monte Carlo phase diagram. For \ensuremath{\eta}-0.5 this extension of the paramagnetic phase completely displaces the (low-field) chiral phase. For \ensuremath{\eta}g1 the extension of the paramagnetic phase is absent. For \ensuremath{\eta}=1 we conclude that the simplest explanation for the Potts phase can be obtained by comparison to the Monte Carlo phase diagram for Ising spins on this lattice. more...

In first term, we define the current concepts in regard to psychosis (delirium and hallucinations) and abnormal behaviours (aggression, depression and mood changes such as mania, apathy, anxiety, agitation and desinhibition) in dementia. We also review the most used drugs in order to control these symptoms (typical and atypical antipsychotics, anti-epileptic drugs, benzodiazepines, SSRI, memantine and AcheI). As well, we take in consideration pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, relationship to aging and interactions of these medications. Finally, we briefly describe the management of non-pharmacological of the most common behavioural symptoms: disruptive conducts such as exaggerated responses to minimal stimuli, catastrophic reaction, violence, anger and hostility, wandering and sundowning. As well, we discuss how to manage sleep disturbances, sexual aggression, incontinence and dressing apraxia. Management of these conditions involves, in first term, a comprehensive understanding of the whole situation and identification of underlying possible causes will make possible to evaluate results. This approach will lead to a more rationale proposal of psychotherapeutic and behavioural techniques, and milieu modifications. Finaly, we consider safety patient's in the community as well as the risk of abuse originated in a non-healthy patient-caregiver relationship. more...

When a nematic/crystal interface is subjected to an exchange of particles with a reservoir of some chemical species, the anchoring a at this interface can be changed by varying the chemical potentials μi of the reanchoring substances in the reservoir. It is shown that water is such a reanchoring substance; anchoring transitions are observed at nematic (E9)/crystal (gypsum, muscovite, phlogopite) interfaces for critical values of the partial pressure p of water vapor in contact with the interface. A simple theoretical model for such adsorption-included anchoring transitions is proposed. more...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic system in hemorrhagic shock and to estimate the effects of different infusion fluids and rates on the recovery of the bleeding patient. A mathematical model of the hemodynamic system was developed including fluid transfer to and from the interstitium for different types of fluids. The model was used to test different hemorrhagic shock conditions and different infusion conditions. To validate the model, a series of animal experiments was performed. The computer simulation followed successfully experimental data collected in five different experiments. Thus, it may now serve as an advanced tool for evaluating and analyzing effects of different fluids and optimize fluid regimen. more...

Dementia diagnostic criteria presently in use are referred. The authors underline the importance of an early diagnosis for prognosis and treatment. Diagnostic criteria from international groups and their harmonization to Argentine culture proposed by the CAED (Argentine Consortium for the Study of Dementias) are reviewed. more...

The optimal duration of treatment with clopidogrel after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent placement remains controversial. The Randomized Argentine Clopidogrel Stent (RACS) trial was a prospective, randomized, nonblinded study of 1,004 patients undergoing PCI who were randomized after successful bare metal stent placement to 30 versus 180 days of clopidogrel; all patients also received aspirin. Patients were eligible regardless of whether they had presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI), acute coronary syndrome, or stable angina. The primary end point was a composite of death, MI, and stroke at 180 days. Baseline clinical characteristics showed no differences between groups in terms of age, gender, history, risk factors, or incidence of diabetes; 72% presented with an acute coronary syndrome and 15% had MI as the indication for PCI. At hospital discharge and 30 days, when the 2 groups received the same treatment, there were no significant differences between groups in frequency of death, MI, or stroke. However, from 30 days to 6 months, patients assigned to 6 months of clopidogrel reached the primary end point of death, MI, and stroke less frequently (4.99% vs 1.74%, p = 0.010, relative risk decrease 65%). No significant between-group differences were found in frequency of total bleeding (0.64% vs 1.52%, p = 0.34) for the control and study groups. In conclusion, after successful placement of a bare metal stent in a coronary artery, patients treated with 6 months of clopidogrel showed a trend toward fewer adverse events compared with those treated for 30 days. more...

Sexual functioning of patients with a severe psychotic illness such as schizophrenia has received little attention from clinicians. Sexual dysfunctions are an important contributing factor to a poor quality of life in this population and important factor in non-adherence to pharmacological treatment. A high percentage of individuals with schizophrenia reported to have no sexual intercourse or showed evidence of sexual dysfunction (28%; to 40%; in females and 40%; to 60%; in males), which has different etiology, like the illness itself (12%; to 15%;), aging (35%; to 41%;), or side effects from the psychiatric medication (26%; to 36%;). We alert about this problems and show the preliminary results of a survey in an adult chronic population (ranging between 27 to 57 years of age, with an equal sex distribution, attending in a psychiatric rehabilitation program in a half-way house.a 36%; of the patients reported to have sexual difficulties, the 50%; of the sample has had sexual intercourse with some regularity, only the 32%; of the sample reported to have sex in the last month, and less than a 5%; of this population reported to have a regular partner, among others suggestions of sexual dysfunction. more...