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Introduction:The middle-aged female population will increase in the coming years and will require more medical care to relieve climacteric symptomsObjective:To validate an instrument for evaluating climacteric and menopause in primary careMethods:Prospective, cross-sectional, instrument-validation study. The sample was composed of women attending primary care centers. Our research consisted of three stages: initial review (literature review, translation), validation (content validity, pilot study) and psychometric properties (internal consistency and confirmatory factorial analysis). We analyzed the data using SPSS version 20.Results:136 patients participated, with an average age of 48,6 years ± 5,3 and an average body mass index of 27,8 kg/m2 ± 4,4. In the first stage, we identified the most relevant symptoms: menstrual irregularities, hot flashes, vaginal problems, urinary incontinence, quality of sleep, and mood issues. The instrument was then translated by four professionals. For the second stage, we assessed content validity by expert judgment, obtaining an internal consistency of 0,77 and an initial reliability of 0,79. In the third stage, internal consistency was 0,69 and confirmatory factorial analysis was 0,7. The instrument consists of six questions; obtaining four or more positive answers warrants specialized care.Conclusion:We present a short instrument with adequate content validity and internal consistency, useful for managing climacteric symptoms at the primary care level. Introducción:La población de mujeres de mediana edad se incrementará en los próximos años y requerirá una mayor atención para aliviar los síntomas relacionados de atención con el climaterio.Objetivo:Validar un instrumento para la evaluación del climaterio y la menopausia en el primer nivel de atención.Métodos:Diseño de validación de instrumento, prospectivo y de corte transversal. Participaron mujeres que fueron atendidas en establecimientos de salud del primer nivel de atención. La investigación se realizó en tres fases, revisión inicial (revisión de literatura, traducción), ensayo (validez de contenido, prueba piloto) y propiedades psicométricas (análisis de consistencia interna, análisis factorial exploratorio). Para el análisis de datos se utilizó el programa SPSS versión 20.Resultados:Participaron 136 pacientes con una edad promedio de 48,6 años ± 5,3 y un promedio de índice de masa corporal 27,8 ± 4,4. En la primera fase se identificaron los síntomas más relevantes, irregularidades menstruales, sofocos, problemas vaginales, incontinencia urinaria, calidad de sueño y estado de ánimo. Se procedió a la traducción con la participación de cuatro profesionales. La segunda fase, de validez del contenido, fue mediante juicio de expertos, obteniendo una concordancia de 0,77 y una confiabilidad inicial 0,79. En la tercera fase, la consistencia interna fue 0,69 y 0,70 para análisis factorial exploratorio. El instrumento contiene seis preguntas, la obtención de ≥ 4 respuestas afirmativas justifican un manejo especializado.Conclusión:El instrumento es breve, tiene una adecuada validez de contenido y consistencia interna, útil para el manejo del climaterio en el primer nivel de atención.

Introducción: La condición crítica del paciente que acude a emergencia genera la necesidad de otorgar una atención oportuna, segura y cálida. No cubrir estas expectativas desencadena en la insatisfacción del paciente, reflejada mediante reclamaciones, las cuales en su mayoría resultan justificadas, generando oportunidades de mejora y medidas correctivas. Objetivo: Analizar las reclamaciones presentadas por el paciente y sus familiares en el servicio de emergencia adultos del Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins. Métodos: Diseño no experimental, descriptivo, de corte transversal. La muestra estuvo conformada por 109 reclamaciones durante el periodo comprendido de mayo a noviembre 2019. Se utilizó una ficha de recolección de datos con la información del Libro de Reclamaciones en Salud. Resultados: Se identificaron 187 motivos de reclamaciones. Los resultados mostraron que 47,7% fueron presentadas por familiares directos y que 43% correspondieron al área de medicina interna. En la dimensión inadecuado trato por parte del personal asistencial, 13,9% de pacientes mostraron disconformidad frente al trato descortés y grosero; en la dimensión demora en la atención, 12,8% manifestaron encontrarse descontentos por la falta de atención oportuna y, en la dimensión desacuerdo del usuario con la atención o tratamiento recibido, 10,2% quedaron insatisfechos con la atención recibida. 60,6% de reclamaciones se resolvieron satisfactoriamente dentro del plazo exigido en la norma. Conclusión: La mayor cantidad de reclamaciones correspondieron al tipo prestacional, asociadas a la atención directa del paciente. Introduction: The critical condition of the patient who presents to an emergency department creates a need to provide timely, safe and warm care. Failing to meet these expectations causes patient dissatisfaction, reflected by complaints, which are mostly justified and lead to opportunities for improvement and corrective measures. Objective: To analyze complaints presented by patients and their relatives at the Adult Emergency Department of the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital. Methods: Nonexperimental, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Our sample was comprised of 109 complaints between May and November 2019. We used a data collection sheet based on the information in the complaints book for health care services. Results: We identified 187 reasons for complaints. Our results show that direct relatives filed 47.7%; 43% involved Internal Medicine consultations. In the dimension “inadequate treatment by healthcare workers,” 13.9% of patients complained about impolite and rude treatment. In the dimension “delay in care”, 12.8% were discontent due to the lack of timely care. In the dimension “user disagreement with care or treatment received,” 10.2% were dissatisfied with the care they were provided. 60.6% of complaints were satisfactorily resolved within the period specified by current regulations. Conclusion: Most complaints were related to the direct care of the patient.

Purpose To assess the 3D geometric sampling accuracy of a new PET-guided system for breast cancer biopsy (BCB) from areas within the tumour with high 18 F-FDG uptake. Materials and methods In the context of the European Union project MammoCare, a prototype semi-robotic stereotactic prototype BCB-device was incorporated into a dedicated high resolution PET-detector for breast imaging. The system consists of 2 stacked rings, each containing 12 plane detectors, forming a dodecagon with a 186 mm aperture for 3D reconstruction (1 mm 3 voxel). A vacuum-assisted biopsy needle attached to a robot-controlled arm was used. To test the accuracy of needle placement, the needle tip was labelled with 18 F-FDG and positioned at 78 target coordinates distributed over a 35 mm × 24 mm × 28 mm volume within the PET-detector field-of-view. At each position images were acquired from which the needle positioning accuracy was calculated. Additionally, phantom-based biopsy proofs, as well as MammoCare images of 5 breast cancer patients, were evaluated for the 3D automated locating of 18 F-FDG uptake areas within the tumour. Results Needle positioning tests revealed an average accuracy of 0.5 mm (range 0–1 mm), 0.6 mm (range 0–2 mm), and 0.4 mm (range 0–2 mm) for the x / y / z -axes, respectively. Furthermore, the MammoCare system was able to visualize and locate small ( 18 F-FDG uptake within the tumour suitable for PET-guided biopsy after being located by the 3D automated application. Conclusions Accuracy testing demonstrated high-precision of this semi-automatic 3D PET-guided system for breast cancer core needle biopsy. Its clinical feasibility evaluation in breast cancer patients scheduled for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy will follow.

Purpose To assess the 3D geometric sampling accuracy of a new PET-guided system for breast cancer biopsy (BCB) from areas within the tumour with high 18F-FDG uptake.

[EN] Recently, two novel PET devices have been developed with open geometries, namely: breast and prostate-dedicated scanners. The breast-dedicated system comprises two detector rings of twelve modules with a field of view of 170 mm x 170 mm x 94 mm. Each module consists of a continuous trapezoidal LYSO crystal and a PSPMT. The system has the capability to vary the opening of the rings up to 60 mm in order to allow the insertion of a needle to perform a biopsy procedure. The prostate system has an open geometry consisting on two parallel plates separated 28 cm. One panel includes 18 detectors organized in a 6 x 3 matrix while the second one comprises 6 detectors organized in a 3 x 2 matrix. All detectors are formed by continuous LYSO crystals of 50 mm x 50 mm x15 mm, and a SiPM array of 12 x 12 individual photo-detectors. The system geometry is asymmetric maximizing the sensitivity of the system at the prostate location, located at about 2/3 in the abdomen-anus distance. The reconstructed images for PET scanners with open geometries present severe artifacts due to this peculiarity. These artifacts can be minimized using Time Of Flight information (TOF). In this work we present a TOF resolution study for open geometries. With this aim, the dedicated breast and prostate systems have been simulated using GATE (8.1 version) with different TOF resolutions in order to determine the image quality improvements that can be achieved with the existing TOF-dedicated electronics currently present in the market. The images have been reconstructed using the LMOS algorithm including TOF modeling in the calculation of the voxel-Line Of Response emission probabilities., This work was supported in part by the Spanish Government Grants TEC2016-79884-C2 and RTC-2016-5186-1 and by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement No. 695536).

In this work we take advantage of the monolithic continuous crystals in PET photon detection. The called Impact Bin Method (IBM) proposes to use the smaller bin size given by the electronics to position the photon impact and then, build a Point Spread Function (PSF) around this point. We use a rectangular PSF to facilitate the estimation of the voxels emission probabilities. These probabilities are calculated as the volumes of intersection between the tube of response generated by the PSF and the voxels. To perform a proof of concept of IBM, we use a dedicated breast PET consisting of two rings with 12 modules each. Each module contains a single LYSO monolithic crystal (no pixelated), coupled to a PSPMT. The dimensions of the crystal are 40 mm × 40 mm × 12 mm and the maximum pixel size allowed by electronics is 300 × 300 bins per block. Then, if we consider this pixel size, the minimum area for each individual bin will be 0.13 mm × 0.13 mm. We compare images reconstructed with the maximum virtual binning of 300 × 300, with the regular virtual binning of 20 × 20 and finally with IBM. Using IBM we avoid the regular virtual grid, so the PSF from different hits can overlap between them. The results reconstructing with IBM show an improvement of 10% in spatial resolution and a 7% in the recovery coefficients without compromise the image uniformity.

To assess the 3D geometric sampling accuracy of a new PET-guided system for breast cancer biopsy (BCB) from areas within the tumour with highIn the context of the European Union project MammoCare, a prototype semi-robotic stereotactic prototype BCB-device was incorporated into a dedicated high resolution PET-detector for breast imaging. The system consists of 2 stacked rings, each containing 12 plane detectors, forming a dodecagon with a 186mm aperture for 3D reconstruction (1mmNeedle positioning tests revealed an average accuracy of 0.5mm (range 0-1mm), 0.6mm (range 0-2mm), and 0.4mm (range 0-2mm) for the x/y/z-axes, respectively. Furthermore, the MammoCare system was able to visualize and locate small (10mm) regions with highAccuracy testing demonstrated high-precision of this semi-automatic 3D PET-guided system for breast cancer core needle biopsy. Its clinical feasibility evaluation in breast cancer patients scheduled for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy will follow.

In this work we present the MAMMOCARE prototype, a biopsy guided system based on PET. The system is composed by an examination table where the patient is situated in prone position, a PET detector and a biopsy device. The PET detector is composed by two rings. These rings can be separated mechanically in order to allow the needle insertion. The first acquisition is performed with the closed ring configuration in order to obtain a high quality image to locate the lesion. Then, the software calculates the optimum path for the biopsy and moves the biopsy and PET systems to the desired position. At this point, two compression pallets are used to hold the breast. Then, the PET system opens and the biopsy procedure starts. The images are obtained at several steps to ensure the correct location of the needle during the procedure. The performance of the system is evaluated measuring the spatial resolution and sensitivity according the NEMA standard. The uniformity of the reconstructed images is also estimated. The radial resolution is 1.62mm in the center of the FOV and 3.45mm at 50mm off the center in the radial direction using the closed configuration. In the open configuration the resolution reaches 1.85mm at center and 3.65mm at 50mm. The sensitivity using an energy window of 250keV-750keV is 3.6% for the closed configuration and 2.5% for the open configuration. The uniformity measured in the center of the FOV is 14% and 18% for the closed and open configurations respectively.

Comorbid conditions have not been studied systematically for impact upon patient outcome in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Patients formerly excluded from myeloablative transplant due to comorbid illnesses now receive reduced-intensity conditioning regimens; hence, the incidence of comorbid conditions in HSCT recipients is expected to increase. Comorbid grading systems developed without regard for oncology patients have been applied in retrospective fashion to HSCT patients. Two commonly used scales (Charlson Comorbidity Index and the Adult Comorbidity Inventory-27) fail to include critical information: tumor and histologic type/stage, extent of prior treatment, donor stem cell source and cell type and preparative regimen. Further, data are reported in retrospective rather than prospective fashion. Despite limitations, however, such grading systems exhibit ease and utility for evaluation and may have predictive value for patient outcome. Modifying such approaches to include additional factors and appropriate weighting of components may enable an improved comparison of techniques and study results. These scoring systems may elucidate predictors of outcome and disease natural history and enhance statistical efficiency methods of HSCT. Refined scoring could be used effectively to assign patients to differing transplant conditioning regimens, that is, myeloablative vs reduced intensity. Prospective validation of such grading systems is encouraged.

Allogeneic progenitor cell transplantation is the only curative therapy for patients with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes. To identify prognostic factors in these patients, we performed a retrospective analysis of transplantation outcomes. Patients were selected if they had undergone an allogeneic transplantation between January 1988 and January 2002 and were not in remission or first untreated relapse at the time of transplantation. A total of 135 patients were identified. The median age was 49.5 years (range, 19-75 years). At the time of transplantation, 39.3% of patients had not responded to induction therapy, 37% had not responded to first salvage therapy, and 23.7% were beyond first salvage. Forty-one patients (30%) received unrelated donor progenitor cells. Eighty patients (59%) received either a reduced-intensity or a nonmyeloablative regimen. A total of 104 (77%) of 135 patients died, with a median survival time of 4.9 months (95% confidence interval, 3.9-6.6 months). The median progression-free survival was 2.9 months (95% confidence interval, 2.5-4.2 months). A Cox regression analysis showed that Karnofsky performance status, peripheral blood blasts, and tacrolimus exposure during the first 11 days after transplantation were predictive of survival. These data support the use of allogeneic transplantation for patients with relapsed or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia/myelodysplastic syndromes and suggest that optimal immune suppression early after transplantation is essential for long-term survival even in patients with refractory myeloid leukemias.

The atrane route constitutes a very versatile technique to obtain ordered mesoporous materials. A wide diversity of silica and silica-doped materials can be prepared by bringing into play fundamental synthesis parameters (like temperature, concentration and pH) which, in turn, allow modulation of the resulting material topology.

ω-VOPO 4 has been prepared by thermal decomposition of different oxovanadium hydrogen phosphates, namely VO(HPO 4 ) n H 2 O ( n =2( α ), 2(β) and 4) and β-NH 4 (VO 2 )(HPO 4 ). The ω-VOPO 4 phase only remains well crystallised at relatively high temperatures. Its crystal structure has been determined ab initio from X-ray powder diffraction data collected at 475°C. The cell is tetragonal (space group P4 2 /mmc) with a =4.8552(3) A and c =8.4301(6) A. Starting positional parameters were obtained by direct methods, and the structure was refined using Rietveld profile refinement principles. Disorder of two oxygen sublattices is observed. To rationalise some features of the crystal structure of this new phase, a dynamic model is proposed and discussed.

Effect of large oscillations of electrical potential during anodic polarization of silicon in electrolytes composed of phosphoric and hydrofluoric acids has been reported. The oscillations last hours without damping if experimental conditions are optimal. Changes of temperature, anodic current density, intensity of stirring, etc. quench them or convert into less periodic ones. The oscillations are of very high amplitude (typically 15 V) with a period ranging from 18 to 30 s. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-imaging of the samples experiencing the oscillatory kinetic behaviour shows unambiguously that the stage of the anodic voltage growth is assisted by the formation of a thin (50–80 nm) surface film, while the dropping of potential corresponds to its lifting-off. A mechanism responsible for the successive built-up and lifting-off of the surface passive film is assumed to be a triggered isotropic formation of micropores at the film/silicon interface. The present data are compared with other known cases of electrochemical oscillations, and a unified model is suggested.

We demonstrate the possibility of growing Hg 1− x Cd x I 2 layers on sapphire substrates by vapor-phase epitaxy (VPE). The successful growth has been carried out using an α-HgI 2 polycrystalline source and a CdTe buffer layer grown on sapphire by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) before the Hg 1− x Cd x I 2 VPE growth. The Hg 1− x Cd x I 2 /sapphire 20–40 μm thick layers with a uniform composition in the range of x =0.2–0.6 were grown at 220–250°C for 70–300 h. The layers were studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy disperse X-ray analysis and X-ray diffractometry. Results on the layer characterization are reported and the effect of VPE conditions on the layer properties is considered.

A unified synthetic strategy has allowed us to rationalize the preparative chemistry of the layered oxovanadium phosphates M(VOPO4)2·nH2O. Thus, we have been able to isolate as single phases with reasonable yields both all the previously characterized phosphates and a new solid containing Ba2+ cations as guest species as well as to prepare new related derivatives involving arsenate anions. In order to organize the experimental results, we have used two complementary models: a simple restatement of the partial charge model (PCM), and the valence matching principle (VMP) (derived from the bond valence method). The crystal structure of the new barium lamellar derivative, Ba(VOPO4)2·4H2O, has been solved from X-ray single crystal data. The cell is monoclinic (space group Pn; Z = 1) with a = 6.3860(3) A, b = 12.7796(9) A, c = 6.3870(5) A, and β = 90.172(6)°. Its structure, like it occurs with the other members of the M(VOPO4)2·nH2O family, can be thought of as derived from that of the well-known lamellar soli...

In this work, we present the performance characteristics of the MAMMOCARE PET prototype based on an adaptation of the NU 4-2008 NEMA standard. MAMMOCARE is a project under the European Commission's 7th Framework programme to develop a breast biopsy system guided by a dedicated breast PET (dbPET) images. The PET system is formed by two rings with twelve detector modules each. The transaxial FOV is 170 mm and the axial FOV is 94 mm. The system can separate the detectors up to 60 mm in transaxial plane to allow the biopsy needle entrance. The acquisitions are reconstructed using the LMOS algorithm with tube-of-response (TOR) backprojector, 1 iteration and 16 subsets. The voxel and pixel sizes are (1 × 1 × 1) mm3 and (1.6 × 1.6) mm2 respectively. The radial resolution measured is 1.62 mm in the center of the FOV and 3.45 mm at 50 mm off the center in the radial direction using the closed configuration. In the open configuration the resolution reaches 1.85 mm and 3.65 mm at center and at 50 mm off-center. The adapted recovery coefficients (ARC) are measured for six hot rods inside a cylindrical phantom with a warm background. The ratio between hot and background regions is 10. The ARC values for the closed configuration are 0.32, 0.77 and 0.96 for the inserts with a diameter of 4.5 mm, 8.3 mm and 25 mm, respectively. These values decrease to 0.16, 0.52 and 0.77 for the open configuration. The sensitivity measured using an energy window of 250 keV–750 keV is 3.6% and 2.5% for the closed and open configurations respectively. The NEC peak is 141 kcps@68 MBq and 147 kcps@78 MBq for closed and open configurations. The performance characteristics measured with the open ring configuration decreases with respect the closed configuration, however the values remain comparable to other dbPETs.

Low thermal expansion materials from solid solutions NaGe 2−x Ti x (PO 4 ) 3 (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.8, 1) with NZP structure have been obtained by solid state reaction. Lattice thermal expansion coefficients have been determined from x-ray diffraction data at temperatures ranging from 26 to 800°C. Evolution of the thermal expansion with composition has been studied. The thermal expansion coefficient in the a direction decreases from 1.348 × 10 −5 ° C −1 to 0.8340 × 10 −5 ° C t -1 and the thermal expansion coefficient in the c direction increases from 1.244 × 10 −5 ° C −1 to 1.743 × 10 −5 ° C −1 with increasing x, with a deflection in the composition with x = 0.5. Evolution of macroscopic thermal expansion with composition has been studied by dilatometry measurements. DSC measurements have been also carried out on these samples. Composition with x = 1, NaGeTi(PO 4 ) 3 , shows a different thermal behavior from those of the other solid solutions with higher Ge content, which present an isotropic thermal expansion as germanium compound does.

The lattice thermal expansion of rhombohedral CaZr4(PO4)6 has been determined to be anisotropic with a negative expansion coefficient along the directions in the plane (0001). This behaviour is anomalous if compared to the rest of the compounds in the set MIIMIV4 (PO4)6; MII=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; MIV=Ti, Sn, Zr and to the low temperature form of MISn2(PO 4)3 MI=Na, K, Rb. High temperature high resolution neutron diffraction shows that the rotations of ZrO6 and PO4 polyhedra are opposite to those in the other cases.

The structure of the composition NaSnZr(PO4)3 and its evolution with temperature has been studied. The structure presents the space group R 3 c. The refinement of the structure shows that the Sn and Zr atoms are statistically distributed over the same crystallographic position. The unit cell expands in the c direction and contracts in the a direction, remaining the space group R 3 c at temperatures between 26 and 1000°C. The low value of the electrical conductivity at 400°C, 5.729×10−7S/cm and the low density of the pellets limited the use as electrical conductor.

The variation of the lattice parameters with composition in NaGe 2− x Ti x (PO 4 ) 3 (0 x x ⩽1 is similar to that of the compound NaGe 2 (PO 4 ) 3 and they present the same space group, R 3 , whereas the compositions with x >1 present the same behaviour and space group, R 3 c, than the compound NaTi 2 (PO 4 ) 3 . The equimolecular composition, NaGeTi(PO 4 ) 3 , presents an ordered structure which has been refined by Rietveld method. Its lattice thermal expansion is similar to that of the compound NaGe 2 (PO 4 ) 3 and its electrical conductivity, 6.483×10 −8 S/cm at 400°C, is very low at high temperature.

Solids with an [NZP] skeleton in their structure from a very broad family presenting very different properties with varying chemical composition. These properties range from radioactive nuclide immobilization and insulation to ionic and/or electronic conduction, extending to the field of very low thermal expansion among others. The open [NZP] skeleton provides the stability and flexibility necessary to form continuous ranges of solid solution, allowing the tailoring of the best composition-property-structure material. Chemical activity may become particularly high at the surface and absorption reactions and catalytic properties have the highest interest at present. In this paper, chemistry and properties of [NZP] solids are presented as the result of the interactions between the [NZP] skeleton and the counter-ions. Properties of ion transport, anisotropic thermal expansion, ion exchange, isomorphism, polymorphism, phase transitions, exchange and reactivity at low temperatures are discussed.

Compounds NaM2IV(PO4)3 with M = Ge, Ti present the [NZP]-type structure, with a low thermal expansion. The space group at room temperature for the compound NaGe2(PO4)3 is R3, whereas for the compound NaTi2(PO4)3 is R3c. Evolution of the structure with composition in NaGe2(PO4)3  NaTi2(PO4)3 system is discussed. The space group and lattice parameters were determined for NaGe2−xTix(PO4)3 (0 < x < 2) solid solutions, prepared by ceramic method. Compositions rich in Ge(IV) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) show the R3 space group, whereas for those rich in Ti(IV) (1.2 ≤ x ≤ 2) the space group is R3c. The variation of the lattice parameters with composition agreed with these results since it showed a change in its tendency between compositions with x = 1 and 1.2. Structure of NaGeTi(PO4)3 (x = 1 was determined by Rietveld method. It presents a R3 symmetry with an ordered distribution of the Ge(IV) and Ti(IV) atoms over two types of octahedra.

Two LiZr2(PO4)3 samples, which show rhombohedral and monoclinic symmetries, have been studied by powder XRD and MAS-NMR (31P and 7Li) techniques. In the monoclinic sample phosphorus occupies three crystallographic sites and lithium is preferentially placed in M2 environment. When the samples are subjected to successive heating-quenching treatments, the rhombohedral phase is not appreciably modified while the monoclinic phase is transformed into the rhombohedral one. In the quenched samples only one site for phosphorus has been detected and occupancy of lithium in the more symmetric M1 site is favoured. After the thermal treatments, when the samples are stored at room temperature for one year, the framework does not relax to that of the monoclinic phase but distribution of lithium changes towards a statistical occupancy of M1 and M2 sites.

The structure of NaTi 2 (PO 4 ) 3 shows the space group R3c, whereas that of NaSn 2 (PO 4 ) 3 presents the space group R3 at room temperature and it undergoes a second order phase transition at 575°C from this structure to another with the space group R3c. Evolution of the structure of NaTi 2 (PO 4 ) 3 NaSn 2 (PO 4 ) 3 solid solutions with temperature has been studied and temperature phase transition established for the compositions studied. Lattice thermal expansion of NaTi 2−x Sn x (PO 4 ) 3 solid solutions with x = 1, 1.2, 1.5 has been determined from x-ray diffraction data at temperatures ranging from 26 to 1000°C. DSC and dilatometric measurements have been also carried out on these samples. The composition with x = 1.5, NaTi 0.5 Sn 1.5 (PO 4 ) 3 , presents a second order phase transition at 355°C, from the phase with R3 space group to the phase with R3c space group, similar to that of the compound with x = 2, NaSn 2 (PO 4 ) 3 . For the solid solution with x = 1.2, NaTi 0.8 Sn 1.2 (PO 4 ) 3 , this transition seems to occur at a temperature closed to the room temperature, whereas the composition with x = 1, NaTiSn(PO 4 ) 3 , does not show any phase transition. Thermal expansion of these solid solutions for x 2 (PO 4 ) 3 whereas for x > 1.2 is analogous to that of NaSn 2 (PO 4 ) 3 .

Solids with an [NZP] skeleton in their structure from a very broad family presenting very different properties with varying chemical composition. These properties range from radioactive nuclide immobilization and insulation to ionic and/or electronic conduction, extending to the field of very low thermal expansion among others. The open [NZP] skeleton provides the stability and flexibility necessary to form continuous ranges of solid solution, allowing the tailoring of the best composition-property-structure material. Chemical activity may become particularly high at the surface and absorption reactions and catalytic properties have the highest interest at present. In this paper, chemistry and properties of [NZP] solids are presented as the result of the interactions between the [NZP] skeleton and the counter-ions. Properties of ion transport, anisotropic thermal expansion, ion exchange, isomorphism, polymorphism, phase transitions, exchange and reactivity at low temperatures are discussed.

High temperature high resolution neutron diffraction study of the crystal chemistry of NaSn 2 (PO 4 ) 3 has been completed, at four different temperatures, applying the Rietveld method to the experimental neutron diffraction profile of a synthetic crystalline powder. Below the phase transition (∼860 K) the space group has been determined to be R3 which changes to R3c in the high temperature phase. No chemical bond breaks through the transition. The change in temperature makes the SnO 6 polyhedra rotate around the three fold axis in both structures. The PO 4 polyhedra rotate strictly around the two fold axis in the high temperature phase, but around the [0001] direction in the low temperature form.

Compounds NaM2IV(PO4)3 with NZP-type structure present a different behavior depending on the nature of MIV. For MIV = Ti and Zr the structure shows the space group R3c, whereas for MIV = Sn the space group is R3. Differences in behavior of NaTi2(PO4)3 - NaSn2(PO4)3 solid solutions are discussed in relation to the composition. The variation of the lattice parameters with composition in NaTi2−xSnx(PO4)3 (0 1. The structure of the compound with x = 1 (NaSnTi(PO4)3) has been determined applying the Rietveld method to deconvolute the powder x-ray diffraction profile.

NaSn2(PO4)3 presents a fast and reversible second order phase transition about 575°C. Both phases above and below the transition point are rhombohedral. The high temperature phase is isostructural with NaTi2(PO4)3 and NaZr2(PO4)3, NZP structure. The lattice thermal expansion of these three compounds has been determined from x-ray diffraction data at different temperatures ranging from room temperature up to 1000°C. Differences in behaviour are discussed in relation to the structure.

Porous materials displaying tailor-made pore sizes and shapes are particularly interesting in a great variety of real and potential applications where molecular recognition is needed, such as shape-selective catalysis, molecular sieving, and selective adsorption. Classically, apart from silica, materials most commonly used for catalysis and catalyst supports have been those based on high surface aluminas, owing to their thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability and their low cost. Earlier aluminas with high surface areas (~500 m/g) had been prepared using structure-directing agents. However, they were X-ray amorphous materials and their porosity was purely textural, characterized by wide pore size distributions. More recently, the discovery by researchers at Mobil of the M41S family of mesoporous silicas synthesized by using micellar aggregates as templates, has promoted considerable development in the synthesis of materials with uniform pores in the mesoporous range. However, in the case of mesoporous aluminum oxide, the usual strategies used in the synthesis of mesoporous silica have not always yielded satisfactory results and only a few papers have reported on surfactant-assisted synthesis of mesoporous alumina. Davis and co-workers have reported the preparation of aluminas with narrow pore size distributions by the use of anionic surfactants but their solids always have an approximately constant pore size (ca. 20 Š) that cannot be tailored by changing the surfactant length. Conversely, Pinnavaia and co-workers report the use of neutral polyethylene oxides as directing agents for the synthesis of mesoporous solids for which both the d spacing and the pore diameters increase as the surfactant size does. In both cases, the synthetic pathway is based on typical procedures originally used for mesoporous silicas: the variation of the micelle diameter is achieved by increasing the surfactant chain length and/or addition of hydrophobic organic molecules. However, the scarcity and diversity of the reported results suggest that there is still a long way to go to obtain real control of the synthetic procedures for the preparation of mesoporous aluminas. In this context, we show that self-assembling processes leading to the formation of mesoporous aluminas can be controlled by adequately balancing such processes and the hydrolysis and condensation reactions occurring at the inorganic phase. This method has allowed us to isolate for the first time mesoporous aluminum oxides using cationic surfactants and, what is more important, to tune their pore size by the sole adjustment of the molar ratio of the reactants. Thermally stable aluminas with different pore diameters, henceforth denoted as ICMUV-1, were synthesized using CTABr (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) as surfactantdirecting agent in a water/TEA (triethanolamine) medium. A constant 2/1 Al/CTABr molar ratio was always used, and the pore size adjustment was achieved by changing the Al (or surfactant)/water/TEA molar ratio. A typical synthetic procedure is as follows: 1) A solution containing 0.4 g (10 mmol) of NaOH in 2 mL of water was added to 40 mL of TEA and heated at 120 C for 5 min to evaporate the water. Over this solution, 10.9 mL (40 mmol) of Al sec-butoxide was slowly added with stirring. The resulting clear solution was then heated at 150 C for 10 min (solution I). 2) 7.28 g (20 mmol) of CTABr was dissolved in 40 mL of water at 60 C (solution II). 3) Solution I was slowly added, with vigorous stirring, to solution II at 60 C, and the mixture was allowed to age for 72 h to give a white suspension. The aged solid was then filtered, washed with ethanol, and dried at 30 C. Finally, the assynthesized mesostructured composite was calcined for 5 h at 500 C under air atmosphere to favor surfactant decomposition, and a mesoporous solid with a pore size of 33 Š was obtained. Solids with different pore sizes have been obtained by adjusting the Al (or surfactant)/water/TEA molar ratio in the range from 2/111/15 to 2/195/4 (see Table 1). In all cases, the samples have high thermal stability, as measured by the permanence of their X-ray diffraction peak after heating at 900 C.

This paper presents a way of providing remote capabilities to OSGi services in order to build a distributed environment based on cooperative services. The OSGi Service Platform Specification delivers an open, common architecture for service providers, developers and operators to develop, deploy and manage services in a coordinated fashion. The OSGi Framework forms the core of the OSGi Service Platform Specification. It provides a general-purpose, secure, and managed Java framework whose extensible and downloadable units of deployment, called bundles, can export services and resources (such as packages and classes). However, the mechanisms of synchronization and communication of services allocated in different Service Platforms do not concern to the OSGi Service Platform Specification. This paper presents a new distributed service oriented architecture and its possible industrial applications and it benefits from previous European R&D projects in which the authors have participated.

This article report four cases of schwannomas originating in the cervical peripheral nervous branches, which were operated by ENT Department between 1991 and 2004. The difficulty on differential diagnosis and possible complications after the surgery are commented. Speaking of these cases, reference is done about the manage of post surgical neuropathy, very common after interventions on neural or perineural tumour of orocervicofacial area.

Several biphasic VOP04/(VO)2P2O7 redox partners seem to be active in the catalytic cycles involved in the mild oxidation of simple hydrocarbons to maleic anhydride. The present X-ray time resolved thermal-diffractometric study reveals the existence of a new anhydrous variety of the oxidized form, ω-VOPO4, which may appear as an intermediate in the formation of the well known β-VOPO4. This new phase only remains well crystallized at relatively high temperatures, and when it is allowed to cool down in wet air VOPO4·2H2O results. In turn, another well defined phase, VOPO4·1.58H2O, can be recognized in the course of the hydration process.

Allogeneic HSCT has the potential to cure patients with AML or MDS, but is associated with significant morbidity and complications that can affect the QOL of survivors. We examined QOL of AML/MDS patients surviving 2 years or more in remission after allo HSCT, including physical, psychosocial and functional well being. OBJECTIVES: We seek to describe QOL of long-term survivors (LTS) with AML/MDS and to compare QOL as a function of age at transplant. METHODS: Long-term survivorship was defined as survival in remission beyond 2 years from HSCT; 2 years was chosen given the stabilization of the failure rate on the 3rd year after HSCT. There were 544 adult AML/MDS patients treated with allogeneic HSCT between January 1976 and September 2001. Of these, 129 (24%) were in remission for at least 2 years and were eligible for the study. QOL was assessed using the standardized Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-BMT (FACT-BMT) questionnaire that measures multidimensional QOL concepts and consists of 5 subscales measuring physical (PWB), functional (FWB), social/family (SFWB), and emotional well being (EWB), including satisfaction with the doctor-patient relationship (RWD) (McQuellon et al., Bone Marrow Transplant, 1997). There was an additional concern (AC) subscale that asked questions related to job, appetite, body appearance, tiredness, interest in sexual activity etc. FACT-BMT allowed for responses to have values ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (very much). Specified QOL questions were recorded so that higher score reflected a higher QOL in the reported dimension. The questionnaire was mailed, and delivery could be confirmed for 121 patients out of whom 82 (68%) responded. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected from patient charts and clinical database. RESULTS: Median age at transplant was 38.44 years (range 18.54–68.08). Median time from HSCT to receipt of questionnaire was 4.53 years. Gender: 47 males and 35 females. Diagnosis: AML (n=70) and MDS (n=12). Conditioning regimens were of reduced intensity in 29 cases and myeloablative in 53 cases. Stem cell source: bone marrow (n=52), and peripheral blood (n=30). GVHD prophylaxis: tacrolimus based in 61 cases and cyclosporine based in 18 cases; none in 2 cases. Disease status at HSCT: complete remission (n=40), relapsed (n= 37) and untreated disease (n=5). Median follow-up time was 4.53 years (range 2.0–21.1 yrs). There were no significant differences in QOL scores between the older and younger patients (above and below the median age at transplant) in the PWB, SFWB, EWB, FWB and RWD subscales. In the AC subscale, however, older patients had higher QOL scores than younger patients (mean score 37.97 vs. 33.25, p=0.005). When we compared non-myeloablative (NMA) vs. myeloablative (MA) regimens, there were no significant differences in mean QOL scores in all but the AC subscale where NMA group did better (39.00 vs. 33.34, p=0.001). Acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) did not impact long-term QOL but lack of chronic GVHD was associated with better QOL score in the PWB, EWB, FWB and AC subscales (PWB: 25.04 vs. 20.62, p=0.005; EWB: 21.77 vs. 18.98, p=0.003; FWB: 22.91 vs. 18.00, p=0.008; and AC: 40.00 vs. 34.28, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Among LTS with AML/MDS, older age did not affect QOL at a median of 4.5 yrs post HSCT.

As part of our evaluation of Flu as immunosuppressive (and DNA damage repair inhibiting) agent, and as an alternative to Cy in combination with IV Bu, preparing AML/MDS patients for allogeneic transplant (AlloSCT), we postulated that the IV Bu-Flu regimen would yield improved safety, yet increased antileukemic efficacy. We now compared two consecutive series of patients receiving pretransplant conditioning therapy with either IV Bu-Flu or IV BuCy2. Methods: Flu 40 mg/m2 IV was given once daily, each dose followed immediately by Bu 130 mg/m2 IV over 3 hr (days −6 till −3) (n=128 patients), and in the IV BuCy2 the Bu was given at 0.8 mg/kg over 2 hr every 6 hr for 16 doses (days −7 till −4), followed by Cy 60 mg/kg on days −3 and −2 (n=73 patients). Patients with an unrelated (MUD) or mismatched donor received ATG on days −3 to −1. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was based on tacrolimus and mini-methotrexate. Patients: Median age was 46 (19–66) (IV Bu-Flu group) and 39 (13–64) (IV BuCy2 group) years, respectively. At transplant 45% and 46% patients were in CR1–3, the remainder had active disease. Cytogenetic risk categories were equivalent for the two groups, with poor or intermediate risk in 88 % in the IV Bu-Flu, and in 82 % of the BuCy2group. Donors were HLA-identical siblings (SIBS) in 53 %, and 73%, MUDs in 39% and 15 %, others in 8 % and 12% respectively. Median follow-up for patients still alive (August 2004) was 15 mos (3–37; n=78) for the IV Bu-Flu group, and 45 mos (24–76; n=27)) for the IV BuCy2 patients. Results: Both regimens were well tolerated; 100-day treatment-related mortality (TRM) was for SIB/MUD 2.7 / 2% after IV Bu-Flu, and 7 / 9% in the IV BuCy2 group, respectively. Overall, one-year TRM was for 7% after IV Bu-Flu and 18% after IV BuCy2. The overall aGvHD rates were 42% and 45%. 2-year overall survival (OS) were 50% for the IV Bu-Flu group, 42% after IV BuCy2. For patients transplanted in CR the 2-yr OS and event-free survival were 69% and 68 % after IV Bu-Flu, and 48% and 41% in the IV BuCy2. We conclude, that IV Bu-Flu is a safe and highly effective, reduced toxicity myeloablative conditioning regimen for AML/MDS. Its antileukemic efficacy appears to be at least equal to what is experienced with the IV BuCy2 regimen. Thus, our data demonstrate the IV Bu-Flu regimen to be a new standard for myeloablative conditioning therapy for alloSCT in AML/MDS. Figure Figure

Allogeneic HSCT is a potentially curative treatment for AML/MDS, but aging is generally associated with poorer outcomes. The incidence of AML/MDS, however, increases after the 7th decade of life, and there is limited data with transplantation in this age group. Here we review our experience treating such patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of outcomes of patients aged 65 or older treated from 1996 to 2004 with allogeneic HSCT (n=40; median age 67 years, range 65–75 years). Diagnosis was MDS in 5 cases and AML in 35 patients. Cytogenetics were high-risk in 50% and intermediate risk in 50%; 80% of the patients had active disease at HSCT (n=32). All preparative regimens contained fludarabine 100–150 mg/m2, combined with cytarabine 4 gm/m2, and idarubicin 36 mg/m2 (n=12); or with busulfan (n=8); with melphalan 140 or 180 mg/m2 (n=12); and with melphalan 140 mg/m2 and Mylotarg 2 or 4 mg/m2 (n=8). ATG was added in unrelated donor (MUD) HSCT. All but 2 patients received tacrolimus and methotrexate for graft-versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Stem cell source was bone marrow in 11 cases and peripheral blood in the others. Donors were related in 27 cases and unrelated in 13 cases (33%). Results: 35 patients engrafted (88%); complete remission (CR) rate was 72%, 6 patients died early and 3 did not respond. Eleven patients are alive at a median of 12.5 mo (range, 2.6–59 mo), 10 of them in CR. One-year overall survival was 30% for the whole group, 26% for recipients of MUD and 32% for recipients of related donor HSCT (MUD x sibling, P=NS). One-year event-free survival was 28%. Median survival and disease-free survival was 4.5 and 2.5 mo, respectively; 42% of the patients in CR post HSCT have relapsed (n=13). Acute and chronic GVHD rates were 45% and 48%, respectively. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 40%. Figure shows survival of patients with and without circulating blasts at the time of transplant. Figure shows survival of patients with and without circulating blasts at the time of transplant. Conclusions: Here we expanded our previous observations indicating that allogeneic HSCT is a treatment option for selected patients in this age range. In this cohort with advanced stage disease (80% with active disease at transplant), NRM was high, but survival after sibling and unrelated donor transplants was similar.

The crystal field strength and the covalence effect in the bonds to the Cr3+ ions, in the crystalline solutions Na1+xCrxZr2−x(PO4)3 and Ca0.5+x/2CrxZr2−x(PO4)3 with x=0.06→ 1 have been determined from diffuse reflectance spectra. Chromium is located in the octahedral sites of the structure under a weak crystal field which varies with composition. The measured crystal field strength increases with the degree of substitution, contrary to the effect that corresponds to similar substitutions in corundum (ruby). These calculated Δ parameters are the lowest found for Cr3+ under octahedral oxide polyhedron and an empirical correlation with the CrO distance is shown. The forbidden transitions to the 2E and 2T1 levels are remarkable stronger than those in other oxide compounds. The deconvolution of the diffuse reflectance spectra into their gaussian components shows a big distortion in the coordination polyhedra, but this is not responsible for the appearance of the forbidden transitions, that it is better correlated to the mixing of the energy levels.

In this paper we report the discovery of a new structural family for use in ultra-low ‘α’ ceramics. The prototype composition is Ca 0.5 Ti 2 P 3 O 12 abbreviated [CTP] after which the structural family is named. The importance of this family in contrast to the eucryptite-spodumene family is the enormous range of substitutions which are possible, permitting one to control ‘α’ continuously over a wide range of temperature. Different compositions exhibit near zero thermal expansion in different temperature ranges.

Previous disagreement about the thermal expansion of the rhombohedral compound, NZP-type, NaTi 2 (PO 4 ) 3 has been clarified. It is shown that thermal stresses affect the thermal expansion, but they relax after some time of storage. Its anisotropic thermal expansion, has been calculated from high temperature X-ray diffraction, and it is linear in the range from room temperature up to 800°C. Coefficients are α (a)=−4.4×10 −6 °C −1 and α (c)=20×10 −6 °C −1 . The predictability of thermal expansion and the tailoring of the composition of NZP ceramics require to check whether the thermal effect on the rotations and distortions of the atomic polyhedra in this structure is the responsible for the high anisotropy in the thermal expansion. This effect has been determined experimentally by solving the chemical structure at five different temperatures, applying the Rietveld method to deconvolute the powder X-ray diffraction profiles. The Rietveld computer program was modified to include and refine a coefficient relating to the eccentricity of the sample in the X-ray high-temperature camera.

The NZP structure is a candidate for immobilization of certain types of nuclear waste. It will incorporate 137Cs, 90Sr, and a range of other nuclides. The leach resistance of CsZr2(PO4)3 appears to be comparable with that of other phases under consideration for radio-Cs immobilization. This phase can be formed by sintering at ∼850°C; it is reasonably refractory, and it is compatible with monazite, a favored immobilizing agent for waste actinides.

Lattice thermal expansion has been measured on three samples of composition LiZr 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , prepared by (i) a ceramic method, (ii) a gel-route and (iii) a nonstoichiometric ceramic. The first sample is monoclinic (?), with a transition at 50°C to rhombohedral. The second is clearly monoclinic with lattice parameters depending on the calcination temperature (700 to 1200°C. The third kind of synthesis yielded a new PO 4 -deficitary rhombohedral structure. X-ray diffraction measurements in a high temperature camera have been made from room temperature up to 1100°C. Lattice parameters, as well as their dependence on temperature are different for the three samples. While thermal expansion of the ceramic sample shows a regular trend, in the gel-route sample there is a sharp transition between 155 and 200°C.

A structural model is proposed to describe the highly anisotropic thermal expansion in the sodium zirconium phosphate NaZr2P3O12 structure as a result of the thermal motion of the polyhedra in the structure. In the proposed model the rotations of the phosphate tetrahedra are coupled to the rotation of the zirconium octahedra. Of the two versions considered, the first one allows angular distortions to occur only in the ZrO6 octahedra; the second one permits all polyhedra to be distorted.

Crystalline phases in the system ZrO2-P2Os were reexamined. Samples of varied composition were prepared by the sol-gel route and calcining, as well as by reacting mixtures ofZrO2 and NH4H2PO4, at temperatures from 200° to 1400°C. Confusion regarding compositions and structures was clarified, and the phase Zr3(PO4)4 was confirmed. The latter can be written Zro.2sZr2(PO4)3 and is iso-structural withNaZr2P3O12. The role of mineralizers and the influence of zirconium salts can now be understood.

Compositions in the series Na1+xZr2P3-xSixO12 and Na1+4zZr2-zP3O12, where x = 0≤x≤1 and z=0≤z≤1/2, have thermal expansions that can be controlled (by selecting the composition) to values in the range

México's National Health Information and Documentation Center (CENIDS), planned and designed a Selective Dissemination of Information Program in support of Priority Health Problems (DSI-APS). After one year of the implementation phase of this Program, an evaluation survey was conducted in order to measure its impact. Two questionnaires were sent to the institutional managers (C-I) and to the end-users (C-II). A total of 54 questionnaires (CI and CII) were sent via air mail to both the Health and the Education Sectors. Fifty (92.59%) responses were obtained from CI and 242 from CII. (CII could be reproduced as many times as needed). The results indicated the topics of more demand by the institutions and by the users. Eighty one per cent of the end-users scored over eight (scale 1-10) their degree of satisfaction when using the topics. Seventy two per cent of the institutions reported being unable to pay for this service; however, 93% of the end-users state that the Program should continue. It was detected that the topics represent an important support to "research" and "delivery of health care" activities. Finally, it was recommended to carry out specific studies so as to reformulate search strategies; satisfy selective needs, considering the impact obtained; and optimize existent resources.