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Oceans are crucial to human survival, providing natural resources and most of the global oxygen supply, and are responsible for a large portion of worldwide economic development. Although it is widely considered a silent world, the sea is filled with natural sounds generated by marine life and geological processes. Man-made underwater sounds, such as active sonars, maritime traffic, and offshore oil and mineral exploration, have significantly affected underwater soundscapes and species. In this work, we report on a joint optical fiber-based communication and sensing technology aiming to reduce noise pollution in the sea while providing connectivity simultaneously with a variety of underwater applications. The designed multifunctional fiber-based system enables two-way data transfer, monitoring marine life and ship movement near the deployed fiber at the sea bottom and sensing temperature. The deployed fiber is equally harnessed to transfer energy that the internet of underwater things (IoUTs) devices can harvest. The reported approach significantly reduces the costs and effects of monitoring marine ecosystems while ensuring data transfer and ocean monitoring applications and providing continuous power for submerged IoUT devices.

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We designed and tested a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) that co-exists with optical communication over a two-mode fiber (TMF). In particular, we excited both linearly polarized (LP) modes, LP01 and LP11a, using a photonic lantern for simultaneous information signal transmission while collecting the backscattered Rayleigh light at the near end of the fiber to detect vibrations from a predetermined source. While transmitting data using on-off keying (OOK) or orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation schemes, the optical fiber DAS offers high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values that are always larger than the minimum acceptable 2 dB SNR. In addition, as a proof-of-concept experiment, we report parallel sensing and OFDM transmission achieving a data rate of up to 4.2 Gb/s with a bit error rate (BER) of 3.2 × 10-3.

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Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen and the major cause of hemorrhagic colitis. Pseudomonas is the genus most frequent psychrotrophic spoilage microorganisms present in milk. Two-species bacterial systems with E. coli O157:H7, non-pathogenic E. coli, and P. fluorescens in skimmed milk at 7, 13, 19, or 25 °C were studied. Bacterial interactions were modelled after applying a Bayesian approach. No direct correlation between P. fluorescens's growth rate and its effect on the maximum population densities of E. coli species was found. The results show the complexity of the interactions between two species in a food model. The use of natural microbiota members to control foodborne pathogens could be useful to improve food safety during the processing and storage of refrigerated foods.

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OBJECTIVE: Glycemic variability is an independent predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. The objective of this study was to compare two intravenous insulin protocols in critically ill patients regarding the glycemic variability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study performed by reviewing clinical records of patients from a Critical Care Unit for 4 consecutive months. First, a simpler Scale-Based Intravenous Insulin Protocol (SBIIP) was reviewed and later it was compared for the same months of the following year with a Sliding Scale-Based Intravenous Insulin Protocol (SSBIIP). All adult patients admitted to the unit during the referred months were included. Patients in whom the protocol was not adequately followed were excluded. A total of 557 patients were reviewed, of whom they had needed intravenous insulin 73 in the first group and 52 in the second group. Four and two patients were excluded in each group respectively. RESULTS: Glycemic variability for both day 1 (DS1) and total stay (DST) was lower in SSBIIP patients compared to SBIIP patients: SD1 34.88 vs 18.16 and SDT 36.45 vs 23.65 (P<.001). CONCLUSION: A glycemic management protocol in critically ill patients based on sliding scales decreases glycemic variability.

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Objetivo: La variabilidad glucémica es un predictor independiente de la mortalidad en pacientes críticos. El objetivo del presente estudio es comparar 2 protocolos de administración de insulina intravenosa en críticos en cuanto a la variabilidad glucémica se refiere. Material y métodos: Se trata de un estudio observacional retrospectivo realizado mediante revisión de historias clínicas de los pacientes de una unidad de críticos durante 4 meses consecutivos. Primero se revisó un protocolo de insulina más simple o protocolo de insulina intravenosa basado en una escala (PIVBE), que fue comparado con los mismos meses del siguiente año donde se utilizó protocolo insulina intravenosa basado en escalas dinámicas (PIVBED). Se incluyó a todos los pacientes, adultos, ingresados en la unidad durante los meses referidos. Se excluyó a los pacientes en los que el protocolo no se siguió correctamente. Se revisó a 557 pacientes, de los cuales habían necesitado insulina intravenosa 73 en el primer grupo y 52 en el segundo. Fueron excluidos 4 y 2 pacientes en cada grupo, respectivamente. Resultados: La variabilidad glucémica tanto del primer día (DS1) como la total de la estancia (DST) fue menor en aquellos pacientes tratados con el PIVBED frente al PIVBE: DS1 34,88 frente a 18,16 y DST 36,45 frente a 23,65 (p<0,001). Conclusión: Un protocolo de manejo de glucemia en pacientes críticos basado en escalas dinámicas disminuye la variabilidad glucémica (AU)

Objective: Glycemic variability is an independent predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. The objective of this study was to compare two intravenous insulin protocols in critically ill patients regarding the glycemic variability. Material and methods: This was a retrospective observational study performed by reviewing clinical records of patients from a Critical Care Unit for 4 consecutive months. First, a simpler Scale-Based Intravenous Insulin Protocol (SBIIP) was reviewed and later it was compared for the same months of the following year with a Sliding Scale-Based Intravenous Insulin Protocol (SSBIIP). All adult patients admitted to the unit during the referred months were included. Patients in whom the protocol was not adequately followed were excluded. A total of 557 patients were reviewed, of whom they had needed intravenous insulin 73 in the first group and 52 in the second group. Four and two patients were excluded in each group respectively. Results: Glycemic variability for both day 1 (DS1) and total stay (DST) was lower in SSBIIP patients compared to SBIIP patients: SD1 34.88 vs 18.16 and SDT 36.45 vs 23.65 (P<.001). Conclusion: A glycemic management protocol in critically ill patients based on sliding scales decreases glycemic variability (AU)

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INTRODUCCIÓN. La información sobre la situación laboral de los especialistas MIR tras su período formativo debería ser un requisito indispensable para una adecuada planificación de la oferta en formación especializada. De igual forma, sería conveniente disponer de la opinión de los egresados sobre su período formativo para identificar áreas de mejora. El objetivo de este estudio es el análisis de ambos aspectos entre los especialistas formados en el Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante y su Departamento de Salud tras 20 años de experiencia docente (1993-2012). SUJETOS Y MÉTODOS: Entre junio de 2013 y abril de 2014 se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional descriptivo mediante encuesta de opinión que incluía preguntas en dos bloques, laboral y formativo, y que se distribuyó entre los MIR formados en el centro en el período 1993-2012. El número de especialidades analizadas fue 16. RESULTADOS: De los 272 especialistas, respondió a la encuesta un 71%, el 93% en las especialidades hospitalarias. Al responderla, ninguno se encontraba en paro. Un 74% tenía trabajo estable y el 75% trabajaba en la provincia de Alicante. En nueve de las 16 especialidades, más del 80% de los especialistas encontró trabajo en el mes tras finalizar el período MIR. Casi el 70% volvería a elegir la plaza en la que se formó. El 93% de los encuestados manifestó sentirse solvente al realizar su trabajo. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque un 7% de los especialistas tardó más de seis meses en encontrar trabajo y en dos especialidades (medicina nuclear y medicina interna) el trabajo inestable superó al estable, la situación laboral y formativa de los MIR egresados en nuestro departamento hasta el año 2012 puede considerarse satisfactoria, con pleno empleo y niveles altos de percepción de solvencia en su trabajo como especialistas

INTRODUCTION: Information about medical employment after the specialist's training period should be an essential requirement for planning of future teaching needs. In the same way, it would be convenient to consider the trainee's opinion about their training period in order to identify different areas to be improved. The aim of this study was to analyse the opinion of doctors trained in the University Hospital of San Juan de Alicante about their working conditions and teaching program. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In the period between June/2013 and April/2014, an observational descriptive study through a questionnaire survey was performed, including two groups of questions that were answered by the specialists trained in the Health Department of Alicante-San Juan after 20 years (1993-2012). Sixteen medical specialities were analysed. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 71% of 272 trained specialists, 93% of hospital specialties (not including primary care). When the questionnaire was answered, any of the specialists was on unemployment. Seventy four percent had a stable job, and 75% were working in the province of Alicante. In 9 of the 16 specialties, more than 80% of the specialists were already working in the first month after finishing their training period. Almost 70% would choose the same specialty again. Ninety three percent expressed to feel solvent in their job as a specialist. CONCLUSIONS: Seven percent of the specialists remained in unemployment more than 6 months and, in nuclear and internal medicine, the number of unstable jobs exceeded the stable jobs. However, up to 2012, the working and educational situation of medical specialists trained in the University Hospital of San Juan de Alicante can be considered satisfactory, with full employment and a very good self-perception of solvency

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This study shows the changes of natural organic matter (NOM) from Lake Hohloh, (Black Forest, Germany) during heterogeneous photocatalysis with TiO2 (TiO2/UV). The effect of pH on the adsorption of NOM onto TiO2 in the dark and TiO2/UV degradation of NOM was followed using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence. At pH values between 4 and 9, the NOM was adsorbed onto TiO2 in the dark with a greater decrease in the fluorescence intensity and in the spectral shapes, especially under acidic pH conditions. However, at pH = 10 there was not adsorption on NOM which led to a negligible changes the fluorescence intensity. A significant high linear correlation was observed between the DOC adsorption onto TiO2 and the maximum fluorescence intensity. Additionally, the NOM adsorption onto TiO2 and its TiO2/UV degradation shifted the fluorescence maxima toward shorter wavelengths in the EEM contour plots, with a decrease in aromaticity. These changes were accompanied by a substantial decrease in the organically bound halogens adsorbable on activated carbon (AOXFP) and the trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP). Thus, the decrease in maximum fluorescence intensity can be used as an indicator of AOXFP and TTHMFP removal efficiency. Therefore, fluorescence spectroscopy is a robust analytical technique for evaluate TiO2/UV removal of NOM.

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This work reports on the changes in compositions of humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) during photocatalytic degradation. The HAs and FAs were obtained from the XAD-resin fractionation of natural-organic matter (NOM) from a bog lake (Lake Hohloh, Black Forest, Germany). Degussa P-25 titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a suspension and a solar UV simulator (batch reactor) were used in the experiments. The photocatalytic degradation of the HAs and FAs were monitored using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) equipped with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ultraviolet (UV254) detection (SEC-DOC and SEC-UV254) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The evolutions of the photocatalytic degradations of the HA and FA fractions were selective. The photocatalytic degradation started with the degradations of high molecular weight compounds with relatively high UV254 absorbances in the HA and FA fractions to yield low molecular weight compounds showing less specific UV254 absorbances. Observance of the same tendency for the original NOM from Lake Hohloh indicates that these XAD-fractions still having complex compound mixtures. However, the larger molecular weight fractions of the FAs showed higher preferential adsorptions onto TiO2, which caused their faster degradation rates. Furthermore, FAs showed a greater reduction of the total THM formation potential (TTHMFP) and the organic halogen compounds adsorbable on activated carbon formation potential (AOXFP), in comparison with the HAs.

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BACKGROUND: To provide an overview of the available data from clinical studies of vaginal conditions in women who use a vaginal ring as a contraceptive. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature. RESULTS: Millions of women have already used the ethylene vinyl acetate vaginal ring that releases ethinylestradiol and etonogestrel for contraception. Because of its small size, more than four out of five women using the ring report that they do not feel it, even during sexual intercourse. No colposcopic or cytological changes have been observed in users, although approximately 10% have increased vaginal discharge. While in vitro studies have shown adhesion of Candida yeasts to the vaginal ring surface, clinical studies have not demonstrated a greater incidence of Candida infections compared to users of equivalent oral contraceptives. Some clinical studies suggest a lower incidence of bacterial vaginosis. No interaction exists between concomitant use of the vaginal ring and other drugs or products for vaginal use. CONCLUSION: The use of a contraceptive vaginal ring does not alter the vaginal ecosystem and therefore does not substantially affect vaginal health.

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This study reports the use of excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence and UV/Vis spectroscopy to monitor the changes in the composition and reactivity of Aldrich humic acids (Aldrich HA) as a model compound for natural organic matter (NOM) during photocatalytic degradation. Degussa P-25 titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) and a solar UV-light simulator (a batch reactor) were used. The photocatalysis shifted the fluorescence maxima of EEMs of Aldrich HA toward shorter wavelengths, which implied that the photocatalytic degradation of commercial Aldrich HA caused the breakdown of high molecular weight components and the formation of lower molecular weight fractions. In addition, the fluorescence intensity of fulvic- and humic-like Aldrich HA presented a strong correlation with dissolved organic carbon (DOC), specific UV absorbance (SUVA) parameters, trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP), and organically bound halogens absorbable on activated carbon formation potential (AOXFP). Fluorescence spectroscopy was shown to be a powerful tool for monitoring of the photocatalytic degradation of HA.

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This study shows the effect of different titanium dioxides in transforming the structural properties of natural organic matter (NOM) during photocatalytic degradation with a solar UV light simulator. Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) synthesized by the sol-gel method coupled with the solvothermal technique and Degussa P-25 TiO(2) were used. The evolution of NOM degradation was followed by size exclusion chromatography with dissolved organic carbon, ultraviolet and fluorescence detection (SEC-DOC, SEC-UV(254) and SEC-Fl(254/450)). For both catalysts, there was a preferential degradation of the larger molecules of NOM into medium and smaller molecular size fractions. However, the synthesized TiO(2) was found to be more efficient than Degussa P-25 TiO(2) for DOC removal, especially UV(254) absorption and Fl(254/450) removal.

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Se optimizó la técnica de microextracción en fase sólida acoplada a cromatografía gaseosa con detector de ionización de flama (HS-SPME/GC-FID por su nombre en inglés) para análisis de metanol en agua utilizando diferentes microfibras, una fibra de poliacrilato y una fibra de polidimetilsiloxano y una columna RTX-5. Las variables evaluadas fueron tiempo de absorción del contaminante en la fibra, volumen libre en el vial, tiempo y temperatura de desorción y efecto de la agitación y presencia de sal en el sistema. De acuerdo con los resultados, el tiempo óptimo de absorción es 15 minutos, el volumen de muestra es 5 mL. Se encontró que existe una íntima relación entre la temperatura de desorción y el área del pico cromatográfico, y una correlación R² = 0,99965 para la curva de calibración elaborada en un rango entre 0 y 50%, considerando el origen, con un límite de detección de 0,01% y un límite de cuantificación del 0,04%.

The technique head space-solid phase micro extraction with gaseous chromatography by using flame ionization detector (HS-SPME/GC-FID) for analysis of methanol in water was optimized using different microfibers, a polyacrylate fiber and a polydimethylsiloxane fiber and a RTX-5 column. The evaluated variables were time of absorption of the pollutant on the fiber, free volume in the vial (free space), time and temperature of desorption as well as effect of agitation and presence of salt in the system. According to the results, the optimal absorption time is 15 minutes, the optimal volume of sample is 5 mL. A close relationship between the temperature of desorption and the chromatographic peak area was found, and a correlation R² = 0.99965 was obtained for the calibration curve in a range between 0 and 50%, considering the origin, with a detection limit of 0.01% and a quantification limit of 0.04%.

A técnica microextração em fase sólida acoplada a cromatografia gasosa com detector de ionização de chama (HS-SPME/GC-FID por seu nome em Inglês) foi otimizada para análise de metanol em água através de diferente micro fibra, uma fibra de poliacrilato e uma fibra de polidimetilsiloxano e uma coluna de RTX-5. As variáveis avaliadas foram tempo para absorver o poluente no volume de fibra livre no frasco, tempo e temperatura de dessorção e efeito da agitação e da presença de sal no sistema. De acordo com os resultados, o tempo de absorção ideal é 15 minutos, o volume da amostra é 5 mL. Descobrimos uma íntima relação entre a temperatura de dessorção e área do pico cromatográfico, e uma correlação R2 = 0,99965 para a curva de calibração desenvolvida em uma escala entre 0 e 50%, considerando a origem, com um limite de detecção de 0,01% e um limite de quantificação de 0,04%.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess the acceptability of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS, Mirena®) in the long-term treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of all consecutive women who had a LNG-IUS inserted for control of idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding between January 2000 and December 2003. Duration of use, reasons for early removal, number of devices removed after 5 years of use, and number of women who decided to use a second LNG-IUS were assessed. RESULTS: Of a total of 216 devices inserted, 129 (59.7%) were removed after 5 years of use, 68 (31.5%) were removed anytime before the completion of 5 years, and the remaining 19 (8.8%) patients were lost to follow-up. In 32 of the 68 cases (47.1%) with early removal of the LNG-IUS, the main reason for discontinuation was the appearance of the menopause. After the 5-year effective lifetime of the LNG-IUS, 51 of the 129 women (39.5%) chose to have a second device inserted. Of the 78 women who completed the 5-year treatment period and did not decide to use the LNG-IUS again, 71 (91%) had reached the menopause. CONCLUSION: The LNG-IUS was well accepted by women with idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding as shown by 39.5% of users (or 87.9% if menopausal women are excluded) deciding to use a second device when the first LNG-IUS expired after 5 years of use.

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We present a new methodology for discriminating genomic symbolic sequences, which combines wavelet analysis and a self-organizing map algorithm. Wavelets are used to extract variation across various scales in the oligonucleotide patterns of a sequence. The variation is quantified by the estimated wavelet variance, which yields a feature vector. Feature vectors obtained from many genomic sequences, possibly of different lengths, are then classified with a nonparametric self-organizing map scheme. When applied to nearly 200 entire mitochondrial DNA sequences, or their fragments, the method predicts species taxonomic group membership very well, and allows the results to be visualized. When only thousands of nucleotides are available, wavelet-based feature vectors of short oligonucleotide patterns are more efficient in discrimination than frequency-based feature vectors of long patterns. This new data analysis strategy could be extended to numeric genomic data. The routines needed to perform the computations are readily available in two packages of software R.

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