Showing papers by "Rovira i Virgili University published in 2009"

International Study of the Prevalence and Outcomes of Infection in Intensive Care Units

Abstract: Context Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. However, relatively little information is available about the global epidemiology of such infections. Objective To provide an up-to-date, international picture of the extent and patterns of infection in ICUs. Design, Setting, and Patients The Extended Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care (EPIC II) study, a 1-day, prospective, point prevalence study with follow-up conducted on May 8, 2007. Demographic, physiological, bacteriological, therapeutic, and outcome data were collected for 14 414 patients in 1265 participating ICUs from 75 countries on the study day. Analyses focused on the data from the 13 796 adult (>18 years) patients. Results On the day of the study, 7087 of 13 796 patients (51%) were considered infected; 9084 (71%) were receiving antibiotics. The infection was of respiratory origin in 4503 (64%), and microbiological culture results were positive in 4947 (70%) of the infected patients; 62% of the positive isolates were gram-negative organisms, 47% were gram-positive, and 19% were fungi. Patients who had longer ICU stays prior to the study day had higher rates of infection, especially infections due to resistant staphylococci, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas species, and Candida species. The ICU mortality rate of infected patients was more than twice that of noninfected patients (25% [1688/6659] vs 11% [ 682/6352], respectively; P Conclusions Infections are common in patients in contemporary ICUs, and risk of infection increases with duration of ICU stay. In this large cohort, infection was independently associated with an increased risk of hospital death.

Exploring Translation Theories

Abstract: O presente e uma traducao do capitulo Descriptions - the intellectual background, que complementa o capitulo 5 do livro Exploring Translations Studies (2010), de Anthony Pym. O capitulo traca a ligacao entre o Formalismo Russo e algumas vertentes dos Estudos da Traducao surgidas ao longo do seculo XIX. Passa pelos esforcos realizados em Praga (Circulo de Praga), Bratislava e Leipzig e pelos realizados em Holland e Flandres, mas foca-se principalmente na Escola de Tel Aviv, onde atuam Itamar Even-Zohar e Gideon Toury, os principais proponentes dos Estudos Descritivos da Traducao (EDT). Ao analisar esse contexto academico, descreve o tipo de analise proposto por esses teoricos e discute as vantagens e desvantagens desse paradigma, problematizando os conceitos de “deslocamentos tradutorios”, “traducoes assumidas” e “normas”. A traducao aqui apresentada pretende trazer o texto de Pym com a clareza e fluidez que caracterizam o original, para que ele sirva tanto como referencial historico, quanto texto introdutorio aos Estudos da Traducao.

Empirical studies in industrial location: an assessment of their methods and results*

Abstract: This paper surveys recent evidence on the determinants of (national and/or foreign) industrial location. We find that the basic analytical framework has remained essentially unaltered since the early contributions of the early 1980s while, in contrast, there have been advances in the quality of the data (more firm and plant level information, geographical disaggregation, panel structure, etc.) and, to a lesser extent, the econometric modeling. We also identify certain determinants (neoclassical and institutional factors) that tend to provide largely consistent results across the reviewed studies. In light of this evidence, we finally suggest future lines of research.

The paraoxonases: role in human diseases and methodological difficulties in measurement

Abstract: Research into the paraoxonase (PON) gene family has flourished over the past few years. In the 1970s and 1980s, only PON1 was known, and the investigations were conducted, essentially, by toxicologists focusing on protection against organophosphate poisoning. Since then, two new members of the family, PON2 and PON3, have been identified, both being shown to play antioxidant and anti-inflammatory roles. Evidence exists indicating that the PON family is central to a wide variety of human illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and several mental disorders. However, research is hampered considerably by the methods currently available to measure the activity of these enzymes. In this review, we summarize the state of knowledge on PON biochemistry and function, the influence of genetic variations, and the involvement of PON in several diseases. The problems associated with PON measurement, such as sample acquisition, lack of reference methods, and variety of substrates, will be presented. Also, we cover some of the present lines of research and propose some others for future progress in this field.

Analysis of community structure in networks of correlated data.

Abstract: We present a reformulation of modularity that allows the analysis of the community structure in networks of correlated data The modularity preserves the probabilistic semantics of the original definition even when the network is directed, weighted, signed, and has self-loops This is the most general condition one can find in the study of any network, in particular those defined from correlated data We apply our results to a real network of correlated data between stores in the city of Lyon (France)

Transduction mechanism of carbon nanotubes in solid-contact ion-selective electrodes.

Abstract: Porous carbon materials and carbon nanotubes were recently used as solid contacts in ion-selective electrodes (ISE), and the signal transduction mechanism of these carbon-based materials is therefore of great interest. In this work the ion-to-electron transduction mechanism of carbon nanotubes is studied by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are deposited on glassy carbon (GC) disk electrodes by repetitive spraying, resulting in SWCNT layers with thicknesses of 10, 35, and 50 μm. The impedance spectra of these GC/SWCNT electrodes in contact with aqueous electrolyte solution show a very small resistance and a large bulk capacitance that is related to a large effective double layer at the SWCNT/electrolyte interface. Interestingly, the impedance response of GC/SWCNT is very similar to that of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) film electrodes studied earlier under the same experimental conditions. The same equivalent c...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence and therapy: evolving translational strategies.

Abstract: Objective:Although most reviews of Pseudomonas aeruginosa therapeutics focus on antibiotics currently in use or in the pipeline, we review evolving translational strategies aimed at using virulence factor antagonists as adjunctive therapies.Data Source:Current literature regarding P. aeruginosa viru

Water oxidation at a tetraruthenate core stabilized by polyoxometalate ligands: experimental and computational evidence to trace the competent intermediates.

Abstract: Converging UV−vis, EPR, rRaman, and DFT calculations highlight the evolution of [Ru4(H2O)4(μ-O)4(μ−OH)2(γ-SiW10O36)2]10−, 1, to high-valent intermediates. In analogy with the natural enzyme, five different oxidation states, generated from 1, have been found to power the catalytic cycle for water oxidation. A high electrophilic tetraruthenium(V)-hydroxo species is envisaged as the competent intermediate, undergoing nucleophilic attack by an external water molecule as a key step in the formation of a new O−O bond under catalytic conditions.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of metabolic syndrome and its components.

Abstract: Background and aims: The role of diet in the aetiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and MetS. Methods and results: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 808 high cardiovascular risk participants of the Reus PREDIMED Centre. MetS was defined by the updated National Choles- terol and Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. An inverse association between quartiles of adherence to the MedDiet (14-point score) and the prevalence of MetS (P for trend < 0.001) was observed. After adjusting for age, sex, total energy intake, smoking status and physical activity, participants with the highest score of adherence to the MedDiet (9 points) had the lowest odds ratio of having MetS (OR (95% CI) of 0.44 (0.27e0.70)) compared to those in the lowest quartile. ParticipantswiththehighestMedDietadherencehad47and54%loweroddsofhavinglowHDL-cand

LCA as a decision support tool for the environmental improvement of the operation of a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Abstract: Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used to evaluate the environmental profile of a product or process from its origin to its final destination. In this paper we used LCA to evaluate the current situation of a wastewater treatment plant and identify improvement alternatives. Currently, the highest environmental impacts are caused by the stages of the plant with the highest energy consumption, the use of biogas from anaerobic digestion (95% burned in torch) and the final destination of the sludge (98.6% for agricultural use and 1.4% for compost). We propose four alternatives for biogas applications and five alternatives for sludge applications and compare them to the current situation. The alternatives were incorporated in a decision support system to identify and prioritize the most positive environmental option. Using biogas to produce electricity or a combination of electricity and heat provided the best environmental options since the energy produced would be enough to supply all the stages of t...

Mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome: the evidence

Abstract: Background: The Mediterranean diet has long been related to a lower cardiovascular disease risk; however, more recent evidences also indicate that it has a favourable effect on adiposity and type 2 diabetes. Design: Review of the available literature in relation to Mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome. Results: Several components of Mediterranean diet patterns have been inversely related with body mass index. They are considered to be modulators of insulin resistance, can exert beneficial effects on blood pressure, improve atherogenic dyslipidemia or attenuate the inflammatory burden associated with metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome has been associated with dietary patterns rich in fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil, legumes and fish, moderate in alcohol and low in red meat, processed meat, refined carbohydrates and whole-fat dairy products. Conclusions: There is much evidence suggesting that the Mediterranean diet could serve as an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern, which could help to fight diseases related to chronic inflammation, including metabolic syndrome.

Technology, Literacy and Learning: A Multimodal Approach

Abstract: (2009). Technology, Literacy and Learning: A Multimodal Approach. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 80, No. 3, pp. 356-358.