Influence of R=Y, Gd, Sm on Crystallization and Sodium Ion Conductivity of Na5RSi4O12 Phase.

New sodium-based battery concepts require solid electrolytes as ion conducting separators. Besides NaSICON and ß-Al2O3 in the Na2O-R2O3-SiO2 system (R = rare earth), a rarely noticed glass-ceramic solid electrolyte with the composition Na5RSi4O12 (N5-type) exists. The present study addresses the investigation of the ionic conductivity of Na5RSi4O12 solid electrolytes sintered from pre-crystallized glass-ceramic powders. The sintering behavior (optical dilatometry), the microstructure (SEM/EDX), and phase composition (XRD), as well as electrochemical properties (impedance spectroscopy), were investigated. To evaluate the effect of the ionic radii, Y, Sm and Gd rare elements were chosen. All compositions were successfully synthesized to fully densified compacts having the corresponding conducting N5-type phase as the main component. The densification behavior was in agreement with the melting point, which decreased with increasing ionic radii and specific cell volume. Alternatively, the ionic conductivities of N5-phases decreased from Y to Gd and Sm containing samples. The highest ionic conductivity of 1.82 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 20 °C was obtained for Na5YSi4O12 composition. The impact of grain boundaries and bulk conductivity on measured values is discussed. A powder-based synthesis method of this glass-ceramic solid electrolyte using different rare earth elements opens possibilities for optimizing ionic conductivity and scalable technological processing by tape casting.

Ancient DNA sheds light on the ancestry of pre-hispanic Canarian pigs.

BACKGROUND: Canarian Black (CB) pigs belong to an autochthonous and endangered breed, which is spread throughout the Canarian archipelago. It is commonly accepted that they represent a relic of the pig populations that were bred by the Berbers in North Africa over millennia. It is important to note that the geographic isolation of the Canary Islands has preserved this genetic legacy intact from foreign introgressions until the Spanish conquest of the archipelago in the 15(th) century. Ten years ago, it was demonstrated that, in CB pigs, the frequency of the Asian A2 cytochrome-b haplogroup reached 73%. The current work aimed at investigating whether this observation is explained by either a recent or an ancient introgression of CB pigs with Far Eastern pigs. RESULTS: Genetic analyses of 23 ancient samples from pre-hispanic Canarian pigs (420 to 2500 years before present) showed that Near Eastern and Far Eastern genetic signatures were totally absent in the primitive Canarian pre-hispanic pigs. Indeed, the haplotypes detected in these pigs were closely related to those of North African and European wild boars. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the high frequency of the Far Eastern mitochondrial cytochrome B A2 haplotype in modern Canarian Black pigs probably corresponds to a relatively recent introgression with British breeds.

[Utilization of dermatology services among the immigrant population]. / Análisis de la demanda asistencial en dermatología de la población inmigrante.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utilization rate of a dermatology service among the immigrant population and compare this rate with that among the autochthonous population. METHODS: Over a 1-year period, data on all patients attended in the Dermatology Service of Health Department 19 in the autonomous community of Valencia were prospectively collected. RESULTS: Of 39,160 consultations, 1,625 were made by immigrants (4.1%). Attendance for dermatologic emergencies was greater in immigrants than in the autochthonous population (7.7% vs 3.0%; p<0.001), while surgical activity was lower in immigrants than in Spanish-born patients (2.6% vs 5%; p<0.001). Demand for consultation in the immigrant population was 5.7 visits per 100 immigrants, lower than that in the autochthonous population (16.2). The standardized rate ratio was 0.34. North Africans (5.6 per 100 immigrants), East Europeans (4.8), sub-Saharan Africans (5.3) and Asians (4.2) consulted less than Latin Americans (8.5; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Demand was lower in the immigrant than in the autochthonous population, and the utilization pattern differed according to country.

Análisis de la demanda asistencial en dermatología de la población inmigrante / Utilization of dermatology services among the immigrant population

Objetivos: Conocer la demanda asistencial en dermatología de la población inmigrante (PI) y compararla con la de la población autóctona (PA). Métodos: Durante un año, se recogió prospectivamente el número de enfermedades atendidas en dermatología en el Departamento de Salud 19 de la Comunidad Valenciana. Resultados: De 39.160 episodios, 1.625 fueron en PI (4,1%). La asistencia por urgencias fue mayor en PI que en PA (el 7,7 frente al 3,0%; p < 0,001) y la actividad quirúrgica en PI fue menor que en PA (el 2,6 frente al 5%; p < 0,001). La demanda en la PI fue de 5,7 episodios por 100 inmigrantes, inferior a la PA (16,2). La razón de tasas estandarizada fue de 0,34. Los pacientes del norte de África (5,6 por 100 inmigrantes), Europa del Este (4,8), África subsahariana (5,3) y Asia (4,2) consultaron menos que los latinoamericanos (8,5; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: La demanda en PI fue inferior a la PA y con un patrón de utilización diferente por países (AU)

Objective: To determine the utilization rate of a dermatology service among the immigrant population and compare this rate with that among the autochthonous population. Methods: Over a 1-year period, data on all patients attended in the Dermatology Service of Health Department 19 in the autonomous community of Valencia were prospectively collected. Results: Of 39,160 consultations, 1,625 were made by immigrants (4.1%). Attendance for dermatologic emergencies was greater in immigrants than in the autochthonous population (7.7% vs 3.0%; p < 0.001), while surgical activity was lower in immigrants than in Spanish-born patients (2.6% vs 5%; p < 0.001). Demand for consultation in the immigrant population was 5.7 visits per 100 immigrants, lower than that in the autochthonous population (16.2). The standardized rate ratio was 0.34. North Africans (5.6 per 100 immigrants), East Europeans (4.8), sub-Saharan Africans (5.3) and Asians (4.2) consulted less than Latin Americans (8.5; p<0.001). Conclusions: Demand was lower in the immigrant than in the autochthonous population, and the utilization patters differed according to country (AU)

Ortner's syndrome and endoluminal treatment of a thoracic aortic aneurysm: a case report.

Left recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis was first described in 1897 by Ortner in a patient with mitral valve disease. However, this paralysis has also been attributed to other cardiovascular pathologies, such as thoracic aortic aneurysms. In 1971, Parodi introduced the endoluminal technique by inserting endovascular prostheses for the treatment of vascular aneurysms. The authors present a case of acute dysphonia following left recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, confirmed by laryngoscopy, in a patient who was diagnosed with a saccular thoracic aortic aneurysm and treated with endovascular prostheses. It was not necessary to perform any additional surgical procedures on the vocal folds because the patient showed sufficient improvement during speech therapy. Follow-up exams at 3 and 6 months demonstrated the lack of any swallowing or respiratory disorders.

Siringomas de células claras y diabetes mellitus / Clear-cell syringoma and diabetes mellitus

Una mujer de 64 años, diabética tipo 2, presentaba múltiples pápulas eritematosas en la cara y el cuello. La biopsia mostró que se trataba de siringomas de células claras. Destacamos el aspecto atípico y distribución inusual de las lesiones en nuestra paciente; revisamos la histopatología de esta variedad de siringomas, así como su relación con la diabetes mellitus (AU)