Prediction of Thermal Damage upon Ultrafast Laser Ablation of Metals.

Ultrafast lasers micromachining results depend on both the processing parameters and the material properties. The obtained thermal effects are negligible if a good combination of processing parameters is chosen. However, optimizing the processing parameters leading to the required surface quality on a given material can be quite complex and time consuming. We developed a semi-empirical model to estimate the heat accumulation on a surface as a function of the laser fluence, scanning speed and repetition rate. The simulation results were correlated with experimental ones on different materials, and compared with the transient temperature distributions calculated using an analytical solution to the heat transfer equation. The predictions of the proposed model allow evaluating the heat distribution on the surface, as well as optimizing the ultrafast laser micromachining strategy, yielding negligible thermal damage.

Hypofractionated radiation therapy for early breast cancer: Follow up of a new treatment standard.

AIM: To assess the oncological outcomes of patients with early breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant hypofractionated radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIAL: This retrospective analysis included all patients ≥50 year of age with T1-2 N0 M0 breast cancer treated at our Radiation Oncology Unit between 2008 and 2011. Whole-breast radiation therapy was delivered to a dose of 42.5 Gy in 16 fractions, without boost. The primary outcome was local control. RESULTS: 212 patients were identified. With a median follow up of 60 months, we found 3% local recurrence and 5.3% regional and/or distant recurrences. At the moment of data analysis, 17 patients had died. Out of 5 local recurrences, 2 had previously had a distant recurrence, both of them died. The other three were still alive at the last follow up. These results are comparable to those observed in Phase III trials that use this fractionation scheme. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained with this retrospective analysis are comparable to those obtained in large randomized trials. This data also supports the use of hypofractionated radiation therapy in Latin America. Hypofractionated radiation therapy for early breast cancer patients should be the standard adjuvant treatment.

Improved Leadership Skills and Aptitudes in an Excellence EMBA Program: Creating Synergies With Dialogic Leadership to Achieve Social Impact.

Psychological research on leadership has demonstrated that it achieves social impact, particularly in the improvement of working environments and organizational performance. The understanding of the organizational context of leader behavior and its different components is crucial to analyzing the impact of leadership in organizations. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the transformation and change of leadership skills and aptitudes before and after the implementation of an excellence EMBA program, particularly in relation to two components of the organizational context: (1) goals and purposes, and (2) people and groups. Data were collected from open-ended questionnaires completed by alumni and current participants in an Executive MBA program (EMBA) and enrolled in leadership courses. The emerging issues identified in the responses include themes linked to dialogic leadership and show that participants improve their leadership skills and aptitudes, advancing toward effective leadership and potential social impact in their organizations. The article concludes with a discussion identifying synergies with current developments of psychological research in leadership and the social impact of science.

Tratamiento con aripiprazol en la práctica clínica: consenso de un panel de expertos / Treatment with aripiprazole in clinical practice: Expert consensus panel

Objetivo: Revisión de la evidencia científica sobre el manejo clínico del aripiprazol. Metodología: Un panel de expertos formado por 7 miembros discutió una serie de casos clínicos. Cuando se llegó a un consenso, sacaron sus conclusiones. Además, se revisaron e incluyeron los datos y la evidencia clínica de los ensayos clínicos de aripiprazol más relevantes de los últimos 10años. Resultados: El aripiprazol por vía oral es eficaz para el tratamiento de los pacientes con esquizofrenia y trastorno bipolar, tanto en la fase aguda como en la fase de mantenimiento. También demostró ser eficaz para evitar las recaídas. La administración intramuscular es útil en el manejo de la agitación en esos pacientes. La presentación inyectable de liberación prolongada ha tenido resultados positivos en el retraso de la recaída en pacientes esquizofrénicos y bipolares, y mejora el cumplimiento del tratamiento. El aripiprazol es un fármaco bien tolerado y los efectos adversos, como somnolencia, aumento de peso, trastornos metabólicos o eventos cardiovasculares, son menos frecuentes que para otros fármacos antipsicóticos. El aripiprazol ha sido bien tolerado cuando se usa en combinación con otros antipsicóticos, debido a sus interacciones limitadas. Conclusiones: Los datos de los estudios revisados y el consenso del panel de expertos mostraron que el aripiprazol es un tratamiento efectivo y bien tolerado para los pacientes con esquizofrenia, trastorno esquizoafectivo, trastorno bipolar moderado a grave y episodios maníacos. Su uso también conduce a una mejor adherencia. La menor frecuencia de sedación y el hecho de que no afecte a la función cognitiva del paciente mejoran la adherencia y colocan al aripiprazol en una buena posición como opción terapéutica

Objective: To review the scientific evidence on the clinical management of aripiprazole. Methodology: A seven-member expert panel discussed a series of clinical cases. When a consensus was reached, they drew their conclusion. They also reviewed, and included data and clinical evidence from the most relevant aripiprazole clinical trials from the last 10years. Results: Oral aripiprazole is effective for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, both in the acute and maintenance phase. It was also shown to be effective to prevent relapses. Intramuscular administration is useful in the management of agitation in these patients. The presentation of prolonged action has had positive results in the delay of a relapse in schizophrenic and bipolar patients, and improves treatment compliance. Aripiprazole is a well-tolerated drug and the secondary effects, such as drowsiness, increase in weight, metabolic disorders, or cardiovascular events are less common than in other antipsychotic drugs. Aripiprazole has been well-tolerated when it was used in combination with other antipsychotic drugs, due to their limited interaction. Conclusions: The data from the reviews studied and the consensus of the Expert Panel showed that Aripiprazole is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorders, moderate to severe bipolar disorder, and manic episodes. Its use leads to improved adherence. The lower sedation frequency and the fact that it does affect the cognitive function of the patient improves adherence and places aripiprazole in a good position as a therapeutic option

La planeación del territorio y los grupos vulnerables en la prevención de los desastres

División de los grupos de personar vulnerables, los grupos vulnerables se identifican por encontrarse bajo una fuerte marginación social y económica, por falta de salud y eduación, así como por la falta de oportunidades, que en muchos aspectos se encuentra afectando el medio ambiente. Los grupos involucrados dentro de este concepto son los niños menores de 14 años, ancianos mayores a 65 años, mujeres gestantes y lactantes, personas con discapacidad, indígenas y personas de extrema pobreza