MicroHikari3D: an automated DIY digital microscopy platform with deep learning capabilities.

A microscope is an essential tool in biosciences and production quality laboratories for unveiling the secrets of microworlds. This paper describes the development of MicroHikari3D, an affordable DIY optical microscopy platform with automated sample positioning, autofocus and several illumination modalities to provide a high-quality flexible microscopy tool for labs with a short budget. This proposed optical microscope design aims to achieve high customization capabilities to allow whole 2D slide imaging and observation of 3D live specimens. The MicroHikari3D motion control system is based on the entry level 3D printer kit Tronxy X1 controlled from a server running in a Raspberry Pi 4. The server provides services to a client mobile app for video/image acquisition, processing, and a high level classification task by applying deep learning models.

La atención primaria en Dinamarca / Primary care in Denmark

Los países escandinavos se encuentran situados entre los que tienen las mejores prestaciones de salud, así como calidad de vida, en toda Europa. Pero muchas veces desconocemos a qué se puede deber este efecto, siendo la barrera del idioma una de las más frecuentes y difíciles de sobrepasar. Pretendemos realizar un resumen del sistema sanitario danés para conocer sus principales virtudes y utilizando sus herramientas poder eventualmente llevar a cabo mejoras en nuestro sistema nacional de salud. Probablemente muchas no puedan ser realizadas por el diferente ámbito de gestión, pero algunas si podrían tener cabida, permitiéndonos mejorar más aún. Esta presentación puede además servir como una referencia a aquellos residentes de atención primaria que deseen hacer una rotación externa en un país escandinavo

Scandinavian countries have one of the best health services, as well as quality of life, in all Europe. It is often unknown why this is the case, with the language barrier being one of the most frequent and difficult to overcome. A summary of the Danish health system is presented in order to know its main virtues and use its tools to eventually make improvements in our national health system. Many of them will not be able to be used due to the different management type, but some of them could be performed allowing us to improve and become better physicians. This presentation can be used as a reference for those who are training in Primary Care and who wish to do an external rotation in a Scandinavian country

[Primary care in Denmark]. / La atención primaria en Dinamarca.

Scandinavian countries have one of the best health services, as well as quality of life, in all Europe. It is often unknown why this is the case, with the language barrier being one of the most frequent and difficult to overcome. A summary of the Danish health system is presented in order to know its main virtues and use its tools to eventually make improvements in our national health system. Many of them will not be able to be used due to the different management type, but some of them could be performed allowing us to improve and become better physicians. This presentation can be used as a reference for those who are training in Primary Care and who wish to do an external rotation in a Scandinavian country.

Publisher Correction: Magnetoelectric inversion of domain patterns.

Four incorrect figure citations in this Letter have been corrected online.

Magnetoelectric inversion of domain patterns.

The inversion of inhomogeneous physical states has great technological importance; for example, active noise reduction relies on the emission of an inverted sound wave that interferes destructively with the noise of the emitter1, and inverting the evolution of a spin system by using a magnetic-field pulse enables magnetic resonance tomography2. In contrast to these examples, inversion of a distribution of ferromagnetic or ferroelectric domains within a material is surprisingly difficult: field poling creates a single-domain state, and piece-by-piece inversion using a scanning tip is impractical. Here we report inversion of entire ferromagnetic and ferroelectric domain patterns in the magnetoelectric material Co3TeO6 and the multiferroic material Mn2GeO4, respectively. In these materials, an applied magnetic field reverses the magnetization or polarization, respectively, of each domain, but leaves the domain pattern intact. Landau theory indicates that this type of magnetoelectric inversion is universal across materials that exhibit complex ordering, with one order parameter holding the memory of the domain structure and another setting its overall sign. Domain-pattern inversion is only one example of a previously unnoticed effect in systems such as multiferroics, in which several order parameters are available for combination. Exploring these effects could therefore advance multiferroics towards new levels of functionality.

Advanced MRI techniques: biomarkers in neuropsychiatric lupus.

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine whether advanced MRI could provide biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). Methods Our prospective study included 28 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with primary central NPSLE, 22 patients without NPSLE and 20 healthy controls. We used visual scales to evaluate atrophy and white matter hyperintensities, voxel-based morphometry and Freesurfer to measure brain volume, plus diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) to assess white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) damage. We compared the groups and correlated MRI abnormalities with clinical data. Results NPSLE patients had less GM and WM than controls ( p = 0.042) in the fronto-temporal regions and corpus callosum. They also had increased diffusivities in the temporal lobe WM ( p < 0.010) and reduced fractional anisotropy in the right frontal lobe WM ( p = 0.018). High clinical scores, longstanding disease, and low serum C3 were associated with atrophy, lower fractional anisotropy and higher diffusivity in the fronto-temporal lobes. Antimalarial treatment correlated negatively with atrophy in the frontal cortex and thalamus; it was also associated with lower diffusivity in the fronto-temporal WM clusters. Conclusions Atrophy and microstructural damage in fronto-temporal WM and GM in NPSLE correlate with severity, activity and the time from disease onset. Antimalarial treatment seems to give some brain-protective effects.

Magnetoelectric effects in the spiral magnets CuCl2 and CuBr2.

The nature and symmetry of transition mechanisms in the spin-spiral copper halides CuCl2 and CuBr2 are analyzed theoretically. The magnetoelectric effects observed in the two multiferroic compounds are described and their phase diagram at zero and applied magnetic fields are worked out. The emergence of the electric polarization at zero field below the paramagnetic phase is shown to result from the coupling of two distinct spin-density waves and to be only partly related to the Dzialoshinskii-Moriya interactions. Applying a magnetic field along the two-fold monoclinic axis of CuCl2 yields a decoupling of the spin-density waves modifying the symmetry of the phase and the spin-spiral orientation. The remarkable periodic dependences of the magnetic susceptibility and polarization, on rotating the field in the monoclinic plane, are described theoretically.

Tratamiento endovascular del secuestro pulmonar con dispositivos tipo Amplatzer® / Endovascular treatment of pulmonary sequestration with Amplatzer® vascular plugs

El secuestro pulmonar es una malformación poco frecuente, que se caracteriza por tejido pulmonar sin conexión con la vía aérea y con vascularización sistémica. El tratamiento tradicional ha sido la cirugía, pero en los últimos años la embolización endovascular es una técnica cada vez más utilizada. Los materiales de embolización usados en la actualidad son los coils y los tapones vasculares tipo Amplatzer®. El tapón vascular Amplatzer® es un dispositivo de malla cilíndrico, autoexpandible, particularmente útil para la embolización de vasos grandes y de alto flujo. Presentamos a continuación 3 casos de secuestro pulmonar tratados mediante embolización con dispositivos de oclusión vascular tipo Amplatzer®. En los 3 casos se realizó el procedimiento sin incidencias, y se comprobó la oclusión total de la colateral aórtico-pulmonar. Nuestra serie aporta nuevos datos sobre la seguridad y eficacia de la embolización de los secuestros pulmonares con tapones vasculares tipo Amplatzer®, y de su preferencia sobre los coils en la embolización de vasos nutricios grandes(AU)

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare malformation characterised by non-functioning lung tissue, separated from the tracheobronchial tree and with arterial supply from the systemic circulation. The classical therapeutic approach is surgical resection. In recent years, the endovascular embolisation technique is increasingly being used for the treatment of this disease. The embolisation materials used are coils and vascular plugs. The Amplatzer® vascular plug is a self-expandable cylindrical mesh device, particularly useful for the embolisation of large vessels with high flow. Three cases of pulmonary sequestration were treated by embolisation with Amplatzer® vascular plugs. In all cases the procedure was performed without complications, and the aortopulmonary collateral vessels were completely occluded.Our study provides new data on the safety and efficacy of pulmonary embolisation with Amplatzer® vascular plugs, and its preference over coils in the embolisation of large vessels(AU)

[Endovascular treatment of pulmonary sequestration with Amplatzer® vascular plugs]. / Tratamiento endovascular del secuestro pulmonar con dispositivos tipo Amplatzer®

Pulmonary sequestration is a rare malformation characterised by non-functioning lung tissue, separated from the tracheobronchial tree and with arterial supply from the systemic circulation. The classical therapeutic approach is surgical resection. In recent years, the endovascular embolisation technique is increasingly being used for the treatment of this disease. The embolisation materials used are coils and vascular plugs. The Amplatzer® vascular plug is a self-expandable cylindrical mesh device, particularly useful for the embolisation of large vessels with high flow. Three cases of pulmonary sequestration were treated by embolisation with Amplatzer® vascular plugs. In all cases the procedure was performed without complications, and the aortopulmonary collateral vessels were completely occluded. Our study provides new data on the safety and efficacy of pulmonary embolisation with Amplatzer® vascular plugs, and its preference over coils in the embolisation of large vessels.

Novel influenza A (H1N1) encephalitis in a 3-month-old infant.

Seasonal influenza virus infection has been associated with a variety of neurologic complications. We report a case of novel influenza A (H1N1) encephalitis in an infant aged 3 months with an upper respiratory infection, who presented seizures. The infection was confirmed in nasopharyngeal aspirate and cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment with oseltamivir was started. He was discharged without any neurologic sequelae.

Directional magnetoelectric effects in MnWO4: magnetic sources of the electric polarization.

The ferroelectric order and magnetic field induced effects observed in the spiral phase of MnWO4 are described theoretically. It is demonstrated explicitly that the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya antisymmetric interactions contribute to the correlation between spins and electric dipoles in the incommensurate and commensurate ferroelectric phases of magnetic multiferroics. However, other single-site symmetric interactions are shown to be involved in the magnetoelectric process, suggesting the possible existence of an electric polarization originating from purely symmetric effects.

Cumplimiento terapéutico / No disponible

Se entiende por cumplimiento terapéutico el grado en que la conducta del paciente, en términos de tomar medicamentos, seguir las dietas o realizar cambios en el estilo de vida, coinciden con la prescripción clínica. Desempeña un papel trascendental en la práctica clínica porque su incumplimiento, entre otras consecuencias no menos importantes, condiciona la eficacia de los tratamientos y existen estudios que han evidenciado su relación con el aumento de la mortalidad en determinados procesos. La frecuencia del incumplimiento terapéutico se sitúa entorno al 40% de los pacientes que realizan tratamientos crónicos y puede superar el 50% en cuadros agudos de corta duración. El origen de la falta de adherencia al tratamiento es multifactorial y se han identificado más de doscientas variables relacionadas con ello y que están relacionadas con características del paciente, el médico, el proceso patológico y el propio tratamiento. Identificar los factores implicados en cada caso permitirá poner en marcha las medidas correctas necesarias. No existe una prueba diagnóstica de certeza para detectar el incumplimiento pese a la existencia de diversos métodos, tanto directos como indirectos. La estrategia práctica más adecuada es la combinación de varios de los métodos existentes. Por su origen multifactorial, ninguna de las distintas intervenciones evaluadas (informativas, simplificadoras del tratamiento, conductuales, etc.) ha conseguido resultados irrefutables extensibles a todos los pacientes. Existen unas normas generales en el abordaje global, pero los mejores resultados se han obtenido individualizando las actuaciones en función del paciente y de los factores implicados y combinando varias intervenciones

Therapeutic compliance can be defined as the degree to which the behavior of the patient in regards to taking their medication, following their diets or dietary changes coincides with the medical prescription. This plays an important role in the clinical practice because non-compliance, among other not less important consequences, conditions the efficacy of the treatment. There are studies that have shown its relationship with increase in mortality in certain diseases. Frequency of therapeutic non-compliance is found at approximately 40% of the patients who follow chronic treatments and can exceed 50% in short-duration acute conditions. The origin of lack of treatment adherence is multifactorial. More than two hundred variables have been identified with this and they are related with characteristics of the patient, doctor, disease condition and the treatment itself. Identifying the factors involved in each case will make it possible to initiate the necessary correct measures. There is no diagnostic certainty test to detect non-compliance in spite of the existence of different direct and indirect methods. The most adequate practical strategy is the combination of several of the existing methods. Due to its multifactorial origin, none of the different interventions evaluated (information, simplifying treatments, behavior, etc.), have achieved irrefutable results that can be applied to all the patients. There are some general rules in the overall approach. However, the best results have been obtained by individualizing the actions based on the patient and on the factors involved and combining several interventions

Theory of the cooperative evaporation of volatile droplets.

A theoretical approach to the cooperative process of evaporation of volatile liquid droplet arrays is proposed which combines the equation of the liquid-gas interface with a Landau-type description. The spatial and temporal behaviors of the process are shown to be governed by the spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism of a parent droplet configuration. The applicability of the approach is illustrated by the theoretical description of recent experiments in closed and open systems.

Theory of the incommensurate smectic-A phases in dimesogenic liquid crystals.

A mechanism assuming a mismatch between the basic smectic periodicity and the amplitude and phase modulations periods of the mass density wave order parameter is proposed, for describing the incommensurate smectic-A structure found in dimesogenic liquid crystals. The different sequences of phases found in this family of compounds are described theoretically.

Unusual sequences of tilted smectic phases in liquid crystals of bent-shape molecules.

The first theoretical description of the experimentally often-observed isotropic-polar smectic phase transitions of symmetric and asymmetric bent-shape molecules is presented. The isotropic-tilted polar smectic phase transition requires a coupling among three types of ordering processes: polar packing, director tilt, and layer ordering. For explaining the unusual triclinic-monoclinic phase transition with the lower symmetry phase at higher temperature, observed in fluoro-containing compounds recently, a mechanism is proposed in which the layer ordering triggers the simultaneous onset of the tilt and polar order.

Coupling between tilt and polar orders in liquid crystal phases formed from achiral bent shaped molecules

A phenomenological description is given of the mesophases which may arise below a liquid formed from achiral molecules possessing a transverse dipole, as the result of a coupling between their tilt and polar orders. Six stable mesophases are found. Two of them have a cholesteric biaxial structure. The others display antiferroelectric or ferrielectric, incommensurately modulated, structures with in-plane or out-of-plane spontaneous polarization. The in-plane polarized structures become unstable under application of a longitudinal electric field. Other field-induced effects are discussed.

Wetting-induced anisotropic structure at the interface of a glass and a sponge phase

Wetting a glass surface with a sponge phase is shown to induce an anisotropic, presumably lamellar, interface structure. This static effect, and the corresponding induced birefringence measurements, are described in the framework of a theoretical phase diagram involving the sponge and lamellar phases, and taking into account a surface field and the existence of a transition between two, direct and inverted, sponge regions.

Phase diagrams of lyotropic cholesteric fluids

Experimental investigations of lyotropic cholesterics fluids are presented which show that changes in the shape anisotropy and chirality of the micellar population determine the topology of the temperature-concentration phase diagrams. For given amounts of the substances which induce the chirality and modify the shape anisotropy of the micelles, two distinct biaxial cholesteric phases are disclosed in the phase diagrams. This is interpreted in the framework of the catastrophe theory of phase transitions.

Analogy between unconventional superconductivity and unconventional states of liquid crystals

An analogy is stressed between the order-parameter symmetries of the two-dimensional d-pairing wave superconductors and of liquid-crystal mesophases formed from achiral bent-shaped molecules. It leads to a definition of a class of liquid-crystal states which are the analogs of the unconventional superconducting states, and are characterized by a loss of discrete symmetry operations of the parent state.

Symmetries and induced effects in bilayer and multilayer antiferroelectric and ferrielectric liquid crystal phases.

The stable antiferroelectric and ferrielectric smectic phases which may arise below a chiral SmA* phase are investigated theoretically. The symmetry and physical properties of the bilayer and multilayer configurations are worked out. Antiferroelectric and ferrielectric bilayer and multilayer configurations, possessing an induced spontaneous ferroelectric polarization component perpendicular to the smectic layers, are shown to take place, as the result of a nonlinear piezoelectric effect. These states of low polar symmetries occur when the angle between the inlayer projections of the dipoles and the director of the molecules is different from 90 degrees.