Characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The main objective was to assess the clinical characteristics, associated factors, and outcomes of patients admitted to the ICU for candidemia. The secondary objective was to examine the relationship of candidemia with the length of stay and mortality.

Methods: The analysis was a retrospective single-center cohort study addressing the effect of invasive candidemia on outcomes.

Contactless Inductive Flow Tomography for Real-Time Control of Electromagnetic Actuators in Metal Casting.

Flow control of liquid metals based on the actual flow condition is important in many metallurgical applications. For instance, the liquid steel flow in the mould of a continuous caster strongly influences the product quality. The flow can be modified by an electromagnetic brake (EMBr).

The Diagnostic Sensitivity of the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale-Spanish Version.

Background: Although Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) is a successful tool for delirium evaluation and monitoring, it is nevertheless important to determine whether cutoff scores vary according to the studied population. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of the recently validated Spanish version of the MDAS. The secondary objective was to analyze possible diagnostic differences when used in a hospice or general hospital setting.

Phased Array Ultrasound System for Planar Flow Mapping in Liquid Metals.

Controllable magnetic fields can be used to optimize flows in technical and industrial processes involving liquid metals in order to improve quality and yield. However, experimental studies in magnetohydrodynamics often involve complex, turbulent flows and require planar, two-component (2c) velocity measurements through only one acoustical access. We present the phased array ultrasound Doppler velocimeter as a modular research platform for flow mapping in liquid metals.

Contactless Inductive Bubble Detection in a Liquid Metal Flow.

The detection of bubbles in liquid metals is important for many technical applications. The opaqueness and the high temperature of liquid metals set high demands on the measurement system. The high electrical conductivity of the liquid metal can be exploited for contactless methods based on electromagnetic induction.

Experimental evidence for nonaxisymmetric magnetorotational instability in a rotating liquid metal exposed to an azimuthal magnetic field.

The azimuthal version of the magnetorotational instability (MRI) is a nonaxisymmetric instability of a hydrodynamically stable differentially rotating flow under the influence of a purely or predominantly azimuthal magnetic field. It may be of considerable importance for destabilizing accretion disks, and plays a central role in the concept of the MRI dynamo. We report the results of a liquid metal Taylor-Couette experiment that shows the occurrence of an azimuthal MRI in the expected range of Hartmann numbers.

[Impact of the new smoke-free legislation (law 42/2010) on levels of second-hand smoke in hospitality venues].

Objective: To evaluate pollution by second-hand smoke in a sample of hospitality venues before and after the implementation of smoke-free legislation.

Methods: A cross sectional, before-after study was conducted in 2008 and 2011 after the total ban. A SidePack Aerosol monitor was used both inside and outside the hospitality venues to measure fine breathable particles (PM2.

Does plant diversity benefit agroecosystems? A synthetic review.

Predictive theory on how plant diversity promotes herbivore suppression through movement patterns, host associations, and predation promises a potential alternative to pesticide-intensive monoculture crop production. We used meta-analysis on 552 experiments in 45 articles published over the last 10 years to test if plant diversification schemes reduce herbivores and/or increase the natural enemies of herbivores as predicted by associational resistance hypotheses, the enemies hypothesis, and attraction and repellency model applications in agriculture. We found extensive support for these models with intercropping schemes, inclusion of flowering plants, and use of plants that repel herbivores or attract them away from the crop.

Cytotoxic hydroxyanthracenones from fruits of Karwinskia parvifolia.

Peroxisomicines A1 (1) and A2 (2) are cytotoxic hydroxyanthracenones isolated from the fruits of Karwinskia parvifolia. Peroxisomicine A1 exhibits selective cytotoxicity against several tumor cell lines. In the present investigation three minor constituents were obtained from the same fruit extracts: peroxisomicine A3 (3) and isoperoxisomicines A1 (4) and A2 (5).

Human Toxocara infection of the central nervous system and neurological disorders: a case-control study.

Infection with Toxocara canis is a common world-wide human helminthiasis, which rarely elicits central nervous system (CNS) impairment. A case-control study to investigate this discrepancy was carried out, in which the cases were 27 adult neurological inpatients for whom a definite aetiological diagnosis was lacking, and for whom positive immunodiagnosis of toxocariasis had been obtained, both in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in serum. Two control groups were used.