Infective endocarditis in congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) has become the leading risk factor for pediatric infective endocarditis (IE) in developed countries after the decline of rheumatic heart disease. Advances in catheter- and surgery-based cardiac interventions have rendered almost all types of CHD amenable to complete correction or at least palliation. Patient survival has increased, and a new patient population, referred to as adult CHD (ACHD) patients, has emerged. Implanted prosthetic material paves the way for cardiovascular device-related infections, but studies on the management of CHD-associated IE in the era of cardiovascular devices are scarce. The types of heart malformation (unrepaired, repaired, palliated) substantially differ in their lifetime risks for IE. Streptococci and staphylococci are the predominant pathogens. Right-sided IE is more frequently seen in patients with CHD. Relevant comorbidity caused by cardiac and extracardiac episode-related complications is high. Transesophageal echocardiography is recommended for more precise visualization of vegetations, especially in complex type of CHD in ACHD patients. Antimicrobial therapy and surgical management of IE remain challenging, but outcome of CHD-associated IE from the neonate to the adult is better than in other forms of IE. Conclusion: Primary prevention of IE is vital and includes good dental health and skin hygiene; antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated only in high-risk patients undergoing oral mucosal procedure

Nerve commitment in Hydra. II. Localization of commitment in S phase

The kinetics of nerve differentiation were investigated during head regeneration in Hydra. In particular the cell cycle parameters of stem cells undergoing nerve commitment were determined. Head regeneration induces extensive nerve commitment localized at the regenerating tip (G. Venugopal and C. David, 1981, Develop. Biol.83, 353–360). The appearance of committed nerve precursors is followed 12 hr later by the appearance of newly differentiated nerves. Under these conditions the time from the end of S phase to nerve differentiation is about 9 hr and the time from the beginning of S phase to nerve differentiation is about 18 hr. Thus nerve commitment occurs in mid- to late S phase of the stem cell precursor

Curs sobre "Erosió i recuperació de terres en àrees marginals: casos pràctics aplicables a La Rioja" : Logronyo, 25 al 27 de juny de 1996

Dins dels actes del Cinquantenari de l'Institut d'Estudis de La Rioja s'ha celebrat el curs sobre «Erosió i recuperació de terres en àrees marginals: casos pràctics aplicables a La Rioja», que ha aplegat, els dies 25 al 27 de juny, a Logronyo, la pràctica totalitat de les persones que treballen en aquests temes, ja sigui des de la universitat o des del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). El curs ha estat organitzat pel Departament de Geografia de l'esmentat Institut, i ha tingut el suport i la col·laboració de la Sociedad Española de Geomorfología (SEG). El curs s'ha desenvolupat durant tres jornades, en les quals s'han impartit dotze conferències, una taula rodona i una sortida de camp.Dentro de los actos del Cincuentenario del Instituto de Estudios de la Rioja se ha celebrado el curso sobre «Erosión y recuperación de tierras en áreas marginales: casos prácticos aplicables a La Rioja», que ha reunido, los días 25 al 27 de junio, en Logroño, la práctica totalidad de las personas que trabajan en estos temas, ya sea desde la universidad o desde el Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). El curso ha estado organizado por el Departamento de Geografía del Instituto, y ha tenido el soporte y la colaboración de la Sociedad Española de Geomorfología (SEG). El curso se ha desarrollado en tres jornadas, durante las cuales se han impartido doce conferencias, una mesa redonda y una salida de campo.Parmi les actes du Cinquantème Anniversaire de l'Institut d'Études de La Rioja, il y a eu lieu le cours sur «Érosion et récuperation des sols dans de zones marginales: des cas practiques applicables à La Rioja», que a réuni, entre le 25 et le 27 juin, presque toutes les personnes que travaillent à ce genere de sujets, soit dès l'université, soit dès le Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Conseil Supérieur de Recherches Scientifiques). Le cours a été organisé par le Départament de Géographie de l'Institut, et a eu le soutien et la collaboration de la SEG, la Sociedad Española de Geomorfología (Société Espagnole de Géomorphologie). Le cours, que s'est déroulé pendant trois jours, a offert douze conférences, une table ronde et un sortie dans la campagne.The celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the «Instituto de Estudios de La Rioja» included a seminar on «Soil erosion and restoration in marginal areas: practical examples applicable in La Rioja». The seminar was held in Logroño between 25th and 27th June 1996, and was attended by almost all the researchers who work on this topic, either in universities or the CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). It was organized by the Institute's Department of Geography with the support and collaboration of the Spanish Society of Geomorphology (SEG). The three-day seminar included twelve conferences, a round table session and a field trip

Impurity-to-efficiency simulator: Predictive simulation of solar cell efficiencies based on measured metal distribution and cell processing conditions

We present a fast and simple 1D simulation tool to predict solar cell performance as a function of the initial iron content and distribution in the as-grown silicon wafer, the time-temperature profiles applied during the fabrication process, and several parameters related to cell architecture. The applied model consists of three parts that are validated by comparison to experimental results from literature. Assuming a time-temperature profile of a standard solar cell fabrication process, we calculate the redistribution of iron and the evolution of minority carrier lifetime for different as-grown Fe distributions. The solar cell performance as a function of the total iron concentration and the final lifetime distribution is also simulated and compared to experimental results for multicrystalline Si. Keywords: simulation, crystalline silicon solar cell, getterin