This article describes the application of modern algorithms to crack the official encryption method of the Spanish Civil War: the Strip Cipher. It shows the differences in efficiency and ...effectiveness between a genetic algorithm and mathematical programming, the optimisation methods known collectively as mathematical optimisation. Unlike the genetic algorithm, the programming approach has been seen to lead to high computational costs or to non-legible plain texts, which make it impractical. To improve the search for the genetic operators used, a dictionary is applied to identify possible words in each partially decrypted text and, thus, unblock the process. Results and conclusions have been obtained by analysing the outcome of the algorithms when attacking real ciphertexts found in the General Archive of the Spanish Civil War in Spain. Both the mathematical programming and the genetic algorithm approaches have merit, but the latter has considerable practical advantages.
Given the high incidence of confirmed infection by SARS-CoV-2 and mortality by COVID-19 in the Spanish population, its impact was analysed among persons with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) as a group at risk ...of a worse evolution. The possible causes of the incidence observed in them are explained and how CF Units have faced this health challenge is detailed.
Retrospective descriptive observational study, for which a Spanish CF Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 Registry is created, requesting information on number of people affected between 8 March–16 May 2020 and their clinical-demographic characteristics from the CF Units participating in the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Patient Registry (ECFSPR). The accumulated incidence is calculated, compared with that of the general population. Additionally, a survey (CF-COVID19-Spain) is carried out on prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection, workings of CF Units and possible reasons for the incidence observed.
COVID-19 was diagnosed in eight CF patients, one of whom had received a lung transplant. The accumulated incidence was 32/10000 in CF patients and 49/10000 in the general population. General death rate was 5.85/10000 while no CF patients included in the ECFSPR died. The characteristics of those affected and the results of the survey are described.
Despite being considered a disease at high risk of severe COVID-19, the low incidence and mortality in CF patients in Spain contrasts with the figures for the general population. The possible factors that would explain such findings are discussed, with the help of the results of the CF-COVID19-Spain survey.
•SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is severely hitting Spain.•Cumulative incidence among Spanish CF patients is being lower than expected.•No fatal cases were reported in our CF patients with COVID-19 included in ECFSPR.•CF-COVID19-Spain survey was useful to explain its low incidence and mild course.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the integrity of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal(HPA) axis, many authors have proposed the short synacthen test (ACTH1–24, Tetracosactrin) as a replacement for the insulin ...tolerance test (ITT). The aim of this study was to compare the plasma cortisol response obtained with both short synacthen tests (high dose (HDT, 250 μg) and low dose (LDT, 1 μg)) with the peak reached during the ITT in healthy volunteers, and to establish the plasma cortisol cut‐off level in each test.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Thirty healthy subjects (16 F, 14 M), mean age 34 years, underwent both short synacthen tests. Twenty healthy subjects, 15 of whom (11 F, nine M) belonged to the above group, mean age 30 years, underwent an ITT. Plasma cortisol was measured using a chemiluminiscence immunoassay.
RESULTS
There were no differences between plasma cortisol 30 minutes after both short synacthen tests (HDT: 684 ± 123, LDT: 669 ± 119 nmol/l) and the peaks reached with the LDT (691 ± 123 nmol/l) and the ITT (673 ± 99 nmol/l).The only difference (P < 0.001) was found in the comparison of plasma cortisol peak reached with the HDT (802 ± 142 nmol/l) with the other tests. Plasma cortisol levels obtained in the 5th percentile in each test were: at + 30 minutes: (HDT: 537, LDT: 489 nmol/l), peak: (HDT 649, LDT 498, ITT: 539 nmol/l).
CONCLUSIONS
Comparison of the plasma cortisol response at + 30 minutes with both short ACTH tests and the peak in the insulin tolerance test did not reveal differences. Each test, for each time point and for each biochemical method, requires its own minimum threshold of normality to assess the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis.
This article gives a brief study of the Zaragoza Cryptanalysis Service during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) based on the notes and letters from one of the finest cryptologists of the Spanish ...Civil War.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to adapt the community version of the Self‐Care Requisites Scale so as to be able to use it in a hospital context and to validate the new version in patients ...with schizophrenia.
Design and Methods
An initial phase was conducted to develop the questionnaire by means of a panel of experts. The validation of the psychometric properties was conducted using a sample of 264 patients.
Findings
The new version showed good internal consistency and stability over time. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the theoretical model fit the self‐care requisites proposed in Orem's nursing theory from which it was drawn.
Practice Implications
The new version is a valid and reliable instrument for use in clinical practice.
The aim of the present study was to study salt and water metabolism in thyroid deficiency. We performed an oral water loading test (OWL) and a hypertonic 5% saline infusion test (HSI) in 16 patients ...with overt primary hypothyroidism before replacement treatment (PRE group) and after, in eight patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SUB group) and in 16 normal individuals (CG group). In the PRE group, a lower free water clearance was detected in the OWL (P < 0.022), with lower plasma osmolality (OWL: P < 0.005; HSI: P < 0.001) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) (OWL: P < 0.001; HSI: P < 0.001) than the CG group, across both tests; they normalized with the replacement treatment. The same plasma abnormalities were detected in the SUB group with the HSI. Although the AVP and thirst thresholds did not differ between the groups, the lag between them was lower in the PRE (4.1+/-3.2 mOsm/kg) and SUB group (2.6+/-2.1 mOsm/kg) than in the CG group (13.3+/-9.2 mOsm/kg) (P < 0.05). There were no differences in atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH), plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone among the groups. These results indicate that plasma hypo-osmolality and low levels of AVP are present in primary hypothyroidism, and indeed are already present in the subclinical phase of the disease. An overlap between the thresholds of thirst and AVP seem to play a role in these abnormalities, but ANH, PRA and plasma aldosterone do not appear to contribute.
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