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Purpose: To determine whether pre- and postoperative follow-up based on lung ultrasound is associated with the respiratory and clinical evolution of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the neonatal period. Methods: Prospective observational unicentric study from December 2020 to October 2023 in a neonatal intensive care unit, a referral center for congenital heart diseases (CHD). Neonates with CHD exposed to heart surgery or percutaneous catheterization in their first 28 days of life were included. LU follow-up was performed before surgery (LUSpre) and on days 1 (LUS_1), 3 (LUS_3), and 7 (LUS_7) afterwards by mean of a dedicated score (LUS) ranging from 0 to 3 points in 8 areas (total score 0–24). Results: Fifty-five neonates were included. Median gestational age was 39.1 weeks (37.8–40.1), birth weight 3088 g (IQR 2910–3400). Forty-nine received surgery and 6 only percutaneous catheterization. Median LUSpre score was associated with total respiratory support in the first 30 postoperative days (p = 0.034). Median postoperative LUS was significantly higher than LUSpre in the surgery cohort at all time points (p < 0.05). LUS_1 was associated with respiratory and several clinical outcomes: for each point increase in the ultrasound score, the days on invasive mechanical ventilation, the need for any respiratory support within the first 30 postoperative days, and the length of NICU stay increased significantly (p < 0.05). The presence of consolidations in any area in the postoperative lung ultrasounds was associated with worse respiratory outcomes: higher invasive mechanical ventilation duration (6.84 days), longer total respiratory support (6.07 days), and NICU admission (21.61 days). The presence of consolidations in LUS_7 was significantly associated with the occurrence of ipsilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (odds ratio of 10.25 (95% CI 2.05–51.26, p = 0.006). Conclusion: Performance of lung ultrasound follow-up in CHD in the NICU is feasible and predictive of the respiratory evolution of the patient. LUS_1 presented the highest predictive values. The presence of consolidations is associated with a worse respiratory evolution and if they persist for a week after the procedure, it may raise suspicion of ipsilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. What is known: • Lung ultrasound evaluates lung aeration and predicts respiratory outcomes in premature infants. What is new: • Follow-up based on lung ultrasound in congenital heart diseases postoperative period is associated with respiratory evolution and length of admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we studied the wave-induced vortex generation and shedding from a semi-submerged vertical square cylinder interacting with an upcoming undular bore wave train under a shallow water configuration. This unsteady and rapid process was investigated by means of numerical and experimental approaches. A numerical simulation, solving the full turbulent viscous Navier–Stokes equations, was carried out in order to study and characterize both the undular bore wave properties and the vortex dynamics triggered during this unsteady interaction. Starting with fluid at rest, the undular bore was generated by the impulsive translational motion of a piston wavemaker at laboratory scale in both a numerical and an experimental wave tank. When the undular bore impinges on the cylinder, filamentary vortex structures were formed at the four cylinder's edges synchronized with the propagating wave motion, leading to the vortex shedding phenomena at a frequency that matched the wave instantaneous frequency. These vortices extended along the entire cylinder span under the water column, from the free surface to the seabed. At the trailing edge of the cylinder, a pairing process of two shed vortices was observed, similar to a Lamb–Oseen vortex pair. These vortices were present during the whole undular bore wave train dynamic forcing. An overall agreement was found with the experimental version of the bore–cylinder interaction, carried out in a physical wave tank. Laser sheet bore profiling and particle image velocimetry measurements of the velocity field confirmed undular bore properties, the onset of vortex formation, subsequent shedding, and pairing in the experiments performed in similar conditions with the numerical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung ultrasound (LU) has emerged as a valuable tool for assessing pulmonary aeration noninvasively, rapidly, and reliably in different neonatal conditions. However, its role in the preoperative and postoperative evaluation in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is still poorly analyzed. We present a cohort of 8 patients diagnosed with CDH who underwent lung ultrasound examinations at various time points before and after surgical correction. The lung ultrasound patterns were compared between two groups: mechanical ventilation ≤ 7 days (MV ≤ 7) and mechanical ventilation > 7 days (MV > 7). The ultrasound findings were also compared to CT scans and chest X-ray images to assess its diagnostic capacity for identifying postoperative complications: pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and pneumonia. Group MV ≤ 7 exhibited a normal pattern even at 48 h postsurgery, while group MV > 7 presented interstitial or alveolointerstitial pattern in both lungs for prolonged periods (2–3 weeks). Furthermore, contralateral LU pattern may be predictive of respiratory evolution. Conclusion: Lung ultrasound is a valuable tool for evaluating the progressive reaeration of the lung following surgical correction in CDH patients. It demonstrates the ability to diagnose common postoperative complications without the need for radiation exposure while offering the advantages of quick and serial assessments. These findings highlight the potential of lung ultrasound as an effective alternative to conventional imaging methods in the management of CDH. What is Known: • Lung ultrasound evaluates lung aeration and predicts respiratory outcomes in neonatal patients. What is New: • Lung ultrasound is useful in the postsurgical management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients, detecting reaeration and respiratory complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency aims to optimize the energy consumption of the processes, activities, and machinery of the farm, ensuring the comfort, handling, and safety of the animals. The purpose of the study was to identify the energy consumption demanded by the activities performed at the Compost Dairy Barn facility, located in Itaguara, Minas Gerais, Brazil and to propose energy-saving alternatives, applying the Energy Audit Methodology described by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE in Spanish) from Spain. The energy assessment at the facility allowed us to recognize unnecessary energy expenses in machinery uses, variations in milk production in relation to environmental conditions, waste disposal, and to propose improvement alternatives to reduce energy consumption expenses. Waste production data of 1,577.7 kg per year was obtained, which corresponds to the bedding and feeding areas, and 175 kg of waste for the feeding area. Data on the temperature and humidity of the bedding area were collected to determine which of the five months of research is the most demanding in terms of energy. To maintain the animal's welfare, tracing the times of substantial use of machinery (e.g., fans, tractors) at the facility and calculating Equivalent Temperature Index (ETI) was necessary. The highest percentage consumption of energy was represented by tractors in bedding maintenance and supply, by around 95.03%. The energy analysis of the farm showed a reduction in energy consumption of 45.03%, compared to the initial consumption percentages of the overall livestock activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to present a coherent detection method to determine relationships between pressure fluctuations and wake velocity in the case of the flow past a cylinder in a turbulent regime. We report experimental results and pressure–velocity statistics measured simultaneously on the surface boundary layer and the near wake in the range of Reynolds numbers (2 × 10 3 < R e < 3.5 × 10 4 ). The novelty of the analysis lies in the application of a coherent mean method to determine conditioned wall pressure statistics to velocity events observed in the turbulent cylinder wake. The method allows one to associate wake turbulent events with a corresponding wall-pressure signal profile on the cylinder surface performing discrete angular measurements with a minimum number of pressure sensors. Simultaneous measurements of both time series of wake velocity and wall pressure allow us to characterize the mutual influence of hydrodynamic perturbations from the boundary layer surface pressure with the near wake velocity fluctuations. Large scale turbulent vortex shedding is well correlated with surface pressure fluctuations as expected in the low frequency range. Near wake velocity signals were used as timing signals to determine the coherent influence of a representative velocity pattern on the statistical properties of wall pressure fluctuations. The dynamics of low-frequency large-scale structures is consistent with the presence of counter-rotating vortices and is well correlated with a great part of the pressure fluctuations of the boundary layer. Conditional statistics using the velocity pattern obtained from the coherent averaging method provided the instantaneous pressure fluctuating profile associated with the large-scale vortex shedding cycle, thus, enabling a coherent estimation of the fluctuating lift and drag forces. Conditional statistics on wake velocity are well influenced by the phase of the vortex life-cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, a 3D-printed analytical device has been successfully developed to classify illicit drugs using smartphone-based colorimetry. Representative compounds of different families, including cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), amphetamine and cathinone derivatives, pyrrolidine cathinones, and 3,4-methylenedioxy cathinones, have been analyzed and classified after appropriate reaction with Marquis, gallic acid, sulfuric acid, Simon and Scott reagents. A picture of the colored products was acquired using a smartphone, and the corrected RGB values were used as input data in the chemometric treatment. ANN using two active layers of nodes (6 nodes in layer 1 and 2 nodes in layer 2) with a sigmoidal transfer function and a minimum strict threshold of 0.50 identified illicit drug samples with a sensitivity higher than 83.4 % and a specificity of 100 % with limits of detection in the microgram range. The 3D printed device can operate connected to a rechargeable lithium-ion cell portable battery, is inexpensive, and requires minimal training. The analytical device has been able to discriminate the analyzed psychoactive substances from cutting and mixing agents, being a useful tool for law enforcement agents to use as a screening method. [Display omitted] • A colorimetric method has been developed by using a mobile phone as detector. • A 3D printer device has been developed for the sample analysis and mobile assembling. • An Artificial Neural Network classification method has been developed for illicit drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the effect of the interface on the spin pumping and magnetic proximity effects, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) were used to analyze Py/Pt bilayer and Pt/Py/Pt trilayer systems. The samples were deposited by dc magnetron sputtering at room temperature on Si (001) substrates. The Py layer thickness was fixed at 12 nm in all the samples and the Pt thickness was varied in a range of 0-23 nm. A diffusion zone of approximately 8 nm was found in the Py/Pt interfaces and confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The FMR measurements show an increase in the linewidth and a shift in the ferromagnetic resonance field, which reach saturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a reply to a letter from Dr. De Rose et al. regarding a recently published manuscript on the evaluation of neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) using lung ultrasound. The authors of the reply agree with the importance of the lung ultrasound score but also emphasize the value of qualitative evaluation in assessing lung diseases, particularly in cases of CDH. They suggest that more studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of lung ultrasound in the respiratory management of patients with severe congenital thoracic malformations. The authors conclude that lung ultrasound could become a relevant tool in future international guidelines for CDH management. [Extracted from the article]

Editor COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 of the genus Betacoronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). As mentioned above, skin lesions appear to be a sign within patients suffering from COVID-19. Conflicts of interest Dr. Cabrera-Hernández, Dr Solano-Solares, Dr Chica-Guzmán, Dr Fernández-Guarino, Dr Fernández-Nieto, Dr Ortega-Quijano, Dr de-Andrés-Martín, Dr Moreno, Dr Carretero-Barrio, Dr García-Abellás, Dr González-de-Olano and Dr de-la-Hoz-Caballer have nothing to disclose. [Extracted from the article]

We study the dynamical response of a piston-type wavemaker in a numerical wave tank. The two-dimensional, fully viscous unsteady Navier–Stokes equations are solved on a two-phase flow configuration using the volume of fluid method to capture the free surface dynamics. The wavemaker is a moving wall driven by an arbitrary signal waveform. The step response of the wavemaker may generate pulse-like waves similar to an undular bore propagating along the tank. Wave elevation at the piston wall has close similarity to the time response of second order systems found in feedback theory. The scaling found for water elevation at the piston wall for different step velocities and mean still water levels is in agreement with that in the available theory at low Froude numbers. The results along the tank for continuous waves agree with those of potential theory. The power input during the step response was determined during the whole wave generation process showing that net piston forces are predominantly hydrostatic. A power scaling for different mean still water levels and step velocities as a function of the Froude number was obtained. An active absorption strategy based upon a feedback controller driving a secondary piston was implemented. Wave absorption was successfully achieved on regular and irregular waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferon (IFN)-γ release assays (IGRAs) are used to diagnose latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI). To improve the accuracy of these tests, different approaches, such as alternative cytokine detection and using different antigens, are considered. Following this purpose, this study aims to evaluate the addition of EspC, EspF and Rv2348-B to those present in the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFN-G-IT). We included 115 subjects: 74 active TB patients, 17 LTBI individuals and 24 healthy controls. Whole blood samples were collected in QFN-G-IT and in-house tubes containing different combinations of EspC, EspF and Rv2348-B, together with ESAT-6, CFP-10, and TB7.7. After overnight incubation at 37 ºC, plasma was harvested and IFN-γ quantified. IFN-γ levels in the QFN-G-IT and in-house tubes correlated very good (Spearman Rho(r) > 0.86). In-house antigen combinations distinguished healthy individuals from those with active TB and LTBI (specificities and sensitivities higher than 87.5% and 96.3%, respectively [AUC > 0.938]). Adding EspC, EspF and Rv2348-B, increased the sensitivity of the test, being the addition of EspC and Rv2348-B the combination that yielded a higher sensitivity with no specificity loss. Addition of these antigens could improve diagnosis in patients with impaired or immature immune response who are at high risk of developing TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since March 2020, the world is involved in the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by a novel virus called SARS-CoV-2. Some authors have described the ultrasonographic findings of COVID-19 pneumonia in adults and children, but data on neonates are lacking. Our objective was to describe the ultrasonographic lung pattern on newborns with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Newborns who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 PCR in respiratory samples and were evaluated with point-of-care lung ultrasound (LU) from March to April 2020 were included. LU was performed bedside by a single investigator at the time of diagnosis and every 48 h during the first week following diagnosis. Six areas were studied. Three neonates were included. Infants' comorbidities included meconium aspiration syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and Hirschsprung's disease. One required mechanical ventilation. No deaths occurred. LU showed B-lines, consolidation, and spared areas. No pneumothorax or pleural effusion was observed Conclusions: LU could be of value when managing COVID-19 neonates. We describe the findings of lung ultrasound monitoring during the first week following diagnosis in three neonates with SARS-CoV-2 infection. What is known: • Lung ultrasound (LU) is a useful tool in COVID-19 management in adults. To date, no report on LU and neonates with SARS-CoV-2 infection has been published. What is new: • This study adds evidence about LU findings in neonates with SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The floating shoulder has an incidence of 0.1% of all fractures, the result of highenergy trauma. There is still no consensus in the literature on the best treatment: surgical versus conservative. Material and methods: Patients with floating shoulder diagnosis were evaluated from January 2013 to December 2018, collecting initial data from the electronic file. The morphological types of fractures were described using the Allman and AO classifications. Patients were evaluated using the UCLA scale for shoulder functionality. Results: From 14 patients, 4 were excluded due to lack of followup. Of the remaining 10, 9 were men, 1 woman. The average age was 29 years (range 15-42 years). Three patients had left injury, and 7 patients, right; 6 patients hurt the dominant limb. The most common morphological pattern was glenoid neck fracture + clavicle fracture in 7 patients. Surgical treatment was indicated in 7 patients; and in 3, conservative. Of the 7 patients treated surgically, 6 were with clavicle and scapula osteosynthesis; 1 just the clavicle. Patients with conservative management used a universal shoulder immobilizer for 4-8 weeks. There were no cases of consolidation delay, pseudoarthrosis, or vicious consolidation. Rehabilitation began in the first 4 weeks, and lasted up to 8 weeks. Conclusion: Surgical treatment was predominant due to instability. Conservative treatment was used when injuries are minimally displaced. Both treatments generate a favorable functional result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drugs assessed by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products or European Medicines Agency made public in October, November and December of 2019, and considered of interest to the healthcare professional, are reviewed. These are positive technical reports prior to the authorization and placing on the market of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noncontact, nonintrusive photocarrier (PCR) and photothermal radiometry (PTR) as well as Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize GaSb and Te-doped GaSb wafers used to grow GaSb-based heterostructures for infrared applications. The results indicated excellent sensitivity of PTR and PCR to the Te distribution on the wafer surface. The results from the three methodologies were consistent and indicated that the Te was segregated toward the edge of the GaSb wafer. The PTR and PCR laser-based techniques show great potential advantages to characterize the homogeneity of the Te doping in the GaSb wafers and for other steps in the fabrication of semiconductor heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low conceptual level presented by students in the study of classical physics has led to a number of investigations in order to improve academic performance. Among the strategies we can mention the importance of knowing the alternative conceptions prior to teaching. The goal is to develop and apply our own test question pool to determine specific conceptual errors about Newton's laws and determine the conceptual level of 140 students in the first semester of engineering. The results reflected in the justifications of their responses show a low conceptual analysis about particle dynamics. Such is the fact that only 4% of young people respond correctly to the definition of force. This shows that in the classes the resolution of exercises is prioritize without taking into account the theoretical reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the consequences of exposure to natural disasters more frequent and disabling in children, who represent the most vulnerable population to develop it, so the pediatrician must be prepared to identify the features and characteristics of this disorders and being able to make an opportune diagnosis. Objective: to determine the presence of PTSD and anxiety in children and adolescents who witnessed the earthquake of April 2016 in the Province of Manabí, in the educational units Antonio Meléndez, María de la Merced and Francisco Pacheco Methodology: observational, cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive, analytical study, with 271 children aged 9-14 years. Surveys: sociodemographic and economic factors, Childhood Scale of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (CPSS), the Spence Anxiety Scale; data were processed with SPSS V22. The OR and Chi square statistics, 95% CI and p less than 0.05. Results: PTSD was presented in 18.1% and the Anxiety Disorder in 23.1%, higher in the female sex for both disorders, the anxiety disorder presented a significant difference in the students with respect to the adolescents, the probability of presenting Comorbidity between both disorders was high. Conclusions: PTSD is present in children in the area two years after the earthquake of 2016, females and younger children are at greater risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Recent yellow fever outbreaks in Africa and Brazil have brought this virus back to the spotlight. • Yellow fever outbreaks have revealed important limitations of the current vaccination system. • There has been a global expansion of arboviruses like dengue, chikungunya and zika. • Arboviral outbreaks due to Aedes mosquitoes have occurred in North America and Europe in this decade. • Unless preventive measures are implemented, yellow fever might soon reach North America and Europe. Yellow fever virus historically was a frequent threat to American and European coasts. Medical milestones such as the discovery of mosquitoes as vectors and subsequently an effective vaccine significantly reduced its incidence, in spite of which, thousands of cases of this deathly disease still occur regularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazonian basin in South America, which are usually not reported. An urban outbreak in Angola, consecutive years of increasing incidence near major Brazilian cities, and imported cases in China, South America and Europe, have brought this virus back to the global spotlight. The aim of this article is to underline that the preventive YFV measures, such as vaccination, need to be carefully revised in order to minimize the risks of new YFV outbreaks, especially in urban or immunologically vulnerable places. Furthermore, this article highlights the diverse factors that have favored the spread of other Aedes spp.-associated arboviral diseases like Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, to northern latitudes causing epidemics in the United States and Europe, emphasizing the possibility that YFV might follow the path of these viruses unless enhanced surveillance and efficient control systems are urgently initiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effects of Alimentación Normal con Ajuste de Insulina (ANAIS), a group‐based, therapeutic education programme for Type 1 diabetes based on a flexible insulin regimen adjusted to the individual's food intake. Methods: Participants with Type 1 diabetes and HbA1c levels of 53–86 mmol/mol (7–10%) were recruited from outpatient clinics at a tertiary care centre. They were randomized (using opaque, sealed envelopes, with a 2:1 treatment allocation ratio) to attend the training course immediately (immediate ANAIS; intervention group) or a year later (delayed ANAIS; control group). The main outcome was HbA1c level at 1 year. Secondary outcomes included lipid levels, weight, hypoglycaemic events, insulin dose, treatment satisfaction, self‐perceived dietary freedom, quality of life and participant‐defined goals. Results: A total of 48 participants were assigned to the intervention group and 32 to the control group. Twelve months after completing the training, adjusted HbA1c was not significantly different in the intervention group [64 ± 1.3 vs 68 ± 1.6 mmol/mol (8.0 ±0.1% vs 8.4 ±0.1%); P=0.081]. Treatment satisfaction was significantly higher in the intervention group, but no differences were found in hypoglycaemic events, weight, insulin dose or changes in dietary freedom. At 1 year after the intervention, 72% of the participants (vs 33% in the control group; P=0.046) reported exceeding their expectations regarding achievement of their main personal goal. Conclusion: Promoting dietary freedom and empowering people with Type 1 diabetes through structured education programmes, such as ANAIS, improves treatment satisfaction and self‐defined goals. No significant improvement in HbA1c level was achieved. What's new?: The Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme has previously been shown to improve glycaemic control and quality of life in people with Type 1 diabetes.Alimentación Normal con Ajuste de Insulina (ANAIS), a Spanish adaptation of DAFNE, was assessed in a randomized controlled trial, which showed an improvement in treatment satisfaction and in personal goal achievement.ANAIS should be implemented in the routine care of people with Type 1 diabetes in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium sulfide is the main choice among n-type semiconductors for several solar cell technologies due to its excellent optical, structural and electronic characteristics. Even when it has been widely studied, there are still unsolved aspects related with the understanding of nucleation and growth mechanisms. For that, the initial growth stages of CdS deposited by chemical bath deposition (CBD) were carefully studied by in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) by connecting a glove box with the CBD setup to the XPS introduction chamber. The CdS thin films were synthesized by CBD method onto glass substrates using CdCl 2 as the cadmium precursor, sodium citrate as the complexing agent and thiourea as the sulfur source. XPS analysis revealed the presence of Cd(OH) 2 and Cd-Citrate species, which facilitates nucleation to later promote the formation of CdS. During the deposition time (0–10 min) the pH changes from 12.1 to 10.8. Considering this, the following combination of mechanisms during the deposition: the hydroxide (above pH 11) and complex-decomposition (below pH 11) was proposed by using a distribution species diagram. The resulting films are close to the ideal stoichiometric CdS after 10 min of deposition. Furthermore, the film thicknesses determined by XPS ultra-thin film analysis, were about 2.37 and 13.7 nm, for 6 and 10 min, respectively, in good agreement with ellipsometry measurements. • CdS films deposited by chemical bath deposition were studied by in situ XPS. • XPS revealed the presence of Cd(OH) 2 and Cd-Citrate species at the initial stages. • The hydroxide (pH > 11) and complex-decomposition (pH < 11) mechanisms were proposed. • The thicknesses obtained by XPS were validated by spectroscopic ellipsometry. • The stoichiometry ratio [S/Cd] after 10 min was 0.92. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The drugs assessed by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products or European Medicines Agency made public in March, April and May of 2018, and considered of interest to the healthcare professional, are reviewed. These are positive technical reports prior to the authorization and placing on the market of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide an example to show that the monotone Sokolov property is not necessarily preserved under compact continuous images. Furthermore, we prove that if X 2 ∖ Δ X is either monotonically Sokolov or monotonically retractable, then X must be cosmic; and that if X is either hereditarily monotonically Sokolov or hereditarily monotonically retractable, then X has a countable network. Moreover, we characterize the Lindelöf Σ-property in C p -spaces on Alexandrov doubles, and show that the L Σ (L Σ (⩽ ω)) -property is equivalent to the L Σ (⩽ ω) -property for the class of C p -spaces and for the class of Gul'ko spaces. These results solve some problems published by Kalenda [7] , Tkachuk [23] , García-Ferreira and Rojas-Hernández [5] , and Molina-Lara and Okunev [11]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a machine-learning approach based on Bayesian optimization to build global potential energy surfaces (PES) for reactive molecular systems using feedback from quantum scattering calculations. The method is designed to correct for the uncertainties of quantum chemistry calculations and yield potentials that reproduce accurately the reaction probabilities in a wide range of energies. These surfaces are obtained automatically and do not require manual fitting of the ab initio energies with analytical functions. The PES are built from a small number of ab initio points by an iterative process that incrementally samples the most relevant parts of the configuration space. Using the dynamical results of previous authors as targets, we show that such feedback loops produce accurate global PES with 30 ab initio energies for the three-dimensional H + H2 H2 + H reaction and 290 ab inito energies for the six-dimensional OH + H2 H2O + H reaction. These surfaces are obtained from 360 scattering calculations for H3 and 600 scattering calculations for OH3. We also introduce a method that quickly converges to an accurate PES without the a priori knowledge of the dynamical results. By construction, our method illustrates the lowest number of potential energy points (i.e. the minimum information) required for the non-parametric construction of global PES for quantum reactive scattering calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drugs assessed by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products or European Medicines Agency made public in September, October and November of 2018, and considered of interest to the healthcare profesional, are reviewed. These are positive technical reports prior to the authorization and placing on the market of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses a study which explored a Raman spectroscopic analysis of the plasmon-phonon coupling in germanium-doped p-type gallium arsenide. Theoretical background; Description of the experimental setup; Results.

Presents a study which calculated the efficiency of an endoreversible Carnot-type cycle in the maximum power regime by using a nonlinear heat transfer law. Finite-time thermodynamics for endoreversible thermal cycles; Discussion on the Carnot-type cycle working endoreversibly through isotherms and adiabats.

Abstract Zinc oxide films with a high transmittance in the visible range (over 80%) were obtained by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method without thermal treatment, using only a low-temperature (125 °C) ethylene glycol bath to complete the reaction. It was shown that the film deposition rate, as well as its structural and optical properties can be adjusted by variation of NH 4 OH concentration in the precursor solution. All obtained films were of a uniform surface morphology with fine grains about 43–48 nm in size and larger flower-like surface formations. The complex multi-technique material characterization has shown that ZnO deposited from 1:20 ZnSO 4 :NH 4 OH precursor solution featured low content of residual phases, faster growing rate, higher c -axis orientation, and the highest transparency. At the same time, optical band gap of the samples (E g ≈ 3.4 eV) showed no marked dependence on NH 4 OH concentration. Highlights • A method to grow ZnO thin films at low temperature by SILAR is proposed. • No post-deposition anneal treatment is necessary to obtain crystallized ZnO thin films. • ZnO film properties are related to NH4OH concentration in the precursor solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A space Z is weakly pseudocompact if Z is G δ -dense in at least one of its compactifications. In 1996 F.W. Eckertson [3] proposed the following problem: Find examples of Baire non Lindelöf spaces which are not weakly pseudocompact. Eckertson proposed a list of natural candidates. In this article we show that part of this list produces examples of this type by providing examples of product spaces which are Baire non-Lindelöf and not weakly pseudocompact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drugs assessed by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products or European Medicines Agency made public in March, April and May of 2018, and considered of interest to the healthcare profesional, are reviewed. These are positive technical reports prior to the authorization and placing on the market of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of hierarchical zeolites for their future environmental application in the removal of heavy metals and pharmaceutics is presented. A low cost, abundant and renewable amorphous silica extracted from a waste of the Cuban agricultural industry, the rice husk, was employed as alternative silicon source for the synthesis. The effect of Si/Al ratio, aging time, used template and time and temperature of reaction, on the structural characteristics of the obtained material was investigated. The elemental, structural and morphological characterization of the ash and the zeolites was performed by XRD, SEM, EDS and TG. The SEM images of zeolites synthesized with Si/Al = 1 (serie I) show a uniform morphology - cubic of smoothed edge-characteristics of zeolite A, with mean particle size of about 0.5 µm. The diffraction patterns of the samples matched the reference peaks of NaA zeolite. The zeolites synthesized with Si/Al = 2 (serie II) have an octahedral morphology characteristic of the faujasite phase, with particle sizes of about 1 µm, and the diffraction patterns matched with that reported for X zeolite. The increase of the aging time and surfactant concentration slightly decrease the particle size, which is evidenced in the increase of the half-width of the diffraction peaks. The global results demonstrated that it is possible to synthesize A and X zeolites at moderate temperatures, short crystallization times, without seeding, and with a good purity starting from rice husk ash as silicon source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The objective of this study was to show whether the edible part of broccoli has antibacterial and antifungal activity against micro-organism of importance in human health and vegetable spoilage, and to test if this effect was partially due to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Methods and Results Crude extracts were obtained from florets and stems of broccoli cultivar Avenger and the inhibitory effect was demonstrated against pathogenic bacteria ( Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Proteus vulgaris), phytopathogenic fungi ( Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Asperigillus niger) and yeasts ( Candida albicans and Rhodotorula sp.). It was shown that samples treated with proteolytic enzymes had a reduction of approximately 60% in antibacterial activity against Staph. xylosus, suggesting that proteinaceous compounds might play a role in the inhibitory effect. Antimicrobial components in crude extracts were thermoresistant and the highest activity was observed under acidic conditions. It was shown that antifungal activity of broccoli's crude extracts might not be attributed to chitinases. Conclusions Organic broccoli cultivar Avenger has antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, yeast and phytophatogenic fungi. Data suggest that this effect is partially due to AMPs. Significance and Impact of the Study Broccoli's crude extracts have activity not only against pathogenic bacteria but also against phytophatogenic fungi of importance in agriculture. We suggest for first time that the inhibitory effect is probably due to AMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of the diphenyl-ether herbicides aclonifen (ACL) and bifenox (BF) in water samples has been studied under different laboratory conditions, using in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME) coupled to capillary liquid chromatography (capLC). The working conditions were selected in order to detect also bifenox acid (BFA), a compound formed as a result of the hydroxylation of BF. Samples (4 mL) were processed without any previous treatment, which allowed the detection of the herbicides at low ppt levels. The effects of temperature, light and pH on the degradation of ACL and BF have been tested using standard solutions prepared in nanopure water. The effect of the sample matrix has been evaluated by analysing different environmental waters spiked with the herbicides, namely ditch water, river water and seawater. The kinetics of the degradation have been studied and the half-life times (t 1/2) have been calculated. The results obtained have demonstrated that the sample matrix is the most important parameter affecting the degradation of the tested herbicides. The degradation of both ACL and BF was much faster in ditch and river water samples, where t 1/2 values of only a few days were observed. However, both compounds showed a better stability in seawater samples, where they can persist for several months. In all matrices ACL was found to be more stable than BF. In samples where BF had been substantially degraded, BFA was also detected, although the stability of this compound was also limited. Other degradation products have been detected along the study. [Display omitted] • The degradation of the herbicides bifenox and aclonifen in water has been studied. • Bifenox acid, the main degradation product of bifenox, has been also tested. • The effects of temperature, light, pH and sample matrix is reported. • Nanopure, ditch, river and sea water samples have been tested. • Degradation rates and half-life times in the different waters are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A micro-solid phase extraction device for portable liquid chromatography is shown. • The device uses 10 mg of C18 sorbent immobilized on a modified syringe filter. • Samples are processed manually without prior treatment. • Desorption and injection are performed in one step and in-port. • The device has been tested for different organic pollutants in environmental waters. A micro-solid phase extraction (micro-SPE) device packed with a C18 sorbent (10 mg) has been developed for the enrichment and purification of organic water pollutants prior to their analysis using a portable liquid chromatograph with a dual UV detector. To this end, the sorbent was immobilized at the inlet of a 4 mm syringe filter (0.20 µm), which was modified to reduce its internal volume. The filter was coupled to the needle of the chromatograph. After loading the sample and cleaning the sorbent for analyte purification, the device was installed into the injection port of the chromatograph, and the target compounds were desorbed and transferred directly to the chromatographic column with a small volume of organic solvent. Under optimized conditions, sample volumes as large as 50 mL could be processed with the micro-SPE device, while the analytes were desorbed with only 60 µL of methanol. As a result, efficient preconcentration could be reached, as demonstrated for different water contaminants, namely aclonifen, bifenox, tritosulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl and caffeine. The proposed micro-SPE device was applied to the analysis of different types of water (river, well, sea, ditch and wastewater). The recoveries of the target compounds in samples ranged from 76 % to 109 %, which allowed their detection at low to sub µg/L levels. All operations were carried out manually, and thus, no additional laboratory instruments such as centrifuges, stirrers or evaporators were required. This proof-of-concept study shows that the proposed micro-SPE approach can be considered a reliable and effective option for the on-site analysis of pollutants in environmental water samples by portable liquid chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a continuation of the work done in [3] and [7] . We deal with the Vietoris hyperspace of all nontrivial convergent sequences S c ( X ) of a space X . We answer some questions in [3] and generalize several results in [7] . We prove that: The connectedness of X implies the connectedness of S c ( X ) ; the local connectedness of X is equivalent to the local connectedness of S c ( X ) ; and the path-wise connectedness of S c ( X ) implies the path-wise connectedness of X . We also show that the hyperspace of nontrivial convergent sequences on the Warsaw circle has c -many path-wise connected components, and provide a dendroid with the same property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate the motion, interaction, and simultaneous collision between many initially stable vortex rings arranged symmetrically in two initial configurations, three and six rings making an angle of 60 and 120° between their straight path lines, respectively. We report results for laminar vortex rings in air obtained through numerical simulations of the ring velocity, pressure, and vorticity fields, both in free flight and during the entire collision. Each collision was studied for small Reynolds numbers Re < 103 based on both the self-induced velocity and diameter of the ring. The case of three rings produces secondary vortical structures formed by laterally expanding dipolar arms with top and bottom secondary vortex rings. The case of six colliding rings produces, as secondary structures, two big rings moving in opposite directions, a process that reminds us of the head-on collision of two rings [T. T. Lim and T. B. Nickels, "Instability and reconnection in the head-on collision of two vortex rings," Nature 357, 225-227 (1992)] under a hypothetical time reversal transformation. Both collisions display a characteristic kinetic energy evolution where mean collision stages can be identified within the range of Reynolds numbers investigated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir ( LDV/ SOF) in treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C ( CHC) genotype 1 ( GT1) in the absence or mild fibrosis (F0-F1) versus advanced fibrosis (F2-F4), from the perspective of the Spanish Health System. A Markov model was developed to simulate disease progression, estimating costs and outcomes [life years gained ( LYG) and quality-adjusted life years ( QALY)] derived from starting with LDV/ SOF in patients with F0-F1 compared with F2-F4. Therapy duration was 8 weeks in noncirrhotic patients with viral load <6 million IU/ mL and 12 weeks in the remaining patients. Sustained virologic response rates were obtained from real-world cohort studies. Transition probabilities, utilities and direct costs were obtained from the literature. A 3% annual discount rate was applied to costs and outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed. LDV/ SOF in F0-F1 patients was a dominant strategy, being more effective (19.85 LYG and 19.80 QALY) than beginning treatment in F2-F4 patients (18.63 LYG and 16.25 QALY), generating savings of €9228 per patient (€3661 due to disease management and monitoring). In a cohort of 1000 patients, LDV/ SOF in F0-F1 patients decreased the number of cases of decompensated cirrhosis (93%), hepatocellular carcinoma (97%) and liver-related deaths (95%) and prevented 6 liver transplants compared to initiating LDV/ SOF in F2-F4 patients. In CHC treatment-naïve GT1 patients, starting treatment with LDV/ SOF in patients with F0-F1 compared to those with F2-F4 increases effectiveness by 1.22 LYG and 3.55 QALY gained and reduces disease burden and it is associated with cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the study of photosensitive dry-type films by photoacoustic technique is proposed. The dry film photoresist is resistant to chemical etching for printed circuit boards such as ferric chloride, sodium persulfate or ammonium, hydrochloric acid. It is capable of faithfully reproducing circuit pattern exposed to ultraviolet light (UV) through a negative. Once recorded, the uncured portion is removed with alkaline solution. It is possible to obtain good results in surface mount circuits with tracks of 5 mm. Furthermore, the solid resin films are formed by three layers, two protective layers and a UV-sensitive optical absorption layer in the range of 325 nm to 405 nm. By means of optical absorption of UV-visible rays emitted by a low-power Xe lamp, the films transform this energy into thermal waves generated by the absorption of optical radiation and subsequently no-radiative de-excitation occurs. The photoacoustic spectroscopy is a useful technique to measure the transmittance and absorption directly. In this study, the optical absorption spectra of the three layers of photosensitive dry-type films were obtained as a function of the wavelength, in order to have a knowledge of the absorber layer and the protective layers. These analyses will give us the physical properties of the photosensitive film, which are very important in curing the dry film for applications in printed circuit boards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we improve several results presented in [7] and in [9] related to the characterization of several kinds of pseudocompleteness and compactness properties in spaces of continuous functions of the form C p ( X , Y ) . In particular, we prove that for every Tychonoff space X and every separable metrizable topological group G for which C p ( X , G ) is dense in G X , C p ( X , G ) is weakly α -favorable if and only if X is u G -discrete. This result helps us to obtain two generalizations of a theorem due to V.V. Tkachuk in [24] : Theorem I 5.5 Let G be a separable completely metrizable topological group and X a set. If H is a dense subgroup of G X and H is homeomorphic to G Y for some set Y, then H = G X . A particular and interesting case is when X is a Tychonoff space and H = C p ( X , G ) is dense in G X . Theorem II 6.9 Let G be a realcompact Čech-complete weakly α-favorable topological group with countable pseudocharacter and let X be regular C < ω G -discrete. Then, C p ( X , G ) ≅ G κ if and only if X is a discrete space of cardinality κ. Besides, we obtain several applications to weakly pseudocompact spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder related to dementia and cognitive impairment. The research into potential therapies has shifted towards the inhibition of both α amyloid and tau aggregates. Objective: To update the research in the development of therapeutic strategies for AD based on the PαA and tau study. Method: PubMed database was used to search the required information using the related keywords. Immunohistochemistry was performed on AD brain tissue sections. Results: Due to its pathological relevance, the main research for the therapeutic strategies in AD are based on Aα and tau as following: decreasing Aα formation, reducing Aα levels, immunotherapy to Aα and tau, interfering or disrupting Aα and tau aggregates, inhibiting and activating kinase and phosphatase activity respectively, and stabilizing microtubules. Discussion and conclusion: the PαA formation and aggregation as well as the posttranslational modifications of tau that promotes its aggregation have shown to be key mechanisms for the AD onset, hence, to prevent the evolution of the disease it is essential to inhibit these processes in the early stages of the onset, but, these strategies have caused side effects blocking important physiological functions, thus leading to research approaches such as the inhibition of the aggregation of both PαA and tau, that seems to be the most efficient therapeutic strategy for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shoulder dislocation is a common reason for admission in the emergency room. Its recurrence rate may be as high as 96% due to the associated bone lesions. The purpose of this study is to identify the underreporting of lesions comparing those identified in the initial X-ray with those identified in the post-reduction X-ray. Material and methods: X-rays of 46 patients with suspected anterior glenohumeral dislocation were assessed for diagnostic purposes and to identify the initial bone lesions. After patients had undergone reduction, post-reduction serial bone X-rays (AP, Stryker, Westpoint) were taken and analyzed looking for bone lesions that were initially missed.Results: Bone lesions were identified in 26.1% of the patients based on the initial AP X-rays. In 67.6% of the patients without a pre-reduction fracture a bone lesion was found in the post-reduction serial X-rays. Conclusions: The underreporting rate of bone lesions was 67.6% comparing the initial AP X-rays with the postreduction serial bone X-rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove, using r -skeletons, that if X is a semi-Eberlein compact space, then its hyperspace of compact subsets is a semi-Eberlein compact space. We prove that c -skeletons can be induced on the hyperspaces of compact subsets of a space admitting a c -skeleton, and we characterize the presence of full c -skeletons on function spaces C p (X). Finally, we characterize ω -monotone assignments of pseudobases on subspaces of ω 1. These results answer some open questions published in [11] , [2] and [16]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the present time, although there are unknowns about the partial substitution of wheat flour by nontraditional source flours such as cassava flour (HY), it is known that the substitution proportionally and negatively affects the physical properties of baked products. Dough fermentation is characterized by improving the organoleptic and nutritional properties of the baked product, so it is speculated that the substitution with fermented dough infers better properties. Selecting the best fermentation between L. plantarum and L. casei at 35 and 40°C on the HY, fermented cassava dough (MYF) was elaborated and added in different percentages of partial substitution and the organoleptic and nutritional properties of each were analyzed. In general, the baked products presented an increase in protein, a lower amount of carbohydrates and total sugars, as well as greater height and volume, with better ratings in the sensory evaluation and even, at their maximum substitution (20%), they did not present undesirable physical properties. nor inferior to the control. The substitution with MYF improves the organoleptic and nutritional properties of the baked product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The Severe Maternal Morbidity is an obstetric complication that puts in risk mothers life, that requires a medical urgent interventions in order to avoid maternal death. Objective. High light causes, frequency and consequences of Sever maternal morbidity in women attended in the General Hospital and Family Attention No. 1 IMSS, Hidalgo 2012-2013. METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive and retrospective study that reviews the database records of women catalog as Red Code in the General Hospital of Pachuca, the information was download in SPSS v.18 program. RESULTS: 135 women with maternal morbidity cases were recorded as severed, the average age was 26 years old; 54.8% of women had multiple pregnancies (multiparous women). Most cases 83.7% presented morbidities by direct causes such as preeclampsia, hemorrhage and sepsis; while 16.2% presented morbidities by indirect causes. We found that 120 women resulted in acute consequences (81.6%) and chronic diseases (18.3%). CONCLUSION: We recommend a better attention during pregnancy, birth and puerperal period, to avoid severed consequences and efficient detection of obstetric complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we mainly study certain families of continuous retractions ( r -skeletons) having some rich properties. It is shown that if the space X has a full r -skeleton, then its Alexandroff duplicate also has a full r -skeleton. In a very similar way, it is proved that the Alexandroff duplicate of a monotonically retractable space is monotonically retractable. By using monotonically retractable spaces, we solve a question posed by R.Z. Buzyakova in [7] concerning the Alexandroff duplicate of a space. The notion of q -skeleton is introduced and it is shown that every compact subspace of C p ( X ) is Corson when X has a full q -skeleton. The notion of strong r -skeleton is also introduced to answer a question suggested by F. Casarrubias-Segura and the second author in [8] . Certainly, it is established that a space X is monotonically Sokolov if and only if it is monotonically ω -monolithic and has a strong r -skeleton. The techniques used here allow us to give a topological proof of a result of I. Bandlow [5] who used elementary submodels and uniform spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a study of how the magnetic and temperature variables, as well as the measurement rate, affect magnetic and structural phase transitions for La0.7Ca0.3-xSrxMnO3 (x=0.15, 0.08, 0.07 and 0.06) manganites. A single phase rhombohedral crystal structure for Sr0.15 compound and a single phase orthorhombic crystal structure for Sr0.08, Sr0.07, and Sr0.06 compounds were identified by X ray diffraction. The Curie temperature adjustment to room temperature was reached for Sr0.07 sample, in which a Jahn-Teller transition was observed. This Jahn-Teller transition showed a susceptible response to 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 K/min measurement rates, and was revealed without measurement sequence at 234, 257, 196, 233, 245 and 238 K respectively in thermomagnetic curves (10mT). Also, Curie temperature increases sequentially around 2 K for the same measurement rates. To avoid magnetic field effect, a differential scanning calorimetry for Sr0.07 sample was obtained in the same temperature region, for 2,3, 5,7 K/min showing the Jahn-Teller phase transition at 225 K and a vibrational like behavior in the heat flux below 225 K, for all the temperature rates. The latter, is related to the static to dynamic Jahn-Teller transition. Furthermore, Curie temperature appears around 284 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are frequently regarded as a new light source for the production of horticultural crops under closed-type conditions. However, before use of LEDs as the sole source of light can be advanced, plant responses to light quality have to be investigated for important horticultural plants. The objective of the present study was to evaluate cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ) seedlings physiological responses to different blue (B) and red (R) photon flux (PF) ratios using LEDs. Cucumber seedlings (cv. Cumlaude) were grown in a growth chamber until the second true leaf stage (17 days) with LED lighting and 18-h photoperiod. The treatments consisted of 100 μmol m −2 s −1 photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) with B:R PF ratios of 0B:100R%, 10B:90R%, 30B:70R%, 50B:50R%, 75B:25R%, 100B:0R%. Another treatment consisted of B, green (G) and R PF ratio of 20B:28G:52R%. Peak wavelengths of LEDs were 455 nm (B) and 661 nm (R) for the in the B:R treatments and 473 nm (B), 532 nm (G), 660 nm (R) in the B:G:R treatment. Hypocotyl length decreased with the increase of B PF up to the 75B:25R% treatment. Hypocotyl length in the 0B:100R% treatment was 164% greater than in the 75B:25R treatment. Plants under the 100B:0R% treatment had unexpected greater plant height, hypocotyl, and epicotyl length than plants under all other treatments. For example, the hypocotyl length under the 100B:0R% was 69% greater than in the 0B:100R treatment and 346% greater than in the 75B:25R% treatment. Leaf area decreased with the increase of B PF when plants were irradiated with the combination of B and R PF. The response of leaf area under the 100B:0R% treatment was unexpected since plants in the 100B:0R% treatment had 48% greater leaf area than plants in the 75B:25R% treatment. Chlorophyll content per leaf area, net photosynthetic rate, and stomatal conductance increased with the increase of B PF. Shoot dry and fresh mass decreased with the increase of B PF when plants were irradiated with the combination of B and R PF. Plants under 0B:100R% had the lowest dry and fresh mass from all the treatments and plants under 100B:0R% showed the greatest fresh mass from all the treatments and equal dry mass as the plants under 10B:90R% treatment. The addition of G PF to the spectrum did not have any influence in cucumber plant responses. For cucumber seedlings, morphological responses influenced plant growth since B PF responses in growth parameters (i.e., dry mass) closely matched those in morphological parameter (i.e., leaf area). More research is needed to find the optimal spectrum for the growth and development of horticultural crops under sole source electrical lighting such as LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A space X is weakly pseudocompact if it is G δ -dense in at least one of its compactifications. X has property D Y if for every countable discrete and closed subset N of X , every function f : N → Y can be continuously extended to a function over all of X . O-pseudocompleteness is the pseudocompleteness property defined by J.C. Oxtoby [17] , and T-pseudocompleteness is the pseudocompleteness property defined by A.R. Todd [24] . In this paper we analyze when a space of continuous functions C p ( X , Y ) is weakly pseudocompact where X and Y are such that C p ( X , Y ) is dense in Y X . We prove: (1) For spaces X and Y such that X has property D Y and Y is first countable weakly pseudocompact and not countably compact, the following conditions are equivalent: (i) C p ( X , Y ) is weakly pseudocompact, (ii) C p ( X , Y ) is O-pseudocomplete, and (iii) C p ( X , Y ) is T-pseudocomplete. (2) For a space X and a compact metrizable topological group G such that X has property D G , the following statements are equivalent: (i) C p ( X , G ) is pseudocompact, (ii) C p ( X , G ) is weakly pseudocompact, (iii) C p ( X , G ) is T -pseudocomplete, and (iv) C p ( X , G ) is O -pseudocomplete. (3) For every space X , C p ⁎ ( X ) and C p ⁎ ( X , Z ) are not weakly pseudocompact. Throughout this study we also consider several completeness properties defined by topological games such as the Banach–Mazur game and the Choquet game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural, morphological and compositional characterizations of zinc selenide nanoparticles (NPs-ZnSe) are discussed in this work. NPs-ZnSe were obtained by colloidal synthesis in aqueous solution at room temperature, atmospheric pressure and without inert atmosphere. The synthesis was carried out using zinc chloride (ZnCl 2 ) and elemental selenium as precursors. A mix of Na 5 P 3 O 10 and NaOH called Extran was used as surfactant. Molar concentration and pH of the aqueous solution were varied to study their effect on the crystalline properties of the nanoparticles. The XRD measurements show that the NPs-ZnSe exhibits a cubic phase structure. The size of the nanocrystals was between 3 nm and 4.7 nm. HRTEM analysis showed that NPs-ZnSe exhibit semi-spherical shape. The presence of zinc and selenium in the NPs-ZnSe was confirmed through EDS measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is ideally suited to developing green extraction by combining miniaturization, automation and reduction of solvent consumption. SPME has been used for the analysis of environmental, biological, and food samples, and numerous works have shown the benefits of using SPME. However, for full development of in-tube SPME, effort is still needed to overcome limitations, such as low extraction efficiency, selectivity and mechanical stability. To achieve these objectives, research on in-tube SPME is mainly focused in two scenarios: (1) the coupling of in-tube SPME with new chromatographic modalities, such as miniaturized liquid chromatography; and, (2) the preparation of new extractive phases. This review describes the recent advances in in-tube SPME coupled to different chromatographic systems and their main applications. Moreover, we give an overview of the developments in the preparation of new in-tube SPME extractive phases, highlighting the principal areas of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]