Search

Specimens of the sandhopper Orchestoidea tuberculata (Amphipoda; Talitridae) collected from sandy beaches in south-central Chile, were found to be parasitized by juvenile mermithids, constituting the first record of a mermithid infecting a marine amphipod in Chile. A morphological description of juveniles is provided. Sequence analyses based on mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S rDNA of the mermithids showed extremely low genetic variation. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the mermithid is more closely related to Hexamermis agrotis , which parasitize Coleoptera, than to Thaumamermis zealandica , which parasitizes New Zealand confamilial talitrid amphipods. [Display omitted] • First record of a mermithid infecting a semiterrestrial amphipod in Chile. • Sandhopper Orchestoidea tuberculata were found parasitized by juvenile mermithids. • Sequences analyzed by COI and 18S showed extremely low genetic variation. • Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the mermithid is close to parasites that inhabit in Coleoptera than those which parasitized to confamilial talitrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest challenges in producing fuel cells at affordable prices is to synthesize carbon materials selectively doped with graphitic nitrogen, as it is considered the most active nitrogen species for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). So far, all strategies focus on the use of nitrogen-containing carbon precursors, which limits the functionalization of commercially available carbon materials. Here, we present a post-functionalization method to boost the catalytic properties of carbon materials for the ORR by selectively enriching activated carbons with nitrogen graphitic species. A commercial high-surface area activated carbon was post-functionalized by a two-step procedure. First, the commercial carbon was mixed with different carbon/urea weight ratios and heated in air at 350 °C. Then, the functionalized materials were heat-treated at high temperature (from 700 to 1300 °C) to tailor the amount and distribution of the different nitrogen species in the resulting carbon structure. Nitrogen functionalization using a carbon to urea weight ratio of 1:2 and heat-treatment at 1100 °C led to highly selective doping in graphitic nitrogen species, which provided the tools to individually asses the catalytic activity of these nitrogen species. In addition, this study presents a low-cost and easily feasible synthesis route to improve the catalytic activity of carbon materials, leading to an onset potential of almost 0.9 V compared to reversible hydrogen electrode for ORR in an alkaline electrolyte. Moreover, this study provides significant evidence for the key role of graphitic nitrogen. [Display omitted] • An efficient and selective N-functionalization of activated carbons is presented. • This selective post-functionalization does not modify the textural properties. • Carbon materials selectively enriched with graphitic nitrogen were produced. • Graphitic nitrogen appears to be a highly active site for ORR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmaline is an indole alkaloid with demonstrated phytotoxicity and recognized pharmacological applications. However, no information is available concerning its mode of action on plant metabolism. Therefore, the present work evaluated bioherbicide mode of action of harmaline on plant metabolism of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Harmaline induced a strong inhibitory activity on root growth of treated seedlings, reaching IC 50 and IC 80 values of 14 and 29 μM, respectively. Treated roots were shorter and thicker than control and were characterized by a shorter root meristem size and an increase of root hairs production. Harmaline induced ultrastructural changes such as increment of cell wall thickness, higher density and condensation of mitochondria and vacuolization, appearance of cell wall deposits, increment of Golgi secretory activity and higher percentage of aberrant nuclei. The ethylene inhibitor AgNO 3 reversed high root hair appearance and increment of root thickness, and pTCSn::GFP transgenic line showed fluorescence cytokinin signal in stele zone after harmaline treatment that was absent in control, whereas the auxin signal in the transgenic line DR5 was significantly reduced by the treatment. All these results suggest that the mode of action of harmaline could be involving auxin, ethylene and cytokinin synergic/antagonistic action. • Harmaline showed phytotoxic potential on Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. • Harmaline induced ultrastructural changes on Arabidopsis thaliana roots. • Cytokinin, auxin and ethylene could be involved in harmaline mode of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the phytotoxic potential of azelaic acid (AZA) on Arabidopsis thaliana roots. Effects on root morphology, anatomy, auxin content and transport, gravitropic response and molecular docking were analysed. AZA inhibited root growth, stimulated lateral and adventitious roots, and altered the root apical meristem by reducing meristem cell number, length and width. The treatment also slowed down the roots' gravitropic response, likely due to a reduction in statoliths, starch-rich organelles involved in gravity perception. In addition, auxin content, transport and distribution, together with PIN proteins' expression and localisation were altered after AZA treatment, inducing a reduction in auxin transport and its distribution into the meristematic zone. Computational simulations showed that AZA has a high affinity for the auxin receptor TIR1, competing with auxin for the binding site. The AZA binding with TIR1 could interfere with the normal functioning of the TIR1/AFB complex, disrupting the ubiquitin E3 ligase complex and leading to alterations in the response of the plant, which could perceive AZA as an exogenous auxin. Our results suggest that AZA mode of action could involve the modulation of auxin-related processes in Arabidopsis roots. Understanding such mechanisms could lead to find environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic herbicides. • Azelaic acid showed phytotoxic potential against Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. • Azelaic acid affected root apical meristem anatomy and root growth. • AZA showed high affinity for TIR1, competing with auxin for the binding site. • Auxin polar transport was strongly reduced by azelaic acid. • Azelaic acid slowed down the gravitropic root response and statoliths production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ordered mesoporous carbon materials (OMC), obtained by the template carbonization pathway from silica templates (sacrificial method), exhibit promising features for many applications mainly due to their large surface area. Graphitization is a common approach to improve the electrical conductivity and degradation resistance. We have investigated the graphitization of two different OMC at 1500 °C and the electrochemical oxidation by potential holding at 1.4 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in acidic electrolyte. Graphitization conducts to a significant reduction of the electrooxidation associated charge, between 50 and 90% depending on the carbon properties, together with a decrease of surface area of 35–48%. The materials still exhibit a large electrochemical surface area, according to electrochemical impedance and cyclic voltammetry experiments. Upon electrooxidation, the relative amount of oxygen increases according to a comparative analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy test of the electrodes before and after potential holding. The results are of interest to define strategies towards the amelioration of carbon degradation by electrooxidation in electrochemical devices. Highlights • The electrochemical oxidation of ordered mesoporous carbons (OMC) has been studied. • OMC were graphitized to improve the carbon ordering and degradation resistance. • Graphitization led to a significant reduction of the oxidation associated charge. • The materials exhibited a large electrochemical surface area after graphitization. • An increase of the relative oxygen amount upon electrooxidation was evidenced by XPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Coastal litter abundance and its effects have increased for years. Waste reduction is the most effective countermeasure to fight against this problem. Littering attitudes may have an effect on people's involvement in coastal cleanups. In this study, coastal litter perception, awareness about its impact and likely sources were investigated in local population from south Bay of Biscay, Spain. People of different age groups and commitment levels regarding litter were interviewed and their answers compared with data from the area. Results showed differences in perception between volunteers and non-volunteers, but not between children and adults. Interaction effect of age was found for awareness. Volunteers and children tended to erroneously attribute the main litter origin to beachgoers, more than non-volunteers or adults. Our results suggest that encouraging local population to clean beaches would contribute to improve their perception of the problem and their attitudes toward taking action. Highlights • Coastal and marine litter presence depends on human activity and attitudes. • People's actions on the field can determine litter fate and measures effectiveness. • Coastal litter perception determines citizens opinion and their actions. • Volunteering increases perception and measures taken against marine litter. • Encouraging population would contribute to improve coastal and marine conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure is the leading cause of death in grown-up congenital heart disease patients (GUCH). Although heart transplantation (OHT) remains the gold standard in end-stage heart failure, the ratio of GUCH patients undergoing this procedure remains low. Describe the cohort of GUCH patients undergoing heart transplantation at a third-level hospital. A retrospective review of GUCH patients undergoing OHT between 1997 and 2019 was conducted at a single tertiary university hospital. We included different preoperative (demographic and clinical data, cardiac catheterization data from the last routine hemodynamic monitoring) and postoperative variables (complications, survival). Fourteen patients were enrolled. The median age was 25.5 years (range, 20.7–32.2). Eight patients (57.1%) were male. The median preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was 37% (range, 22.5%-55%). As for preoperative hemodynamic evaluation, the median for the mean arterial pulmonary pressure was 19 mm Hg (range, 12–22.5), for the capillary wedge pressure was 16 mm Hg (range, 13.5–19.5), and for pulmonary vascular resistance was 1.83 Wood units (range, 1–4). After OHT, 6 patients (42.9%) suffered an infection, the most common of which was respiratory (3 out of 6). Four patients (28.6%) needed renal replacement therapy, and 4 patients (28.6%) presented liver failure. Four patients (28.6%) developed graft failure, thus requiring mechanical support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during a median of 6 days (range, 1–17.5). Survival rate of patients under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was 50%, and overall survival rate was 78.6%. OHT represents a good option for GUCH patients, with good overall survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social contexts are essential for human decision-making, providing the basis for inferences and activities planning. Computationally, this social information is incorporated to the concept of social computing, and applied in very different research fields, such as Medicine, Cyber Security or Economy. The specific aim of this work is to apply social computing in a musical context. We want humans and machines to cooperate for the purpose of generating music from the colors of a digital image; the colors of an image are used as inspiration for the generation of melodies. The social machine is implemented as a Virtual Organization (VO), which contains a case-based reasoning process to select the best combination of sounds extracted from the colors according to the social context. In order to evaluate the present approach, a small society of musical experts rate the sound produced following consonance criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cystic fibrosis (CF), there is a predisposition to bronchial colonization by potentially pathogenic microorganisms, such as fungi. Our aims were to describe the dynamics of respiratory mycobiota in patients with CF and to evaluate the geographic, age and gender variability in its distribution. Cohort study in which 45 patients with CF from four hospitals in three Spanish cities were followed up during a 1-year period, obtaining spontaneous sputum samples every 3 to 6 months. Fungal microbiota were characterized by Internal Transcribed Spacer sequencing and Pneumocystis jirovecii was identified by nested PCR in a total of 180 samples. The presence of fungi were detected in 119 (66.11%) of the 180 samples and in 44 (97.8%) of the 45 patients: 19 were positive and 1 negative throughout all follow-ups and the remaining 25 presented alternation between positive and negative results. A total of 16 different genera were identified, with Candida spp. (50/180, 27.78%) and Pneumocystis spp. (44/180, 24.44%) being the most prevalent ones. The distribution of fungal genera was different among the evaluated centres (p < 0.05), by age (non-adults aged 6–17 years vs. adults aged ≥18 years) (p < 0.05) and by gender (p < 0.05). A high prevalence of fungal respiratory microbiota in patients with CF was observed, whose dynamics are characterized by the existence of multiple cycles of clearance and colonization, reporting the existence of geographic, age and gender variability in the distribution of fungal genera in this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Photoluminescent films of poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, doped with the complex [Eu L 2 (H 2 O) 2 (NO 3 ) 3 ] were prepared, where L is the neutral ligand 2,6-bis[2-formylphenoxymethyl]pyridine (C 21 H 17 NO 4 ). The Eu(III) complex was synthesized by classic chemosynthesis, and also through a solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis, and characterized by spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TGA and DTA), and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The mechanochemical route improves the yield for the complex, which is synthesized over times considerably shorter compared to the traditional synthesis, and through a solvent-free procedure. The photoluminescent properties of the Eu(III) complex and hybrid films PMMA:complex were studied. The Eu(III) luminescence is enhanced once the complex is embedded into the polymeric matrix. The hybrid films were characterized by optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, XRD, TGA and DTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several applications, data information is obtained in the form of intervals, such as the monthly temperature in a meteorological station or daily pollution levels in different locations. This paper proposes partitioning clustering algorithms for interval-valued data based on adaptive Euclidean and City-Block distances. Since some boundary variables may be more relevant for the clustering process, the proposals consider the joint weights of the relevance of the lower and upper boundaries of the interval-valued variables. Consequently, clusters of different shapes and sizes in some subspaces of the variables, even in specific boundaries of the interval-valued data, can be recognized. In addition, robust dissimilarity functions were introduced to reduce the influence of outliers in the data. The adaptive distances change at each iteration of the algorithms and can be different from one cluster to another. The methods optimize an objective function by alternating three steps for obtaining the representatives of each group, the cluster partition, and the relevance weights for the interval-valued variables. Experiments on synthetic and real data sets corroborate the robustness and usefulness of the proposed adaptive clustering methods. • New clustering algorithms for interval-valued data are proposed. • The methods introduce local and global adaptive distances. • The distances consider the joint relevance of the variables of each boundary. • Experiments on synthetic and real data sets show the usefulness of the approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al and F co-doped ZnO thin films were deposited on glass and SiO 2 /Si substrates by the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method, at which AlF 3 was used as doping precursor. The resulting films showed high transparency and good adherence to the substrates. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all the films had a wurtzite-type hexagonal structure with preferential orientation along the c -axis. The porous structure of the films, formed by matchstick-shaped structures, was modified as effect of increasing the AlF 3 concentration. That is, less porous films were obtained for higher AlF 3 concentrations. The optical transparency and bandgap of the film prepared with the highest concentration of the precursor dopant was about 88.57% and 3.27 eV, respectively. Thin film transistors were fabricated with (Al, F):ZnO films as active layers. The interconnectivity of grains was the most influencing factor in the electrical performance of the fabricated devices. Thus, the device with the least porous film had a saturation mobility of 1.362 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a threshold voltage of 7.2 V. • Al and F co-doped ZnO thin films were prepared by the SILAR method. • Wurtzite-type hexagonal structures grown with preferential orientation along the c-axis. • Doping agents contributed to the formation of less porous films. • Enhancement of the films' transmittance with the concentration of Al and F precursors. • The TFT with the best performance had a μ sat = 1.362 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 and V TH = 7.2 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the mechanisms involved in the transformation of analgesia produced by low doses of CCL4 (pg/kg) to hyperalgesia when higher doses (ng/kg) are administered to mice. The unilateral hot plate test was used to assess thermal nociception. CD3+, CD4+ or CD8+ blood cells were depleted with selective antibodies. Expression of CCR5 and IL-16 in lymphocytes was studied by flow cytometry and IL-16 blood levels were measured by ELISA. IL-16 and CD8 were detected by immunofluorescence. IL-16 and CCR5 expression were demonstrated in CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes by flow cytometry. Furthermore, CCL4-induced hyperalgesia was abolished by reducing circulating T-lymphocyte levels or by selectively depleting CD4+ lymphocytes. In contrast, when the anti-CD4 antibody was acutely administered, CCL4 induced analgesia instead of hyperalgesia. A similar response was obtained when administering A-770041, that prevents CD4-mediated CCR5 desensitization by inhibiting p56lck kinase. As occurred with the analgesic effect evoked by low doses of CCL4, analgesia evoked by combining CCL4 and A-770041 was reverted by naloxone, naltrindole or an anti-met-enk antibody. Interestingly, flow cytometry assays showed that the number of CD8+, but not CD4+, T-cells expressing IL-16 is reduced after the acute administration of CCL4, a result compatible with the description that CD8+-lymphocytes can rapidly release preformed IL-16. Accordingly, the rise in IL-16 blood concentration evoked by CCL4 was prevented after CD8+ lymphocyte depletion. CCL4-evoked hyperalgesia is related to the desensitization of CCR5 in CD4+ T-cells and to the release of IL-16 from CD8+ lymphocytes. • CCL4 induces analgesia in mice that shifts to hyperalgesia when the dose is increased. • Depletion of CD3+ or CD4+ T-lymphocytes prevents CCL4-induced hyperalgesia. • CD4 blockade or prevention of CCR5 desensitization shift hyperalgesia to analgesia. • Depletion of CD8+ lymphocytes also converts CCL4-induced hyperalgesia in analgesia. • CCL4-induced hyperalgesia could be triggered by IL-16 released from CD8+-lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of testosterone and hCG on FSH receptor (FSHR) protein and mRNA expression in human granulosa cells (GC) in vitro. Study design: Experimental in vitro cell culture obtained from healthy women undergoing IVF/ICSI due to male factor infertility. Human follicular fluid samples were obtained and after cumulus–oocyte complexes were identified, fluids were pipetted onto Ficoll gradients and centrifuged for 15min at 400× g at room temperature. Cells at the interface were removed and plated in 24-well plates for 3days in M-199 with 10% FBS. Cells were treated with different concentrations of testosterone and hCG. After purification, cells were labeled with specific antibodies and the protein expression of the FSHR was evaluated by flow cytometry in the GC population. Also, total RNA was extracted from confluent GC and the FSHR gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR. Results: FSHR expression was modulated by treating GC in vitro at different testosterone/hCG concentrations. When compared with untreated GC, we observed a significant effect of testosterone and hCG on the expression of the FSHR at the protein level. Time course experiments confirmed that the gene expression of the FSHR peaked at 12–24h when testosterone or hCG was used as a stimulus. Conclusions: Both testosterone and hCG are able to positively modulate FSHR expression at gene and protein level in human GC in vitro. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An idea that seems to be gaining considerable ground is that modeling the interactions of a multi-agent system cannot be related exclusively to the actual agent and its communication capabilities, but must involve the use of concepts found in organizational engineering as well. It is possible to establish different types of agent organizations according to the type of communication, the coordination among agents, and the type of agents that comprise the group. Each organization needs to be supported by a coordinated effort that explicitly determines how the agents should be organized and carry out the actions and tasks assigned to them. This research presents a new global coordination model for an agent organization. The primary novelty of the model consists of the dynamic and adaptive planning capability to distribute tasks among the agent members of the organization as effectively as possible. This model is unique in its conception, allowing an organization in a highly dynamic environment to employ self-adaptive capabilities in execution time. This allows for the behavior of an agent to be determined by the goals it wishes to reach, while still giving consideration to the goals of other agents and any changes in the environment. The model is evaluated in a multi-agent system developed within an architecture oriented toward THOMAS organizations and simulated in a virtual environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although previous studies describe the up-regulation of purinergic P2X3 receptors expressed at peripheral nociceptive fibers in experimental painful neoplastic processes, the analgesic efficacy of P2X3 receptor antagonists has not been tested in these settings. We study here the effect of the P2X3 receptor antagonist, A-317491, on thermal hyperalgesia produced by the intratibial inoculation of NCTC 2472 fibrosarcoma cells to C3H/HeJ mice. The peritumoral administration of A-317491 (10–100μg) dose-dependently attenuated osteosarcoma-induced thermal hyperalgesia without modifying thermal latencies measured in the contralateral paws. This antihyperalgesic effect was inhibited by the coadministration of naloxone-methiodide (0.1–1μg) or the systemic injection of the selective μ-opioid receptor antagonist cyprodime (1mg/kg), demonstrating the involvement of peripheral μ-opioid receptors. Furthermore, the antihyperalgesic effect induced by A-317491, was antagonised by the coadministration of an anti-enkephalin antibody supporting the participation of endogenous enkephalins. Consistent with this result, the antihyperalgesic effect induced by A-317491 was dramatically enhanced by the administration of an enkephalin-degrading inhibitor, Debio 0827, as demonstrated by isobolographic analysis. This synergism opens the theoretical possibility that the combination of both types of drugs could be useful to counteract some nociceptive symptoms derived from tumor development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The non-covalent modification of carbon nanotube electrodes with pyrene derivatives is a versatile approach to enhance the electrical wiring of enzymes for biosensors and biofuel cells. We report here a comparative study of five pyrene derivatives adsorbed at multi-walled carbon nanotube electrodes to shed light on their ability to promote direct electron transfer with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for H 2 O 2 reduction. In all cases, pyrene-modified electrodes enhanced catalytic reduction compared to the unmodified electrodes. The pyrene N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester derivative provided access to the highest catalytic current of 1.4 mA cm−2 at 6 mmol L−1 H 2 O 2 , high onset potential of 0.61 V vs. Ag/AgCl, insensitivity to parasitic H 2 O 2 oxidation, and a large linear dynamic range that benefits from insensitivity to HRP "suicide inactivation" at 4–6 mmol L−1 H 2 O 2. Pyrene-aliphatic carboxylic acid groups offer better sensor sensitivity and higher catalytic currents at ≤ 1 mmol L−1 H 2 O 2 concentrations. The butyric acid and NHS ester derivatives gave high analytical sensitivities of 5.63 A M−1 cm−2 and 2.96 A M−1 cm−2, respectively, over a wide range (0.25–4 mmol−1) compared to existing carbon-based HRP biosensor electrodes. A bacterial nanocellulose pyrene-NHS HRP bioelectrode was subsequently elaborated via "one-pot" and "layer-by-layer" strategies. The optimised bioelectrode exhibited slightly weaker voltage output, further enhanced catalytic currents, and a major enhancement in 1-week stability with 67% activity remaining compared to 39% at the equivalent electrode without nanocellulose, thus offering excellent prospects for biosensing and biofuel cell applications. • Simple and versatile HRP bioelectrodes by adsorption of pyrenes enhances catalysis. • Hydrogen peroxide catalytic boost effect observed at high substrate concentration. • 5 pyrene derivatives are compared for biosensor and biocathode performance. • More eco-friendly bioelectrodes integrating nanocellulose enhance storage stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate electrocardiogram markers to predict coronary involvement in patients with Kawasaki disease by assessing measures of ventricular repolarization parameters on the 12-lead electrocardiogram.Study Design: This cross-sectional study included 180 Spanish and Japanese patients ≤14 years of age with Kawasaki disease, with or without coronary involvement, from 2011 to 2016. We manually measured the Tp-Te/QT ratio and QTc interval (with Bazett's formula) in 12-lead electrocardiogram in the acute and recovery period and explored their potential association with coronary involvement.Results: No association was found between Tp-Te/QT ratio obtained manually in V5 and V6 leads and coronary involvement in the acute (V5:0.25 [IQR, 0.21-0.27] vs 0.25 [IQR, 0.20-0.27], P = .80; V6:0.24 [IQR, 0.21-0.27] vs 0.25 [IQR, 0.20-0.27], P = .86) or the recovery (V5: 0.23 [IQR, 0.20-0.25] vs 0.23 [IQR, 0.19-0.25], P = .68; V6: 0.23 [IQR, 0.20-0.25] vs 0.23 [IQR, 0.17-0.25], P = .50) period. By contrast, QTc in V5 and V6 was significantly lower in patients with Kawasaki disease and coronary involvement in the acute period (V5: 378 ms [IQR, 364-395 ms] vs 390 ms [IQR, 371-411 ms], P = .04; V6: 377 ms [IQR, 364-392 ms] vs 390 ms [IQR, 371-410 ms], P = .01). A QTc interval of <385 ms in lead V6 was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of coronary involvement (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2-5.3; P = .02).Conclusions: Manually measured QTc interval may be a marker of coronary disease in the acute period of Kawasaki disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biomass-derived carbons are appropriate precursors for fuel cell electrocatalysts. • Microporosity and graphitic domains play a determining role in electroactivity. • Catalysts become active upon two thermal treatments and one acid etching. • Fe-N 4 -C and nitrogen functionalities are created on activated carbon matrix. Biomass from agricultural by-products is gaining increasing interest as cheap and abundant precursor in the development of active materials for efficient and environmentally friendly devices like fuel cells. Herein, we investigated iron and nitrogen co-doped nanoporous carbons derived from aronia, peach stones and coal tar pitch/furfural as electrocatalysts for the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. Urea was used as nitrogen precursor and two annealing steps with intermediate acid leaching served to activate the catalysts. Within the series, the peach stone-derived catalyst exhibited a catalytic activity for the ORR close to the benchmark Pt/C, with a 60 mV dec−1 Tafel slope upon the incorporation of 0.57 wt% Fe and proper combination of N-Fe species (20%) with pyridinic/pyridonic moieties (49%). We concluded that the microporosity and a certain content of meso/macro-pores of the activated carbon, together with the creation of graphitic domains result in a high relative amount of Fe-N 4 and nitrogen functionalities, which determine the electrocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a multicenter clinical validity study of the Panbio coronavirus disease 2019 Antigen Rapid Test of nasopharyngeal samples in pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019-compatible symptoms of ≤5 days of evolution. Our study showed limited accuracy in nasopharyngeal antigen testing: overall sensitivity was 45.4%, and 99.8% of specificity, positive-predictive value was 92.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a prospective cohort study, we compared the effect of hCG and GnRH agonist triggering of final oocyte maturation on vascular endothelial growth factor production. Vascular endothelial growth factor follicular fluid concentration was significantly lower in response to GnRH agonist versus hCG, which may partially explain the absence of OHSS in these of women. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• CCL4 gene delivery provokes long-lasting hyperalgesia followed by analgesia in mice. • Low doses of CCL4 (pg/kg) evoke analgesia but higher ones (ng/kg) induce hyperalgesia. • CCL4-induced hyperalgesia is mediated through CCR5 and related to leukocytes. • CCL2, IL-1α, CXCL1, CXCL13 and IL-16 are involved in CCL4-induced hyperalgesia. • IL-16 seems related to the switch of CCL4 response from analgesia to hyperalgesia. As recently described, the administration of extremely low doses (pg/kg) of CCL4 (Macrophage inflammatory protein 1β, MIP-1β) can induce antinociceptive effects in mice (García-Domínguez et al., 2019b). We describe here that hydrodynamic delivery of a plasmid containing CCL4 cDNA provokes a biphasic response consisting in an initial thermal hyperalgesic reaction for 8 days followed by analgesia at days 10–12, being both responses blocked after the administration of the CCR5 antagonist DAPTA. Both the luminiscence evoked in liver after the administration of a plasmid containing CCL4 and luciferase cDNAs and the hepatic concentration of CCL4 measured by ELISA were maximal 4 days after plasmid administration and markedly diminished at day 10. A dose–effect curve including a wide dose range of exogenous CCL4 revealed thermal analgesia after the administration of 10–100 pg/kg whereas 1000 times higher doses (30–100 ng/kg) induced, instead, thermal hyperalgesia inhibited by DAPTA. This hyperalgesia was absent in mice with reduced white blood cells after cyclophosphamide treatment, thus supporting the involvement of circulating leukocytes. A multiarray bioluminescent assay revealed increased plasma levels of IL-1α, CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL13, IL-16 and TIMP-1 in mice treated with 100 ng/kg of CCL4. The hyperalgesic response evoked by CCL4 was prevented by IL-1R, CXCR2 or CCR2 antagonists or by the neutralization of CXCL13 or IL-16, but not TIMP-1, with selective antibodies. The administration of the anti-IL-16 antibody was the unique treatment able to convert hyperalgesia evoked by 100 ng/kg of CCL4 in an analgesic effect. The ability of IL-16 to evoke hypernociception was confirmed by studying the response to its exogenous administration (10–30 ng/kg). In summary, the present results demonstrate that CCL4 induces a dual modulation of nociception and describe some mechanisms involved in the hyperalgesic response evoked by this chemokine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a new approach to achieve gas separation materials with improved resistance to plasticization (obtained by partial pyrolysis of new polyimide blends) is presented. Blends of an aromatic polyimide (formally, 6FDA-6FpDA) and aliphatic-aromatic copolyetherimides based on the same polyimide in combination with other aliphatic polyimides, having polyethylene oxide moieties, were obtained. After their synthesis and characterization, a selective elimination of the polyether by thermal treatment was carried and the obtained partially-pyrolyzed materials were tested as gas separation membranes. For neat blends, permeability was shown to decrease when PEO content increases. This effect is due to polyethylene oxide (PEO) chains encroaching on free volume because phase segregation was minimized. When these blends were subjected to thermal treatment at relatively low temperatures in air or in N 2 , it was clearly observed that all the polyether moieties were selectively eliminated from the structure, which gave rise to an increase of permeability. Higher permeabilities were obtained after a thermal treatment at 390 °C in N 2 . Degradation of PEO chains after a 290 °C treatment in air produced materials with permeability values lower than those observed under N 2 . In both cases, even though PEO was selectively and wholly eliminated, permeability was not totally recovered to give the values observed for neat 6FDA-6FpDA due probably to a combination of shrinkage and crosslinking of the membrane produced during the thermal process. Crosslinking provides the materials with an increased resistance to plasticization. In particular, the best improvement against plasticization proceeded from the thermal treatments of blends at 290 °C in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavitation damage and hard particle erosion are some of the main sources of wear in most hydraulic machines, such as pumps or hydroturbines. However, the synergic effect of these two phenomena leads to a wear phenomenon that is often more severe than the sum of the individual effects of cavitation and hard particle erosion and that has been scarcely studied. Therefore, in this work, simplified computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using 2D and 3D approaches were performed to investigate the behaviour of a particle interacting with a cavitation bubble near a solid wall under several conditions of pressure, position, bubble maximum size, and mass of the particle. All the involved variables were combined into three nondimensional variables: the dependent variable includes the impact velocity of the particle normal to the surface, while the other two variables include the particle position relative to the eroded wall and the particle mass. Through this approach, several correlations were identified, and a dimensionless function of two variables and six fitting factors was proposed to comply with those correlations. Then, this function was returned to its dimensional form to obtain an expression to predict the impact velocity of a particle normal to the solid wall due its interaction with a collapsing bubble. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed to obtain a new geometry that provides increased efficiency in a 500-kW Francis turbine. This analysis was developed in two parts: The first stage of the work was focused on the elements of the turbine that are not related to the runner’s blade profile, such as the covers, the stay vanes/guide vanes and certain zones of the runner. The second stage of the work was focused on improving the blade profile. To this end, due to the complexity of the geometry, a methodology that combines factorial experiments, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and optimizations based on Genetic Algorithms (GA) was implemented. In the first stage of the process, the modifications increased the efficiency by six points. In the second stage, the recirculation of fluid and the cavitation phenomenon in the runner blade were reduced, the latter being the main cause of wear in the current runner. The final geometry was simulated in a CFD solver, which predicted an increase of 14.77% in the efficiency of the current point for the highest power. Finally, static strength, fatigue and resonance were verified in turbine components affected by the modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• C. demersum may be a cost-effective option in the rooftop-water treatment process. • C. demersum was superior to E. densa at oxygenating and reducing water conductivity and water turbidity. • E. densa was better at reducing water chlorophyll-a but significantly increased the amount of filamentous bacteria. • The two macrophyte treatments did not differ in the amount of detritus accumulated. • C. demersum had the more diverse taxon indicator community of algae and protozoa. Nature-based solutions including rooftop-water storage ponds are increasingly adopted in cities as new eco-designs to address climate change issues, such as water scarcity and storm-water runoff. Macrophytes may be valuable additions for treating stored rooftop waters and provisioning other services, including aquaponics, esthetic and wildlife-conservation values. However, the efficacy of macrophyte treatments has not been tested with influxes of different labile carbon loadings such as those occurring in storms. Moreover, little is known about how macrophytes affect communities of metazoans and microbes, including protozoans, which are key players in the water-treatment process. Here, we experimentally investigated the effectiveness of two widely distributed macrophytes, Ceratophyllum demersum and Egeria densa , for treating drained rooftop water fed with two types of leaf litter, namely Quercus robur (high C lability) and Quercus rubra (low C lability). C. demersum was better than E. densa at reducing water conductivity (by 10 ̶ 40 µS/cm), TDS (by 10–18 mg/L), DOC (by 4–5 mg/L) and at increasing water transparency (by 4–9%), water O 2 levels (by 19–27%) and daylight pH (by 0.9–1.3) compared to leaf-litter only microcosms after 30 days. Each treatment developed a different community of algae, protozoa and metazoa. Greater plant mass and epiphytic chlorophyll-a suggested that C. demersum was better at providing supporting habitat than E. densa. The two macrophytes did not differ in detritus accumulation, but E. densa was more prone to develop filamentous bacteria, which cause sludge bulking in water-treatment systems. Our study highlights the superior capacity of C. demersum and the usefulness of whole-ecosystem experiments in choosing the most adequate macrophyte species for nature-based engineered solutions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]