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Context. In recent times, large organic molecules of exceptional complexity have been found in diverse regions of the interstellar medium. Aims. In this context, we aim to provide accurate frequencies of the ground vibrational state of two key aliphatic aldehydes, n-butanal and its branched-chain isomer, i-butanal, to enable their eventual detection in the interstellar medium. We also want to test the level of complexity that interstellar chemistry can reach in regions of star formation. Methods. We employ a frequency modulation millimeter-wave absorption spectrometer to measure the rotational features of n- and i-butanal. We analyze the assigned rotational transitions of each rotamer separately using the A-reduced semirigid-rotor Hamiltonian. We use the spectral line survey ReMoCA performed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to search for n- and i-butanal toward the star-forming region Sgr B2(N). We also search for both aldehydes toward the molecular cloud G+0.693−0.027 with IRAM 30 m and Yebes 40 m observations. The observational results are compared with computational results from a recent gas-grain astrochemical model. Results. Several thousand rotational transitions belonging to the lowest-energy conformers of two distinct linear and branched isomers have been assigned in the laboratory spectra up to 325 GHz. A precise set of the relevant rotational spectroscopic constants has been determined for each structure as a first step toward identifying both molecules in the interstellar medium. We report non-detections of n-and i-butanal toward both sources, Sgr B2(N1S) and G+0.693-0.027. We find that n- and i-butanal are at least 2-6 and 6-18 times less abundant than acetaldehyde toward Sgr B2(N1S), respectively, and that n-butanal is at least 63 times less abundant than acetaldehyde toward G+0.693−0.027. While propanal is not detected toward Sgr B2(N1S) either, with an abundance at least 5–11 lower than that of acetaldehyde, propanal is found to be 7 times less abundant than acetaldehyde in G+0.693−0.027. Comparison with astrochemical models indicates good agreement between observed and simulated abundances (where available). Grain-surface chemistry appears sufficient to reproduce aldehyde ratios in G+0.693−0.027; gas-phase production may play a more active role in Sgr B2(N1S). Model estimates for the larger aldehydes indicate that the observed upper limits may be close to the underlying values. Conclusions. Our astronomical results indicate that the family of interstellar aldehydes in the Galactic center region is characterized by a drop of one order of magnitude in abundance at each incrementation in the level of molecular complexity.

Introduction Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common, and under treated medical condition that affects men and their partners. Advances in clinical research in premature ejaculation (PE) over the last years have led to the development of a variety of new treatment options, including dietary supplements. Hypericum perforatum (HP), a natural supplement has demonstrated pharmacologic action to inhibit serotonin reuptake and that inhibits rat and human vas deferens contractility. These results might explain delayed ejaculation described in patients receiving HP. Quercetin is a naturally occurring bioflavonoid found in high concentrations in red wine, onions, and green tea. Therapy with the bioflavonoid quercetin provides significant symptomatic improvement in most men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Subjects with PE often show symptoms and signs compatible with CP/CPPS, as confirmed by many different studies, CP/CP are an organic risk factor for PE. Objective The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the safety and preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of a supplement that combined HP and quercetin for the treatment of PE. Methods A one-group pretest-posttest design was used in the current research. Main outcome measures were assessed using the mean stopwatch-measured Intravaginal Ejaculatory Latency Time (IELT) at baseline and after 12 weeks. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22 (SPSS). Quantitative data are expressed as means ± standard deviations (SDs). For the comparison of paired variables the Wilcoxon test was used. Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) was used for the diagnosis and as a secondary measure. The study inclusion criteria to be selected were as follows: Being over 18 years old, being in a heterosexual relationship for at least the last 6 months, having a score ≥ 11 in the PEDT and a mean self-reported IELT ≤ 2 minutes. Exclusion criteria included a history of alcohol abuse or dependence, having received medication or psychological treatment for PE in the last 6 months, suffering from diabetes or habitual use of recreational drugs. A total of 12 subjects, aged between 27 and 58 years of age (mean = 40.50 years, standard deviation (SD) = 8.31) were treated with 1 daily tablet of 650 mg of Myhixel Max®. Each tablet contained Hypereric dry extract 433.64mg, Sophora japonica L. (95% quercetin 72.27mg), 68.65mg quercetin and anti-caking agents (magnesium stearate and silico dioxide). Results In the present study, there was a significant improvement in mean IELT (mean pre = 69.6 seg (SD) = 37.8 mean post = 146.4 seg (SD) = 67.2, Wilcoxon test pre vs post p-value = 0.008). Conclusions Oral therapy with HP and quercetin was associated with a significant increase in mean IELT from baseline, with no adverse effects related to the treatment. We can conclude that this supplement in daily use has the potential to become an effective and safe treatment for patients suffering from PE, long-term durability of the response is yet to be determined. Future studies with, larger group of patients; larger follow-up and group control are needed. Disclosure Work supported by industry: yes, by New Wellness Concept S.L. A consultant, employee (part time or full time) or shareholder is among the authors (New Wellness Concept. S.L).

Affective disorders (i.e. anxiety and depression) are commonly observed in patients with epilepsy and induce seizure aggravation. Animal models of epilepsy that exhibit affective disorder features are essential in developing new neuromodulatory treatments. GEAS-W rats (Generalized Epilepsy with Absence Seizures, Wistar background) are an inbred model of generalized epilepsy showing spontaneous spike-wave discharges concomitant with immobility. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a safe non-invasive neuromodulatory therapy used to modulate dysfunctional circuitries frequently and successfully applied in affective disorders for symptom alleviation. Here we investigated anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of tDCS in GEAS-W rats and the role of corticosterone as a possible mechanism of action. GEAS-W and Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, sham-tDCS and active-tDCS groups. Both tDCS groups received 15 sessions of sham or active-tDCS (1mA, cathode). Behavioural tests included the Open Field and Forced Swimming tests followed by corticosterone analysis. We observed a main effect of treatment and a significant treatment by strain interaction on anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviours, with active-tDCS GEAS-W rats entering the center of the open field more often and showing less immobility in the forced swimming test. Furthermore, there was a main effect of treatment on corticosterone with active-tDCS animals showing marked reduction in plasmatic levels. This study described preclinical evidence to support tDCS treatment of affective disorders in epilepsy and highlights corticosterone as a possible mechanism of action.

In recent decades, Cognitive Neuroscience has evolved from a rather arcane field trying to understand how the brain supports mental activities, to one that contributes to public policies. In this article, we focus on the contributions from Cognitive Neuroscience to Education. This line of research has produced a great deal of information that can potentially help in the transformation of Education, promoting interventions that help in several domains including literacy and math learning, social skills and science. The growth of the Neurosciences has also created a public demand for knowledge and a market for neuro-products to fulfill these demands, through books, booklets, courses, apps and websites. These products are not always based on scientific findings and coupled to the complexities of the scientific theories and evidence, have led to the propagation of misconceptions and the perpetuation of neuromyths. This is particularly harmful for educators because these misconceptions might make them abandon useful practices in favor of others not sustained by evidence. In order to bridge the gap between Education and Neuroscience, we have been conducting, since 2013, a set of activities that put educators and scientists to work together in research projects. The participation goes from discussing the research results of our projects to being part and deciding aspects of the field interventions. Another strategy consists of a course centered around the applications of Neuroscience to Education and their empirical and theoretical bases. These two strategies have to be compared to popularization efforts that just present Neuroscientific results. We show that the more the educators are involved in the discussion of the methodological bases of Neuroscientific knowledge, be it in the course or as part of a stay, the better they manage the underlying concepts. We argue that this is due to the understanding of scientific principles, which leads to a more profound comprehension of what the evidence can and cannot support, thus shielding teachers from the false allure of some commercial neuro-products. We discuss the three approaches and present our efforts to determine whether they lead to a strong understanding of the conceptual and empirical base of Neuroscience.

El presente artículo analiza la relación entre el potencial de implementación de redes inteligentes y el ciclo de energía en las ciudades, ciclo que comprende la extracción, producción, distribución y consumo final de la energía como garante de desarrollo. Este interés se desprende de la constatación de que uno de los principales retos de las ciudades es paliar la escasez energética mediante tecnologías eficientes, capaces de reducir las emisiones de CO2. En relación a este requerimiento, el estudio se propone demostrar, en base a experiencias internacionales, que la manera inteligente de aplicar la tecnología en nuestras ciudades como respuesta al consumo energético es la adopción de tecnologías apropiadas y compatibles con cada realidad específica.

We present an adaptation of Bemis & Pylkkänen’s (2011) two-word, composition-list paradigm to study elementary composition in Spanish using electroencephalography. Our main objective is to determine if EEG is sensitive enough to detect a composition-related activity and to evaluate whether the expectancy of participants to compose contributes to this signal. Although we found relevant activity at the expected channels and times, we also found putative composition-related activity before the second word onset. Using a threshold-free cluster permutation analysis combined with linear models we show a task progression effect for the composition task that is not present for the list task. In a second experiment we evaluate two-word composition while avoiding differential expectancy effects across stimuli by incorporating all conditions to a single task. In this case, we failed to find any significant composition-related activity. We suggest that the composition-related activity measured with EEG may be at least in part carried by expectancy processes arising from the block design of the experiment. We conclude that for this paradigm it is important to complement the block based experiments with those controlling for expectancy, and to use powerful data-driven techniques to analyze the data.

In unequal societies the effectiveness of formal education depends on the socioeconomic status (SES) of students. Studies have shown that poverty affects the development of the brain in ways that might compromise future learning, thus increasing the differences between groups with different SES. Interest is growing in the development of tools that might change this state of affairs. This article presents a tablet-based study aimed at determining the cognitive abilities related to primary school children’s math learning. The study followed the students’ changes during a short intervention, the purpose of which was to improve students’ performance of some of the core components of mathematical cognition; in particular, of the approximate number system (ANS), a system that supports one’s ability to estimate quantities and to compare time intervals. The article presents the study’s characteristics and shows how the variables that were evaluated—ANS precision, time discrimination accuracy, digit span, and mathematical achievement—depend on SES. We employ multiple regressions to show that the variance in mathematics performance attributed to SES can be explained by differences in underlying cognitive factors. The study also indicates that those students of low-SES schools who participated in more tablet activities increased their performance more than students who did fewer activities. Although the intervention’s initial objective was to influence mathematical development and the study is not a randomized double-blind study, we argue that training the ANS can have positive effects in mathematics learning, and that this might benefit children living in low-SES contexts more than those in the general population, perhaps because of the former’s initially low levels of performance in school mathematics.

Unmet medical needs are not infrequent in oncology, and these needs are usually of higher magnitude in rare cancers. The field of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) has evolved rapidly during the last decade, and, currently, a new WHO classification is being implemented and several treatment options are available in the metastatic setting after the results of prospective phase III clinical trials. However, several questions are still unanswered, and decisions in our daily clinical practice should be made with limited evidence. In the 2016 meeting of the advisory board of the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS), the main unmet medical needs in the metastatic NENs setting were deeply discussed, and several proposals to try to solve them are presented in this article, including biomarkers, imaging, and therapy.

Periprosthetic fractures of the upper and lower extremities not only represent a challenge for surgeons but also for the rehabilitation team. The sometimes multimorbid patients have often undergone several surgical operations and need special planning and cooperation between an interdisciplinary team in order to achieve the best possible functional result and social reintegration. A structured rehabilitation planning after surgical treatment is a prerequisite for the patient to return to life as normal as possible. The aim is always rapid mobilization to achieve independence in activities of daily living. Special attention should be paid to postoperative immobilization and weight bearing.

We herein present the first instance of employing [C70] fullerene for photocatalytic 1O2 production in water, through covalent immobilization onto a mesoporous silica support via nucelophilic amine addition directly to fullerene’s cage. This attachment approach prevents the aggregation of individual fullerene molecules in water, thus allowing fullerene to retain its photoactivity, yet is much less complex than other techniques commonly pursued to create such supported-fullerene materials, which typically rely on water-soluble fullerene derivatives and elaborate immobilization methods. The solid-supported C70 material exhibits significantly improved aqueous visible-light photoactivity compared to previous C60- and C60-derivative-based supported fullerene materials. Further, this material rapidly inactivates MS2 bacteriophage under sunlight illumination, oxidizes various organic contaminants, and does not appear to be significantly fouled by natural organic matter (NOM), highlighting the potential of these ...