Search

OBJECTIVES Bridging from a temporary microaxial left ventricular assist device (tLVAD) to a durable left ventricular assist device (dLVAD) is playing an increasing role in the treatment of terminally ill patients with heart failure. Scant data exist about the best implant strategy. The goal of this study was to analyse differences in the dLVAD implant technique and effects on patient outcomes. METHODS Data from 341 patients (19 European centres) who underwent a bridge-to-bridge implant from tLVAD to dLVAD between January 2017 and October 2022 were retrospectively analysed. The outcomes of the different implant techniques with the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal life support or tLVAD were compared. RESULTS A durable LVAD implant was performed employing cardiopulmonary bypass in 70% of cases (n  = 238, group 1), extracorporeal life support in 11% (n  = 38, group 2) and tLVAD in 19% (n  = 65, group 3). Baseline characteristics showed no significant differences in age (P  = 0.140), body mass index (P  = 0.388), creatinine level (P  = 0.659), the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (P  = 0.190) and rate of dialysis (P  = 0.110). Group 3 had significantly fewer patients with preoperatively invasive ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation before the tLVAD was implanted (P  = 0.009 and P  < 0.001 respectively). Concomitant procedures were performed more often in groups 1 and 2 compared to group 3 (24%, 37% and 5%, respectively, P  < 0.001). The 30-day mortality data showed significantly better survival after an inverse probability of treatment weighting in group 3, but the 1-year mortality showed no significant differences among the groups (P  = 0.012 and 0.581, respectively). Postoperative complications like the rate of right ventricular assist device (RVAD) implants or re-thoracotomy due to bleeding, postoperative respiratory failure and renal replacement therapy showed no significant differences among the groups. Freedom from the first adverse event like stroke, driveline infection or pump thrombosis during follow-up was not significantly different among the groups. Postoperative blood transfusions within 24 h were significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 compared to surgery on tLVAD support (P  < 0.001 and P  = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In our analysis, the transition from tLVAD to dLVAD without further circulatory support did not show a difference in postoperative long-term survival, but a better 30-day survival was reported. The implant using only tLVAD showed a reduction in postoperative transfusion rates, without increasing the risk of postoperative stroke or pump thrombosis. In this small cohort study, our data support the hypothesis that a dLVAD implant on a tLVAD is a safe and feasible technique in selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monocytes and neutrophils play key roles in the cytokine storm triggered by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, which changes their conformation and function. These changes are detectable at the cellular and molecular level and may be different to what is observed in other respiratory infections. Here, we applied machine learning (ML) to develop and validate an algorithm to diagnose COVID‐19 using blood parameters. In this retrospective single‐center study, 49 hemogram parameters from 12,321 patients with clinical suspicion of COVID‐19 and tested by RT‐PCR (4239 positive and 8082 negative) were analysed. The dataset was randomly divided into training and validation sets. Blood cell parameters and patient age were used to construct the predictive model with the support vector machine (SVM) tool. The model constructed from the training set (5936 patients) achieved an accuracy for diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection of 0.952 (95% CI: 0.875–0.892). Test sensitivity and specificity was 0.868 and 0.899, respectively, with a positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive value of 0.896 and 0.872, respectively (prevalence 0.50). The validation set model (4964 patients) achieved an accuracy of 0.894 (95% CI: 0.883–0.903). Test sensitivity and specificity was 0.8922 and 0.8951, respectively, with a positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive value of 0.817 and 0.94, respectively (prevalence 0.34). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.952 for the algorithm performance. This algorithm may allow to rule out COVID‐19 diagnosis with 94% of probability. This represents a great advance for early diagnostic orientation and guiding clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern sensor technologies can provide detailed information about soil variation which allows for more precise application of fertiliser to minimise environmental harm imposed by agriculture. However, growers should lose neither income nor yield from associated uncertainties of predicted nutrient concentrations and thus one must acknowledge and account for uncertainties. A framework is presented that accounts for the uncertainty and determines the cost–benefit of data on available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the soil determined from sensors. For four fields, the uncertainty associated with variation in soil P and K predicted from sensors was determined. Using published fertiliser dose–yield response curves for a horticultural crop the effect of estimation errors from sensor data on expected financial losses was quantified. The expected losses from optimal precise application were compared with the losses expected from uniform fertiliser application (equivalent to little or no knowledge on soil variation). The asymmetry of the loss function meant that underestimation of P and K generally led to greater losses than the losses from overestimation. This study shows that substantial financial gains can be obtained from sensor-based precise application of P and K fertiliser, with savings of up to £121 ha−1 for P and up to £81 ha−1 for K, with concurrent environmental benefits due to a reduction of 4–17 kg ha−1 applied P fertiliser when compared with uniform application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to construct regularizations of continuous linear functionals acting on Sobolev spaces such as W 0 1 , q (Ω) , where 1 < q < ∞ and Ω is a Lipschitz domain, we propose a projection method in negative Sobolev spaces W - 1 , p (Ω) , p being the conjugate exponent satisfying p - 1 + q - 1 = 1 . Our method is particularly useful when one is dealing with a rough (irregular) functional that is a member of W - 1 , p (Ω) , though not of L 1 (Ω) , but one strives for a regular approximation in L 1 (Ω) . We focus on projections onto discrete finite element spaces G n , and consider both discontinuous as well as continuous piecewise-polynomial approximations. While the proposed method aims to compute the best approximation as measured in the negative (dual) norm, for practical reasons, we will employ a computable, discrete dual norm that supremizes over a discrete subspace V m . We show that this idea leads to a fully discrete method given by a mixed problem on V m × G n . We propose a discontinuous as well as a continuous lowest-order pair, prove that they are compatible, and therefore obtain quasi-optimally convergent methods. We present numerical experiments that compute finite element approximations to Dirac delta's and line sources. We also present adaptively generate meshes, obtained from an error representation that comes with the method. Finally, we show how the presented projection method can be used to efficiently compute numerical approximations to partial differential equations with rough data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances en Odontoestomatologia is the property of Ediciones Avances SL 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.)

How well could one predict the growth of a leafy crop from reflectance spectra from the soil and how might a grower manage the crop in the light of those predictions? Topsoil from two fields was sampled and analysed for various nutrients, particle-size distribution and organic carbon concentration. Crop measurements (lettuce diameter) were derived from aerial-imagery. Reflectance spectra were obtained in the laboratory from the soil in the near- and mid-infrared ranges, and these were used to predict crop performance by partial least squares regression (PLSR). Individual soil properties were also predicted from the spectra by PLSR. These estimated soil properties were used to predict lettuce diameter with a linear model (LM) and a linear mixed model (LMM): considering differences between lettuce varieties and the spatial correlation between data points. The PLSR predictions of the soil properties and lettuce diameter were close to observed values. Prediction of lettuce diameter from the estimated soil properties with the LMs gave somewhat poorer results than PLSR that used the soil spectra as predictor variables. Predictions from LMMs were more precise than those from the PLSR using soil spectra. All model predictions improved when the effects of variety were considered. Predictions from the reflectance spectra, via the estimation of soil properties, can enable growers to decide what treatments to apply to grow lettuce and how to vary their treatments within their fields to maximize the net profit from the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyzed the effect of infrared roasting at 100, 150, and 200°C on the main physical and chemical changes of cocoa. Raw and roasted cocoa were analyzed using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), SPME, and GC‐MS. Using MDSC, the fusion of fat at around 35°C, and the desolvation of water and volatile compounds were identified. TGA detected loss of mass of various groups of chemical compounds, including those present pre‐roasting and generated during roasting. The unroasted cocoa's total sugar content of 2.71% decreased to 0.64% when roasted at 200°C, whereas roasting at 200°C generated seven (7) pyrazines. Tetramethylpyrazine is the most abundant, reaching the highest concentration when roasted at 150°C, but decreases when roasted at 200°C, due to the high temperature. To obtain the maximum production of favorable pyrazines, the temperature must be controlled based on the quality objectives of the final product. Practical applications: The process of roasting cocoa is of great importance to the chocolate and derivatives industry. Knowledge of the chemical and physical changes that occur during roasting can help to optimize the operating conditions to obtain a better‐quality product, in particular by conserving and developing the flavor and aroma of fine Criollo cocoa varieties. This will support the industrialization of fine cocoas, presenting an option for improving the economic and social development of marginalized countries and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Radiologe is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Copyright of Der Radiologe is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

PET interim results could promptly select Follicular Lymphoma patients in need of maintenance therapy. PET/CT SB EOT sb were predictive of relapse, with 2-years PFS 47% in PET/CT SB EOT sb (+) vs. 89% in PET/CT SB EOT sb (-) ( I p i <.001).On iPET/CT, 41 (34%) patients were PET/CT(+).The estimated 5 year-PFS at was 72% in patients with a negative iPET/CT versus 29% in those with a positive iPET/CT ( I p i < 0.001) (Figure 1a). B Conclusion: b Response assessment by PET/CT at mid-induction can identify FL patients at high risk of failure early on during first line ICT and is able promptly select patients in whom maintenance therapy could be avoided. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of suicidal outcomes and risk factors for short‐ and long‐term recurrence of suicidal behavior (SB) among high‐risk borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients during a 24‐month prospective follow‐up period. Methods: A multicenter prospective cohort study was designed to compare data obtained from 136 patients admitted to the emergency department for current suicidal ideation (SI) or a recent suicide attempt (SA). Subjects were clinically evaluated and monitored for a new SA or suicide. Results: The incidence of a new SA was 25.63 events/100 persons‐year, and one patient died by suicide. Child sexual abuse (CSA) was the only significant predictor throughout the complete follow‐up period. The absence of prior psychiatric treatment predicts the recurrence of SB in the first 6 months of follow‐up. Patient age, poor psychosocial functioning before hospitalization, age at first SA, and having multiple suicide attempts increased risk of SB recurrence at the long‐term period (24th months). In addition, there was an interaction between CSA and poor psychosocial functioning that increased risk of SB. Conclusion: The risk of recurrence was higher during the first 6 months. Risk factors at 6 and 24 months vary. These findings are important for implementing suicide strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have investigated various aspects of the use of questions in science lessons, but there is still a lack of research that demonstrates how, during peer reflection, teachers learn through identifying and overcoming obstacles to their own questioning in their professional development process. The present study is aimed at analyzing the types of obstacles identified by science teachers who participated in a Teacher Reflection Workshop (TRW) on the formulation and use of questions in their lessons. The workshop consisted of stage 1 (7 sessions), stage 2 (video recordings in school classrooms), and stage 3 (3 sessions). The discourses of 8 participating teachers in the areas of chemistry, biology, physics, and natural science at different educational institutions in the city of Santiago, Chile, were analyzed in this case study. The analysis was carried out by the professors participating in the workshop, based on the participants' identification, initial attempts to address, and proposals to overcome, their obstacles. In the earlier stages of the process, the identified obstacles had procedural characteristics, but as the process advanced, they took on a more epistemological nature. One of the main differences between the initial and final identification of obstacles by the participating teachers is that the latter were more precise and critical, and the teachers increasingly demonstrated the ability to propose specific solutions to teaching problems. Engagement with the obstacles does not take place uniformly but depends on the types of obstacles that the teachers identify in their practice. Proposals for overcoming the obstacles require the teachers to have time for reflecting and validating their ideas in their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Chirurg is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Hydrogen storage capacities were investigated for two forms of MoO3 nanomaterial, amorphous of low crystallinity, and other highly crystalline, using the quartz crystal microbalance technique. Effect of a catalytic Pd capping on the nanomaterials was evaluated. MoO3 materials were grown using the gas condensation method, and both the amorphous and crystalline samples were composed of orthorhombic phases with Mo6+ oxidation state. For 4-min measurements, uncapped amorphous MoO3 achieved a higher storage capacity than its crystalline counterpart, while Pd-capped samples exhibited lower values due to slower kinetics. Then, Pd-capped samples were measured using longer H2 exposure times of 30 min, finding that Pd-capped crystalline MoO3 sample exhibited higher hydrogen storage capacity than its amorphous counterpart. Pd capping was found to affect the hydrogenation of the underlying oxide layer, mainly due to differences in long-range order and layered structure between crystalline and amorphous MoO3 samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The H2 uptake performance at room temperature of porous tungsten oxide nanomaterials with and without a catalytic Pd coating was studied by the quartz crystal microbalance technique. Tungsten oxide composed mainly of WO3 was synthesized by inert gas condensation method using He. The samples consisted of semi-amorphous nanomaterials of low crystallinity and high porosity, as revealed by SAED, TEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The H2 uptake capacity of the porous oxide was studied under increasing H2 exposure pressures (1000–7000 Pa), with and without Pd coating. After reaching a maximum value of 1.2 H2 wt.%, at 1160 Pa, the H2 uptake capacity of the Pd-coated oxide consistently decreased. Successive hydrogenation cycles were carried out on the Pd-coated oxide at 3300 Pa and 6000 Pa to evaluate the H2 uptake performance of the sample under this H2 loading and unloading process. It was found that the H2 uptake capacity decreased from around 1 to values below 0.53 H2 wt.%, which is the reference H2 storage capacity achieved by a 15 nm-thick Pd film. We argued that water molecule formation in the Pd/oxide interface and sublayers negatively affects the H2 uptake capacity of the oxide under successive hydrogenation cycles at room temperature. Porous tungsten oxides were grown by IGC method using He as carrier gas. The characterization revealed semi-amorphous and highly porous nanomaterials composed by WO3 as the main phase. The H2 uptake capacity from the oxides coated and uncoated with a Pd catalytic layer was studied at RT using a quartz crystal microbalance under different exposure pressures and cycles of H2 loading/unloading. Water molecules formation in the Pd/oxide interface and sublayers negatively affects the H2 uptake performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agro Productividad is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados 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.)

Films of CuFeO2 and CuFe0.75Ga0.25O2 were grown over sapphire substrates in high vacuum using a pulsed laser deposition technique. The films grew with rhombohedral delafossite structure and highly epitaxial in the c-direction. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Surface of the films were inspected with X-ray and UV photoelectron spectroscopy. Adsorption of CO2 and H2O was studied by a thermal program desorption technique. In both films Cu and Fe were exposed at the surface-gas interface. X-ray photoelectron data indicated that CO2 adsorbs preferentially at Cu sites forming a similar coordination to CuCO3. The energy for desorption of CO2 and H2O was estimated to be 30 kcal mol−1 (1.3 eV atom−1) for CuFeO2 and 36 kcal mol−1 (1.6 eV mol−1) for CuFe0.75Ga0.25O2. UV photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the valence band of the CuFeO2 delafossite oxides is modified with the substitution of Fe by Ga in the crystal lattice. The semiconductor band gap of CuFeO2 delafossite oxides also increased from 1.2 to 1.5 eV due to the substitution of Fe by Ga in the crystal lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important constraint for crop production in Colombia is the high incidence of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum species. Although several studies have focused on these fungi, the relationship between the different fungal species within the genus and their hosts and whether they display any host preference or host specificity has yet to be examined. In Colombia, diseases caused by Colletotrichum species are particularly severe in mango (Mangifera indica) and tree tomato (Solanum betaceum) crops. In a previous investigation, the Colletotrichum phylogenetic species attacking these crops were identified. The present study aimed to determine whether isolates collected from tree tomato and mango showed host preference or host specificity by assessing aggressiveness, spore density, latent period, and fitness of each strain on the two hosts. In the departments of Cundinamarca and Tolima, Colombia, isolates were collected from plants that presented typical anthracnose symptoms and were identified as C. acutatum, C. asianum, C. boninense, C. gloeosporioides, C. tamarilloi and C. theobromicola. Inoculation of conidia of each isolate onto both hosts showed isolates had no host preference and only the C. gloeosporioides isolate showed host specificity. However, in general, isolates produced a higher spore density when inoculated on the alternate host, which may indicate a difference in the degree of adaptation to each host. Statistical analyses of the assessed parameter values revealed that isolates use different infection strategies when infecting each host. In light of these results, the implications of using quantitative estimations of fitness when studying fungal pathogens are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agro Productividad is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados 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.)

Copyright of Agro Productividad is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados 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.)

Copyright of Agro Productividad is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados 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.)

Copyright of Agro Productividad is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados 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.)

A novel CO releasing material has been prepared via a one-pot synthesis–encapsulation strategy using the hierarchical metal organic framework [Zn2(dhtp)] (dhtp = 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalate) as a host of the photoactivable molybdenum tricarbonyl complex [Mo(CNCMe2CO2H)3(CO)3]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the more recent and promising domains of the application of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) is the biomedical one. To fulfil the keystone requirements of bioapplications, i.e. biosafety and activity, endogenous and/or bioactive motifs (cations, organic ligands or both) have been successfully used as constitutive building blocks to construct Metal Biomolecule Frameworks (also known as bioMOFs). This review highlights the latest advances in 3D bioMOF structures, from their synthesis to their biorelated activities in different biorelated areas including drug delivery, imaging, and sensing, classifying them by the nature of the active component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Científica General José María Córdova is the property of Escuela Militar de Cadetes General Jose Maria Cordova 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.)

We describe a case of a lingual thyroglossal duct cyst diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound at 26 weeks of gestation. The follow-up ultrasound scans revealed no changes in the cyst measurement. Surgical treatment was performed without any complication 72 hours after delivery with good results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work a series of N–modified graphene composites with different N/C ratios have been synthesised. The incorporation of Fe atoms into the N–modified graphene composites leads to the formation of Fe/N/C ensembles on the outer graphene layers along with Fe3C and metallic Fe phases in the bulk of the graphite nanoplates as revealed by X-ray absorption and XPS analyses. The adequate choice of the N/C atomic ratio of precursors to prepare Fe/N/graphene based materials is crucial to obtain electrocatalysts with an optimal performance for the ORR. The activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of the Fe/N–graphene based electrocatalysts increases with increasing amount of accessible nitrogen, that is, with the amount of nitrogen by surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agro Productividad is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados 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.)

Background: Across Western countries, young LGBTQ+ individuals are at a four to seven-fold increased risk of attempting suicide, compared to the general public. Despite these substantial health disparities, no known empirically supported suicide prevention programs exist for this highly vulnerable population. Patient navigation (PN), as an intervention to assist people in overcoming barriers to care, paired with the Safety Planning Intervention (SPI), may be a promising intervention to target mechanisms (e.g., thwarted belongingness and suicide-related coping skills) that theoretically underlie suicide. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the developed intervention and present initial data on its feasibility and acceptability. Methods: In collaboration with a Participatory Planning Group (PPG), an iterative process was used to develop a PN+SPI intervention to prevent suicide among at-risk LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. A mixed-methods case series was used to examine feasibility and acceptability of implementing the PN+SPI intervention over a three-month period of time. Results: Theoretical models regarding suicidality and LGBTQ+ mental health along with PPG feedback have informed the development of the PN+SPI intervention, with 7 modules included in feasibility evaluation: 1) Introduction + SPI; 2) Minority Stress Psychoeducation; 3) Barriers to Mental Health Services; 4) Barriers to Community Resources; 5) Decision Making; 6) Crisis Intervention; and 7) Wrap Up. Conclusions: This project has the potential for reducing mortality and morbidity due to suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ youth/ emerging adults, who are one of the most vulnerable groups for attempting suicide globally. Given the brevity of the PN+SPI intervention and its emphasis on safety planning and accessing community resources, the PN+SPI intervention has high potential for wide dissemination and public health impact, should it demonstrate feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions Is there a spatial pattern in the community structure (stem densities, species richness and species composition) of trees and shrubs during more than 100 yr of heathland to forest succession? To what extent is community structure influenced by land-use history and distance to seed sources? Do these effects change in time? Location A 350-ha heathland (Nørholm) in southwest Denmark was abandoned in 1895 and left for free succession. Prior to abandonment the heathland was under traditional management for centuries. Method Trees and shrubs were recorded and measured in ten surveys spanning 91 yr (1921-2012). In the first nine surveys, complete censuses were used, whereas 116 randomly placed plots (10-m radius) were used in the most recent survey. We used mixed models and different multivariate techniques (non-metric multidimensional scaling and permutational multivariate ANOVA) to analyse spatio-temporal patterns in stem densities, species richness and species composition and the effects of land-use history and distance to seed sources. Results Tree and shrub densities increased exponentially over time and were consistently lower at longer distance from seed sources. Land-use history affected the rate of increase in tree densities, with lower encroachment rates at previously cultivated soils. Initially, species richness increased rapidly but leveled off in later successional stages. Richness was marginally higher at areas closer to seed sources, whereas it was not affected by land-use history. The succession showed a shift from early to mid-successional species over time; but distance to seed source determined which species were colonizing at early stages. Conclusion Distance to seed source and land-use history can differentially affect the structure and spatial patterns of developing forest communities. Although both factors had long-lasting effects on rates of colonization, the spatial patterns of colonization and species composition were mainly determined by distance to seed sources. The importance of distance to seed sources became less over time, suggesting that dispersal is a stronger driver at early stages. After more than a century since abandonment, forest covers <30% of the area, indicating that lack of heathland management did not strongly promote tree colonization at this site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel non-conventional metallodrug [(η6-p-cymene)[sub 2]Ru[sub 2]mitox-antronato]Cl[sub 2] (1) exhibits redox activity, DNA intercalation ability, cathepsin B and D inhibition and in vitro antitumor activity able to circumvent cisplatin resistance. Moreover, 1 can be successfully incorporated into MIL100(Fe) as a proof of concept of the feasibility of metal-organic frameworks as carriers of non-conventional drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel non-conventional metallodrug [(η6-p-cymene)2Ru2 mitox-antronato]Cl2 (1) exhibits redox activity, DNA intercalation ability, cathepsin B and D inhibition and in vitro antitumor activity able to circumvent cisplatin resistance. Moreover, 1 can be successfully incorporated into MIL100(Fe) as a proof of concept of the feasibility of metal-organic frameworks as carriers of non-conventional drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the evaporation of niobium, ruthenium, and titanium using a conventional mini electron-beam evaporator (Tectraé-flux) is described. These metals require high temperatures for evaporation due to their high melting points, low vapor pressures, and large bond energies between atoms. Usually, a high-power electron-beam evaporator with a power exceeding 600 W is used in order to grow films of these metals. However, evaporation conditions for deposition using a mini electron-beam evaporator of low power (600 W at 2 kV) were obtained. Film thicknesses between 2 nm and 12 nm were obtained and the films were characterized with different analytical techniques. In the case of ruthenium, a comparison between the evaporation achieved when using a graphite crucible or a metal rod as a target is presented. The quality of the deposited films was ascertained by Auger electron spectroscopy. Niobium and titanium film's thickness and quality were determined by X-ray reflectivity and atomic force microscopy. Theoretical values of vapor pressure as a function of temperature were calculated for niobium, ruthenium, and titanium using the Clausius-Clapyeron equation to compare their evaporation behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of thiol and thiolate containing molecules with gold (S–Au) has gained increasing interest because of its applications in molecular electronic devices and catalysis. In this context, the enhanced conductivity of thiophenol compared to alkanethiol represents an opportunity to develop more sensitive and selective gold-based devices by incorporating molecules with the aryl–thiol moiety into their structures. As has been proposed earlier, the thiol moiety is deprotonated after binding to gold, hence, we present here a comparative study of the S–Au bond strength between several neutral and deprotonated aromatic–sulfur systems in their anionic and radical forms with a detailed description of the nature of this interaction. The study was performed by means of computational chemistry methods, using a cluster of 42 Au atoms as a model of the Au(111) surface that allowed us to provide new chemical insights to control the S–Au interface interaction strength. Our results revealed that the thiophenols–gold interaction is mainly dispersive where the interaction energies range between 31 and 43 kcal mol−1. The radical and anionic thiophenolates–gold interaction increases due to a strong charge transfer character, depicting interaction energies in the range of 50 to 55 kcal mol−1 and 62 to 92 kcal mol−1, respectively. These results suggest that for the anionic thiophenolate the binding strength can be tailored according to the electron–donor capabilities of the ligand which in turn can be finely tuned by several substituents. Our results are of possible impact for the design of new devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Chilena de Cirugia is the property of Sociedad de Cirujanos de Chile 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.)

This paper reports controlled synthesis of carbon nanoparticles by an expanded thermal plasma jet assisted technique through a single-step, high-throughput process. The plasma discharge zone in the experimental reactor remained isolated from the particle nucleation/growth chamber through a supersonic nozzle, which allowed using the sample collection chamber pressure as an efficient control parameter to synthesize carbon nanostructures with tailored combination of some important properties. Low chamber pressure conditions produced samples with both good specific surface area and crystallinity, which may be ideal for use as an efficient catalyst support material as well as in batteries and super capacitors. This dominantly mesoporous sample was also found to have good hydrogen absorption properties. Another significant observation was that the average number of carbon nano-sheets stacked together inside the crumpled paper like layers increased with pressure in the sample collection chamber. Optical emission spectroscopic techniques were used to measure the effective cooling rates responsible for the particle nucleation process under different experimental conditions, which also indicated that C2 dimer molecules are the basic precursors behind the formation of these carbon nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bio-reduction of selenite (Se (IV)) generates nanoparticles with sizes ranging between 30 and 300 nm. Biologic properties of Se nanoparticles, e.g., antioxidant activity, are dependent on the nanoparticle size; smaller particles have greater activity. In this study, the bio-reduction of selenite by Pantoea agglomerans strain UC-32 under aerobic conditions and room temperature to produce bioactive Se nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm was demonstrated. Isolation and purification of the nanoparticles was performed by alkaline lysis. These purified nanoparticles were stabilized with l-cysteine (4 mM). The visualization and characterization of nanoparticles were performed by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The antioxidant activity of nanoparticles was determined by production of reactive oxygen species using human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy images showed the accumulation of spherical selenium nanoparticles as intracellular and extracellular deposits. The size of Se nanoparticles varied with incubation time. Amorphous Se nanoparticles with size in the order of 100 nm were obtained before 24 h of incubation; but, at 24 h of incubation, the size of the majority of the nanoparticles was in the desirable order of 100 nm and they were not aggregated. Energy dispersive spectroscopy spectra indicated that nanoparticles were composed entirely of selenium. Antioxidant activity of stabilized selenium nanoparticles demonstrated high antioxidant activity when compared to selenite and selenium nanoparticles without stabilization. Stabilized biologically synthetized selenium (0) nanoparticles with size less than 100 nm have a potential application as a food additive with antioxidant properties relevant to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]