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This article discusses the social role of women in Spain following the period of Civil War beginning in the late 1930s. The author comments on the political and social ideologies, as well as the government policies implemented under dictator Francisco Franco, known as Francoism, regarding women's bodies and health. She also describes the concepts of femininity and race as it related to the social role of women at the time. Particular focus is given to the fashion and beauty industry in Spain during the post-war period.

Ammonia is now regarded as an effective source of hydrogen containing no CO. In this paper, we have studied the nitriding of nanocrystalline iron accompanied by catalytic ammonia decomposition reaction. The chemical processes were carried out in a tubular differential flow reactor at 475 °C. NH3/H2gas mixtures of different compositions viz. different nitriding potentials were let into the reactor. At each nitriding potential the stationary states were observed, when mass of solid and rate of ammonia decomposition were constant. In the whole range of nitriding potentials three regions of different phase composition of solid were observed: α-iron, mixture of α-iron and Fe4N nitride, and Fe4N nitride. It occurred surprisingly that along with increase in nitriding potential the rate of ammonia decomposition decreased when Fe4N nitride phase was present. A model of the process in question was proposed to explain that phenomenon. The decrease in decomposition reaction rate, related with decrease in iron surface coverage degree, resulted from changes in segregation enthalpy of nitrogen. The model allowed the determination of such parameters as bulk concentration of nitrogen, enthalpy of segregation, and surface coverage degree.

An industrial pre-reduced iron catalyst for ammonia synthesis was reduced at 773 K and heated in the hydrogen atmosphere at temperatures in the range of 773 K – 973 K. Samples of different mean sizes of nanocrystallites depending on heating temperature were obtained (773 K 20 nm, 823 K 30 nm, 873 K 35 nm, 923 K 38 nm and 973 K 40 nm). The mean sizes of crystallites were determined by XRD method. The chemical method was applied to determine the size distributions of nanocrystallites, using the results of measuring the rate of nanocrystalline iron nitriding reaction with simultaneous measurement of catalytic ammonia decomposition reaction rate. Samples were nitrided with ammonia under atmospheric pressure at 748 K in a tubular reactor equipped with systems enabling simultaneous conducting of continuous thermogravimetric measurements together with analysis of gas phase composition. Along with an increase of mean crystallites sizes both the values of the minimum nitriding potential, at which the nanocrystalline iron nitriding reaction begins, and the nitriding degree increase, but the rate of surface reaction of catalytic ammonia decomposition decreases. Changes in shapes of nanocrystallites size distributions depending on the heating temperature were observed. With the increase of the heating temperature bimodal distribution becomes unimodal.

The discovery that Rett syndrome (RTT) is caused by mutation of the methyl-CpG-binding-protein MeCP2 provided a major breakthrough in understanding the neurodevelopmental disorder and accelerated MeCP2 research. However, gene regulation by MeCP2 is complicated. The current consensus for MeCP2 remains as a classical repressor complex, with major emphasis on its role in methylation-dependent binding and repression. However, recent evidence indicates additional regulatory roles, suggesting non-classical mechanisms in gene activation. This has opened the field of MeCP2 research and suggests that the gene targets may not be the usual suspects, that is, dependent only on DNA methylation. Here we examine how chromatin binding and sequence preference may confer MeCP2 functionality, and connect relevant pathways in an active genome. Finding both genomic and proteomic evidence to indicate MeCP2 spliceosome interaction, we consequently discovered broad MeCP2 enrichment of the transcriptome while our focus toward long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) revealed MeCP2 association with RNCR3. Our data may indicate an as-yet-unappreciated role between lncRNA and MeCP2. We hypothesize that ncRNA may mediate chromatin-remodeling events by interacting with MeCP2, thereby conferring changes in gene expression. We consider that these results may suggest new mechanisms of gene regulation conferred by MeCP2 and its interactions upon chromatin structure and gene function.

Recognition of DNA and RNA molecules derived from pathogens or self-antigen is one way the mammalian immune system senses infection and tissue damage. Activation of immune signaling receptors by nucleic acids is controlled by limiting the access of DNA and RNA to intracellular receptors, but the mechanisms by which endosome-resident receptors encounter nucleic acids from the extracellular space are largely undefined. In this study, we show that the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) promoted DNA uptake into endosomes and lowered the immune recognition threshold for the activation of Toll-like receptor 9, the principal DNA-recognizing transmembrane signaling receptor. Structural analysis of RAGE–DNA complexes indicated that DNA interacted with dimers of the outermost RAGE extracellular domains, and could induce formation of higher-order receptor complexes. Furthermore, mice deficient in RAGE were unable to mount a typical inflammatory response to DNA in the lung, indicating that RAGE is important for the detection of nucleic acids in vivo.

Background: Deficit schizophrenia (DS) is distinguished from the group of schizophrenic psychoses based on the presence of primary negative symptoms. It differs from nondeficit (NDS) forms of schizophrenia in dimensions such as risk factors, family history, course of illness and neurobiological differences. The aim of the study was assessment of a potential association of the investigated polymorphisms of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes with the deficit syndrome in schizophrenia. Methods: A cohort of 200 patients with schizophrenia (81 DS and 119 NDS subjects) and a group of 100 control subjects matched for ethnicity, sex and age were recruited. Somatic and psychometric assessment were conducted as well as structured interview about the influence of adverse biological, family and social factors. Genetic analysis of the BDNF (Val66Met) rs6265 and the COMT (Val158Met) rs4680 polymorphisms was performed. Results: We found significant differences between DS and NDS in rs4680 COMT genotype distribution: more homozygous Val/Val were found (31 vs.17%) in the NDS compared to the DS subgroup. No associations were found between the investigated polymorphisms of the BDNF gene and the presence of schizophrenia either in DS and NDS subgroups. Conclusion: The analysis of the COMT rs4680 polymorphism in the present DS and NDS study shows that some genetic factors may be relevant in analyzing the reasons for the differentiation of schizophrenic subtypes.

This paper raises the question whether Web 2.0 can be seen as a technological or a social innovation and which interdependencies exist between these two innovative aspects of the phenomenon. For that purpose, the definition of Web 2.0 as a tag cloud (for example given in Wikipedia) or as a difference in comparison to a ?Web 1.0? is revisited, challenged and discarded. In following steps, the paper argues that the core innovation of Web 2.0 is the communication of ?user-generated content? as a new social routine. The main enabling factors for Web 2.0 utilisation as a social routine are identified as easy-to-use software and broadly spread internet access. So while technology is seen as a ?catalyst? of the phenomenon, the innovation itself (user-generated content) is considered a social one.

Air-polishing devices (APDs) effectively remove supragingival staining. However, the use of APDs on restorative surfaces may result in clinically relevant surface damage and material loss.

The possibility of implementation of spent iron catalyst for ammonia synthesisAn iron catalyst used in the ammonia synthesis is pyrophoric in its reactive, reduced form. Before further use the catalyst has to be passivated. Results of the research on the iron catalyst - its passivation, re-use as a catalyst in other processes and implementation as a substrate to obtain new nanocrystalline materials have been presented in the paper.

The oxidation of the nanocrystalline iron containing small amounts of structural promoterssuch as aluminum, calcium, and potassium oxideshas been studied. The oxidation processes were carried out under atmospheric pressure at pure oxygen atmosphere at various temperatures in the range of 573−773 K, in the differential tubular reactor with thermogravimetric (TG) measurement. Nanocrystalline promoted iron did not reveal the pyrophority under pure oxygen atmosphere at temperatures higher than 573 K. The oxide layer stable at a given temperature was formed and protected the iron against further oxidation. The higher oxidation temperature, the thinner was the oxide layer. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) were used to characterize the oxidized samples in order to determine the structure of formed oxides. The XRD analysis proved the magnetite structure of obtained iron oxides. The Mössbauer studies revealed that magnetite layer formed at temperatures higher than 573 K had got the disturbed structure, derived from aluminum ions incorporation into the tetrahedral sites of magnetite’s lattice. The ratio of the number of iron atoms to the number of aluminum atoms located in tetrahedral sites was 2:1 whereas the ratio of the number of iron atoms located in tetrahedral sites to the number of iron atom located in octahedral sites was 1:3.

In Poland, first traces of human activity on dunes and areas of aeolian cover sands were observed in the Vistulian period. Man, however, was not an essential factor in the mobilisation of drift sands at the time because his main occupation was hunting and nemoriculture. At the beginning of the Holocene, the situation was not different. Intensive aeolian processes caused by human interference in the natural dune environments took place in the Sub-Boreal and Sub-Atlantic periods. It is assumed that they mainly consisted in the translocation of Late-Glacial dunes and the formation of thick and loose sandy series which were not of larger morphological significance (although Holocene dunes are also known). Aeolian series are frequently divided by fossil soils (mostly humus horizons) in which the occurrence of charcoal and pollen of synanthropic plants indicates pasturing and agricultural activity. Moreover, in dune sands, numerous artifacts belonging to different cultures have been found.The paper focuses on a synthesis of anthropogenically induced aeolian processes in the Silesian-Cracow Upland that has been the main area of investigation carried out by the Geographical Centre of the Silesian University in Sosnowiec, Poland. The research hypothesis is as follows: the Holocene aeolian processes in the Silesian-Cracow Upland are to a large extent related to activity of man, who used natural conditions of the region. The aim of this study is to analyse human-induced changes recorded in aeolian deposits and relief of this upland from a historical perspective against a background of the Holocene aeolian processes in Poland. To achieve this aim, we used numerous C14 datings, palynological analyses, archaeological finds (the reference to archaeological research being rather cursory), historical information, structural measurements and analyses of sand grain-size, analyses of archival and present cartographic materials, aerial photos and instrumental and non-instrumental observations of aeolian processes. Finally, periods of human interference recorded in aeolian deposits and relief have been distinguished. They are as follows: the Atlantic, the Sub-Boreal, the Sub-Atlantic, including the last millennium with a period of direct field observations, an analysis of changes and developmental tendencies of relief and determination of wind processes dynamics.

In 2000, soldiers from a Special Operations Force had airborne lead exposures 20 to 38 times the permissible exposure limit. Their average blood lead level was 13.9 microg/dL. Immediate implementation of pertinent Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations was recommended. In 2003, investigators learned that the unit also used an outdoor firing range with exposures exceeding the permissible exposure limit. Attempts to conduct more detailed evaluations and control measures were hindered by frequent deployments in the unit and a strong commitment to realistic training. Despite these challenges, the controls implemented resulted in limited success. The average blood lead level in the unit was 6.8 microg/dL in 2005, a reduction of 51%. Proper initial range construction is essential to controlling lead exposures at firing ranges. Occupational health specialists caring for these soldiers must identify, assess, and mitigate exposures from firing ranges while respecting the importance of realistic training.

Utilization of spent iron catalyst for ammonia synthesisSeveral methods of the utilization of spent iron catalyst for ammonia synthesis have been presented. The formation of iron nitrides of different stoichiometry by direct nitriding in ammonia in the range of temperatures between 350°C and 450°C has been shown. The preparation methods of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers where iron catalyst catalyse the decomposition of hydrocarbons have been described. The formation of magnetite embedded in a carbon material by direct oxidation of carburized iron catalyst has been also presented.

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a debilitating neurological condition associated with mutations in the X-linked MECP2 gene, where apparently normal development is seen prior to the onset of cognitive and motor deterioration at 6–18 months of life. A targeted deletion of the methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) coding region and disruption of mRNA splicing was introduced in the mouse, resulting in a complete loss of Mecp2 transcripts and protein. Postnatal comparison of XO and XY mutant Mecp2 allele-containing null mice revealed similar effects on mouse growth and viability, suggesting that phenotypic manifestations are not modulated by the Y-chromosome. Further assessment of Mecp2-null XY mice highlighted cerebellar and hippocampal/amygdala-based learning deficits in addition to reduced motor dexterity and decreased anxiety levels. Brain tissues containing the hippocampal formation of XY Mecp2-null mice also displayed significant changes in genetic activity, which are related to the severity of the mutant phenotype.

Focuses on discrimination against people with disabilities when they seek an organ transplant. Transplant experience of Sandra Jensen, a woman with Down syndrome. INSET: Taking Action..

The first examples of the Pd(0)-catalyzed amination of aryl halides using Rink-resins as nitrogen source are described. Pd2dba3/BINAP/NaO-t-Bu was found to be the most efficient catalyst/base system, while a solvent mixture of dioxane and tert-butyl alcohol was shown to enhance the selectivity toward the desired monoarylation. Moderate to good yields and excellent purities of the amination products were found with electron-poor aryl halides, while electon-rich aryl halides failed to react under these conditions.

The x‐ray waveguides are a novel optical component for hard x‐rays able to produce submicrometer beams. In this article we review the operating principle and describe the characteristics of the exiting beam. We will give two significant examples of applications in microdiffraction obtained with an unprecedented spatial resolution of 100 nm.

Voluminous post-life waste and production waste pose the paramount environmental problem of our times. One major problem is how to reuse post-life waste: spent plastics, rubber scrap, worn-out automobile tyres, waste paper and production waste; wood pulp or powder and particularly the waste arising in the production of fertiliser, phosphogypsum. We have been studying the re-use of these wastes as blends with virgin and recycled polymers. These novel polymer compositions can be used to make:• porous pipes intended for irrigation or fertilization.• vehicle parts in the automobile industry• tiles or flooring in the building industry• road safety and traffic control equipment• sound-absorbing screens along motorways• packing in biological wastewater treatment• biodegradable flower pots, buckets, fence elements and similar profiles.

The coordination of flavins to Lewis‐acidic zinc(II)cyclen complexes, as a mimic for a metalloprotein binding site, changes their redox properties significantly. The coordination facilitates the electrochemical reduction of the flavin and stabilizes the flavinhydroquinone redox stage, so that a 600 mV more positive potential is necessary for reoxidation. Binding of flavin to the receptor molecule is not restricted to nonpolar solvents and works in methanol. Here, interception of the ECE mechanism of reduction is possible leading to a stabilization of the flavosemiquinone radical anion redox stage, which was proved by its characteristic UV absorption in spectroelectrochemistry. Although it has not yet been observed in flavoproteins, this study shows that flavin binding by coordination to a metal binding site is suitable for cofactor binding and modulation of its redox properties as well as other intermolecular interactions.

The reaction between 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) and partially protected derivatives and isocyanates gives macrocyclic ureas in good yields. Bridged biscyclens with aliphatic or aromatic spacers were obtained from the reaction between diisocyanates and partially protected cyclen. The substituted cyclen derivatives with one or two urea moieties coordinate zinc(II) and copper(II) ions to form stable mononuclear and dinuclear complexes. Potentiometric titration revealed that the urea substitution significantly changes the basicity of the remaining secondary amino groups of the macrocycle. In comparison with that of cyclen (1), which has two basic amino groups, the basicity of one amino group in 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-carboxylic acid butylamide (6b) is reduced by 5 orders of magnitude. The binding affinity of cyclen (1), urea derivatives of cyclen, and metal complexes to double stranded DNA was measured under physiological conditions, using an ethidium bromide displacement assay. The binding affinities correlate with the positive charge of the protonated cyclic amines. Their metal complexes show even higher affinities, which presumably result from different binding motifs.

The myeloma plasma cell is a postgerminal center, isotype-switched B cell. Chromosomal translocations into immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) switch regions, recombination sites in isotype switching, were initially demonstrated in myeloma cell lines but only a limited number of primary tumors. Molecular cytogenetics have since been applied to a series of primary tumors, in which IgH translocations accounted for many recurrent aberrations, among numerous nonrecurrent changes of unknown significance. This study, therefore, examined primary myeloma for IgH switch translocations using an established Southern blot assay that detected illegitimate switch recombinations. Sensitivity of the method was established by confining the analysis to 21 samples (4 stable, 17 progressive disease) with demonstrable legitimate isotype switches, of a total of 60 samples. Illegitimate recombinations were found in 12 or 57% (1 stable, 11 progressive) of 21 samples, comparable with estimates by molecular cytogenetics. The presence of switch translocations was supported by demonstrating up-regulated expression in myeloma marrow of cyclin D1 and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), candidate oncogenes on chromosomes 11q13 and 4p16, respectively. Illegitimate switches were detected most frequently in Sμ, with more than one region involved in 6 cases. Although these results confirmed the presence of switch translocations in primary myeloma, their absence in 43% of cases may imply heterogeneity of pathogenesis. In progressive disease, there was no significant difference between patients with and without illegitimate switches in survival, nor the prognostic indicators of β2microglobulin (β2m) and serum thymidine kinase (STK). Hence IgH switch translocations as a single entity are unlikely to be a feature of disease progression or have prognostic significance.

Improvements in industrial productivity require the creation of a reliable design in the shortest possible time. This is especially significant for designs thai involve computer intensive analyses. The Robust Concept Exploration Method (RCEM) embodies a systematic approach to configuring complex engineering systems in the early stages of product design by introducing quality considerations based on the robust design principle. Approximation techniques are employed in the RCEM to replace intensive analysis programs for saving computational time and cost, thereby increasing the efficiency of the design process. In this paper, the applicability of the RCEM for multiobjective complex systems design is examined by applying it to the propulsion system conceptual design process at Pratt and Whitney. Various approximation techniques are studied and a new strategy is proposed to enhance the existing model approximation techniques embodied in the RCEM.

Introduction:Studies have demonstrated that preterm delivery (PTD) in infants with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is associated with worse outcomes compared to those delivered at term. PTD in singletons with CCHD is decreasing. However, little is known about PTD trends over time in multiple gestation deliveries (MGD) with CCHD.Hypothesis:We hypothesized that in a state population-based cohort over the last 20 years, PTD in MGD with CCHD initially increased compared to the general population, but more recently decreased coincident with advancements in prenatal detection of CCHD.Methods:The Texas Public Use Data File 1999-2018 was used to evaluate percent PTD (<37 weeks) in MGD with CCHD (diagnoses requiring intervention <1 year of age). Trends in PTD were compared with all Texas livebirths of MGD. We then compared trends by race/ethnicity and insurance.Results:Of 7,428,329 livebirths from 1999-2018, 211,931 (2.8%) were MGD and of those 129,253 (61%) were PTD. Overall, the rate of PTD increased from 1999 to 2003 (mean increase of 1%/y) then remained constant 2003-2018 (Figure). Of 308 MGD with CCHD, 229 (74%) were PTD. The rate of PTD in CCHD decreased from 1999 to 2003 (mean decrease of 2.2%/y) then remained relatively constant 2003-2018. When examining by race/ethnicity, there was an overall decrease in PTD with CCHD in Non-Hispanic White and Hispanic MGD, but an increase in Non-Hispanic Black MGD (Figure). There was a decrease in PTD with CCHD for those with private insurance however an increase for those with public insurance (Figure).Conclusions:For MGD with CCHD, while PTD rates initially decreased, they have remained somewhat constant over the last 15 years. The rate of PTD in non-Hispanic Black MGD and in those publicly insured, however, remains the highest. Mechanisms for persisting disparities in PTD for these populations requires further investigation, including determining associations with other social determinants of health and implicit bias.

AbstractHigh-energy and high-intensity lasers are essential for pushing the boundaries of science. Their development has allowed leaps forward in basic research areas, including laser–plasma interaction, high-energy density science, metrology, biology and medical technology. The Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields user consortium contributes and operates two high-peak-power optical lasers using the high energy density instrument at the European X-ray free electron laser (EuXFEL) facility. These lasers will be used to generate transient extreme states of density and temperature to be probed by the X-ray beam. This paper introduces the ReLaX laser, a short-pulse high-intensity Ti:Sa laser system, and discusses its characteristics as available for user experiments. It will also present the first experimental commissioning results validating its successful integration into the EuXFEL infrastructure and viability as a relativistic-intensity laser driver.

The Drosophila disconnected(disco) gene is required for the formation of appropriate connections between the larval optic nerve and its target cells in the brain. The discogene encodes a nuclear protein with two zinc fingers, which suggests that the gene product is a transcription factor. Here, we present data supporting this notion. We find that discoexpression in the optic lobe primordium, a group of cells contacted by the developing optic nerve, depends on an autoregulatory feedback loop. We show that wild-type discofunction is required for maintenance of discomRNA and protein expression in the developing optic lobe. In addition, we demonstrate that ubiquitous Disco activity supplied by a heat-inducible gene construct activates expression from the endogenous discogene specifically in the optic lobe primordium. Consistent with a role of Disco as a transcriptional regulatory protein, we show that portions of the Disco protein are capable of activating the transcription of reporter constructs in a heterologous system. Moreover, we find that the zinc finger portion of Disco binds in vitroto sequences located near the discotranscription unit, suggesting that Disco autoregulates its transcription in the optic lobe primordium by direct binding to a regulatory element in its own promoter.