Photoconductive and third-order nonlinear optical properties exhibited by Cu2ZnSnS4 nanostructures are presented. The samples were synthetized in thin film form by a spray pyrolysis processing route. ...Distinctions in the photoconductive behavior throughout the samples were clearly noted by modulating their optoelectronic response dependent on electrical frequency. Vectorial two-wave mixing experiments were carried out at a 532 nm wavelength provided by a Nd:YAG laser system to study the optical nonlinearities in the samples. An induced transparency effect was observed during nanosecond single-beam experiments in the nanostructures reported. Quantum and thermal processes were considered to be the main physical mechanism responsible for the photo-electrical phenomena and nonlinear refraction in the nanostructures. Potential applications for developing nanophotonic and nanoelectronic instrumentation systems can be contemplated.
Removal of hexavalent chromium was accomplished by using photocatalyst materials of TiO
doped with tungsten oxide, environmental air as oxygen supply and white light as irradiation source. Dichromate ...anions in concentration ranges of 50 to 1000 μg/L were removed by means of aqueous dispersions of TiO
doped with tungsten. The aqueous chromium analyses were performed by Differential Pulse Voltammetry technique. Additionally, mineralization of CO
gas was promoted by the photocatalysis process, as was clearly shown by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses obtained from the TiO
samples recovered after photocatalytic experiments. Results of sample analyses by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) are presented and discussed.
hScrib and hDlg belong to the PDZ family of proteins. Since the identification of these highly phylogenetically conserved scaffolds, an increasing amount of experiments has elucidated the roles of ...hScrib and hDlg in a variety of cell functions. Remarkably, their participation during the establishment of polarity in epithelial cells is well documented. Although the role of both proteins in the immune system is scantly known, it has become a growing field of investigation. Here, we summarize the interactions and functions of hScrib and hDlg1, which participate in diverse functions involving cell polarization in immune cells, and discuss their relevance in the immune cell biology. The fundamental role of hScrib and hDlg1 during the establishment of the immunological synapse, hence T cell activation, and the recently described role of hScrib in reactive oxygen species production in macrophages and of hDlg1 in cytokine production by dendritic cells highlight the importance of both proteins in immune cell biology. The expression of these proteins in other leukocytes can be anticipated and needs to be confirmed. Due to their multiple interaction domains, there is a wide range of possible interactions of hScrib and hDlg1 that remains to be explored in the immune system.
This study tested the hypothesis that a neuroprotective combined therapy based on epidermal growth factor (EGF) and growth hormone-releasing hexapeptide (GHRP6) could be safe for acute ischemic ...stroke patients, admitting up to 30% of serious adverse events (SAE) with proven causality.
A multi-centric, randomized, open-label, controlled, phase I-II clinical trial with parallel groups was conducted (July 2017 to January 2018). Patients aged 18-80 years with a computed tomography-confirmed ischemic stroke and less than 12 h from the onset of symptoms were randomly assigned to the study groups I (75 μg rEGF + 3.5 mg GHRP6 i.v., n=10), II (75 μg rEGF + 5 mg GHRP6 i.v., n=10), or III (standard care control, n=16). Combined therapy was given BID for 7 days. The primary endpoint was safety over 6 months. Secondary endpoints included neurological (NIHSS) and functional Barthel index and modified Rankin scale (mRS) outcomes.
The study population had a mean age of 66 ± 11 years, with 21 men (58.3%), a baseline median NIHSS score of 9 (95% CI: 8-11), and a mean time to treatment of 7.3 ± 2.8 h. Analyses were conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. SAEs were reported in 9 of 16 (56.2%) patients in the control group, 3 of 10 (30%) patients in Group I (odds ratio (OR): 0.33; 95% CI: 0.06-1.78), and 2 of 10 (20%) patients in Group II (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.03-1.22); only two events in one patient in Group I were attributed to the intervention treatment. Compliance with the study hypothesis was greater than 0.90 in each group. Patients treated with EGF + GHRP6 had a favorable neurological and functional evolution at both 90 and 180 days, as evidenced by the inferential analysis of NIHSS, Barthel, and mRS and by their moderate to strong effect size. At 6 months, proportion analysis evidenced a higher survival rate for patients treated with the combined therapy. Ancillary analysis including merged treated groups and utility-weighted mRS also showed a benefit of this combined therapy.
EGF + GHRP6 therapy was safe. The functional benefits of treatment in this study supported a Phase III study.
RPCEC00000214 of the Cuban Public Registry of Clinical Trials, Unique identifier: IG/CIGB-845I/IC/1601.
The investment and operating costs of pumping stations in drinking water distribution networks are some of the highest public costs in urban sectors. Generally, these systems are designed based on ...extreme scenarios. However, in periods of normal operation, extra energy is produced, thereby generating excess costs. To avoid this problem, this work presents a new methodology for the design of pumping stations. The proposed technique is based on the use of a setpoint curve to optimize the operating and investment costs of a station simultaneously. According to this purpose, a novel mathematical optimization model is developed. The solution output by the model includes the selection of the pumps, the dimensions of pipelines, and the optimal flow distribution among all water sources for a given network. To demonstrate the advantages of using this technique, a case study network is presented. A pseudo-genetic algorithm (PGA) is implemented to resolve the optimization model. Finally, the obtained results show that it is possible to determine the full design and operating conditions required to achieve the lowest cost in a multiple pump station network.
This work explored the environmental factors that control the temporal dynamics of vertical energy and carbon fluxes between the atmosphere and arid mangroves located on the coastline of the Gulf of ...California, Mexico. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE), latent (λE) and sensible heat (H) exchange fluxes were estimated in situ using the eddy covariance technique along with meteorological and hydrological observations during the period November 2017 through November 2019. Moreover, multiyear mangrove phenology at footprint‐scale was tracked using remotely sensed vegetation greenness data from Sentinel‐2. Our results suggest that the seasonal energy partition and the magnitude of NEE is highly coupled with seasonal changes in the level of tidal flooding, vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature. Low tidal levels facilitate heat transmission to the atmosphere leading the energy partition to H, while the increase in flooding and VPD facilitates the transmission of water vapor resulting in λE dominance. The lowest rate of NEE was observed during the months of highest tidal flooding (June–August) while the highest seasonal rate of NEE matched with the lowest mean flood levels (March–May). Estimated annual NEE for 2018 was −745.3 gC m−2 y−1 while for 2019 was −307.4 gC m−2 y−1. Our findings suggest a possible trend of decrease in the capacity of carbon sequestration of arid mangroves with rising sea levels and air temperature as a result of global warming.
Resumen
Este trabajo exploró los factores ambientales que controlan la dinámica temporal de los flujos verticales de energía y carbono entre la atmósfera y manglares áridos ubicados en la costa del Golfo de California, México. El intercambio neto del ecosistema (NEE) y los flujos de intercambio de calor latente (λE) y sensible (H) se estimaron in situ utilizando la técnica de covarianza de vórtices junto a observaciones meteorológicas e hidrológicas durante el período de Noviembre de 2017 a Noviembre de 2019. Además, se exploró la fenología de los manglares áridos, a escala de la huella registrada por los instrumentos de medición de flujos, utilizando datos de verdor de la vegetación del satélite Sentinel‐2. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la partición estacional de energía y la magnitud de NEE están altamente acopladas con los cambios estacionales en el nivel de inundación de las mareas, el déficit de presión de vapor y la temperatura del aire. Los niveles de marea bajos facilitan la transmisión de calor a la atmósfera, lo que lleva a la partición de energía a H; mientras que el aumento de la inundación y el déficit de presión de vapor, facilita la transmisión de vapor de agua dando como resultado el dominio de λE. La tasa estacional más baja de NEE se observó durante los meses de mayor inundación por marea (Junio‐Agosto), mientras que la tasa estacional más alta de NEE coincidió con los niveles promedios de inundación más bajos (Marzo‐Mayo). El NEE estimado para el año 2018 fue de −745.3 gC m−2 año−1, mientras que para el año 2019 fue de −307.4 gC m−2 año−1. Nuestros resultados proponen una posible tendencia de disminución en la capacidad de secuestro de carbono de los manglares áridos como resultado del aumento del nivel del mar y la temperatura del aire, ambos como consecuencia del calentamiento global.
Plain Language Summary
Mangroves have been recognized as important means to remove atmospheric carbon helping to mitigate climate change. However, most of the studies to understand carbon and energy dynamics have focused on tropical mangroves with few studies in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Additionally, the effect of tidal flood level and growth of mangroves on these fluxes is poorly understood. In this work, we deployed a set of instruments called the Eddy Covariance system to measure energy and carbon fluxes of arid mangroves of Northwestern Mexico. Moreover, tide flooding was measured with a level gauge while mangrove growth was tracked by satellite observations. Statistical analyses were performed to understand the effect of flood level and other environmental factors on carbon and energy fluxes at different stages of mangrove growth. We found that seasonal tidal floods exert a tight control on carbon gain. Summer months showed the lowest annual rate of carbon gain under the maximum annual tidal flood while winter‐late spring months showed the highest annual gain with minimal flooding. Based on the modulating effect of the tidal flooding on carbon and energy exchanges, our findings suggest an expected decrease in the capacity of carbon gains in semiarid mangroves with rising sea levels as a result of global warming.
Key Points
Tidal flood level is an important factor that strongly modulates the rate of carbon gain in arid mangroves
Temperature strongly controls the phenological cycle of arid mangroves suggesting a stress effect on leaf production
Seasonal energy partition is highly coupled with seasonal changes in tidal flooding, vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature
•Dichromate anions in concentration ranges of 50–1000 μg/L were removed by means of aqueous dispersions of TiO2 doped with tungsten.•The best results for Cr (VI) removal were obtained with pH values ...from 2 to 4.•The CO2 contained in the ambiental air that had been injected into the photocatalytic reactor for the chromium removal experiments was captured by the photocatalyst.
Removal of hexavalent chromium was accomplished by using photocatalyst materials of TiO2 doped with tungsten oxide, environmental air as oxygen supply and white light as irradiation source. Dichromate anions in concentration ranges of 50 to 1000 μg/L were removed by means of aqueous dispersions of TiO2 doped with tungsten. The aqueous chromium analyses were performed by Differential Pulse Voltammetry technique. Additionally, mineralization of CO2 gas was promoted by the photocatalysis process, as was clearly shown by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses obtained from the TiO2 samples recovered after photocatalytic experiments. Results of sample analyses by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) are presented and discussed.
The aim of this work was to study the structural modification in the porous silicon layer (PSL), when they are obtained from electrodeposition using a metal salt of Au (HAuCl
4
) in the electrolyte. ...The deposition of Au nanoparticles and the formation of the PSL were performed simultaneously. The structural and optical properties of the gold/porous-Si were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), photoluminescence (PL) and Raman scattering. Through the methodology implemented, it was obtained gold/porous-Si nanocomposites. The size of the gold nanoparticles was above 15 nm, and the pore size was 18 nm. The PL intensity showed an increase with the incorporation of gold nanoparticles due to the enhancement of a surface plasmon effect. The size of Si nanocrystals in the PSL structure was estimated through PL and Raman measures and it was ~3 nm.
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