Achieving an understanding of the extent of micronutrient adequacy across Europe is a major challenge. The main objective of the present study was to collect and evaluate the prevalence of low ...micronutrient intakes of different European countries by comparing recent nationally representative dietary survey data from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. Dietary intake information was evaluated for intakes of Ca, Cu, I, Fe, Mg, K, Se, Zn and the vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E and folate. The mean and 5th percentile of the intake distributions were estimated for these countries, for a number of defined sex and age groups. The percentages of those with intakes below the lower reference nutrient intake and the estimated average requirement were calculated. Reference intakes were derived from the UK and Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. The impact of dietary supplement intake as well as inclusion of apparently low energy reporters on the estimates was evaluated. Except for vitamin D, the present study suggests that the current intakes of vitamins from foods lead to low risk of low intakes in all age and sex groups. For current minerals, the study suggests that the risk of low intakes is likely to appear more often in specific age groups. In spite of the limitations of the data, the present study provides valuable new information about micronutrient intakes across Europe and the likelihood of inadequacy country by country.
Mixtures, based on the N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR14TFSI) ionic liquid and the NaTFSI salt, as low flammability and volatility electrolytes for safer sodium ...electrochemical energy storage devices, were prepared and investigated in terms of thermal and ion-transport properties. The PYR14TFSI–NaTFSI electrolytes showed melting point down to −30°C. No difference in terms of ion-transport properties was observed with respect to analogous lithium electrolyte systems. Conductivity values above 1×10−3Scm−1 were observed at room temperature.
The PYR14TFSI–NaTFSI electrolyte mixtures display room temperature conductivity above 1×10−3Scm−1 in combination with a melting point down to −30°C. Display omitted
•Novel PYR14FSI–NaTFSI electrolytes for high safety sodium batteries were prepared.•The electrolytes show melting point down to −30°C.•The room temperature conductivity overcomes 1×10−3Scm−1.
A strategy assisted by an inorganic template was developed to promote the organized self-assembly of meso-(tetrakis)-(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) on pH-sensitive core–shell polyelectrolyte ...microcapsules (PECs) of poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). A key feature of this strategy is the use of template CaCO3 microparticles as a nucleation site endorsing inside–outside directional growth of porphyrin aggregates. Using this approach, TPPS self-assembly in positively charged PECs with CaCO3 (PAH/PSS)2PAH as a sequence of layers was successfully achieved using mild pH conditions (pH 3). Evidence for porphyrin aggregation was obtained by UV–vis with the characteristic absorption bands in PECs functionalized with porphyrins. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of the polyelectrolyte core–shell confirmed the presence of radially distributed needlelike structures sticking out from polyelectrolyte shells. Microscopic images also revealed a sequential process (adsorption, redistribution, and aggregation) for the directional growth (inside/outside) of TPPS aggregates, which highlights the importance of the core in the aggregation induction. Removing the CaCO3 core alters the porphyrin interaction in the PEC environment, and aggregate growth is no longer favored.
► Neutrinos leave a distinct imprint on the large scale structure of the Universe. ► Large surveys are sensitive to the sum of the neutrino masses. ► We collect and explain current and future ...constraints from different probes of the structure of the Universe.
Cosmological and astrophysical measurements provide powerful constraints on neutrino masses complementary to those from accelerators and reactors. Here we provide a guide to these different probes, for each explaining its physical basis, underlying assumptions, current and future reach.
The possibility to prepare ionic liquids with improved or particular characteristics by properly combining/tuning pure materials was investigated. These ionic liquid mixtures might be appealing as ...electrolyte components for electrochemical devices operating under hard conditions, not always achievable by single materials.
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Innovative ionic liquids (ILs) can be prepared by properly combining pure ILs, thus obtaining materials with improved characteristics. For instance, three different mixture families, namely PYR11TFSI-PYR14TFSI, PYR11TFSI-PYR18TFSI and PYR14TFSI-PYR18TFSI, were prepared and investigated in terms of thermal behavior, ionic conductivity and ion self-diffusion coefficient as a function of the mole composition. The physicochemical properties, including mechanical consistency, of these mixed ionic liquids were found to be enhanced and/or finely tuned by properly varying the aliphatic chain length and/or the mole ratio of the pyrrolidinium cations. This issue might be profitably exploited to match the electrolyte requirements of electrochemical devices operating under particular or hard conditions, not always achievable by single materials.
Kinesio Taping (KT) is widely used, however the effects of KT on muscle activation and force are contradictory.
To evaluate the effects of KT on knee extension force in soccer players.
This is a ...clinical trial study design. Thirty-four subjects performed two maximal isometric voluntary contractions of the lower limbs pre, immediately post, and 24 hours after tape application on the lower limbs. Both lower limbs were taped, using K-Tape and 3M Micropore tape randomly on the right and left thighs of the participants. Isometric knee extension force was measured for dominant side using a strain gauge. The following variables were assessed: peak force, time to peak force, rate of force development until peak force, time to peak rate of force development, and 200 ms pulse.
There were no statistically significant differences in the variables assessed between KT and Micropore conditions (F=0.645, p=0.666) or among testing sessions (pre, post, and 24h after) (F=0.528, p=0.868), and there was no statistical significance (F=0.271, p=0.986) for interaction between tape conditions and testing session.
KT did not affect the force-related measures assessed immediately and 24 hours after the KT application compared with Micropore application, during maximal isometric voluntary knee extension.
An innovative electrolyte mixture, based on the novel N-butyl-N-ethylpyrrolidinium bis(fluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR24FSI) ionic liquid and the LiFSI lithium salt, was prepared and its thermal and ...ion-transport properties were investigated. The FSI-based mixture showed fast crystallization kinetics with melting point around −40°C. A conductivity close to 4×10−3Scm−1 was reached at room temperature. This PYR24FSI-LiFSI mixture family has been found to be an appealing electrolyte for high safety and performance lithium battery systems.
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•A novel PYR24FSI-LiFSI mixture was prepared.•The mixture melts near −40°C with a room temperature conductivity close to 4×10−3Scm−1.•The PYR24FSI-LiFSI mixture is an appealing electrolyte for lithium battery systems.
Glial cells have been implicated in temporal lobe epilepsy in humans and in its models. Astrocytes are lost in several brain regions after acute seizures induced by pilocarpine and may suffer ...hyperplasia at subsequent time points. This study investigated the effect of N-methyl-(2S,4R)-trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (NMP) on astrocytes exposed to cytotoxic concentrations of pilocarpine. Astrocytes were incubated with pilocarpine (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC.sub.50)=31.86 mM) for 24 h. Afterwards, they were treated with NMP at concentrations ranging from 3.12 to 100 microg/mL for 24 h. Cell viability was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DELTAPSIm) were analyzed by flow cytometry using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and rhodamine-123 (Rho123), respectively. Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC-1) were measured by western blot. Pilocarpine significantly decreased cell viability and mitochondrial potential and increased ROS concentration significantly by 6.7 times compared to the control. NMP concentrations greater than or equal to 25 mg/mL protected astrocytes against pilocarpine-induced injury in a concentration-dependent manner. Concomitantly, NMP reduced cytoplasmic ROS accumulation to 27.3, 24.8, and 12.3% in the groups treated with 25, 50, and 100 mg/mL NMP, respectively. NMP also protected mitochondria from pilocarpine- induced depolarization. These effects were associated with improvement of pilocarpine-induced GFAP and VDAC-1 overexpression, which are important biomarkers of astrocyte dysfunction. In conclusion, the improvement of ROS accumulation, VDAC- 1 overexpression, and mitochondrial depolarization are possible mechanisms of the NMP protective action on reactive astrocytes. Key words: Temporal lobe epilepsy; Voltage-dependent anion channel; Mitochondrial transmembrane potential; Oxidative stress
The growth of megacusps as shoreline instabilities is investigated by examining the coupling between wave transformation in the shoaling zone, longshore transport in the surf zone, cross‐shore ...transport, and morphological evolution. This coupling is known to drive a potential positive feedback in case of very oblique wave incidence, leading to an unstable shoreline and the consequent formation of shoreline sand waves. Here, using a linear stability model based on the one‐line concept, we demonstrate that such instabilities can also develop in cases of low‐angle or shore normal incidence under certain conditions (small enough wave height and/or large enough beach slope). The wavelength and growth timescales are much smaller than those of high‐angle wave instabilities and are nearly in the range of those of surf zone rhythmic bars, O(102–103 m) and O(1–10 days). The feedback mechanism is based on (1) wave refraction by a shoal (defined as a cross‐shore extension of the shoreline perturbation) leading to wave convergence shoreward of it; (2) longshore sediment flux convergence between the shoal and the shoreline, resulting in megacusp formation; and (3) cross‐shore sediment flux from the surf to the shoaling zone, feeding the shoal. Even though the present model is based on a crude representation of nearshore dynamics, a comparison of model results with existing depth‐averaged two‐dimensional model output and laboratory experiments suggests that the instability mechanism is plausible. Additional work is required to fully assess whether and under which conditions this mechanism exists in nature.
Key Points
Shoreline instabilities can develop in case of low‐angle wave incidence
Morphological coupling between shoaling and surf zones is essential
Space and time scales are comparable to those of rhythmic surf zone features
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