In this work, we focus on (CH3)2NH2PbI3, a member of the AmineHPbI3 series of hybrid organic–inorganic compounds, reporting a very easy mechanosynthesis route for its preparation at room ...temperature. We report that this (CH3)2NH2PbI3 compound with 2H-perovskite structure experiences a first-order transition at ≈250 K from hexagonal symmetry P63/mmc (HT phase) to monoclinic symmetry P21/c (LT phase), which involves two cooperative processes: an off-center shift of the Pb2+ cations and an order–disorder process of the N atoms of the DMA cations. Very interestingly, this compound shows a dielectric anomaly associated with the structural phase transition. Additionally, this compound displays very large values of the dielectric constant at room temperature because of the appearance of a certain conductivity and the activation of extrinsic contributions, as demonstrated by impedance spectroscopy. The large optical band gap displayed by this material (E g = 2.59 eV) rules out the possibility that the observed conductivity can be electronic and points to ionic conductivity, as confirmed by density functional theory calculations that indicate that the lowest activation energy of 0.68 eV corresponds to the iodine anions, and suggests the most favorable diffusion paths for these anions. The obtained results thus indicate that (CH3)2NH2PbI3 is an electronic insulator and an ionic conductor, where the electronic conductivity is disfavored because of the low dimensionality of the (CH3)2NH2PbI3 structure.
Biodegradable PEGylated nanospheres loading Dexibuprofen demonstrated to be suitable for ocular inflammation treatment.
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•Dexibuprofen PEGylated nanospheres optimization was carried ...out by DoE.•Developed Dexibuprofen loaded nanospheres are suitable for ocular administration.•Nanospheres increase tropism to the cornea enhancing drug retention and permeation.•Developed formulations confirmed to be non-irritant by ocular tolerance assessment.•Formulations were effective both preventing and treating inflammation.
Dexibuprofen-loaded PEGylated PLGA nanospheres have been developed to improve the biopharmaceutical profile of the anti-inflammatory drug for ocular administration. Dexibuprofen is the active enantiomer of ibuprofen and therefore lower doses may be applied to achieve the same therapeutic level. According to this, two batches of nanospheres of different drug concentrations, 0.5 and 1.0mg/ml respectively, have been developed (the latter corresponding to the therapeutic ibuprofen concentration for inflammatory eye diseases). Both batches were composed of negatively charged nanospheres (−14.1 and −15.9mV), with a mean particle size below 200nm, and a high encapsulation efficiency (99%). X-ray, FTIR, and DSC analyses confirmed that the drug was dispersed inside the matrix of the nanospheres. While the in vitro release profile was sustained up to 12h, the ex vivo corneal and scleral permeation profile demonstrated higher drug retention and permeation in the corneal tissue rather than in the sclera. These results were also confirmed by the quantification of dexibuprofen in ocular tissues after the in vivo administration of drug-loaded nanospheres. Cell viability studies confirmed that PEGylated-PLGA nanospheres were less cytotoxic than free dexibuprofen in the majority of the tested concentrations. Ocular in vitro (HET-CAM test) and in vivo (Draize test) tolerance assays demonstrated the non-irritant character of both nanosphere batches. In vivo anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated in albino rabbits before and after inflammation induction. Both batches confirmed to be effective to treat and prevent ocular inflammation.
Abstract
Rear‐edge tree populations are experiencing a combination of higher temperatures and more intense droughts that might push individuals beyond their tolerance limits. This trend towards ...rising atmospheric CO
2
is concurrent with an increase in intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), which theoretically enhances photosynthesis and decrease evapotranspiration rates, consequently improving tree resistance to drought. However, it remains unclear whether iWUE is favouring tree growth under current climate conditions, particularly when climate and iWUE legacy effects are simultaneously considered.
We evaluated this question with an extensive sampling along Iberian rear‐edge (dry) populations comprising four mountain ranges and two distinct altitudes. We simultaneously examined the effects of climate and iWUE on secondary growth using annually resolved basal area increments (BAIs) for the period 1901–2017. We used linear mixed models including second‐order autocorrelation and 1‐year legacy effects of iWUE and summer drought.
BAI and iWUE increased across the studied period. iWUE increase was driven by changes in atmospheric CO
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concentration and water availability during the growing season. Climate and iWUE exerted direct and lagged effects on beech growth. Water availability during growing season was the main driver of tree growth, combining direct and indirect effects through its impact on iWUE. Legacy effects of water availability and iWUE were more important than growing season conditions. The net effect of iWUE shifted when lagged effects were considered, resulting in a net negative impact on tree growth.
Synthesis
: Our results reveal that climate and iWUE legacy effects must be considered to assess the net iWUE effect on secondary growth. Considering lagged effects, the current increase in iWUE is constraining tree growth. Modelling efforts of tree growth response to climate warming should include climate and iWUE legacy effects to adequately assess terrestrial ecosystem carbon balance.
We present the PMAS/PPak Integral-field Supernova hosts COmpilation (PISCO), which comprises integral field spectroscopy (IFS) of 232 supernova (SN) host galaxies that hosted 272 SNe, observed over ...several semesters with the 3.5 m telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory (CAHA). PISCO is the largest collection of SN host galaxies observed with wide-field IFS, totaling 466,347 individual spectra covering a typical spatial resolution of ∼380 pc. Focused studies regarding specific SN Ia-related topics will be published elsewhere; this paper aims to present the properties of the SN environments, using stellar population (SP) synthesis, and the gas-phase interstellar medium, providing additional results separating stripped-envelope SNe into their subtypes. With 11,270 H ii regions detected in all galaxies, we present for the first time a statistical analysis of H ii regions, which puts H ii regions that have hosted SNe in context with all other star-forming clumps within their galaxies. SNe Ic are associated with environments that are more metal-rich and have higher EW(H ) and higher star formation rate within their host galaxies than the mean of all H ii regions detected within each host. This in contrast to SNe IIb, which occur in environments that are very different compared to other core-collapse SNe types. We find two clear components of young and old SPs at SNe IIn locations. We find that SNe II fast decliners tend to explode at locations where the SFR is more intense. Finally, we outline how a future dedicated IFS survey of galaxies in parallel to an untargeted SN search would overcome the biases in current environmental studies.
ABSTRACT The "main sequence of galaxies"-defined in terms of the total star formation rate versus the total stellar mass M*-is a well-studied tight relation that has been observed at several ...wavelengths and at different redshifts. All earlier studies have derived this relation from integrated properties of galaxies. We recover the same relation from an analysis of spatially resolved properties, with integral field spectroscopic (IFS) observations of 306 galaxies from the CALIFA survey. We consider the SFR surface density in units of log(M yr−1 Kpc−2) and the stellar mass surface density in units of log(M Kpc−2) in individual spaxels that probe spatial scales of 0.5-1.5 Kpc. This local relation exhibits a high degree of correlation with small scatter ( = 0.23 dex), irrespective of the dominant ionization source of the host galaxy or its integrated stellar mass. We highlight (i) the integrated star formation main sequence formed by galaxies whose dominant ionization process is related to star formation, for which we find a slope of 0.81 0.02; (ii) for the spatially resolved relation obtained with the spaxel analysis, we find a slope of 0.72 0.04; and (iii) for the integrated main sequence, we also identified a sequence formed by galaxies that are dominated by an old stellar population, which we have called the retired galaxies sequence.
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•Zeolites provide ammonium-rich wastewater streams tolerable to marine microalgae.•The ammonium adsorption of the natural zeolite used is among the highest reported.•Amphidinium ...carterae grows in culture media containing zeolite-treated UWW.•To adjust the culture medium salinity improves the growth of A. caterae.•Zeolite-treated UWW allow to produce microalga’s specialty metabolites sustainability.
The low tolerance of marine microalgae to ammonium and hyposalinity limits their use in urban wastewater (UWW) treatments. In this study, using the marine microalga Amphidinium carterae, it is demonstrated for the first time that this obstacle can be overcome by introducing a zeolite-based adsorption step to obtain a tolerable UWW stream. The maximum ammonium adsorption capacities measured in the natural zeolite used are among the highest reported. The microalga grows satisfactorily in mixtures of zeolite-treated UWW and seawater at a wide range of proportions, both with and without adjusting the salinity, as long as the ammonium concentration is below the threshold tolerated by the microalgae (6.3 mg L−1). A proof of concept performed in 10-L bubble column photobioreactors with different culture strategies, including medium recycling, showed an enhanced biomass yield relative to a control with no UWW. No noticeable effect was observed on the production of specialty metabolites.
The indication for antimicrobial treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) after kidney transplantation (KT) remains controversial. Between January 2011 and December 2013, 112 KT recipients that ...developed one episode or more of AB beyond the second month after transplantation were included in this open‐label trial. Participants were randomized (1:1 ratio) to the treatment group (systematic antimicrobial therapy for all episodes of AB occurring ≤24 mo after transplantation 53 patients) or control group (no antimicrobial therapy 59 patients). Systematic screening for AB was performed similarly in both groups. The primary outcome was the occurrence of acute pyelonephritis at 24‐mo follow‐up. Secondary outcomes included lower urinary tract infection, acute rejection, Clostridium difficile infection, colonization or infection by multidrug‐resistant bacteria, graft function and all‐cause mortality. There were no differences in the primary outcome in the intention‐to‐treat population (7.5% 4 of 53 in the treatment group vs. 8.4% 5 of 59 in the control group; odds ratio OR 0.88, 95% confidence interval CI 0.22–3.47) or the per‐protocol population (3.8% 1 of 26 in the treatment group vs. 8.0% 4 of 50 in the control group; OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.05–4.34). Moreover, we found no differences in any of the secondary outcomes. In conclusion, systematic screening and treatment of AB beyond the second month after transplantation provided no apparent benefit among KT recipients (NCT02373085).
This randomized controlled trial shows no difference in the incidence of acute pyelonephritis between kidney transplant recipients who had all their episodes of asymptomatic bacteriuria treated and those who did not receive antimicrobial treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria beyond the second month after transplantation. See the editorial from Blumberg on page 2779.
Tree ring records are among the most valuable resources to create high-resolution climate reconstructions. Most climate reconstructions are based on old trees growing in inaccessible mountainous ...areas with low human activity. Therefore, reconstruction of climate conditions in lowlands is usually based on data from distant mountains. Albeit old trees can be common in humanized areas, they are not used for climate reconstructions. Pollarding was a common traditional management in Europe that enabled trees to maintain great vitality for periods exceeding the longevity of unmanaged trees. We evaluate the potential of pollarded deciduous oaks to record past climate signal. We sampled four pollarded woodlands in Central Spain under continental Mediterranean climate. We hypothesized that pollarded trees have a strong response to water availability during current period without pollarding management, but also in the period under traditional management if pruning was asynchronous among trees. Moreover, we hypothesized that if climate is a regional driver of oak secondary growth, chronologies from different woodlands will be correlated. Pollard oaks age exceeded 500 years with a strong response to Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) from 9 to 11 months. Climate signal was exceptionally high in three of the sites (r2 = 0.443–0.655) during low management period (1962–2022). The largest fraction of this climate signal (≈70 %) could be retrieved during the traditional management period (1902–1961) in the three sites where pollarding was asynchronous. Chronologies were significantly correlated since the 19th century for all the studied period, highlighting a shared climate forcing. We identified critical points to optimize pollard tree sampling schema. Our results show the enormous potential of pollarded woodlands to reconstruct hydroclimate conditions in the Mediterranean with a fine spatial grain. Studying pollarded trees is an urgent task, since the temporal window to retrieve the valuable information in pollarded trees is closing as these giants collapse and their wood rots.
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•Pollarded trees are not used for climate reconstructions due to recurrent management.•Pollarded oaks can live >500 years in intensively managed territories.•Pollarded oaks secondary growth encapsulates valuable climate information.•We have few decades left to retrieve pollarded trees environmental information.
The role of subthreshold depression (subD) in Parkinson's Disease (PD) is not clear. The present study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) in PD patients with subD vs patients with no ...depressive disorder (nonD). Factors related to subD were identified.
PD patients and controls recruited from the COPPADIS cohort were included. SubD was defined as Judd criteria. The 39-item Parkinson's disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) and the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (EUROHIS-QOL8) were used to assess QoL.
The frequency of depressive symptoms was higher in PD patients (n = 694) than in controls (n = 207) (p < 0.0001): major depression, 16.1% vs 7.8%; minor depression, 16.7% vs 7.3%; subD, 17.4% vs 5.8%. Both health-related QoL (PDQ-39; 18.1 ± 12.8 vs 11.6 ± 10; p < 0.0001) and global QoL (EUROHIS-QOL8; 3.7 ± 0.5 vs 4 ± 0.5; p < 0.0001) were significantly worse in subD (n = 120) than nonD (n = 348) PD patients. Non-motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) total score was higher in subD patients (45.9 ± 32 vs 29.1 ± 25.8;p < 0.0001). Non-motor symptoms burden (NMSS;OR = 1.019;95%CI 1.011–1.028; p < 0.0001), neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI; OR = 1.091; 95%CI 1.045–1.139; p < 0.0001), impulse control behaviors (QUIP-RS; OR = 1.035; 95%CI 1.007–1063; p = 0.013), quality of sleep (PDSS; OR = 0.991; 95%CI 0.983–0.999; p = 0.042), and fatigue (VAFS-physical; OR = 1.185; 95%CI 1.086–1.293; p < 0.0001; VAFS-mental; OR = 1.164; 95%CI 1.058–1.280; p = 0.0001) were related to subD after adjustment to age, disease duration, daily equivalent levodopa dose, motor status (UPDRS-III), and living alone.
SubD is a frequent problem in patients with PD and is more prevalent in these patients than in controls. QoL is worse and non-motor symptoms burden is greater in subD PD patients.
•Subthreshold depression (SubD) is a frequent problem in patients with PD and is near to triple prevalent than in controls.•Health-related and global perceived quality of life (QoL) are worse in subD than in non-depressed (nonD) PD patients.•A greater non-motor symptoms burden is associated with subthreshold depression in PD.•Specifically, fatigue, sleep problems, and neuropsychiatric symptoms seems to be related to subD in PD.•All this suggests that detection of subD in PD could be an important factor in clinical practice.
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