Introduction
The Latin American (LA) population in Spain is ever increasing in size and is perfectly integrated into the social structure. The objectives were to analyze the attitude of citizens, ...born in Latin America and living in Spain, toward living kidney donation (LKD) and to determine the psychosocial variables affecting this attitude.
Material and Methods
A sample of LA residents living in Spain was obtained randomly in 2010 and stratified according to the respondent's nationality (n = 1314). Attitude was evaluated using a validated questionnaire (“Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante sobre Donación de Vivo Renal” Ríos). The survey was self‐administered and completed anonymously.
Results
The questionnaire completion rate was 86% (n = 1.132). A total of 89% (n = 1003) were in favor of related living donation, and 30% if the donation were unrelated. The variables associated with attitude toward LKD were as follows: sex (p = 0.043); marital status (p = 0.013); previous experience of organ donation (p = 0.009); attitude toward deceased organ donation (p < 0.001); a respondent's belief that he or she could be a possible recipient of a future transplant (p < 0.001); knowledge of a partner's opinion (p = 0.021); family discussion about organ donation (p = 0.001); knowledge of the view of one's religion toward donation (p < 0.001); concern about “mutilation” after donation (p = 0.004); and evaluation of the risk from living donation (p = 0.036).
Conclusions
The attitude of LA citizens residing in Spain was favorable both toward related LKD and unrelated living donation.
A crossed beam pulsed laser deposition configuration was used to prepare nanocomposites Bi/TiO
2
thin films on two different substrates. The multilayered system was formed by depositing TiO
2
and Bi ...layers alternately. In order to embed the Bi nanostructures in TiO
2,
the subsequent TiO
2
layers were synthesized using a constant number of laser pulses (3000) corresponding to a thickness of approximately 21 nm. The Bi nanostructures were deposited on the TiO
2
layers alternately by irradiating the Bi target with 30, 100, 200, and 300 laser pulses. In this way, the Bi nanostructures were embedded inside the TiO
2
matrix. A total of 8 samples with bismuth and one reference, with TiO
2
only, were produced. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that nearly spherical nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained at lower number of pulses, whereas at 300 pulses a quasi-percolated nanostructured Bi film was obtained. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that the TiO
2
layers were not affected due to the bismuth presence. Raman Spectroscopy showed vibrational features characteristic of the rutile phase for the titania layer. The Raman spectrum of the multilayer prepared using 300 laser pulses on the bismuth, suggests that the Bi layer is formed by a mixture of metallic Bi, and α-Bi
2
O
3
. The Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy reveals that no substantial changes are presented in the transmittance spectra indicating similar optical properties of the different deposits. Finally, the photoluminescence emission spectra indicate that the substrate position in the deposition chamber affects the electronic structure of the material.
Introduction: Medical students represent a new generation of medical thought, and if they have a favourable attitude towards organ donation this will greatly encourage its promotion.
Objective: To ...analyse the attitude of medical students in Spanish universities towards the donation of their own organs and to determine the factors affecting this attitude.
Material and Methods: Type of study: A sociological, interdisciplinary, multicentre, and observational study in Spain. Study population: Students studying a degree in medicine enrolled in Spain (n = 34,000). Sample size: A sample of 9598 students (confidence of 99% and precision of ±1%), stratified by geographical area and academic year. Instrument of measurement: A validated questionnaire of attitude towards organ donation and transplantation (PCID-DTO RIOS) was self-administered and completed anonymously.
Results: The questionnaire completion rate was 95.7% (n = 9.275). 80% were in favour of donation, 2% against and 18% were undecided. The following main variables were related to a favourable attitude: being of the female sex (Odds Ratio = 1.739); being in the sixth year of the degree (OR = 2.506); knowing a donor (OR = 1.346); having spoken about the subject with one's family (OR = 2.132) and friends (OR = 1.333); having a family circle that is in favour, more specifically, having a father (OR = 1.841), mother (OR = 2.538) or partner in favour (OR = 2.192); being a blood donor (OR = 2.824); acceptance of the mutilation of the body if it were necessary (OR = 2.958); and being an atheist or an agnostic (OR = 1.766).
Conclusions: Spanish medical students generally have a favourable attitude towards organ donation, although 20% are not in favour.
The ablation of a carbon target immersed in deionized water, in absence and in presence of ultrasonic waves is reported, and the differences investigated. The obtained nanostructures are ...characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence. Transmission electron images reveal that the produced carbon nanostructures, with and without ultrasonic excitation, are graphene-like sheets with improved quality in the first case. Samples prepared with ultrasounds show graphene layers with large sizes (several microns) and regular shapes, whereas the samples prepared without ultrasounds show smaller sizes and irregular shapes; additionally, some dispersed quasi-spherical nanoparticles are observed in the samples prepared without ultrasound. Photoluminescence measurements of the obtained nanostructures reveal emission in the blue spectral region.
•Veterinary students consider the main risk in xenotransplant to be immunologic risk.•Most veterinary students are in favor of xenotransplant.•The risks perceived by veterinary students in ...xenotransplant do not seriously diminish the favorable attitude toward xenotransplant.
Understanding the perception of the risks associated with xenotransplant, especially among professionals who will contribute to the care of the animals, is important for xenotransplant to become a clinical reality. The objective of this study was to analyze opinions regarding the risks of organ xenotransplant among veterinary university students in Spain.
The study population was 2683 veterinary students from different courses and universities in Spain. Instrument valuation: Validated self-administered questionnaire completed anonymously (PCID-XENOTx-Ríos). Consent to collaborate in the study was requested. Variables for the study: attitude toward xenotransplant and risks (infectious, immunologic, ethical/moral, philosophical, religious, other unspecified risks). Statistics: descriptive analysis, Student t test, χ2 test, and Fisher exact test.
Of the total number of respondents, 2646 students answered this question, with a completion rate of 98.6%. They considered immunologic risk 78.4% (n = 2074), infectious risk 48.6% (n = 1286), ethical/moral risk 10.7% (n = 284), philosophical risk 5.2% (n = 137), religious risk 1.5% (n = 40), and other risks 3.9% (n = 104). Significant relationships were observed between immunologic risks (P < .001), ethical/moral risks (P < .001), and other risks (P = .002).
Despite the consideration of different types of risks, the favorable attitude toward xenotransplant among veterinary students at Spanish universities is highly prevalent, and evidence-based information campaigns on the different risks associated with xenotransplant are important.
Abstract
Background
It is important for teenagers to have a favorable attitude toward organ donation and transplantation (ODT) in order to increase the number of future donors. To determine the ...attitude of teenagers in the South East of Spain toward ODT and to analyze the psychosocial variables related to this attitude.
Methods
The study population consisted of young teenagers in the South East of Spain. A stratified sample was selected by geographical location, sex and age (n = 4, 117). Attitude was assessed using a validated questionnaire about ODT (PCID-ODT Ríos). Statistical analysis: Student’s t-test, Chi-squared test and a multivariate analysis.
Results
The questionnaire completion rate was 87% (n = 3572). Attitude toward ODT was favorable in 46% of cases (n = 1633) and undecided in 43% (n = 1543). Several psychosocial variables had a favorable effect on donation: believing that one has good information about ODT (Odds Ratio OR 1.706); discussing the subject with the family (OR 1.543) and friends (OR 1.818); carrying out pro-social activities (OR 1.642); having a favorable attitude toward cremation (OR 1.466) and autopsy (OR 1.470); and, finally, not being afraid of scars (OR 4.184).
Conclusions
Teenagers in the South East of Spain are not currently inclined to support organ donation. This attitude is related to many psychosocial factors, mainly connected to not having good information about the subject, not discussing it in social circles and the fear of body mutilation. It would be appropriate to create educational interventional strategies in this group to prevent a negative impact on future donation rates.
Nanocomposites formed by a phase-dispersed nanomaterial and a polymeric host matrix are highly attractive for nano- and micro-fabrication. The combination of nanoscale and bulk materials aims at ...achieving an effective interplay between extensive and intensive physical properties. Nanofillers display size-dependent effects, paving the way for the design of tunable functional composites. The matrix, on the other hand, can facilitate or even enhance the applicability of nanomaterials by allowing their easy processing for device manufacturing. In this article, we review the field of polymer-based nanocomposites acting as resist materials, i.e. being patternable through radiation-based lithographic methods. A comprehensive explanation of the synthesis of nanofillers, their functionalization and the physicochemical concepts behind the formulation of nanocomposites resists will be given. We will consider nanocomposites containing different types of fillers, such as metallic, magnetic, ceramic, luminescent and carbon-based nanomaterials. We will outline the role of nanofillers in modifying various properties of the polymer matrix, such as the mechanical strength, the refractive index and their performance during lithography. Also, we will discuss the lithographic techniques employed for transferring 2D patterns and 3D shapes with high spatial resolution. The capabilities of nanocomposites to act as structural and functional materials in novel devices and selected applications in photonics, electronics, magnetism and bioscience will be presented. Finally, we will conclude with a discussion of the current trends in this field and perspectives for its development in the near future.
Display omitted
•Sonochemical-assisted synthesis Cr-TiO2@Fe3O4 was proposed as a novel method.•Cr-doped TiO2 was effective for the photodegradation of MG dye.•99% of the catalyst was recovered by a ...simple magnetic field.•The TD-DFT model predicts the by-products of the photocatalytic reaction.
Cr-TiO2 supported on Fe3O4 material was synthesized using a sonochemical method. By TEM images it was possible to observe cubic morphologies and by XRD and Raman spectroscopy the anatase phase was evaluated, showing that no subsequent thermal treatment was necessary. XPS analysis shows a decrease in the intensity of the Fe3O4 signals when the TiO2 is added to create the material discussed in this paper. Also, by this technique, it was possible to confirm the presence of Cr over the doped materials. In the photocatalysis test. 100% of color removal of the Malachite Green dye (10 mg L−1) was achieved after 300 min of reaction time under solar radiation in a cylindrical reactor with constant bubbling, and only 60% of TOC removal was reached. Using the Time Dependent – Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) model, was possible to predict the by-products of the photocatalytic reaction of the Malachite Green dye, such as the leuco carbinol Malachite Green, 4-(dimethylamino) benzophenone and 4-4-(dimethylamino) phenyl methyl-N,N-dimethylaniline Malachite and it its compared with the experimental UV–vis spectra.
It is important to determine the level of social acceptance of xenotransplantation, especially in places where there are preclinical xenotransplantation projects. In this sense, it is important to ...know the attitude of teenagers, given that their attitude could have an influence on this kind of donation in the future.
The aim of this study is to analyze the attitudes of teenagers toward xenotransplantation and to determine the variables affecting their attitudes.
A random simple was obtained of students who were between 12 and 16 years of age in secondary schools in the southeast of Spain (n = 3633). Their attitudes were assessed with the use of a validated psychosocial questionnaire about xenotransplantation (PCID-XenoTx Ríos). The questionnaire was completed anonymously and was self-administered. Descriptive statistical analysis, Student t, and χ2 tests were used.
The completion rate was 97% (n = 3531). With regard to animal organ donation for humans, 44% (n = 1569) would be in favor, 22% (n = 784) against, and 34% (n = 1178) undecided. Attitude was related to knowing a transplantation patient (P = .02), believing that transplant organ needs are not covered (P = .004), having received information about organ donation and transplantation (ODT) on television and from schools (P = .001), family discussion about ODT (P < .001), attitude of the respondent's parents (P < .001), and attitude toward human donation (P < .001).
More than half of the teenagers had unfavorable attitudes toward xenotransplantation as this was determined by factors related to knowledge of and previous information about ODT, the attitude of one's family, and attitudes toward the different types of human organ donation.
PDF
