The Raman spectra of the Na2SO4‐K2SO4‐H2O system are not well‐defined in the literature. Specifically, the proper identification of sodium and potassium sulphate (aphthitalite or glaserite, ...K3Na(SO4)2) and anhydrous sodium sulphate (thenardite, Na2SO4) is particularly problematic because their vibrational profiles present the same main Raman peak at 993 cm−1 and very similar low frequency bands. As proved in bibliography, the similarity of their spectra can often lead to uncertain or erroneous identifications. Considering that aphthitalite and thenardite can be found as degradation products on built heritage materials and the degree of danger associated to them is not the same, being the second one the most harmful, the resolution of this problem has a critical importance. For this reason, in the present work, the Raman spectra of aphthitalite and thenardite are deeply studied to identify the vibrational fingerprints enabling their correct identification. The results here summarized and provided by two different Raman instruments highlight that the spectrum of aphthitalite displays characteristic bands at 1,084 and 1,202 cm−1. In contrast, the bands at 1,100, 1,129, and 1,152 cm−1 seem to be characteristic of thenardite. Furthermore, when those secondary bands are not observed or mixtures of both compounds are present, the ratio between their most intense bands at 452 and 993 cm−1 is the key for their correct characterization. On the whole, this study fills the gaps observed in literature and gives the solution for the correct identification of aphthitalite and thenardite even when secondary bands are not observed.
This study fills the gaps observed in literature in the Raman spectra of the Na2SO4‐K2SO4 system by 532 and 785‐nm excitation lasers, which has a relevant importance in built heritage studies, giving the solution for the correct identification of aphthitalite and thenardite even when secondary bands are not observed.
Despite its recognized importance, primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) remains an underdiagnosed condition in clinical practice. The objective of the present study was to evaluate PHA screening ...practices by general practitioners and specialists in endocrinology and cardiology.
This cross-sectional, observational study invited physicians to respond voluntarily to an online survey. The survey collected the respondents' sociodemographic data and answers to five hypothetical clinical cases meeting Endocrine Society criteria for PHA screening.
In all, 126 physicians responded to the online survey. Endocrinologists were the specialists who most often chose PHA screening, although the screening rates were overall low, ranging from 36.5% to 92.9%, depending on the case and the respondents' specialty. The survey also assessed the reasons for not choosing PHA screening, which included limited availability of tests within the public health services, interference of antihypertensive medications on hormone levels, and failure to identify the screening indication. Being an endocrinologist was an independent predictor for choosing PHA screening for the patients in Cases #1 and #5 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively).
Endocrinologists were the specialists who most often chose PHA screening, although the screening rates were overall low among all specialists. These findings highlight a need for continuing medical education programs addressing PHA screening and making the diagnosis of PHA more present in the daily clinical practice of physicians treating patients with hypertension.
Quasi-equilibrium states that can be prepared in solids through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques are out-of-equilibrium states that slowly relax towards thermodynamic equilibrium with the ...lattice. In this work, we use the quantum discord dynamics as a witness of the quantum correlation in this kind of state. The studied system is a set of dipole interacting spin pairs whose initial state is prepared with the NMR Jeener–Broekaert pulse sequence, starting from equilibrium at high temperature and high external magnetic field. It then evolves as an open quantum system within two consecutive dynamic scenarios: adiabatic decoherence driven by the coupling of the pairs to a common phonon field, described within a non-Markovian approach, and spin–lattice relaxation represented by the high-temperature limit of the Born–Markov master equation, and driven by thermal fluctuations. In this way, the studied model is endowed with the dynamics of a realistic solid sample. The quantum discord rapidly increases during the preparation of the initial state, escalating several orders of magnitude compared with thermal equilibrium at room temperature. During decoherence—despite the decay of coherences—the quantum discord oscillates upon this high value, holding the same value as the initial state. Finally, the quantum discord dissipates within a time scale shorter than but comparable to spin–lattice relaxation.
•Seasonal predictability of oceanic NPP and SST was analyzed based on satellite data.•ENSO enhanced SST predictability over large areas of the equatorial and NE Pacific.•NPP prediction horizon was ...longer in oligotrophic gyres and transition regions.•There is potential to extend climate predictions to biogeochemical variables.
Seasonal to interannual predictions of ecosystem dynamics have the potential to improve the management of living marine resources. Prediction of oceanic net primary production (NPP), the foundation of marine food webs and the biological carbon pump, is particularly promising, with recent analysis suggesting that ecosystem feedback processes may lead to higher predictability of NPP at interannual scales than for physical variables like sea surface temperature (SST). Here, we assessed the potential predictability of oceanic NPP and SST across seasonal to interannual lead times using reduced dimension, linear dynamical spatio-temporal models (rDSTM). This approach combines empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis with vector autoregressive (VAR) modeling to simplify the analysis of spatio-temporal data. The rDSTMs were fitted to monthly NPP and SST anomalies derived from 20 years of remote sensing data (1997–2017), considering two alternative algorithms commonly used to estimate NPP (VGPM and Eppley-VGPM) and optimally analyzed SST fields (AVHRR OISST). The local decay of anomalies provided high predictability up to three months, and subsequent interactions with remote forcing significantly extended predictability beyond the initial anomaly decay. Indeed, interactions among spatial modes associated with the propagation of major climate modes, particularly the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), extended the predictability horizon above one year in some regions. Patterns of enhanced NPP predictability matched the location of oligotrophic gyres and transition regions between ocean biomes, where fluctuations in biome boundaries generate large biogeochemical perturbations that leave lasting imprints on NPP. In these areas, the predictability horizon for NPP was longer than for SST, although SST was more predictable over large areas of the equatorial and northeast Pacific. Our results support the potential for extending seasonal to interannual physical climate predictions to predict ocean productivity.
Therapeutic options for bacteremia caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) OXA-48-type are limited. The objective of this study was to analyze clinical success of CAZ-AVI compared with ...best available therapy (BAT) in patients with
Klebsiella pneumoniae
carbapenemase-producing OXA-48-type bacteremia (CRKp-OXA-48). We conducted a retrospective, single-center observational study in adult patients with CRKp-OXA-48 between December 2015 and May 2019. We collected the patients’ clinical and epidemiological characteristics, antibiotic treatment (CAZ-AVI vs. BAT), and evolution. Factors associated with clinical success were analyzed using binary logistic regression. The study included 76 patients with CRKp-OXA-48-type bacteremia 33 received CAZ-AVI and 43 BAT. CAZ-AVI was mainly used in monotherapy (91%). Clinical success was more common in patients < 70-year-old (OR 4.79, 95% CI 1.435–16.002,
p
= 0.011) and CAZ-AVI treatment (OR 6.69, 95% CI 1.68–26.604,
p
= 0.007). Kaplan–Meier survival curve of 14-day mortality showed a lower mortality in patients who received CAZ-AVI (log rank 0.013). However, CAZ-AVI did not achieve statistical difference in IPTW for 14- and 30-day mortality (aOR 0.1, 95% CI 0.02–1.22,
p
= 0.076 and aOR 1.7, 95% CI 0.48–5.98,
p
= 0.413, respectively). CAZ-AVI treatment might be associated with a greater clinical success in CRKp-OXA-48 bacteremia.
This work reports the development and application of a highly selective core@shell-based quantum dot–molecularly imprinted polymer (QD@MIP) sensor for the detection of sulfadiazine (SDZ)—an ...antibiotic which belongs to the sulfonamide family. The synthesis of the smart material or MIP (molecularly imprinted polymer) was carried out by a precipitation method directly on the quantum dot surface, which played the role of a fluorescent probe in the optical sensor. The synthesized polymer was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Fluorescence experiments were performed in order to evaluate the effects of pH, interaction time of the QD@MIP with the analyte and SDZ concentration in different matrices. Under optimized conditions, a linear concentration range of 10.0–60.0 ppm and a limit of detection of 3.33 ppm were obtained. The repeatability and reproducibility of the proposed QD@MIP were evaluated in terms of the RSD, where RSD values of less than 5% were obtained in both tests. Selectivity studies were carried out in the presence of four possible interfering substances with quenching properties, and the signals obtained for these interferents confirmed the excellent selectivity of the proposed sensor; the imprinting factor value obtained for SDZ was 1.64. Finally, the proposed sensor was applied in real animal-based food samples using a spiked concentration of SDZ, where the recovery values obtained were above 90% (experiments were performed in triplicate).
Here, the biocorrelation of the marine invertebrate assemblages of the post-glacial succession in the uppermost portion of the Late Paleozoic Itararé Group (Paraná Basin, Brazil) is for the first ...time firmly constrained with other well-dated Gondwanan faunas. The correlation and ages of these marine assemblages are among the main controversial issues related to Brazilian Gondwana geology. In total, 118 brachiopod specimens were analyzed, and at least seven species were identified: Lyonia rochacamposi sp. nov., Langella imbituvensis (Oliveira),? Streptorhynchus sp.,? Cyrtella sp., Tomiopsis sp. cf. T. harringtoni Archbold and Thomas, Quinquenella rionegrensis (Oliveira) and Biconvexiella roxoi Oliveira. The presence of Tomiopsis sp. cf. T. harringtoni and the bivalve Atomodesma (Aphanaia) orbirugata (Harrington) in the Teixeira Soares beds plus Myonia argentinensis (Harrington) and Heteropecten paranaensis Neves et al., both of which recorded in deposits in the Teixeira Soares and Mafra beds (Butiá), suggests a biocorrelation with the Eurydesma fauna from the Bonete Formation, Sauce Grande-Colorado Basin, Argentina. Furthermore, the presence of Lyonia Archbold and Praeundulomya cf. subelongata Dickins in the Taciba Formation indicates affinities with deposits in the Lyons Group, Carnarvon Basin, and the Fossil Cliff Member, Perth Basin (Western Australia), suggesting a late Asselian–early Sakmarian age. Even more importantly, the collected data suggest the existence of an W–E trans-Gondwanan marine seaway between the Paraná (Brazil), Sauce Grande-Colorado (Argentina), Huab (Hardap shale of the Dwyka Group, Aranos area, Namibia, southwest Africa), the Carnavon (Western Australia) basins, and beyond eastward to the Cimmerian region. A V proto-rift system through two major axes of extensional basin development facilitated the W–E marine connection. Main axes formed by a north-northwesterly trending axis paralleling the future South Atlantic and a broadly north-northeasterly trending line of separation related to the future Indian Ocean. This proto-rift system coupled with a sea-level rise of at least 100m, favored the establishment of a long narrow shallow seaway, allowing the exchange of Eurydesma fauna between eastern and western Gondwana.
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•New brachiopod records from the post-glacial Early Permian Itararé succession, South America•New bivalve-brachiopod association assemblage to recognize a regional stratigraphic interval in the Eurydesma Biozone•Existence of a transient W–E trans-Gondwanan seaway among Paraná, Sauce Grande-Colorado, South African, Indian, western Australia and Cimmerian basins
Theory and observations suggest that low frequency variation in marine plankton populations, or red noise, may arise through cumulative integration of white noise atmospheric forcing by the ocean and ...its amplification within food webs. Here, we revisit evidence for the integration of stochastic atmospheric variations by comparing the power spectra of time series of atmospheric and oceanographic conditions to the population dynamics of 150 plankton taxa at Station L4 in the Western English Channel. The power spectra of oceanographic conditions (sea surface temperature, surface nitrate) are redder than those of atmospheric forcing (surface wind stress, net heat fluxes) at Station L4. However, plankton populations have power spectral slopes across trophic levels and body sizes that are redder than atmospheric forcing but whiter than oceanographic conditions. While zooplankton have redder spectral slopes than phytoplankton, there is no significant relationship between power spectral slope and body size or generation length. Using a predator−prey model, we show that the whitening of plankton time series relative to oceanographic conditions arises from noisy plankton bloom dynamics in this strongly seasonal system. The model indicates that, for typical predator−prey interactions, where the predator is on average 10 times longer than the prey, grazing leads to a modest reddening of phytoplankton variability by their larger and longer lived zooplankton consumers. Our findings suggest that, beyond extrinsic forcing by the environment, predator–prey interactions play a role in influencing the power spectra of time series of plankton populations.
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