This work presents an experimentally validated theoretical model for Mg alloy dissolution that accounts for transport phenomena. The galvanic interaction between AZ31 Mg alloy and low carbon steels ...in a solid electrolyte was simulated. The use of a solid agar-based electrolyte allowed to neglect the strong convective effects that are normally present during Mg alloy dissolution caused by copious hydrogen evolution. Furthermore, it allowed for a constant electrolyte thickness to be fixed. The gelled-electrolyte contained a pH indicator to permit a reliable visual tracking of the transient propagation of H+ and OH− ions during the electrochemical reaction.
Prescription of compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in adults is controversial. We sought to estimate the efficacy of compression stockings vs. placebo/no intervention ...(control) in preventing PTS, and to estimate the probability of observing a benefit when prescribing compression stockings to prevent PTS.
We conducted a systematic review of the literature in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Randomized Trials, searching for randomized controlled trials that compared compression stockings, applied in the acute setting of deep vein thrombosis, vs. control to prevent PTS. We used a Bayesian approach for data analysis.
Four studies met our inclusion criteria. When comparing intervention vs. control, the estimated odds ratio (OR) was 0.57 (95% Credible Interval (CrI): 0.21 to 1.20) for PTS vs. no PTS and 0.79 (95% CrI 0.31 to 1.67) for severe vs. no/mild/moderate PTS. The probabilities of observing treatment benefits in the population if prescribing compression stockings ranged between 47% (large benefit, OR < 0.50) and 95% (small benefit, OR < 1.00) for any PTS and between 16% and 82% (from large to small benefit) for severe PTS. The probabilities of observing benefit of compression stockings in a future study ranged 44%–76% and 25%–72% (from large to small benefit) for any PTS and severe PTS, respectively.
Despite heterogeneity, data show that it is still probable to observe some degree of treatment benefit when prescribing compression stockings and to observe some degree of treatment benefit in a future study.
•Compression stockings may help prevent PTS when used in the acute setting•The population OR was 0.57 (95% CrI 0.21–1.20) for any PTS vs. no PTS•There is a 95% probability of observing some benefit in the population (OR < 1)•The OR for a future study was 0.95 (95% CrI 0.08–3.26) for any PTS vs. no PTS•There is a 76% probability of observing some benefit in a future study (OR < 1)
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•Pt/WO3-ZrO2-TiO2 catalysts were synthesized by the coprecipitation technique.•The effect of TiO2 on the catalytic activity in the n-C6 isomerization was studied.•The synthesis method ...allows for reducing the activation temperature of the samples.•The incorporation of TiO2 mainly promotes the stabilization of the active sites.
The role of TiO2 as an additive in the Pt/WO3-ZrO2 catalyst system over the catalytic activity in the hydroisomerization of n-hexane was investigated. The Pt/WO3-ZrO2-TiO2 catalysts were synthesized by two steps: the first step consisted in the WOx-ZrO2-TiO2 mixed oxides synthesis by the coprecipitation technique, and in a second step the Pt was incorporated by impregnation. The mixed oxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results showed that the synthesis method could promote a higher interaction among TiO2, WOx species and ZrO2 at 700 °C, producing WOx clusters that improve the n-hexane hydroisomerization conversion, TOR values and yields to bi-ramified components compared to the blank catalysts. The results confirmed the relationship among the surface area, tungsten content, and calcination temperature necessary to reach the formation of WOx species with the adequate domain size to stabilize the proton and form Brønsted acid sites. The incorporation of TiO2 mainly promotes the stabilization of these active sites.
The analysis of carbaryl in natural water samples was accomplished using a portable immunosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. The assay was based on a binding inhibition ...immunoassay format with the analyte derivative covalently immobilized on the sensor surface. An alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was formed onto the gold-coated sensor surface to allow the reusability of the same sensing surface during 220 regeneration cycles. Reproducibility was evaluated by performing three independent assays in triplicate on 3 different days. The batch-assay variability was also calculated using three different gold-coated sensor surfaces. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation were 8.6 and 15.3%, respectively, whilst a variation of 7.4% in assay sensitivity was obtained by employing different sensor chips. The lowest detection limit, calculated as the concentration providing a 10% decrease of the blank signal, was of 1.38
μg
L
−1. Matrix effects were also evaluated in different water types, showing
I
50 values (carbaryl concentrations that produced a 50% decrease of the blank signal) within the range of carbaryl standard curves in distilled water (2.78–3.55
μg
L
−1). The carbaryl immunoassay performance was validated with respect to conventional high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS). The correlation between methods was in good agreement (
r
2
=
0.998, 0.999 and 0.999) for the three types of natural water samples tested. A complete assay cycle, including regeneration, is accomplished in 20
min. All measurements were carried out with the SPR sensor system (β-SPR) commercialised by the company SENSIA, SL (Spain). The small size and low-time of response of the β-SPR platform would allow its utilization in real contaminated locations.
Continuous monitoring of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos in real water samples has been performed using a portable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor. The immunoassay was based ...on a binding inhibition test by using the covalent immobilization of an analyte derivative onto the gold-coated sensing surface. Sensor reusability was assured through the formation of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). In this format, the biosensor surface remained stable over 190 measurements including regeneration cycles. The reproducibility and precision of SPR measurements were evaluated by performing independent immunoassays for three replicates of each sample. The batch-assay variability was also estimated using three different gold-coated sensor surfaces. The assay provided a highly sensitive detection of chlorpyrifos at nanogram per litre levels (55
ng
L
−1) in laboratory buffer. No significant matrix effects were found for ground, river and drinking water samples, where the limits of detection ranged from 45 to 64
ng
L
−1 and the recovery values were between 80 and 120%. The validation of chlorpyrifos immunoassay was performed using conventional chromatographic methods (GC–MS). The correlation between both techniques was proved by the good correlation coefficient (
r
2
=
0.995) obtained. Chlorpyrifos immunoassays were developed using the β-SPR sensor system commercialised by the company SENSIA, S.L. (Spain). Rapid analysis of samples, without previous extraction or clean-up, was accomplished in only 20
min, including the regeneration cycle. The high sensitivity, low-time of response and portability of the β-SPR biosensor platform, would allow its application as a field analytical method for environmental waters.
Purpose: To evaluate the rheological properties of the ophthalmic viscoelastic device (OVD) PRO-149, its preclinical safety, and its effectiveness when used during cataract surgery in patients with ...age-related cataract. Material and Methods: Control (HEC) and test (PRO-149) OVDs were compared through rheological measures, by two preclinical safety studies in rabbits, and under normal-use conditions during cataract removal and lens implantation in a parallel randomized clinical trial. Results: Rheological properties were determined. Preclinical studies did not find any evidence of safety issues or toxicity. In the clinical trial, 36 subjects were included. After 29 days, there were no statistically significant differences in mean percentage of endothelial cell count change or in the postoperative intraocular pressure between groups. There were no significant differences between OVDs for any safety parameter studied. Finally, PRO-149 showed a statistically significant improvement in surgeon rating for ease of use during extraction (p < 0.05). Conclusion: PRO-149 is a dispersive OVD. The rabbit models did not find evidence of clinical alterations or toxicity. The results of the clinical study support that the two studied OVDs were clinically similar in terms of safety and effectiveness for cataract surgery. Trial Registration: The trial is registered at Clinical Trials.gov at NCT04702802 (21-01-11). Keywords: rheology, sodium hyaluronate, surgical procedure, viscoadaptative, viscosity
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease without an effective and safe treatment. Besides, macrophages are the major components of the innate immune system and play a ...critical role in the inflammation process in SLE. Secoiridoids from olive tree are phenolic compounds which have shown important pharmacological effects. Particularly, oleuropein (OL) has shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties suggesting a potential application in a large number of inflammatory and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated diseases. In addition, different studies have shown the importance of acyl derivatives of natural phenols due to their better hydrophilic/lipophilic balance.
As saline streams are geographically widespread in arid and semiarid regions, flow intermittence frequently occurs as another stressor factor apart from salinity. Rambla Salada is a temporary ...naturally saline stream with an intermittent reach upstream. This stream is an ideal scenario to study the effects of intermittent stream flow on macroinvertebrate community composition and biological traits in a naturally saline Mediterranean stream. This study analysed three sites with different hydrological regimes (one intermittent and two perennials). Flow intermittence exerted low pressure on the macroinvertebrate composition and biological traits which led to the loss of drought-intolerant species and taxa rather than acting as a selective force to promote desiccation-resistant taxa. Macroinvertebrate community at the intermittent site was a subset of the community found in perennial sites, and the presence of flier taxa at this site helped avoid flow cessation. These minor changes have consequences to assess the ecological quality of these saline temporary streams in the context of the Water Framework Directive, given the major differences revealed by some indices between the intermittent and perennial sites as the former obtained lower values due to the presence of few desiccation-intolerant species, which significantly increased the value of those biological indices.
•We studied the effect of flow intermittence on macroinvertebrate community in a naturally saline stream.•Flow intermittence promoted loss of drought-intolerant macroinvertebrate taxa and led to an increase in flier taxa richness at the intermittent site.•Macroinvertebrate community at the intermittent site was a subset of the community found in perennial sites.•Flow intermittence has important consequences to assess ecological quality.
Abstract Cigarette smoking is common among patients in cocaine and opioid dependence treatment, and may influence treatment outcome. We addressed this issue in a secondary analysis of data from an ...outpatient clinical trial of buprenorphine treatment for concurrent cocaine and opioid dependence (13 weeks, N = 200). The association between cigarette smoking (lifetime cigarette smoking status, number of cigarettes smoked per day prior to study entry) and short-term treatment outcome (% of urine samples positive for cocaine or opioids, treatment retention) was evaluated with analysis of covariance, bivariate correlations, and multivariate linear regression. Nicotine-dependent smokers (66% of participants) had a significantly higher percentage of cocaine-positive urine samples than non-smokers (12% of participants) (76% vs. 62%), but did not differ in percentage of opioid-positive urine samples or treatment retention. Number of cigarettes smoked per day at baseline was positively associated with percentage of cocaine-positive urine samples, even after controlling for baseline sociodemographic and drug use characteristics, but was not significantly associated with percentage of opioid-positive urine samples or treatment retention. These results suggest that cigarette smoking is associated with poorer short-term outcome of outpatient treatment for cocaine dependence, but perhaps not of concurrent opioid dependence, and support the importance of offering smoking cessation treatment to cocaine-dependent patients.
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