The growth of PbS nanocrystals doped in situ simultaneously with Er3+-Cd2+-Bi3+ solutions at different proportions was examined with the aim of investigating the morphological, optical and structural ...changes of the nanocrystals obtained. A brief summary of the chemical equilibria plus the Gibbs free energy changes are presented. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra showed an absorption band located at ~ 3356cm−1 attributed to stretching of -OH groups and a sharp stretching band at ~ 1932cm−1 assigned to vibration mode of CO32− ions.This absorption bands are generally due to the decomposition of thiourea in alkaline medium. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibited a cubic phase in all films and the grain size (GS) of the undoped samples was ~6.57nm, whereas for doped films was ~ 6.40–4.16nm. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) confirmed the structural characteristics of the nanocrystals. Absorbance spectra of PbS films exhibited five absorption bands located at ~ 346, ~ 585, ~ 615, ~ 670 and ~ 775nm due to strong confinement effect. This multiplex of bands presented in PbS is induced by the simultaneous incorporation of the ions. The shift of the band gap energy is associated with the decrease of crystalline size in PbS films. On the other hand, a small absorption band located at ~ 446nm, corresponding to 4F7/2 → 4I5/2 (4f → 4f transitions of Er3+ ions) was also observed. A small blue emission band centered at ~ 446nm was originated from the allowed 3P1 → 1S0 transition of Bi3+ ions. Band gap energy of nanocrystals showed a shift in the ~ 1.4–2.6eV range. The structural experimental results are associated with the optical changes confirming the gradual incorporation of the dopant ions in the crystallites network. Raman spectra showed two bands located at ~ 450cm−1 due to the first overtone of the LO phonon (2LO) and other band located at ~ 200cm−1 which has been attributed to the LO (Γ) phonon,confirming the existence of doped-PbS nanocrystals.
A general approach has been developed for the synthesis of Erbium-Oxide/Erbium Hydroxide (Er2O3–ErOOH) powder at 25°C via chemical bath. The powder was annealed at 1000°C in air atmosphere at normal ...pressure. The FTIR exhibits a characteristic stretching mode of Er–O, a typical FTIR structural band for such groups. The structure of the powders was characterized by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and the results displayed a rhombohedral phase. The band gap is 4.5eV, and luminescence spectra were observed in six bands at 380–420, 530–580, and 640–690nm.
•Thiourea is a key parameter acting as a catalyst to obtain the powders.•Er2O3 shows an excitonic peak corresponding to 4f–4f transitions.•Erbium compounds are recognized as the most important rare earth for sensing.
Cornu aspersum (= syn. Helix aspersa) snails imported into NE Spain from Algeria and South Africa, and intended for human consumption via sale in public markets, were analyzed to assess their ...contribution to geographic dissemination of Brachylaima species. Prevalence and viability studies of metacercariae were performed on Algerian and South African Brachylaima adults. Morphometric studies were performed by measuring 16 variables in metacercariae and 18 variables in adults. Principal component analyses (PCA) were performed to assess the contribution of each variable in the separation of the different groups. A MANOVA test performed on morphometric data from Brachylaima llobregatensis and Brachylaima mascomai Algerian and South African adults, revealed a significant multivariate main effect (P < 0.001) and univariate effects in 13 variables (P ≤ 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in 13 variables between B. mascomai and Algerian adults, as opposed to 3 variables (testis I width, testis II width, and egg width) when compared with B. llobregatensis. South African adults had significant differences in 5 variables (body length, oral sucker length, oral sucker width, egg length, and egg width) when compared with B. llobregatensis, as opposed to 1 variable (testis II width) when compared with B. mascomai. Results from PCA showed 2 different groups: B. llobregatensis/Algerian adults (overlapped) and B. mascomai/South African adults (overlapped). Imported edible C. aspersum specimens can contribute significantly to the geographic spread of Brachylaima species by harboring infective metacercariae which could easily infect animals, given their heteroxenous character. Brachylaima llobregatensis has previously been detected in NE Spain only, and now this species appears to be parasitizing C. aspersum in Algeria (North Africa). This geographic dispersion could be favored by commerce in terrestrial snails such as C. aspersum.
Four different chiral imines were analyzed in solid state, by changing systematically the halogen atom –X (-F, -Cl and -Br) in the para-position of the benzene ring in the chiral moiety of ...benzobthiophene-based imine compounds. The molecular packings showed a significant distortion induced by the effect of the stereogenic carbon atoms and the corresponding halogen atom, resulting in nonplanar angular-shaped small molecules. Morphological studies by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were performed and changes in aspect and shape of the crystals can be clearly seen. The absorbance was registered in the UV-region (~200–400 nm), and showed typical transitions that are commonly displayed in organic molecules with π→π* and n→π* electronic transitions. The band gap was quantified by the Tauc model, and four electronic transitions were found, associated with those observed in experimental results by absorbance, located in the ~3.34–5.86 eV range. By X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, a monoclinic→orthorhombic variation in the crystals was observed. Photoluminescence (PL) signals were examined in the Vis-region at room temperature and a green emission (GE) band located in the ~450–750 nm range was observed, which was associated with crystalline defects and the existing chromophores. Likewise, a PL signal located in the ~526–583 nm (~2.35–2.12 eV) range showing the shift of the green-yellow emission was noted. By using Raman spectroscopy, the vibrational modes displayed in these crystals were analyzed. A theoretical support of HOMO-LUMO analysis for these organic crystals is also reported.
•Halogenated chiral amines were synthesized by a green approach.•SEM, OA, Photoluminescence and XRD studies were performed.•Morphological variations have been associated to the optical changes.
Deuteron disintegration by charged-current neutrino (CC$\nu$) scattering offers the possibility to determine the energy of the incident neutrino by measuring in coincidence two of the three resulting ...particles: a charged lepton (usually a muon) and two protons, where we show that this channel can be isolated from all other, for instance, from those with a pion in the final state. We discuss the kinematics of the process for several detection scenarios, both in terms of kinematic variables that are natural from a theoretical point of view and others that are better matched to experimental situations. The deuteron structure is obtained from a relativistic model (involving an approximation to the Bethe-Salpeter equation) as an extension of a previous, well-tested model used in deuteron electrodisintegration. We provide inclusive and coincidence (semi-inclusive) cross sections for a variety of kinematic conditions, using the plane-wave impulse approximation, introducing final-state hadronic exchange terms (plane-wave Born approximation) and final-state hadronic interactions (distorted-wave Born approximation).
The fabrication of tissue‐like materials capable of emergent bioinspired behaviors represents an emerging challenge of bottom‐up synthetic biology and biomimetic materials science. In article number ...2100340, Pierangelo Gobbo and co‐workers report a new technique for the assembly of tissue‐like materials from protocell building blocks. The resulting “protocellular materials” are free‐standing, robust, and can be chemically programmed to display an emergent non‐equilibrium spatiotemporal sensing behavior.
In HIV-infected patients, the damage in the gut mucosal immune system is not completely restored after antiretroviral therapy (ART). It results in microbial translocation, which could influence the ...immune and inflammatory response. We aimed at investigating the long-term impact of bacterial-DNA translocation (bactDNA) on glucose homeostasis in an HIV population. This was a cohort study in HIV-infected patients whereby inclusion criteria were: patients with age >18 years, ART-naïve or on effective ART (<50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL) and without diabetes or chronic hepatitis C. Primary outcome was the change in HbA1c (%). Explanatory variables at baseline were: bactDNA (qualitatively detected in blood samples by PCR broad-range PCR and gene 16SrRNA - prokaryote), ART exposure, HOMA-R and a dynamic test HOMA-CIGMA continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment, hepatic steatosis (hepatic triglyceride content - 1H-MRS), visceral fat / subcutaneous ratio and inflammatory markers. Fifty-four men (age 43.2 ± 8.3 years, BMI 24.9 ± 3 kg/m
2
, mean duration of HIV infection of 8.1 ± 5.3 years) were included. Baseline HbA1c was 4.4 ± 0.4% and baseline presence of BactDNA in six patients. After 8.5 ± 0.5 years of follow-up, change in HbA1c was 1.5 ± 0.47% in patients with BactDNA vs 0.87 ± 0.3% in the rest of the sample
p
< 0.001. The change in Hba1c was also influenced by protease inhibitors exposure, but not by baseline indices of insulin resistance, body composition, hepatic steatosis, inflammatory markers or anthropometric changes. In non-diabetic patients with HIV infection, baseline bacterial translocation and PI exposure time were the only factors associated with long-term impaired glucose homeostasis.
El objetivo de este estudio ha sido determinar si la forma de presentación inicial de la pubertad precoz central (PPC) varía en relación con la etiología y permite el diagnóstico diferencial entre ...formas idiopáticas y orgánicas (neurogénicas), lo que haría innecesarias las pruebas de imagen del sistema nervioso central (SNC) en determinados pacientes.
Los niños con PPC evaluados fueron incluidos de forma consecutiva en un estudio prospectivo observacional. Se recogieron los hallazgos clínicos, de laboratorio y ecográficos. Se compararon los hallazgos de PPC idiopática (3 niños y 49 niñas) y orgánica (2 niños y 8 niñas).
No hubo diferencias en cuanto al estadio puberal, edad de inicio puberal (7,0 5,8-7,5 frente a 7,3 5,1-8,3 años), cociente edad ósea/edad cronológica (1,26 1,2-1,3 frente a 1,23 1,1-1,3) y menarquia materna (11,7 (± 0,2 frente a 11,7 ± 0,6 años) entre PPC idiopática y orgánica, respectivamente. Los pacientes con PPC orgánica presentaron una menor desviación estándar (DE) de la talla (0,35 ± 0,4 frente a 1,6 ± 0,1; p < 0,01), predicción de talla adulta y DE de la velocidad de crecimiento (0,8 ± 0,9 frente a 3,7 ± 0,7). Las niñas con PPC orgánica presentaban de forma significativa unas mayores concentraciones plasmáticas de estradiol (47,5 25-68 frente a 27 14-43 pg/ml) que las niñas con PPC idiopática. La ecografía pélvica realizada en el momento del diagnóstico reveló la presencia de cambios puberales en genitales internos en el 43,9 % de las niñas (el 37,2 % en la subpoblación con PPC idiopática frente al 62,5 % en el grupo de PPC orgánica; p ± 0,18).
Existe un solapamiento clínico-ecográfico entre PPC idiopática y orgánica. Las pruebas de imagen del SNC siguen siendo necesarias en todos los casos de PPC y los estudios ecográficos no pueden sustituir a otras investigaciones diagnósticas.
To determine whether initial presentation varies according to aetiology, whether such differences allow differential diagnosis between idiopathic and organic forms, and whether CNS imaging can be avoided in some patients with central precocious puberty (CPP).
Children referred for evaluation of precocious puberty were evaluated, and the subpopulation of children with CPP was enrolled in this prospective observational study. Clinical, laboratory and ultrasound features of 62 consecutive patients with CPP (5 boys and 57 girls) were recorded. We compared the characteristics of idiopathic (3 boys, 49 girls) and organic (2 boys, 8 girls) CPP.
There were no differences in pubertal staging, age at puberty onset (7.0 5.8-7.5 vs. 7.3 5.1-8.3 years), bone age/chronological age ratio (1.26 1.2-1.3 vs. 1.23 1.1-1.3), maternal menarche (11.7 ± 0.2 vs. 11.7 ± 0.6 years) between idiopathic and organic CPP, respectively. Organic CPP patients had a poorer height SD (0.35 ± 0.4 vs. 1.6 ± 0.1; p < 0.01), predicted adult height, growth rate and growth rate SD (0.8 ± 0.9 vs. 3.7 ± 0.7). Girls with organic CPP had significantly higher oestradiol levels (47.5 25-68 vs. 27 14-43 pg/ml) than girls with idiopathic CPP. Pelvic ultrasound at the time of diagnosis revealed the presence of pubertal changes in internal genitalia in 43.9 % of girls (37.2 % idiopathic versus 62.5% organic CPP subpopulation; p ± 0.18).
There is a clinical-ultrasound overlap between idiopathic and organic CPP. Imaging remains necessary in all cases of central precocious puberty, and ultrasound data should not be replaced by other diagnostic investigations.
Aim
To quantify the effect of two single‐file reciprocating root canal preparation systems on Substance P (SP) and Calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) expression in healthy human periodontal ...ligament (PDL).
Methodology
Forty PDL samples were obtained from healthy premolars where extraction was indicated for orthodontic reasons. Prior to extraction, 20 of these premolars were divided equally in two groups, and then, root canals were prepared using one of two different single‐file systems: WaveOne and Reciproc. Ten premolars were prepared with hand files and served as a positive control group. The remaining 10 premolars where extracted without treatment and served as a negative control group. All PDL samples were processed, and SP and CGRP were measured by radioimmunoassay.
Results
Greater SP and CGRP expression were found in the hand instrumentation group (1.220 pmol SP and 0.084 pmol CGRP per mg of PDL), followed by the WaveOne group (0.908 pmol SP and 0.046 pmol CGRP per mg of PDL) and the Reciproc group (0.511 pmol SP and 0.022 pmol CGRP per mg of PDL). The lower SP and CGRP values were associated with the intact control group (0.453 pmol SP and 0.018 pmol CGRP per mg of PDL). The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed significant differences between groups (P < 0.001). Post hoc Tukey HSD tests revealed significant differences in SP and CGRP expression between intact teeth in the control group and all the other groups (P < 0.001) except with the Reciproc group (P = 0.165 and P = 0.42 for SP and CGRP, respectively). Hand instrumentation was associated with significant differences with all the other groups (P < 0.001). Differences between the WaveOne and Reciproc groups were also significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Substance P and CGRP expression in PDL cells increased when teeth were prepared with WaveOne as well as with hand instrumentation. Reciproc maintained SP and CGRP levels in line with the negative control group.
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