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► Ex situ activation of ammonium thiotungstate leads to highly active catalysts. ► The role of carbon coming from thiotungstate precursors is analyzed. ► The nature of the atmosphere ...used during activation plays a minor role. ► Carbon-containing thiotungstate leads to excessive formation of amorphous carbon. ► Depleted hydrogenating character if carbon-containing precursor is used.
The role of carbon coming from tetraalkylammonium thiotungstate precursors during the ex situ activation of WS2 catalysts was herein studied through the comparison of two different thiosalts, ammonium tetrathiotungstate (ATT, without carbon) and cetyltrimethylammonium tetrathiotungstate (CTATT, with carbon). The influence on the resulting WS2 catalysts, of a N2 vs a H2S/H2 (20% H2S) atmosphere during ex situ activation was also evaluated. Freshly obtained catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), while their catalytic properties were evaluated in the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene at 3.1MPa and 623K. No significant difference was found in the textural and morphological properties of the final WS2 catalysts derived from thermal decomposition of ATT under N2 flow, compared to 20% H2S/H2 flow. In contrast, the textural, morphological and catalytic properties of WS2 catalysts derived from CTATT were strongly influenced by the nature of the atmosphere. Samples of WS2 derived from ATT showed an absence of porosity, while WS2 catalysts formed from CTATT presented a mesoporous organization characterized by type IV N2 isotherms. XRD and TEM showed that the use of CTATT induces a strong destacking of the WS2 particles and the excessive formation of amorphous carbon, thus yielding less active WS2 catalysts which confirm the negative role of carbon-containing tetraalkylammonium precursors in the activation of WS2 catalysts, as opposed to their positive influence in the activation of MoS2 catalysts. The very high activity of the WS2 catalyst obtained from ATT is attributed to an optimized incorporation of structural carbon inside the WS2 structure. Finally, selectivity results show the depleted hydrogenating character of the WS2 catalysts formed from CTATT.
The aim of the trial was to assess the effect of palm oil (PO; Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in a basal ration of low-quality Pennisetum purpureum grass on DMI, enteric CH4 emissions, rumen fermentation ...and apparent digestibility in hair sheep. Eight non-castrated male Pelibuey sheep with an average live weight (LW) of 28 ± 1.1 kg housed in metabolic crates inside respiration chambers, were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Each period lasted 18 days (13 days for adaptation to handling and rations, and 5 days for measurements of response variables). A control (CON) ration and three PO levels were evaluated: 20, 40 and 60 g/kg as a percentage of dry matter (DM) in the ration. The basal ration had a 70:30 forage:concentrate ratio (DM basis). Individual DMI was measured daily. Measurement of apparent digestibilities of nutrients was carried out by total collection of feces. Samples of rumen liquor were taken postprandial from sheep, subsequently, the molar proportion of VFA was determined. Enteric CH4 production (L/d) was measured using head boxes. Average intakes of DM per day (855 g/d), DM/kgW0.75 (64 g/d), organic matter (OM; 809 g/d) and crude protein (CP; 106 g/d) were not affected by treatment (P > 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and crude fat (CF) intake were reduced linearly (P < 0.05) as the percentage of PO in the ration was increased. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM and NDF were not affected by the inclusion of PO (P > 0.05). Molar proportion of propionic acid in the rumen increased linearly as the level of PO inclusion in the ration was augmented (P < 0.05). The acetic:propionic acid ratio decreased linearly (P < 0.01) from 2.02 for the control ration to 1.66 for the ration with 60 g/kg PO. Enteric CH4 emissions decreased with increasing levels of PO in the ration (P < 0.01). Energy loss (MJ/d) as CH4 was reduced (P < 0.01), as well as methane energy loss as a proportion of gross energy intake (Ym; P < 0.01) and CH4 emission per year (EF; P < 0.01). Results demonstrate that PO is a promising by-product for mitigating CH4 emissions in hair sheep fed low-quality tropical grasses, with reductions of up to 14.1 %, without negative effects on DMI, nutrient intake and ration digestibility.
•Palm oil can mitigate enteric methane emissions in tropical sheep production systems.•Enteric CH4 emissions decreased 14 % by the inclusion of 60 g/kg DM of palm oil in ration.•Voluntary feed intake in sheep is not affected by the inclusion of palm oil in the ration.•Palm oil increases the molar proportion of propionic acid in the rumen.
Aims
To evaluate pancreatic β-cell function (βf) in patients with normoglycemia (NG) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and related risk factors.
Methods
An observational and comparative study in 527 ...patients with NG and NGT that were divided by quartiles of βf according to the disposition index derived from OGTT. Anthropometrical, clinical, nutritional, and biochemical variables were measured and associated with βf.
Results
Quartiles of βf were
Q
1 = DI < 1.93
n
= 131,
Q
2 = DI 1.93–2.45
n
= 134,
Q
3 = DI 2.46–3.1
n
= 133, and
Q
4 = DI > 3.1
n
= 129. There was a progressive reduction in pancreatic β-cell function and it is negatively correlated with age, weight, BMI, total body fat and visceral fat, waist circumference, total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides (
p
< 0.01). Glucose levels during OGTT had a negative correlation with βf; the product of fasting glucose by 1-h glucose had the best correlation with βf (
r
= 0.611,
p
< 0.001) and was the best predictor of βdf (AUC 0.816, CI 95% 0.774–0.857), even better than 1-h glucose (
r
= 0.581,
p
< 0.001). Energy, fat, and carbohydrate intake were negatively correlated with βf (
p
< 0.05). Glucose levels at 1-h OGTT > 110 mg/dl were positively associated with pancreatic βdf (OR 6.85, CI 95% 3.86–12.4). In the multivariate analysis, glucose levels during OGTT, fasting insulin, and BMI were the main factors associated with βf.
Conclusions
A subgroup of patients with NG and NGT may have a loss of 40% of their βf. Factors related to this βdf were age, adiposity, glucose during OGTT, and the product of fasting and 1-h glucose, as well as food intake.
Transgender women (TW) are disproportionately affected by HIV infection and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study evaluated whether estrogen-based gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in TW ...with HIV (TWH-GAHT) is associated with indices of subclinical CVD.
Of the 40 HIV-seropositive persons enrolled, 20-60 years of age, on antiretroviral treatment with undetectable viral load, assessments were performed on 15 TWH; of these persons, 11 were GAHT treated. These TWH-GAHT were matched with HIV+ cisgender men and women based on age, ethnicity/race, body mass index, and antihypertensive medication use. Sex hormones, and cardiometabolic (waist circumference, blood pressure, insulin resistance, lipid profile, and C-reactive protein), vascular (flow-mediated dilation FMD and arterial stiffness), and proinflammatory measures were obtained.
TWH-GAHT displayed elevated estradiol and suppressed testosterone levels relative to normative ranges. Analyses indicated the TWH-GAHT displayed lower low-density lipoprotein compared with cisgender groups (
< 0.05). Although no difference was seen on FMD, the central augmentation index of aortic stiffness was higher in cisgender HIV+ women than cisgender HIV+ men (
< 0.05). No other group difference on subclinical CVD markers was observed. For TWH, partial correlations indicated associations of certain sex hormones with selected cardiometabolic outcomes and the inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-8.
When well matched to HIV+ cisgender men and women, subclinical CVD pathophysiology did not appear elevated in TWH-GAHT, although tendencies emerged suggesting that some subclinical CVD indices may be higher, but others lower than cisgender groups. Longitudinal studies of TWH are needed to more precisely evaluate the moderating effect of GAHT on cardiometabolic pathophysiology.
To analyze the correlation between pathological data found in radical prostatectomy and previously performed biopsy in patients at low risk prostate cancer.
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was ...conducted to assess the characteristics of radical prostatectomies performed in our center from January 2012 to November 2014. The inclusion criteria were patients with low-risk disease (cT1c-T2a, PSA≤10ng/mL and Gleason score≤6). We excluded patients who had fewer than 8 cores in the biopsy, an unspecified number of affected cores, rectal examinations not reported in the medical history or biopsies performed in another center.
Of the 184 patients who underwent prostatectomy during this period, 87 met the inclusion criteria, and 26 of these had<3 affected cores and PSA density≤.15 (very low risk). In the entire sample, the percentage of undergrading (Gleason score≥7) and extracapsular invasion (pT3) was 18.4% (95% CI 10.3-27.6) and 10.35% (95% CI 4.6-17.2), respectively. The percentage of positive margins was 21.8% (95% CI 12.6-29.9). In the very low-risk group, we found no cases of extracapsular invasion and only 1 case of undergrading (Gleason 7 3+4), representing 3.8% of the total (95% CI 0-12.5). Predictors of no correlation (stage≥pT3a or undergrading) were the initial risk group, volume, PSA density and affected cores.
Prostate volume, PSA density, the number of affected cores and the patient's initial risk group influence the poor pathological prognosis in the radical prostatectomy specimen (extracapsular invasion and Gleason score≥7).
The Exoskeleton for Lower Limb Training with Instrumented Orthosis (ELLTIO) is a mechatronic device that can be used to assist in passive kinesitherapy to increase human muscles strength and ...resistance 1. This paper presents an alternative for passive rehabilitation process using an exoskeleton for knee and ankle. The main idea is assist a pro fessional physiotherapist in the design and performance of exercises routines for his patients using the prototype. The knee and ankle joint's movements are recorded and storage during the exercises to propose a similar computer generated trajectories which the exoskeleton on should follow. An adaptive controller is implemented to track the trajectories and adapt the user parameters.
•Methane emission factor for cattle feed tropical grass as measured in open-circuit respiration chambers was determined.•The emission factor is indispensable to generate the inventories of enteric ...CH4 in tropical conditions.•An average enteric CH4 production of 88.0 g/day was observed in heifers fed tropical grass.•Dry matter intake was the main predictor of enteric CH4 production with a coefficient of determination of R2 = 0.73.
The objective of this study was to determine methane (CH4) yield by crossbred cattle fed tropical grasses. A total of 66 individual determinations of dry matter intake (DMI) and 42 determinations of organic matter intake (OMI) in relation to the production of enteric CH4 were carried out. Methane measurements in heifers were performed in open-circuit respiration chambers. Heifers (Bos indicus × B. taurus) with an average live weight of 288.5 ± 55.7 kg fed tropical grasses as basal ration were used. An average intake of 8.22 and 7.80 kg of DM and OM per day were recorded. An average enteric CH4 production of 88.0 g/heifer/day was determined. It was found that DMI and OMI in relation to CH4 production have a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.73 and 0.70 respectively, to predict CH4 emissions. It is concluded that the methane yield (18.07 g CH4/kg DM intake) predicted by regressing DM intake against methane production represents a reliable value to be used for the estimation of enteric CH4 inventories for cattle grazing in the tropical regions of Mexico.
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