Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effects are responsible for the photoluminescent properties of coumarins. Hence, optical properties with different applications can be obtained by ICT modulation. ...Herein, four 3-acetyl-2H-chromen-2-ones (1a–d) and their corresponding fluorescent hybrids 3- (phenylhydrazone)-chromen-2-ones (2a–d) were synthesized in 74–65% yields. The UV-Vis data were in the 295–428 nm range. The emission depends on the substituent in position C-7 bearing electron-donating groups. Compounds 1b–d showed good optical properties due to the D-π-A structural arrangement. In compounds 2a–d, there is a quenching effect of fluorescence in solution. However, in the solid, an increase is shown due to an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect given by the rotational restraints and stacking in the crystal. Computational calculations of the HOMO-LUMO orbitals indicate high absorbance and emission values of the molecules, and gap values represent the bathochromic effect and the electronic efficiency of the compounds. Compounds 1a–d and 2a–d are good candidates for optical applications, such as OLEDs, organic solar cells, or fluorescence markers.
Introduction
Ayahuasca is a traditional brew containing the psychedelic 5-DMT (a tryptamine that acts as a 5HT2A-R agonist) used to achieve non-ordinary states of consciousness, with a long tradition ...among various cultures in ritual and therapeutic contexts. Ayahuasca is being studied as potential treatment in Mental Health, which has led to non-controlled and recreational use. This has led to a rise in the description of side effects, such as substance-induced psychosis.
Objectives
To describe a case of a possible psychotic episode related to the intake of ayahuasca brew in a ritual context.
Methods
Clinical assesment and bibliographic review of pertinent literature.
Results
We will present the case of a 43 year old woman, who participated in three ayahuasca sessions in three consecutive months. Two days after the last session, she suffered and episode of loss of consciousness, convulsions, loss of streng and paraesthesia in right forearm and righr side of the face and head; and apparition of perceptual alterations and delusions that she did not experience during the trip. Such alterations included the perception of electromagnetic fields (EMF) robbing her of her vital energy and lifeforce. She required ICU treatment for four days, after which se was hospitalized in Internal Medicine Unit and was assessed by Mental Health team. Though the symptoms were coherent with the previous beliefs of the patient, they were clearly exacerbated and interfered with her normal and previous functioning. She was treated with risperidone 1,5 mg, with complete symptom remission.
Conclusions
The case presented is consistent with other reports of ayahuasca-induced psychotic symptoms, though with less intensity and duration. We discuss prevalence and repercussions of the rising use of this powerful substance; that must be taken into consideration by clinicians worldwide.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared
•Analysis of thermocapillary-driven melting in microgravity in different geometries.•In trapezoids resulting from inclining the cold wall, melting can be accelerated by a factor of 3 with respect to ...the rectangular case.•In trapezoids results from inkling the hot wall, melting is characterized by a weak diffusive region that slows down the melting process.•A study on the effect of the aspect ratio Γ suggests that melting times scale with Γ-1.25 for a fixed PCM volume.
A numerical analysis of thermocapillary-driven melting in trapezoidal and triangular geometry in microgravity is presented. The phase change transition is modelled using an enthalpy-porosity-based formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations, where the solid and liquid phases are treated as a single layer with physical properties depending on the local temperature, and analyzed for the organic phase change material (PCM) n-octadecane, due to its relevance to recent and upcoming microgravity research. We describe first the melting process in rectangular geometry, which is characterized by a final diffusive stage that largely determines the melting time τM, where the solid PCM near the cold boundary melts slowly. Other geometries are proposed to optimize the process and minimize τM. By inclining the cold lateral wall, melting can be accelerated substantially. We find a maximum reduction in τM by a factor of 3 in the limiting case of a right triangle — the optimal geometry within the scope of the present work. For completeness, the process is analyzed in the symmetric trapezoids that result from inclining the hot lateral wall. An increase (reduction) of the overall melting time (rate) is observed at moderate inclination angles, associated with a PCM region dominated by weak thermal diffusion. Finally, the effect of Γ is presented in both rectangular geometry and the optimal triangular geometry, suggesting a general scaling τM∝Γ−1.25.
•Hybrid cluster analyses revealed three decision-making profiles during the IGT.•Profiles contained the same proportion of participants of each diagnostic category.•Bayesian GLM showed no ...relationship between FPN and behavior during the IGT.
The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is one of the most widely used paradigms for assessing decision-making. An impairment in this process may be linked to several psychopathological disorders, such as obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse disorder (SUD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which could make it a good candidate for being consider a transdiagnostic domain. Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) has been proposed as a promising biomarker of decision-making. In this study, we aimed to identify idiosyncratic decision-making profiles among healthy people and impulsive-compulsive spectrum patients during the IGT, and to investigate the role of frontoparietal network (FPN) rsFC as a possible biomarker of different decision-making patterns. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), rsFC of 114 adults (34 controls; 25 OCD; 41 SUD; 14 ADHD) was obtained. Then, they completed the IGT. Hybrid clustering methods based on individual deck choices yielded three decision-makers subgroups. Cluster 1 (n = 27) showed a long-term advantageous strategy. Cluster 2 (n = 25) presented a maladaptive decision-making strategy. Cluster 3 (n = 62) did not develop a preference for any deck during the task. Interestingly, the proportion of participants in each cluster was not different between diagnostic groups. A Bayesian general linear model showed no credible differences in the IGT performance between diagnostic groups nor credible evidence to support the role of FPN rsFC as a biomarker of decision-making under the IGT context. This study highlights the importance of exploring in depth the behavioral and neurophysiological variables that may drive decision-making in clinical and healthy populations.
•CDWs can be reused in the manufacture of concrete and bases/subbases of roads.•CDWs as a substitute of sand can only be applied in amounts lower than 10 wt%.•Presence of gypsum in CDWs must be ...avoided and decreasing the size by crushing.
A chemical (XRF) and mineralogical (XRD) characterisation has been carried out, as well as the determination of the main properties, of construction and demolition wastes (CDWs). This waste has been applied as recycled aggregate. The objective was to search for its reuse for the manufacture of concrete and road bases and sub-bases. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of SiO2 (39.13 wt%) and Al2O3 (9.55 wt%) from quartz and some silicates, and gypsum. The content of CaO (21.42 wt%) was associated with calcite and dolomite. The materials’ properties have suggested that the particle sizes are not inside the typical interval fixed in the Spanish normative. It can be reused as esplanades or sub-bases of roads and highways, since it is a granular material with a very high California Bearing Ratio (CBR value is 36). It was concluded that the use of CDWs as a substitute of sand for the manufacture of concrete can only be used in percentages lower than 10 wt% producing low-strength concrete.
•Partially-saturated vertical wetlands with corncob showed higher removals for TN.•Corncob allowed denitrification both in the aerobic zone and in the anoxic zone.•ANNAMOX was responsible for TN in ...the systems without corncorb.•In these systems ANNAMOX took place in the aerobic zone.
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The aim was to evaluate and compare total nitrogen (TN) removal in pilot-scale partially saturated vertical wetlands (PSVWs) with and without an internal solid source of organic carbon (corncob) in order to distinguish the role of nitrification-denitrification and ANAMMOX in the removal process. The height of the free-drainage zone (FDZ) was 40 cm and the saturated zone (SZ) was 30 cm in system I (SI) and system II (SII) and 40 cm in system III (SIII) and system IV (SIV). In SII and SIV, approximately 30 kg of dry, 5 cm–length corncob was added. The systems were evaluated during two periods, that is, P1 and P2. Measurements of water quality parameters including BOD5, COD, organic nitrogen (Org-N), ammonium, nitrate and nitrite were taken in the influent and effluents on a weekly basis; nitrate measurements were also taken at the interface. Measurements of pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were taken in the SZ. The height of both SZ (40 cm vs. 30 cm in P1) and FDZ (40 vs. 25 and 30 cm in SI/SIII in P2) did not affect the efficiencies (p > 0.05) but the presence or absence of corn cob did (p < 0.05). Thus, SII and SIV were superior when compared to SI and SIII (p < 0.05) with TN average removal efficiencies of 72.9% and 73.2% in P1, and 59.8% and 64.2% in P2, respectively; showing a tendency to lower values when the biodegradable organics supplied by the corncob diminished. In SI and SIII, TN removals were 47.6% and 40.3% in P1, and 46.1% and 44.1% in P2, respectively. In SII and SIV, denitrification took place in both the lower semi-saturated part of the FDZ (probably also ANAMMOX) and SZ; whereas in SI and SIII, ANAMMOX took place in the lower semi-saturated part of the FDZ.
Background and purpose
Clinics for early management of transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) have been developed in some stroke centres, resulting in reduced recurrence rates compared to ...appointment‐based outpatient management, thus saving on hospitalization. We analysed the care process, recurrence rates and economic impact of the first year of work in our early‐management TIA clinic and compared these with our previous in‐hospital study protocols for low‐ and moderate‐risk TIA patients.
Methods
This was a prospective evaluation of the management of low‐ to moderate‐risk TIA patients, comparing a new TIA clinic model (2010) with a previous hospitalization model (2009). Demographic data, vascular risk factor profiles, diagnostic test performance, secondary prevention measures, final aetiological diagnoses and cerebrovascular recurrences at 7 and 90 days were compared between in‐hospital and TIA clinic assessed patients. We also carried out an economic comparison of the costs of each model's process.
Results
Two hundred and eleven low‐ to moderate‐risk TIA patients were included, of whom 40.8% were hospitalized. There were no differences between the TIA clinic assessed and in‐hospital assessed patients in terms of risk factor diagnosis and secondary prevention measures. The stroke recurrence rate (2.4% vs. 1.2%; P = 0.65) was low and similar for both groups (CI 95%, 0.214–20.436; P = 0.52). Cost per patient was €393.28 for clinic versus €1931.18 for in‐hospital management. Outpatient management resulted in a 77.8% reduction in hospitalizations.
Conclusion
Transient ischaemic attacks clinics are efficient for the early management of low‐ to moderate‐risk TIA patients compared to in‐hospital assessment, with no higher recurrence rates and at almost one‐fifth the cost.
Transepithelial electrical measurements in the renal tubule have provided a better understanding of how kidney regulates electrolyte and water homeostasis through the reabsorption of molecules and ...ions (e.g., H2O and NaCl). While experiments and measurement techniques using native tissue are difficult to prepare and to reproduce, cell cultures conducted largely with the Ussing chamber lack the effect of fluid shear stress which is a key physiological stimulus in the renal tubule. To overcome these limitations, we present a modular perfusion chamber for long‐term culture of renal epithelial cells under flow that allows the continuous and simultaneous monitoring of both transepithelial electrical parameters and transepithelial NaCl transport. The latter is obtained from electrical conductivity measurements since Na+ and Cl− are the ions that contribute most to the electrical conductivity of a standard physiological solution. The system was validated with epithelial monolayers of raTAL and NRK‐52E cells that were characterized electrophysiologically for 5 days under different flow conditions (i.e., apical perfusion, basal, or both). In addition, apical to basal chemical gradients of NaCl (140/70 and 70/140 mM) were imposed in order to demonstrate the feasibility of this methodology for quantifying and monitoring in real time the transepithelial reabsorption of NaCl, which is a primary function of the renal tubule.
This work presents a modular perfusion chamber for long‐term culture of renal epithelial cells under flow that combines the continuous monitoring of transepithelial electrical parameters and transepithelial reabsorption of NaCl, which is a primary function of the renal tubule.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a risk factor for stroke, but little is known about the effect of OSA and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the incidence of long-term, nonfatal ...cardiovascular events (CVE) in stroke patients. A prospective observational study was made in 223 patients consecutively admitted for stroke. A sleep study was performed on 166 of them. 31 had an apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) <10 events · h(-1); 39 had an AHI between 10 and 19 events · h(-1) and 96 had an AHI ≥ 20 events · h(-1). CPAP treatment was offered when AHI was ≥ 20 events · h(-1). Patients were followed up for 7 yrs and incident CVE data were recorded. The mean ± SD age of the subjects was 73.3 ± 11 yrs; mean AHI was 26 ± 16.7 events · h(-1). Patients with moderate-to-severe OSA who could not tolerate CPAP (AHI ≥ 20 events · h(-1); n = 68) showed an increased adjusted incidence of nonfatal CVE, especially new ischaemic strokes (hazard ratio 2.87, 95% CI 1.11-7.71; p = 0.03), compared with patients with moderate-to-severe OSA who tolerated CPAP (n = 28), patients with mild disease (AHI 10-19 events · h(-1); n = 36) and patients without OSA (AHI <10 events · h(-1); n = 31). Our results suggest that the presence of moderate-to-severe OSA is associated with an increased long-term incidence of nonfatal CVE in stroke patients and that CPAP reduces the excess of incidence seen in these patients.
Energetic and exergetic analyses were applied to the methane tri-reforming process in order to assess the suitability of this reaction for the production of syngas with a desirable H2/CO molar ratio ...for the Fischer–Tropsch process and methanol production. The kinetic equations used in the simulated plug flow reactor were obtained experimentally in a previous study using typical feed compositions of a landfill gas produced in a landfill site. A sensitivity analysis was carried out in order to select the best feed composition for the tri-reforming process. Moreover, the thermodynamic losses were identified and it was found that the exergy destruction occurs mainly in the reactor due to the high irreversibility of the chemical reactions. Finally, possible improvements were proposed in an effort to increase the exergy efficiency.
•Energetic and exergetic analyses were applied to the methane tri-reforming process.•A sensitivity analysis was carried out in order to select the best feed composition.•The reactor was the component where most of the exergy was destroyed.
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