Root calcrete formation on Quaternary karstic surfaces of Grand Cayman

The rugged karst terrain developed on the dolostones of the Miocene Cayman Formation (Fm) on Grand Cayman includes numerous large cavities that formed through the activity of tree roots. The surfaces of those cavities are coated with laminated calcrete crusts up to 8 cm thick that are formed of an alteration zone, an accretionary zone, and final infill of the cavities. These crusts are formed of various laminae, including dolostone with root traces, alveolar septal structures, peloids, micritic and microsparitic laminae, micrite with bioclasts, and pisoliths. Features such as microborings, spores, needle-fiber calcite and micro-rods are common in all parts of the calcrete crust. Calcrete formation was initiated as the roots and associated microorganisms generated the cavities. Later on trapping and binding processes and organically induced precipitation of carbonate allowed the formation of the accretionary (mostly laminar) part of the calcrete. The last phases of crust formation took place when ponded waters filled the cavities. The calcrete crusts developed on the Cayman Formation dolostones record a very specific setting for calcrete formation and constitute a good example of non-horizontal calcrete crusts

Vertical Jump and Leg Power Normative Data for Colombian Schoolchildren Aged 9-17.9 Years: The FUPRECOL Study

Ramírez-Vélez, R, Correa-Bautista, JE, Lobelo, F, Cadore, EL, Alonso-Martinez, AM, and Izquierdo, M. Vertical jump and leg power normative data for Colombian schoolchildren aged 9-17.9 years: the FUPRECOL study. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 990-998, 2017 - The aims of the present study were to generate normative vertical jump height and predicted peak power (P peak) data for 9- to 17.9-year-olds and to investigate between-sex and age group differences in these measures. This was a cross-sectional study of 7,614 healthy schoolchildren (boys n = 3,258 and girls n = 4,356, mean [SD] age 12.8 [2.3] years). Each participant performed 2 countermovement jumps; jump height was calculated using a Takei 5414 Jump-DF Digital Vertical (Takei Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd.). The highest jump was used for analysis and in the calculation of predicted P peak. Centile smoothed curves, percentiles, and tables for the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th percentiles were calculated using Cole's LMS (L [curve Box-Cox], M [curve median], and S [curve coefficient of variation]) method. The 2-way analysis of variance tests showed that maximum jump height (in centimeters) and predicted P peak (in watts) were higher in boys than in girls (p less than 0.01). Post hoc analyses within sexes showed yearly increases in jump height and P peak in all ages. In boys, the maximum jump height and predicted P peak 50th percentile ranged from 24.0 to 38.0 cm and from 845.5 to 3061.6 W, respectively. In girls, the 50th percentile for jump height ranged from 22.3 to 27.0 cm, and the predicted P peak was 710.1-2036.4 W. For girls, jump height increased yearly from 9 to 17.9 years old. Our results provide, for the first time, sex- and age-specific vertical jump height and predicted P peak reference standards for Colombian schoolchildren aged 9-17.9 years. © 2017 National Strength and Conditioning Association

Novel molecularly imprinted impedimetric biosensor based on polypyrrole and decorated graphene oxide for the routine monitoring of Lysozyme

In this work, a novel molecularly imprinted polymer based on polypyrrole (PPy) and decorated graphene oxide (GO@Fe3O4) was developed for the sensitive detection of lysozyme (LYS). The synthesized material (MIPPy/GO@Fe3O4) was electrodeposited with LYS as a template on gold microelectrodes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to confirm the adequate preparation of GO@Fe3O4, and the characterization of the resulting microsensors was carried out with the following analytical techniques: electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS), FT-IR analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An equivalent circuit was suggested to quantitatively analyse each component of the sensor system. EIS was also used for the determination of LYS in a wide linear range from 1 to 1 105 pg/mL, presenting good precision (RSD ≈ 10%, n = 5) and low limits of detection and quantification (LOD = 0.009 pg/mL and LOQ = 0.9 pg/mL, respectively). Meanwhile, the microsensor showed a high sensitivity, a good selectivity and reproducibility. The construction process was relatively simple, and provided a rapid and economical method for the routine monitoring of LYS. The microsensor was successfully applied for the detection of this protein in fresh chicken-egg white sample and commercial drug.Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Beca FPU18/05371 Proyecto de la Junta de Andalucía UMA18FEDERJA06

Soil-landscape and climatic relationships in the middle Miocene of the Madrid Basin

The Miocene alluvial-lacustrine sequences of the Madrid Basin, Spain, formed in highly varied landscapes. The presence of various types of palaeosols allows assessment of the effects of local and external factors onsedimentation, pedogenesis and geomorphological development. In the northern, more arid, tectonicallyactive arca, soils were weakly developed in aggrading alluvial fans, dominated by mass flows. reflecting high sedimentation rates. In more distal parts of the fans and in playa lakes calcretes and dolocretes developed: the former were associated with Mg-poor fan sediments whitc: the latter formed on Mg-rich lake clays exposed during minar lake lowstands. The nonh-east part of the basin had a less arid climate. Alluvial fans in this area were dominated by stream Aood deposits, sourced by carbonate terrains. Floodplain and freshwater lakc deposits formed in distal areas. The high local supply of calcium carbonate may have contributed to the preferential developmenl on calcretes on the fans. Both the fan and floodplain palaeosols exhibit pedofacies relationships and more mature soils developed in settings more distant from the sediment sources. Palaeosols also developed on pond and lake margin carbonates, and led to the formation of palustrine limestones. The spatial distributions and stratigraphies of palaeosols in the Madrid Basin alluvial fans suggest that soil formation was controlled by local factors. These palaeosols differ from those seen in Quatemary fans. Which are characterized by climatically induced periods of stability and instability

Supergravity interacting with bosonic p-branes and local supersymmetry

We study the coupling of supergravity with a purely bosonic brane source (bosonic p-brane). The interaction, described by the sum of their respective actions, is self-consistent if the bosonic p-brane is the pure bosonic limit of a super-p-brane. In that case the dynamical system preserves 1/2 of the local supersymmetry characteristic of the `free' supergravity.Comment: 11 pages, RevTe

Role of SOX family of transcription factors in central nervous system tumors

SOX genes are developmental regulators with functions in the instruction of cell fate and maintenance of progenitor’s identity during embryogenesis. They play additional roles during tissue homeostasis and regeneration in adults particularly in the Central Nervous System (CNS). In the last years a growing number of evidences has shown that mutations and dysfunction of SOX factors are implicated in several human diseases, including a variety of cancers. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge about SOX family in CNS tumors and their role in the origin and maintenance of the subpopulation of cancer stem cells in these tumors

Residuos plásticos de Jujuy: caracterización en pesos y volúmenes

Este trabajo fue realizado con el fin de conseguir la información necesaria para analizar las condiciones de aplicación de una futura valorización de los residuos plásticos de S.S. de Jujuy. Estos desechos, recogidos de cuatro zonas con nivel socioeconómico diferente, fueron lavados y secados, luego de lo cual se clasificaron por tipo de resina. Cada una de estas fracciones fue pesada y se le midió el volumen respectivo antes y después de una compresión como la que sufrirían al ser dispuestas en un relleno sanitario. Las resinas encontradas en mayor proporción fueron el polietilentereftalato y las poliolefinas. Se pudo concluir una economía significativa de espacio en caso de no disponer los desechos plásticos con los demás residuos en un relleno sanitario, como así también se establecieron los aspectos a tener en cuenta para una posible minimización de los residuos plásticos, con o sin valorización de los mismos.The present work was carried out to obtain the necessary information to analize the conditions for a future valorization of the plastic wastes of S.S. de Jujuy (Argentina). These wastes, collected from four areas by different social economic levels, were washed and dried, and then sorted by type of resin. Every classified group was weighed and its volume was also measured before and after a compression similar to the one they would undergo when they are disposed in a landfill. The resins found in bigger proportion were polyethylene terephtalate and the polyolefins. The conclusions were: a) a significant space economy in case that the plastic wastes are not disposed with the rest of the garbage in a landfill, b) the establishment of the aspects to take into account for a possible minimization of the plastic wastes, with or without their valorization.Tema 6: Energía eólica, geotermia, biomasa y otras energías no convencionales.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Residuos plásticos de Jujuy: caracterización en pesos y volúmenes

Este trabajo fue realizado con el fin de conseguir la información necesaria para analizar las condiciones de aplicación de una futura valorización de los residuos plásticos de S.S. de Jujuy. Estos desechos, recogidos de cuatro zonas con nivel socioeconómico diferente, fueron lavados y secados, luego de lo cual se clasificaron por tipo de resina. Cada una de estas fracciones fue pesada y se le midió el volumen respectivo antes y después de una compresión como la que sufrirían al ser dispuestas en un relleno sanitario. Las resinas encontradas en mayor proporción fueron el polietilentereftalato y las poliolefinas. Se pudo concluir una economía significativa de espacio en caso de no disponer los desechos plásticos con los demás residuos en un relleno sanitario, como así también se establecieron los aspectos a tener en cuenta para una posible minimización de los residuos plásticos, con o sin valorización de los mismos.The present work was carried out to obtain the necessary information to analize the conditions for a future valorization of the plastic wastes of S.S. de Jujuy (Argentina). These wastes, collected from four areas by different social economic levels, were washed and dried, and then sorted by type of resin. Every classified group was weighed and its volume was also measured before and after a compression similar to the one they would undergo when they are disposed in a landfill. The resins found in bigger proportion were polyethylene terephtalate and the polyolefins. The conclusions were: a) a significant space economy in case that the plastic wastes are not disposed with the rest of the garbage in a landfill, b) the establishment of the aspects to take into account for a possible minimization of the plastic wastes, with or without their valorization.Tema 6: Energía eólica, geotermia, biomasa y otras energías no convencionales.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Preparation of gellan-cholesterol nanohydrogels embedding baicalin and evaluation of their wound healing activity

[EN] In the present work, the preparation, characterization and therapeutic potential of baicalin-loaded nanohydrogels are reported. The nanohydrogels were prepared by sonicating (S nanohydrogel) or autoclaving (A nanohydrogel) a dispersion of cholesterol-derivatized gellan in phosphate buffer. The nanohydrogel obtained by autoclave treatment showed the most promising results: smaller particles ( similar to 362 nm vs. similar to 530 nm), higher homogeneity (polydispersity index = similar to 0.24 vs. similar to 0.47), and lower viscosity than those obtained by sonication. In vitro studies demonstrated the ability of the nanohydrogels to favour the deposition of baicalin in the epidermis. A high biocompatibility was found for baicalin-loaded nanohydrogels, along with a great ability to counteract the toxic effect induced by hydrogen peroxide in cells, as the nanohydrogels re-established the normal conditions (similar to 100% viability). Further, the potential of baicalin-loaded nanohydrogels in skin wound healing was demonstrated in vivo in mice by complete skin restoration and inhibition of specific inflammatory markers (i.e., myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and oedema.Financial support from University "Sapienza" - Progetti di Ricerca: grant RP116154C2EF9AC8 and grant RM11715C1743EE89 are acknowledged.Manconi, M.; Manca, M.; Caddeo, C.; Cencetti, C.; Di Meo, C.; Zoratto, N.; Nácher Alonso, A.... (2018). Preparation of gellan-cholesterol nanohydrogels embedding baicalin and evaluation of their wound healing activity. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 127:244-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.02.015S24424912