Unusual charge states and lattice sites of Fe in Al x Ga1-x N:Mn

Charge states and lattice sites of Fe ions in virgin and Mn-doped Al x Ga1-x N samples were investigated using Fe-57 emission Mossbauer spectroscopy following radioactive Mn-57(+) ion implantation at ISOLDE, CERN. In the undoped Al x Ga1-x N, Fe2+ on Al/Ga sites associated with nitrogen vacancies and Fe3+ on substitutional Al/Ga sites are identified. With Mn doping, the contribution of Fe3+ is considerably reduced and replaced instead by a corresponding emergence of a single-line-like component consistent with Fe4+ on Al/Ga sites. Density functional theory calculations confirm the Fe4+ charge state as stabilised by the presence of substitutional Mn2+ in its vicinity. The completely filled spin up orbitals in Mn2+ (3d(5)) are expected to enhance magnetic exchange interactions. The population of the Fe4+ state is less pronounced at high Al concentration in Al x Ga1-x N:Mn, a behaviour attributable to hybridisation effects of 3d states to the semiconductor bands which weakens with increasing (decreasing) Al (Ga) content. Our results demonstrate that co-doping promotes the co-existence of unusual charge states of Fe4+ and Mn2+, whereas their trivalent charge states prevail with either transition metal incorporated independently in III-nitrides. Co-doping thus opens up a new avenue for tailoring novel magnetic properties in doped semiconductors.This work was supported by the European Union Seventh Framework through ENSAR (Contract No. 262010) and the German BMBF under Contract Nos. 05K13TSA and 05K16PGA. The work was funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) through Projects No. P26830 and No. P31423. H Masenda, K Bharuth-Ram, and D Naidoo acknowledge support from the South African National Research Foundation and the Department of Science and Innovation within the SA-CERN programme. H Masenda also acknowledges support from the Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Foundation. B Qi, H P Gislason and S lafsson acknowledge support from the Icelandic Research Fund. I Unzueta thanks the support of (MINECO/FEDER) and the Basque Government for the Grants RTI2018-094683-B-C5 (4, 5) and IT-1005-16, respectively

Anisotropy of the electric field gradient in two-dimensional α-MoO3 investigated by 57Mn(57Fe) emission Mössbauer spectroscopy

Van der Waals α-MoO3 samples offer a wide range of attractive catalytic, electronic, and optical properties. We present herein an emission Mössbauer spectroscopy (eMS) study of the electric-field gradient (EFG) anisotropy in crystalline free-standing α-MoO3 samples. Although α-MoO3 is a two-dimensional (2D) material, scanning electron microscopy shows that the crystals are 0.5-5-µm thick. The combination of X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy, performed after sample preparation, provided evidence of the phase purity and crystal quality of the samples. The eMS measurements were conducted following the implantation of 57Mn (t1/2 = 1.5 min), which decays to the 57Fe, 14.4 keV Mössbauer state. The eMS spectra of the samples are dominated by a paramagnetic doublet (D1) with an angular dependence, pointing to the Fe2+ probe ions being in a crystalline environment. It is attributed to an asymmetric EFG at the eMS probe site originating from strong in-plane covalent bonds and weak out-of-plane van der Waals interactions in the 2D material. Moreover, a second broad component, D2, can be assigned to Fe3+ defects that are dynamically generated during the online measurements. The results are compared to ab initio simulations and are discussed in terms of the in-plane and out-of-plane interactions in the system

Association between -T786C NOS3 polymorphism and resistant hypertension: a prospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is estimated that 5% of the hypertensive patients are resistant to conventional antihypertensive therapy. Polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) gene have been associated with high blood pressure levels, but not with resistant hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate if the -786T>C and G894T (Glu298Asp) polymorphisms of the NOS3 gene were associated with resistant hypertension.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective case-control observational study was performed. From a series of 950 consecutive patients followed up during 42 months, 48 patients with resistant hypertension were detected. 232 patients with controlled high blood pressure were also included.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No differences were observed in the distribution of G894T (Glu298Asp) NOS3 genotypes between the resistant hypertension group and the controlled hypertension patients. However, genotype -786CC was more frequent in the group of patients with resistant hypertension (33.3%) than in the group of patients with controlled high blood pressure (17.7%) (p 0.03). Furthermore carriers of allele T (-786TC and -786TT) were more frequent in patients with controlled hypertension (82.3%) than those with resistant hypertension (66.7%) (Multivariate analysis; RR 2.09; 95% CI 1.03–4.24; p 0.004).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicate that genotype -786CC of the NOS3 gene increase the susceptibility to suffer resistant hypertension, which suggest that resistance to conventional therapy could be determined at the endothelial level.</p

The RD-Connect Genome-Phenome Analysis Platform: Accelerating diagnosis, research, and gene discovery for rare diseases.

Rare disease patients are more likely to receive a rapid molecular diagnosis nowadays thanks to the wide adoption of next-generation sequencing. However, many cases remain undiagnosed even after exome or genome analysis, because the methods used missed the molecular cause in a known gene, or a novel causative gene could not be identified and/or confirmed. To address these challenges, the RD-Connect Genome-Phenome Analysis Platform (GPAP) facilitates the collation, discovery, sharing, and analysis of standardized genome-phenome data within a collaborative environment. Authorized clinicians and researchers submit pseudonymised phenotypic profiles encoded using the Human Phenotype Ontology, and raw genomic data which is processed through a standardized pipeline. After an optional embargo period, the data are shared with other platform users, with the objective that similar cases in the system and queries from peers may help diagnose the case. Additionally, the platform enables bidirectional discovery of similar cases in other databases from the Matchmaker Exchange network. To facilitate genome-phenome analysis and interpretation by clinical researchers, the RD-Connect GPAP provides a powerful user-friendly interface and leverages tens of information sources. As a result, the resource has already helped diagnose hundreds of rare disease patients and discover new disease causing genes

Nutrición parenteral domiciliaria en España 2018. Informe del Grupo de Nutrición Artificial Domiciliaria y Ambulatoria NADYA

Objetivo: comunicar los datos de nutrición parenteral domiciliaria (NPD) obtenidos del registro del grupo NADYA-SENPE (www.nadya-senpe.com) del año 2018. Material y métodos: análisis descriptivo de los datos recogidos de pacientes adultos y pediátricos con NPD en el registro NADYA-SENPE del 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre de 2018. Resultados: se registraron 278 pacientes (54, 7% mujeres), 23 niños y 255 adultos, procedentes de 45 hospitales españoles, lo que representa una tasa de prevalencia de 5, 95 pacientes/millón de habitantes/año 2018. El diagnóstico más frecuente en adultos fue “oncológico paliativo” (22, 0%), seguido de “otros”. En niños fue la enfermedad de Hirschsprung junto con la enterocolitis necrotizante, con cuatro casos (17, 4%). El primer motivo de indicación fue síndrome de intestino corto tanto en niños (60, 9%) como en adultos (35, 7%). El tipo de catéter más utilizado fue el tunelizado tanto en niños (81, 0%) como en adultos (41, 1%). Finalizaron 75 episodios, la causa más frecuente fue el fallecimiento (52, 0%) y el paso a vía oral (33, 3%). Conclusiones: el número de centros y profesionales colaboradores en el registro de pacientes que reciben NPD se mantiene estable, así como las principales indicaciones y los motivos de finalización de la NPD. Aim: To communicate home parenteral nutrition (HPN) data obtained from the HPN registry of the NADYA-SENPE group (www.nadya-senpe.  com) for the year 2018. Material and methods: Descriptive analysis of the data collected from adult and pediatric patients with HPN in the NADYA-SENPE group registry from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018.  Results: There were 278 patients from 45 Spanish hospitals (54.7% women), 23 children and 255 adults, which represent a prevalence rate of 5.95 patients/million inhabitants/year 2018. The most frequent diagnosis in adults was “palliative cancer” (22.0%), followed by “others”. In children it was Hirschsprung’s disease together with necrotizing enterocolitis, with four cases (17.4%). The first indication was short bowel syndrome in both children (60.9%) and adults (35.7%). The most frequently used type of catheter was tunneled in both children (81.0%) and adults (41.1%). Ending 75 episodes, the most frequent cause was death (52.0%) and change to oral feeding (33.3%). Conclusions: The number of centers and collaborating professionals in the registry of patients receiving HPN remains stable, as well as the main indications and reasons for termination of HPN

Do pictures influence memory and metamemory in Chinese vocabulary learning? Evidence from Russian and Colombian learners

Despite the increasing interest in learning non-alphabetical languages such as Chinese, research about its learning process for alphabet users is scarce. Research conducted on Latin alphabet users on learning languages written in Latin alphabet, or on Chinese language learning in Chinese native speakers, users is undoubtedly useful but it does not inform about the peculiarities of leaning Chinese language by other alphabet users. Additionally, several authors have highlighted the need to inform and extend the current second language acquisition theories on the particular challenges of learning a language that uses another script. In this research we aim to contribute filling this research gap and studied the learning process of Chinese vocabulary by users of scripts different from Chinese. In particular, we examined the role of pictures and translations as learning aids for Chinese language vocabulary learning in participants familiarized with either one or two alphabetical scripts (different from the Chinese logographic script). One hundred thirteen participants studied word-aid pairs in different conditions: Hanzi (Chinese in Chinese characters)-picture; Pinyin (Chinese in Latin alphabet)-picture; Hanzi-translation; Pinyin-translation. Participants evaluated the future recallability of the words and their meanings (i.e., judgements of learning) and completed two recognition tests. Words in Pinyin and words-translation pairs were judged to be easier to remember than Hanzi and word-pictures pairs. Participants remembered the meaning of words written in Hanzi better than in Pinyin, and word-translations pairs better than pictures, but they were more confident about word-picture pairs. These results suggest that pictures boost confidence in learning Chinese, but do not affect performance. These findings suggest that while pictures may boost confidence in learning Chinese, they may not necessarily lead to better performance. Our study provides valuable insights into the interaction of learning aids and writing system in (meta)memory during vocabulary acquisition

Modeling heat stress under different environmental conditions

Renewed interest in heat stress effects on livestock productivity derives from climate change, which is expected to increase temperatures and the frequency of extreme weather events. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of temperature and humidity on milk production in highly selected dairy cattle populations across 3 European regions differing in climate and production systems to detect differences and similarities that can be used to optimize heat stress (HS) effect modeling. Milk, fat, and protein test day data from official milk recording for 1999 to 2010 in 4 Holstein populations located in the Walloon Region of Belgium (BEL), Luxembourg (LUX), Slovenia (SLO), and southern Spain (SPA) were merged with temperature and humidity data provided by the state meteorological agencies. After merging, the number of test day records/cows per trait ranged from 686,726/49,655 in SLO to 1,982,047/136,746 in BEL. Values for the daily average and maximum temperature-humidity index (THIavg and THImax) ranges for THIavg/THImax were largest in SLO (22-74/28-84) and shortest in SPA (39-76/46-83). Change point techniques were used to determine comfort thresholds, which differed across traits and climatic regions. Milk yield showed an inverted U-shaped pattern of response across the THI scale with a HS threshold around 73 THImax units. For fat and protein, thresholds were lower than for milk yield and were shifted around 6 THI units toward larger values in SPA compared with the other countries. Fat showed lower HS thresholds than protein traits in all countries. The traditional broken line model was compared with quadratic and cubic fits of the pattern of response in production to increasing heat loads. A cubic polynomial model allowing for individual variation in patterns of response and THIavg as heat load measure showed the best statistical features. Higher/lower producing animals showed less/more persistent production (quantity and quality) across the THI scale. The estimated correlations between comfort and THIavg values of 70 (which represents the upper end of the THIavg scale in BEL-LUX) were lower for BEL-LUX (0.70-0.80) than for SPA (0.83-0.85). Overall, animals producing in the more temperate climates and semi-extensive grazing systems of BEL and LUX showed HS at lower heat loads and more re-ranking across the THI scale than animals producing in the warmer climate and intensive indoor system of SPA. © 2016 American Dairy Science Association

Junctions between CuOx and ZnOy in sensors for CO and catalysts for CO hydrogenation

Addition of CuOxto defective ZnOy(0.92<y<1.00) yielded a dispersed catalyst that produced methanol at 523 K and 2 MPa with a selectivity (relative to CH4) which was higher than that for a unit area of ZnOyor CuOxalone. Copper oxide–zinc oxide polycrystalline films (prepared by ion beam sputter deposition) were as stoichiometric as the dispersed samples with junctions best represented as CuOx/ZnOy(withx close to 0.5 and y close to 1.0). Photo-STM reveals for the first time the width and nature of the n/p junction, although the gradient of the depletion zone is shallower on the ZnO side of the junction (which is not expected from recent postulates). Responses to CO and H2 were more representative of CuOxthan ZnOy. The properties of such junctions and their role in CO adsorption, catalysis and sensing is discussed, together with the relationship between catalytic and sensor science. Active sites at such junctions may have been detected as those binding CO2– with an IR band at 1557 cm–1 which decompose to release CO2 or convert to formyl species (and then methanol) depending upon the prevailing conditions.The authors thank the Royal Society for support of Y.W., the Paul Instrument Fund of the Royal Society for support for V.A.S., EPSRC for support for M.A.M.L. and CRLL for permitting the thin films to be prepared

Beverage waste derived biomaterials for tissue engineering

The waste material from the beverage manufacturing industry was valorized as a renewable source for the manufacture of biomaterials capable of acting as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Environmentally friendly design of both structural and textural properties produced biomaterials whose in vivo properties were similar to those of a commercial biomaterial.The authors wish to acknowledge the economic support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the Research Projects “Valorisation of agroindustrial residues towards biomaterials to be used in dental implants (Ecomaterials)” (IPT-2011-1935-310000), “Valorisation of agri-residues for advanced uses” (201460E105) and “Development of substances and materials from agriresidues for biomedical uses” (201480E103)