Aromatic polyamides and acrylic polymers as solid sensory materials and smart coated fibres for high acidity colorimetric sensing

We synthesized a solid sensory material for the extraction, detection and quantification of iron(III) in aqueous media. The material is a film-shaped colorless polymer membrane that exhibits gel behavior. The Fe(III) extraction and sensing characteristics are imparted by a new monomer derived from a natural product (i.e., Kojic acid), which exhibits chelating properties toward Fe(III). The sorption of Fe(III) on the membrane in water has been thoroughly characterized, including the sorption kinetics, sorption isotherms and profiles as a function of the pH. Fe(III) sorption followed pseudo first-order kinetics and required approximately 30 min to reach equilibrium. The maximum sorption capacity was approximately 0.04 mmol/g, and the sorption isotherms are well modeled by the Langmuir equation. The complexes that were found in the solid phase are in good agreement with those previously identified in the aqueous phase. Moreover, the sorption is highly specific (i.e., a recognition process) and results from the formation of a colored complex (iron(III)-Kojic acid derivative moieties). Therefore, the colorless sensory membrane turns red upon immersion in aqueous solutions containing Fe(III). The color output allows for both the qualitative visual determination of the Fe(III) concentration as well as also titration of Fe(III) using a) a UV/vis technique (limit of detection of 3.6 × 10−5 M; dynamic range of five decades, lower concentration = 1.65 × 10−6 M) and b) a computer vision-based analytical chemistry approach via color definition of the sensory membrane (RGB parameters) obtained from an image recorded with a handy device (e.g., a smartphone) (limit of detection of 2.0 × 10−5 M).Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-Feder (MAT2011-22544 and MAT2014-54137-R) and by the Consejería de Educación – Junta de Castilla y León (BU232U13

Functional fluorescent aramids: aromatic polyamides containing a dipicolinic acid derivative as luminescent converters and sensory materials for the fluorescence detection and quantification of Cr(vi), Fe(iii) and Cu(ii)

This work describes the preparation of luminescent, high-performance aromatic polyamides. The fluorescent behaviour was achieved by preparing a diacid monomer containing a fluorescent dipicolinic acid derivative and polymerising it with commercially available aromatic diacid and diamine monomers to give polyisophthalamides. These materials can be structurally compared to commercialised meta-aramid fibres [poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide), brand names: NOMEX® and Teijinconex®]. The pendant fluorescent motif provided the material with a light green fluorescence and was found to be a selective host unit for cations of environmental, biomedical and industrial significance [Cr(VI), Fe(III) and Cu(III)].Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)Consejeria de Educación (Junta de Castilla y León)Depto. de Química en Ciencias FarmacéuticasFac. de FarmaciaTRUEpu

Diez líneas verdes

Se desarrolla un proyecto de innovación educativa que pretende fomentar el respeto y cuidado medioambiental, creando y desarrollando la conciencia y sensibilidad. Se desarrolla a lo largo del curso 2006-2007 para todos los ciclos de Educación Infantil y Educación Primaria, se integra en el currículo y se trabaja por ciclos y asambleas las actividades del seminario. La metodología empleada en la práctica del proyecto se basa en la observación, experimentación y expresión de lo vivido en un clima de sensibilización hacia el medio ambiente. Se realizan talleres escolares, salidas a la naturaleza, fabricación de instrumentos con materiales de desecho, disfraces y plantación de plantas en un huerto entre otras actividades. Se realiza una evaluación continua de las actividades llevadas a acabo y al final se pasa una encuesta a los padres, profesorado y alumnado para realizar un sondeo de las opiniones de las tareas realizadas en el proyecto de innovación educativa. La mayoría del alumnado ha mejorado sus hábitos tanto dentro como fuera del colegio, ha aprendido a reciclar y han transmitido a sus familias estas nuevas conductas aprendidas. El profesorado y los padres opinan que el proyecto es muy útil y positivo para el alumnado. Se ha conseguido implicar a la comunidad educativa, haciendo efectiva su participación en la Red de Centros Comprometidos con el Medio Ambiente. En general el proyecto de innovación educativa es de fácil aplicación en el aula, genera hábitos y cambios de conducta medioambiental y por ello es conveniente darle continuidad en el centro para afianzar los hábitos creados.Castilla y LeónConsejería de Educación. Dirección General de Universidades e Investigación; Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Prado, Autovía Puente Colgante s. n.; 47071 Valladolid; +34983411881; +34983411939ES

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AimThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery.MethodsThis was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin.ResultsOverall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P ConclusionOne in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

Delaying surgery for patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection

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