Characterization of LiFePO4/C Cathode for Lithium Ion Batteries

International audienceLiFePO4/C was synthesized from a mixture of different precursors of Li, Fe, and C by solid-state reaction. The initial mixture obtained was heated in different calcination conditions under inert atmosphere. The precursor of LiFePO4 doped with carbon was studied using different techniques such as thermal analysis, chemical and physical characterizations, and Mosbauer spectroscopy. A calculation of the crystallinity of the final product with two different methods is also presented. The chemical analysis techniques used were IRTF, XRD, and SEM. This characterization confirmed that we obtained a well-crystallized LiFePO4/C in all the operating conditions tested. The SEM showed aggregation and sintering during the calcination process, which were confirmed by the particle-size distribution measurements and by the physical characterizations. Mosbauer spectroscopy was used to determine the quantity of Fe(II) and Fe(III) contained in the final product. Our calcination conditions did not significantly modify the quantity of the two oxidation states

Age-related cellular copper dynamics in the fungal ageing model Podospora anserina and in ageing human fibroblasts

In previous investigations an impact of cellular copper homeostasis on ageing of the ascomycete Podospora anserina has been demonstrated. Here we provide new data indicating that mitochondria play a major role in this process. Determination of copper in the cytosolic fraction using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy analysis and eGfp reporter gene studies indicate an age-related increase of cytosolic copper levels. We show that components of the mitochondrial matrix (i.e. eGFP targeted to mitochondria) become released from the organelle during ageing. Decreasing the accessibility of mitochondrial copper in P. anserina via targeting a copper metallothionein to the mitochondrial matrix was found to result in a switch from a copper-dependent cytochrome-c oxidase to a copper-independent alternative oxidase type of respiration and results in lifespan extension. In addition, we demonstrate that increased copper concentrations in the culture medium lead to the appearance of senescence biomarkers in human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs). Significantly, expression of copper-regulated genes is induced during in vitro ageing in medium devoid of excess copper suggesting that cytosolic copper levels also increase during senescence of HDFs. These data suggest that the identified molecular pathway of age-dependent copper dynamics may not be restricted to P. anserina but may be conserved from lower eukaryotes to humans

Campaña de sensibilización: Plan estratégico para una ciudad amigable con los adultos mayores DIF Guadalajara - ITESO

El siguiente reporte presenta el trabajo desarrollado en el semestre de primavera 2018, en el cual se desarrolló una campaña de sensibilización para dignificar la imagen de los adultos mayores. El objetivo de este proyecto es mostrar una imagen digna e íntegra de los adultos mayores para generar una visión distinta de cómo se vive la vejez. La campaña se enfocó en diseñar estrategias de sensibilización para el proyecto de ciudad amigable con los mayores por el Gobierno de Guadalajara, a través de la investigación etnográfica y análisis de la metodología horizontal. El reporte también muestra los resultados del diagnóstico de medios que sirvió para el diseño de la campaña de sensibilización, la estrategia de redes sociales y el desarrollo de canal de Youtube.ITESO, A.C

Maternal outcomes and risk factors for COVID-19 severity among pregnant women.

Pregnant women may be at higher risk of severe complications associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which may lead to obstetrical complications. We performed a case control study comparing pregnant women with severe coronavirus disease 19 (cases) to pregnant women with a milder form (controls) enrolled in the COVI-Preg international registry cohort between March 24 and July 26, 2020. Risk factors for severity, obstetrical and immediate neonatal outcomes were assessed. A total of 926 pregnant women with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 were included, among which 92 (9.9%) presented with severe COVID-19 disease. Risk factors for severe maternal outcomes were pulmonary comorbidities [aOR 4.3, 95% CI 1.9-9.5], hypertensive disorders [aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.0-7.0] and diabetes [aOR2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.5]. Pregnant women with severe maternal outcomes were at higher risk of caesarean section [70.7% (n = 53/75)], preterm delivery [62.7% (n = 32/51)] and newborns requiring admission to the neonatal intensive care unit [41.3% (n = 31/75)]. In this study, several risk factors for developing severe complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women were identified including pulmonary comorbidities, hypertensive disorders and diabetes. Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes appear to be influenced by the severity of maternal disease

COVID-19 stressors and health behaviors. A multilevel longitudinal study across 86 countries

Anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and home confinement has been associated with adverse health behaviors, such as unhealthy eating, smoking, and drinking. However, most studies have been limited by regional sampling, which precludes the examination of behavioral consequences associated with the pandemic at a global level. Further, few studies operationalized pandemic-related stressors to enable the investigation of the impact of different types of stressors on health outcomes. This study examined the association between perceived risk of COVID-19 infection and economic burden of COVID-19 with health-promoting and health-damaging behaviors using data from the PsyCorona Study: an international, longitudinal online study of psychological and behavioral correlates of COVID-19. Analyses utilized data from 7,402 participants from 86 countries across three waves of assessment between May 16 and June 13, 2020. Participants completed self-report measures of COVID-19 infection risk, COVID-19-related economic burden, physical exercise, diet quality, cigarette smoking, sleep quality, and binge drinking. Multilevel structural equation modeling analyses showed that across three time points, perceived economic burden was associated with reduced diet quality and sleep quality, as well as increased smoking. Diet quality and sleep quality were lowest among respondents who perceived high COVID-19 infection risk combined with high economic burden. Neither binge drinking nor exercise were associated with perceived COVID-19 infection risk, economic burden, or their interaction. Findings point to the value of developing interventions to address COVID-related stressors, which have an impact on health behaviors that, in turn, may 111 influence vulnerability to COVID-19 and other health outcomes

Propuesta de una metología para el diseño, implementación y evaluación de cursos en línea

En el presente documento se narra la experiencia que se ha tenido en la Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México, al momento de seleccionar y aplicar una metodología para formar profesores de nivel licenciatura en el diseño, implementación y evaluación de materias en línea. Se menciona brevemente el contexto del que se deriva el proceso de formación, se detallan algunos aspectos relevantes relacionados con las características de los participantes, y se explicita la metodología de referencia, así como las modificaciones que se realizaron derivadas de la primera experiencia de formación de un grupo de 40 profesore

Is bisphenol S a safe substitute for bisphenol A in terms of metabolic function? An in vitro study

International audienceAs bisphenol A (BPA) has been shown to induce adverse effects on human health, especially through the activation of endocrine pathways, it is about to be withdrawn from the European market and replaced by analogues such as bisphenol S (BPS). However, toxicological data on BPS is scarce, and so it is necessary to evaluate the possible effects of this compound on human health. We compared the effect of BPA and BPS on obesity and hepatic steatosis processes using low doses in the same range as those found in the environment. Two in vitro models were used, the adipose cell line 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells, representative of hepatic functions. We analyzed different parameters such as lipid and glucose uptakes, lipolysis, leptin production and the modulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism and energy balance. BPA and BPS induced an increase in the lipid content in the 3T3-L1 cell line and more moderately in the hepatic cells. We also observed a decrease in lipolysis after bisphenol treatment of adipocytes, but only BPS was involved in the increase in glucose uptake and leptin production. These latter effects could be linked to the modulation of SREBP-1c, PPAR gamma, aP2 and ERR alpha and gamma genes after exposure to BPA, whereas BPS seems to target the PGC1 alpha and the ERR gamma genes. The findings suggest that both BPA and BPS could be involved in obesity and steatosis processes, but through two different metabolic pathways

L’exposition par des mélanges de perturbateurs endocriniens à faibles doses modifie la différenciation adipocytaire – CIME project

L’exposition par des mélanges de perturbateurs endocriniens à faibles doses modifie la différenciation adipocytaire – CIME project. Colloque PNR-P