Confinement and surface effects on the physical properties of rhombohedral-shape hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanocrystals

Morphological, microstructural and vibrational properties of hematite (α-FeO) nanocrystals with a rhombohedral shape and rounded edges, obtained by forced hydrolysis of iron(III) solutions under a fast nucleation, have been investigated in detail as a function of aging time. These studies allowed us to propose a detailed formation mechanism and revealed that these nanocrystals are composed of four {104} side facets, two {110} faces at the edges of the long diagonal of the nanocrystals and two {-441} facets as the top and bottom faces. Also, the presence of nanoscopic pores and fissures was evidenced. The vibrational bands of such nanocrystals were shifted to lower frequencies in comparison with bulk hematite ones as the nanocrystal size was reduced due to phonon confinement effects. Also, the indirect and direct transition band gaps displayed interesting dependences on the aging time arising from quantum confinement and surface effectsConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología CB-17948

Cold temperature tolerance of the alien Indo-Pacific damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos from the Southern Gulf of Mexico

The abundance of the alien, Indo-Pacific damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos on an oil-loading platform in the southwest Gulf of Mexico indicates that widely distributed platforms could facilitate the expansion of its geo- graphic range across the western and northern fringes of the Gulf. From there it likely will spread to other areas of the Greater Caribbean. The lionfish example demonstrates that it eventually happens, and can do so rapidly. Reduced temperature effects on the physiology of this species were examined to better predict its survivability in the northern Gulf during winter, when sea surface temperatures fall as low as 15 °C along the coast. Overall, our results show that when the degree of experimental temperature decline was large and rapid, no compensation occurred and the stress response observed mostly reflected cellular processes that minimized damage. Integrated biomarker response values were significantly different between fish rapidly exposed to colder vs. warmer temperatures (declines of −4 °C each day, from 26 to 14 °C), reflected in higher values of blood metabolites and routine metabolic rates observed in fish exposed to 14 and 18 °C respectively, and lower activity of all enzymes, lower protein carbonylation, and higher oxidative damage to lipids in fish exposed to 14 °C. While the phy- siological proxies responded to minimize damage during the rapid-decrease experiment, the same proxies re- flected the consequences of compensation when fish were thermally challenged after a 45 days acclimation at 18 °C. In this case, lower values of blood metabolites and high antioxidant levels and indicators of damages underpinned its pejus lower range. Based on the results of the present work, it seems clear that low winter SSTs in the northern Gulf will slow down the colonization of the inshore area of N. cyanomos. We suggest that the use of physiological cellular stress markers on specimens acquired at the beginning of an invasion should be im- plemented in new standardized experimental protocols, including both rapid increases/decreases of temperature and post-acclimation temperature challenges, to assess the invasiveness potential of aquatic species such as this

Use of Artificial Neural Networks in Determining Domestic Violence Predictors

This paper aims to determine the predictors of violence against women by their partners, according to the National Survey of Demography and Health - ENDS - Colombia, 2017 using artificial neural networks. The results indicate that the best forecasting model found is the artificial neural network, perceptron model, multilayer associative memory with a hidden layer of 20 units, through functions of sigmoidal activation and sum of square of the error as error function. The ten main explanatory variables are: respect for human rights of the partner, respect for wishes, love expressed by the partner, a history of domestic violence, engaging in joint decision making, decision of contraceptive use, number of connections (partners) of the respondent, decision-making at the financial level, correction of children behavior, and decisions regarding women's health at home

Malignant nerve sheath tumor involving glossopharyngeal, vagus and spinal nerve with intracranial-extracranial extension and systemic metastases in a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis: A case report

AbstractIntroductionIntracranial malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are an extremely rare pathology with a high morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological, clinical and prognostic data are scarce and with little certainty in the literature. The aim of this paper is to report for first time in English literature, the case of a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis, who presented a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor that involved the left glossopharyngeal, vagus and spinal nerves with intracranial and extracranial extension through jugular foramen and systemic metastases.Presentation of caseA 37 years-old female patient with malnutrition and Villaret́s syndrome. It was confirmed by brain magnetic resonance imaging and PET-CT the presence of a neoplasic lesion which was radiologically compatible with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with systemic metastases. Partial surgical resection was performed; the patient postoperative course was without significant clinical improvement but with added peripheral facial palsy. The patient did not accept adjuvant management because of personal reasons.Discussion and conclusionBehavior therapy is unclear due to the low frequency of the disease and the lack of case series, representing a challenge for the physician in its approach and a poor prognosis for the patient

The Harvey–Bradshaw Index adapted to a mobile application compared with In-clinic assessment: the MediCrohn Study

[Abstract] Objectives: Mobile apps are useful tools in e-health and self-management strategies in disease monitoring. We evaluated the Harvey–Bradshaw index (HBI) mobile app self-administered by the patient to see if its results agreed with HBI in-clinic assessed by a physician. Methods: Patients were enrolled in a 4-month prospective study with clinical assessments at months 1 and 4. Patients completed mobile app HBI and within 48 h, HBI was performed by a physician (gold standard). HBI scores characterized Crohn's disease (CD) as remission <5 or active ≥5. We determined agreement per item and total HBI score and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Bland–Altman plot was performed. HBI changes in disease activity from month 1 to month 4 were determined. Results: A total of 219 patients were enrolled. All scheduled assessments (385 pairs of the HBI questionnaire) showed a high percentage of agreement for remission/activity (92.4%, κ = 0.796), positive predictive value (PPV) for remission of 98.2%, and negative predictive value of 76.7%. High agreement was also found at month 1 (93.15%, κ = 0.82) and month 4 (91.5%, κ = 0.75). Bland–Altman plot was more uniform when the HBI mean values were <5 (remission). ICC values were 0.82, 0.897, and 0.879 in all scheduled assessments, 1 and 4 months, respectively. Conclusions: We found a high percentage of agreement between patients' self-administered mobile app HBI and in-clinic physician assessment to detect CD activity with a remarkably high PPV for remission. The mobile app HBI might allow a strict control of inflammation by remote monitoring and flexible follow-up of CD patients. Reduction of sanitary costs could be possible

Citrus breeding program at Embrapa Cassava & Fruits: development of hybrids.

Hybridizations and selection of promising individuals; Identification of hybrids: embryos and seedlings; Cultivation of embryos; Early selection of genotypes resistant to Phytophthora root rot; Reaction of hybrids to the citrus tristeza virus; Induction of flowering; Somatic hybridization by protopast fusion.bitstream/item/143115/1/Citrus-Breeding-Program-Doc-107-2003.pd

Programa de melhoramento genético de citros da Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura: obtenção de híbridos.

Hibridação e seleção de indivíduos promissores; Identificação de embriões/seedlings híbridos; Cultivo de embriões; Seleção precoce de genótipos tolerantes ao alumínio e à seca; Seleção de genótipos resistentes à gomose de (Phytophthora spp.); Reação de híbridos ao complexo do vírus da tristeza dos citros; Indução de florescimento; Hibridação somática via fusão de protoplastos.bitstream/item/143116/1/Programa-de-melhoramento-genetico-de-citros-da-Doc-106-2003-1.pd