Water-methanol mixture confined in a graphene slit-pore

Efficient and sustainable techniques for separating water-methanol mixtures are in high demand in the industry. Recent studies have revealed that membranes and 2D materials could achieve such separation. In our research, we explore the impact of a nanoconfining graphene slit-pore on the dynamics and structure of water-methanol mixtures. By Molecular Dynamics simulations of a coarse-grained model for water mixtures containing up to 25% methanol, we show that, for appropriate pore sizes, water tends to occupy the center of the pore. In contrast, methanol's apolar moiety accumulates near the hydrophobic walls. Additionally, modifying the pore's width leads to a non-monotonic change in the diffusivity of each component. However, water always diffuses faster than methanol, implying that it should be possible to identify an optimal configuration for water-methanol separation based on physical mechanisms. Our calculations indicate that one of the more effective pore sizes, 12.5{\AA}, is also mechanically stable, minimizing the energy cost of a possible filtering membrane

Size-Pore-Dependent Methanol Sequestration from Water-Methanol Mixtures by an Embedded Graphene Slit

The separation of liquid mixture components is relevant to many applications¿ranging from water purification to biofuel production¿and is a growing concern related to the UN Sustain- able Development Goals (SDGs), such as 'Clean water and Sanitation' and 'Affordable and clean energy'. One promising technique is using graphene slit-pores as filters, or sponges, because the confinement potentially affects the properties of the mixture components in different ways, favoring their separation. However, no systematic study has shown how the size of a pore changes the ther- modynamics of the surrounding mixture. Here, we focus on water-methanol mixtures and explore, using Molecular Dynamics simulations, the effects of a graphene pore, with size ranging from 6.5 to 13 Å, for three compositions: pure water, 90%-10%, and 75%-25% water-methanol. We show that tuning the pore size can change the mixture pressure, density and composition in bulk due to the size-dependent methanol sequestration within the pore. Our results can help in optimizing the graphene pore size for filtering applications

Child-Pugh Class and Not Thrombocytopenia Impacts the Risk of Complications of Endoscopic Band Ligation in Patients with Cirrhosis and High Risk Varices

: Background and Aims: Endoscopic band legation (EBL) is an effective method for the prophylaxis of acute variceal bleeding (AVB). This procedure may be associated with several complications, particularly bleeding. Our analysis aimed to evaluate the risk of complications due to EBL in a cohort of patients who underwent EBL for the prophylaxis of variceal bleeding and the eventual presence of risk predictors. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from consecutive patients who underwent EBL in a primary prophylaxis regimen. For all patients, simultaneously with EBL, we recorded the Child-Pugh and MELD score, platelet count and US features of portal hypertension. Results: We collected data from 431 patients who performed a total of 1028 EBLs. We recorded 86 events (8.4% of all procedures). Bleeding after EBL occurred 64 times (6.2% of all procedures), with the following distribution: intraprocedural bleeding in 4%; hematocystis formation in 17 cases (1.7%); 6 events (0.6%) of AVB due to post-EBL ulcers. None of these events presented a correlation with platelet count (84,235 ± 54,175 × 103/mL vs. 77,804 ± 75,949 × 103/mL; p = 0.70) or with the condition of severe thrombocitopenia established at PLT < 50,000/mmc (22.7% with PLT ≤ 50,000/mmc vs. 15.9% with PLT ≥ 50,000/mmc; p = 0.39). Our results showed a relationship between cumulative complications of EBL and Child-Pugh score (6.9 ± 1.6 vs. 6.5 ± 1.3; p = 0.043). Conclusions: EBL in cirrhotic patients is a safe procedure. The risk of adverse events depends on the severity of liver disease, without a relationship with platelet count

“Caminhos não para chegar, mas para seguir andando”: uma pesquisa pós-qualitativa sobre a psicologia crítica no capitalismo cognitivo

Introduction: Self-referential, post-qualitative research was proposed to consider the current situation of researching professors at university, within the global context of cognitive capitalism and emphasizing the stands taken by a group of critical psychologists that would have been researching professors in schools of psychology in Colombia. Objective: To recognize ambivalent or contradictory senses and propose new meanings or emerging senses about critical psychology in Colombia, as well as the emerging role of the researching professor at current university through a post-qualitative methodology. Method: Through two concepts (différance and dissemination), reflecting on a set of autobiographies of four participants focused on their personal development as critical psychologists and researching professors. Result: Between the materials and the theorization conducted, we found that today critical psychology is more a transdiscipline than a branch or an approach of psychology. The participants’ affiliation to critical psychology is discontinuous; that is, when it occurs, it is more strongly associated with academic rhetoric, with a more institutional and work interest than with a purely epistemological or theoretical one. The repercussion of academic capitalism both in the schools of psychology and the current roles of teaching and research seems to be more detrimental in terms of academic quality and to the well-being of professors; however, researching professors also seem to tolerate and be silent about these repercussions.Introducción: se planteó una investigación de tipo autorreferencial y poscualitativo con el fin de pensar la situación actual de los profesores-investigadores en la universidad, dentro del contexto global del capitalismo cognitivo y con énfasis en las posturas que han asumido un conjunto de psicólogos críticos que hubiesen sido docentes-investigadores en facultades de psicología en Colombia. Objetivo: reconocer sentidos ambivalentes o contradictorios y plantear nuevos sentidos o sentidos emergentes acerca de la psicología crítica en Colombia, así como del rol emergente del docente-investigador en la universidad actual por medio de una orientación metodológica poscualitativa. Método: pensar, a través de dos conceptos (diferancia y diseminación), un conjunto de autobiografías de cuatro participantes enfocadas en su desarrollo personal como psicólogos críticos y docentesinvestigadores. Resultado: entre los materiales y la teorización realizada se encuentra que la psicología crítica se configura hoy más en una transdisciplina que en una rama o un enfoque de la psicología. La adscripción de los participantes a la psicología crítica es discontinua, es decir, cuando sucede se asocia con más fuerza a una retórica académica, a un interés más institucional y laboral que a uno puramente epistemológico o teórico. La repercusión del capitalismo académico en las facultades de psicología y en los roles actuales de la docencia y la investigación parece ser más perjudicial en términos de la calidad académica y para el bienestar de los profesores; sin embargo, parece existir también una tolerancia y un silencio acerca de estas repercusiones por parte de los docentes-investigadores.Introdução: propõe-se uma pesquisa de tipo autorreferencial e pós-qualitativo com o objetivo de pensar a situação atual dos professores-pesquisadores na universidade, dentro do contexto global do capitalismo cognitivo e com ênfase nas posturas assumidas por um conjunto de psicólogos críticos que teriam sido professores-pesquisadores em faculdades de psicologia na Colômbia. Objetivo: reconhecer sentidos ambivalentes ou contraditórios e apresentar novos sentidos ou sentidos emergentes acerca da psicologia crítica na Colômbia, assim como o papel emergente do professorpesquisador na universidade atual por meio de uma orientação metodológica pós-qualitativa. Método: pensar, através de dois conceptos (diferância e disseminação), um conjunto de autobiografias de quatro participantes enfocadas no seu desenvolvimento pessoal como psicólogos críticos e professores-pesquisadores. Resultado: entre os materiais e a teorização, nota-se que a psicologia crítica se configura atualmente mais como uma transdiciplina do que em um ramo ou uma ênfase da psicologia. O vínculo dos participantes com a psicologia crítica é descontínuo, ou seja, quando ocorre, está mais fortemente associado a uma retórica acadêmica, a um interesse mais institucional e laboral, do que puramente epistemológico ou teórico. A repercussão do capitalismo acadêmico nas faculdades de psicologia e nos atuais papéis da docência e da pesquisa parece ser mais prejudicial em termos de qualidade acadêmica e para o bem-estar dos professores, no entanto, parece existir também uma tolerância e um silêncio sobre essas repercussões por parte dos professores-pesquisadores

Modern Electrophysiological Methods for Brain-Computer Interfaces

Modern electrophysiological studies in animals show that the spectrum of neural oscillations encoding relevant information is broader than previously thought and that many diverse areas are engaged for very simple tasks. However, EEG-based brain-computer interfaces (BCI) still employ as control modality relatively slow brain rhythms or features derived from preselected frequencies and scalp locations. Here, we describe the strategy and the algorithms we have developed for the analysis of electrophysiological data and demonstrate their capacity to lead to faster accurate decisions based on linear classifiers. To illustrate this strategy, we analyzed two typical BCI tasks. (1) Mu-rhythm control of a cursor movement by a paraplegic patient. For this data, we show that although the patient received extensive training in mu-rhythm control, valuable information about movement imagination is present on the untrained high-frequency rhythms. This is the first demonstration of the importance of high-frequency rhythms in imagined limb movements. (2) Self-paced finger tapping task in three healthy subjects including the data set used in the BCI-2003 competition. We show that by selecting electrodes and frequency ranges based on their discriminative power, the classification rates can be systematically improved with respect to results published thus far

Síndrome de transfusão feto-fetal: teste de triagem do desenvolvimento neurológico

To assess the neurodevelopmental functions (cognition, language and motor function) of survivors of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Method Observational cross-sectional study of a total of 67 monochorionic diamniotic twins who underwent fetoscopic laser coagulation (FLC) for treatment of TTTS. The study was conducted at the Center for Investigation in Pediatrics (CIPED), Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Ages ranged from one month and four days to two years four months. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test-III, were used for evaluation. Results Most children reached the competent category and were classified as having appropriate performance. The preterm children scored worse than term infants for gross motor subtest (p = 0.036). Conclusion The majority of children reached the expected development according to their age. Despite the good neurodevelopment, children classified at risk should be monitored for development throughout childhood733194199Avaliar as funções do desenvolvimento neurológico (cognição, linguagem e motricidade) de sobreviventes da síndrome de transfusão feto-fetal (STFF). Método Estudo transversal observacional, total de 67 gêmeos diamnióticos monocoriônicos submetidos à coagulação a laser por fetoscopia para o tratamento da STFF. O estudo foi realizado no Centro de Investigação em Pediatria (CIPED), Universidade Estadual de Campinas. A idade variou entre um mês e quatro dias a dois anos e quatro meses. Foram utilizadas as Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test-III para avaliação. Resultados A maioria das crianças atingiu a categoria competente e foi classificada como tendo desempenho adequado. As crianças prematuras obtiveram desempenho inferior quando comparadas às nascidas a termo no subteste motor global (p = 0,036). Conclusão A maioria das crianças alcançou o desenvolvimento esperado de acordo para idade. Apesar do bom desenvolvimento neurológico, crianças classificadas na categoria de risco devem ser monitoradas para o desenvolvimento, durante a infânci

Twin-twin Transfusion Syndrome: Neurodevelopmental Screening Test.

Objective To assess the neurodevelopmental functions (cognition, language and motor function) of survivors of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Method Observational cross-sectional study of a total of 67 monochorionic diamniotic twins who underwent fetoscopic laser coagulation (FLC) for treatment of TTTS. The study was conducted at the Center for Investigation in Pediatrics (CIPED), Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Ages ranged from one month and four days to two years four months. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test-III, were used for evaluation. Results Most children reached the competent category and were classified as having appropriate performance. The preterm children scored worse than term infants for gross motor subtest (p = 0.036). Conclusion The majority of children reached the expected development according to their age. Despite the good neurodevelopment, children classified at risk should be monitored for development throughout childhood.73194-

Prescription of benzodiazepines in a public general hospital in theprovince of Mendoza: problematic consumption?

Aún administradas regularmente a niveles terapéuticos, las BZD poseen un potencial de dependencia mayor que otros fármacos de acción ansiolítica y se ha reportado tolerancia farmacológica cuando la prescripción es por un tiempo mayor a cuatro semanas, así como la aparición del síndrome de abstinencia en el 30% de los pacientes después de un tratamiento de ocho semanas de duración

Síndrome de transfusão feto-fetal: neurodesenvolvimento de lactentes tratados com cirurgia a laser

To assess the neurodevelopmental functions of survivors of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) treated by fetoscopic laser coagulation (FLC), during the first year of life, comparing them to a control group; and to verify the influence of specific variables on neurodevelopment. Method This was a prospective, longitudinal study. The sample comprised 33 monochorionic diamniotic twins who underwent FLC for treatment of TTTS and 22 full-term infants of single-fetus pregnancies. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test were used for evaluation. Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal information were obtained. Results There was an increased frequency of infants in the TTTS group with inadequate performance compared to the control group. The identified variables (fetal donor, low economic income and cardiorespiratory disease) negatively impacted expressive communication and fine motor skills. Conclusion Although through follow-up is recommended in all TTTS survivors, particular attention is required for the high-risk group as defined in this study744307313Avaliar o desenvolvimento neurológico de sobreviventes da sindrome de transfusão feto-fetal (STFF) submetidos à coagulação a laser por fetoscopia (CLF), durante o primeiro ano de vida, comparando estes ao grupo controle; e verificar a influência de variáveis específicas no desenvolvimento. Método Tratou-se de estudo prospectivo, longitudinal. A amostra foi composta por 33 gêmeos diamnióticos monocoriônicos submetidos à CLF para tratamento da STFF e 22 lactentes a termo de gestação única. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test foram utilizadas para avaliação. Informações pré-natal, perinatal e pós-natal foram coletadas. Resultados Houve maior número de lactentes com desempenho inadequado no grupo STFF do que no controle. As variáveis identificadas (feto doador, baixa renda econômica e doença cárdio-respiratória) influenciaram negativamente a comunicação expressiva e as habilidades motoras finas. Conclusão Embora o acompanhamento seja recomendado para todos lactentes com STFF, especial atenção deve ser dada àqueles que apresentam fatores de risc

Propuesta estratégica de mejora en la implementación de los estándares mínimos del Sistema de Gestión de la Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (SG-SST) en la empresa Ecopetrol S.A para el año 2020.

El objetivo de la presente Propuesta es crear Estrategias de mejora para la Implementación de los Estándares Mínimos del Sistema de Gestión de la Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (SG-SST) en la empresa Ecopetrol S.A para el año 2020. El estudio se realizó implementando la tabla de valores y calificación de los estándares mínimos SG-SST dispuestos en la resolución 0312 de 2019 del Ministerio de Trabajo. El puntaje obtenido con base a la calificación de ítems fue favorable para la petrolera. Aun así, permitirá establecer alternativas de mejora, a través de un plan donde minuciosamente se incluyen actividades, áreas involucradas, responsables, recursos económicos y fechas estimadas en pro de afrontar la situación actual de la empresa en materia de SG-SST. Se concluye con la elaboración de la propuesta, la importancia de contemplar los riesgos respecto a la seguridad y salud en el trabajo dentro de la actividad económica de la compañía. Lo que permitirá garantizar los propósitos de bienestar a sus empleados, posicionamiento internacional, innovación y compromiso con el desarrollo sostenible, cumpliendo con la normativa legal vigente.The objective of this Proposal is to create Improvement Strategies for the Implementation of the Minimum Standards of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (SG-SST) in the company Ecopetrol SA for the year 2020. The study was carried out by implementing the table of values ​​and qualification of the SG-SST minimum standards set forth in resolution 0312 of 2019 of the Ministry of Labor. The score obtained based on the item rating was favorable for the oil company. Even so, it will allow establishing alternatives for improvement, through a plan that includes activities, areas involved, responsible parties, financial resources and estimated dates in order to face the current situation of the company in terms of OSH. It concludes with the elaboration of the proposal, the importance of considering the risks regarding safety and health at work within the economic activity of the company. This will guarantee the welfare purposes of its employees, international positioning, innovation and commitment to sustainable development, complying with current legal regulations