Efficient passivated phthalocyanine-quantum dot solar cells

The power conversion efficiency of CdSe and CdS quantum dot sensitized solar cells is enhanced by passivation with asymmetrically substituted phthalocyanines. The introduction of the phthalocyanine dye increases the efficiency up to 45% for CdSe and 104% for CdS. The main mechanism causing this improvement is the quantum dot passivation. This study highlights the possibilities of a new generation of dyes designed to be directly linked to QDs instead of the TiO2 electrodes.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Generalitat Valenciana and the European FEDER funds (CTQ2011-26455, PROMETEO 2012/010, ACOMP/2013/024 and ISIC/2012/008)

Role of subterranean microbiota in the carbon cycle and greenhouse gas dynamics

Subterranean ecosystems play an active role in the global carbon cycle, yet only a few studies using indirect methods have focused on the role of the cave microbiota in this critical cycle. Here we present pioneering research based on in situ real-time monitoring of CO2 and CH4 diffusive fluxes and concurrent δ13C geochemical tracing in caves, combined with 16S microbiome analysis. Our findings show that cave sediments are promoting continuous CH4 consumption from cave atmosphere, resulting in a significant removal of 65% to 90%. This research reveals the most effective taxa and metabolic pathways in consumption and uptake of greenhouse gases. Methanotrophic bacteria were the most effective group involved in CH4 consumption, namely within the families Methylomonaceae, Methylomirabilaceae and Methylacidiphilaceae. In addition, Crossiella and Nitrosococcaceae wb1-P19 could be one of the main responsible of CO2 uptake, which occurs via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle and reversible hydration of CO2. Thus, syntrophic relationships exist between Crossiella and nitrifying bacteria that capture CO2, consume inorganic N produced by heterotrophic ammonification in the surface of sediments, and induce moonmilk formation. Moonmilk is found as the most evolved phase of the microbial processes in cave sediments that fixes CO2 as calcite and intensifies CH4 oxidation. From an ecological perspective, cave sediments act qualitatively as soils, providing fundamental ecosystem services (e.g. nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration) with direct influence on greenhouse gas emissions.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation through project PID2019-110603RB-I00, MCIN/AEI/FEDER, UE/10.13039/501100011033 and with collaboration of projects RTI2018-099052-B-I00 and PID2020-114978GB-I00. This research has also received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 844535 — MIFLUKE

Big data en educación: tipologías de los estudiantes a partir del estudio de las interacciones dentro del triángulo pedagógico

Fac. de Comercio y TurismoFALSEsubmitte

Stops during the six-minute walk test and their correlation with new measurements of the test in patients with obstructive pulmonary disease

Marco teórico: se ha reportado que la presencia de paradas involuntarias durante la prueba de caminata de 6 minutos se asocia con un incremento en la mortalidad en los pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Sin embargo, la relación de las paradas con otras determinaciones de la prueba de caminata de 6 minutos como velocidad, trabajo, el producto distancia-saturación y la desaturación inducida por el ejercicio, aún no se ha establecido. Objetivos: determinar la correlación de las paradas involuntarias con variables clínicas recolectadas de forma rutinaria en la PC6M, así como con las nuevas determinaciones derivadas de la prueba, en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, analítico, retrospectivo, en el que se revisaron los reportes de pruebas de caminata de 6 minutos de 129 sujetos con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Las determinaciones derivadas de la prueba fueron comparadas entre los pacientes que presentaron paradas y quienes no; se realizaron correlaciones entre ellas y se identificaron los predictores de paradas por medio de análisis de regresión logística. Resultados: 30 pacientes tuvieron paradas involuntarias durante la prueba; en este grupo se observó al final que los puntajes de disnea y fatiga, así como la frecuencia cardiaca, la frecuencia respiratoria y la tensión arterial sistólica final fueron significativamente mayores que en el grupo que no tuvo paradas, mientras que la saturación arterial de oxigeno fue significativamente menor (p<0,001); las nuevas variables derivadas: distancia, velocidad, trabajo y el producto distancia-saturación fueron menores (p<0,001) en los sujetos que pararon, encontrando una buena correlación con ellas. En el análisis de regresión, las variables que permanecieron significativas para la presencia de paradas fueron: saturación final, distancia recorrida, velocidad, trabajo, DDR y producto distancia-saturación. Conclusiones: en los pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica estable que realizan una prueba de caminata de 6 minutos, la presencia de paradas se asocia con menor distancia caminada, trabajo, DSP y saturación al final de la prueba. El cálculo de estas nuevas variables, así como el registro de paradas durante la PC6M podría refinar la capacidad pronóstica de la prueba en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica.Artículo Original170-179Theoretical frame: it has been reported that involuntary stops during the six-minute walk test are associated with increased mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the relationship between the stops and other determinations of the six-minute walk test, such as speed, work, the distance-saturation product, and exercise-induced desaturation, has not yet been established. Objectives: to determine the correlation between involuntary stops and clinical variables gathered routinely in the six-minute walk test, as well as the new determinations derived from the test, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Materials and methods: an observational, analytic, retrospective study was carried out, in which the reports of six-minute walk tests from 129 subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were reviewed. The determinations derived from the test were compared between the patients who had stops and those who hadn’t; correlations between them were made, and predictors of stops were identified by logistic regression anaylysis. Results: 30 patients had involuntary stops during the test; in this group, it was observed in the end that scores of dyspnea and fatigue, as well as heart rate, respiratory rate, and final systolic arterial blood pressure were significantly higher than those found in the group that did not have stops, while arterial blood oxygen saturation was significantly lower (p<0,001); the new variables derived: distance, speed, work, and the distance-saturation produc were lower (p<0,001) in the subjects who stopped; a good correlation with them was found. On regression analysis, the variables that remained significant for the presence of stops were: final saturation, distance walked, speed, work, DDR, and distance-saturation product. Conclusions: in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who undergo the six-minute walk test, stops are asso- ciated with less distance walked, work, DSP, and saturation at the end of the test. Calculation of these new variables, together with registration of stops during the six-minute walk test, might refine the prognostic capability of the test in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chemical and nano-mineralogical study for determining potential uses of legal Colombian gold mine sludge: Experimental evidence

The present study is focused on the chemical and nano-mineralogical characterization of sludge from gold mine activities, in order to put forward diverse solution alternatives, where lack of knowledge has been found. The sample was collected from “La Estrella” mine of Suarez, located in Department of Cauca, south-west Colombia. The sludge micro-structure and chemical composition were analyzed using a high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) equipped with a dispersive X-ray detector (EDS). X-ray diffraction technique was employed to identify the mineralogical phases present in the sludge. Additional mineralogical characterization was done by using RAMAN spectroscopy. Main findings points to its potential to be used as a fertilizer, this is why, mine sludge contains macronutrients such as P, Ca and S, together with micronutrients like Cu. However, the presence of goethite could decrease the mobilization of nutrients to soils, thus additional alternatives, for instance, a mixture with humus or another material containing Humic Acids should be done, in order to minimizing its retention effect. Additionally, another possible uses to explore could be as construction and ceramic material or in the wastewater treatment for nutrient retention and organic material removal. Rutile (TiO2 nanoparticles) particles have been also detected, what could cause health concern due to its nanoparticle toxic character, mainly during gold extraction process

Bioactive Peptides from Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) Prevent the Early Stages of Atherosclerosis in Western Diet-Fed ApoE-/- Mice

11 Páginas.-- 5 Figuras.-- 2 TablasWe have previously reported the in vitro hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of Alcalase-generated lupin protein hydrolysate (LPH). Given that lipoprotein deposition, oxidative stress, and inflammation are the main components of atherogenesis, we characterized the LPH composition, in silico identified LPH-peptides with activities related to atherosclerosis, and evaluated the in vivo LPH effects on atherosclerosis risk factors in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. After 15 min of Alcalase hydrolysis, peptides smaller than 8 kDa were obtained, and 259 peptides out of 278 peptides found showed biological activities related to atherosclerosis risk factors. Furthermore, LPH administration for 12 weeks reduced the plasma lipids, as well as the cardiovascular and atherogenic risk indexes. LPH also increased the total antioxidant capacity, decreased endothelial permeability, inflammatory response, and atherogenic markers. Therefore, this study describes for the first time that LPH prevents the early stages of atherosclerosis.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Gobierno de España [AGL2012-40247-C02-01 and AGL2012-40247-C02-02], Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía [PC-0111-2016-0111 and PEMP-0085-2020], and the Programa PAIDI from the Junta de Andalucía [CTS160]. G.S.-S. was supported by Formación Profesorado Universitario grants from the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, Gobierno de España [FPU16/02339]. I.C.-C. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad, Junta de Andalucía [DOC_00587/2020]. N.Á.-S. was supported by a fellowship from the Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Envejecimiento y Fragilidad (RETICEF) [RD12/0043/0012 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Gobierno de España]. B.R.-O. was supported by a grant from the Programa de Empleo Juvenil of Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social, Gobierno de España [EJ-086]. A.I.Á.-L. was funded by the Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía [PI-0136-2019]. I.B. was supported by the VI Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia of Universidad de Sevilla [VI PPIT-US].Peer reviewe

Measurements of inclusive W and Z cross sections in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV

Measurements of inclusive W and Z boson production cross sections in pp collisions at s√=7s=7 TeV are presented, based on 2.9 pb−1 of data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC. The measurements, performed in the electron and muon decay channels, are combined to give σ(pp→WX)×B(W→ℓν)=9.95±0.07(stat.)±0.28(syst.)±1.09σ(pp→WX)×B(W→ℓν)=9.95±0.07(stat.)±0.28(syst.)±1.09 (lumi.) nb and σ(pp→ZX)×B(Z→ℓ+ℓ−)=0.931±0.026(stat.)±0.023(syst.)±0.102σ(pp→ZX)×B(Z→ℓ+ℓ−)=0.931±0.026(stat.)±0.023(syst.)±0.102 (lumi.) nb, where ℓ stands for either e or μ. Theoretical predictions, calculated at the next-to-next-to-leading order in QCD using recent parton distribution functions, are in agreement with the measured cross sections. Ratios of cross sections, which incur an experimental systematic uncertainty of less than 4%, are also reported.We wish to congratulate our colleagues in the CERN accelerator departments for the excellent performance of the LHC machine. We thank the technical and administrative sta_ at CERN and other CMS institutes. This work was supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research; the Belgium Fonds de la Recherche Scienti_que, and Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek; the Brazilian Funding Agencies (CNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ, and FAPESP); the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science; CERN; the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, and National Natural Science Foundation of China; the Colombian Funding Agency (COLCIENCIAS); the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport; the Research Promotion Foundation, Cyprus; the Estonian Academy of Sciences and NICPB; the Academy of Finland, Finnish Ministry of Education, and Helsinki Institute of Physics; the Institut National de Physique Nucl_eaire et de Physique des Particules / CNRS, and Commissariat _a l'_Energie Atomique, France; the Bundesministerium f ur Bildung und Forschung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren, Germa-ny; the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Greece; the National Scienti_c Research Foundation, and National O_ce for Research and Technology, Hungary; the Department of Atomic Energy, and Department of Science and Technology, India; the Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics, Iran; the Science Foundation, Ireland; the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy; the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the World Class University program of NRF, Korea; the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences; the Mexican Funding Agencies (CINVESTAV, CONACYT, SEP, and UASLP-FAI); the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission; the State Commission for Scienti_c Research, Poland; the Funda_c~ao para a Ci^encia e a Tecnologia, Portugal; JINR (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan); the Ministry of Science and Technologies of the Russian Federation, and Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy; the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of Serbia; the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci_on, and Programa Consolider- Ingenio 2010, Spain; the Swiss Funding Agencies (ETH Board, ETH Zurich, PSI, SNF, UniZH, Canton Zurich, and SER); the National Science Council, Taipei; the Scienti_c and Technical Research Council of Turkey, and Turkish Atomic Energy Authority; the Science and Technology Facilities Council, U.K.; the US Department of Energy, and the US National Science Foundation. Individuals have received support from the Marie-Curie programme and the European Research Council (European Union); the Leventis Foundation; the A. P. Sloan Foundation; the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; the Associazione per lo Sviluppo Scienti_co e Tecnologico del Piemonte (Italy); the Belgian Federal Science Policy O_ce; the Fonds pour la Formation _a la Recherche dans l'__ndustrie et dans l'_ Agriculture (FRIA-Belgium); and the Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie (IWT-Belgium)

Development of phytotoxicity indexes and their correlation with ecotoxicological, stability and physicochemical parameters during passive composting of poultry manure

Both raw and composted poultry manure is applied as soil amendment. The aims of this study were: (1) to develop phytotoxicity indexes for organic wastes and composts, and (2) to assess the correlation among phytotoxicity indexes, ecotoxicological endpoints and stability and physicochemical parameters during passive composting of poultry manure. Six 2-m³ composting piles were constructed and four parameter groups (physicochemical and microbiological parameters, ecotoxicological endpoints, and biological activity) were determined at four sampling times during 92days. Extracts were used to carry out acute toxicity tests on Daphnia magna, Lactuca sativa and Raphanus sativus. Composting decreased average toxicity 22.8% for the 3 species and D. magna was the most sensitive species. The static respiration index decreased from 1.12 to 0.46mgO₂gOMh⁻¹ whilst organic matter reduced by 64.1% at the end of the process. Escherichia coli colonies remained higher than values recommended by international guidelines. The D. magna immobilization test allowed the assessment of possible leachate or run-off toxicity. The new phytotoxicity indexes (RGIC₀.₈ and GIC₈₀%), proposed in this study, as well as salinity, proved to be good maturity indicators. Hence, these phytotoxicity indexes could be implemented in monitoring strategies as useful ecotoxicological tools. Multivariate analyses demonstrated positive correlations between ecotoxicological endpoints (low toxicity) and biological activity (stability). These two parameter groups were associated at the final sampling time and showed negative correlations with several physicochemical parameters (organic and inorganic contents). The final poultry manure compost was rendered stable, but immature and, thus, unsuitable for soil amending

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown in Eating Disorders: A Multicentre Collaborative International Study

Background. The COVID-19 lockdown has had a significant impact on mental health. Patients with eating disorders (ED) have been particularly vulnerable. Aims. (1) To explore changes in eating-related symptoms and general psychopathology during lockdown in patients with an ED from various European and Asian countries; and (2) to assess differences related to diagnostic ED subtypes, age, and geography. Methods. The sample comprised 829 participants, diagnosed with an ED according to DSM-5 criteria from specialized ED units in Europe and Asia. Participants were assessed using the COVID-19 Isolation Scale (CIES). Results. Patients with binge eating disorder (BED) experienced the highest impact on weight and ED symptoms in comparison with other ED subtypes during lockdown, whereas individuals with other specified feeding and eating disorders (OFSED) had greater deterioration in general psychological functioning than subjects with other ED subtypes. Finally, Asian and younger individuals appeared to be more resilient. Conclusions. The psychopathological changes in ED patients during the COVID-19 lockdown varied by cultural context and individual variation in age and ED diagnosis. Clinical services may need to target preventive measures and adapt therapeutic approaches for the most vulnerable patients

Transverse-Momentum and Pseudorapidity Distributions of Charged Hadrons in pp Collisions at √s=7 TeV

Charged-hadron transverse-momentum and pseudorapidity distributions in proton-proton collisions at √s=7  TeV are measured with the inner tracking system of the CMS detector at the LHC. The charged-hadron yield is obtained by counting the number of reconstructed hits, hit pairs, and fully reconstructed charged-particle tracks. The combination of the three methods gives a charged-particle multiplicity per unit of pseudorapidity dNch/dηη|<0.5=5.78±0.01(stat)±0.23(syst) for non-single-diffractive events, higher than predicted by commonly used models. The relative increase in charged-particle multiplicity from √s=0.9 to 7 TeV is [66.1±1.0(stat)±4.2(syst)]%. The mean transverse momentum is measured to be 0.545±0.005(stat)±0.015(syst)  GeV/c. The results are compared with similar measurements at lower energies