α-Titanium phosphate intercalated with propylamine: An alternative pathway for efficient europium(III) uptake into layered tetravalent metal phosphates

Abstractα-Ti(HPO4)2·H2O (α-TiP) and its propylamine intercalation product, Ti(HPO4)2·2C3H7NH2·H2O (α-TiPPr), have been synthesized and characterized. Later, their sorption capacity for europium(III) was investigated, and this purpose was accomplished by treating α-TiP and α-TiPPr with europium(III) nitrate solutions at different concentrations until the equilibrium is reached. All samples were characterized, among others, by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM, TEM, STEM-EDX, SAED), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The results show that the Eu3+ uptake is limited to surface when α-TiP is used as sorbent. Nevertheless, the Eu-retention is considerably enhanced with α-TiPPr as a consequence of an ion-exchange process into the interlayer space of the layered titanium phosphate (involving propylammonium cations, C3H7NH3+, and hexahydrate europium(III) species, [Eu(H2O)6]3+), and the crystal structure of a hypothetical final product, α-[Eu(H2O)6]2/3Ti(PO4)2·[(H2O)6]1/3, has been proposed by using DFT calculations

Ammonium-exchanged phase of γ-titanium phosphate: Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure and thermal behavior

Resumen del póster presentado al 2nd Central and Eastern European Conference on Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis celebrado en Vilnius (Lituania) del 27 al 30 de agosto de 2013.Peer Reviewe

Dispersal history of SARS-CoV-2 in Galicia, Spain

The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission are influenced by a variety of factors, including social restrictions and the emergence of distinct variants. In this study, we delve into the origins and dissemination of the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants of concern in Galicia, northwest Spain. For this, we leveraged genomic data collected by the EPICOVIGAL Consortium and from the GISAID database, along with mobility information from other Spanish regions and foreign countries. Our analysis indicates that initial introductions during the Alpha phase were predominantly from other Spanish regions and France. However, as the pandemic progressed, introductions from Portugal and the USA became increasingly significant. Notably, Galicia’s major coastal cities emerged as critical hubs for viral transmission, highlighting their role in sustaining and spreading the virus. This research emphasizes the critical role of regional connectivity in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and offers essential insights for enhancing public health strategies and surveillance measures.This work was funded by grant EPICOVIGAL FONDO SUPERA-COVID19 from Banco Santander-CSIC-CRUE and grant CT850A-2 from ACIS SERGAS from the Consellería de Sanidade Xunta de Galicia. PGG was supported by grant ED481A-2021/345 from the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Universidade Xunta de Galicia. SD acknowledges support from the Fonds National de la Recherche (F.R.S.-FNRS, Belgium; grant no. F.4515.22). SD and GB acknowledge support from the Research Foundation - Flanders (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen, FWO, Belgium; grant no. G098321N) and from the European Union Horizon RIA 2023 project LEAPS (grant no. 101094685). GB acknowledges support from the Internal Funds KU Leuven (Grant No. C14/18/094), from the Research Foundation - Flanders (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen, FWO, Belgium; grant no. G0E1420N) and from the DURABLE EU4Health project 02/2023-01/2027, which is co-funded by the European Union (call EU4H-2021-PJ4; grant no. 101102733). SD and PL acknowledge support from the European Union Horizon 2020 project MOOD (grant agreement no. 874850). PL and MAS acknowledge support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 725422 - ReservoirDOCS), from the Wellcome Trust through project 206298/Z/17/Z and from the National Institutes of Health grants R01 AI153044, R01 AI162611 and U19 AI135995. PL also acknowledges support from the Research Foundation - Flanders (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen, G0D5117N, and G051322N); MIV, JCS and NSO acknowledge support from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (project UIDB/50026/2020, UIDP/50026/2020).N

Dispersal history of SARS-CoV-2 in Galicia, Spain

13 páginas, 4 figurasThe dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission are influenced by a variety of factors, including social restrictions and the emergence of distinct variants. In this study, we delve into the origins and dissemination of the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron-BA.1 variants of concern in Galicia, northwest Spain. For this, we leveraged genomic data collected by the EPICOVIGAL Consortium and from the GISAID database, along with mobility information from other Spanish regions and foreign countries. Our analysis indicates that initial introductions during the Alpha phase were predominantly from other Spanish regions and France. However, as the pandemic progressed, introductions from Portugal and the United States became increasingly significant. The number of detected introductions varied from 96 and 101 for Alpha and Delta to 39 for Omicron-BA.1. Most of these introductions left a low number of descendants (<10), suggesting a limited impact on the evolution of the pandemic in Galicia. Notably, Galicia's major coastal cities emerged as critical hubs for viral transmission, highlighting their role in sustaining and spreading the virus. This research emphasizes the critical role of regional connectivity in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and offers essential insights for enhancing public health strategies and surveillance measures.This work was funded by grant EPICOVIGAL FONDO SUPERA-COVID19 from Banco Santander-CSIC-CRUE and grant CT850A-2 from ACIS SERGAS from the Consellería de Sanidade Xunta de Galicia. PGG was supported by grant ED481A-2021/345 from the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Universidade Xunta de Galicia. SD acknowledges support from the Fonds National de la Recherche (F.R.S.-FNRS, Belgium; grant no. F.4515.22). SD and GB acknowledge support from the Research Foundation - Flanders (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen, FWO, Belgium; grant no. G098321N) and from the European Union Horizon RIA 2023 project LEAPS (grant no. 101094685). GB acknowledges support from the Internal Funds KU Leuven (Grant No. C14/18/094), from the Research Foundation - Flanders (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen, FWO, Belgium; grant no. G0E1420N) and from the DURABLE EU4Health project 02/2023-01/2027, which is co-funded by the European Union (call EU4H-2021-PJ4; grant no. 101102733). SD and PL acknowledge support from the European Union Horizon 2020 project MOOD (grant agreement no. 874850). PL and MAS acknowledge support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 725422 - ReservoirDOCS), from the Wellcome Trust through project 206298/Z/17/Z and from the National Institutes of Health grants R01 AI153044, R01 AI162611 and U19 AI135995. PL also acknowledges support from the Research Foundation - Flanders (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen, G0D5117N, and G051322N); MIV, JCS and NSO acknowledge support from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (project UIDB/50026/2020, UIDP/50026/2020).Peer reviewe

Efficacy of clozapine versus standard treatment in adult individuals with intellectual disability and treatment-resistant psychosis (CLOZAID): study protocol of a multicenter randomized clinical trial

BackgroundIntellectual disability (ID) affects approximately 1% of the worldwide population and individuals with ID have a higher comorbidity with mental illness, and specifically psychotic disorders. Unfortunately, among individuals with ID, limited research has been conducted since ID individuals are usually excluded from mental illness epidemiological studies and clinical trials. Here we perform a clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of resistant psychosis in individuals with ID. The article highlights the complexity of diagnosing and treating psychopathological alterations associated with ID and advocates for more rigorous research in this field.MethodsA Phase IIB, open-label, randomized, multicenter clinical trial (NCT04529226) is currently ongoing to assess the efficacy of oral clozapine in individuals diagnosed with ID and suffering from treatment-resistant psychosis. We aim to recruit one-hundred and fourteen individuals (N=114) with ID and resistant psychosis, who will be randomized to TAU (treatment as usual) and treatment-with-clozapine conditions. As secondary outcomes, changes in other clinical scales (PANSS and SANS) and the improvement in functionality, assessed through changes in the Euro-QoL-5D-5L were assessed. The main outcome variables will be analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), assessing the effects of status variable (TAU vs. Clozapine), time, and the interaction between them.DiscussionThe treatment of resistant psychosis among ID individuals must be directed by empirically supported research. CLOZAID clinical trial may provide relevant information about clinical guidelines to optimally treat adults with ID and treatment-resistant psychosis and the benefits and risks of an early use of clozapine in this underrepresented population in clinical trials.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT04529226. EudraCT: 2020-000091-37

α-Titanium phosphate intercalated with propylamine: An alternative pathway for efficient europium(III) uptake into layered tetravalent metal phosphates

α-Ti(HPO4)2·H2O (α-TiP) and its propylamine intercalation product, Ti(HPO4)2·2C3H7NH2·H2O (α-TiPPr), have been synthesized and characterized. Later, their sorption capacity for europium(III) was investigated, and this purpose was accomplished by treating α-TiP and α-TiPPr with europium(III) nitrate solutions at different concentrations until the equilibrium is reached. All samples were characterized, among others, by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM, TEM, STEM-EDX, SAED), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The results show that the Eu3+ uptake is limited to surface when α-TiP is used as sorbent. Nevertheless, the Eu-retention is considerably enhanced with α-TiPPr as a consequence of an ion-exchange process into the interlayer space of the layered titanium phosphate (involving propylammonium cations, C3H7NH3+, and hexahydrate europium(III) species, [Eu(H2O)6]3+), and the crystal structure of a hypothetical final product, α-[Eu(H2O)6]2/3Ti(PO4)2·[(H2O)6]1/3, has been proposed by using DFT calculations.Financial support from Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MAT2013-40950-R) and Gobierno del Principado de Asturias (GRUPIN14-060), and FEDER funding is acknowledged.Peer Reviewe

Exfoliation and europium(III)-functionalization of α-titanium phosphate via propylamine intercalation: from multilayer assemblies to single nanosheets

Layered α-titanium phosphate intercalated with propylamine, Ti(HPO4)2·2C3H7NH2·H2O (α-TiPPr), has been synthesized by solid-vapour reaction and then exfoliated via a single-stage approach based on overnight stirring in aqueous medium. The obtained nanosheets were then functionalized using solid–liquid reaction with europium(III) nitrate aqueous solutions. The obtained materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms at 77 K, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM, SAED, STEM-EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The europium(III) sorption takes place via two distinct pathways, the first is the previously reported C3H7NH3+/[Eu(H2O)6]3+ ion-exchange process into the titanium–phosphate interlayer space of the multilayered α-TiPPr. The second pathway is the self-assembly of single-sheets which is provoked by electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged titanium–phosphate sheets and the Eu(III)-aqueous cations, leading to the formation of layered nanoparticles.Financial support from Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MAT2013-40950-R and MAT2016-78155-C2-1-R) and Gobierno del Principado de Asturias (GRUPIN14-060), and FEDER funding are acknowledged.Peer reviewe

Morphological study and thermal behaviour of an ammonium-titanium(IV) phosphate with pyrochlore-type structure

Polycrystalline ammonium-titanium(IV) phosphate with pyrochlore-type structure has been obtained under hydrothermal conditions and characterised by powder X-ray thermodiffractometry (HT-pXRD), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and thermal analysis (TG/SDTA–MS). Moreover, the activation energy of thermal decomposition has been calculated as a function of the extent of conversion applying the Vyazovkin isoconversional method to the thermogravimetric data. The sample is constituted by nearly spherical plate-like particles (diameter ca. 25 nm) which in an aqueous medium are prone to auto-assembling to originate polycrystalline fibres. Thermogravimetric analysis showed significant differences between the thermal decomposition behaviour in inert (N2) and oxidiser (O2) atmospheres (e.g. the total mass loss), revealing the presence of a fraction of P(III) which oxidises to P(V) when the N2 atmosphere is replaced at 823 K by O2 atmosphere.This work is supported by “Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad” (MAT2013-40950-R, MAT2011-27573-C04-02), “Gobierno del Principado de Asturias” (GRUPIN14-060) and FEDER.Peer reviewe

Ammonium-exchanged phase of γ-titanium phosphate

The monoammonium salt of γ-titanium phosphate has been prepared by hydrothermal treatment of π-Ti2O(PO4)2·2H2O in the presence of urea and phosphoric acid, and its crystal structure was obtained by Rietveld analysis using powder X-ray diffraction data. γ-Ti(PO4)(NH4HPO4) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/m with a = 5.0725(3) Å, b = 6.3101(3) Å, c = 11.2435(5) Å, β = 97.980(3)° (Z = 2). The structure consists of 2D titanium phosphate layers in the ab-plane. The titanium atoms and one of the phosphate groups are located nearly in the ab-plane of the layer. All the oxygen atoms of this phosphate group are involved in titanium coordination sphere. The other phosphate group located in the layers edges links two neighboring titanium atoms in the a-direction through two of its oxygen atoms. The remaining two oxygens are pointed toward the interlayer space being involved in hydrogen bond interactions with the ammonium ions. Each ammonium ion is shared by four oxygens belonging to four different phosphate hydroxyl groups. γ-Ti(PO4)(NH4HPO4) is stable until 453 K, while above this temperature, it transforms to γ’-Ti(PO4)(NH4HPO4) high temperature polymorph stable until 573 K. Thermal decomposition of this material leads to cubic TiP2O7 structure, with previous formation of two intermediate pseudo-layered compounds: Ti(PO4)(NH4HP2O7)0.5 and Ti(PO4)(H2P2O7)0.5. The activation energy of thermal decomposition has been calculated as a function of the extent of conversion applying the Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) isoconversional method to the thermogravimetric data.We thank financial support from Spanish MINECO (MAT2010-15094, MAT2011-27573-C04, Factoría de Cristalización – Consolider Ingenio 2010, Técnicos de Infraestructuras Científico-Tecnológicas Grant PTA2011-4903-I to ZA, and PTA2011-4950-I to SAK) and FEDER.Peer Reviewe

Thermal synthesis and structural characterization of the orthorhombic Th2(PO4)(P3O10)

Polycrystalline thorium(IV) phosphate-triphosphate, Th2(PO4)(P3O10) (1), was obtained by (NH4)2Th(PO4)2·H2O (2) heating from room temperature to 1,273 K. 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pn21 a (a = 11.6846(2) Å, b = 7.1746(1) Å, c = 12.9320(3) Å, Z = 4). Combining powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction data and DFT geometry optimization, a structural model is proposed for 1. The structure is built on ThO8 polyhedral chains along the b-axis. PO4 3− and P3O10 5− groups coexist in the structure and the latter group forms non-linear chains. Cohesion of the structure is made by the linkage of ThO8 chains by PO4 and P3O10 groups. Thermal transformation from 2 to 1 was monitored by thermogravimetric analysis (activation energy as a function of the extent of conversion was obtained from Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) isoconversional method) and powder X-ray thermo-diffraction. For 2, the dehydration process takes place in two steps, with the apparition of a layered intermediate phase, (NH4)2Th(PO4)2·nH2O (0 < n < 1, d = 6.42 Å), previously to the formation of (NH4)2Th(PO4)2 (d = 6.31 Å). The condensation process produces an amorphous material that crystallizes to α-ThP2O7 (3) when the temperature increases. At 1,273 K, 3 slowly transforms to 1.The authors are grateful to the FEDER and Spanish MINECO for financial support under projects MAT 2010-15094 and MAT 2011-27573-C04 and Factoría de Cristalización—Consolider Ingenio 2010.Peer Reviewe