Synthesis and Effect of CaTiO3 formation in CaO·Al2O3 by Solid-State Reaction from CaCO3· Al2O3 and Ti

CaO⋅Al2O3/CaTiO3 material was synthesized by a solid-state reaction. The effects of CaTiO3 formed into the CaO⋅Al2O3 during the synthesized process on the microstructure and mechanical properties were studied. CaCO3 was obtained from snail shells, Al2O3, and Ti powders were employed as a raw material. A chemical system with a 1:1 M ratio between CaCO3 and Al2O3 was formed, with an addition of 10 wt% Ti metallic particles. The microstructural analysis through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction was realized. The apparent density was determined by the Archimedes method, and the mechanical behavior (hardness, fracture toughness, and transversal elastic modulus) were also determined. XRD analysis revealed the formation of calcium aluminate phases such as CaAl2O4, CaAl4O7, and CaAl12O19; in addition, the CaTiO3 phase was also identified. The in-situ formation of CaTiO3 in the ceramic material, improves the mechanical properties such as the transversal elastic modulus and fracture toughness (48 GPa and 1.32 MPa m1/2, respectively) in comparison to the reference material (55 GPa and 0.43 MPa m1/2, respectively). Changes in the microstructural morphology, bulk density, and hardness values were also observed with a positive effect in the compound material

Optimization and application of a continuous flow photo-electro-Fenton system for the removal of pharmaceutical active compounds detected in irrigation water of Bogotá – Savanna (Colombia) Crops

In this study, a continuous flow photo-electro-Fenton (PEF) system was evaluated for its ability to remove pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) from irrigation water used in Bogotá-savanna crops. The PEF system consisted of dimensionally stable anode and graphite diffusion gas cathode, which were irradiated with LEDs. Firstly, the system was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) in ultrapure water. The most favorable conditions for efficient generation of oxidants (the response variable) were found to be a flow rate of 210 mL/min, a current density of 15 mA/cm2, and an electrolyte concentration of 0.1 mol NaCl/L. Subsequently, model compounds of PhACs, including losartan (LOS), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and diclofenac (DCF), were eliminated after only 10 min of treatment under the previously established conditions. After demonstrating the potential of the PEF system to eliminate PhACs, the system was applied to real irrigation water to evaluate the degradation of seven PhACs, namely carbamazepine (CBZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), clarithromycin (CLR), diclofenac (DCF), valsartan (VAL), and trimethoprim (TMP). The results showed that after 30 min of treatment with the PEF system, the concentration of these compounds was drastically reduced remaining undetected. This demonstrates the high potential of the PEF system to reduce the presence of PhACs in irrigation water and associated environmental and food health risks

Confined benzene within InOF-1: Contrasting CO2 and SO2 capture behaviours

The confinement of small amounts of benzene in InOF-1 (Bz@InOF-1) shows a contradictory behavior in the capture of CO2 and SO2. While the capture of CO2 is increased 1.6 times, compared to the pristine material, the capture of SO2 shows a considerable decrease. To elucidate these behaviors, the interactions of CO2 and SO2 with Bz@InOF-1 were studied by DFT periodical calculations postulating a plausible explanation: (a) in the case of benzene and CO2, these molecules do not compete for the preferential adsorption sites within InOF-1, providing a cooperative CO2 capture enhancement and (b) benzene and SO2 strongly compete for these preferential adsorption sites inside the MOF material, reducing the total SO2 capture

Proteomic analysis of peach fruit mesocarp softening and chilling injury using difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Peach fruit undergoes a rapid softening process that involves a number of metabolic changes. Storing fruit at low temperatures has been widely used to extend its postharvest life. However, this leads to undesired changes, such as mealiness and browning, which affect the quality of the fruit. In this study, a 2-D DIGE approach was designed to screen for differentially accumulated proteins in peach fruit during normal softening as well as under conditions that led to fruit chilling injury.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis allowed us to identify 43 spots -representing about 18% of the total number analyzed- that show statistically significant changes. Thirty-nine of the proteins could be identified by mass spectrometry. Some of the proteins that changed during postharvest had been related to peach fruit ripening and cold stress in the past. However, we identified other proteins that had not been linked to these processes. A graphical display of the relationship between the differentially accumulated proteins was obtained using pairwise average-linkage cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Proteins such as endopolygalacturonase, catalase, NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase, pectin methylesterase and dehydrins were found to be very important for distinguishing between healthy and chill injured fruit. A categorization of the differentially accumulated proteins was performed using Gene Ontology annotation. The results showed that the 'response to stress', 'cellular homeostasis', 'metabolism of carbohydrates' and 'amino acid metabolism' biological processes were affected the most during the postharvest.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Using a comparative proteomic approach with 2-D DIGE allowed us to identify proteins that showed stage-specific changes in their accumulation pattern. Several proteins that are related to response to stress, cellular homeostasis, cellular component organization and carbohydrate metabolism were detected as being differentially accumulated. Finally, a significant proportion of the proteins identified had not been associated with softening, cold storage or chilling injury-altered fruit before; thus, comparative proteomics has proven to be a valuable tool for understanding fruit softening and postharvest.</p

Optimal Nitrogen Fertilization to Reach the Maximum Grain and Stover Yields of Maize (Zea mays L.): Tendency Modeling

Utilization of maize stover to the production of meat and milk and saving the grains for human consumption would be one strategy for the optimal usage of resources. Variance and tendency analyses were applied to find the optimal nitrogen (N) fertilization dose (0, 100, 145, 190, 240, and 290 kg/ha) for forage (F), stover (S), cob (C), and grain (G) yields, as well as the optimal grain-to-forage, cob-to-forage, and cob-to-stover ratios (G:F, C:F, and C:S, respectively). The study was performed in central Mexico (20.691389° N and −101.259722° W, 1740 m a.m.s.l.; Cwa (Köppen), 699 mm annual precipitation; alluvial soils). N-190 and N-240 improved the individual yields and ratios the most. Linear and quadratic models for CDM, GDM, and G:F ratio had coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.20–0.46 (p < 0.03). Cubic showed R2 = 0.30–0.72 (p < 0.02), and the best models were for CDM, GDM, and the G:F, C:F, and C:S DM ratios (R2 = 0.60–0.72; p < 0.0002). Neither SHB nor SDM negatively correlated with CDM or GDM (r = 0.23–0.48; p < 0.0001). Excess of N had negative effects on forage, stover, cobs, and grains yields, but optimal N fertilization increased the proportion of the G:F, C:F, and C:S ratios, as well as the SHB and SDM yields, without negative effects on grain production

Población de animales domésticos en la ciudad de Machala, El Oro, Ecuador y su repercusión en la salud humana

El presente trabajo, tuvo como objetivo determinar la población de mascotas en la Ciudad de Machala, provincia de El Oro, Ecuador, así como sus condiciones de tenencia, alimentación, salud, estado de confort-bienestar y el uso y beneficios que obtienen sus propietarios. La metodología empleada consistió en la elaboración de un formulario para entrevistas a los núcleos familiares y el registro de datos de los indicadores, in situ, de cada una de las variables antes mencionadas; los resultados, procesados en Excel, se expresan en tablas y figuras de histogramas de frecuencia porcentual. Los resultados muestran que la tenencia de mascotas no ocasiona ningún problema de estar bien atendidas. En la relación con las mascotas y sus dueños. Palabras clave: Sistemas de manejo y tenencia, núcleo familiar, problemas, alimentación y salud.   ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to determine the population of pets in the City of Machala, El Oro province, Ecuador, as well as their conditions of possession, food, health, comfort-well-being and the use and benefits obtained by their owners.   The methodology used consisted in the elaboration of a form for interviews with the family nuclei and the data record of the indicators, in situ, of each one of the aforementioned variables; The results, processed in Excel, are expressed in tables and figures of percentage frequency histograms. The results show that keeping pets does not cause any problem of being well cared for. In the relationship with pets and their owners. Keywords: Management and possession systems, family nucleus, problems, feeding and health

Human Papiloma Virus in lung cancer tissue. Experience at the Calderon Guardia Hopsital

Background: The epidemiology of lung cancer, a major cause of morbidity throughout the world and the leading cause of mortality among adult men and women, has changed substantially in the past few years. Some of these changes can be explained by tobacco consumption, but there is also the possibility of other carcinogenic agents involved in lung cancer etiology, such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and they have described a mechanism by which some of the viral structural proteins interfere with tumor suppressor genes, leading to uncontrolled and fast cellular proliferation. Methods: The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of HPV in lung cancer (LC) tissue. The study population was a group of 110 patients with histologically confirmed LC. The biopsies of lung tissue where fixed in paraffin and formalin at the Calderon Guardia Hospital, Department of Pathology, from January 2002 to July 2009. The viral DNA was extracted using a system for fixed tissue -QIAmp DNA FFPE-, and the virus detection was done by multiple PCR differentiation on the molecular weight of the E6 gen that differs within genotypes. Results: The prevalence of HPV in LC was 4,5%. Most of the HPV types found were non-oncogenic Conclusions: The prevalence found is very low in comparison with other regions of the world. There was no association found between HPV and LC histology, gender, and tobacco use."This study was carried out at the Hospital Rafael Angel Calderón " " José Costa Rica and it was sponsored by the Fundación Académica " "Guardia, San" "Stvdivm, the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICIT) and the " "Costarrican Science and Technology Ministry. "UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de Medicin

Diseño de una matriz de indicadores para evaluar la sostenibilidad de una finca en San José (Costa Rica)

En el Cantón de Aserrí (Provincia San José, Costa Rica) se diseñó una matriz de objetivos e indicadores claves para el monitoreo de la sostenibilidad en la Finca Los Bobos, dedicada a la producción de café orgánico. La comunidad participó activamente en la caracterización del sistema de producción, el diseño del diagrama de flujo y la elaboración de la matriz. Se diseñaron un total de 50 objetivos y 119 indicadores, 14 objetivos y 37 indicadores para la dimensión ecológica, 13 objetivos y 32 indicadores para la dimensión económica, 12 objetivos y 22 indicadores para la dimensión social, y 11 objetivos y 28 indicadores para la dimensión técnica

Cálculo de índices de sostenibilidad para una finca dedicada a la producción de café orgánico en San José (Costa, Rica)

En el Cantón de Aserrí (Provincia San José, Costa Rica) se monitoreo la sostenibilidad en la Finca Los Bobos, dedicada a la producción de café orgánico, mediante la utilización de una metodología integrada para evaluar la sostenibilidad en sistemas de producción agropecuarios. El cálculo de índices comprendió la determinación de los valores actuales y de referencia para los indicadores, estandarización, ponderación, agregación y graficación. A través de este método se generó un índice agregado de sostenibilidad que evaluó el desarrollo integral de la Finca Los Bobos en cuatro dimensiones: Ecológica, Económica, Social y Técnica. Los valores extremos de este índice fueron 0 (subóptimo) y 1 (óptimo). Se realizó la medición de 27 indicadores para la dimensión ecológica, 25 para la económica, 20 para la social y 23 para la técnica. Para cada dimensión los componentes con mayor índice de sostenibilidad son: ecológica: humano (1,00); económica: animal (0,90); social: animal (0,99) y vegetal (0,99); y técnica: humano (1,00). El índice agregado de sostenibilidad para las dimensiones fue: dimensión social: 0,91; dimensión ecológica: 0,74; dimensión técnica: 0,74; y dimensión económica: 0,69. El índice agregado de sostenibilidad para el sistema fue de 0,76

The ellagic acid derivative 4,4′-Di-O-methylellagic acid efficiently inhibits colon cancer cell growth through a mechanism involving WNT16

Producción CientíficaEllagic acid (EA) and some derivatives have been reported to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce cell cycle arrest, and modulate some important cellular processes related to cancer. This study aimed to identify possible structure-activity relationships of EA and some in vivo derivatives in their antiproliferative effect on both human colon cancer and normal cells, and to compare this activity with that of other polyphenols. Our results showed that 4,4′-di-O-methylellagic acid (4,4′-DiOMEA) was the most effective compound in the inhibition of colon cancer cell proliferation. 4,4′-DiOMEA was 13-fold more effective than other compounds of the same family. In addition, 4,4′-DiOMEA was very active against colon cancer cells resistant to the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluoracil, whereas no effect was observed in nonmalignant colon cells. Moreover, no correlation between antiproliferative and antioxidant activities was found, further supporting that structure differences might result in dissimilar molecular targets involved in their differential effects. Finally, microarray analysis revealed that 4,4′-DiOMEA modulated Wnt signaling, which might be involved in the potential antitumor action of this compound. Our results suggest that structural-activity differences between EA and 4,4′-DiOMEA might constitute the basis for a new strategy in anticancer drug discovery based on these chemical modifications.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (AGL2013-48943-C2-2-R and IPT-2011-1248-060000)Comunidad de Madrid [Grant P2013/ABI-2728 ALIBIRD-CM