Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) seed quality in relation to seed deterioration under accelerated aging conditions

This study was conducted to evaluate the response of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) seeds under accelerated aging test. The accelerated aging test was carried out at three different temperatures: 41, 43 and 45°C with four duration periods of 48, 72, 96, 144 and a relative humidity of 100%. The two seed lots of F. excelsior were subjected to tests of their quality including standard germination, vigor index, seedling growth and seedling dry weight. A completely randomized factorial design with four replications was used. Results indicated that, old seeds were more sensitive to accelerated aging than new seeds. Seeds of both lots had a reduction of viability and vigor after accelerated aging at 41°C for 96 h, 43 and 45°C for 72 to 144 h. Germination, vigor index, seedling growth and seedling dry weight showed a greater response to accelerated aging.Key words: Fraxinus excelsior, accelerated aging, germination, seed vigor, seedling growth rates

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in Prostate Diseases (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Prostate Cancer)

The minimally invasive, image-guided therapies are a clear option in the urologists’ armamentarium to treat BPH and prostate cancer. During the last decade, advances in the HIFU systems improved the capacities to scan, fuse MR images to target a specific zone, situation that improved the safety and possibility to ablate the cancer in a focalized location or a whole gland ablation, preserving continence and erections, with a proper selection of patients, with good results, comparable with surgery or radiation. In some post radiation failures, it is a very safe option to treat the recurrent cancer. In the case of BPH, the flexibility to ablate exclusively the prostate enlargement, preserving the urethra is a great advantage, considering a fast procedure, no bleeding, and a highly precise treatment, with improvement in the voiding function, improving IPSS and uroflowmetry parameters

Caracterización física y mecánica de pastas y morteros de cal para su uso en restauración

Slaked lime is traditionally a suitable material for use in construction activities in historic and traditional buildings whose constitutive characteristics demand compatible and appropriate material solutions. Therefore, knowing the physical and mechanical characterization of lime pastes and mortars for use in restoration is considered an important step in the process of scientific development of a material that, in the Mexican case, has lacked scientific rigor in its production, use and commercialization. With this in mind, the present article aims to investigate the characteristics of lime pastes and mortars that have been used in the traditional way and the new limes that exist in the market, offering suitable options for restoration, for which an integrated methodology was used consisting of physical tests such as surface area, electrical resistivity, pulse velocity, colorimetry, and mechanical tests such as compressive strength, giving as a result that “traditional slaked” lime is more likely to deteriorate than powdered lime, which leads us to conclude that powdered hydrated lime has optimal characteristics for restoration activities.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Polymeric networks based on tung oil: reaction and modification with green oil monomers

A highly unsaturated vegetable oil (tung oil) was cationically copolymerized with a vegetable oil derived monomer, that replaces the more frequently used styrene. The synthesized comonomer was methyl ester of tung oil, obtained by transesterification of the plant oil with methanol. Alternatively, the incorporation of a green modifier, a commercial acrylated epoxidized soybean oil, was also considered. The use of any of these modifiers allowed preparing materials with an elevated content of bio-derived components.All the materials obtained presented good mechanical damping capacity, as well as dynamic mechanical properties comparable to analogous materials obtained by copolymerization with styrene. Incorporation of low concentrations of divinylbenzene in the formulations allowed increasing rigidity and glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the materials. One of the formulations prepared by copolymerization with the tung oil methyl ester presented shape memory behavior.Fil: Meiorin, Cintia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Aranguren, Mirta Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Mosiewicki, Mirna Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigación En Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentin

Non-invasive ventilation in patients with an altered level of consciousness. A clinical review and practical insights

Non-invasive ventilation has gained an increasingly pivotal role in the treatment of acute hypoxemic and/or hypercapnic respiratory failure and offers multiple advantages over invasive mechanical ventilation. Some of these advantages include the preservation of airway defense mechanisms, a reduced need for sedation, and an avoidance of complications related to endotracheal intubation