ZnO synthesis from Zn-C and alkaline spent batteries by alkaline leaching: properties and applications

6th EUCHEMS Chemistry Congress. Seville, Spain, 11th-19 th September 2016This report describes the leaching experiments to recover Zn from spent household Zn-C and alkaline batteries. Basic zinc carbonate Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by the leaching of an ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution of black mass. Zinc oxide (ZnO) were prepared by the thermal decomposition of basic zinc carbonate precursor. The synthesis of ZnO micro and nanostructures is carried out through the vapor solid growth process.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MINECO (Projects MAT 2012-31959 and CSD2009-00013) and MINECO/FEDER (MAT2015-65274-R; 2016-2019). This work has supported by the Envirobat España S.L.Peer reviewe

Potential of bacteriophage K as an antimicrobial strategy against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus in the food industry

1 poster presented at the 24th International ICFMH Conference, Food Micro 2014, 1-4 Septembre, Nantes, FranceThe potential of phage K in the removal and prevention of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on stainless steel surfaces was examined. The host range of the phage was tested on 18 strains from the food industry. Two out of six sensitive strains were selected for study of biofilms. Immature 6-h-old biofilms were challenged wfth a wide range of multipticlties of infection {MOl, 0.01-500) for 18 h at 25ºc. A noticeable effect on cell number was appreciated at MOIs≥10, but no effect was detected at lower MOis. Subsequently, 24 h-old biofilms (with a higher cell density and a more dense extracellular matrix) were challenged too at MOIs between 0.01-3.0 for 24 hat 25ºc. Again, a significant effect was only found at MOls > 1. The effectiveness in the prevention of biofilm formation was examined by Infecting planktonlc cultures of S. aureus with sub-lethal and lethal doses of phage K (MOIs 1-10-7-10.0). A notable effect on cell number and biofilm biomass was observed from MOIs >1·10-5. The potential of phage K as a tool for biohygienization in the food Industry acting specifically against biofilms of S. aureus was thus shown. However, neither biofilm cells were completely removed nor biofilm formation was totally prevented, and a sub-population of live cells was left In both cases As a result, the effectiveness of two co-adjuvant-based strategies was subsequently assessed. Combining DNase (0,1-10 mg/ml) with phage K (MOl of 0.3-3.0) did not show an additional effect on the removal of 24 h-old-biofilms at 25°C. A 30 min pre-treatment at 37ºc aimed to enhance DNase activity also had not effect. DNase did not show any effects by itself either. In contrast, combining cis-2-decenoic acid {1 - 100 nM) with phage K (MOl of 0.03-0.3) seemed to show some effects on biofilmsN

Design and Synthesis of CNS-targeted Flavones and Analogues with Neuroprotective Potential Against H2O2- and Aβ1-42-Induced Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells

With the lack of available drugs able to prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the discovery of new neuroprotective treatments able to rescue neurons from cell injury is presently a matter of extreme importance and urgency. Here, we were inspired by the widely reported potential of natural flavonoids to build a library of novel flavones, chromen-4-ones and their C-glucosyl derivatives, and to explore their ability as neuroprotective agents with suitable pharmacokinetic profiles. All compounds were firstly evaluated in a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) to assess their effective permeability across biological membranes, namely the blood-brain barrier (BBB). With this test, we aimed not only at assessing if our candidates would be well-distributed, but also at rationalizing the influence of the sugar moiety on the physicochemical properties. To complement our analysis, logD7.4 was determined. From all screened compounds, the p-morpholinyl flavones stood out for their ability to fully rescue SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells against both H2O2- and Aβ1-42-induced cell death. Cholinesterase inhibition was also evaluated, and modest inhibitory activities were found. This work highlights the potential of C-glucosylflavones as neuroprotective agents, and presents the p-morpholinyl C-glucosylflavone 37, which did not show any cytotoxicity towards HepG2 and Caco-2 cells at 100 μM, as a new lead structure for further development against AD.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia-UID/Multi/0612/2019Unión Europea-D3i4AD), FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IAPP, GA 61234

Influence of Ceramic Recycled Aggregates on the Properties of Prestressed Precast Concrete Elements

This work presents the results of an experimental study performed on the mechanical behavior of concrete manufactured with ceramic recycled aggregates (CRA), from precast ventilation ducts, that once made have been rejected by defective. The ultimate objective is to use these wastes to manufacture prestressed concrete joists used in building floors. The coarse fraction and the fine fraction have been considered. The work has been carried out in three phases: characterization of the material, characterization of concrete with CRA and manufacturing and testing of prestressed joists. With the results obtained it is determined the influence of the ceramic recycled aggregate on the properties analyzed. There are not enough studies about prestressed elements that include the replacement of the aggregate in the fine fraction. In view of the results obtained could both of fine and coarse fraction can be used in these applications

Development and validation of the Spanish hazard perception test

Objective: The aim of the current study is to develop and obtain validity evidence for a Hazard Perception test suitable for the Spanish driving population. To obtain validity evidence to support the use of the test, the effect of hazardous and quasi-hazardous situations on the participants’ Hazard Prediction is analysed and the pattern of results of drivers of different driving experience: learner, novice and expert drivers and re-offender vs. non-offender drivers, is compared. Potentially hazardous situations are those that develop without involving any real hazard (i.e., the driver didn’t actually have to decelerate or make any evasive manoeuvre to avoid a potential collision). The current study analysed multiple offender drivers attending compulsory re-education programmes as a result of reaching the maximum number of penalty points on their driving licence, due to repeated violations of traffic laws. Method: A new video-based hazard perception test was developed, using a total of 20 hazardous situation videos plus 8 quasi-hazardous situation videos. They were selected from 167 recordings of natural hazards in real Spanish driving settings

Working Environment in Nursing: Needs Improvement?

Background: Knowing the quality of life of professionals is important because it is related to job performance, better results, and greater productivity, which results in better patient care. Objective: To know the Professional Quality of Life perceived by the nurses at the Geriatric Hospital of Toledo (Spain). Method: A descriptive cross-section study was employed to measure the Professional Quality of Life of all healthcare nurses (69 in total) at the Geriatric Hospital of Toledo. The questionnaire used as a measuring instrument was the Professional Quality of Life - 35. The data obtained was analyzed by means of: descriptive statistics, single-factor ANOVA variance analysis, T Student tests, and simple and multiple regression analysis. The study was approved by both the research commission and the ethics commission at the Hospital Complex of Toledo. Participation in the study on behalf of the nursing staff was voluntary. Results: In total, 45 responses were obtained (65.2%). The overall mean score measured the perceived Professional Quality of Life to be low. In relation to the three dimensions evaluated in the study, the highest average found was in “intrinsic motivation,” followed by “workload”, and then “management support.” In the multivariate analysis, “management support” was shown as the most influential factor in the Professional Quality of Life with a 23% influence (P<0.001), followed by workload with 9% (P = 0.01). Conclusions: The professionals at the participating center perceive their workplace as having an elevated degree of responsibility, a large quantity of work, a high occurrence of rushes and fatigue, and all this with little support on behalf of management. Promotions are scarce or the policies for receiving a promotion are inadequate. The perception of Professional Quality of Life in nursing is low. The obtained results indicate a need for an organizing cultural change based on participation, motivation, and increased management support

Transient Propagation and Scattering of Quasi-Rayleigh Waves in Plates: Quantitative comparison between Pulsed TV-Holography Measurements and FC(Gram) elastodynamic simulations

We study the scattering of transient, high-frequency, narrow-band quasi-Rayleigh elastic waves by through-thickness holes in aluminum plates, in the framework of ultrasonic nondestructive testing (NDT) based on full-field optical detection. Sequences of the instantaneous two-dimensional (2-D) out-of-plane displacement scattering maps are measured with a self-developed PTVH system. The corresponding simulated sequences are obtained by means of an FC(Gram) elastodynamic solver introduced recently, which implements a full three-dimensional (3D) vector formulation of the direct linear-elasticity scattering problem. A detailed quantitative comparison between these experimental and numerical sequences, which is presented here for the first time, shows very good agreement both in the amplitude and the phase of the acoustic field in the forward, lateral and backscattering areas. It is thus suggested that the combination of the PTVH system and the FC(Gram) elastodynamic solver provides an effective ultrasonic inspection tool for plate-like structures, with a significant potential for ultrasonic NDT applications.Comment: 46 pages, 16 figures, corresponding author Jos\'e Carlos L\'opez-V\'azquez, [email protected]. Changes: 1st, 4th, 5th paragraphs (intro), 3rd, 4th paragraphs (sec. 4); [59-60] cited only in appendixes; old ref. [52] removed; misprints corrected in the uncertainty of c_L (subsec. 3.1), citation to fig. 10 (sec. 4), size of images (caption fig.15); reference to Lam\'e constants removed in subsec. 3.

New insights into FoxE1 functions: identification of direct FoxE1 targets in thyroid cells

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.[Background]: FoxE1 is a thyroid-specific forkhead transcription factor essential for thyroid gland development, as well as for the maintenance of the thyroid differentiated state in adults. FoxE1 recognizes and binds to a short DNA sequence present in thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroperoxidase (Tpo) promoters, but FoxE1 binding to regulatory regions other than Tg and Tpo promoters remains almost unexplored. Improving knowledge of the regulatory functions of FoxE1 is necessary to clarify its role in endocrine syndromes and cancer susceptibility. [Methodology/Principal Finding]:I n order to further investigate downstream FoxE1 targets, we performed a genome-wide expression screening after knocking-down FoxE1 and obtained new insights into FoxE1 transcriptional networks in thyroid follicular cells. After validation, we confirmed Adamts9, Cdh1, Duox2 and S100a4 as upregulated genes and Casp4, Creld2, Dusp5, Etv5, Hsp5a, Nr4a2 and Tm4sf1 as downregulated genes when FoxE1 was silenced. In promoter regions of putative FoxE1-regulated genes and also in the promoters of the classical thyroid genes Nis, Pax8 and Titf1, we performed an in silico search of the FoxE1 binding motif that was in close proximity to the NF1/CTF binding sequence, as previously described for other forkhead factors. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation we detected specific in vivo FoxE1 binding to novel regulatory regions in two relevant thyroid genes, Nis and Duox2. Moreover, we demonstrated simultaneous binding of FoxE1 and NF1/CTF to the Nis upstream enhancer region, as well as a clear functional activation of the Nis promoter by both transcription factors. [Conclusions/Significance]:In search for potential downstream mediators of FoxE1 function in thyroid cells, we identified two novel direct FoxE1 target genes. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence regarding the implication of Nis and Duox2 in executing the transcriptional program triggered by FoxE1. Furthermore, this study points out the important role of FoxE1 in the regulation of a large number of genes in thyroid cells. © 2013 Fernández et al.This work was supported by Grants BFU-2010-16025 from the Dirección General de Proyectos de Investigación; RD06/0020/0060 and RD12/0036/0030 from FIS, Instituto de Salud Carlos III; and S2011/BMD-2328 TIRONET project from the Comunidad de Madrid (Spain). LP Fernández holds a postdoctoral grant of the Juan de la Cierva programme of the Spanish Government.Peer Reviewe