Sol-gel synthesis of CaTiO3:Pr3+ red phosphors : tailoring the synthetic parameters for luminescent and afterglow applications

Two sol-gel synthetic routes for the preparation of CaTiO3: Pr3+ red emitting phosphors were compared, with the aim of producing nanostructured materials with tailored luminescence/afterglow properties. The effect of the synthetic parameters, such as the addition of a stabilizer and calcination temperature, on the structural, morphological, and optical properties was investigated. The desired perovskite phase was obtained at a calcination temperature of 800 degrees C or higher. Although the use of acetic acid as the chelating agent leads to micrometric particles with heterogeneous composition, the presence of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) results in smaller, less aggregated particles as well as in a high phase purity. At the highest HPC content, surface Ca-rich impurities were detected, although no segregated Ca-rich phases were detectable by X-ray powder diffraction analyses. Luminescence properties were found to be positively related to the phase purity of the oxide, with the highest quantum yields at temperatures equal to or higher than 1000 degrees C. On the contrary, persistent luminescence properties were highest at intermediate calcination temperatures and for samples synthesized with acetic acid. Overall, a notable role of oxygen vacancies resulting from local Ca excess was observed, acting as trap levels promoting longer relaxation pathways. Thanks to the small-sized particles and best steady-state luminescent properties due to a substantial decrease of lattice defects, the HPC synthesis is a promising strategy for light-emitting diode applications. On the other hand, the acetic acid synthesis promoted a higher defect density, which is required for an efficient yield of light emission in the long time range and is thus more suitable for afterglow applications

Thigh Pain Occurrence Rate in a Short, Tapered, Porous, Proximally-Coated Cementless Femoral Stem - Clinical and Radiological Results at 2-Year Follow-Up

Abstract Introduction: Short stems have been designed with the purpose of preserving bone tissue, decreasing the incidence of thigh pain and facilitating surgical techniques. The aim of our study was to assess whether a shortened tapered conventional stem was able to reduce the incidence of thigh pain.Methods:Between March 2010 and December 2012, 200 patients were enrolled in the study. Visual analogue scale (VAS) that included mapping of the pain, Harris Hip Score (HHS), Short Form-12 (SF-12) and radiographic outcomes were evaluated prior to surgery as well as at 6, 12 and 24 months post-operatively.Results: After 6 months, 6 patients (3%) had thigh pain. After 12 months, 3 patients (1.5%) complained about thigh pain. After 2 years, 2 patients (1%) had thigh pain. There was no correlation between pain and clinical, radiological, or demographic variables.Conclusion:The shortened tapered conventional stem resulted in a lower incidence of thigh pain for up to 2-years following surgery, compared with conventional or other short stems

Serum Cytokine Profile by ELISA in Patients with Echinococcal Cysts of the Liver: A Stage-Specific Approach to Assess Their Biological Activity

To investigate the usefulness of serum cytokine dosage in the clinical management of cystic echinococcosis (CE), we analyzed serum levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in patients with hepatic CE in different cyst stages, CE1-2 (active), CE3a-3b (transitional), and CE4-5 (inactive). Ex vivo assessment of Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10) cytokines in sera was carried out using ELISA. IL-10 was undetectable in all serum samples of patients and controls, while a few sera contained measurable amounts of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-13. No statistically significant difference was found between the percentages of positive samples for each cytokine and the different groups analyzed (patients/controls, stage, number, location, and size of the cyst, serology, and sex of patients), with the exception of the association of IL-4 and IL-13 with the cyst stage. Overall, this investigation showed many limits of serum cytokine dosage as a marker of biological activity of echinococcal cysts. Because of low sensitivity and lack of specificity of this test, we believe that other ways to evaluate ex vivo biological activity of the cysts should be explored

Meteorological OSSEs for new zenith total delay observations: impact assessment for the hydroterra geosynchronous satellite on the October 2019 Genoa event

Along the Mediterranean coastlines, intense and localized rainfall events are responsible for numerous casualties and several million euros of damage every year. Numerical forecasts of such events are rarely skillful, because they lack information in their initial and boundary conditions at the relevant spatio-temporal scales, namely O(km) and O(h). In this context, the tropospheric delay observations (strongly related to the vertically integrated water vapor content) of the future geosynchronous Hydroterra satellite could provide valuable information at a high spatio-temporal resolution. In this work, Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) are performed to assess the impact of assimilating this new observation in a cloud-resolving meteorological model, at different grid spacing and temporal frequencies, and with respect to other existent observations. It is found that assimilating the Hydroterra observations at 2.5 km spacing every 3 or 6 h has the largest positive impact on the forecast of the event under study. In particular, a better spatial localization and extent of the heavy rainfall area is achieved and a realistic surface wind structure, which is a crucial element in the forecast of such heavy rainfall events, is modele

Genome-wide association study of non-alcoholic fatty liver and steatohepatitis in a histologically-characterised cohort

Correction: Volume: 74 Issue: 5 Pages: 1274-1275 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.02.003 Correction: Volume78, Issue5 Page: 1085-1086 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.028 Published MAY 2023Background and Aims Genetic factors associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain incompletely understood. To date, most GWAS studies have adopted radiologically assessed hepatic triglyceride content as reference phenotype and so cannot address steatohepatitis or fibrosis. We describe a genome-wide association study (GWAS) encompassing the full spectrum of histologically characterized NAFLD. Methods The GWAS involved 1483 European NAFLD cases and 17781 genetically-matched population controls. A replication cohort of 559 NAFLD cases and 945 controls was genotyped to confirm signals showing genome-wide or close to genome-wide significance. Results Case-control analysis identified signals showing p-values ≤ 5 x 10-8 at four locations (chromosome (chr) 2 GCKR/C2ORF16; chr4 HSD17B13; chr19 TM6SF2; chr22 PNPLA3) together with two other signals with pPeer reviewe

Diagnóstico de la producción de plantas forestales en los viveros de la Municipalidad de Guatemala; evaluación del enraizamiento de matilisguate (Tabebuia rosea bertol) y servicios realizados en el Vivero Municipal Acatán, Zona 16, Ciudad De Guatemala, Guatemala, C.A.

El presente trabajo de investigación se orientó hacia la producción de plantas forestales de los viveros de la Municipalidad de Guatemala, referente a distintos criterios de selección del material al momento de plantarse en campo, así como principales modos de propagación que se utilizan en los viveros para abastecer a los distintos proyectos de jardinización y arborización urbana. Mediante el diagnóstico se puedo conoce la situación actual de los sistemas de producción de plantas forestales en los viveros, se determinaron las principales características de las especies forestales que se utilizan para arborización urbana, jardinización, criterios de selección y modos de propagación, encontrándose como principal medio de propagación la semilla y no otras alternativas que agilicen la obtención masal de plántulas de mayor tamaño en el menor tiempo posible. La investigación se dirigió a establecer el un método alternativo para la propagación vegetativa de una especie ampliamente utilizada para arborización urbana: Tabebuia rosea bertol. Se evaluó la respuesta al enraizamiento en vástago, en función de tres concentraciones del ácido Indol3Butírico y tres diámetros de estaca, en plantas en fase de vivero con material juvenil para propagar. La investigación tuvo una duración de 4 meses. El estudio se realizó en el Huerto y Vivero Urbano Municipal Acatán zona 16, ciudad de Guatemala. El resultado de la investigación, demostró que existe respuesta a la propagación vegetativa por la especie bajo estudio, la respuesta fue mayor para el caso de propagación por vástago de 2.5cm. de diámetro y 2500ppm del regulador. Los resultados se midieron en presencia de callo, de raíces, y de brotes; además, peso seco de raíces, altura de la planta. Este resultado es de importancia ya que permite obtener plantas de matilisguate de mayor tamaño en menos tiempo y esto se vería reflejado en el arbolado urbano

Increased Bone Marrow Interleukin-7 (IL-7)/IL-7R Levels but Reduced IL-7 Responsiveness in HIV-Positive Patients Lacking CD4+ Gain on Antiviral Therapy

Background: The bone marrow (BM) cytokine milieu might substantially affect T-lymphocyte homeostasis in HIV-positive individuals. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a bone marrow-derived cytokine regulating T-cell homeostasis through a CD4+-driven feedback loop. CD4+ T-lymphopenia is associated with increased free IL-7 levels and reduced IL-7R expression/function, which are only partially reverted by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We investigated the BM production, peripheral expression and signaling (pStat5+ and Bcl-2+ CD4+/CD8+ T cells) of IL-7/IL-7Ra in 30 HAART-treated HIV-positive patients who did not experience CD4+ recovery (CD4+ #200/ml) and who had different levels of HIV viremia; these patients included 18 immunological nonresponders (INRs; HIV-RNA#50), 12 complete failures (CFs; HIV-RNA.1000), and 23 HIVseronegative subjects. Methods: We studied plasma IL-7 levels, IL-7Ra+CD4+/CD8+ T-cell proportions, IL-7Ra mRNA expression in PBMCs, spontaneous IL-7 production by BM mononuclear cells (BMMCs), and IL-7 mRNA/IL-7Ra mRNA in BMMC-derived stromal cells (SCs). We also studied T-cell responsiveness to IL-7 by measuring the proportions of pStat5+ and Bcl-2+ CD4+/CD8+ T cells. Results: Compared to HIV-seronegative controls, CFs and INRs presented elevated plasma IL-7 levels and lower IL-7Ra CD4+/CD8+ cell-surface expression and peripheral blood production, confirming the most relevant IL-7/IL-7R disruption. Interestingly, BM investigation revealed a trend of higher spontaneous IL-7 production in INRs (p = .09 vs. CFs) with a nonsignificant trend toward higher IL-7-Ra mRNA levels in BMMC-derived stromal cells. However, upon IL-7 stimulation, the proportion of pStat5+CD4+ T cells did not increase in INRs despite higher constitutive levels (p = .06); INRs also displayed lower Bcl-2+CD8+ T-cell proportions than controls (p = .04). Conclusions: Despite severe CD4+ T-lymphopenia and a disrupted IL-7/IL-7R profile in the periphery, INRs display elevated BM IL-7/IL-7Ra expression but impaired T-cell responsiveness to IL-7, suggesting the activity of a central compensatory pathway targeted to replenish the CD4+ compartment, which is nevertheless inappropriate to compensate the dysfunctional signaling through IL-7 receptor

Targeting CD34(+) cells of the inflamed synovial endothelium by guided nanoparticles for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Despite the advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) achieved in the last few years, several patients are diagnosed late, do not respond to or have to stop therapy because of inefficacy and/or toxicity, leaving still a huge unmet need. Tissue-specific strategies have the potential to address some of these issues. The aim of the study is the development of a safe nanotechnology approach for tissue-specific delivery of drugs and diagnostic probes. CD34 + endothelial precursors were addressed in inflamed synovium using targeted biodegradable nanoparticles (tBNPs). These nanostructures were made of poly-lactic acid, poly-caprolactone, and PEG and then coated with a synovial homing peptide. Immunofluorescence analysis clearly demonstrated their capacity to selectively address CD34 + endothelial cells in synovial tissue obtained from human, mouse, and rat. Biodistribution studies in two different animal models of rheumatoid arthritis (antigen-induced arthritis/AIA and collagen-induced arthritis/CIA) confirmed the selective accumulation in inflamed joints but also evidenced the capacity of tBNP to detect early phases of the disease and the preferential liver elimination. The therapeutic effect of methotrexate (MTX)-loaded tBNPs were studied in comparison with conventional MTX doses. MTX-loaded tBNPs prevented and treated CIA and AIA at a lower dose and reduced administration frequency than MTX. Moreover, MTX-loaded tBNP showed a novel mechanism of action, in which the particles target and kill CD34 + endothelial progenitors, preventing neo-angiogenesis and, consequently, synovial inflammation. tBNPs represent a stable and safe platform to develop highly-sensitive imaging and therapeutic approaches in RA targeting specifically synovial neo-angiogenesis to reduce local inflammation

Genome-wide association study of non-alcoholic fatty liver and steatohepatitis in a histologically-characterised cohort

n/