Analytical Concentrations of Some Elements in Seeds and Crude Extracts from Aesculus hippocastanum, by ICP-OES Technique

The metal content in some samples of horse chestnut seeds (Aesculus hippocastanum) was monitored over time (years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) considering the two most common and representative Mediterranean varieties: the pure species (AHP, which gives white flowers) and a hybrid one (AHH, which gives pink flowers). The selected elemental composition of the samples was determined by applying the ICP-OES technique. Several samples obtained from different preliminary treatments of the peeled seeds were examined, such as: i) floury samples (wild type) mineralized with the wet method; ii) the ashes of both AHP and AHH varieties; iii) the fraction of total inorganic soluble salts (TISS). Furthermore, the hydroalcoholic crude extracts (as a tincture) were obtained according to the official Pharmacopoeia methods, and the relevant results were compared with those of a commercial sample, an herbal product - food supplement of similar characteristics. The main characteristics of this research work underline that the two botanical varieties give different distinctive characters, due to the Fe content (80.05 vs 1.42 mg / 100 g d.s., for AHP and AHH - wild type flour samples, respectively), along with K, Ca, Mn, Ni and Cu, which are more abundant in the AHP samples. Furthermore, the PCA analysis was applied to the experimental dataset in order to classify and discriminate the samples, in relation to their similar botanical origin, but different for the color of the bloom. These results can be useful for the traceability of raw materials potentially intended for the production of auxiliary systems of pharmacological interest.The metal content in some samples of horse chestnut seeds (Aesculus hippocastanum) was monitored over time (years 2016–2019) considering the two most common and representative Mediterranean varieties: the pure species (AHP, which gives white flowers) and a hybrid one (AHH, which gives pink flowers). The selected elemental composition of the samples was determined by applying the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) technique. Several samples obtained from different preliminary treatments of the peeled seeds were examined, such as: (i) floury samples (wild-type) mineralized with the wet method; (ii) the ashes of both AHP and AHH varieties; (iii) the fraction of total inorganic soluble salts (TISS). Furthermore, the hydroalcoholic crude extracts (as a tincture) were obtained according to the official Pharmacopoeia methods, and the relevant results were compared with those of a commercial sample, an herbal product-food supplement of similar characteristics. The main characteristics of this research work underline that the two botanical varieties give different distinctive characters, due to the Fe content (80.05 vs. 1.42 mg/100 g d.s., for AHP and AHH wild-type flour samples, respectively), along with K, Ca, Mn, Ni and Cu, which are more abundant in the AHP samples. Furthermore, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to the experimental dataset in order to classify and discriminate the samples, in relation to their similar botanical origin, but different for the color of the bloom. These results can be useful for the traceability of raw materials potentially intended for the production of auxiliary systems of pharmacological interest

The troubadour Marcabru and his public

Vanadium(V)-containing oxides show superior intercalation properties for alkaline ions, although the performance of the material strongly depends on its surface morphology. In this work, intercalation activity of LiV$_{3}$O$_{8}$, prepared by a conventional solid state synthesis, is demonstrated for the first time in non-aqueous Li,Na-ion hybrid batteries with Na as negative electrode, and different Na/Li ratios in the electrolyte. In the pure Na-ion cell, one Na per formula unit of LiV$_{3}$O$_{8}$ can be reversibly inserted at room temperature via a two-step process, while further intercalation leads to gradual amorphisation of the material, with a specific capacity of 190 mAhg$^{−1}$ after 10 cycles in the potential window of 0.8–3.4 V. Hybrid Li,Na-ion batteries feature simultaneous intercalation of Li$^+$ and Na$^+$ cations into LiV$_{3}$O$_{8}$, resulting in the formation of a second phase. Depending on the electrolyte composition, this second phase bears structural similarities either to Li$_{0.7}$Na$_{0.7}$V$_{3}$O$_{8}$ in Na-rich electrolytes, or to LiV$_{3}$O$_{8}$ in Li-rich electrolytes. The chemical diffusion coefficients of Na+ and Li+ in crystalline LiV$_{3}$O$_{8}$ are very close, hence explaining the co-intercalation of these cations. As DFT calculations show, once formed, the Li$_{0.7}$Na$_{0.7}$V$_{3}$O$_{8}$-type structure favors intercalation of Na$^+$, whereas the LiV$_{3}$O$_{8}$-type prefers to accommodate Li$^+$ cations

Vástagos estriados cónicos modulares en revisión de artroplastia total de cadera. Estudio multicéntrico. Resultados y complicaciones a mediano plazo

Introducción: Debido al crecimiento exponencial del número de artroplastias de cadera, se espera una mayor cantidad de revisiones en las próximas décadas. Los vástagos cónicos estriados modulares se han vuelto populares en la última década por sus resultados favorables. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar los resultados, las complicaciones y la tasa de supervivencia de estos vástagos en las revisiones de cadera, con un seguimiento a mediano plazo. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, retrospectivo. Se incluyeron 182 pacientes a quienes se les realizó una cirugía de revisión de cadera entre 2007 y 2017. Se colocaron 185 vástagos cónicos estriados de fijación distal. El déficit de stock óseo femoral se clasificó según Paprosky y Burnett; y las facturas periprotésicas, según la clasificación de Vancouver. Se evaluó a los pacientes clínicamente con el Harris Hip Score (HHS) y con radiografías a los 3 meses y anualmente para evaluar la estabilidad del vástago, la subsidencia y el aflojamiento, así como la consolidación de la osteotomía. Resultados: Seguimiento medio 55.18 meses. El HHS posoperatorio tuvo una media de 80,28 (DE = 12,8, IC95% 78,5-82,97). No hubo complicaciones posoperatorias en el 75,4% de los pacientes. Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron inestabilidad (7,6%) y subsidencia del implante (11,5%). Al final del seguimiento, el 95,05% de los pacientes tenía un implante estable. Conclusiones: Los vástagos cónicos estriados modulares de fijación distal proporcionan una solución confiable, reproducible y duradera para el manejo de revisiones de componentes femorales a medio plazo. Nivel de Evidencia: I

Getting Past the Language Gap: Innovations in Machine Translation

In this chapter, we will be reviewing state of the art machine translation systems, and will discuss innovative methods for machine translation, highlighting the most promising techniques and applications. Machine translation (MT) has benefited from a revitalization in the last 10 years or so, after a period of relatively slow activity. In 2005 the field received a jumpstart when a powerful complete experimental package for building MT systems from scratch became freely available as a result of the unified efforts of the MOSES international consortium. Around the same time, hierarchical methods had been introduced by Chinese researchers, which allowed the introduction and use of syntactic information in translation modeling. Furthermore, the advances in the related field of computational linguistics, making off-the-shelf taggers and parsers readily available, helped give MT an additional boost. Yet there is still more progress to be made. For example, MT will be enhanced greatly when both syntax and semantics are on board: this still presents a major challenge though many advanced research groups are currently pursuing ways to meet this challenge head-on. The next generation of MT will consist of a collection of hybrid systems. It also augurs well for the mobile environment, as we look forward to more advanced and improved technologies that enable the working of Speech-To-Speech machine translation on hand-held devices, i.e. speech recognition and speech synthesis. We review all of these developments and point out in the final section some of the most promising research avenues for the future of MT

Z-Automata for Compact and Direct Representation of Unranked Tree Languages

none3simixedJohanna Björklund, Frank Drewes, Giorgio SattaBjörklund, Johanna; Drewes, Frank; Satta, Giorgi