Luminescence and photoconductivity studies on amorphous and nanocrystalline ZnO thin films obtained by sol-gel

Amorphous and nanocrystalline ZnO thin films were synthesized by the sol–gel process at room temperature. The films were spin-coated on glass and silicon wafers and gelled in humid air. The ZnO films were synthesized by using zinc acetate dihydrate as the inorganic precursor. The samples were annealed at at 450°C for 15 minutes to produce a polycrystalline ZnO thin films. The films were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electronic microscopy and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The experimental absorption spectrum of the crystalline ZnO film exhibits an absorption band located at 359 nm. Emission and excitation studies of the ZnO nanocrystallites were made in both kinds of materials to determine its luminescence response. Photoconductivity studies were performed on amorphous and crystalline (wurtzite phase) films. The experimental data were fitted with straight lines at darkness and under illumination at 355 nm and 633 nm. This indicates an ohmic behavior. Transport parameters were calculated. Results are discussed

Enfermedades actuales asociadas a los factores de riesgo laborales de la industria de la construcción en México

Resumen Resumen: La industria de la construcción es sin lugar a dudas una de las mayores generadoras de riesgos de trabajo, sin embargo, los programas de prevención no hacen evidente dicha situación. Los trabajadores de la industria de la construcción laboran bajo condiciones precarias, carecen de seguridad social, y desconocen por completo los derechos que les son consignados por ley pese a no firmar un contrato. Es imprescindible que dichos trabajadores y los responsables de su actividad laboral, conozcan los factores de riesgo a que se encuentran expuestos, pero sobre todo las graves afecciones a la salud que estos pueden provocar, que van más allá de las lesiones músculo-esqueléticas incapacitantes tan reconocidas en bibliografía. Conforme se establezca la necesidad de un adecuado diagnóstico situacional al interior de las industrias, la prevención de patologías que hoy se consideran meramente generales y cuyo origen se encuentra en el desempeño del trabajo, encaminará a la salud pública a la adopción de políticas en mejora de las condiciones del mismo. Objetivo: Identificar las enfermedades actuales que se asocian a los factores de riesgo de la industria de la construcción en México. Material y Métodos: Revisión bibliográfica publicada desde enero del 2000 hasta noviembre del 2016 en bases de datos: PUBMED, SciELO y Medline. Se consultaron bibliografías tanto en inglés como en español. Las palabras clave consideradas en la búsqueda incluyeron: industria de la construcción, factores de riesgo, trabajo, enfermedades. Conclusiones: La industria de la construcción al presentar mayor cantidad de riesgos ergonómicos en México, debería ser una de las más estrechamente vigiladas, epidemiológicamente hablando, pues de ella derivan un gran número de enfermedades que aquejan a la población y que saturan diariamente al sistema de salud de nuestro país además de que afecta al desarrollo económico debido a la disminución del rendimiento y el ausentismo de los trabajadores afectados. La exigencia de dicha vigilancia epidemiológica efectuada por las autoridades del trabajo tendrían que redundar en mejoras de las condiciones al interior de los centros de trabajo, es decir, desde equipar a los trabajadores de herramientas aptas y específicas para su actividad, dotarlos con equipo de protección personal acorde a su anatomía y con las características específicas para los tipos de factores y sustancias a las que se exponen, así como la reingeniería de los procesos de construcción, obsoletos o artesanales, con tecnología. Pero sobre todo comunicar y mantener informados a los trabajadores acerca de los riesgos a que están expuestos por el tipo de actividad laboral que desempeñan. Es fundamental que en este compromiso de vigilancia se tejan relaciones internas estrechas y formales entre los trabajadores y los patrones, pero también es fundamental que se genere un compromiso transectorial en materia de legislación y normatividad para que verdaderamente se apliquen y cumplan las obligaciones, deberes y derechos que garanticen un trabajo digno para este sector de la población

Increased Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Protein Expression and Gene Copy Number in Small Cell Lung Cancer

PurposeIdentification of new therapies in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is urgently needed. Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) is a tyrosine kinase receptor implicated in the pathogenesis of several malignancies and is potentially an attractive target for anticancer treatment. Knowledge about IGF1R protein expression, gene copy number, and the prognostic relevance of these features in SCLC is limited.MethodsWe analyzed IGF1R protein expression and gene copy number in primary tumors from 90 patients with SCLC (67 men and 23 women) who underwent pulmonary resection. IGF1R expression assessed by immunohistochemistry with H scores from 0 to 400 was evaluable in 84 patients and IGF1R gene copy number assessed by silver in situ hybridization technique in 81 patients.ResultsMedian H score for IGF1R protein expression was 88 (range, 0–400), and the proportion of positive immunostaining using cutoff H score of 10 was 74%. Increased IGF1R gene copy number (an average of four or more copies per cell) was found in 15 cases (18.5%), five of whom (6.2%) showed gene amplification. There was a significant correlation between protein expression and gene copy number (r = 0.49, p < 0.005). IGF1R expression and gene copy number did not associate with clinicopathological factors such as patient age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, stage, and survival.ConclusionsSCLC is characterized by frequent high-IGF1R protein expression, increased gene copy number, and occasional occurrence of true gene amplification. These features may have important implications for future anti-IGF1R therapeutic approaches

The complete mitochondrial and plastid genomes of Corallina chilensis (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta) from Tomales Bay, California, USA

Genomic analysis of the marine alga Corallina chilensis from Tomales Bay, California, USA, resulted in the assembly of its complete mitogenome (GenBank accession number MK598844) and plastid genome (GenBank MK598845). The mitogenome is 25,895 bp in length and contains 50 genes. The plastid genome is 178,350 bp and contains 233 genes. The organellar genomes share a high-level of gene synteny to other Corallinales. Comparison of rbcL and cox1 gene sequences of C. chilensis from Tomales Bay reveals it is identical to three specimens from British Columbia, Canada and very similar to a specimen of C. chilensis from southern California. These genetic data confirm that C. chilensis is distributed in Pacific North America

Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics in Evaluation of LIXisenatide in Acute Coronary Syndrome, a long-term cardiovascular end point trial of lixisenatide versus placebo

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Furthermore, patients with T2DM and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have a particularly high risk of CV events. The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, lixisenatide, improves glycemia, but its effects on CV events have not been thoroughly evaluated. METHODS: ELIXA (www.clinicaltrials.gov no. NCT01147250) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study of lixisenatide in patients with T2DM and a recent ACS event. The primary aim is to evaluate the effects of lixisenatide on CV morbidity and mortality in a population at high CV risk. The primary efficacy end point is a composite of time to CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Data are systematically collected for safety outcomes, including hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, and malignancy. RESULTS: Enrollment began in July 2010 and ended in August 2013; 6,068 patients from 49 countries were randomized. Of these, 69% are men and 75% are white; at baseline, the mean ± SD age was 60.3 ± 9.7 years, body mass index was 30.2 ± 5.7 kg/m(2), and duration of T2DM was 9.3 ± 8.2 years. The qualifying ACS was a myocardial infarction in 83% and unstable angina in 17%. The study will continue until the positive adjudication of the protocol-specified number of primary CV events. CONCLUSION: ELIXA will be the first trial to report the safety and efficacy of a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist in people with T2DM and high CV event risk