Polymeric foams as the matrix of voltammetric sensors for the detection of catechol, hydroquinone, and their mixtures

Producción CientíficaPorous electrodes based on polymethylmethacrylate and graphite foams (PMMA_G_F) have been developed and characterized. Such devices have been successfully used as voltammetric sensors to analyze catechol, hydroquinone, and their mixtures. The presence of pores induces important changes in the oxidation/reduction mechanism of catechol and hydroquinone with respect to the sensing properties observed in nonfoamed PMMA_graphite electrodes (PMMA_G). The electropolymerization processes of catechol or hydroquinone at the electrode surface observed using PMMA_G do not occur at the surface of the foamed PMM_G_F. In addition, the limits of detection observed in foamed electrodes are one order of magnitude lower than the observed in the nonfoamed electrodes. Moreover, foamed electrodes can be used to detect simultaneously both isomers and a remarkable increase in the electrocatalytic properties shown by the foamed samples, produces a decrease in the oxidation potential peak of catechol in presence of hydroquinone, from +0.7 V to +0.3 V. Peak currents increased linearly with concentration of catechol in presence of hydroquinone over the range of 0.37·10−3 M to 1.69·10−3 M with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.27 mM. These effects demonstrate the advantages obtained by increasing the active surface by means of porous structures.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project AGL2015-67482-R)Junta de Castilla y Leon - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project VA-011U16

Enhanced recovery after surgery pathways in thoracic surgery, do they end at discharge?

Fast track pulmonary resection protocols have shown to be feasible and to improve hospital related costs, shortening length of stay and maintaining quality of care (1-4). Despite the increasing number of scientific literature addressing the benefits of specific lobectomy pathways (4,5) and the recent publication of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS®) guidelines in thoracic surgery (4-6) the truth is that the description of most of these interventions ends at patients’ discharge, with no clear indications for follow up or measures to prevent unintended hospital readmissions (2,3

El Efecto De La Implantación Temprana En Niños Con Hipoacusia

Hearing loss in pediatric population is a major health concern, taking into account the immediate repercussions on the cognitive, emotional and language development (serious difficulties in communication and language development). Therefore, it is of crucial importance its early diagnosis and implantation. The objective of this study is to know the effect of cochlear implant on the development of oral language in implanted children in the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands). In order to carry out this research, the psycholinguistic profiles of children who were implanted between 2011 and 2014 were studied, through the use of two standardized tests, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and The Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA). As regards the age of implantation, we could observe a significant tendency to use the visual channel in the communication of those children who were implanted at a later age and a tendency to use the auditory channel at an early age of implantation. Children who were implanted at a later age showed a nonfunctional use of the implant and a limited development of their speaking skills

Structural stability of SiGe nanoparticles under "in situ" electron beam irradiation in TEM

The structure of amorphous and crystalline SiGe nanoparticles, embedded in a dielectric medium, SiO2, and its stability under “in situ” electron beam irradiation is reported. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron-diffraction pattern simulation by fast Fourier transform was used to analyze the crystal structure of the SiGe nanoparticles. Electron beam irradiation induces structural alternate order-disorder transitions in the nanoparticles for irradiation effects are mainly associated to the density of current. For irradiation with current densities < 7 A·cm-2 no effects are observed in the as-deposited amorphous samples, whereas in the crystallized samples, SiGe nanocrystals show higher stability and no effects are observed for irradiation densities of current < 50 A·cm-2. Irradiation with densities of current greater than these thresholds cause consecutive amorphous-crystalline or crystalline-amorphous structure transitions respectively for both amorphous and crystallized nanoparticles. A hexagonal structure is proposed for those nanocrystals obtained after irradiation in the as deposited amorphous samples

Effectiveness of a Multifactorial Intervention in the First 1000 Days of Life to Prevent Obesity and Overweight in Childhood: Study Protoco

(1) Background: Obesity is a global health problem, and its prevention must be a priority goal of public health, especially considering the seriousness of the problem among children. It is known that fetal and early postnatal environments may favor the appearance of obesity in later life. In recent years, the impact of the programs to prevent obesity in childhood has been scarce. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention based on the concept of early programming. (2) Methods: Non-randomized controlled trial design. Inclusion criteria are: two-year-old infants whose gestational period begins in the 14 months following the start of the intervention, and whose mothers have made the complete follow-up of their pregnancy in the same clinical unit of the study. The intervention will be developed over all the known factors that affect early programming, during pregnancy up to 2 years of life. Data will be collected through a data collection sheet by the paediatricians. A unibivariate and multivariate analysis of the data will be carried out. (3) Ethics and dissemination: The trial does not involve any risk to participants and their offspring. Signed informed consent is obtained from all participants. Ethical approval has been obtained. (4) Results: It is expected that this study will provide evidence on the importance of the prevention of obesity from the critical period of the first 1000 days of life, being able to establish this as a standard intervention in primary care

Analysis of milk using a portable potentiometric electronic tongue based on five polymeric membrane sensors

Producción CientíficaA portable potentiometric electronic tongue (PE-tongue) was developed and applied to evaluate the quality of milk with different fat content (skimmed, semi-skimmed, and whole) and with different nutritional content (classic, calcium-enriched, lactose-free, folic acid–enriched, and enriched in sterols of vegetal origin). The system consisted of a simplified array of five sensors based on PVC membranes, coupled to a data logger. The five sensors were selected from a larger set of 20 sensors by applying the genetic algorithm (GA) to the responses to compounds usually found in milk including salts (KCl, CaCl2, and NaCl), sugars (lactose, glucose, and galactose), and organic acids (citric acid and lactic acid). Principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machine (SVM) results indicated that the PE-tongue consisting of a five-electrode array could successfully discriminate and classify milk samples according to their nutritional content. The PEtongue provided similar discrimination capability to that of a more complex system formed by a 20-sensor array. SVM regression models were used to predict the physicochemical parameters classically used in milk quality control (acidity, density, %proteins, %lactose, and %fat). The prediction results were excellent and similar to those obtained with a much more complex array consisting of 20 sensors. Moreover, the SVM method confirmed that spoilage of unsealed milk could be correctly identified with the simplified system and the increase in acidity could be accurately predicted. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility of using the simplified PE-tongue to predict milk quality and provide information on the chemical composition of milk using a simple and portable system.Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital y FEDER (grant RTI 2018-097990-B-100)Junta de Castilla y Leon-FEDER (grant VA275P18) and (Infraestructuras Red de Castilla y León (INFRARED UVA01

Ingresos en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Provincial de Madrid y sus motivaciones.

El motivo de esta comunicación es demostrar el elevado número de ingresos que se registran en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Provincial de Madrid, así como el que el 40% de estos ingresos son de causa no psiquiátrica, lo que redunda en un importante deterioro de la asistencia. Resalta, además, el elevado porcentaje de ingresos agrupados dentro de los teóricamente considerados por enfermedad mental, que en realidad corresponden a problemas sociales

Ingresos en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Provincial de Madrid y sus motivaciones.

El motivo de esta comunicación es demostrar el elevado número de ingresos que se registran en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Provincial de Madrid, así como el que el 40% de estos ingresos son de causa no psiquiátrica, lo que redunda en un importante deterioro de la asistencia. Resalta, además, el elevado porcentaje de ingresos agrupados dentro de los teóricamente considerados por enfermedad mental, que en realidad corresponden a problemas sociales