Micellization and antimicrobial properties of surface active ionic liquids containing cleavable carbonate linkages

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) containing cleavable carbonate linkages, 1-alkyloxycarbonyloxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium chlorides with alkyl chains of 10, 12, and 14 carbon atoms, were synthesized, and their self-assembly behavior and antimicrobial activity were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy studies reveal that carbonate-functionalized ILs form stable thermotropic smectic liquid-crystalline phases over a wide range of temperature. The surface activity and aggregation behavior of these new ILs were investigated by tensiometry, conductometry, potentiometry, and spectrofluorimetry. The size of aggregates was examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Carbonate-functionalized ILs display a higher adsorption efficiency and a lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) than simple alkyl-chain-substituted ILs. The insertion of a carbonate ester moiety in the alkyl side chain favors adsorption at the air-water interface and micellization in the bulk solution when compared to nonfunctionalized ILs. DLS measurements show that small micellelike aggregates are spontaneously formed above the cmc. Furthermore, carbonate-functionalized ILs were examined for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of clinically relevant microorganisms. Biological activity was found to increase with hydrophobicity. The presence of a carbonate ester moiety significantly enhances the antimicrobial efficiency as compared to nonfunctionalized ILs, with the susceptibility of Staphylococcus sp. toward the action of these compounds being particularly remarkable. It has been demonstrated that the functionalization of the alkyl side chain of the imidazolium salts can not only modify the aggregation behavior but also lead to differences in both efficiency and the spectrum of antimicrobial activity of amphiphilic ILs

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Micellization and antimicrobial properties of surface active ionic liquids containing cleavable carbonate linkages

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) containing cleavable carbonate linkages, 1-alkyloxycarbonyloxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium chlorides with alkyl chains of 10, 12, and 14 carbon atoms, were synthesized, and their self-assembly behavior and antimicrobial activity were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy studies reveal that carbonate-functionalized ILs form stable thermotropic smectic liquid-crystalline phases over a wide range of temperature. The surface activity and aggregation behavior of these new ILs were investigated by tensiometry, conductometry, potentiometry, and spectrofluorimetry. The size of aggregates was examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Carbonate-functionalized ILs display a higher adsorption efficiency and a lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) than simple alkyl-chain-substituted ILs. The insertion of a carbonate ester moiety in the alkyl side chain favors adsorption at the air-water interface and micellization in the bulk solution when compared to nonfunctionalized ILs. DLS measurements show that small micellelike aggregates are spontaneously formed above the cmc. Furthermore, carbonate-functionalized ILs were examined for their antimicrobial activity against a panel of clinically relevant microorganisms. Biological activity was found to increase with hydrophobicity. The presence of a carbonate ester moiety significantly enhances the antimicrobial efficiency as compared to nonfunctionalized ILs, with the susceptibility of Staphylococcus sp. toward the action of these compounds being particularly remarkable. It has been demonstrated that the functionalization of the alkyl side chain of the imidazolium salts can not only modify the aggregation behavior but also lead to differences in both efficiency and the spectrum of antimicrobial activity of amphiphilic ILs

Reproductive aspects of sardine (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum, 1792), round sardinella (Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847), flat sardinella (Sardinella maderensis Lowe, 1838) and mackerel (Scomber colias Gmelin, 1789) in Mauritanian waters, Northwest Africa

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Length and recruitment analysis of small pelagic off the Canary Islands

Hypothetical geographical segregation by size in the small pelagic populations was studied using a spatial-temporal analysis of mean lengths. Furthermore, to detect the recruitment season and their possible relationship with the satellite-derived sea-surface temperature (SST) and sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) values, a fortnightly analysis of the percentage of juveniles in the catches 2005–2006 was carried out. Individuals of mackerel (Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, 1782) smaller than 16 cm, horse mackerel (Trachurus picturatus Bowdich, 1825) and round sardinella (Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847), and sardine (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum, 1792) smaller than 12 cm were used in this analysis. Mean SST by month and oscillations of SSTA data during 2005 and 2006 were used. No evidence of segregation by size in the population was found. However, the smallest individuals of mackerel, round sardinella and sardine were caught in the northern area of Tenerife, and the mean length of mackerel and horse mackerel were greater in Gran Canaria than Tenerife. It was observed along the period studied that similar SSTA values could be favourable for the recruitment of horse mackerel, round sardinella and sardine. In the case of mackerel no pattern was found. A summary of possible recruitment seasons for these sp ecies in the Canaries waters is presented.Publicad

Evaluation of collaborative strategies for ecotourism and recreational activities in natural parks of Rio de Janeiro

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, the management agencies of environmental conservation units of the park type have been attempting to meet five primary objectives set by the National System for Conservation Units (NSCU), using participatory management guidelines for these units. Two of these objectives relate to the development of recreation activities that involve contact with nature and ecological tourism. This article presents the analyses and conclusions regarding the implementation of collaborative strategies with businesses to achieve such objectives; it is part of a series of research studies having a broader scope. Case studies were conducted in eight parks by means of dozens of interviews with managers and other interested social actors, as well as by documentary research and direct observation. The results suggest that the ecotourism objective is still far from being reached, and that the collaborative strategies used are not sufficient to compensate for the organizational, material and human limitations that encumber these agencies. It was also concluded for the sample that there lacks a strategic vision on the part of the three branches of government involved in the management of these parks in the sense of viewing ecotourism in the city's conservation units as a powerful means to foster local sustainable development

Imagens em trânsito: as virgens de Luján e Sumampa e os circuitos coloniais na América Meridional na primeira metade do século XVII

This article seeks to analyze the materiality and part of the trajectory of two seventeenth-century terracotta statuettes - one of Nossa Senhora da Conceição and another of Nossa Senhora da Consolação - who respectively became the Virgin of Luján, patron of Argentina, and Virgen of Sumampa. Both are understood here as intertwined in the various networks and connections between the Portuguese and Spanish America in the contiguous areas of South America in the first half of the seventeenth century. In the text, we discuss a possible "Paulista" origin of these images which, in addition to an apparent coincidence, attests that the great "Peruvian space," articulated by Potosí, also included distinct regions of Portuguese America. Ii is in this expanded space marked by the traffic of people, goods and objects linked to the networks of smuggling that we follow the paths of these two images, trying to visualize how they got peculiar meanings in different contexts and environments.Neste artigo busca-se analisar a materialidade e parte da trajetória de duas imagens seiscentistas em terracota - uma de Nossa Senhora da Conceição e outra de Nossa Senhora da Consolação - que se tornaram, respectivamente, a Virgen de Luján, padroeira da Argentina, e a Virgen de Sumampa. Ambas são compreendidas aqui como entrelaçadas nas variadas redes e conexões estabelecidas entre a América portuguesa e espanhola, nos espaços contíguos da América Meridional na primeira metade do século XVII. No texto, discute-se uma possível procedência "paulista" dessas imagens, o que, para além de uma aparente casualidade, atesta como o grande "espaço peruano", articulado por Potosí, incluía também distintas regiões da América portuguesa. É nesse espaço ampliado, marcado pelo tráfego de pessoas, mercadorias e objetos atrelados às redes comerciais de contrabando, que acompanhamos os percursos dessas duas imagens, buscando visualizar como elas ganharam sentidos peculiares em ambientes e contextos diversos

Simposi Internacional "La Literatura en pantalla : textos, lectors i pràctiques docents" (1er : Barcelona, 3 i 4 d'octubre 2014)

Estas actas de simposio forma parte de las actividades del Proyecto de investigación I+D (EDU2011-26141), financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.El comité organizador de este simposio no se responsabiliza de los contenidos y las afirmaciones que aparecen en estas actas.GRETEL (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Grup de Recerca de literatura infantil i juvenil i educació literària) es un grupo de investigación reconocido y financiado por la Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) de la Generalitat de Catalunya, 2009SGR1477.Han participado en el proyecto los investigadores de GRETEL: Teresa Colomer, Cristina Correro, Karla Fernández de Gamboa, Mireia Manresa, Ana Mª Margallo, Lucas Ramada, Neus Real, Lara Reyes y Celia Turrión; con la colaboración de otros miembros o alumnos del Máster de investigación o doctorandos como Cristina Aliagas, Mireia Auge, Brenda Bellorín, Christian Arenas, Carolina González, Juanita Grillo y Anna Juan.Agradecemos aquí la colaboración de las escuelas participantes en nuestro proyecto: CEIP Francesc Aldea de Terrassa, CEIP Orlandai de Barcelona, CEI Bell-lloc del Pla de Girona, INS Vila de Gràcia, Escola Pia Nostra Senyora de Barcelona, Escola Garbí d'Esplugues, IES Thos i Codina de Mataró, IES Damià Campeny de Mataró, EBM Can Caralleu de Barcelona.Resulta evidente que en las escuelas de nuestro entorno se ha extendido la utilización de las nuevas tecnologías en distintos niveles y aspectos de la enseñanza. Es habitual que profesores y alumnos recurran al ordenador para buscar información o realizar actividades en las distintas áreas de conocimiento y cabe señalar que la educación lectora digital se ha incorporado ya a los objetivos escolares hasta el punto de formar parte de las evaluaciones internacionales. Sin embargo, cuando estos mismos profesores y alumnos participan en actividades de promoción literaria y creación de hábitos de lectura utilizan obras impresas, manteniendo la lectura de ficción digital y el aprendizaje interpretativo de las obras multimodales prácticamente fuera de la escuela. Desde el equipo de investigación GRETEL de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona nos preguntamos si esto debería cambiar. Por ello GRETEL decidió proseguir su trayectoria de investigación sobre la producción infantil y juvenil actual abordando el análisis de la nueva ficción digital y su posible incidencia en la formación del lector literario. Así, durante tres años, hemos llevado a cabo un proyecto de investigación, financiado por el Ministerio Ciencia e Innovación, bajo el título: "Literatura infantil y juvenil digital: producción, usos lectores, recepción y prácticas docentes". GRETEL convocó un simposio internacional: "Literatura en pantalla: textos, lectores y prácticas docentes" (Barcelona 3-4/10/2014) en el que ofrecer sus resultados, invitar a investigadores que han iluminado nuestro trabajo para profundizar en sus aportaciones y abrir un espacio a la comunidad investigadora y educativa para difundir sus propios proyectos y prácticas innovadoras, colaborando así al avance de todos