Electrochemical study of H3PMo12 retention on Vulcan carbon grafted with NH2 and OH groups

In this work, we show a comparative study based on the effects of specific chemical functional groups (–OH, –NH2), grafted on Vulcan carbon (VC) with the incorporation of a specific polyoxometalate (POM), PMo12 (H3PMo12O40), to improve electrochemical performance. We observed a decrease in the specific surface area of the grafted matrices (VC-OH and VC-NH2) [1], and the same trend was observed for PMo12 (POM) incorporation. Our electrochemical studies showed low concentrations of POM in unmodified VCs and higher POM concentrations for grafted matrices (VC-OH and VC-NH2) after 500 voltammetric cycles, especially for the VC grafted with –OH groups (VC-OH-POM). Mechanisms have been proposed for POM interaction with the grafted groups in carbon, emphasizing the role of aqueous medium and redox activity of POM. Cyclic voltammograms suggested the POM anchoring through –OH groups with a strong interaction as a covalent bond, resulting in a surface coverage of 1.66 × 10−11 mol cm−2. Surface modifications could be extrapolated to other carbons, and the materials could be employed for different potential applications such as photocatalysis, amperometric sensors, fuel cells, and supercapacitors.Fil: Cuentas Gallegos, Ana Karina. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: López Cortina, S.. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon; MéxicoFil: Brousse, T.. Université de Nantes. Institut Des Materiaux Jean Rouxel; FranciaFil: Pacheco Catalán, D.. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán; MéxicoFil: Fuentes Quezada, Eduardo. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica; México. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mosqueda, H.. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon; MéxicoFil: Orozco Gamboa, G.. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica; Méxic

Seguimiento de las guías españolas para el manejo del asma por el médico de atención primaria: un estudio observacional ambispectivo

Objetivo Evaluar el grado de seguimiento de las recomendaciones de las versiones de la Guía española para el manejo del asma (GEMA 2009 y 2015) y su repercusión en el control de la enfermedad. Material y métodos Estudio observacional y ambispectivo realizado entre septiembre del 2015 y abril del 2016, en el que participaron 314 médicos de atención primaria y 2.864 pacientes. Resultados Utilizando datos retrospectivos, 81 de los 314 médicos (25, 8% [IC del 95%, 21, 3 a 30, 9]) comunicaron seguir las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2009. Al inicio del estudio, 88 de los 314 médicos (28, 0% [IC del 95%, 23, 4 a 33, 2]) seguían las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2015. El tener un asma mal controlada (OR 0, 19, IC del 95%, 0, 13 a 0, 28) y presentar un asma persistente grave al inicio del estudio (OR 0, 20, IC del 95%, 0, 12 a 0, 34) se asociaron negativamente con tener un asma bien controlada al final del seguimiento. Por el contrario, el seguimiento de las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2015 se asoció de manera positiva con una mayor posibilidad de que el paciente tuviera un asma bien controlada al final del periodo de seguimiento (OR 1, 70, IC del 95%, 1, 40 a 2, 06). Conclusiones El escaso seguimiento de las guías clínicas para el manejo del asma constituye un problema común entre los médicos de atención primaria. Un seguimiento de estas guías se asocia con un control mejor del asma. Existe la necesidad de actuaciones que puedan mejorar el seguimiento por parte de los médicos de atención primaria de las guías para el manejo del asma. Objective: To assess the degree of compliance with the recommendations of the 2009 and 2015 versions of the Spanish guidelines for managing asthma (Guía Española para el Manejo del Asma [GEMA]) and the effect of this compliance on controlling the disease. Material and methods: We conducted an observational ambispective study between September 2015 and April 2016 in which 314 primary care physicians and 2864 patients participated. Results: Using retrospective data, we found that 81 of the 314 physicians (25.8%; 95% CI 21.3–30.9) stated that they complied with the GEMA2009 recommendations. At the start of the study, 88 of the 314 physicians (28.0%; 95% CI 23.4–33.2) complied with the GEMA2015 recommendations. Poorly controlled asthma (OR, 0.19; 95% CI 0.13–0.28) and persistent severe asthma at the start of the study (OR, 0.20; 95% CI 0.12–0.34) were negatively associated with having well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up. In contrast, compliance with the GEMA2015 recommendations was positively associated with a greater likelihood that the patient would have well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up (OR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.40–2.06). Conclusions: Low compliance with the clinical guidelines for managing asthma is a common problem among primary care physicians. Compliance with these guidelines is associated with better asthma control. Actions need to be taken to improve primary care physician compliance with the asthma management guidelines

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α -308 G/G promoter polymorphism and TNFα levels correlate with a better response to adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: To investigate the influence of -308 tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) promoter polymorphism and circulating TNFα levels in the clinical response to adalimumab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Eighty-one patients with active RA were genotyped for the -308 TNFα polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis and subdivided into two groups for each polymorphism (G/A and G/G genotype). All received 40 mg of adalimumab subcutaneously every other week. We compared the groups' clinical responses to adalimumab at 8, 16, and 24 weeks using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement from baseline. A significant difference between groups was found at week 24. We found that 88.2% of G/G versus 68.4% of G/A for the -308 polymorphism were DAS28 responders (p = 0.05). The score improvement at week 24 was 2.5±1.3 in the G/G group and 1.8±1.3 in th

Effect of carbonaceous support between graphite oxide and reduced graphene oxide with anchored Co3O4 microspheres as electrode-active materials in a solid-state electrochemical capacitor

Hydrothermally synthesized CoO microspheres were anchored to graphite oxide (GO) and thermally reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites at different cobalt weight percentages (1, 10, and 100 wt%). The composite materials served as the active materials in bulk electrodes for two-electrode cell electrochemical capacitors (ECCs). GO/CoO–1 exhibited a high energy density of 35 W kg with a specific capacitance (C) of 196 F g at a maximum charge density of 1 A g. rGO/CoO-100 presented high specific power output values of up to 23.41 kW h kg with linear energy density behavior for the charge densities applied between 0.03 and 1 A g. The composite materials showed Coulombic efficiencies of 96 and 93 % for GO/CoO–1 and rGO/CoO–100 respectively. The enhancement of capacitive performance is attributed to the oxygenated groups in the GO ECC and the specific area in the rGO ECC. These results offer an interesting insight into the type of carbonaceous support used for graphene derivative electrode materials in ECCs together with CoO loading to improve capacitance performance in terms of specific energy density and specific power. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (Mexico) CB 2011-166356 project fund. The authors would like to thank PRODEP for the support provided throughout the UQROO/DGIP/003/16 project; Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología student grant (362308), and the CICY student exchange program. V.P., also acknowledges the technical support for characterization from M. Bass- López (CICY), I. Muñoz, J. Gómez, P. González, and E. Benito (ICTP).Peer Reviewe

Habitat structure shaping megabenthic communities inhabiting subtidal soft bottoms along the Algarve coast (Portugal)

The present study analysed the megabenthic diversity in subtidal soft bottoms and assessed the main environmental drivers of megabenthic community organisation along the Algarve coast (southern Portugal). We tested the hypothesis that megabenthic communities respond to the same environmental drivers than macrofauna. We found that similar to macrofauna, megafaunal communities were organised in relation to the depth of closure, light reaching the bottom, and the hydrodynamic conditions related with exposure within the shallower areas. The influence of the main river outflow prevailed over other drivers, but only up to 9 m depth. We found that seven different spatial units should be considered, each characterised by different indicator species. Additionally, among a total of 412 taxa collected between 4 and 50 m depth, we provide the characteristics of the 64 commonest species in terms of occurrence, frequency, distribution, abundance, bathymetric and sedimentary preferences, which constitutes most valuable information for ecosystem modelling. Megabenthic alpha diversity decreased with depth, contrary to evenness and was higher in the proximity of the river Guadiana and in highly exposed shores. We conclude that the megafauna, which is significantly quicker to collect and analyse, can provide an accurate alternative to macrofauna sampling, as their communities are shaped by the same drivers.IPMA, within the EU project SAFI [FP7-SPACE-2013-1, 607155]Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT - Portugal) [SFRH/BPD/26348/2006]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Safety of hospital discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery

Background: Ileus is common after colorectal surgery and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Identifying features of normal bowel recovery and the appropriateness for hospital discharge is challenging. This study explored the safety of hospital discharge before the return of bowel function.Methods: A prospective, multicentre cohort study was undertaken across an international collaborative network. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between January and April 2018 were included. The main outcome of interest was readmission to hospital within 30 days of surgery. The impact of discharge timing according to the return of bowel function was explored using multivariable regression analysis. Other outcomes were postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery, measured using the Clavien-Dindo classification system.Results: A total of 3288 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 301 (9.2 per cent) were discharged before the return of bowel function. The median duration of hospital stay for patients discharged before and after return of bowel function was 5 (i.q.r. 4-7) and 7 (6-8) days respectively (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of readmission between these groups (6.6 versus 8.0 per cent; P = 0.499), and this remained the case after multivariable adjustment for baseline differences (odds ratio 0.90, 95 per cent c.i. 0.55 to 1.46; P = 0.659). Rates of postoperative complications were also similar in those discharged before versus after return of bowel function (minor: 34.7 versus 39.5 per cent; major 3.3 versus 3.4 per cent; P = 0.110).Conclusion: Discharge before return of bowel function after elective colorectal surgery appears to be safe in appropriately selected patients