Morphometric Variations of Discophrya elongata (Ciliophora, Suctorea) Attached to Two Different Species of Aquatic True Bugs (Hemiptera, Prosorrhyncha, Nepomorpha)

Morphometric variation in Discophrya elongata living as epibionts of two species of aquatic true bugs, Corisella edulis and Notonecta unifasciata, collected from the same pond in Mexico are discussed. Factors that may be responsible for observed variability, especially hydrodynamic loads and long-term modifications, also are identified and discussed.В статье обсуждается изменчивость размерных характеристик полиморфного вида сукторий Discophrya elongata при поселении на двух видах водных клопов Corisella edulis и Notonecta unifasciata из одного местообитания – пруда в Мексике. Указаны факторы, с которыми могут быть связаны наблюдаемые различия в размерах вида, в частности, гидродинамические нагрузки и длительные модификации

Effect of TEA on the blue emission of ZnO quantum dots with high quantum yield

This work reports the luminescence, morphology and synthesis of ZnO quantum dots using a simple wet chemical method and different concentrations of Triethanolamine (TEA) as surfactant. Those nanoparticles emitted a strong blue emission band centered at 429 nm when they are dispersed in hexane. Spherical quantum dots with sizes ranging from 3 to 7 nm were obtained for concentrations from 0 to 0.7 ml. of TEA, whereas a mixture with oval-like nanoparticles was observed from concentrations above of 1.1 ml of TEA. It was also possible to control the values of the band gap in ZnO quantum dots depending on the content of TEA. Based on the high quantum yield of 81% measured for those ZnO nanoparticles respect to quinine sulfate dye (QS), it is suggested that such nanoparticles could be used for biolabeling and ZnO based LEDs

Challenges and perspectives in continuous glucose monitoring

Diabetes is a global epidemic that threatens the health and well-being of hundreds of millions of people. The first step in patient treatment is to monitor glucose levels. Currently this is most commonly done using enzymatic strips. This approach suffers from several limitations, namely it requires a blood sample and is therefore invasive, the quality and the stability of the enzymatic strips vary widely, and the patient is burdened by performing the measurement themselves. This results in dangerous fluctuations in glucose levels often going undetected. There is currently intense research towards new approaches in glucose detection that would enable non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). In this review, we explore the state-of-the-art in glucose detection technologies. In particular, we focus on the physical mechanisms behind different approaches, and how these influence and determine the accuracy and reliability of glucose detection. We begin by reviewing the basic physical and chemical properties of the glucose molecule. Although these play a central role in detection, especially the anomeric ratio, they are surprisingly often overlooked in the literature. We then review state-of-the art and emerging detection methods. Finally, we survey the current market for glucometers. Recent results show that past challenges in glucose detection are now being overcome, thereby enabling the development of smart wearable devices for non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring. These new directions in glucose detection have enormous potential to improve the quality of life of millions of diabetics, as well as offer insight into the development, treatment and even prevention of the disease

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Is Kindness an Attractive Trait

People are familiar with the notion that “nice guys finish last”. This is in part due to the thinking that “nice guys” are just that-- nice. Research even suggests that women want to date the “bad boy” or someone who is considered to be more dominant (Graziano, 1995). This study will investigate peoples’ perceptions of and preference for kindness in a romantic partner. We hope to get feedback from at least 50 participants.The data will be analyzed using a 2 (target gender)x 2(kind/control) between and within subjects design with target gender the between subjects variable and kindness the within subject variable ANOVA. In the study, participants will read a brief description of several individuals. Half will be described as doing a kind act and the other half will be described as positive but will not participate in a kind act. Participants will then be asked to make an impression of the individual based on what they read, there are four scenarios, and participants will read all four scenarios. There are two control scenarios (One for male and female) as well as two experimental scenarios (one for men and women). In addition to evaluating the targets’ competence, warmth, communion, and agency. Participants will be asked to answer demographic questions about themselves such as their age and gender. Example questions about the target include the following: Javier is strong, rate Javier on a scale from 1-7 where 1= strongly disagree and 7= strongly agree. In addition, measuring Javier kindness from 1-7 where 1=strongly disagree and 7=strongly agree. Projected results are that participants are more likely to want to date the individual labeled as strong over the individual who is labeled as nice

Characterization of TiO2_2 thin films for photocatalysis applications using photoacoustic spectroscopy

Semiconductors thin films are being used to promote photocatalytic reactions in a very efficient way to decompose hydrocarbons such as aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated aromatics, surfactants, etc. Titanium dioxide is the most widely used oxide semiconductor for photocatalytic processes due to both its high photocatalytic activity and its chemical photocorrosion stability in the reaction conditions. The photocatalytic activity is determined by thin film growth parameters such as grain size, high active surface area, crystalline phase and doping of the semiconductor particles. In particular, the bandgap energy values of the semiconductor films are a fundamental parameter since it determines the portion of the visible spectra useful for the photocatalytic reactions. Using the sol-gel deposition technique, we have grown TiO$_2$ thin films on glass substrates to be applied in the decomposition of benzene and toluene pollutants. We used different growth conditions in terms of the precursors used for the sol-gel growth solution and the mol ratio of water, in order to control the crystalline phase, either the rutile or the anatase TiO$_2$ phases, and the film crystalline quality. The photoacoustic spectroscopy has been used to characterize the optical absorption spectra for these set of films, and determine precisely the bandgap energies. We also present results on the photocatalytic activity for these TiO$_2$ films evaluated in terms of the photobleaching of methylene blue, and their correlation to the photoacoustic spectra