Remeis celestials

No hi ha dubte que la humanitat, en totes les diverses i variades cultures que la componen, des de les més antigues a les més actuals, ha vinculat la malaltia amb els poders sobrenaturals. Aquesta antiquíssima i rica relació entre malaltia i poder celestial ha estat emprada, sovint, per farmacèutics que han “batejat” els seus remeis, i fins les seves oficines, amb el nom d’algun sant o advocació mariana, tant amb finalitats estrictament comercials com per alguna devoció concreta. I no cal dir, també, com algunes ordres religioses han posat el producte dels seus treballs conventuals sota el patrocini dels seus fundadors per reforçar-ne la qualitat remeiera. Tot això fa que en les nostres col·leccions de medicaments antics s’hi trobin elements amb aquestes característiques que, per a la vitrina de “el medicament del mes” hem qualificat de “Remeis Celestials”. Entre ells hi ha tota mena de diferents formes i presentacions farmacèutiques, i en les seves etiquetes, prospectes o a la publicitat, s’hi troba tota mena d’imatges o representacions pietoses a l’estil de l’època

Fast preparation of single hole spin in InAs/GaAs quantum dot in Voigt geometry magnetic field

The preparation of a coherent heavy-hole spin via ionization of a spin-polarized electron-hole pair in an InAs/GaAs quantum dot in a Voigt geometry magnetic field is investigated. For a dot with a 17 ueV bright-exciton fine-structure splitting, the fidelity of the spin preparation is limited to 0.75, with optimum preparation occurring when the effective fine-structure of the bright-exciton matches the in-plane hole Zeeman energy. In principle, higher fidelities can be achieved by minimizing the bright-exciton fine-structure splitting.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figs, published PRB 85 155310 (2012

Analysis of the Calls Received during the COVID-19 Lockdown by the Mental Health Crisis Helpline Operated by the Professional College of Psychology of Aragon

COVID-19 has had a direct impact on the physical and mental health of millions of people worldwide. Therefore, a Mental Health Crisis Helpline (MHCH) was set up and offered free of charge by the Professional College of Psychology of Aragon (COPPA) during the lockdown period. This research aims to study the reasons for the calls, to describe the population segments that used it, and to analyse the possible relationships between the variables studied. A total of 1411 calls were answered and 598 were registered. The main reasons for the calls were: anxiety symptoms, concern for a relative, previous mental health problems, conflicts, and depressive symptoms. Significantly more men called for anxiety symptoms (60.8% vs. 49.5%) versus more women calling regarding a chronic physical illness (3.5% vs. 0.7%), concern about a relative (22.7% vs. 12.4%), care guidelines (6% vs. 1.3%), and bereavement (6.2% vs. 2%). Calls regarding conflict increased slightly as the lockdown period progressed (p < 0.001; r = 0.15), in contrast with calls regarding previous psychological conditions and anxiety symptoms (p = 0.035; r = -0.09; p = 0.005; r = -0.12). These results highlight the intensive use of the MHCH, confirming the need for the implementation of specific psychological care resources in times of crisis. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Fluorescent and Electroactive Monoalkyl BTD-Based Liquid Crystals with Tunable Self-Assembling and Electronic Properties

We report here on a series of redox active benzothiadiazole-based luminophores ffinctionalized on one edge with a phenyl-nonyl substituent, which confers these molecules a rodlike shape and a tendency to self-assemble into layered superstructures. On the other edge, the molecules are endowed with different p-substituted phenyl rings, which allows the modulation of their redox and optical properties on the basis of the electronic nature of the terminal substituents. We have found that just one lateral alkyl chain is sufficient to induce mesomorphism in these molecules, which present nematic or smectic mesophases upon therinal treatment. Single-crystal analysis allows us to get an insight into the nature of the forces responsible for different supramolecular assemblies in these derivatives, and point to a strong contribution of the terminal groups in the different arrangements observed. The interesting redox and optical properties together with their self-assembling tendencies render these new materials interesting candidates for optoelectromcs

Controlled delivery of tauroursodeoxycholic acid from biodegradable microspheres slows retinal degeneration and vision loss in P23H rats

Successful drug therapies for treating ocular diseases require effective concentrations of neuroprotective compounds maintained over time at the site of action. The purpose of this work was to assess the efficacy of intravitreal controlled delivery of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) encapsulated in poly(D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres for the treatment of the retina in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa. PLGA microspheres (MSs) containing TUDCA were produced by the O/W emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. Particle size and morphology were assessed by light scattering and scanning electronic microscopy, respectively. Homozygous P23H line 3 rats received a treatment of intravitreal injections of TUDCA-PLGA MSs. Retinal function was assessed by electroretinography at P30, P60, P90 and P120. The density, structure and synaptic contacts of retinal neurons were analyzed using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy at P90 and P120. TUDCA-loaded PLGA MSs were spherical, with a smooth surface. The production yield was 78%, the MSs mean particle size was 23 mu m and the drug loading resulted 12.5 +/- 0.8 mu g TUDCA/mg MSs. MSs were able to deliver the loaded active compound in a gradual and progressive manner over the 28-day in vitro release study. Scotopic electroretinografic responses showed increased ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes in TUDCA-PLGA-MSstreated eyes as compared to those injected with unloaded PLGA particles.TUDCA-PLGAMSs- treated eyes showed more photoreceptor rows than controls. The synaptic contacts of photoreceptors with bipolar and horizontal cells were also preserved in P23H rats treated with TUDCA-PLGA MSs. This work indicates that the slow and continuous delivery of TUDCA from PLGA-MSs has potential neuroprotective effects that could constitute a suitable therapy to prevent neurodegeneration and visual loss in retinitis pigmentosa

Charge control in InP/GaInP single quantum dots embedded in Schottky diodes

We demonstrate control by applied electric field of the charge states in single self-assembled InP quantum dots placed in GaInP Schottky structures grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. This has been enabled by growth optimization leading to suppression of formation of large dots uncontrollably accumulating charge. Using bias- and polarization-dependent micro-photoluminescence, we identify the exciton multi-particle states and carry out a systematic study of the neutral exciton state dipole moment and polarizability. This analysis allows for the characterization of the exciton wavefunction properties at the single dot level for this type of quantum dots. Photocurrent measurements allow further characterization of exciton properties by electrical means, opening new possibilities for resonant excitation studies for such system.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

SN 1988Z: Spectro-photometric catalogue and energy estimates

We present a spectro-photometric catalogue of the evolution of supernova 1988Z which combines new and published observations in the radio, optical and X-ray bands, with the aim of offering a comprehensive view of the evolution of this object and deriving the total energy radiated since discovery. The major contribution to the total radiated energy comes at optical to X-ray frequencies, with a total emission of at least $2 \times 10^{51}$ erg (for Ho=50 km/s) in 8.5 years. A model-dependent extrapolation of this value indicates that the total radiated energy may be as high as $10^{52}$ erg. The high value of the radiated energy supports a scenario in which most of the kinetic energy of the ejecta is thermalized and radiated in a short interaction with a dense circumstellar medium of nearly constant density. In this sense, 1988Z is not a supernova but a young and compact supernova remnant.Comment: Accepted to be published in MNRAS (14 pages, 10 figures). Also available at http://www.inaoep.mx/~itzia