A DFT Study on the Efficacy of Linking Agents (Sulfur and Nitrogen) to Connect Trans-azobenzene Sandwiched Between Two Gold Electrodes

Electronic structure calculations were performed to analyze the effectiveness of linking agents (sulfur and nitrogen) in connecting the trans-azobenzene sandwiched between two gold surfaces (Au-atoms). It was analyzed the dynamics of the load carrier and the electronic structure of the molecular backbone by applying an external electric field (EF), also a detailed structural, frontier orbital and natural bond orbital analysis (NBO) were performed. From the NBO analysis, it was possible to predict the path of charge flow in the molecular system. Electrostatic potential mapping allowed us to visualize the charge redistribution in the molecular system caused by the EF application. Our results indicate that when the nitrogen atom is used as a linking agent, the azo group of molecules may enhance their conductivity. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Feeding habits of the dwarf weakfish (Cynoscion nannus) off the coasts of Jalisco and Colima, Mexico

Sciaenids from the Pacific coast of Mexico are used as a second-class fish species for human consumption (Aguilar-Palomino et al., 1996). The dwarf weakfish (Cynoscion nannus) (Castro-Aguirre and Arvizu-Martínez, 1976) is often caught as bycatch in the shrimp fishery but, because of its small size (<27 cm TL, total length), it is not considered a valuable resource. This species can be found in great numbers in waters between 100 and 812 m (Allen and Robertson, 1994; Fischer et al., 1995) associated with the soft-bottom regions off the coast of Jalisco and Colima (González-Sansón et al., 1997)

Musicoterapia en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales: experiencia benéfica para el binomio

ResumenIntroducciónDesde hace varios años se está utilizando la música como herramienta terapéutica y preventiva en la neonatología, se han documentado en un gran número de artículos de investigación, sin embargo, en México esta técnica es poco utilizada.ObjetivoMejorar las condiciones de los neonatos atendidos en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCIN) y sus familiares, mediante el uso de musicoterapia, para minimizar el estrés y los daños colaterales.Materiales y métodosUn grupo de 2 neonatólogos, 3 residentes de pediatría, 10 enfermeras y un concertista profesional de violín, llevaron a cabo 6 sesiones musicales semanales en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales Externos del Hospital Civil de Guadalajara. Durante el concierto se valoró individualmente a cada neonato, registrando los signos vitales por monitorización electrónica, además se registró el estado anímico de los familiares.ResultadosDurante las sesiones de música los neonatales no presentaron cambios significativos en sus constantes vitales, en el personal de la UCIN y en los padres de recién nacidos hospitalizados se vieron efectos benéficos, refiriendo disminución del estrés y altos índices de satisfacción.ConclusionesLa música puede tener un efecto positivo como terapia coadyuvante en neonatos de alto riesgo, principalmente en prematuros. Se recomienda difundir y aplicar esta metodología en las UCIN del país.AbstractIntroductionSince several years ago, music has been used as a therapeutic and preventive tool in neonatology. A great number of research papers have been written on the subject; however, this technique is rarely used in Mexico.ObjectiveTo improve the condition of neonates at Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and their relatives, in order to minimize any stress and collateral damage.Material and methods: A group of two neonatologists, 3 residents, 10 nurses and a professional concert violinist, conducted six weekly music sessions in the Outpatient Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ONICU) of our institution. During the concert, we individually assessed each newborn, recording vital signs through electronic monitoring; additionally, we recorded the mood of any other family members present.ResultsDuring the music sessions, the neonatal patients showed no significant changes in vital signs; yet, ONICU staff and the parents/relatives of hospitalized newborns showed beneficial effects, reporting decreased stress and high levels of satisfaction.ConclusionsMusic can have a positive effect as adjunctive therapy in high-risk newborns, especially in premature babies. We therefore recommend applying this methodology in the ONICU

Tonic LAT-HDAC7 Signals Sustain Nur77 and Irf4 Expression to Tune Naive CD4&nbsp;T Cells

CD4+ T&nbsp;cells differentiate into T helper cell subsets in feedforward manners with synergistic signals from the T&nbsp;cell receptor (TCR), cytokines, and lineage-specific transcription factors. Naive CD4+ T&nbsp;cells avoid spontaneous engagement of feedforward mechanisms but retain a prepared state. T&nbsp;cells lacking the adaptor molecule LAT demonstrate impaired TCR-induced signals yet cause a spontaneous lymphoproliferative T helper 2 (TH2) cell syndrome in mice. Thus, LAT constitutes an unexplained maintenance cue. Here, we demonstrate that tonic signals through LAT constitutively export the repressor HDAC7 from the nucleus of CD4+ T&nbsp;cells. Without such tonic signals, HDAC7 target genes Nur77 and Irf4 are repressed. We reveal that Nur77 suppresses CD4+ T&nbsp;cell proliferation and uncover a suppressive role for Irf4 in TH2 polarization; halving Irf4 gene-dosage leads to increases in GATA3+ and IL-4+ cells. Our studies reveal that naive CD4+ T&nbsp;cells are dynamically tuned by tonic LAT-HDAC7 signals

Unsuspected pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Diffuse lung infiltrates are a common finding in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and causes range from infectious processes to malignancies or interstitial lung diseases. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare pulmonary disorder rarely reported in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is associated with conditions involving functional impairment or reduced numbers of alveolar macrophages. It can be caused by hematologic malignancies, inhalation of toxic dust, fumes or gases, infectious or pharmacologic immunosuppression, or lysinuric protein intolerance.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 42-year-old African American man infected with human immunodeficiency virus was admitted with chronic respiratory symptoms and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. Chest computed tomography revealed bilateral spontaneous pneumothoraces, for which he required bilateral chest tubes. Initial laboratory investigations did not reveal any contributory conditions. Histological examination of a lung biopsy taken during video-assisted thoracoscopy showed pulmonary alveolar proteinosis concurrent with cytomegalovirus pneumonitis. After ganciclovir treatment, our patient showed radiologic and clinical improvement.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The differential diagnosis for patients with immunosuppression and lung infiltrates requires extensive investigations. As pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is rare, the diagnosis can be easily missed. Our case highlights the importance of invasive investigations and histology in the management of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus and pulmonary disease who do not respond to empiric therapy.</p

Effect of Global Cardiac Ischemia on Human Ventricular Fibrillation: Insights from a Multi-scale Mechanistic Model of the Human Heart

Acute regional ischemia in the heart can lead to cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation (VF), which in turn compromise cardiac output and result in secondary global cardiac ischemia. The secondary ischemia may influence the underlying arrhythmia mechanism. A recent clinical study documents the effect of global cardiac ischaemia on the mechanisms of VF. During 150 seconds of global ischemia the dominant frequency of activation decreased, while after reperfusion it increased rapidly. At the same time the complexity of epicardial excitation, measured as the number of epicardical phase singularity points, remained approximately constant during ischemia. Here we perform numerical studies based on these clinical data and propose explanations for the observed dynamics of the period and complexity of activation patterns. In particular, we study the effects on ischemia in pseudo-1D and 2D cardiac tissue models as well as in an anatomically accurate model of human heart ventricles. We demonstrate that the fall of dominant frequency in VF during secondary ischemia can be explained by an increase in extracellular potassium, while the increase during reperfusion is consistent with washout of potassium and continued activation of the ATP-dependent potassium channels. We also suggest that memory effects are responsible for the observed complexity dynamics. In addition, we present unpublished clinical results of individual patient recordings and propose a way of estimating extracellular potassium and activation of ATP-dependent potassium channels from these measurements

Hydrologia e hydrogeologia en la cuenca de Chalco descripcion y perspectivas

Premiers résultats concernant l'hydrologie et l'hydrogéologie du bassin de Chalco (Mexique), sur la base de toute l'information historique disponible sur ce bassin. (Résumé d'auteur

Hydrologia e hydrogeologia en la cuenca de Chalco descripcion y perspectivas

Premiers résultats concernant l'hydrologie et l'hydrogéologie du bassin de Chalco (Mexique), sur la base de toute l'information historique disponible sur ce bassin. (Résumé d'auteur