High resolution transmission electron microscopy: A key tool to understand drug release from mesoporous matrices

This work demonstrates that high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is an essential tool to understand drug delivery performance of mesoporous silica materials, mainly those submitted to functionalization processes involving harsh conditions that may affect the mesostructure. Herein an SBA-15-type mesoporous material bearing Si(CH2)(2)P(O)(OCH2CH3)(2) groups was synthesized following the co-condensation route. Then, the resulting material was treated with 37 wt% HCl to convert ethylphosphonate groups to ethylphosphonic acid groups. The proper dealkylation of ethoxy groups following acid treatment was confirmed by FTIR and CP-MAS H-1 -> C-13 solid state NMR, which indicated the presence of Si(CH2)(2)P(O)(OH)(2) functionalities in the treated sample. Characterization of mesoporous materials by XRD diffraction and N-2 adsorption points to well-ordered SBA-15 structures in both untreated and acid-treated samples. Nonetheless, a deep study by HRTEM reveals that the acid-treatment provokes noticeable loss of mesostructural order, only remaining small crystalline domains. This structural damage does not influence cargo loading but it severely affects the release of molecules confined into the mesopores, as concluded from in vitro delivery tests using cephalexin as model drug. Thus, whereas untreated sample showed a sustained diffusion-controlled drug release during more than 2 weeks, 100% of the loaded drug was released only after 10 h from treated sample. This abrupt burst effect cannot be explained on the basis of the existing matrix-drug interactions, whose nature and extension is quite similar under the release conditions for both samples. Thus, it can be only understood on the basis of the mesostructural damage revealed by HRTEM studies. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Depth of faulting and ancien theat flows in the Kuiper region of Mercury from lobate scarp topography

Mercurian lobate scarp sare interpreted to be the surface expressions of thrust faults formed by planetary cooling and contraction, which deformed the crust downto the brittle–ductile transition (BDT) dep that the time of faulting. In this work we have used a for ward modeling procedure in order to analyze the relation be tweens carptopography and fault geometrie sand dep thsas sociated with a group of prominent lobate scarps (Santa Maria Rupes and twoun named scarps) located inthe Kuiper region of Mercury for which Earth-based radar altimetry is available. Also aback thrust associated with one of the lobate scarps has been included in this study. We have obtained best fits for depthsof faul ting between 30 and 39 km; the results are consistent with the previous results for o ther lobate scarps on Mercury. The so-derived fault depths have been used to calculate surface heat flows for the time of faulting, taking into account crustal heat source sand a heterogeneous surface temperature due to the variable in solation pattern. Deduced surface heat flow sare be tween 19 and 39m Wm-2 for the Kuiper region, and between 22 and 43 mWm-2 for Discovery Rupes. Both BDT depth sand heat flows are consistent with the predictions of thermal history models for the range of time relevant for scarp formation

Resistencia a biocidad en cepas de Salmonella SP. aisladas de huevo

Se ha estudiado la presencia de presuntas salmonelas en la superficie de huevos comerciales, y se ha determinado la sensibilidad a biocidas para la colección de cepas ensayadas. El porcentaje de muestras positivas osciló entre el 37% y el 43%. En algunas de las marcas comerciales analizadas no se logró aislar la bacteria en los huevos analizados, mientras que en los huevos de comercios pequeños o granjas se aisló en todas las muestras ensayadas. La mayoría de las cepas fueron inhibidas a una concentración del 0.1% de los biocidas cloruro de benzalconio, cetrimida, hexadecilpiridinio, hexaclorofeno, polihexametil biguanidio o P3 oxonia. Sin embargo, en algunos casos (cetrimida, polihexametil biguanidio o P3 oxonia ) se encontró un bajo porcentaje de cepas que requerían concentraciones de biocida de hasta diez veces superiores para su inhibición. El triclosan mostró una mayor eficacia, inhibiendo al 77% de las cepas a una concentración de 0.075%. Sin embargo, el resto de las cepas fueron muy tolerantes a este biocida, siendo necesaria una concentración del 1% para su inhibición. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren la existenciaWe have studied the presence of presumptive salmonellae in comercial eggs, and the biocide tolerance of isolates. Presumptive salmonellae were detected in some 37 to 43% of samples tested. Some comercial brands were free of the bacterium, but all eggs from local stores and farms tested positive. Most isolates were inhibited by 0.1% of the biocides benzalkonium chloride, cetrimide, hexadecylpyridinium chloride, hexachlorophene, polyhexamethylen biguanide and P3 oxonia. A small percentage of isolates required up to ten-fold higher biocide concentrations for inhibition (as in the case of cetrimide, polyhexamethylen biguanide and P3 oxonia). Triclosan was apparently more effective, inhibiting 77% of isolates at 0.075%. However, the remaining of isolates only were inhibited at 1% of the biocide. Results from this study suggest that a low percentage of the Salmonella population on egg surfaces can tolerate biocides

Enfermedades psiquiátricas y trabajo. Revisión bibliográfica y jurisprudencial (Trastornos esquizofrénicos, trastorno bipolar y trastornos ansioso-depresivos)

Las enfermedades psiquiátricas en su conjunto y, algunas de ellas de forma específica, constituyen un problema de salud pública en todos los países y conllevan un coste económico asociado, tanto directo como indirecto. Pero además, cuando la persona enferma ejerce su derecho al trabajo ello comporta, en ocasiones, más allá de su diagnóstico y su tratamiento, la necesidad de tomar unas acciones en las empresas, limitantes adaptativas o restrictivas, para el trabajador afectado y la adopción de medidas socio-laborales con repercusión posterior administrativa y jurídica. Se revisarán en este trabajo las publicaciones médicas recogidas en la base de datos de referencia (Pub-Med) relativa a estas patologías, su diferenciación en cuanto a los aspectos clínico asistenciales y su comparativa con los socio-laborales. De igual forma se realiza en este trabajo una revisión del impacto de estas patologías en la base de datos jurídica (Westlaw Insignis) y su diferenciación según cada patología y área del derecho correspondiente. Sirvan los resultados para, a través del conocimiento actual de la situación, basada en estos datos, elaborar posibles estrategias preventivas de futuro ante conflictos médico legales y de nuevos enfoques más coordinados entre todos los agentes implicados.Psychiatric disorders as a whole and some of them in a specific way constitute a public health problem in all countries and entail an economic cost associated, both directly and indirectly. In addition, some issues are to be considered when the sick person exercises his right to work, beyond diagnosis and treatment of his/her disease. Companies need to take some actions whether adaptive or restrictive for the affected employee, and the adoption of socio-labor measures which will have administrative and legal impact. The medical publications listed in the reference database (Pub-Med) concerning these pathologies will be reviewed in this article with emphasis in those clinical aspects that correlate health care with socio-labor implications. Paralelly, this work reviews the impact of these diseases in the legal databases (Westlaw Insignis) and their differentiation according to each disorder and its corresponding area of the law.The conclusions of this work, through the current knowledge of the situation, will serve to develop possible preventive strategies to address future medico-legal conflicts as well as to develop more coordinated approaches among all the stakeholders

Consumo de alcohol y riesgo de accidentes de tráfico en España. Aspectos preventivos

Introducción: Las bebidas alcohólicas se consumen ampliamente en todo el mundo y también en España. Aunque la mayoría de la población adulta tiene un patrón de consumo de bajo riesgo, existen personas que presentan patrones lesivos de consumo que van desde el bebedor diario de gran cantidad, al consumo de riesgo ocasional/social. Esta situación genera problemas de seguridad vial en casi todos los países asociados a cambios en el rendimiento psicomotor del consumidor con posterior repercusión en riesgo de accidentes. Método: Para realizar esta revisión se han consultado la base de datos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud: World Health Organization. Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH) y los resultados del estudio EDADES. Se ha hecho una búsqueda bibliográfica en PubMed y otras bases de datos de referencia (Latindex, Scopus, Índice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud –IBECS sobre los términos de búsqueda: alcohol consumption and road traffic injuries, seleccionándose a criterio de los autores aquellos trabajos considerados más significativos). Conclusiones: Se trata de un complejo problema con repercusión individual en los afectados y trascendencia socioeconómica y en la que destaca la especial implicación en sus efectos de las personas más jóvenes, lo que requiere de un esfuerzo preventivo conjunto sanitario, social y de las Administraciones Públicas para obtener resultados en plazos lo más breves posible y reducir la mortalidad, morbilidad y limitaciones resultantes ocasionadas por la conducción bajo los efectos de las bebidas alcohólicas, con frecuencia asociados al consumo de otro tipo de drogas y aceptado cada vez más por la sociedad en actividades de ocio.Introduction: Alcoholic beverages are widely consumed around the world and also in Spain. Although most of the adult population has a pattern of low-risk drinking, there are people with harmful drinking patterns ranging from daily drinker wealth, consumption casual / social risk. This creates traffic problems in almost all countries associated with changes in psychomotor performance consumer with subsequent impact on accident risk. Methods: To perform this review we have consulted the database of the World Health Organization: World Health Organization. Global Information System on Alcohol and Health ( GISAH ) and the results of the EDADES study. It has become a literature search in PubMed and other databases of reference (Latindex Scopus Spanish Bibliographic Index of Health Sciences -IBECS about search terms: Alcohol Consumption and road traffic injuries, and have been selected by the authors tose works considered more relevants. Conclusions: This is a complex issue with individual impact on those affected and socio-economic importance and which highlights the special involvement in the effects of younger people, which requires a preventive effort overall health, social and government for results in shorter periods and may reduce mortality, morbidity and resulting limitations caused by driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages, often associated with the consumption of other drugs and increasingly accepted by society in leisure activities

Designing for shape memory in additive manufacturing of Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy processed by laser powder bed fusion

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are functional materials that are being applied in practically all industries, from aerospace to biomedical sectors, and at present the scientific and technologic communities are looking to gain the advantages offered by the new processing technologies of additive manufacturing (AM). However, the use of AM to produce functional materials, like SMAs, constitutes a real challenge due to the particularly well controlled microstructure required to exhibit the functional property of shape memory. In the present work, the design of the complete AM processing route, from powder atomization to laser powder bed fusion for AM and hot isostatic pressing (HIP), is approached for Cu-Al-Ni SMAs. The microstructure of the different processing states is characterized in relationship with the processing parameters. The thermal martensitic transformation, responsible for the functional properties, is analyzed in a comparative way for each one of the different processed samples. The present results demonstrate that a final post-processing thermal treatment to control the microstructure is crucial to obtain the expected functional properties. Finally, it is demonstrated that using the designed processing route of laser powder bed fusion followed by a post-processing HIP and a final specific thermal treatment, a satisfactory shape memory behavior can be obtained in Cu-Al-Ni SMAs, paving the road for further applications

Spin-state-dependent electrical conductivity in single-walled carbon nanotubes encapsulating spin-crossover molecules

Spin crossover (SCO) molecules are promising nanoscale magnetic switches due to their ability to modify their spin state under several stimuli. However, SCO systems face several bottlenecks when downscaling into nanoscale spintronic devices: their instability at the nanoscale, their insulating character and the lack of control when positioning nanocrystals in nanodevices. Here we show the encapsulation of robust Fe-based SCO molecules within the 1D cavities of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). We find that the SCO mechanism endures encapsulation and positioning of individual heterostructures in nanoscale transistors. The SCO switch in the guest molecules triggers a large conductance bistability through the host SWCNT. Moreover, the SCO transition shifts to higher temperatures and displays hysteresis cycles, and thus memory effect, not present in crystalline samples. Our results demonstrate how encapsulation in SWCNTs provides the backbone for the readout and positioning of SCO molecules into nanodevices, and can also help to tune their magnetic properties at the nanoscale.Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions 74657Programa de Atracción del Talento Investigador 2017-T1/IND-5562Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad CTQ2017-86060-P, PID2019-111479GB-100, MAT 2017-8225, GC2018-101689-B-I00Consejo Europeo de Investigación ERC-StG-307609, ERC-PoC-842606Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid MAD2D-CM S2013/ MIT-3007, PEJD-2017-PRE/IND-4037, Y2018/NMT- 4783NANOMAGCOST P2018/ NMT-432

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund