Phase diagrams of Janus fluids with up-down constrained orientations

A class of binary mixtures of Janus fluids formed by colloidal spheres with the hydrophobic hemispheres constrained to point either up or down are studied by means of Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations and simple analytical approximations. These fluids can be experimentally realized by the application of an external static electrical field. The gas-liquid and demixing phase transitions in five specific models with different patch-patch affinities are analyzed. It is found that a gas-liquid transition is present in all the models, even if only one of the four possible patch-patch interactions is attractive. Moreover, provided the attraction between like particles is stronger than between unlike particles, the system demixes into two subsystems with different composition at sufficiently low temperatures and high densities.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Photochromic mechanism in oxygen-containing yttrium hydride thin films: An optical perspective

Oxygen-containing yttrium hydride thin films exhibit photochromic behavior: Transparent thin films reversibly switch from a transparent state to a photodarkened state after being illuminated with UV or blue light. From optical spectrophotometry and ellipsometry measurements of the transparent state and photodarkened state, it is concluded that the photochromic effect can be explained by the gradual growth, under illumination, of metallic domains within the initial wide-band-gap semiconducting lattice. This conclusion is supported by Raman measurements

Un estudi sobre interdisciplinarietat, professions socials i acció socioeducativa

Aquest article és el relat d'un seguit d'accions encetades per donar resposta a una serie de preguntes referides a l'àmbit de la intervenció socioeducativa. El que volíem era conèixer I'estat de la interdisciplinarietat en I'àmbit de les accions socioeducatives professionals. En quin grau i de quina manera conflueixen les diferents disc iplines en I'acció social o socioeducativa? Quines professions i professionals d'alló social van desenvolupant aquestes accions? Quines relacions -de col·laboració; de confrontació; d'aïllament, etc.- es produeixen entre elles? I, per últim, ens preguntàvem: existeix una consciència entre els i les professionals sobre la necessitat -o no- d'aquesta interdisciplinarietat

Oxygen vacancy related distortions in rutile TiO_2 nanoparticles: a combined experimental and theoretical study

The effects of doubly ionized oxygen vacancies [(V_O)ˆ(2+)]on the electronic structure and charge distribution in rutile TiO_2 are studied by combining first-principles calculations based on density functional theory and experimental results from x-ray photoelectron and x-ray absorption measurements carried out in synchrotron facilities on rutile TiO_2 nanoparticles. The generalized gradient approximation of the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional has demonstrated its suitability for the analysis of the [(V_O)ˆ(2+)]defects in rutile TiO_2. It has been found that the presence of empty electronic states at the conduction band shifted ̴1 eV from t_(2g) and e_(g) states can be associated with local distortions induced by [(V_O)ˆ(2+)]defects, in good agreement with Gauss-Lorentzian band deconvolution of experimental O K-edge spectra. The asymmetry of t(2g) and e(g) bands at the O-K edge has been associated with [(V_O)ˆ(2+)], which can enrich the understanding of studies where the presence of these defects plays a key role, as in the case of doped TiO_2

The informal social support for autonomy and dependence in pain inventory Spanish version

Social support plays a crucial role in the quality of life of people with chronic pain. The Informal Social Support for Autonomy and Dependence in Pain Inventory assesses two functions of received social support: the promotion of autonomy and the promotion of dependence. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to adapt this instrument for its use in the Spanish population. The sample comprised 256 individuals with chronic pain. Participants were recruited through two local associations of people with fibromyalgia, a physiotherapy unit and a hospital pain unit. The data were collected in Spain between October 2018 and January 2020. The structure of the questionnaire was analysed using confirmatory factor analysis, average variance extracted, composite reliability and internal consistency indexes, and inter-correlations between the scales. The criterion-related validity of the instrument was analysed by investigating its relationship with pain intensity, positive and negative affect, daily functioning, activity impairment, wellbeing and satisfaction with life. The structure with the best fit had four related factors: emotional social support for the promotion of autonomy; instrumental social support for the promotion of autonomy; emotional social support for the promotion of dependence and instrumental social support for the promotion of dependence. The scales showed adequate internal consistency. An association was found between higher levels of instrumental social support for the promotion of dependence and higher levels of pain-related disability and decreased daily functioning. An association was also found between the promotion of autonomy and increased satisfaction with life. The Spanish version of the inventory shows appropriate psychometric properties. In the setting of disability prevention, this instrument is useful in assessing the support relationships between people with chronic pain and their relatives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The intensity of physical activity improves cognitive performance among aging Americans

Background: Currently there is no pharmacological cure for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, physical activity (PA) has emerged as a promising approach. The optimal intensity of PA to improve cognitive health remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate associations between different durations and intensities of PA on performance across cognitive domains (executive function, processing speed, and memory) among aging Americans. Methods: 2377 adults aged ≥ 60 years from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014, were included. Linear regression in hierarchical blocks and the size of effect (η2) were analyzed with R software. Results: The mean age was 69.3±6.73, 50.86% females. Despite the attenuation of association following adjustments for covariates, participants who engaged in 3-6 hr/wk of vigorous- and \u3e 1 hr/wk of moderate-intensity PA performed significantly higher in executive function and processing speed tests compared to inactive peers (η2= 0.005 & 0.007 respectively, p \u3c 0.05). However, there was no clear dose-response relationship between the executive function and processing speed test scores and duration of weekly moderate-intensity PA. For the adjusted model, the effects of 1-3 hr/wk of vigorous-intensity PA became trivial for the delayed recall memory test scores (β=0.33; 95% CI: -0.01, 0.67; η2=0.002; p=0.56). Interestingly, higher handgrip strength and higher late-life body-mass-index were associated with a higher performance across all cognitive domains. Conclusion: Observed associations provide evidence linking habitual PA with superior cognition health among older adults. Furthermore, increased muscle strength and higher late-life adiposity may impact cognition and require further investigation

A global perspective on the influence of environmental exposures on the nervous system

Economic transitions in the era of globalization warrant a fresh look at the neurological risks associated with environmental change. These are driven by industrial expansion, transfer and mobility of goods, climate change and population growth. In these contexts, risk of infectious and non-infectious diseases are shared across geographical boundaries. In low- and middle-income countries, the risk of environmentally mediated brain disease is augmented several fold by lack of infrastructure, poor health and safety regulations, and limited measures for environmental protection. Neurological disorders may occur as a result of direct exposure to chemical and/or non-chemical stressors, including but not limited to, ultrafine particulate matters. Individual susceptibilities to exposure-related diseases are modified by genetic, epigenetic and metagenomic factors. The existence of several uniquely exposed populations, including those in the areas surrounding the Niger Delta or north western Amazon oil operations; those working in poorly regulated environments, such as artisanal mining industries; or those, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, relying on cassava as a staple food, offers invaluable opportunities to advance the current understanding of brain responses to environmental challenges. Increased awareness of the brain disorders that are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries and investments in capacity for further environmental health-related research are positive steps towards improving human health

Relationship Between Cognitive Performance, Physical Activity, and Socio-Demographic/Individual Characteristics Among Aging Americans

Background: Physical activity (PA) has emerged as a promising approach to delay Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, but the optimal intensity of PA to improve cognitive health remains unknown. Objective: To evaluate the association between duration and intensity of PA and cognitive domains (executive function, processing speed, and memory) in aging Americans. Methods: Linear regressions in hierarchical blocks for variable adjustment and the size of effect (η2) were analyzed by using the data of 2,377 adults (age = 69.3±6.7 years) from the NHANES 2011–2014. Results: Participants with 3–6 h/week of vigorous- and \u3e 1 h/week of moderate-intensity PA scored significantly higher in executive function and processing speed domains of cognition compared to inactive peers (η2 = 0.005 & 0.007 respectively, p \u3c 0.05). After adjustment, the beneficial effects of 1–3 h /week of vigorous-intensity PA became trivial for delayed recall memory domain test scores (η2 = 0.33; 95%CI: –0.01,0.67; η2 = 0.002; p = 0.56). There was no linear dose-response relationship between the cognitive test scores and weekly moderate-intensity of PA. Interestingly, higher handgrip strength and higher late-life body mass index were associated with a higher performance across all cognitive domains. Conclusion: Our study supports habitual PA with superior cognition health in some but not all domains among older adults. Furthermore, increased muscle strength and higher late-life adiposity may also impact cognition

Opioid pain medication prescription for chronic pain in primary care centers: the roles of pain acceptance, pain intensity, depressive symptoms, pain catastrophizing, sex, and age

Background: Psychological factors of patients may influence physicians’ decisions on prescribing opioid analgesics. However, few studies have sought to identify these factors. The present study had a double objective: (1) To identify the individual factors that differentiate patients who had been prescribed opioids for the management of chronic back pain from those who had not been prescribed opioids and (2) to determine which factors make significant and independent contributions to the prediction of opioid prescribing. Methods: A total of 675 patients from four primary care centers were included in the sample. Variables included sex, age, pain intensity, depressive symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and pain acceptance. Results: Although no differences were found between men and women, participants with chronic noncancer pain who were prescribed opioids were older, reported higher levels of pain intensity and depressive symptoms, and reported lower levels of pain-acceptance. An independent association was found between pain intensity and depressive symptoms and opioid prescribing. Conclusions: The findings suggest that patient factors influence physicians’ decisions on prescribing opioids. It may be useful for primary care physicians to be aware of the potential of these factors to bias their treatment decisions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio