Development of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for specific identification of Lachesis acrochorda venom

The snake genus Lachesis provokes 2 to 3% of snakebites in Colombia every year. Two Lachesis species, L. acrochorda and L. muta, share habitats with snakes from another genus, namely Bothrops asper and B. atrox. Lachesis venom causes systemic and local effects such as swelling, hemorrhaging, myonecrosis, hemostatic disorders and nephrotoxic symptoms similar to those induced by Bothrops, Portidium and Bothriechis bites. Bothrops antivenoms neutralize a variety of Lachesis venom toxins. However, these products are unable to avoid coagulation problems provoked by Lachesis snakebites. Thus, it is important to ascertain whether the envenomation was caused by a Bothrops or Lachesis snake. The present study found enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) efficient for detecting Lachesis acrochorda venom in a concentration range of 3.9 to 1000 ng/mL, which did not show a cross-reaction with Bothrops, Portidium, Botriechis and Crotalus venoms. Furthermore, one fraction of L. acrochorda venom that did not show crossreactivity with B. asper venom was isolated using the same ELISA antibodies; some of its proteins were identified including one Gal-specific lectin and one metalloproteinase. This test may be useful to physicians, since it could be applicable for tracking the kinetic distribution of antigens in patients or experimentally envenomed animals

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Performance Comparison of Different Flat Plate Solar Collectors by Means of the Entropy Generation Rate Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

In this work, a numerical analysis of three different flat plate solar collectors was conducted using their entropy generation rates. Specifically, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique was used to compare the detailed performance of conventional and zigzag tube geometries of flat plate solar collectors (FPCs) in terms of their entropy generation rates. The effects of fluid viscosity, heat transfer, and heat loss of the flat plate solar collectors were considered for the local and global entropy generation rate analyses. Variations on the inlet volumetric flow rate of the FPCs from 1.0 to 9.0 L/min were simulated under the average solar radiation for one year in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. The results illustrate and discuss the temperatures, pressures, and global entropy generation rates for volumetric flow variations. The velocity, temperature, and pressure distributions and the maps of the local entropy generation rates inside the collectors are presented and analyzed for the case with a flow rate of 3.0 L/min. These results demonstrate that the zigzag geometries achieved higher outlet temperatures and greater entropy generation rates than the conventional geometry for all the volumetric flow rates considered

Crystallization of Glasses Containing K2O, PbO, BaO, Al2O3, B2O3, and TiO2

The objective of this work was to obtain glass-ceramics from stable glasses, with a composition of barium, lead, and potassium titanate phases, for use as semiconductors. For this purpose, the glass-ceramic technique was used to control crystal growth and obtain a fine-grained microstructure. Various glasses containing K2O, PbO, BaO, Al2O3, B2O3, and TiO2 were prepared using a melt-quenching method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a single amorphous phase of all samples. Infrared spectra confirmed the presence of B-O bonds stretching vibrations of (B3O6)3− boroxol rings and BO3 triangles, as well as Ti-O stretching vibrations of (TiO6/2) and (AlO6/2) octahedral units. Thermal analyses confirmed the presence of one or more crystallization peaks in the range of 700 to 744 °C. On this base, they were heat-treated to promote crystal growth. XRD and SEM detected Ba4Ti12O27, Ti7O13, and BaTiO3 phases, homogeneously distributed throughout the material with fine crystallite size. In addition, crystallized glasses’ (glass-ceramics) properties were determined; the density values were 2.8–3.55 g/cm3; the chemical resistance to acidic and basic media was low; and the band-gap values were in the range of 2.88 to 3.05 eV. These results suggest that crystallized glasses may have application in photocatalysis

Jóvenes, cultura y política en América Latina : algunos trayectos de sus relaciones, experiencias y lecturas 1960-2000

Este libro se propone visibilizar las voces y prácticas de los jóvenes como grupo humano inmerso en las complejas dinámicas sociales a nivel local, nacional y global. Además, plantea valorar su potencial creador de nuevas formas de ser en el mundo y de construirlo a partir de sus deseos. Desde estas perspectivas, el Grupo de Trabajo de CLACSO Juventud y nuevas prácticas políticas en América Latina, ha desarrollado indagaciones y reflexiones en torno a las formas tradicionales y contemporáneas en las que los jóvenes aparecen en el mundo y, a la vez, cómo éste los toca, transforma y constituye cotidianamente. Trabajamos desde diversas miradas que pasan por lo estético, lo cultural, lo político, lo social y lo ético. La obra que presentamos expresa el debate colectivo, intergeneracional y con diversidad de perspectivas teóricas y metodológicas alrededor de "los nuevos sentidos, prácticas y discursos que van emergiendo en torno a la ciudadanía de jóvenes en América Latina y sus nuevas formas de hacer política desde lo juvenil, profundizando en las maneras particulares como los y las jóvenes se vinculan a la construcción del orden político, para identificar y fortalecer aquellos sentidos, prácitcas y discursos más inclusivos, democráticos y participativos" (Documento del GT, 2007)ÍNDICE PRESENTACIÓN ....................................... 7 Sara Victoria Alvarado y Pablo A. Vommaro PRÓLOGO El imperio de los jóvenes ....... 13 Carles Feixa CAPÍTULO 1 Del Cordobazo al kirchnerismo. Una lectura crítica acerca de los períodos, temáticas y perspectivas en los estudios sobre juventudes y participación política en la Argentina .......... 21 Andrea Bonvillani, Alicia Itatí Palermo, Melina Vázquez y Pablo A. Vommaro CAPÍTULO 2 A categoria juventude rural no Brasil: o processo de construção de um ator político. Contribuições para um estado da arte ............. 55 Elisa Guaraná de Castro, José Gabriel Correa, Maíra Martins y Salomé Lima Ferreira CAPÍTULO 3 Los estudios sobre juventud. Algunas tendencias y lugares de la producción de conocimiento sobre los jóvenes en Venezuela .......... 89 Emilia Bermúdez y Gildardo Martínez CAPÍTULO 4 Participación política y organización de jóvenes en Colombia vista desde la tensión plan de organización-plan de consistencia .......... 113 Humberto Cubides C. CAPÍTULO 5 La Juventud en la Sociología Uruguaya: estado del arte ........... 137 Juan Romero y Natalia Moreira CAPÍTULO 6 Hacia un estado del arte sobre sentidos y prácticas políticas juveniles en Colombia. 2000-2008 ....... 163 Liliana Galindo Ramírez y Fabián Acosta Sánchez CAPÍTULO 7 La emergencia reciente de estudios sobre pandillas en América Latina......... 205 Mario Zúñiga Núñez CAPÍTULO 8 Producción académica sobre la relación historia, juventud y política en Colombia: Una aproximación a su estado del arte desde mediados del siglo XX ....... 231 Patricia Botero, Héctor Fabio Ospina, Sara Victoria Alvarado y José Rubén Castillo CAPÍTULO 9 Nuevas Prácticas Políticas en Jóvenes de Chile: Conocimientos acumulados 2000-2008........ 263 Equipo Centro de Estudios en Juventud CAPÍTULO 10 Jovens urbanos, ações estético-culturais e novas práticas políticas: estado da arte (1960-2000) ......... 293 Silvia H. S. Borelli, Rose M. Rocha, Rita C. A. Oliveira, Lucia H. V. Rangel y Marcos Lara AUTORES ............ 32

Composition Optimization and Stability Testing of a Parenteral Antifungal Solution based on a Ternary Solvent System

An intravenous solution is a dosage forms intended for administration into the bloodstream. This route is the most rapid and the most bioavailable method of getting drugs into systemic circulation, and therefore it is also the most liable to cause adverse effects. In order to reduce the possibility of side effects and to ensure adequate clinical dosage of the formulation, the primarily formulated composition should be optimized. It is also important that the composition should retain its therapeutic effectiveness and safety throughout the shelf-life of the product. This paper focuses on the optimization and stability testing of a parenteral solution containing miconazole and ketoconazole solubilized with a ternary solvent system as model drugs. Optimization of the solvent system was performed based on assessing the risk/benefit ratio of the composition and its properties upon dilution. Stability tests were conducted based on the EMEA (European Medicines Agency) “guideline on stability testing: stability testing of existing active substances and related finished products”. Experiments show that both the amount of co-solvent and surface active agent of the solvent system could substantially be reduced, while still maintaining adequate solubilizing power. It is also shown that the choice of various containers affects the stability of the compositions. It was concluded that by assessing the risk/benefit ratio of solubilizing power versus toxicity, the concentration of excipients could be considerably decreased while still showing a powerful solubilizing effect. It was also shown that a pharmaceutically acceptable shelf-life could be assigned to the composition, indicating good long-term stability