PtRu nanoparticles supported on noble carbons for ethanol electrooxidation

In this work, three cytosine derived nitrogen doped carbonaceous materials (noble carbons, NCs) with different atomic C/N ratios and porous networks have been synthesized and used as supports for PtRu electrocatalysts in the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) for clean hydrogen production. Both, the metal phase and the carbon support play critical roles in the electrocatalysts final performance. Lower NPs size distribution was obtained over supports with low atomic C/N ratios (i.e., 4 and 6) and defined porosity (i.e., 1701 m2 g−1 for PtRu/CNZ and 1834 m2 g−1 for PtRu/CLZ, respectively). In contrast, a lower C/N ratio and poor porous network (i.e., 65 m2 g−1, PtRu/CLK) led to the largest particle size and fostered an increase of the alloying degree between Pt and Ru NPs (i.e., 3 for C/N ~ 6 and 28 for C/N ~ 3). Electrochemical active surface area was found to increase with decreasing NPs size and the alloy extent, due to a higher availability of Pt active sites. Accelerated degradation tests showed that PtRu/NCs outperform similar to PtRu NPs on commercial carbon pointing at the stabilizing effect of NCs. PtRu/CNZ exhibited the best electrochemical performance (i.e., 69.1 mA mgPt−1), outperforming PtRu/CLZ and PtRu/CLK by 3- and 9-fold, respectively, due to a suitable compromise between particle sizes, degree of alloy, textural properties and elemental composition. Best anodes were scaled-up to a proton exchange membrane cell and PtRu/CNZ was proved to provide the best electrocatalytic activity (262 mA cm−2 and low energy requirements), matching the values obtained by the state of the art of EOR electrocatalysts

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) interaction with parenting practices on callous-unemotional traits in preschoolers

Background and Objectives: From a gene-by-environment perspective, parenting in interaction with the polymorphism in the Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene (MAOA-uVNTR) might also be associated with increased callous-unemotional traits (CU) in preschoolers. MAOA-uVNTR results in differential enzyme activity, so that high-activity alleles (MAOA-H) are linked to reduced dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine availability in comparison to low-activity allele (MAOA-L). As MAOA-uVNTR has been previously described to moderate the relationship between childhood parental maltreatment and aggressive and antisocial behavior, it may also play a role in CU traits etiology

Irritability and parenting practices as mediational variables between temperament and affective, anxiety, and oppositional defiant problems

Irritability and parenting are potential targets for transdiagnostic studies to identify the common and core dysfunctional characteristics underlying several diagnostic pictures with the goal of addressing these issues in treatment. Our objective was to investigate the different paths from temperament to child psychopathology (affective, anxiety, and oppositional problems) through irritability and parenting using a prospective design from ages 3 to 7. A sample of 614 3-year-old preschoolers was followed at ages 4, 6, and 7. Parents answered questionnaires about temperament (age 3), irritability (age 4), parenting practices (age 6), and psychopathology (age 7). Statistical analyses were carried out through structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the mediation effect of irritability and parenting practices from temperament (negative affectivity and effortful control) through to affective, anxious, and oppositional problems. The proposed model fit the data well. SEM showed (a) an indirect effect from temperament to affective problems, via irritability and positive parenting; (b) a direct effect from negative affectivity to anxiety, plus an indirect effect from both temperament dimensions, via irritability and autonomy parenting practices; and (c) an indirect effect from temperament to oppositional problems, via irritability and punitive parenting. Irritability and parenting are transdiagnostic mediational variables that should be focused on in intervention programs for affective, anxiety, and oppositional problem

Impacto de la formación en el manejo de la patología locomotriz axial atraumática en la actividad asistencial del médico interno residente

El objetivo del presente estudio es el determinar el efecto de la aplicación de un programa formativo para médicos internos residentes sobre manejo de patología atraumática axial en un entorno de medicina de urgencias.El programa formativo consiste en la aplicación de una jornada de charlas magistrales de 4 horas lectivas que se imparten a lo largo del año a residentes que van a empezar su segundo año de programa de especialización y que realizan actividad en el servicio de urgencias.El estudio consistió en valorar la aplicación de los conocimientos impartidos en la labor asistencial durante las jornadas de atención continuada (guardias de puerta) en términos de necesidad de reevaluaciones por urgencias, uso de pruebas complementarias y necesidad de hospitalización por mal control analgésico.La cifra de solicitud de pruebas radiológicas complementarias se redujo significativamente después de la ejecución del curso optativo sin embargo en los siguientes meses la cifra retornó a su valor inicial. El asistir al curso no modificó significativamente el tiempo hasta que los pacientes volvieron a consultar por el mismo motivo aunque se evidenció una tendencia a la prolongación de este en pacientes atendidos por residentes que hicieron el curso. La especialidad de procedencia de los MIRes fue la variable que más influyó en la curva de supervivencia.Concluimos que el impacto de la formación en el manejo de la patología axial depende de los cursos impartidos y del interés que estos generen en los MIRes

Rhodium nanoparticles for ultraviolet plasmonics

The nonoxidizing catalytic noble metal rhodium is introduced for ultraviolet plasmonics. Planar tripods of 8 nm Rh nanoparticles, synthesized by a modified polyol reduction method, have a calculated local surface plasmon resonance near 330 nm. By attaching p-aminothiophenol, local field-enhanced Raman spectra and accelerated photodamage were observed under near-resonant ultraviolet illumination, while charge transfer simultaneously increased fluorescence for up to 13 min. The combined local field enhancement and charge transfer demonstrate essential steps toward plasmonically enhanced ultraviolet photocatalysis.This work has been supported by NSF-ECCS-12-32239. This work was partially supported by the Army’s In-house Laboratory Innovative Research program. Financial support from USAITCA (project no. W911NF-13-1-0245) and MICINN (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project no. FIS2013- 45854-P) is also acknowledged

International comparisons of behavioral and emotional problems in preschool children: parents’ reports from 24 societies

International comparisons were conducted of preschool children’s behavioral and emotional problems as reported on the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½–5 by parents in 24 societies (N¼19,850). Item ratings were aggregated into scores on syndromes; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–oriented scales; a Stress Problems scale; and Internalizing, Externalizing, and Total Problems scales. Effect sizes for scale score differences among the 24 societies ranged from small to medium (3–12%). Although societies differed greatly in language, culture, and other characteristics, Total Problems scores for 18 of the 24 societies were within 7.1 points of the omnicultural mean of 33.3 (on a scale of 0–198). Gender and age differences, as well as gender and age interactions with society, were all very small (effect sizes<1%). Across all pairs of societies, correlations between mean item ratings averaged .78, and correlations between internal consistency alphas for the scales averaged .92, indicating that the rank orders of mean item ratings and internal consistencies of scales were very similar across diverse societies

Anti-tumour necrosis factor discontinuation in inflammatory bowel disease patients in remission: study protocol of a prospective, multicentre, randomized clinical trial

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who achieve remission with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs may have treatment withdrawn due to safety concerns and cost considerations, but there is a lack of prospective, controlled data investigating this strategy. The primary study aim is to compare the rates of clinical remission at 1?year in patients who discontinue anti-TNF treatment versus those who continue treatment. Methods: This is an ongoing, prospective, double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with Crohn?s disease or ulcerative colitis who have achieved clinical remission for ?6?months with an anti-TNF treatment and an immunosuppressant. Patients are being randomized 1:1 to discontinue anti-TNF therapy or continue therapy. Randomization stratifies patients by the type of inflammatory bowel disease and drug (infliximab versus adalimumab) at study inclusion. The primary endpoint of the study is sustained clinical remission at 1?year. Other endpoints include endoscopic and radiological activity, patient-reported outcomes (quality of life, work productivity), safety and predictive factors for relapse. The required sample size is 194 patients. In addition to the main analysis (discontinuation versus continuation), subanalyses will include stratification by type of inflammatory bowel disease, phenotype and previous treatment. Biological samples will be obtained to identify factors predictive of relapse after treatment withdrawal. Results: Enrolment began in 2016, and the study is expected to end in 2020. Conclusions: This study will contribute prospective, controlled data on outcomes and predictors of relapse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease after withdrawal of anti-TNF agents following achievement of clinical remission. Clinical trial reference number: EudraCT 2015-001410-1

Mechanisms by which the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator may influence SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease severity

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) exhibit pronounced respiratory damage and were initially considered among those at highest risk for serious harm from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Numerous clinical studies have subsequently reported that individuals with CF in North America and Europe—while susceptible to severe COVID-19—are often spared from the highest levels of virus-associated mortality. To understand features that might influence COVID-19 among patients with cystic fibrosis, we studied relationships between SARS-CoV-2 and the gene responsible for CF (i.e., the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, CFTR). In contrast to previous reports, we found no association between CFTR carrier status (mutation heterozygosity) and more severe COVID-19 clinical outcomes. We did observe an unexpected trend toward higher mortality among control individuals compared with silent carriers of the common F508del CFTR variant—a finding that will require further study. We next performed experiments to test the influence of homozygous CFTR deficiency on viral propagation and showed that SARS-CoV-2 production in primary airway cells was not altered by the absence of functional CFTR using two independent protocols. On the contrary, experiments performed in vitro strongly indicated that virus proliferation depended on features of the mucosal fluid layer known to be disrupted by absent CFTR in patients with CF, including both low pH and increased viscosity. These results point to the acidic, viscous, and mucus-obstructed airways in patients with cystic fibrosis as unfavorable for the establishment of coronaviral infection. Our findings provide new and important information concerning relationships between the CF clinical phenotype and severity of COVID-19.This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute) [Ricerca Finalizzata RF-2016-02364358]; Fondazione IRCCS Ca′ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Ricerca corrente; Fondazione IRCCS Ca′ Granda core COVID-19 Biobank [RC100017A]; “Liver BIBLE” [PR-0391]; and Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 joint undertaking of the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations Programme Horizon 2020 [under grant agreement No. 777377] for the project LITMUS and the European Union, programme “Photonics” [under grant agreement 101016726] to LV. JCH was funded by the Research Council of Norway [grant no 312780] and a philanthropic donation from Vivaldi Invest A/S owned by Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. AF was supported by a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research [01KI20197]. This work was also funded by a generous philanthropic donation from Banca Intesa San Paolo to RA. This study makes use of data generated by the GCATI Genomes for Life. Cohort study of the Genomes of Catalonia from Institut Germans Trias I Pujol (IGTP); IGTP is part of the CERCA Program/Generalitat de Catalunya. GCAT is supported by Acción de Dinamización del ISCIII-MINECO and the Ministry of Health of the Generalitat of Catalunya [ADE 10/00026], with additional support by the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) [2017-SGR 529], National Grant [PI18/01512], and VEIS project [001-P-001647], co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), “A way to build Europe.” EdW and BNW were supported by the Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH). PRT and SGS received funding from NIH NIAID [R01 AI167356].Peer reviewe