Synthesis and characterization of rare earth oxide nanostructured particles doped with Eu for luminescent applications obtained by aerosol method

Gadolinium and Ytrium oxides doped with europium (Gd2O3:Eu, Y2O3:Eu) have luminiscent properties. Such properties are improved with the use of nanostructured materials with spherical geometry and narrow particle size distribution. Besides, luminescent properties enhance with a homogeneous distribution of dopant centers in the host matrix material. In this paper the synthesis and characterization of gadolinium and yttrium doped with different proportions of Europium are shown. Nanostructured particles were synthesized through Spray Pyrolysis route in a tubular furnace at different temperatures, and subjected to different post-thermal treatments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used for the morphological, chemical and structural characterization of the nanoparticles

Dental age estimation based on pulp chamber/crown volume ratio measured on CBCT images in a Spanish population

Dental age estimation in living individuals is one of the most frequent requests undertaken by forensic odontologists. The aim of this study was to estimate the dental age by pulp/tooth volume ratio, as measured on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, in a Spanish population. This study included 313 teeth from 107 adult individuals, 56 females and 51 males with a mean age of 44 ± 14 years. The statistical analysis of the results took account of clustering (multiple teeth in individuals). Linear regression models were constructed on the relationship between pulp/tooth volume ratio and chronological age for each tooth type. The highest coefficient of determination (R2) value was provided by the upper incisors (36.6%), and the difference between chronological and estimated age was less than 5 years in 31.3% of the sample and less than 10 years for 65.7%. CBCT is an accurate imaging technique to measure dental volume with a relatively low radiation dose, and it can be used to assess dental age in living adult individuals. Volumetric changes in the pulp cavity with increasing age proved valuable to estimate dental age in this Spanish populatio

Clinically relevant transmitted drug resistance to first line antiretroviral drugs and implications for recommendations

Background The aim was to analyse trends in clinically relevant resistance to first-line antiretroviral drugs in Spain, applying the Stanford algorithm, and to compare these results with reported Transmitted Drug Resistance (TDR) defined by the 2009 update of the WHO SDRM list. Methods We analysed 2781 sequences from ARV naive patients of the CoRIS cohort (Spain) between 2007-2011. Using the Stanford algorithm "Low-level resistance", "Intermediate resistance" and "High-level resistance" categories were considered as "Resistant". Results 70% of the TDR found using the WHO list were relevant for first-line treatment according to the Stanford algorithm. A total of 188 patients showed clinically relevant resistance to first-line ARVs [6.8% (95%Confidence Interval: 5.8-7.7)], and 221 harbored TDR using the WHO list [7.9% (6.9-9.0)]. Differences were due to a lower prevalence in clinically relevant resistance for NRTIs [2.3% (1.8-2.9) vs. 3.6% (2.9-4.3) by the WHO list] and PIs [0.8% (0.4-1.1) vs. 1.7% (1.2-2.2)], while it was higher for NNRTIs [4.6% (3.8-5.3) vs. 3.7% (3.0-4.7)]. While TDR remained stable throughout the study period, clinically relevant resistance to first line drugs showed a significant trend to a decline (p = 0.02). Conclusions Prevalence of clinically relevant resistance to first line ARVs in Spain is decreasing, and lower than the one expected looking at TDR using the WHO list. Resistance to first-line PIs falls below 1%, so the recommendation of screening for TDR in the protease gene should be questioned in our setting. Cost-effectiveness studies need to be carried out to inform evidence-based recommendations

Serial macromolecular crystallography at ALBA Synchrotron Light Source

12 pags., 4 figs., 2 tabs. -- Addenda and errata: https://journals.iucr.org/s/issues/2022/03/00/rv5160/rv5160.pdfThe increase in successful adaptations of serial crystallography at synchrotron radiation sources continues. To date, the number of serial synchrotron crystallography (SSX) experiments has grown exponentially, with over 40 experiments reported so far. In this work, we report the first SSX experiments with viscous jets conducted at ALBA beamline BL13-XALOC. Small crystals (15-30 μm) of five soluble proteins (lysozyme, proteinase K, phycocyanin, insulin and α-spectrin-SH3 domain) were suspended in lipidic cubic phase (LCP) and delivered to the X-ray beam with a high-viscosity injector developed at Arizona State University. Complete data sets were collected from all proteins and their high-resolution structures determined. The high quality of the diffraction data collected from all five samples, and the lack of specific radiation damage in the structures obtained in this study, confirm that the current capabilities at the beamline enables atomic resolution determination of protein structures from microcrystals as small as 15 μm using viscous jets at room temperature. Thus, BL13-XALOC can provide a feasible alternative to X-ray free-electron lasers when determining snapshots of macromolecular structures.The following funding is acknowledged: Ayuda de Atracciony Retencion de Talento Investigador" from the Community of Madrid (scholarship No. 2019-T1/BMD-15552); STC Programof the National Science Foundation through BioXFEL (awardNo. 1231306); the Centre for Applied Structural Discovery(CASD) at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University; the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, grants EQC2021-007532-P, PID2020-117028GB-I00, BIO2016-77883-C2-2-

Prolonged oral cannabinoid administration prevents neuroinflammation, lowers β-amyloid levels and improves cognitive performance in Tg APP 2576 mice

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain shows an ongoing inflammatory condition and non-steroidal antiinflammatories diminish the risk of suffering the neurologic disease. Cannabinoids are neuroprotective and antiinflammatory agents with therapeutic potential. Methods: We have studied the effects of prolonged oral administration of transgenic amyloid precursor protein (APP) mice with two pharmacologically different cannabinoids (WIN 55,212-2 and JWH-133, 0.2 mg/kg/day in the drinking water during 4 months) on inflammatory and cognitive parameters, and on 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose (18FDG) uptake by positron emission tomography (PET). Results: Novel object recognition was significantly reduced in 11 month old Tg APP mice and 4 month administration of JWH was able to normalize this cognitive deficit, although WIN was ineffective. Wild type mice cognitive performance was unaltered by cannabinoid administration. Tg APP mice showed decreased 18FDG uptake in hippocampus and cortical regions, which was counteracted by oral JWH treatment. Hippocampal GFAP immunoreactivity and cortical protein expression was unaffected by genotype or treatment. In contrast, the density of Iba1 positive microglia was increased in Tg APP mice, and normalized following JWH chronic treatment. Both cannabinoids were effective at reducing the enhancement of COX-2 protein levels and TNF-a mRNA expression found in the AD model. Increased cortical b-amyloid (Ab) levels were significantly reduced in the mouse model by both cannabinoids. Noteworthy both cannabinoids enhanced Ab transport across choroid plexus cells in vitro. Conclusions: In summary we have shown that chronically administered cannabinoid showed marked beneficial effects concomitant with inflammation reduction and increased Ab clearanceThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (SAF 2005-02845 to M.L.C). A.M.M-M. was recipient a fellowship from the Ministry of Education and Scienc

Pre-Existing Tumoral B Cell Infiltration and Impaired Genome Maintenance Correlate with Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) remains a medical challenge. Reliable biomarkers to predict which patients will significantly respond to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) have not been identified. We evaluated baseline genomic and transcriptomic features to detect differences that may help predict response to nCRT. Eligible LARC patients received nCRT (3D-LCRT 50.4 Gy plus capecitabine 825 mg/m2/bid), preceded by three cycles of CAPOX in high systemic-relapse risk tumors, and subsequent surgery. Frozen tumor biopsies at diagnosis were sequenced using a colorectal cancer panel. Transcriptomic data was used for pathway and cell deconvolution inferential algorithms, coupled with immunohistochemical validation. Clinical and molecular data were analyzed according to nCRT outcome. Pathways related to DNA repair and proliferation (p RAS and TP53 mutations (p = 0.001) were associated with poor response. Enrichment of expression signatures related to enhanced immune response, particularly B cells and interferon signaling (p RAS and TP53 mutations along with a proficient DNA repair system that may counteract chemoradio-induced DNA damage was associated with poor response.Facultad de Ciencias MédicasCentro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicada

Comparing the microstructure and photovoltaic performance of 3 perylene imide acceptors with similar energy levels but different packing tendencies

While it is widely recognized that microstructure plays an important role in the performance of organic photovoltaics (OPV), systematic studies are often challenging, as varying the molecular packing through typical chemical means (such as sidechain tuning) often affects the molecular energy levels, thus preventing a clear correlation. In this work we present the synthesis of three perylene imide (PI) based electron acceptors with almost identical energy levels, but distinct packing tendencies. We confirm our initial hypothesis by measuring solution and solid-state absorption, cyclic voltammetry as well as characterizing the films by grazing incident wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS). In a second step, we repeat the characterization of the three materials in blends with two polymer donors, namely PCDTBT or PBDBT, whose energy levels are well aligned with those of the PI acceptors, and which, additionally, exhibit different degrees of structural order. We show how the initial strong difference between acceptors is partially blurred in blends, but still critical. Finally, we correlate our structural data with OPV devices made with the corresponding six blends. Our data suggest that a good donor acceptor marriage should ensure good energy alignment but also exhibit complementary crystallization tendencies of the two components.The authors acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Severo Ochoa” Program for Centers of Excellence in R&D (No. CEX2019-000917-S), and projects PGC2018-095411-B-I00, PID2019-106268GB-C33 and PID2019-110305GB-I00, as well as the European Commission through the Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN Programme, SEPOMO, Grant Number: 722651, and the UCM (INV.GR.00.1819.10759). E.G. specially acknowledges Comunidad de Madrid and Universidad Complutense de Madrid for a post-doctoral contract (CT20/19- CT21/19/PEJD-2018-POST/IND-8661PAI). M.J.A.N. acknowledges URJC for a post-doctoral contract. R.P.O and A.H. also acknowledge support from Junta de Andalucía (projects UMA18-FEDERJA-080). We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).Peer reviewe

Gaia Early Data Release 3 Acceleration of the Solar System from Gaia astrometry

Context. Gaia Early Data Release 3 (Gaia EDR3) provides accurate astrometry for about 1.6 million compact (QSO-like) extragalactic sources, 1.2 million of which have the best-quality five-parameter astrometric solutions. Aims. The proper motions of QSO-like sources are used to reveal a systematic pattern due to the acceleration of the solar systembarycentre with respect to the rest frame of the Universe. Apart from being an important scientific result by itself, the acceleration measured in this way is a good quality indicator of the Gaia astrometric solution. Methods. Theeffect of the acceleration was obtained as a part of the general expansion of the vector field of proper motions in vector spherical harmonics (VSH). Various versions of the VSH fit and various subsets of the sources were tried and compared to get the most consistent result and a realistic estimate of its uncertainty. Additional tests with the Gaia astrometric solution were used to get a better idea of the possible systematic errors in the estimate. Results. Our best estimate of the acceleration based on Gaia EDR3 is (2.32 +/- 0.16) x 10(-10) m s(-2) (or 7.33 +/- 0.51 km s(-1) Myr-1) towards alpha = 269.1 degrees +/- 5.4 degrees, delta = -31.6 degrees +/- 4.1 degrees, corresponding to a proper motion amplitude of 5.05 +/- 0.35 mu as yr(-1). This is in good agreement with the acceleration expected from current models of the Galactic gravitational potential. We expect that future Gaia data releases will provide estimates of the acceleration with uncertainties substantially below 0.1 mu as yr(-1).Peer reviewe