Post-synthetic ligand exchange as a route to improve the affinity of ZIF-67 towards CO2

The Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework 67 (ZIF-67) is a highly promising material owing to its exceptional thermal stability, large specific surface area, costeffectiveness, and versatile applications. One of the potential applications of ZIF-67 is gas separation processes, among which the separation of CO2/CH4 mixtures has attracted great interest nowadays in the biogas sector. However, when it comes to CO2/CH4 separation, ZIF-67 falls short as it lacks the desired selectivity despite its high adsorption capacity. This limitation arises from its relatively low affinity towards CO2. In this study, we have addressed this issue by partially exchanging the ligand of ZIF-67, specifically replacing 2-methylimidazole with 1,2,4 (1H) triazole, which introduces an additional nitrogen atom. This modification resulted in ZIF-67 showing significantly enhanced affinity towards CO2 and, as a result, greater selectivity towards CO2 over CH4. The modified materials underwent thorough characterization using various techniques, and their adsorption capacity was evaluated through high-pressure adsorption isotherms. Furthermore, their separation performance was assessed using the Ideal Solution Adsorption Theory, which provided valuable insights into their potential for efficient gas separation

Mortalidad en pacientes con ventilación mecánica ingresados en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos

Introducción: La ventilación mecánica es un proceder para la sustitución de la ventilación, que salva la vida de pacientes con insuficiencia respiratoria aguda, al mismo tiempo es una de las primeras causas de complicaciones y de mortalidad.Objetivo: Identificar las características clínico-epidemiológicas en pacientes fallecidos con ventilación mecánica, ingresados en la UCI del hospital Joaquín Albarrán Domínguez en el trienio 2013-2015. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, con las historias clínicas de dichos pacientes, recopilando la información en una matriz de datos y posteriormente fue analizada con el software SPSS 21.0, a través de frecuencias absolutas y relativas y con la utilización de la prueba de chi2 para las correlaciones bi-variadas, tomando como valor de significación estadística p&lt; 0,05.Resultados: De los 166 pacientes, el 49,4% superaba los 70 años. La EPOC fue el motivo de ventilación más frecuente. Las mayores complicaciones de la ventilación fueron: fallo multiorgánico 25,3%, fallo al destete 21,6%, y distrés respiratorio 20,4%.Conclusiones: El fallo multiorgánico, las bronconeumonías bacterianas bilaterales y la neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica, fueron las principales complicaciones y causas de muerte más frecuentes en los pacientes ventilados.Palabras clave: mortalidad, ventilación mecánica, cuidados intensivos, complicaciones, paciente grave.</p

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Observancia de la ética en investigaciones presentadas en jornadas científicas del hospital clínico quirúrgico Joaquín Albarrán

Introduction. Despite the existence of ethical standards for biomedical research, they are not always respected when conducting and presenting a scientific study.Objective. To evaluate the observance of ethical principles in the research presented at Scientific Conferences held at Joaquín Albarrán Clinical Surgical Hospital in Havana, Cuba, from 2015 to 2018.Material and Methods. Descriptive cross-sectional study evaluating all research works presented from 2015 to 2018. The ethical aspects that should be met and reflected in a scientific investigation were assessed. The universe was composed of 268 works. Five aspects validated by the criteria of 8 experts in the subject were evaluated. The score between 5 and 8 points was considered bad; between 9 and 12 points regular and, with 13 points, it was considered good.Results. There was a discrete predominance in the participation of clinical profile studies. The observance of ethics was rated as bad in 73.1% of the investigations. The ethical aspects evaluated with 1 point (Bad) predominated; “the declaration of conflict of interest” that was not found in 230 studies (85.8%).Conclusions. The observance of ethics in the research works reviewed was bad, so it is essential to carry out training actions among professionals and professors who are directly involved in the training of students and conducting research.Introducción. A pesar de la existencia de normas éticas para la investigación biomédica, no siempre son respetadas cuando se realiza y presenta un estudio científico.Objetivo. Evaluar la observancia de los principios éticos en las investigaciones presentadas en las Jornadas Científicas del hospital Joaquín Albarrán de La Habana, Cuba, desde el año 2015 al 2018.Material y método. Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal evaluándose todas las investigaciones presentadas desde el año 2015 al 2018. Se valoraron los aspectos éticos que deberían cumplir y plasmarse en una investigación científica. El universo quedó conformado con 268 trabajos. Se evaluaron 5 aspectos validados por el criterio de 8 expertos en el tema. La calificación entre 5 y 8 puntos fue considerada de mal, entre 9 y 12 puntos regular y con 13 puntos buenos.Resultados. Hubo un discreto predominio en la participación de estudios de perfil clínico.  La observancia de la ética fue calificada de mal en el 73,1% de las investigaciones. Predominaron los aspectos éticos evaluados con 1 punto (Mal), principalmente “la declaración de conflicto de intereses” que no se encontró en 230 estudios (85.8%).Conclusiones. La observancia de la ética en las investigaciones revisadas fue mala, por lo que es imprescindible realizar acciones de capacitación entre los profesionales y profesores que intervienen directamente en la formación del estudiantado y la realización de investigaciones

Mortalidad en pacientes con ventilación mecánica ingresados en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos

Introduction: Mechanical ventilation is a procedure used for the replacement of ventilation, which saves the life of patients with acute respiratory failure; but at the same time, it is one of the first causes of complications and mortality.Objective: To identify the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients who died while receiving mechanical ventilation, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the “Joaquín Albarrán Dominguez” Clinical Surgical Hospital during the triennium 2013-2015.Material and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with the clinical histories of these patients.  The information was collected in a data matrix that was subsequently analyzed with the SPSS 21.0 software, on the basis of absolute and relative frequencies and the use of the chi2 test for the bi-varied correlations; the statistical significance value was p <0.05.Results: Of the 166 patients selected for the study, the 49.4% were over 70 years of age. COPD was the most frequent reason for ventilation. The main complications of ventilation were: multiple organ failure (25.3%), weaning failure (21.6 %), and respiratory distress (20.4%).Conclusions: Multiple organ failure, bilateral bacterial bronchopneumonia, and pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation were the most frequent complications and causes of death in ventilated patients.Keywords: Mortality, mechanical ventilation, intensive care, complications, critically ill patient.Introducción: La ventilación mecánica es un proceder para la sustitución de la ventilación, que salva la vida de pacientes con insuficiencia respiratoria aguda, al mismo tiempo es una de las primeras causas de complicaciones y de mortalidad.Objetivo: Identificar las características clínico-epidemiológicas en pacientes fallecidos con ventilación mecánica, ingresados en la UCI del hospital Joaquín Albarrán Domínguez en el trienio 2013-2015. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, con las historias clínicas de dichos pacientes, recopilando la información en una matriz de datos y posteriormente fue analizada con el software SPSS 21.0, a través de frecuencias absolutas y relativas y con la utilización de la prueba de chi2 para las correlaciones bi-variadas, tomando como valor de significación estadística p< 0,05.Resultados: De los 166 pacientes, el 49,4% superaba los 70 años. La EPOC fue el motivo de ventilación más frecuente. Las mayores complicaciones de la ventilación fueron: fallo multiorgánico 25,3%, fallo al destete 21,6%, y distrés respiratorio 20,4%.Conclusiones: El fallo multiorgánico, las bronconeumonías bacterianas bilaterales y la neumonía asociada a la ventilación mecánica, fueron las principales complicaciones y causas de muerte más frecuentes en los pacientes ventilados.Palabras clave: mortalidad, ventilación mecánica, cuidados intensivos, complicaciones, paciente grave

Geodivulgar: Geología y Sociedad

Memoria final del Proyecto Innova Docencia 2023-23 nº 58. GEODIVULGAR: Geología y SociedadUCMDepto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasFALSEsubmitte

Geodivulgar: Geología y Sociedad

Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaDepto. de Química InorgánicaDepto. de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales , Sociales y MatemáticasFac. de Ciencias GeológicasFac. de Ciencias QuímicasFac. de EducaciónFALSEsubmitte

Hepatic microcirculation and mechanisms of portal hypertension.

The liver microcirculatory milieu, mainly composed of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and hepatic macrophages, has an essential role in liver homeostasis, including in preserving hepatocyte function, regulating the vascular tone and controlling inflammation. Liver microcirculatory dysfunction is one of the key mechanisms that promotes the progression of chronic liver disease (also termed cirrhosis) and the development of its major clinical complication, portal hypertension. In the present Review, we describe the current knowledge of liver microcirculatory dysfunction in cirrhotic portal hypertension and appraise the preclinical models used to study the liver circulation. We also provide a comprehensive summary of the promising therapeutic options to target the liver microvasculature in cirrhosis

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges