Environmental and economical assessment for a sustainable Zn/air battery.

Metal/Air batteries are being developed and soon could become competitive with other battery technologies already in the market, such as Li-ion battery. The main problem to be addressed is the cyclability, although some progress has been recently achieved. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the manufacturing process of a Zn/Air battery is presented in this article, including raw extraction and process of materials and battery assembly at laboratory scale (cradle to gate approach). The results indicate that Zn/Air battery can be fabricated with low environmental impacts in most categories and only four deserve attention (still being low impacts), such as Human Toxicity (cancer and non-cancer), Freshwater Ecotoxicity and Resource Depletion (the later one depending mainly on Zn use, which is not a critical material, but has a strong impact on this category). Cathode fabrication arises as the subassembly with higher impacts, followed by membrane, then anode and finally electrolyte. An economic cost calculation indicates that if cyclability of Zn/Air batteries is achieved, they can become competitive with other technologies already in the market.

Percepción del personal de salud sobre un programa de detección oportuna del cáncer cervical / Health personnel perceptions on a cervical cancer early detection program / Percepção do pessoal de saúde sobre um programa de detecção oportuna do câncer cervical

Objetivo: Conocer la percepción que el personal de salud del primer nivel de atención tiene respecto al programa Detección Oportuna del Cáncer Cervical en México. Método: Estudio cualitativo, se realizaron 15 entrevistas semi-estructuradas a médicos y enfermeras de tres centros de salud rurales del Estado de Morelos, México. La información se analizó siguiendo los planteamientos de la Teoría Fundamentada. Resultados: El personal de salud percibe el programa Detección Oportuna del Cáncer Cervical como un programa de salud con fines preventivos, identifica la prueba de citología cervical como el medio para prevenir el cáncer cervicouterino, considera que el objetivo del programa es la obtención de muestras citológicas. La percepción está definida por el cumplimiento de metas, las barreras que se presentan para su operación, la elevada demanda y la escasez de recursos materiales, así como por los sentimientos del personal y sus condiciones de trabajo. Conclusiones: Es necesario reforzar los planes y programas de estudio de las carreras de enfermería y medicina para que los estudiantes obtengan conocimientos, desarrollen habilidades y adquieran competencias con base en conocimientos científicos, generar el correcto uso de términos médicos, la lectura crítica, la búsqueda de información y el interés por la actualización y crecimiento profesional.

Objective: To identify the perceptions which first level of attention health personnel have on the Cervical Cancer Early Detection National Health Program in Mexico. Method: This is a qualitative study which included 15 semi-structured interviews on medicine and nursing personnel of three rural health centers in the State of Morelos, Mexico. Data were analyzed in line with the Grounded Theory. Results: The health personnel perceives the Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program as a preventive initiative which relies on the cervical cytology as a main procedure to prevent cervical cancer. These perceptions are modulated by issues on the achievement of goals, operation barriers, high demand of the tests, scarcity of resources, and working conditions feelings. Conclusions: It is important to keep strengthening the nursing and medicine study plans so that students keep developing their knowledge, competencies, and skills to support health initiatives such as the Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program while they develop their scientific interest and professional growth.

Objetivo: Conhecer a percepção que o pessoal de saúde do primeiro nível de atenção tem ao respeito do programa Detecção Oportuna do Câncer Cervical no México. Método: Estudo qualitativo, realizaram-se 15 entrevistas semiestruturadas a médicos e enfermeiras de três centros de saúde rurais do Estado de Morelos, México. A informação analisou-se seguindo as abordagens da Teoria Fundamentada. Resultados: O pessoal de saúde percebe o programa Detecção Oportuna do Câncer Cervical como um programa de saúde com fins preventivos, identifica a proba de citologia cervical como o médio para prevenir o câncer de colo do útero, considera que o objetivo do programa é a obtenção de amostras citológicas. A percepção está definida pela realização de metas, as barreiras que se apresentam para sua operação, a elevada demanda e a escassez de recursos materiais, assim como pelos sentimentos do pessoal e suas condições de trabalho. Conclusões: É necessário reforçar os planos e programas de estudo das carreiras de enfermagem e medicina para que os estudantes obtenham conhecimentos, desenvolvam habilidades e adquiram competências com base em conhecimentos científicos, gerar o correto uso de termos médicos, a leitura crítica, a busca de informação e o interesse pela atualização e crescimento profissional.

Publisher Correction: Magnetic field enhancement of organic photovoltaic cells performance.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Yawning: a cue and a signal.

Yawning behaviour has been associated with a variety of physiological and social events and a number of corresponding functions have been attributed to it. Non-directed (self-directed behaviour) and directed yawning (display behaviour) might nonetheless encompass all expressions of yawning, although it is difficult to differentiate one type from the other in a social context. Here we analysed more fully the data from a study in which four combinations of sensory cues were presented to pairs of either cage mate or stranger rats. The aim of the re-analysis was to demonstrate that non-directed and directed yawning might be identified by their distinctive functions. All pairs of rats used olfactory cues to recognise each other as stranger or cage mate companions, but only stranger rats used auditory cues to detect and respond to each other's yawning. Increasing defecation rates (i.e. an index of emotional reactivity) inhibited yawning in cage mate rats such that yawning frequency reflected each rat's physiological state. These results suggest that non-directed yawning functions as a cue in cage mate rats and directed yawning as a signal in stranger rats. We hypothesize that cue yawning might be a regulatory act that animals perform to adjust muscle tone for a coordinated change of state. Signal yawning might indicate the physiological capacity of rats in male-male conflicts.

Magnetic field enhancement of organic photovoltaic cells performance.

Charge separation is a critical process for achieving high efficiencies in organic photovoltaic cells. The initial tightly bound excitonic electron-hole pair has to dissociate fast enough in order to avoid photocurrent generation and thus power conversion efficiency loss via geminate recombination. Such process takes place assisted by transitional states that lie between the initial exciton and the free charge state. Due to spin conservation rules these intermediate charge transfer states typically have singlet character. Here we propose a donor-acceptor model for a generic organic photovoltaic cell in which the process of charge separation is modulated by a magnetic field which tunes the energy levels. The impact of a magnetic field is to intensify the generation of charge transfer states with triplet character via inter-system crossing. As the ground state of the system has singlet character, triplet states are recombination-protected, thus leading to a higher probability of successful charge separation. Using the open quantum systems formalism we demonstrate that the population of triplet charge transfer states grows in the presence of a magnetic field, and discuss the impact on carrier population and hence photocurrent, highlighting its potential as a tool for research on charge transfer kinetics in this complex systems.

Is high-intensity interval training more effective on improving cardiometabolic risk and aerobic capacity than other forms of exercise in overweight and obese youth? A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The scientific interest in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has greatly increased during recent years. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of HIIT interventions on cardio-metabolic risk factors and aerobic capacity in overweight and obese youth, in comparison with other forms of exercise. DATA SOURCES: A computerized search was made using seven databases. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: The analysis was restricted to studies that examined the effect of HIIT interventions on cardio-metabolic and/or aerobic capacity in pediatric obesity (6-17 years old). PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Nine studies using HIIT interventions were selected (n = 274). STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: Standarized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The DerSimonian-Laird approach was used. RESULTS: HIIT interventions (4-12 week duration) produced larger decreases in systolic blood pressure (SMD = 0.39; -3.63 mmHg) and greater increases in maximum oxygen uptake (SMD = 0.59; 1.92 ml/kg/min) than other forms of exercise. Also, type of comparison exercise group and duration of study were moderators. CONCLUSIONS: HIIT could be considered a more effective and time-efficient intervention for improving blood pressure and aerobic capacity levels in obese youth in comparison to other types of exercise. © 2016 World Obesity.

The effects of physical exercise in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the evidence for the effectiveness of exercise interventions on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, anxiety and cognitive functions in children and adolescents. METHOD: Five databases covering the period up to November 2014 (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, EBSCO [E-journal, CINAHL, SportDiscus] and The Cochrane Library) were searched. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane tool of bias. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and the heterogeneity of the studies was estimated using Cochran's Q-statistic. RESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trials (n = 249) satisfied the inclusion criteria. The studies were grouped according to the intervention programme: aerobic and yoga exercise. The meta-analysis suggests that aerobic exercise had a moderate to large effect on core symptoms such as attention (SMD = 0.84), hyperactivity (SMD = 0.56) and impulsivity (SMD = 0.56) and related symptoms such as anxiety (SMD = 0.66), executive function (SMD = 0.58) and social disorders (SMD = 0.59) in children with ADHD. Yoga exercise suggests an improvement in the core symptoms of ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: The main cumulative evidence indicates that short-term aerobic exercise, based on several aerobic intervention formats, seems to be effective for mitigating symptoms such as attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiety, executive function and social disorders in children with ADHD.

Reticulocyte count in red-blood-cell units stored in AS-1.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous data that showed maintenance of reticulocyte percentage in whole blood stored in CPDA-1 have led to the assumption that reticulocyte maturation becomes arrested during refrigerated storage. However, reticulocyte behaviour in red-blood-cell units stored in additive solutions has not yet been studied. This study was thus aimed at determining reticulocyte count and reticulocyte subtypes in red-blood-cells units stored in AS-1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reticulocyte percentage and subtypes were determined by flow cytometry with thiazole orange in six red-blood-cells units stored in AS-1. RESULTS: Reticulocyte count was 26.8 ± 4.6 × 10(9) /l at week 0.5 and 8.2 ± 2.9 × 10(9) /l at week 6. Total haemolysis during storage was 0.19 ± 0.08%. High-fluorescence reticulocytes were 2.0 ± 3.2 × 10(9) /l at week 0.5 and decreased by weeks 2, 4 and 6. Low-fluorescence reticulocytes were 22.1 ± 3.1 × 10(9) /l at week 0.5 and decreased by weeks 4 and 6. CONCLUSION: A significant decrease in reticulocytes occurred during red-blood-cells units' storage in AS-1. Even if it were assumed that all of haemolysed cells during storage were reticulocytes, there are a number of them whose disappearance cannot be explained by this mechanism. Changes observed in reticulocyte subtypes suggest that they mature during storage.

Epidemiology of bovine anaplasmosis in dairy herds from Costa Rica.

Bovine anaplasmosis is endemic and occurs in almost all areas of livestock production of Costa Rica. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of anaplasmosis in dairy farms of Costa Rica by the recombinant truncated MSP-5 (rMSP-5) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum samples were obtained from 733 cattle from 20 commercial dairy herds of Costa Rica. The overall seroprevalence was 37.2% and herd seroprevalence ranged from 20.0 to 72.0%. The age-specific seroprevalence was 49.3% in young and 33.4% in adult animals. The main risk factors associated with seroprevalence were season of occurrence of clinical cases (rainy season) (OR=22.8), presence of tabanids (OR=9.5) and stable flies (OR=6.2), stable flies control measures (OR=3.2), non-use of ear tattoos (OR=2.8), interval of veterinary visit (≤ 60 days) (OR=2.7), altitude of the farms (<800 masl) (OR=2.6) and age (<2 years) (OR=1.8). The results indicated that exposure of cattle to Anaplasma marginale is common in dairy herds of Costa Rica and endemic instability situation probably is due to inadequate vector control.

First report of Trypanosoma vivax infection in dairy cattle from Costa Rica.

An outbreak of haemoparasitoses occurred from October 2007 to July 2008 in cattle from the district of Rio Cuarto, province of Alajuela, Costa Rica. Fifty animals of various ages out of 450 Brown Swiss were affected. The animals presented fever, severe anemia, jaundice, abortion or premature birth, loss of appetite, decrease milk production and accentuated weight loss in a short period of time. Haemoparasites were observed in the blood smears: Anaplasma marginale was present in 17 animals (60.7%); Trypanosoma vivax in nine (32.1%) and Babesia bovis in two (7.1%). Three of the animals (10.7%) had a mixed infection with T. vivax and A. marginale. After treatment, all the animals were clinically recovered and subsequent blood samplings showed no parasites. Data suggest that the outbreak might be related to a decrease in the availability and quality of the pastures due to very heavy rainfalls during the year 2007, as well as an increase in the abundance of Boophilus microplus and Stomoxys calcitrans. This is the first report of the presence of T. vivax in Costa Rica.

Surface potential domains on lamellar P3OT structures.

In this work the electrostatic properties of poly(3-octylthiophene) thin films have been studied on a nanometer scale by means of electrostatic force microscopy and Kelvin probe microscopy (KPM). The KPM images reveal that different surface contact potential domains coexist on the polymer surface. This result, together with additional capacitance measurements, indicates that the potential domains are related to the existence of dipoles due to different molecular arrangements. Finally, capacitance measurements as a function of the tip-sample bias voltage show that in all regions large band bending effects take place.

Diabetes-induced changes in 5-hydroxytryptamine modulation of vagally-induced bradycardia in rat heart.

1. In the present study, we investigated how alloxan-induced diabetes affects the ability of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) to modulate bradycardia induced in vivo by electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve in pithed rats. We also analysed the type and/or subtype of 5-HT receptors involved. 2. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats with a single injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg, s.c.). Four weeks later, rats were anaesthetized, pretreated with atenolol and pithed. Electrical stimulation (3, 6 and 9 Hz) of the vagus nerve resulted in frequency dependent decreases in heart rate (HR). 3. In diabetic rats, intravenous bolus administration of high doses of 5-HT (100 and 200 microg/kg) increased the bradycardia induced by vagal electrical stimulation. Similarly, low doses (10 microg/kg) of the 5-HT(1/7) receptor agonist 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT), increased vagally induced bradycardia. However, at high doses (50, 100 and 150 microg/kg), 5-CT reduced the bradycardia. Attenuation of the vagally induced bradycardia evoked by the higher doses of 5-CT was reproduced by L-694,247 (50 microg/kg), a selective agonist for the non-rodent 5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(1D) receptors. Enhancement of the vagally induced bradycardia elicited by low doses of 5-CT was reproduced by the selective 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-hydroxydipropylaminotretalin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT; 50 microg/kg). These stimulatory and inhibitory actions on vagal stimulation-induced bradycardia in diabetic rats were also observed after administration of exogenous acetylcholine. 4. Vagally induced bradycardia in diabetic rats was not affected by administration of the selective 5-HT(2) receptor agonist alpha-methyl-5-HT (150 microg/kg), the selective 5-HT(3) receptor agonist 1-phenylbiguanide (150 microg/kg) or the selective 5-HT(1B) receptor agonist CGS-12066B (50 microg/kg). 5. Enhancement of the electrical stimulation-induced bradycardia in diabetic rats caused by 5-CT (10 microg/kg) or 8-OH-DPAT (50 microg/kg) was abolished by the selective 5-HT(2/7) receptor antagonist mesulergine (1 mg/kg) and the selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100,635 (100 microg/kg), respectively. Similarly, pretreatment with the non-selective 5-HT(1) receptor antagonist methiothepin (0.1 mg/kg) blocked the inhibitory effect of 5-CT (50 microg/kg) on the bradycardia induced by vagal electrical stimulation in diabetic rats. BRL-15572 (2 microg/kg), a selective 5-HT(1D) receptor antagonist, inhibited the action of L-694,247 (50 microg/kg), a selective agonist for the non-rodent 5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(1D) receptors, on the vagally induced bradycardia. 6. In conclusion, in the present study, experimental diabetes evoked changes in both the nature and 5-HT receptor types/subtypes involved in vagally induced bradycardia.

Effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine on neurogenic vasoconstriction in the isolated, autoperfused hindquarters of the rat.

1. In the present study, we analysed the effect of different doses of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; intravenous infusions of 0.001-40 microg/kg per min) in the autoperfused hindquarters of the rat subjected to electrical stimulation (frequencies of 0.5-20 Hz) of the lumbar chains, investigating the relationship between the adrenergic and serotonergic systems in this vascular bed. 2. Because we observed that 5-HT inhibited the increases in perfusion pressure induced by electrical stimulation of the lumbar chains, we used different agonists and antagonists to analyse the mechanism of action of 5-HT. 3. The effect of 5-HT was inhibited by methiothepin (a non-specific 5-HT receptor antagonist), but not by ritanserin (a selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist). The effects of 5-HT were mimicked by 5-carboxamidotryptamine (a 5-HT1 receptor agonist) and L-694 247 (a selective 5-HT1D receptor agonist), but not by 8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin (a 5-HT1A receptor agonist), CGS-12066B (a 5-HT1B receptor agonist), alpha-methyl-5-HT (a 5-HT2 receptor agonist), 1-(3-chlorophenyl) piperazine (a 5-HT2C receptor agonist) or 1-phenylbiguanide (a 5-HT3 receptor agonist). The selective 5-HT1D/1B receptor antagonist BRL 15572 inhibited the effect of the agonist L-694 247. 4. Our data suggest that 5-HT inhibits the increases in perfusion pressure induced by the electrical stimulation of the lumbar chains, acting on presynaptic 5-HT1D receptors and decreasing the release of noradrenaline from the sympathetic nerves in the hindquarter vascular bed of the rat.

m-CPP, a 5-HT2C receptor agonist that modifies the perfusion pressure of the hindquarter vascular bed of anesthetized rat.

In the present work we studied the actions of the intra-arterial administration of meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP - a 5-HT(2C) receptor agonist) in the hindquarters of the anesthetized rat. The lowest doses used (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 microg/kg) induced vasodilatation whereas the highest doses produced vasoconstriction (1, 6.25, 12.5 and 25 microg/kg). Both vasodilatation and vasoconstriction were inhibited by the 5-HT(1,2 )receptor antagonist methiothepin, whereas the 5-HT(2 )receptor antagonist ritanserin blocked only the vasoconstrictor responses. 1-[4-(1-Adamantanecarboxamido)butyl]-4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (a 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist) and ICI 118,551 (a beta(2)-receptor antagonist) failed to modify the vasodilator responses of m-CPP. Both BRL 15572 (a 5-HT(1D) receptor antagonist) and GR 55562 (a 5-HT(1B) receptor antagonist) only partially inhibited this action. Our data reveal that m-CPP induces the 5-HT(1 )and/or non-specific vasodilator effect and 5-HT(2) vasoconstrictor effects in the hindquarter vascular bed of the rat.

Fistula carótido-cavernosa: importancia de su diagnóstico y tratamiento oportunos para prevenir la ceguera / Carotid cavernous fistula: the importance of its opportune diagnosis and treatment to prevent blindness

A carotid cavernous fistula is an abnormal communication between a branch of the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus generating an arteriovenous fistula that can cause severe ocular damage. We hereby report two cases of carotid cavernous fistulas. A 69-year-old male with a 2-month history of right eyelid swelling and red eye aggrarated by diplopia, exophthalmus, and limitation of ocular movements one week before consulting. On admisson his visual acuity, in the right eye was good (0.5) and biomicroscopy showed arterialization of conjunctival vessels. All orbital CAT scan showed a dilatation of the superior orbital vein characteristic of carotid cavernous fistula. A balloon balloon tramponade of the fistula was performed too late (after 3 weeks) and the eye went blind. A 39-year-old female consulted for an acute proptosis of the right eye and severe visual loss. Biomicroscopy showed arterialization of the conjunctival vessels and the CAT scan disclosed a dilatation of the superior orbital vein. She was immediately subjected to a neuroradiological fistula closure with recovery of visual acuity to 1.0 (20/20). Our main purpose is to emphasize the importance of the opportune diagnosis and treatment of these fistulas to prevent visual loss and eventual blindness, as occurred in our first patient.

Vasoconstrictor responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine in the autoperfused hindquarters of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

In this work we studied the responses and receptors involved in the effects of intra-arterial 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the in situ autoperfused hindquarters of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Intra-arterial administration of the highest doses (50-1,000 ng/kg) produced a vasoconstrictor effect that was inhibited by ritanserin (a selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist), SB 206553 (a selective 5-HT(2B/2C) receptor antagonist) and spiperone (a nonspecific 5-HT(1/2A) receptor antagonist), and was mimicked by alpha-methyl-5-HT (a selective 5-HT2 receptor agonist) and m-CPP (a selective 5-HT2C receptor agonist), but not by the intra-arterial administration of BW 723C86, a selective 5HT2B receptor agonist. SB 206553 and spiperone inhibited alpha-methyl-5HT-induced vasoconstriction in the hindquarters of SHR. Our data suggest that the vasoconstrictor response induced by 5-HT in the autoperfused hindquarters of SHR is mainly mediated by the activation of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors.

Fístula carótido-cavernosa: importancia de su diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno para prevenir la ceguera / Carotid cavernous fistula: importance of its diagnosis and opportune treatment to prevent the blindness

Objetivo: Enfatizar la importancia del diagnóstico clínico y del tratamiento oportuno de las fístulas del seno cavernoso que se manifiestan anterógradamente en la órbita. Pacientes y Métodos: Se presentan dos pacientes atendidos en el Servicio de Oftalmología del Hospital Salvador, tratados endovascularmente en el Instituto de Neurocirugía, quienes presentaron una evolución visual muy disímil (uno llegó a la ceguera y el otro recuperó en 100 por ciento de visión) debido a las diferencias en el tiempo de diagnóstico e inicio del tratamiento. Discusión: Se discuten las diferencias en la expresión clínica de los adversos tipos de fístulas (de bajo y alto flujo), el diagnóstico diferencial y la importancia del tratamiento oportuno para lograr un resultado anatómico y funcional óptimo del ojo afectado.

Preservación de eritrocitos y cambios físicos ocurridos durante el almacenamiento / Preservation of erythrocytes and happened physical changes during storage

La preservación de sangre y de sus derivados ha sido una constante en el desarrollo de los bancos de sangre modernos. Los dos métodos actualmente utilizados son la fase líquida y la criopreservación. Se revisaron las generalidades de cada uno de ellos, así como los cambios físicos ocurridos a los eritrocitos durante su almacenamiento

Quantum conductance steps in solutions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

We have prepared solutions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in Aroclor 1254, a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls. The solutions are stable at room temperature. Transport measurements were performed using a scanning-tunneling probe on a sample prepared by spin coating the solution on gold substrates. Conductance steps were clearly seen. A histogram of a high number of traces shows maximum peaks at integer values of the conductance quantum G(0)=2e(2)/h, demonstrating ballistic transport at room temperature along the carbon nanotube over distances longer than 1.4 microm.