Environmental correlates of oyster farming in an upwelling system: Implication upon growth, biomass production, shell strength and organic composition.

Comprehending the potential effects of environmental variability on bivalves aquaculture becomes crucial for its sustainability under climate change scenarios, specially in the Humboldt Current System (HCS) where upwelling intensification leading to frequent hypoxia and acidification is expected. In a year-long study, Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) were monitored at two depths (1.5m, 6.5m) in a bay affected by coastal upwelling. Surface waters exhibited warmer, well-oxygenated conditions and higher chlorophyll-a concentrations, while at depth greater hypoxia and acidification events occur, especially during upwelling. Surface cultured oysters exhibited 60 % larger size and 35% greater weight due to faster growth rate during the initial month of cultivation. The condition index (CI) increases in surface oysters after 10 months, whereas those at the bottom maintain a lower index. Food availability, temperature, and oxygen, correlates with higher growth rates, while pH associates with morphometric variables, indicating that larger oysters tend to develop under higher pH. Increased upwelling generally raises CI, but bottom oysters face stressful conditions such as hypoxia and acidification, resulting in lower performance. However, they acclimate by changing the organic composition of their shells and making them stronger. This study suggests that under intensified upwelling scenario, oysters would grow slowly, resulting in smaller sizes and lower performance, but the challenges may be confronted through complex compensation mechanisms among biomass production and maintenance of the shell structure and function. This poses a significant challenge for the sustainability of the aquaculture industry, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Infarto agudo de miocardio prematuro con elevación del segmento ST: análisis de una cohorte en la década 2012-2022 / Premature acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation: a cohort study in the 2012-2022 decade

Resumen Antecedentes y objetivo: El infarto prematuro tiene un alto impacto socioeconómico y carecemos de estudios contemporáneos que analicen las características asociadas al desarrollo de estos eventos y a su evolución Material y meéodos: En un estudio observacional sobre una cohorte retrospectiva que incluyó pacientes menores de 46 años con un infarto entre junio de 2012 y junio de 2022, se analizaron las características sociodemográficas, factores de riesgo cardiovasculares, tóxicos, características del infarto, datos sobre infección e inmunización por SARS-CoV-2, se realizó un seguimiento retrospectivo a un anÌo mediante la historia electrónica y se compararon los resultados con los reportados en la literatura. Resultados: El 12.1% de las angioplastias primarias corresponded a infartos prematuros (103). Entre los factores de riesgo clásicos destacaron la dislipidemia y el sobrepeso. La hipertensión y la diabetes fueron significativamente menores que las cifras reportadas en población mayor. El consumo de tabaco fue significativamente mayor, aí como el de otros tóxicos entre los que destacaron el cannabis y la ocaína. Los antecedentes familiares estuvieron presentes en 27 pacientes. El 27.2% (28) tuvieron complicaciones durante el ingreso y la mortalidad fue del 4.9% (5). No se identificaron diferencias significativas entre los pacientes que iniciaron con un evento antes o despuéde la pandemia, a excepción de una tendencia a la disminción del hábito tabáquico. Conclusiones: El infarto prematuro es una patología al alza con una morbimortalidad considerable. La concienciación sobre los hábitos tóxicos y prevención de los factores de riesgo clásicos son tareas prioritarias en nuestro medio.

Abstract Background and purpose: Premature infarction has a high socioeconomic impact and we lack contemporary studies that analyze the characteristics associated with its development and evolution. Material and methods: In an observational study on a retrospective cohort of patients younger than 46 years old, who had suffered from an infarction from June 2012 to June 2022, sociodemographic characteristics, cardiovascular and toxic risk factors, infarction characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunization data were investigated. Indeed, a one-year retrospective follow-up was performed through their electronic health record and results were compared with the ones reported in literature. Results: 12.1% of primary angioplasties corresponded to premature infarctions (103). Among classical risk factors, dyslipidemia and overweight stood out, while hypertension and diabetes incidence was significantly lower than the one reported in older population. The consumption of tobacco and other drugs (especially cannabis and cocaine) was higher than that reported at older ages. Twenty-seven patients had a family history of ischemic cardiopathy or sudden cardiac death, 27.2% (28) had complications during admission and mortality was 4.9% (5). No significant differences were identified between the patients who debuted with an event before or after the pandemic, except for a tendency to smoking cessation. Conclusions: Premature infarction is a rising pathology with considerable morbidity and mortality. Raising awareness about toxic habits and prevention of the classical risk factors are priority tasks in this setting.

Premature acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation: a cohort study in the 2012-2022 decade.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Premature infarction has a high socioeconomic impact and we lack contemporary studies that analyze the characteristics associated with its development and evolution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In an observational study on a retrospective cohort of patients younger than 46 years old, who had suffered from an infarction from June 2012 to June 2022, sociodemographic characteristics, cardiovascular and toxic risk factors, infarction characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunization data were investigated. Indeed, a one-year retrospective follow-up was performed through their electronic health record and results were compared with the ones reported in literature. RESULTS: 12.1% of primary angioplasties corresponded to premature infarctions (103). Among classical risk factors, dyslipidemia and overweight stood out, while hypertension and diabetes incidence was significantly lower than the one reported in older population. The consumption of tobacco and other drugs (especially cannabis and cocaine) was higher than that reported at older ages. Twenty-seven patients had a family history of ischemic cardiopathy or sudden cardiac death, 27.2% (28) had complications during admission and mortality was 4.9% (5). No significant differences were identified between the patients who debuted with an event before or after the pandemic, except for a tendency to smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Premature infarction is a rising pathology with considerable morbidity and mortality. Raising awareness about toxic habits and prevention of the classical risk factors are priority tasks in this setting.

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: El infarto prematuro tiene un alto impacto socioeconómico y carecemos de estudios contemporáneos que analicen las características asociadas al desarrollo de estos eventos y a su evolución. MATERIAL Y MEÉODOS: En un estudio observacional sobre una cohorte retrospectiva que incluyó pacientes menores de 46 años con un infarto entre junio de 2012 y junio de 2022, se analizaron las características sociodemográficas, factores de riesgo cardiovasculares, tóxicos, características del infarto, datos sobre infección e inmunización por SARS-CoV-2, se realizó un seguimiento retrospectivo a un anÌo mediante la historia electrónica y se compararon los resultados con los reportados en la literatura. RESULTADOS: El 12.1% de las angioplastias primarias corresponded a infartos prematuros (103). Entre los factores de riesgo clásicos destacaron la dislipidemia y el sobrepeso. La hipertensión y la diabetes fueron significativamente menores que las cifras reportadas en población mayor. El consumo de tabaco fue significativamente mayor, aí como el de otros tóxicos entre los que destacaron el cannabis y la ocaína. Los antecedentes familiares estuvieron presentes en 27 pacientes. El 27.2% (28) tuvieron complicaciones durante el ingreso y la mortalidad fue del 4.9% (5). No se identificaron diferencias significativas entre los pacientes que iniciaron con un evento antes o despuéde la pandemia, a excepción de una tendencia a la disminción del hábito tabáquico. CONCLUSIONES: El infarto prematuro es una patología al alza con una morbimortalidad considerable. La concienciación sobre los hábitos tóxicos y prevención de los factores de riesgo clásicos son tareas prioritarias en nuestro medio.

Photoswitchable architecture transformation of a DNA-hybrid assembly at the microscopic and macroscopic scale.

Molecular recognition-driven self-assembly employing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as a template is a promising approach to access complex architectures from simple building blocks. Oligonucleotide-based nanotechnology and soft-materials benefit from the high information storage density, self-correction, and memory function of DNA. Here we control these beneficial properties with light in a photoresponsive biohybrid hydrogel, adding an extra level of function to the system. An ssDNA template was combined with a complementary photo-responsive unit to reversibly switch between various functional states of the supramolecular assembly using a combination of light and heat. We studied the structural response of the hydrogel at both the microscopic and macroscopic scale using a combination of UV-vis absorption and CD spectroscopy, as well as fluorescence, transmission electron, and atomic force microscopy. The hydrogels grown from these supramolecular self-assembly systems show remarkable shape-memory properties and imprinting shape-behavior while the macroscopic shape of the materials obtained can be further manipulated by irradiation.

Cardiac involvement in Adult Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome related to COVID-19. Two case reports.

In this article we describe two cases that presented with persistent fever and a hyperinflammatory state in association with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection with various negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results. These cases subsequently developed myocarditis with cardiogenic shock that required vasoactive drugs and had a good response to corticosteroid treatment. All cases met criteria for a definitive case of multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in adults, a recently described entity associated with coronavirus disease 2019, which has a good response to immunomodulators and a good prognosis in most cases. .

Probiotic activity traits in vitro and production of antimicrobial peptides by Lactobacillaceae isolates from pulque using Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM as control.

The objective of this work was to determine in vitro probiotic activity traits of 11 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from pulque obtained from three different locations in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Puebla using the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM as a positive control, and to detect their production of antimicrobial peptides, including bacteriocins and peptidoglycan hydrolases (PGH). The LAB isolates were identified by sequencing of their 16S rRNA as belonging to four different genera of the Lactobacillaceae family: Lactiplantibacillus, Levilactobacillus, Lacticaseibacillus and Liquorilactobacillus, corresponding to the species plantarum, brevis, paracasei and ghanensis, respectively. Most of the strains showed resistance to high acidity (pH 2) and bile salts (0.5%), with survival rates up to 87 and 92%, respectively. In addition, most of the strains presented good antimicrobial activity against the foodborne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, ECEC and Salmonella Typhi. The strain Liquorilactobacillus ghanensis RVG6, newly reported in pulque, presented an outstanding overall performance on the probiotic activity tests. In terms of their probiotic activity traits assessed in this work, the strains compared positively with the control L. acidophilus NCFM, which is a very-well documented probiotic strain. For the antimicrobial peptide studies, four strains presented bacteriocin-like mediated antibiosis and six had significant PGH activity, with two strains presenting outstanding overall antimicrobial peptide production: Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RVG3 and Levilactobacillus brevis UTMB2. The probiotic performance of the isolates was mainly dependent on strain specificity. The results obtained in this work can foster the revalorization of pulque as a functional natural product.

Doublet-Singlet-Doublet Transition in a Single Organic Molecule Magnet On-Surface Constructed with up to 3 Aluminum Atoms.

Starting from a long aza-starphene neutral and nonmagnetic organic molecule, a single-molecule magnet is on-surface constructed using up to 3 light nonmagnetic aluminum (Al) atoms. Seldom observed in solution with transition-metal atoms and going from 1 to 3 Al coordinated atoms, the doublet-singlet-doublet transition is easily on-surface accessible using the scanning tunneling microscope single-atom and single-molecule manipulations on a gold(111) surface. With 3 coordinated Al atoms, the lateral vibration modes of the Al3-aza-starphene molecule magnet are largely frozen. Using the Kondo states, this opens the observation of the in-phase Al vertical atom vibrations and out-of-phase central phenyl vibrations.

A Single-Molecule Digital Full Adder.

A specifically designed aza-starphene molecule is presented where contacting one, two, and/or three single Al adatoms allows this molecule to function as a "3-inputs & 2-outputs" digital full adder on a Au(111) surface. Sequentially positioning single Al adatoms with atomic precision to interact with aza-starphene, inputs one classical digit per Al, which is converted to quantum information by the molecule. The intramolecular logical calculations do not require a solid-state digital full adder cascade-like architecture. The measured Boolean truth table results in part from the quantum level repulsion effect and in part from a nonlinear magnetic effect also intrinsic to the aza-starphene molecule with its contacted Al adatoms.

Biocontrol of Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum by Trichoderma asperelloides and Bacillus paralicheniformis in tomato plants.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of the putative biocontrol agents (PBA) Bacillus paralicheniformis and Trichoderma asperelloides in vitro and in vivo to control two of the most important tomato plant diseases: vascular wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) and early blight (Alternaria alternata). The assessment of the in vitro interactions between the PBA and the phytopathogenic fungi was performed by dual confrontation assays. The biocontrol effectiveness of the individual and combined PBA treatments towards individual phytopathogen inoculations was evaluated in tomato plants. T. asperelloides was able to exert an outstanding mycoparasitic effect on both phytopathogenic fungi in the in vitro tests by hyphal strangulation and penetration. In addition, the individual PBA treatments were effective in the biocontrol of A. alternata and F. oxysporum in tomato plants reducing the plant disease severity in more than 53.8 and 66.7% for each of the pathogens, respectively. On the other hand, the combined use of the tested strains showed similar effectiveness in the biocontrol of A. alternata, but no synergism was observed. In addition, it was concluded that B. paralicheniformis protected the plants from the attack of A. alternata through the induction of the systemic resistance of the plant. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of the individual and combined use of the strains tested for the biocontrol of A. alternata and F. oxysporum in tomato plants.

Productivity and Antioxidant Activity of Wild, Reconstituted, and Hybrid Strains of the Pink Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus djamor (Agaricomycetes), from Mexico.

The genus Pleurotus is the third most commonly produced edible fungi in the world. In addition, species of genus Pleurotus have functional properties such as anticancer, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, which are mainly attributed to phenolic compounds. For these reasons, this study evaluated the productivity and antioxidant activity (AA) of 2 wild strains (white and pink), 2 reconstituted strains (called "BB" and "RR"), and 4 hybrid strains (H1, H2, H3, and H4) of P. djamor from monokaryotic components (neohaplonts). The results showed that the white wild-type strain and the reconstituted strains exhibited the best production potential, expressed as biological efficiency and mycelial growth rate. The carpophores of hybrid strains H1 and H3 had the greatest AA, as evaluated with DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power assays, respectively. The H3 strain had the highest total phenol (TP) content. Pearson correlations led us to conclude that the mycelial growth rate has a regular inverse correlation with TP and a regular direct correlation with AA of methanolic extracts from carpophores and myce-lia. This is, to our knowledge, the first report in the literature about the effect of Pleurotus strain hybridization through a chemical de-dikaryotization process on TP content.

Actitudes hacia desmovilizados del conflicto armado en Colombia por parte de civiles y militares en uso de buen retiro, residentes en Bogotá / Civilian and military officials' attitudes toward demobilized population of Colombian armed conflict, residents in Bogota, for a well retirement

Resumen Objetivo: Establecer las actitudes hacia los desmovilizados de la guerrilla por parte de civiles y militares en uso de buen retiro de Bogotá. Método: El estudio tuvo un alcance descriptivo, con un método de comparación de grupos, se seleccionó una muestra de 120 participantes, bajo un procedimiento no probabilístico, con edades entre los 40 a 60 años distribuidos en 60 militares en uso de buen retiro y 60 civiles, residentes en la ciudad de Bogotá, a quienes se les aplicó el cuestionario de Actitudes hacia Desmovilizados de la Guerrilla. Resultados: Se encontró que el 84,1 % de los participantes presentan una actitud positiva o neutra, y estadísticos de compara ción superiores al 0,05, lo que permite afirmar en discusión que ambos grupos presentan actitud positiva hacia los desmovilizados de la guerrilla, y que no se encuentran diferencias significativas entre civiles y militares en uso de buen retiro, residentes en Bogotá. Conclusión: Se afirma que el tener una actitud positiva, neutra o negativa no depende de la diferencia entre ser militar o civil.

Abstract Objective: This study aims to establish civilian and military retired officials' attitudes towards guerrillas demobilization from Bogotá (Col), for a well retirement. Method: This study scope was descriptive, it was conducted, comparing groups, 120 selected participants, between 40 and 60 years, based on a not probabilistic procedure distributed as follows: 60 military retired officials and 60 civilians residents from Bogotá; a questionnaire related to attitudes toward demobilized population of armed conflict, was used. Results: 84.1 % of participants show a positive or neutral attitude, and statistical comparison higher than 0.05; this result, allows to say that both groups have a positive attitude towards demobilized guerrillas and there are not significant differences between civilian and military retired officials, residents in Bogotá. Conclusion: As a conclusion, a positive, neutral or negative attitude does not depend on the difference between being military retired official or civilian.

Utilización de marcadores ITS e ISSR para la caracterización molecular de cepas híbridas de Pleurotus djamor / Use of ITS and ISSR markers in the molecular characterisation of Pleurotus djamor hybrid strains

Antecedentes. La caracterización molecular de cepas silvestres de Pleurotus es importante para la conservación del germoplasma y su posterior uso en la mejora genética. No se han realizado estudios moleculares con los monocariontes utilizados para la producción de cepas híbridas, ni de las cepas reconstituidas obtenidas al aparear tales monocariontes. Por consiguiente, la caracterización molecular de cepas dicarióticas parentales, híbridas y reconstituidas, así como de cepas monocarióticas, es de suma importancia. Objetivos. Caracterizar molecularmente cepas dicarióticas silvestres e híbridas, así como cepas monocarióticas de Pleurotus djamor. Métodos. Se recolectaron cinco cepas silvestres de P. djamor en diferentes estados de México y se identificaron molecularmente mediante la secuenciación de la región ITS1-5.8-ITS2 con los oligonucleótidos universales ITS1 e ITS4. Se seleccionaron dos cepas silvestres y se generaron cuatro cepas híbridas por apareamiento de neohaplontes compatibles. Para la caracterización molecular de las cepas monocarióticas y dicarióticas seleccionadas y producidas se utilizaron seis marcadores ISSR. Resultados. Con los marcadores ITS se obtuvo un producto de amplificación de 700 pb en las cinco cepas silvestres con una similitud del 99-100% con la especie P. djamor. Con los marcadores ISSR se obtuvieron un total de 95 fragmentos con un 99% de polimorfismo. Conclusiones. Las cepas silvestres se identificaron como P. djamor. Los marcadores ISSR generaron bandas polimórficas en las cepas monocarióticas y dicarióticas, y separaron ambos tipos de cepas. El alto grado de polimorfismo indica la diversidad genética de P. djamor, una ventaja para la producción de hongos y para la mejora de la especie (AU)

Background. Molecular characterisation of wild type Pleurotus species is important for germplasm conservation and its further use for genetic improvement. No molecular studies have been performed with monokaryons used for producing hybrid strains, either with the reconstituted strains obtained by pairing those monokaryons. The molecular characterisation of parental dikaryons, hybrid, and reconstituted strains as well as monokaryotic strains, is therefore of utmost importance. Aims. To carry out the molecular identification of Pleurotus djamor strains, i.e. dikaryotic wild type strains, hybrid strains, and the monokaryotic strains used for the hybrid formation. Methods. Five wild type strains of P. djamor from different states in Mexico were collected and molecularly identified by sequencing the ITS1-5.8-ITS2 region using ITS1 and ITS4 universal oligonucleotides. Four hybrid strains were obtained by pairing neohaplonts of two wild type strains selected. Six ISSR markers were used for the molecular characterisation of monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains. Results. Using the ITS markers, an amplified product of 700bp was obtained in five wild type strains, with a 99-100% similarity with P. djamor. A total of 95 fragments were obtained using the ISSR markers, with 99% of polymorphism. Conclusions. Wild type strains were identified as P. djamor, and were clearly grouped with Mexican strains from other states of Mexico. ISSR markers allowed the generation of polymorphic bands in monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains, splitting both types of strains. The high degree of polymorphism indicates the genetic diversity of P. djamor, an advantage in mushroom production and in the improving of the species (AU)

[Use of ITS and ISSR markers in the molecular characterisation of Pleurotus djamor hybrid strains]. / Utilización de marcadores ITS e ISSR para la caracterización molecular de cepas híbridas de Pleurotus djamor.

BACKGROUND: Molecular characterisation of wild type Pleurotus species is important for germplasm conservation and its further use for genetic improvement. No molecular studies have been performed with monokaryons used for producing hybrid strains, either with the reconstituted strains obtained by pairing those monokaryons. The molecular characterisation of parental dikaryons, hybrid, and reconstituted strains as well as monokaryotic strains, is therefore of utmost importance. AIMS: To carry out the molecular identification of Pleurotus djamor strains, i.e. dikaryotic wild type strains, hybrid strains, and the monokaryotic strains used for the hybrid formation. METHODS: Five wild type strains of P. djamor from different states in Mexico were collected and molecularly identified by sequencing the ITS1-5.8-ITS2 region using ITS1 and ITS4 universal oligonucleotides. Four hybrid strains were obtained by pairing neohaplonts of two wild type strains selected. Six ISSR markers were used for the molecular characterisation of monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains. RESULTS: Using the ITS markers, an amplified product of 700bp was obtained in five wild type strains, with a 99-100% similarity with P. djamor. A total of 95 fragments were obtained using the ISSR markers, with 99% of polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Wild type strains were identified as P. djamor, and were clearly grouped with Mexican strains from other states of Mexico. ISSR markers allowed the generation of polymorphic bands in monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains, splitting both types of strains. The high degree of polymorphism indicates the genetic diversity of P. djamor, an advantage in mushroom production and in the improving of the species.

Natural antioxidant extracts as food preservatives.

The food industry is becoming more specialized and processing methods are continuously being developed to meet consumer needs. Consumers demand products that are safe and preferably free of synthetic additives. These additives are associated with health effects, in most cases without reasonable justification. Consequently, consumers are looking for clearly labelled products that guarantee the absence of synthetic additives. This has led to the need to search for natural additives, which the food industry claims arenatural antioxidant preservatives. The sources of natural antioxidants can be extremely varied, because practically all plants contain antioxidants that allow them to protect themselves from solar radiation and pests, as well as to regulate the production of chemical energy. However, the best alternatives for the food industry are fruits and spices, because they are already foods themselves. This article will describe fruits and spices considered as important sources of phenolic antioxidants. The main medicinal properties are related to phenolic compounds and their uses as additives, depending on their chemical structure.

Synthesis of a Crushed Fullerene C60H24 through Sixfold Palladium-Catalyzed Arylation.

The synthesis of a new C3v -symmetric crushed fullerene C60H24 (5) has been accomplished in three steps from truxene through sixfold palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation of a syn-trialkylated truxene precursor. Laser irradiation of 5 induces cyclodehydrogenation processes that result in the formation of C60, as detected by LDI-MS.

Contacting a conjugated molecule with a surface dangling bond dimer on a hydrogenated Ge(001) surface allows imaging of the hidden ground electronic state.

Fabrication of single-molecule logic devices requires controlled manipulation of molecular states with atomic-scale precision. Tuning molecule-substrate coupling is achieved here by the reversible attachment of a prototypical planar conjugated organic molecule to dangling bonds on the surface of a hydrogenated semiconductor. We show that the ground electronic state resonance of a Y-shaped polyaromatic molecule physisorbed on a defect-free area of a fully hydrogenated surface cannot be observed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements because it is decoupled from the Ge bulk states by the hydrogen-passivated surface. The state can be accessed by STM only if the molecule is contacted with the substrate by a dangling bond dimer. The reversibility of the attachment processes will be advantageous in the construction of surface atomic-scale circuits composed of single-molecule devices interconnected by the surface dangling bond wires.

Validation of an LC-MS bioanalytical method for quantification of phytate levels in rat, dog and human plasma.

Myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (phytate, IP6) is a naturally occuring compound whose determination in biological matrices is chanllenging. Several benefitial properties have been attributed to IP6 in parallel with the development of suitable analytical methodologies for its analytical determination in urine and some tissues. However, there is a lack of appropriate tools for its determination in plasma samples. In this paper, a direct, sensitive and selective bioanalytical method for the determination of IP6 based on LC-MS is presented. It is the first method published to quantify IP6 in plasma matrices directly through its molecular weight, being consequently a highly specific methodology. The method has been validated in rat, dog and human plasma, according to the acceptance criteria laid down in the FDA guidance Bioanalytical Method Validation. Accuracy and precision were not greater than 15% at medium and high concentrations and not greater than 20% at the LLOQ concentration. The mean absolute recovery obtained ranged from 78.74 to 102.44%, 62.10 to 87.21% and 61.61 to 86.99% for rat, dog and human plasma respectively. The LLOQ was 500ngmL(-1) due to the presence of endogenous IP6 in blank plasma samples and the limit of detection was within the range 30-80ngmL(-1).

Organic molecules reconstruct nanostructures on ionic surfaces.

Modification and functionalization of the atomic-scale structure of insulating surfaces is fundamental to catalysis, self-assembly, and single-molecule technologies. Specially designed syn-5,10,15-tris(4-cyanophenylmethyl)truxene molecules can reshape features on an ionic KBr (001) surface. Atomic force microscopy images demonstrate that both KBr monolayer islands and pits can reshape from rectangular to round structures, a process which is directly facilitated by molecular adsorption. Simulations reveal that the mechanism of the surface reconstruction consists of collective atomic hops of ions on the step edges of the islands and pits, which correlate with molecular motion. The energy barriers for individual processes are reduced by the presence of the adsorbed molecules, which cause surface structural changes. These results show how appropriately designed organic molecules can modify surface morphology on insulating surfaces. Such strongly adsorbed molecules can also serve as anchoring sites for building new nanostructures on inert insulating surfaces.

Manipulating molecular quantum states with classical metal atom inputs: demonstration of a single molecule NOR logic gate.

Quantum states of a trinaphthylene molecule were manipulated by putting its naphthyl branches in contact with single Au atoms. One Au atom carries 1-bit of classical information input that is converted into quantum information throughout the molecule. The Au-trinaphthylene electronic interactions give rise to measurable energy shifts of the molecular electronic states demonstrating a NOR logic gate functionality. The NOR truth table of the single molecule logic gate was characterized by means of scanning tunnelling spectroscopy.