Lipid monolayer as a simple model membrane for comparative assessment of the photodynamic therapy photosensitizer efficiency via macroscopic measurements.

Cellular membrane is one of the main targets of photodynamic therapy. Its high complexity has led to the study of the efficiency of photosensitizers on artificial lipid systems mimicking membranes. However, the preliminary analysis of this efficiency remains limited due to difficulty of the model construction and/or implementation of the required measurement techniques. Hereby, we propose a quite simple way for the rapid comparative assessment of novel photosensitizers in terms of membrane photodegradation, based on simple and fast measurements, such as wetting angle and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. As a proof of concept, we applied this methodology to two bacteriopurpurinimide derivatives. We have shown in particular that such complementary techniques can be employed not only for the multiparametric monitoring of the kinetics of the photodegradation, but also for the comparison of the damaging efficiency of the photosensitizers in the lipid structures as well.

Aboveground autotrophic respiration in a Spanish black pine forest: Comparison of scaling methods to improve component partitioning.

Total wood CO2 efflux (Rw) varies vertically within individual trees, and leaves experience large variations in foliar respiration (Rf) rates over their life spans and during daily periods. Therefore, accurate sampling approaches are required to improve aboveground autotrophic respiration (RAa) estimations in stand-scale carbon cycling studies. We scaled-up Rw (comprising stem and branch CO2 efflux; ES and EB, respectively) and Rf from biometric and flux-chamber measurements taken between 2011 and 2013 in a Spanish black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. salzmannii) forest at an unburnt (UB) site and a low burn-severity (LS) site. We measured seasonal ES at breast height (1.30m) on 9 trees at each site, which was also vertically examined on 5 of those trees. We also measured seasonal Rf in current- and previous-year needles on 3 trees at each site, and quantified Rf variations in darkness and light. Finally, we compared complex and simple scale-up methods which did or did not account for the vertical variation in Rw and the effects of leaf ageing and light inhibition on Rf, respectively. The simple methods underestimated the annual stand-level stem, branch, and total wood respiration ≈35%, 55%, and 41%, respectively, and overestimated annual stand-level whole-canopy foliage respiration ≈43% at both sites. Both methods provided similar annual stand-level RAa estimates, although the complex methods improved estimations of the relative contribution of RAa components. Thus, based on the complex methods the mean annual RAa at the stand-level was 4.53±0.25 and 4.45±0.12MgCha-1year-1 at the UB and LS sites, respectively. Our data also confirmed that the low-severity fire did not alter the RAa rates. Collectively, this study reveals that complex approaches, applicable in other forest ecosystems, enhance the accuracy of partitioning RAa sources by reducing the error in scaling-up in chamber-based measurements.

Influences of recovery from wildfire and thinning on soil respiration of a Mediterranean mixed forest.

The ecosystem recovery after wildfire and thinning practices are both key processes that have great potential to influence fluxes and storage of carbon within Mediterranean semiarid ecosystems. In this study, started 7years after a wildfire, soil respiration (SR) patterns measured from 2008 to 2010 were compared between an unmanaged-undisturbed mature forest stand (UB site) and a naturally regenerated post-wildfire stand (B site) in a Mediterranean mixed forest in Spain. The disturbed stand included a control zone (unthinned forest, BUT site) and a thinned zone (BT site). Our results indicated that SR was lower at naturally regenerated after fire sites (BUT and BT) than at unburnt one. Soil under the canopy layer of pine and oak trees exhibited higher SR rates than bare or herbaceous layer soils, regardless of the site. The effect of thinning was only manifest, with a significant increase of SR, during the 1st year after thinning practices. SR showed a clear soil temperature-dependent seasonal pattern, which was strongly modulated by soil water content (SWC), especially in summer. Site-specific polynomial regression models were defined to describe SR responses, being mainly controlled by both soil temperature (Ts) and SWC at UB site, or Ts at burnt sites. The sensitivity of SR rate to Ts variations (Q10) ranged between 0.20 and 6.89, with mean annual values varying between 0.92 and 1.35. Q10 values were higher at BT than at UB-BUT sites. The results revealed a significant, non-linear dependence, of Q10 on both Ts and SWC at UB site, and on Ts at both burnt sites. This study contributes to (i) improve the understanding of how natural recovery and management practices affect soil respiration in a Mediterranean forest during their early stages after fire disturbance and (ii) highlight the importance of Q10 values <1 which emphasizes drought stress effect on SR temperature sensitivity.

Post-wildfire effects on carbon and water vapour dynamics in a Spanish black pine forest.

Two eddy covariance systems were installed in a high-severity burned zone (BZ) and an adjacent unburned (UNB) zone to monitor water vapour and carbon dioxide fluxes for 21 months (from June 2011 to February 2013) at a Spanish black pine forest affected by a stand-replacing wildfire and located in a mountainous area of central-eastern Spain. The differences between both sites were significant especially during the growing season, affecting gross primary productivity (GPP) more than ecosystem respiration (Reco). Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) for 2012 was -3.97 and 1.80 t C ha(-1) year(-1) for the unburned and burned sites, respectively, the GPP being 64% lower for the BZ than the UNB zone. Evapotranspiration (ET) at the UNB was 18% greater than at the BZ. Difference between sites was 160 mm during the whole studied period. This study reflects the effect of one of the major disturbances that can affect Mediterranean ecosystems, showing that carbon fluxes are more dramatically concerned than water vapour fluxes.

High sensitive mesoporous TiO2-coated love wave device for heavy metal detection.

This work deals with the design of a highly sensitive whole cell-based biosensor for heavy metal detection in liquid medium. The biosensor is constituted of a Love wave sensor coated with a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM). Escherichia coli bacteria are used as bioreceptors as their viscoelastic properties are influenced by toxic heavy metals. The acoustic sensor is constituted of a quartz substrate with interdigitated transducers and a SiO2 guiding layer. However, SiO2 shows some degradation when used in a saline medium. Mesoporous TiO2 presents good mechanical and chemical stability and offers a high active surface area. Then, the addition of a thin titania layer dip-coated onto the acoustic path of the sensor is proposed to overcome the silica degradation and to improve the mass effect sensitivity of the acoustic device. PEM and bacteria deposition, and heavy metal influence, are real time monitored through the resonance frequency variations of the acoustic device. The first polyelectrolyte layer is inserted through the titania mesoporosity, favouring rigid link of the PEM on the sensor and improving the device sensitivity. Also, the mesoporosity of surface increases the specific surface area which can be occupied and favors the formation of homogeneous PEM. It was found a frequency shift near -20±1 kHz for bacteria immobilization with titania film instead of -7±3 kHz with bare silica surface. The sensitivity is highlighted towards cadmium detection. Moreover, in this paper, particular attention is given to the immobilization of bacteria and to biosensor lifetime. Atomic Force Microscopy characterizations of the biosurface have been done for several weeks. They showed significant morphological differences depending on the bacterial life time. We noticed that the lifetime of the biosensor is longer in the case of using a mesoporous TiO2 layer.

[Oat-cell carcinoma of the tongue: report of a case]. / Carcinoma microcítico de lengua. A propósito de un caso.

We present a case of oat cell carcinoma of tongue in a 76 year old man with a squamous carcinoma of lung.

Carcinoma microcítico de lengua: a propósito de un caso / Oat-cell carcinoma of the tongue: report of a case

Se presenta un caso clínico de un carcinoma microcítico de lengua en un varón de 76 años de edad con un carcinoma epidermoide no microcítico pulmonar (AU)

We present a case of oat cell carcinoma of tongue in a 76 year old man with a squamous carcinoma of lung (AU)

Carcinoma sebáceo nasal. A propósito de un caso / Nasal sebaceus carcinoma. About a case

Se presenta un caso clínico de un carcinoma sebáceo extra-ocular, en un varón de 71 años de edad con una tumoración en ala nasal derecha (AU)