Exchange Bias Effect of Ni@(NiO,Ni(OH)2) Core/Shell Nanowires Synthesized by Electrochemical Deposition in Nanoporous Alumina Membranes.

Tuning and controlling the magnetic properties of nanomaterials is crucial to implement new and reliable technologies based on magnetic hyperthermia, spintronics, or sensors, among others. Despite variations in the alloy composition as well as the realization of several post material fabrication treatments, magnetic heterostructures as ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic coupled layers have been widely used to modify or generate unidirectional magnetic anisotropies. In this work, a pure electrochemical approach has been used to fabricate core (FM)/shell (AFM) Ni@(NiO,Ni(OH)2) nanowire arrays, avoiding thermal oxidation procedures incompatible with integrative semiconductor technologies. Besides the morphology and compositional characterization of these core/shell nanowires, their peculiar magnetic properties have been studied by temperature dependent (isothermal) hysteresis loops, thermomagnetic curves and FORC analysis, revealing the existence of two different effects derived from Ni nanowires' surface oxidation over the magnetic performance of the array. First of all, a magnetic hardening of the nanowires along the parallel direction of the applied magnetic field with respect their long axis (easy magnetization axis) has been found. The increase in coercivity, as an effect of surface oxidation, has been observed to be around 17% (43%) at 300 K (50 K). On the other hand, an increasing exchange bias effect on decreasing temperature has been encountered when field cooling (3T) the oxidized Ni@(NiO,Ni(OH)2) nanowires below 100 K along their parallel lengths.

Effect of including a dietary supplement of raisins, a food rich in polyphenols, on cognitive function in healthy older adults; a study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Polyphenols have been shown to be effective against many chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, the consumption of raisins, being a food rich in polyphenols, has been attributed with neuroprotective benefits. Therefore, our main objective is to evaluate the effect of including 50 g of raisins in the diet daily for 6 months, on the improvement of cognitive performance, cardiovascular risk factors and markers of inflammation in a population of older adults without cognitive impairment. METHODS: Design and intervention: This study will be a randomized controlled clinical trial of two parallel groups. Each subject included in the study will be randomly assigned to one of two study groups: control group (no supplement), intervention group (50 g of raisins daily during 6 months). STUDY POPULATION: The participants will be selected by consecutive sampling in the Primary Care consultations of urban health centers in Salamanca and Zamora (Spain), taking into account the selection criteria. STUDY VARIABLES: Two visits will be made, baseline and at 6 months. Cognitive performance will be evaluated (Mini-Mental State Examination test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, verbal fluency and montreal cognitive assessment (Moca)). It will also be analyzed the level of physical activity, quality of life, activities of daily living, energy and nutritional composition of the diet, body composition, blood pressure, heart rate, markers of inflammation and other laboratory tests of clinical relevance (glycaemia, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides). In addition, sociodemographic data, personal and family history, medication use and alcohol and tobacco consumption will be collected. DISCUSSION: In this project, it is intended to contribute to minimize the problems derived from cognitive deterioration in older people. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClincalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04966455 Registration date: July 1, 2021.

A randomized controlled trial on the effects of "Global Postural Re-education" versus neck specific exercise on pain, disability, postural control, and neuromuscular features in women with chronic non-specific neck pain.

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is associated with decreased health-related quality of life, decreased work productivity, and increased visits to health care providers. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of "Global Postural Re-education" (GPR) versus a neck specific exercise (SE) program on neck pain, disability, cervical range of movement, postural stability, and activity of the superficial cervical flexor muscles. DESIGN: A parallel-group and single-blinded clinical trial. SETTING: Community interventions. POPULATION: Fifty women with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP). METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two intervention groups (GPR [N.=25] or SE [N.=25]). Both interventions consisted of eight sessions of ~40 minutes duration, performed twice a week, for four weeks. Outcomes included neck pain intensity and disability, cervical range of motion (CROM), postural sway, and activity of the superficial neck flexor muscles during a cranio-cervical flexion test (CCFT). All outcomes were assessed twice before the intervention and immediately following eight treatment sessions over four weeks. RESULTS: Both interventions were equally effective in reducing neck pain (P<0.001, ŋp2=0.770) and disability (P<0.001, ŋp2=0.306), improving neck mobility (P<0.001, 0.385≤ŋp2≤0.623, for all measurements) and decreasing the activity of the superficial cervical flexor muscles (P>0.001). Neither intervention altered postural sway. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that GPR and SE induced significant positive results in all measures apart from postural stability but with no difference between the interventions. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: "Global Postural Re-education" (GPR) and neck SE interventions are equally effective in reducing neck pain and disability, and improving neck mobility in women with NSCNP. Overall, this study indicates that GPR and SE interventions can be used to effectively manage patients with NSCNP.

Transición de jóvenes varones en conflicto con la ley penal hacia la vida adulta en Córdoba (Argentina) / Transition of young males in conflict with the criminal law towards adult life in Córdoba (Argentina) / Transição de jovens rapazes em conflito com a lei penal à vida adulta em Córdoba (Argentina)

Resumen: El objetivo del trabajo es analizar los modos en que se produce la transición hacia la adultez en jóvenes varones en conflicto con la ley penal privados de libertad. Se exploran los cambios y continuidades en sus trayectorias vitales (familiares, laborales, educativas), se indagan aspectos relativos a eventos significativos considerando sus interrelaciones y confluencias para comprender cómo intentan armar proyectos, buscar respuestas a los obstáculos que enfrentan, movilizar recursos y tomar decisiones de cara al futuro. Se optó por un abordaje cualitativo y se utilizó como herramienta metodológica el relato biográfico. A partir de entrevistas en profundidad se fueron elaborando los relatos de cinco jóvenes de entre 18 y 19 años de edad alojados en un centro socioeducativo penal juvenil de privación de la libertad (Córdoba, Argentina). A partir del software Atlas Ti se codificaron y analizaron los datos de manera simultánea, identificándose cuatro categorías centrales en la construcción de las trayectorias que marcan el camino de transición hacia la adultez: a) la urdimbre familiar, b) la experiencia escolar, c) la experiencia laboral, d) el papel del encierro en la transición a la adultez. Los jóvenes señalan una sucesión de eventos significativos que fueron trazando sus itinerarios biográficos que se combinan en el presente con el encierro, en el marco de un sistema punitivo y de control, y con un seguir "atrapados" ante un futuro que se vislumbra como incierto.

Abstract: The aim of this work is to analyze the ways in which the transition to adulthood occurs in incarcerated young men who have been in conflict with criminal law. The research explores their life trajectories (family, work, education), capturing major divergences, the inter connections of significant life events are investigated with regard to how the young men approach their major decisions, find answers to the obstacles they face, mobilize resources and make decisions about their future. A qualitative approach was chosen using biographical narrative methodology. Based on in-depth interviews, the stories of five young people between 18 and 19 years of age housed in a socio-educational juvenile justice detention center (Córdoba, Argentina) were gathered. The data were coded and analyzed simultaneously using Atlas TI software, and four central categories were identified, describing trajectories that mark the path of transition towards: a) family history, b) school experience, c) work experience, and d) the role of confinement in the transition to adulthood. Young people point out a succession of significant events in their biographical itineraries, combining the present experience with confinement, the framework of the punitive and control system, and with feeling "trapped" in the face of an uncertain future.

Resumo: O objetivo do trabalho é analisar as formas em que se produz a transição à idade adulta em jovens rapazes em conflito com a lei penal privados de liberdade. Exploram-se as mudanças e a continuidade nas suas trajetórias vitais (familiares, trabalho e educativas). Indagam-se aspectos relativos a eventos significativos considerando suas inter-relações e confluências para compreender como tentam preparar projetos, encontrar respostas aos obstáculos que enfrentam, mobilizar recursos e tomar decisões frente ao futuro. Optou-se por uma abordagem qualitativa e utilizou-se como ferramenta metodológica o relato biográfico. A partir de entrevistas mais profundas foi-se elaborando os relatos dos cinco jovens de 18 e 19 anos alojados num centro prisional juvenil socioeducativo privados de liberdade (Córdoba, Argentina). A partir do software Atlas Ti codificarem-se e analisaram os dados simultaneamente, identificando-se quatro categorias centrais na construção das trajetórias que marcam o caminho de transição à vida adulta: a) o entorno familiar, b) a experiência escolar, c) a experiência trabalhista, d) o papel do isolamento na transição a idade adulta. Os jovens demonstram uma sucessão de eventos de vida significativos que foram traçando seus itinerários biográficos que combinam entre o presente com o isolamento, no quadro de um sistema punitivo e controlador, e com um seguir "preso" diante de um futuro que se vislumbra como incerto.

Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase and human leucocyte antigen-G inhibit the T-cell alloproliferative response through two independent pathways.

Both human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-G and indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) are key molecules involved in immune tolerance. HLA-G is a non-classical HLA class I molecule that can be expressed in both membrane-bound (HLA-G1) and soluble (HLA-G5) forms, both of which exhibit tolerogenic properties via interaction with inhibitory receptors present on natural killer (NK) cells, T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC). IDO is an enzyme that acts by depleting the surrounding microenvironment of the essential amino acid, tryptophan, thereby inhibiting T-cell proliferation. Our present study was aimed at analysing the potential link that may exist between IDO and HLA-G. Our results showed that during allogeneic reactions, soluble HLA-G expression was not regulated by the addition of IDO substrate (i.e. tryptophan), metabolite (i.e. kynurenine) or inhibitor (i.e. 1-methyl-tryptophan), that IDO activity was not altered by HLA-G5 treatment, and that HLA-G5-mediated inhibition of the T-cell alloproliferative response was neither affected by the presence of tryptophan and kynurenine nor reversed after IDO activity blockage, demonstrating that HLA-G5 can exert its function in the absence of functional IDO. Similarly, inhibition of the T-cell alloresponse, induced by HLA-G1-expressing antigen-presenting cells, was not altered by IDO metabolites or inhibitor. Taken together, these findings show that the function and expression of IDO and HLA-G5 are not mutually influenced, but rather inhibit the T-cell alloproliferative response through two independent pathways. IDO and HLA-G are thus complementary for inducing and maintaining immune tolerance in physiological (pregnancy) and pathological (tumour and allograft) situations.