Magnetism of small V clusters embedded in a Cu fcc matrix: an ab initio study

We present extensive first principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations dedicated to analyze the magnetic and electronic properties of small V$_{n}$ clusters (n=1,2,3,4,5,6) embedded in a Cu fcc matrix. We consider different cluster structures such as: i) a single V impurity, ii) several V$_{2}$ dimers having different interatomic distance and varying local atomic environment, iii) V$_{3}$ and iv) V$_{4}$ clusters for which we assume compact as well as 2- and 1-dimensional atomic configurations and finally, in the case of the v) V$_{5}$ and vi) V$_{6}$ structures we consider a square pyramid and a square bipyramid together with linear arrays, respectively. In all cases, the V atoms are embedded as substitutional impurities in the Cu network. In general, and as in the free standing case, we have found that the V clusters tend to form compact atomic arrays within the cooper matrix. Our calculated non spin-polarized density of states at the V sites shows a complex peaked structure around the Fermi level that strongly changes as a function of both the interatomic distance and local atomic environment, a result that anticipates a non trivial magnetic behavior. In fact, our DFT calculations reveal, in each one of our clusters systems, the existence of different magnetic solutions (ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and antiferromagnetic) with very small energy differences among them, a result that could lead to the existence of complex finite-temperature magnetic properties. Finally, we compare our results with recent experimental measurements.Comment: 7 pages and 4 figure

Production of structured lipids by acidolysis of an EPA-enriched fish oil and caprylic acid in a packed bed reactor: analysis of three different operation modes.

Structured triacylglycerols (ST) enriched in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in position 2 of the triacylglycerol (TAG) backbone were synthesized by acidolysis of a commercially available EPA-rich oil (EPAX4510, 40% EPA) and caprylic acid (CA), catalyzed by the 1,3-specific immobilized lipase Lipozyme IM. The reaction was carried out in a packed bed reactor (PBR) operating in two ways: (1) by recirculating the reaction mixture from the exit of the bed to the substrate reservoir (discontinuous mode) and (2) in continuous mode, directing the product mixture leaving the PBR to a product reservoir. By operating in these two ways and using a simple kinetic model, representative values for the apparent kinetic constants (k X ) for each fatty acid (native, L i or odd, M) were obtained. The kinetic model assumes that the rate of incorporation of a fatty acid into TAG per amount of enzyme, r X (mole/(h g lipase)) is proportional to the extent of the deviation from the equilibrium for each fatty acid (i.e., the difference of concentration between the fatty acid in the triacylglycerol and the concentration of the same fatty acid in the triacylglycerol once the equilibrium of the acidolysis reaction is reached). The model allows comparing the two operating modes through the processing intensity, defined as m L t/(V[TG] 0 ) and m L /(q[TG] 0 ), for the discontinuous and continuous operation modes, respectively. In discontinuous mode, ST with 59.5% CA and 9.6% EPA were obtained. In contrast, a ST with 51% CA and 19.6% EPA were obtained when using the continuous operation mode. To enhance the CA incorporation when operating in continuous mode, a two-step acidolysis reaction was performed (third operation mode). This continuous two-step process yields a ST with a 64% CA and a 15% EPA. Finally, after purifying the above ST in a preparative silica gel column, impregnated with boric acid, a ST with 66.9% CA and 19.6% EPA was obtained. The analysis by reverse phase and Ag + liquid chromatography of the EPA-enriched ST demonstrated that the CA was placed in positions 1 and 3 and the EPA was occupying position 2 of the final ST

Parámetros genéticos para características de crecimiento, canal, calidad y espinas intramusculares en cachama blanca (Piaractus brachypomus)

The topics of aquaculture in which innovation and research are required are directed towards the improvement and genetic knowledge of native species. In this sense the present study concentrated on the estimation of heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations for growth, carcass, quality and right intramuscular spines (RIMS) in white cachama (Piaractus brachypomus). The progeny of 12 females and 24 males by artificial fertilization of a female by two males, that is to say twelve half-sib families, were analyzed by means of the statistical package SAS 9.4 (SAS®, 2014), assumed an univariate general linear model with inclusion of Fixed effects such as environmental factors, pond and age as fixed effects and genetic factors as random effects. Heritabilities in general for growth variables showed medium to high values; for carcass variables, presented low to medium values; And for the quality variables were low; For the RIMS the magnitude of the estimate was 0,11 ± 0,15. The correlations were generally close to unity between growth characteristics. These were significantly positive for body weight at 180 days of age with most variables unlike quality variables; the correlation for channel performance with RIMS of -0.99 was found to be significantly negative. The results of the study highlight the potential to improve growth, carcass and quality traits through the exploitation of the additive genetic variation observed in this study.Los temas de la acuicultura en los que se requiere innovación e investigación están orientados al mejoramiento y al conocimiento genético de especies nativas. En este sentido, el presente estudio se concentró en estimar heredabilidades, correlaciones genéticas y fenotípicas para características de crecimiento, canal, calidad y espinas intramusculares derechas (EIMD), en cachama blanca (Piaractus brachypomus). La progenie de 12 hembras y 24 machos por fertilización artificial de una hembra por dos machos, es decir, doce familias de hermanos medios, fueron analizados por medio del paquete estadístico SAS 9.4 (SAS®, 2014). Se asumió un modelo lineal general univariado, con inclusión de los efectos fijos, como factores de entorno, estanque y edad y factores genéticos, como efectos aleatorios. Las heredabilidades, en general, para las variables de crecimiento, mostraron valores de medios a altos; para las variables de la canal presentaron valores bajos a medios; para las variables de calidad fueron bajos y, de particular interés para la EIMD, la magnitud de la estima fue de 0,11 ± 0,15. Las correlaciones estuvieron, generalmente, cercanas a la unidad entre características de crecimiento. Estas fueron significativamente positivas para peso corporal, a 180 días de edad, con la mayoría de variables, a diferencia con las variables de calidad, la correlación para rendimiento en canal con EIMD de -0,99 fue encontrada significativamente negativa. Los resultados del estudio destacan el potencial para mejorar características de crecimiento, de canal y de calidad, a través de la explotación de la variación genética aditiva observada

A communal catalogue reveals Earth’s multiscale microbial diversity

Our growing awareness of the microbial world’s importance and diversity contrasts starkly with our limited understanding of its fundamental structure. Despite recent advances in DNA sequencing, a lack of standardized protocols and common analytical frameworks impedes comparisons among studies, hindering the development of global inferences about microbial life on Earth. Here we present a meta-analysis of microbial community samples collected by hundreds of researchers for the Earth Microbiome Project. Coordinated protocols and new analytical methods, particularly the use of exact sequences instead of clustered operational taxonomic units, enable bacterial and archaeal ribosomal RNA gene sequences to be followed across multiple studies and allow us to explore patterns of diversity at an unprecedented scale. The result is both a reference database giving global context to DNA sequence data and a framework for incorporating data from future studies, fostering increasingly complete characterization of Earth’s microbial diversity

A communal catalogue reveals Earth's multiscale microbial diversity

Our growing awareness of the microbial world's importance and diversity contrasts starkly with our limited understanding of its fundamental structure. Despite recent advances in DNA sequencing, a lack of standardized protocols and common analytical frameworks impedes comparisons among studies, hindering the development of global inferences about microbial life on Earth. Here we present a meta-analysis of microbial community samples collected by hundreds of researchers for the Earth Microbiome Project. Coordinated protocols and new analytical methods, particularly the use of exact sequences instead of clustered operational taxonomic units, enable bacterial and archaeal ribosomal RNA gene sequences to be followed across multiple studies and allow us to explore patterns of diversity at an unprecedented scale. The result is both a reference database giving global context to DNA sequence data and a framework for incorporating data from future studies, fostering increasingly complete characterization of Earth's microbial diversity.Peer reviewe

Asociaciones de larvas de peces en relación a cambios ambientales en las Bahías Chamela, Jalisco y Santiago-Manzanillo, Colima (2001-2002)

Spatial and temporal structure of fish larvae associations and their relationship to the environmental variability were studied at Bahía Chamela, Jalisco, and Santiago-Manzanillo complex, Colima, during 2001-2002. Two spatial aggregations were found, related to the coastal physiography and to the adult habitat. The first was observed at Bahía Chamela, which integrated a combination of species belonging to coastal, demersal and inshore habitats (Bregmaceros bathymaster, Bairdiella sp., Cynoscion sp., Engraulis mordax, and Labrisomidae type 1) and the other in Santiago-Manzanillo composed by species from lagoon and inshore areas (Eucinostomus sp., Abudefduf troschelii, Haemulidae type 2 and 3, and Enneanectes sexmaculatus). Temporal organization was influenced by the environmental shift between two periods (warm and temperate) defined by the regional environmental variability. The warm period was characterized by tropical species (Harengula thrissina, Eucinostomus sp., Auxis sp., and Haemulidae type 3), related to high temperature and rainfall, while temperate period was dominated by species with a tropical-subtropical affinity (B. bathymaster, Bairdiella sp., Cynoscion sp., and E. mordax) and related to lower temperature and elevated nutrients, chlorophyll a and plankton concentrations.Se analizó la influencia de los factores ambientales sobre las asociaciones espacio-temporales de larvas de peces frente a Bahía Chamela, Jalisco y el conjunto de bahías Santiago-Manzanillo, Colima, durante un ciclo anual (2001-2002). Se identificaron dos agrupaciones relacionadas con la fisiografía de la costa y el hábitat de los adultos, una frente a Bahía Chamela integrada por una mezcla de especies de hábitats costero, demersal e intermareal-submareal (Bregmaceros bathymaster, Bairdiella sp., Cynoscion sp., Engraulis mordax y Labrisomidae tipo 1) y otra en Santiago-Manzanillo compuesta por especies de origen lagunar e intermareal-submareal (Eucinostomus sp., Abudefduf troschelii, Haemulidae tipos 2 y 3, así como Enneanectes sexmaculatus). La organización temporal estuvo influenciada por la alternancia entre dos periodos (cálido y templado) definidos por la variabilidad ambiental regional. El periodo cálido estuvo caracterizado por especies principalmente tropicales (Harengula thrissina, Eucinostomus sp., Auxis sp. y Haemulidae tipo 3), relacionadas con una mayor temperatura y precipitación pluvial, en cambio durante el periodo templado dominaron las especies de afinidad tropical-subtropical (B. bathymaster, Bairdiella sp., Cynoscion sp. y E. mordax), relacionadas con una menor temperatura e incrementos en las concentraciones de nutrimentos, clorofila-a y zooplancton

Diferencias sociodemográficas entre usuarios de inhalables, usuarios de otras drogas y adolescentes no consumidores en una muestra mexicana de estudiantes

Introducción: los inhalables como el pegamento, el thinner y otros derivados del petróleo son uno de los grupos de sustancias más utilizados entre la población adolescente mexicana. Estudios recientes han mostrado que, junto con la mariguana, los inhalables son el tipo de droga de preferencia de la población joven. Objetivo: el propósito de este estudio es determinar los factores que diferencian a los usuarios de inhalables de los usuarios de otras drogas, así como de quienes no las consumen. Método: se utilizaron datos de la Encuesta de Estudiantes 2009 del Distrito Federal, la cual contó con la participación de 22 mil 980 estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria. Resultados: los usuarios de inhalables son más jóvenes, provienen de niveles con menos recursos y sus padres y madres tienen menor nivel de escolaridad que los padres de los no usuarios; encontramos además que los usuarios de inhalables provienen de lugares en los que se tolera más el consumo de drogas, incluyendo el entorno familiar y social; son importantes también la disponibilidad y la oportunidad de consumo. En comparación con quienes consumen otras drogas, los usuarios de inhalables son más impulsivos, tienen más amigos con problemas antisociales y, con más frecuencia, reportan algún familiar usuario de drogas. Discusión y conclusiones: nuestros resultados reafirman la necesidad de diseñar programas de prevención que no se enfoquen únicamente en el consumo de drogas, sino en los factores familiares y socialesrelacionados con un mayor riesgo de consumo. </jats:p

Clinical characteristics and outcome of drug-induced liver injury in the older patients: from the young-old to the oldest-old

Old patients with hepatotoxicity have been scarcely studied in idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) cohorts. We sought for the distinctive characteristics of DILI in older patients across age groups. A total of 882 DILI patients included in the Spanish DILI Registry (33% ≥65 years) were categorized according to age: “young” (<65y); “young-old” (65-74y); “middle-old” (75-84y); and “oldest-old” (≥85y). All elderly groups had increasingly higher comorbidity burden (p<0.001) and polypharmacy (p<0.001). There was a relationship between jaundice and hospitalization (p<0.001), and both were more prevalent in the elderly age groups, especially in the oldest-old (88% and 69%, respectively) and the DILI episode was more severe (p=0.029). The proportion of females decreased across age groups from the young to the middle-old, yet in the oldest-old there was a distinct female predominance. Pattern of liver injury shifted towards cholestatic with increasing age among top culprit drugs amoxicillin- clavulanate, atorvastatin, levofloxacin, ibuprofen, and ticlopidine. The best cut-off point for increased odds of cholestatic DILI was 65y. Older patients had increased non-liver related mortality (p=0.030) as shown by the predictive capacity of MELD (OR=1.116; p<0.001), and comorbidity burden (OR=4.188; p=0.001) in the 6-month mortality. Older patients with DILI exhibited an increasingly predominant cholestatic phenotype across a range of culprit drugs other that amoxicillin-clavulanate, with increased non-liver related mortality and require a different approach to predict outcome. The oldest DILI patients exhibited a particular phenotype with more severe DILI episodes and need to be considered when stratifying older DILI populations.The present study has been supported by grants of Instituto de Salud Carlos III cofounded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional - FEDER (contract numbers: PI 18/01804; PT17/0017/0020) and Agencia Española del Medicamento. SCReN and CIBERehd are funded by ISCIII. JSC holds a Rio Hortega (CM17/00243) and MR a “Joan Rodes” (JR16/00015) research contract from the National Health System, ISCIII. RAW held a University of Málaga visiting scientist scholarship

Applying biofloc technology in the culture of juvenile ofPiaractus brachypomus (Cuvier, 1818): Effects on zootechnicalperformance and water quality

This study is part of the project withcode FCARN-13-2014 and was fundedby the General Directorate of Researchat Universidad de los Llanos. Finally, wethank to Capital Semilla 2017, Faculty ofAgricultural Science and Natural Resourcesat Universidad de los Llanos for thefinancial support for the translation of themanuscript.The aim of this study was to assess the zootechnical performance and water qualityof a cachama blanca (Piaractus brachypomus) culture using biofloc technology (BFT)versus a system with daily water exchange (DWE). To do this, 180 juveniles (meaninitial weight: 5.40 ± 0.19 g) were distributed in 12 circular plastic tanks with stockingdensities of 20 or 40 individuals m 3 ; then, they were cultured for 91 days. BFT treat-ments kept a C:N ratio approximately of 15:1. Temperature, pH and oxygen weremonitored daily, while the other variables were measured weekly. Most productivevariables were significantly influenced by both culture system and stocking densitywith significantly higher values of daily weight gain, total weight gain and total lengthfor fish kept in DWE 20. However, only minor differences were observed within theBFT system. With the exception of the toxic nitrogen compounds (NH 4+ and NO2−),all the other water quality parameters were within the acceptable ranges for thecultivation of tropical fish. Microorganisms started to settle from the first week. Atotal of 23 genera were present, the most outstanding of which being seven generaof ciliates and three rotifers, rhizopods and chlorophytes. In conclusion, both systemsBFT and DWE are useful for increasing the production of P. brachypomus in captivity.Additionally, the BFT system can potentially be applied for growing juveniles of thisspecie in regions with scarce water resources