Applications of Direct Injection Soft Chemical Ionisation-Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Pre-blast Smokeless Powder Organic Additives

Analysis of smokeless powders is of interest from forensics and security perspectives. This article reports the detection of smokeless powder organic additives (in their pre-detonation condition), namely the stabiliser diphenylamine and its derivatives 2-nitrodiphenylamine and 4-nitrodiphenylamine, and the additives (used both as stabilisers and plasticisers) methyl centralite and ethyl centralite, by means of swab sampling followed by thermal desorption and direct injection soft chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry. Investigations on the product ions resulting from the reactions of the reagent ions H3O+ and O2+ with additives as a function of reduced electric field are reported. The method was comprehensively evaluated in terms of linearity, sensitivity and precision. For H3O+, the limits of detection (LoD) are in the range of 41-88 pg of additive, for which the accuracy varied between 1.5 and 3.2%, precision varied between 3.7 and 7.3% and linearity showed R20.9991. For O2+, LoD are in the range of 72 to 1.4 ng, with an accuracy of between 2.8 and 4.9% and a precision between 4.5 and 8.6% and R20.9914. The validated methodology was applied to the analysis of commercial pre-blast gun powders from different manufacturers.(VLID)4826148Accepted versio

Evidence that the radioprotector effect of ascorbic acid depends on the radiation dose rate.

En este artículo se da a conocer que los daños ocasionados por el ácido ascórbico dependen de la dosis expuesta.Many studies have revealed that ascorbic acid (Aa) acts as a powerful inhibitor of genetic damage. The objetive of the present study was to evaluate the radioprotector effect of Aa at two diferent radiation dose rates. The somatic mutation and recombination test in Drosophilamelanogaster was used. 48 h larvae were treated for 24 h with 25, 50 and 100 mM of Aa. After pretreatment, larvae were irradiated with 20 Gy of gamma rays administered at 36 or 960 Gy/h. Toxicity, development rate and frequency of mutant spots were recorded. Results provide evidence of a radioprotective effect for all tested concentrations of Aa only when 20 Gy were delivered at 36 Gy/h and only with 25 mM using the 960 Gy/h. To consider the use of Aa as radioprotector or therapeutic agent, it is necessary to know its potential under different situations to avoid unwanted injuries.CONACy

Relationship between viability and genotoxic effect of gamma rays delivered at different dose rates in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Artículo de investigaciónThe role of dose rate (DR) on biological effects of ionizing radiation is an area of significant research focus, and relevant to environmental exposures. The present investigation was aimed to examine the direct relationship between viability and genotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster, induced by gamma rays, in a range of doses from 2 to 35 Gy administered at three different DR. Results indicated that larvae-adult viability was reduced in relation with dose but not DR. No marked differences were found in the LD50 produced by differing DR tested. Frequencies of somatic mutation and recombination increased in direct correlation with the dose and DR. Data demonstrate the importance of determination of the relationship between viability and genotoxicity induced by DR in in vivo systems for toxicological and radioprotection studiesCONACYT 16746

Modelo bidimensional de transmisión de calor en tableros de puente

The thermal effects on bridge decks has been a siibject of iilt,erest during the last two decades, beginning the analysis of heat conduction in the deck and the thermal conditions which deal with it. The numerical handling of the problem had been reduced up to the present time, to one-dimensional models of lieat transmission, which can only represent reasonably slab decks, mainly in llie central area. Altliough, tlie most important effects produced by thermal gradients are located in selections with thin walls and in the borders of the deck. The authors have developed a two-dimensional model of lieat conduction that reproduce the temperature field in a complete section of tlie bridge in a realistic manner

A first AFLP-based genetic linkage map for brine shrimp Artemia franciscana and its application in mapping the sex locus

We report on the construction of sex-specific linkage maps, the identification of sex-linked markers and the genome size estimation for the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Overall, from the analysis of 433 AFLP markers segregating in a 112 full-sib family we identified 21 male and 22 female linkage groups (2n = 42), covering 1,041 and 1,313 cM respectively. Fifteen putatively homologous linkage groups, including the sex linkage groups, were identified between the female and male linkage map. Eight sex-linked AFLP marker alleles were inherited from the female parent, supporting the hypothesis of a WZ-ZZ sex-determining system. The haploid Artemia genome size was estimated to 0.93 Gb by flow cytometry. The produced Artemia linkage maps provide the basis for further fine mapping and exploring of the sex-determining region and are a possible marker resource for mapping genomic loci underlying phenotypic differences among Artemia species

The effects of warming on the ecophysiology of two co-existing kelp species with contrasting distributions

The northeast Atlantic has warmed significantly since the early 1980s, leading to shifts in species distributions and changes in the structure and functioning of communities and ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of increased temperature on two co-existing habitat-forming kelps: Laminaria digitata, a northern boreal species, and Laminaria ochroleuca, a southern Lusitanian species, to shed light on mechanisms underpinning responses of trailing and leading edge populations to warming. Kelp sporophytes collected from southwest United Kingdom were maintained under 3 treatments: ambient temperature (12 °C), +3 °C (15 °C) and +6 °C (18 °C) for 16 days. At higher temperatures, L. digitata showed a decline in growth rates and Fv/Fm, an increase in chemical defence production and a decrease in palatability. In contrast, L. ochroleuca demonstrated superior growth and photosynthesis at temperatures higher than current ambient levels, and was more heavily grazed. Whilst the observed decreased palatability of L. digitata held at higher temperatures could reduce top-down pressure on marginal populations, field observations of grazer densities suggest that this may be unimportant within the study system. Overall, our study suggests that shifts in trailing edge populations will be primarily driven by ecophysiological responses to high temperatures experienced during current and predicted thermal maxima, and although compensatory mechanisms may reduce top-down pressure on marginal populations, this is unlikely to be important within the current biogeographical context. Better understanding of the mechanisms underpinning climate-driven range shifts is important for habitat-forming species like kelps, which provide organic matter, create biogenic structure and alter environmental conditions for associated communities

Effect of a Lung Rest Strategy During Ecmo in a Porcine Acute Lung Injury Model

Indexación: ScopusIntroduction ECMO is used to treat patients who develop refractory hypoxemia and to provide a more protective ventilation. Several guidelines recommend “lung rest” strategies based on variable ventilatory parameters. However, there is limited evidence to support this strategy. Objectives To compare the effect of a lung rest strategy based on near-apneic ventilation (Vt 1-2 ml/kg, PEEP 10, respiratory rate-RR 5 min) versus conventional (Vt 10ml/kg, PEEP 5, RR 20/min), and standard protective ventilation (Vt 6ml/kg, PEEP 10, RR 20/min). Methods Twenty-four domestic pigs (26-36 kg) were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated (Vt 10 ml/kg, PEEP 5, O2 1.0) and invasively monitored. Six animals were used as Sham. In the other 18 lung injury was induced by saline lavages (30 ml/kg per lavage) performed repeatedly in both supine and prone position until PaO2/FiO2 dropped below 250. They were then subjected to a 2-hour injurious ventilation with PCV, PEEP = 0, Pinsp = 40 cmH2O, RR = 10/min, I:E = 1:1, one hour in prone and the other in supine. After completing lung injury (time 0) animals were connected to a saline primed-MEDOS Hilite ECMO circuit by inserting a AVALON 23F double-lumen cannula through the external jugular vein. Blood flow was set at 60-70% of cardiac output. Animals were randomized into one of the three groups and ventilated according to randomization for the following 24 hours. Respiratory and hemodynamic data were collected at times 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24h. After euthanizing animals at time 24h, tissue samples were extracted from the lungs and injury evaluated and scored by light microscopy. Total lung water content was estimated by the wet-dry weight ratio. Results PaO2 decreased significantly in all groups after injury, but was progressively restored after ECMO start, despite the study group. Mean arterial pressure remained within normal limits throughout the study period, whereas MPAP increased significantly after injury but reached values close to SHAM soon after ECMO initiation. Lung wet-dry weight ratio and histological injury score increased significantly in all study groups compared to SHAM. Although non-significant, there was a trend towards a better histological injury score when Vt was reduced. Conclusions In this preliminary analysis, we found no clear advantage of reducing Vt when applying ECMO to support a double-hit animal model of ARDS in regard to resolution of lung edema or gas exchange. However, further work is required to determine if the non-significant reduction in lung injury observed in the near-apneic strategy may be relevant in providing further protection to the injured lungs supported by ECMO. © 2015 Araos et al.https://icm-experimental.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2197-425X-3-S1-A50

Successful use of mild therapeutic hypothermia as compassionate treatment for severe refractory hypoxemia in COVID-19

Indexación ScopusBackground: COVID-19 is a disease associated with an intense systemic inflammation that could induce severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with life-threatening hypoxia and hypercapnia. We present a case where mild therapeutic hypothermia was associated with improved gas exchange, facing other therapies' unavailability due to the pandemic. Case report: A healthy 38-year-old male admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia developed extreme hypoxia (PaO2/FiO2 ratio 42 mmHg), respiratory acidosis, and hyperthermia, refractory to usual treatment (mechanical ventilation, neuromuscular blockade, and prone position), and advanced therapies were not available. Mild therapeutic hypothermia management (target 33–34 °C) was maintained for five days, with progressive gas exchange improvement, which allowed his recovery over the following weeks. He was discharged home after 68 days without significant ICU associated morbidity. Conclusions: Mild hypothermia is a widely available therapy, that given some specific characteristics of COVID-19, may be explored as adjunctive therapy for life-threatening ARDS, especially during a shortage of other rescue therapies. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.https://www-sciencedirect-com.recursosbiblioteca.unab.cl/science/article/pii/S0883944121000095?via%3Dihu