Killing the golden goose for STEM.

In 2016, the US Congress enacted the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), which led to a federally appointed Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) to oversee restructuring of the island's $74 billion debt and achieve sustainable budgets. Many economists argue that even debt adjustment, which was approved in January, will not be enough to put Puerto Rico on a road to recovery. Unprecedented budget cuts by FOMB have already reduced funding from Puerto Rico's state government for the University of Puerto Rico (UPR).

A Scalable and Effective Course Design for Teaching Competency-Based Euthanasia Communication Skills in Veterinary Curricula.

Veterinary staff must be able to navigate end-of-life care with sensitivity and skill to create the best possible outcome for the patient, client, and veterinary team collectively. Despite the clear importance of euthanasia communication and procedural skills in veterinary practice, recent graduates of veterinary programs identified gaps between skills deemed important in clinical practice and skills emphasized in the curriculum. Little time is allocated to euthanasia procedural or communication training across the board in US veterinary programs.

Preparation of Zirconium Phosphate Nanomaterials and Their Applications as Inorganic Supports for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanomaterials have been studied extensively ever since the preparation of the first crystalline form was reported in 1964. ZrP and its derivatives, because of their versatility, have found applications in several fields. Herein, we provide an overview of some advancements made in the preparation of ZrP nanomaterials, including exfoliation and morphology control of the nanoparticles.

Morphology control of metal-modified zirconium phosphate support structures for the oxygen evolution reaction.

The electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the half-cell reaction for many clean-energy production technologies, including water electrolyzers and metal-air batteries. However, its sluggish kinetics hinders the performance of those technologies, impeding them from broader implementation. Recently, we reported the use of zirconium phosphate (ZrP) as a support for transition metal catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Modification and intercalation of layered zirconium phosphates: a solid-state NMR monitoring.

Several layered zirconium phosphates treated with Zr(IV) ions, modified by monomethoxy-polyethyleneglycol-monophosphate and intercalated with doxorubicin hydrochloride have been studied by solid-state MAS NMR techniques. The organic components of the phosphates have been characterized by the C{ H} CP MAS NMR spectra compared with those of initial compounds. The multinuclear NMR monitoring has provided to establish structure and covalent attachment of organic/inorganic moieties to the surface and interlayer spaces of the phosphates.

Zirconium Phosphate Nanoplatelet Potential for Anticancer Drug Delivery Applications.

Zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoplatelets can intercalate anticancer agents via an ion exchange reaction creating an inorganic delivery system with potential for cancer treatment. ZrP delivery of anticancer agents inside tumor cells was explored in vitro. Internalization and cytotoxicity of ZrP nanoplatelets were studied in MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells.

Direct intercalation of cisplatin into zirconium phosphate nanoplatelets for potential cancer nanotherapy.

We report the use of zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoplatelets for the encapsulation of the anticancer drug cisplatin and its delivery to tumor cells. Cisplatin was intercalated into ZrP by direct ion exchange and was tested in vitro for cytotoxicity in the human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line. The structural characterization of the intercalated cisplatin in ZrP suggests that during the intercalation process, the chloride ligands of the cisplatin complex were substituted by phosphate groups within the layers.

Luminescence rigidochromism and redox chemistry of pyrazolate-bridged binuclear platinum(II) diimine complex intercalated into zirconium phosphate layers.

The direct intercalation of a pyrazolate-bridged platinum(II) bipyridyl dimer ([{Pt(dmbpy)(μ-pz)}(2)](2+); dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, pz(-) = pyrazolate) within a zirconium phosphate (ZrP) framework has been accomplished. The physical and spectroscopic properties of [{Pt(dmbpy)(μ-pz)}(2)](2+) intercalated in ZrP were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron, infrared, absorption, and luminescence spectroscopies. Zirconium phosphate layers have a special microenvironment that is capable of supporting a variety of platinum oxidation states.

Direct intercalation of bis-2,2',2″,6-terpyridylcobalt(III) into zirconium phosphate layers for biosensing applications.

The direct intercalation reaction of [Co(tpy)(2)](2+) with the highly hydrated θ phase of layered zirconium phosphate (θ-ZrP) resulted in the formation of the oxidized [Co(tpy)(2)](3+) ion within the ZrP material. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns showed that the interlayer distance increases from 10.3 Å in θ-ZrP to 14.

Zirconium phosphate nano-platelets: a novel platform for drug delivery in cancer therapy.

Doxorubicin was intercalated into novel zirconium phosphate nano-platelets (ZrP). The obtained doxorubicin intercalated ZrP nano-platelets had an impressive 34.9% (w/w) drug loading.

Nanoencapsulation of insulin into zirconium phosphate for oral delivery applications.

The encapsulation of insulin into different kinds of materials for noninvasive delivery is an important field of study because of the many drawbacks of painful needle and syringe delivery such as physiological stress, infection, and local hypertrophy, among others (Khafagy, E.-S.; et al.

Photophysical characterization of the interactions among tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) complexes ion-exchanged within zirconium phosphate.

We studied the structures, luminescence, and self-quenching properties of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) two-dimensional arrangements within the layers of zirconium phosphate (ZrP). The intercalation of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) was accomplished using a hydrated form of zirconium phosphate ZrP. Varying the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/ZrP intercalation ratio, different Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)-exchanged ZrP loading levels were achieved.

Nitrosyl hydride (HNO) as an O2 analogue: long-lived HNO adducts of ferrous globins.

Nitrosyl hydride, HNO or nitroxyl, is the one-electron reduced and protonated form of nitric oxide. HNO is isoelectronic to singlet O(2), and we have previously reported that deoxymyoglobin traps free HNO to form a stable adduct. In this report, we demonstrate that oxygen-binding hemoglobins from human, soy, and clam also trap HNO to form adducts which are stable over a period of weeks.

NADH Electrooxidation Using Bis(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) (2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)-Exchanged Zirconium Phosphate Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes.

We present a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified using the electron mediator bis(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) (2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(phend)(2)bpy](2+)) exchanged into the inorganic layered material zirconium phosphate (ZrP). X-Ray powder diffraction showed that the interlayer distance of ZrP increases upon [Ru(phend)(2)bpy](2+) intercalation from 10.3 Å to 14.

Room-temperature emission from platinum(II) complexes intercalated into zirconium phosphate-layered materials.

The direct ion exchange of chloro(2,6-bis(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine)platinum(II) ([Pt(Me(2)bzimpy)Cl]+) and chloro(2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine)platinum(II) ([Pt(tpy)Cl]+) complexes within a zirconium phosphate (ZrP) framework has been accomplished. The physical and spectroscopic properties of [Pt(Me(2)bzimpy)Cl]+ and [Pt(tpy)Cl]+ intercalated in ZrP were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron, infrared, absorption, and luminescence spectroscopies. In contrast to unintercalated complexes in fluid solution, which do not emit at room temperature, both intercalated materials in the solid state and in colloidal suspensions exhibit intense emissions at room temperature.

Layered inorganic materials as redox agents: ferrocenium-intercalated zirconium phosphate.

The direct intercalation reaction of ferrocene (bis(eta5-cyclopentadienyl)iron(II), Fc) with a highly hydrated layered zirconium phosphate (ZrP) resulted in the formation of the ferrocenium ion (Fc+) within the ZrP material. The Fc+-intercalated ZrP material has an interlayer distance of 10.7 A.

Intercalation of Re(phen)(CO)3Cl into zirconium phosphate: a water insoluble inorganic complex immobilized in a highly polar rigid matrix.

The intercalation of fac-tricarbonylchloro-1,10-phenanthrolinerhenium(i) (Re(phen)(CO)(3)Cl) within zirconium phosphate (ZrP) has been achieved using a hydrated ZrP phase that possesses six water molecules per formula unit. This intercalation occurs only at high solution molar ratios (Re : ZrP, 3 : 1) and is characterized by the emergence of a new phase in the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern with an interlayer distance of 15.6 A.

Intercalation and photophysical characterization of 1-pyrenemethylamine in zirconium phosphate layered materials.

The ion exchange of the luminescent probe 1-pyrenemethylamine (PYMA) into zirconium phosphate (ZrP) layered materials has been accomplished. The matrices used were the hexahydrated 10.3 A phase of ZrP (10.

Direct ion exchange of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) into an alpha-zirconium phosphate framework.

The first direct ion exchange of a luminescent metal complex into an alpha-zirconium phosphate framework has been accomplished. A hydrated form of alpha-ZrP, with an expanded 10.3 A interlayer distance, has been used for the intercalation of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+), resulting in further expansion to 15.