Enhancement of biocompatibility of anodic nanotube structures on biomedical Ti-6Al-4V alloy via ultrathin TiO coatings.

This work aims to describe the effect of the surface modification of TiO nanotube (TNT) layers on Ti-6Al-4V (TiAlV) alloy by ultrathin TiO coatings prepared via Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) on the growth of MG-63 osteoblastic cells. The TNT layers with two distinctly different inner diameters, namely ∼15 nm and ∼50 nm, were prepared via anodic oxidation of the TiAlV alloy. Flat, i.

Parenteral iron nutrition: Iron dextran-poloxamer thermosensitive hydrogel for prolonged intramuscular iron supplementation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of novel poloxamer thermosensitive hydrogels (PTHs) formulations for prolonged release of iron dextran particles (IDP) for intramuscular (IM) injection. The thermosensitive behaviour helps to avoid hepcidin overexpression and toxicity by releasing IDPs without iron accumulation in injection or deposit sites. We hypothesized that novel PTH formulation would prolong iron liberation compared to the commercial iron dextran formulation (FEDEX).

Correction: Taguatagua 3: A new late Pleistocene settlement in a highly suitable lacustrine habitat in central Chile (34°S).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Taguatagua 3: A new late Pleistocene settlement in a highly suitable lacustrine habitat in central Chile (34°S).

We present the results of the excavations and analyses of the diverse and exceptional archaeological assemblage of Taguatagua 3, a new late Pleistocene site located in the ancient Tagua Tagua lake in Central Chile (34°S). The anthropogenic context is constrained in a coherently dated stratigraphic deposit which adds new information about the mobility, subsistence strategies, and settlement of the early hunter-gatherers of southern South America. The age model constructed, as well as radiocarbon dates obtained directly from a combustion structure, indicate that the human occupation occurred over a brief time span around 12,440-12,550 cal yr BP.

Earliest directly dated rock art from Patagonia reveals socioecological resilience to mid-Holocene climate.

The timing for the evolution of the capacity to inscribe the landscape with rock art has global relevance. While this was an in-built capacity when first colonized the Americas, the heterogeneous distribution of rock art shows that it was a facultative behavior arising under unknown socioecological conditions. Patagonia was the last region to be explored by humans.

Ultrathin TiO Coatings via Atomic Layer Deposition Strongly Improve Cellular Interactions on Planar and Nanotubular Biomedical Ti Substrates.

This work aims to investigate the chemical and/or structural modification of Ti and Ti-6Al-4V (TiAlV) alloy surfaces to possess even more favorable properties toward cell growth. These modifications were achieved by (i) growing TiO nanotube layers on these substrates by anodization, (ii) surface coating by ultrathin TiO atomic layer deposition (ALD), or (iii) by the combination of both. In particular, an ultrathin TiO coating, achieved by 1 cycle of TiO ALD, was intended to shade the impurities of F- and V-based species in tested materials while preserving the original structure and morphology.

MALDI-TOF MS: A Quick Method to Detect the Susceptibility of spp. Clinical Isolates to Amphotericin B.

Disseminated fusariosis is treated with amphotericin B and voriconazole. To determine adequate therapy, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is used. However, MIC analysis is based on visual observation and requires a long period of fungal incubation.

Flow-through Gas Phase Photocatalysis Using TiO Nanotubes on Wirelessly Anodized 3D-Printed TiNb Meshes.

In this work, for the first time 3D Ti-Nb meshes of different composition, i.e., Ti, Ti-1Nb, Ti-5Nb, and Ti-10 Nb, were produced by direct ink writing.

Antifungal Potential of Capsaicinoids and Capsinoids from the Genus for the Safeguarding of Agrifood Production: Advantages and Limitations for Environmental Health.

Opportunistic pathogenic fungi arise in agricultural crops as well as in surrounding human daily life. The recent increase in antifungal-resistant strains has created the need for new effective antifungals, particularly those based on plant secondary metabolites, such as capsaicinoids and capsinoids produced by species. The use of such natural compounds is well-aligned with the One Health approach, which tries to find an equilibrium among people, animals, and the environment.

Unraveling the polychromy and antiquity of the Pachacamac Idol, Pacific coast, Peru.

Pachacamac is the name of the 15th-16th century Inca sanctuary on the Peruvian coast as well as the name of one of the principal oracles of Inca divinities. This effigy would have been destroyed by Pizarro in 1533 during his visit to the great monumental complex, and as such the originality and antiquity of the wooden statue-the so-called Pachacamac Idol-have been the subject of much controversy and debate. We present here previously unpublished dates that confirm its manufacture during the Middle Horizon (AD 500-1000), as well as evidence of its original polychromy.

Omics for Precious Rare Biosamples: Characterization of Ancient Human Hair by a Proteomic Approach.

Omics technologies have far-reaching applications beyond clinical medicine. A case in point is the analysis of ancient hair samples. Indeed, hair is an important biological indicator that has become a material of choice in archeometry to study the ancient civilizations and their environment.

Micro X-ray Fluorescence Study of Late Pre-Hispanic Ceramics from the Western Slopes of the South Central Andes Region in the Arica y Parinacota Region, Chile: A New Methodological Approach.

Archeological ceramic paste material typically consists of a mix of a clay matrix and various millimeter and sub-millimeter sized mineral inclusions. Micro X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a standard compositional classification tool and in this work we propose and demonstrate an improved fluorescence map processing protocol where the mineral inclusions are automatically separated from the clay matrix to allow independent statistical analysis of the two parts. Application of this protocol allowed us to enhance the discrimination between different ceramic shards compared with the standard procedure of working with only the spatially averaged elemental concentrations.

[Osteoarticular paleopathology in a Chinchorro body: report of one case].

We report a severe osteo-arthropathy in a body of a Chinchorro adult mole exhumed from the pre-Hispanic site of Playa Miller 8, located in the city of Arica, on the northern coast of Chile. The advanced state of joint disease shows that the individual was cared by his social group, to be able to survive. This care was perpetuated in the postmortem treatment, applying red color to the body.

[Health properties and sensory quality of apple snack destined for school feeding].

An apple snack has been developed with the purpose of introducing foods derived from fruit to reduce obesity in school children of Santiago, Chile. Apple slices of the 'Fuji' variety were dehydrated, with skin included, at 60 degrees C for 4 h obtaining a product with 4.6 g/100 g of humidity and water activity (Aw) of 0.

Medical audit using the Ten Group Classification System and its impact on the cesarean section rate.

Objective: The aim of this study is to implement the Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) and evaluate whether the introduction of the medical audit cycle reduces the cesarean section (CS) rate without increasing maternal-fetal risk.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study was performed including all women who gave birth during 21 months. The study was subdivided into three consecutive periods: (1) implementation of the TGCS identifying the major CS rate contributor groups (three months), (2) audit and report changes in the CS rates to the medical and midwifery staff according to the TGCS (6 months) and (3) discontinue interventions but continue auditing the CS rates (6 months).

[Molecular identification of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes among strains of Enterococcus spp. isolated in hospitals of the VIII Region of Chile].

Background: Infectious diseases produced by Enterococcus spp, must be treated with a synergistic combination between a penicillin and an aminoglycoside. High level resistance to aminoglycosides is a serious therapeutic problem, since it predicts the loss of synergistic activity of this antimicrobial combination.

Aim: To investigate the presence of genes encoding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AMEs) among strains of Enterococcus spp with high level of resistance to aminoglycosides.

[Classic and molecular methodologies for the identification of Enterococcus species].

Background: Enterococcus is a bacterial genus with low virulence. However, in the last years, the importance of some enterococcus species as nosocomial pathogens has increased, specially due to their resistance to some antimicrobial.

Aim: To identify enterococcus strains using classical biochemical techniques and genomic amplification with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).