Lattice Models in Molecular Thermodynamics: Merging the Configurational and Translational Entropies.

Lattice models are a central idea in statistical thermodynamics, as they allow for the introduction of a configurational entropy by counting the multiplicity of placing indistinguishable particles on a lattice. In this work we use a lattice model to show that the configurational entropy needs to be merged with the molecular translational entropy in order to have a consistent model. This is achieved by replacing the volume of a lattice site with a quantum volume (i.

Partial Recovery of Telomere Length After Long-term Virologic Suppression in Persons With HIV-1.

Background: People with HIV-1 (PWH) age differently than the general population. Blood telomere length (BTL) attrition is a surrogate biomarker of immunosenescence and aging in PWH. BTL is reduced immediately after HIV-1 infection and recovers in PWH with long-term virologic suppression, but the extent of this recovery is unknown.

An engineered POSS drug delivery system for copper(II) anticancer metallodrugs in a selective application toward melanoma cells.

In this work, a polyhedral silsesquioxane (POSS) was used as an engineered drug delivery system for two oxindolimine-copper(II) anticancer complexes, [Cu(isaepy)] and [Cu(isapn)]. The interest in hybrid POSS comes from the necessity of developing materials that can act as adjuvants to improve the cytotoxicity of non-soluble metallodrugs. Functionalization of POSS with a triazole ligand (POSS-atzac) permitted the anchorage of such copper complexes, producing hybrid materials with efficient cytotoxic effects.

Onset and progression of postmortem histological changes in the central nervous system of RccHan: WIST rats.

Death initiates a cascade of physiological and biochemical alterations in organs and tissues, resulting in microscopic changes that challenge the histopathological evaluation. Moreover, the brain is particularly susceptible to artifacts owing to its unique composition and its location within the cranial vault. The aim of this study was to compile and illustrate the microscopic changes in the central nervous system (CNS) of rats subjected to delayed postmortem fixation.

Determination of fumonisin content in maize using near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) technology and chemometric methods.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is of socioeconomic importance as an essential food for human and animal nutrition. However, cereals are susceptible to attack by mycotoxin-producing fungi, which can damage health.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between e-cigarette use among non-tobacco users and initiating smoking of combustible cigarettes.

Introduction: The rapid increase in e-cigarette use over the past decade has triggered an important public health question on the potential association between e-cigarette use and combustible cigarette smoking. Following AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA guidelines, this evidence synthesis sought to identify and characterize any associations between e-cigarette use among individuals not smoking cigarettes and initiation of cigarette smoking.

Methods: The protocol was registered on September 24, 2018 (PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018108540).

Clinical profile and management of a Spanish single-center retrospective cohort of patients with post-chikungunya associated complications.

Background: This study aims to describe post-chikungunya complications chronically developed cases in returning travelers from some epidemic/endemic regions, and the variables that are associated with the progression of acute or subacute cases to the chronic phase.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included chikungunya fever cases treated at La Paz-Carlos III University Hospital in Madrid, Spain, April 2014 to September 2016, when the chikungunya outbreak in Latin America started through the time of its greatest impact.

Results: The analysis included 119 cases.

Congenital spongiform leukodystrophy in 2 female littermate German shepherd puppies.

Two 9-week-old female littermate German Shepherd puppies showed severe high-frequency low-amplitude trembling that worsened with movement. The white matter (WM) of the central nervous system (CNS) showed bilateral diffuse severe spongiosis in the cerebellum, brainstem, spinal cord, and the neuropil of the oculomotor and red nuclei. The cortical corona radiata was less severely affected.

Quantifying flare combustion efficiency using an imaging Fourier transform spectrometer.

Mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) imaging Fourier transform spectrometers (IFTSs) are a promising technology for measuring flare combustion efficiency (CE) and destruction removal efficiency (DRE). These devices generate spectrally resolved intensity images of the flare plume, which may then be used to infer column densities of relevant species along each pixel line-of-sight. In parallel, a 2D projected velocity field may be inferred from the apparent motion of flow features between successive images.

A systematic review of preclinical studies evaluating the association between nicotine and the initiation and progression of cancer.

Background: The association between cigarette smoking and the increased risk of many cancers is well established. Conversely, epidemiological studies of smokeless tobacco demonstrate decreased risk, or no elevated risk, of certain cancers versus smoking. However, it is unclear what role, if any, nicotine plays in these associations.

A Systematic Review Investigating Associations Between E-Cigarette Use Among Former Cigarette Smokers and Relapse to Smoking Cigarettes.

As e-cigarette use has steadily increased over the recent years, the public health interest in the potential implications of e-cigarette use on cigarette smoking has grown in parallel. With strict adherence to PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review examined the potential associations between e-cigarette use and relapse to cigarette smoking among former cigarette smokers. The protocol was registered on November 06, 2018 (PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018115674).

Topical delivery of seriniquinone for treatment of skin cancer and fungal infections is enabled by a liquid crystalline lamellar phase.

Seriniquinone (SQ) was initially described by our group as an antimelanoma drug candidate and now also as an antifungal drug candidate. Despite its promising in vitro effects, SQ translation has been hindered by poor water-solubility. In this paper, we described the challenging nanoformulation process of SQ, which culminated in the selection of a phosphatidylcholine-based lamellar phase (PLP1).

Monocyte Activation and Ageing Biomarkers in the Development of Cardiovascular Ischaemic Events or Diabetes in People with HIV.

We investigated whether blood telomere length (TL), epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), and soluble inflammatory monocyte cytokines are associated with cardiovascular events or diabetes (DM) in people living with HIV (PLHIV). This was a case-control study nested in the Spanish HIV/AIDS Cohort (CoRIS). Cases with myocardial infarction, stroke, sudden death, or diabetes after starting antiretroviral therapy were included with the available samples and controls matched for sex, age, tobacco use, pre-ART CD4 cell count, viral load, and sample time-point.

Level of agreement between midwives and obstetricians performing ultrasound examination during labor.

Objective: To evaluate the level of agreement between ultrasound measurements to evaluate fetal head position and progress of labor by attending midwives and obstetricians after appropriate training.

Methods: In this prospective study, women in the first stage of labor giving birth to a single baby in cephalic presentation at our Obstetric Unit between March 2018 and December 2019 were invited to participate; 109 women agreed. Transperineal and transabdominal ultrasound was independently performed by a trained midwife and an obstetrician.

Preparation of Original and Calcined Layered Double Hydroxide as Low-Cost Adsorbents: The Role of the Trivalent Cation on Methylene Blue Adsorption.

Layered double hydroxides with the hydrotalcite-like structure, containing Mg, Al, and Fe (with different Al/Fe ratios) in the layers, have been synthesized and fully characterized, as have the mixed oxides formed upon their calcination at 500 °C. Both series of solids (original and calcined ones) have been tested for methylene blue adsorption. In the case of the Fe-containing sample, oxidation of methylene blue takes place simultaneously with adsorption.

Rayleigh-Schrödinger Perturbation Theory and Nonadditive Thermodynamics.

Physical chemists reconcile the empirical theory of classical thermodynamics with the quantum nature of matter and energy when they recover thermodynamics from a statistical mechanical treatment of the individual particles' quantized eigenspectrum. The conclusion is that, when systems are very large collections of particles, interactions between adjacent systems are comparatively negligible, resulting in an additive thermodynamic framework where the energy of a composite system may be expressed as the sum of the individual energies of subsystems and . This powerful theory is consistent with quantum theory, and it accurately describes the macroscopic properties of sufficiently large systems subject to comparatively short-ranged interactions.

Three-year efficacy of switching to dolutegravir plus lamivudine: A real-world study.

Background: Dolutegravir (DTG) plus lamivudine (3TC) has proven highly efficacious as a switching strategy in virologically suppressed people with HIV (PWH). As this strategy was introduced relatively recently, real-world, long-term durability studies are lacking.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of treatment-experienced patients who started DTG + 3TC in a cohort of PWH.

Study title: A systematic review of RCTs to examine the risk of adverse cardiovascular events with nicotine use.

Associations between cigarette smoking and increased risk of cardiovascular disease are well established. However, it is unclear whether the association is mediated by exposure to nicotine and/or to other constituents in cigarette smoke. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials (RCTs) was to identify any potential associations between exposure to nicotine and the risk of clinically diagnosed adverse cardiovascular events in adult current users and nonusers of tobacco products.

Validation of cytopathology specimens for digital pathology.

Introduction: Digital cytopathology is being progressively implemented in centres worldwide, but impediments such as the three-dimensionality of specimens and the size of scanned images have prevented its use from becoming widespread. This study aimed to validate the use of digital whole slide image scanning of cytopathology samples for routine sign-out.

Methods: Specimens were scanned using the Leica Aperio GT 450 System.