Of all the known pillared layered clays (PILC), Al-PILC is the most studied. In spite of that, its use on a commercial scale is not yet possible due to the large amount of water required for its synthesis. The aim of the present work was to take advantage of the beneficial effects of ultrasound radiation for reducing intercalation time, and to optimize the synthesis parameters in order to find a viable industrial means of preparing Al-PILC.

A comprehensive study of the effect of ultrasonic radiation on the parameters which have a direct effect on the amount of water used in the synthesis was conducted, specifically on the effects of: (1) mmol of Al/g of clay ratio (R) by decreasing the volume of A1 solution and keeping the amount of clay constant, (2) the concentration of clay in the initial suspension (or not suspending the clay at all), and (3) the concentration of the A1 precursor solution. The use of ultrasonic radiation produced the expected reduction in exchange time which was attributed to a decrease of the clay-particle size. This decrease of particle size gave rise to an improvement in the diffusion of the A1 precursor towards the core of the clay grain leading to solids with increased surface areas, basal spacing and X-ray diffraction peak definition. By optimizing the synthesis parameters directly involved in the consumption of water, it was possible to decrease the amount used by >60%.

The burden of depression is increasing worldwide, specifically in older adults. Unhealthy dietary patterns may partly explain this phenomenon. In the Spanish PREDIMED-Plus study, we explored (1) the cross-sectional association between the adherence to the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS), an a priori-defined high-quality food pattern, and the prevalence of depressive symptoms at baseline (cross-sectional analysis) and (2) the prospective association of baseline PDQS with changes in depressive symptomatology after 2 years of follow-up. After exclusions, we assessed 6612 participants in the cross-sectional analysis and 5523 participants in the prospective analysis. An energy-adjusted high-quality dietary score (PDQS) was assessed using a validated FFQ. The cross-sectional association between PDQS and the prevalence of depression or presence of depressive symptoms and the prospective changes in depressive symptoms were evaluated through multivariable regression models (logistic and linear models and mixed linear-effects models). PDQS was inversely associated with depressive status in the cross-sectional analysis. Participants in the highest quintile of PDQS (Q5) showed a significantly reduced odds of depression prevalence as compared to participants in the lowest quartile of PDQS (Q1) (OR (95 %) CI = 0·82 (0·68, 0·98))). The baseline prevalence of depression decreased across PDQS quintiles (Pfor trend = 0·015). A statistically significant association between PDQS and changes in depressive symptoms after 2-years follow-up was found (β (95 %) CI = −0·67 z-score (–1·17, −0·18). A higher PDQS was cross-sectionally related to a lower depressive status. Nevertheless, the null finding in our prospective analysis raises the possibility of reverse causality. Further prospective investigation is required to ascertain the association between PDQS and changes in depressive symptoms along time.

This study examines the first precisely dated and temporally highly resolved speleothem record from Iberia that reconstructs the Oldest Dryas (OD). The onset of cold conditions in the study area, contemporary with the beginning of Heinrich Stadial 1, is recorded at 18.13 ± 0.08 ka, with a pronounced drop of 6.1‰ in δ13C in 250 years. Henceforth, stadial conditions depict a period of instability in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, peaking in freshwater input from iceberg melting during Heinrich Event 1. Anomalies in the δ18O of the stalagmite attributed to such a freshwater event are found from 16.17 to 15.89 ka. Such absolute dates given to the onset of the OD in Iberia and to the main iceberg discharges are reliable anchor points for non-absolute chronologies. Two periods are identified in the OD: OD-a (18.13–16.17 ka) is characterized by wet conditions and a faster growth rate, and OD-b (15.89–14.81 ka) exhibits relative dryness and a slower growth rate. The sudden release of fresh water is considered to be the reason for the disruption of rainfall patterns in eastern Iberia. The present study also highlights the existence of heterogeneous and complex hydrological conditions during the OD in Iberia when both Atlantic and Mediterranean realms are considered.

We study some questions on numerical semigroups of type 2. On the one hand, we investigate the relation between the genus and the Frobenius number. On the other hand, for two fixed positive integers g1, g2, we give necessary and sufficient conditions in order to have a numerical semigroup S such that {g1, g2} is the set of its pseudo-Frobenius numbers and, moreover, we explicitly build families of such numerical semigroups.

Based on material collected during oceanographic campaigns in the western Atlantic from 1958 to 2011, two species of primnoid octocorals belonging to the genus Callogorgia were identified: Callogorgia americana and Callogorgia arawak sp. nov. These species are described and illustrated herein and their geographic and bathymetric are given. This is the first record of the genus in the south-western Atlantic. Additionally, the elevation of C. americana americana and C. a. delta to species level is proposed, keeping Callogorgia gilberti, C. delta and C. americana as separate species.

Considerable interest in understanding interfacial phenomena occurring across nanostructured solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) membrane electrode assemblies has increased demand for in situ characterization techniques with higher resolution. We briefly outline recent advancements in atomic force microscopy (AFM) instrumentation and subsystems in realizing real time imaging at high temperatures and ambient pressures, and the use of these in situ, multi-stimuli probes in collecting local information related to physical and fundamental processes. Here we demonstrate direct probing of local surface potential gradients related to the ionic conductivity of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) within symmetric SOFCs under intermediate operating temperatures (500–600 °C) via variable temperature scanning surface potential microscopy (VT-SSPM). The conductivity values obtained at different temperatures are then used to estimate the activation energy. These locally collected conductivity and activation energy values are subsequently compared to macroscopic electrochemical impedance results and bulk literature values, thus supporting the validity of the approach.

At present, bovine neosporosis is an important worldwide concern because of its wide geographic distribution and economic impact. Abortion is the main clinical sign of bovine neosporosis in both dairy and beef cattle. Ruminant challenge models are critical to evaluate potential vaccine candidates to help tackle bovine neosporosis and to study pathogenesis and host responses to infection. Several research groups have developed ruminant models of Neospora caninum infection independently of others, resulting in a high degree of variability due to the use of different species of animals, breeds, strains/isolates of N. caninum, doses, routes and times of inoculation. Standardization is greatly needed to advance research in a more collaborative, timely and efficient manner. In the absence of widely accepted international guidelines, this manuscript serves to summarize and discuss the different models and parameters currently in use. Parameters essential for the development of non-pregnant and pregnant ruminant models are outlined and the main knowledge gaps are identified. This information could act as the basis to develop a consensus for international standard guidelines for ruminant models of neosporosis that would be helpful for researchers in this field worldwide.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 12 substrates in the seedling growth of chili apple (Capsicum pubescens R. & P.) hybrid Grajales ST. The substrates were prepared with different proportions of five materials: perlite, coconut fiber, loam, Sunshine3 ® and wood dust. The seeds were sown in trays of 50 cavities. For the substrates were determined physical and chemical properties. Significant differences in growth parameters of seedlings are the effect of the substrate. Based on the remarkable accumulation of dry matter of each of the organs of the seedling, and their relative distribution, one can surmise a seedling quality with 47.70 % dry matter in leaves, 35.34 % in stem and 16.95 % in root. The substrate with better features for the production of chile apple seedlings was prepared with 25 % loam and 75 % perlite (v/v), which showed retention of 85.5 % moisture, electrical conductivity of 0.03 dS·m-1 and total porosity of 62.5 %.