Studies demonstrating lower bone mineral density among depressed patients have led to the investigation of antidepressant medications and bone health. It remains unclear whether the depressed state itself or antidepressant treatment is responsible for these findings. Several recent observations support a role for serotonin in bone health. Serotonin transporters have been documented in osteocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Mice with disruption of the serotonin transporter gene have an osteopenic phenotype. Cohort studies in humans have demonstrated lower bone mineral density, higher rates of bone loss and fracture among those using selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors compared with those on other antidepressants (primarily tricyclic antidepressants) and those on no antidepressant medication. Areas of future research may include clarifying the role of depression and antidepressant therapy (and the interaction between the two) on bone health, determining potential sources for serotonin in bone cells, i...
Hierarchically assembled flower-like rutile TiO2 (FLH-R-TiO2) nanostructures were successfully synthesized from TiCl4 at room temperature without the use of surfactants or templates. An initial sol–gel synthesis at room temperature allowed long-term hydrolysis and condensation of the precursors. The resulting FLH-R-TiO2 possessed relatively high crystallinity (85 wt%) and consisted of rod-shaped subunits assembling into cauliflower-like nanostructures. Hydrothermal evolution of FLH-R-TiO2 at different temperatures (150, 200 and 250 °C) was followed by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy.These FLH-R-TiO2 nanostructures were tested as photocatalysts under simulated daylight (full-spectrum lighting) in the degradation of methyl orange and in the inactivation of a multiresistant bacterium, Klebsiella pneumoniae. The effects of hydrothermal treatment on the structure, photocatalytic behavior and antibacterial activity of FLH-R-TiO2 are discussed.
O artigo apresenta uma análise política das reformas judiciais no Brasil no período de 2004 a 2015. Ele analisa as medidas de reforma adotadas, os seus efeitos para o desempenho dos tribunais e seu impacto para a efetividade dos direitos. Ele atualiza trabalho realizado pelos autores em 2010, que analisou as reformas implementadas de 2004 a 2009. Os dados mais recentes mostram que as reformas intensificaram a atividade jurisdicional e conseguiram deter o aumento explosivo do número de processos em andamento. Mas as reformas não foram capazes de conter a demanda, nem de reduzir o estoque de processos em andamento. Porém, o mais problemático é que o padrão de reformas traz importantes limitações para a efetividade dos direitos e da democratização do Judiciário.El artículo presenta un análisis político de las reformas judiciales en Brasil en el período 2004 al 2015. Éste analiza las medidas de reforma adoptadas, así como los efectos de la misma para el desempeño de los tribuales y su impacto para garantizar los derechos. Asimismo, el artículo actualiza el trabajo realizado por los autores en el año 2010, en el cual se analizaron las reformas implementadas de 2004 a 2009. Los datos más recientes muestran que dichas reformas intensificaron la actividad jurídica y lograron detener el aumento significativo del número de procesos judiciales en transición. Sin embargo, las reformas no fueron capaces de contener la demanda, ni tampoco de disminuir la existencia de dichos procesos. No obstante, el mayor problema reside en que este patrón de reformas trae consigo limitaciones sustanciales para la efectividad de los derechos y la democratización del Poder Judicial.The article presents a political analysis of the judicial reform in Brazil from 2004 to 2015. It analyzes the reform measures adopted, their effects on the performance of the courts and their impact on the effectiveness of rights. It updates on work carried out by the authors in 2010, which analyzed the reforms implemented from 2004 to 2009. The most recent data show that the reforms intensified judicial activity and were able to stop the explosive increase in the number of cases in progress. But the reforms have not been able to curb demand, or to reduce the stock of ongoing processes. However, the most problematic is that the pattern of reform has important limitations to the effectiveness of the rights and the democratization of the judiciary.
In rural America cigarette smoking is prevalent, few cessation services are available, and healthcare providers lack the time and resources to help smokers quit. This paper describes the design and participant characteristics of Connect2Quit (C2Q), a randomized control trial (RCT) that tests the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of integrated telemedicine counseling delivered by 2-way webcams mounted on desktop computers in participant's physician office examining rooms (ITM) versus quitline counseling delivered by telephone in participant's homes (Phone) for helping rural smokers quit.C2Q was implemented in twenty primary care and safety net clinics. Integrated telemedicine consisted of real-time video counseling, delivered to patients in their primary care physician's (PCP) office. Phone counseling, was delivered to patients in their homes. All participants received educational materials and guidance in selecting cessation medications.The 566 participants were predominantly Caucasian (92%); 9% were Latino. Most (65%) earned < 200% of Federal Poverty Level. One out of three lacked home internet access, 40% were not comfortable using computers, and only 4% had been seen by a doctor via telemedicine in the past. Hypertension, chronic lung disease, and diabetes were highly prevalent. Participants smoked nearly a pack a day and were highly motivated to quit.C2Q is reaching a rural low-income population, with comorbid chronic diseases, that would benefit greatly from quitting smoking. ITM is a good delivery model, which integrates care by holding counseling sessions in the patient's PCP office and keeps the primary care team updated on patients' progress.Clinical trials registration: NCT00843505
A novel and facile approach to prepare black TiO2 nanoparticles has been developed using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as structure guiding agent. CTAB has played a crucial role in the formation process of TiO2 nanoparticles by altering the morphology and pore structures, promoting the generation of oxygen vacancies and effectively improving the visible light absorption intensity. Synthetic black TiO2-CTAB-300 °C nanoparticles have a high crystallinity with regular mesoporous structure, possessing small particle size, high surface area, and an efficient response to broadband light covering the entire UV–vis-near IR spectrum. Moreover, as-prepared black TiO2-CTAB-300 °C nanoparticles showed higher photocatalytic H2 generation activity under visible light compared with control TiO2.
ZnSe nanoflowers have been synthesized by reaction of Se powder with Zn substrates at low temperature. The as-prepared ZnSe nanoflowers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS) and Raman spectroscopy measurements. It was found that the morphologies of the as-prepared samples highly depended on reaction time. ZnSe nanoclusters and nanoflowers formed at 573 K when the reaction time was 20 and 60 min, respectively. The as-prepared ZnSe nanoflowers were composed of radically aligned ZnSe nanorods with smooth surfaces. The results of XRD, XPS, EDS, TEM and Raman showed that the as-prepared ZnSe nanocrystals were single crystals with cubic zinc blende (ZB) structure. The formation mechanism of the as-prepared ZnSe nanoflowers was also discussed. In addition, the as-prepared ZnSe nanoflowers had excellent electron emission properties. The turn-on field of the as-prepared ZnSe nanoflowers was 3.5 V/μm and the enhancement factor was 3499. The optical properties of the as-prepared ZnSe nanoflowers were also investigated. The results demonstrated that the as-prepared ZnSe nanoflowers were potential candidates for optoelectronic devices.
