A New Blood Module for Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies

A new blood module for continuous renal replacement therapies has been utilized to perform CVVH in critically ill patients. The features of the new module named (HP300 and manifactured by Medica srl (Medolla, Modena) are the easy installation and transportability to the bedside, the simple and safe management and the continuous measurement of the pre and post filter pressure with automatic calculation of the end-to-end pressure drop inside the filter. The last feature permits to detect early malfunctions of the filter due to fibers clotting or due to the internal coating of the hollow fibers by plasma proteins. In both cases the efficiency of the treatment can be reduced because of a significant reduction of the ultrafiltration rates or a remarkable decay of the membrane permeability and solute sieving coefficients. In many cases this reduction is only detected when important effects on solute removal have already occurred. In our experience, the new module permitted the substitution of the filters when early malfunctions were detected and maximal treatment efficiency was therefore guaranteed over extended periods of time.

The nature of the Fe-graphene interface at the nanometer level

The emerging fields of graphene-based magnetic and spintronic devices require a deep understanding of the interface between graphene and ferromagnetic metals. This paper reports a detailed investigation at the nanometer level of the Fe-graphene interface carried out by angle-resolved photoemission, high-resolution photoemission from core levels, near edge X-ray absorption fine structure, scanning tunnelling microscopy and spin polarized density functional theory calculations. Quasi-free-standing graphene was grown on Pt(111), and the iron film was either deposited atop or intercalated beneath graphene. Calculations and experimental results show that iron strongly modifies the graphene band structure and lifts its π band spin degeneracy.

Origins of electronic band gap reduction in Cr/N codoped TiO2

Recent studies indicated that noncompensated cation-anion codoping of wide-band-gap oxide semiconductors such as anatase TiO2 significantly reduces the optical band gap and thus strongly enhances the absorption of visible light [W. Zhu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 226401 (2009)]. We used soft x-ray spectroscopy to fully determine the location and nature of the impurity levels responsible for the extraordinarily large (∼1 eV) band gap reduction of noncompensated codoped rutile TiO2. It is shown that Cr/N codoping strongly enhances the substitutional N content, compared to single element doping. The band gap reduction is due to the formation of Cr 3d3 levels in the lower half of the gap while the conduction band minimum is comprised of localized Cr 3d and delocalized N 2p states. Band gap reduction and carrier delocalization are critical elements for efficient light-to-current conversion in oxide semiconductors. These findings thus raise the prospect of using codoped oxide semiconductors with specifically engineered electronic properties in a variety of photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications.

Aportació al coneixement de l’herbari Trèmols de l’Institut Botànic de Barcelona

El herbario BC-Trèmols fue creado durante la segunda mitad del siglo XIX por el químico y botánico catalán Frederic Trèmols i Borrell. Entre 1930 y 1960, el técnico Antoni Marcos llevó a cabo una profunda revisión. La colección actual consta aproximadamente de unos 9000 pliegos; está formada por 58 volúmenes reordenados por Marcos, más otros dos con la estructura original, cuatro cajas de Hieracium y 85 cajas de material adicional. Hasta la fecha se han informatizado 22 de los volúmenes y las cuatro cajas de Hieracium (3695 especímenes), se ha llevado a cabo un inventario a nivel de género de todos los volúmenes y se ha informatizado el catálogo original del herbario y el fichero taxonómico existente. También se ha elaborado un inventario preliminar del contenido de las cajas adicionales. El análisis de los 3695 especímenes revela que el herbario está formado mayoritariamente (67,1%) por pliegos de intercambio obtenidos principalmente a través de la Société Helvétique pour l’Échange des Plantes y la Societat Botànica Barcelonesa. Entre los materiales estudiados se han localizado dos pliegos que consideramos interesantes desde un punto de vista taxonómico y/o nomenclatural (isótipos de Silene holzmanii Heldr. ex Boiss. y de Arenaria minutiflora Loscos). El interés principal del herbario radica, pues, en la gran diversidad de procedencias geográficas de las plantas, que hacen de esta colección uno de los primeros «herbarios europeos» de Cataluña. [ca] L’herbari BC-Trèmols fou creat durant la segona meitat del segle XIX pel químic i botànic català Frederic Trèmols i Borrell. Entre 1930 i 1960, el tècnic Antoni Marcos va fer-ne una profunda revisió. La col·lecció actual consta aproximadament d’uns 9000 plecs; està formada per 58 volums reordenats per Marcos, dos volums amb l’estructura original, quatre capses de Hieracium i 85 capses de material addicional. Fins ara s’han informatitzat 22 dels volums i les quatre capses de Hieracium (3695 espècimens), s’ha realitzat un inventari a nivell de gènere de tots els volums i s’ha informatitzat el catàleg original de l’herbari i el fitxer taxonòmic existent. També s’ha elaborat un inventari preliminar del contingut de les capses addicionals. L’anàlisi dels 3695 espècimens fa evident que l’herbari està format majoritàriament (67,1%) per plecs d’intercanvi obtinguts sobretot mitjançant la Société Helvétique pour l’Échange des i la Societat Botànica Barcelonesa. Entre els materials estudiats s’han trobat dos plecs que considerem interessants des d’un punt de vista taxonòmic i/o nomenclatural (isotipus de Silene holzmanii Heldr. ex Boiss. i d’Arenaria minutiflora Loscos). L’interès principal de l’herbari, doncs, rau en la gran diversitat de procedències geogràfiques de les plantes, que fan d’aquesta col·lecció un dels primers «herbaris europeus» de Catalunya.

A new blood module for continuous renal replacement therapies

A new blood module for continuous renal replacement therapies has been utilized to perform CVVH in critically ill patients. The features of the new module named (HP300 and manufactured by Medica srl (Medolla, Modena) are the easy installation and transportability to the bedside, the simple and safe management and the continuous measurement of the pre and post filter pressure with automatic calculation of the end-to-end pressure drop inside the filter. The last feature permits to detect early malfunctions of the filter due to fibers clotting or due to the internal coating of the hollow fibers by plasma proteins. In both cases the efficiency of the treatment can be reduced because of a significant reduction of the ultrafiltration rates or a remarkable decay of the membrane permeability and solute sieving coefficients. In many cases this reduction is only detected when important effects on solute removal have already occurred. In our experience, the new module permitted the substitution of the filters when early malfunctions were detected and maximal treatment efficiency was therefore guaranteed over extended periods of time.