Confinement of a Styryl Dye into Nanoporous Aluminophosphates: Channels vs. Cavities.

Styryl dyes are generally poor fluorescent molecules inherited from their flexible molecular structures. However, their emissive properties can be boosted by restricting their molecular motions. A tight confinement into inorganic molecular sieves is a good strategy to yield highly fluorescent hybrid systems. In this work, we compare the confinement effect of two Mg-aluminophosphate zeotypes with distinct pore systems (the AEL framework, a one-dimensional channeled structure with elliptical pores of 6.5 Å × 4.0 Å, and the CHA framework, composed of large cavities of 6.7 Å × 10.0 Å connected by eight-ring narrower windows) for the encapsulation of 4-DASPI styryl dye (trans-4-[4-(Dimethylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide). The resultant hybrid systems display significantly improved photophysical features compared to 4-DASPI in solution as a result of tight confinement in both host inorganic frameworks. Molecular simulations reveal a tighter confinement of 4-DASPI in the elliptical channels of AEL, explaining its excellent photophysical properties. On the other hand, a singular arrangement of 4-DASPI dye is found when confined within the cavity-based CHA framework, where the 4-DASPI molecule spans along two adjacent cavities, with each aromatic ring sitting on these adjacent cavities and the polymethine chain residing within the narrower eight-ring window. However, despite the singularity of this host-guest arrangement, it provides less tight confinement for 4-DASPI than AEL, resulting in a slightly lower quantum yield.

Unveiling the sound of the cognitive status: Machine Learning-based speech analysis in the Alzheimer's disease spectrum.

BACKGROUND: Advancement in screening tools accessible to the general population for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and prediction of its progression is essential for achieving timely therapeutic interventions and conducting decentralized clinical trials. This study delves into the application of Machine Learning (ML) techniques by leveraging paralinguistic features extracted directly from a brief spontaneous speech (SS) protocol. We aimed to explore the capability of ML techniques to discriminate between different degrees of cognitive impairment based on SS. Furthermore, for the first time, this study investigates the relationship between paralinguistic features from SS and cognitive function within the AD spectrum. METHODS: Physical-acoustic features were extracted from voice recordings of patients evaluated in a memory unit who underwent a SS protocol. We implemented several ML models evaluated via cross-validation to identify individuals without cognitive impairment (subjective cognitive decline, SCD), with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and with dementia due to AD (ADD). In addition, we established models capable of predicting cognitive domain performance based on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery from Fundació Ace (NBACE) using SS-derived information. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that, based on a paralinguistic analysis of sound, it is possible to identify individuals with ADD (F1 = 0.92) and MCI (F1 = 0.84). Furthermore, our models, based on physical acoustic information, exhibited correlations greater than 0.5 for predicting the cognitive domains of attention, memory, executive functions, language, and visuospatial ability. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we show the potential of a brief and cost-effective SS protocol in distinguishing between different degrees of cognitive impairment and forecasting performance in cognitive domains commonly affected within the AD spectrum. Our results demonstrate a high correspondence with protocols traditionally used to assess cognitive function. Overall, it opens up novel prospects for developing screening tools and remote disease monitoring.

Macular vessel density in the superficial plexus is not a proxy of cerebrovascular damage in non-demented individuals: data from the NORFACE cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a novel tool that allows the detection of retinal vascular changes. We investigated the association of macular vessel density (VD) in the superficial plexus assessed by OCT-A with measures of cerebrovascular pathology and atrophy quantified by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in non-demented individuals. METHODS: Clinical, demographical, OCT-A, and brain MRI data from non-demented research participants were included. We analyzed the association of regional macular VD with brain vascular burden using the Fazekas scale assessed in a logistic regression analysis, and the volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) assessed in a multiple linear regression analysis. We also explored the associations of macular VD with hippocampal volume, ventricle volume and Alzheimer disease cortical signature (ADCS) thickness assessed in multiple linear regression analyses. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, syndromic diagnosis and cardiovascular variables. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 188 participants: 89 with subjective cognitive decline and 99 with mild cognitive impairment. No significant association of regional macular VD with the Fazekas categories (all, p > 0.111) and WMH volume (all, p > 0.051) were detected. VD in the nasal quadrant was associated to hippocampal volume (p = 0.007), but no other associations of macular VD with brain atrophy measures were detected (all, p > 0.05). DISCUSSION: Retinal vascular measures were not a proxy of cerebrovascular damage in non-demented individuals, while VD in the nasal quadrant was associated with hippocampal atrophy independently of the amyloid status.

Genome-wide association study and polygenic risk scores of retinal thickness across the cognitive continuum: data from the NORFACE cohort.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported a relationship between retinal thickness and dementia. Therefore, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been proposed as an early diagnosis method for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) aimed at identifying genes associated with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness assessed by OCT and exploring the relationships between the spectrum of cognitive decline (including AD and non-AD cases) and retinal thickness. METHODS: RNFL and GCIPL thickness at the macula were determined using two different OCT devices (Triton and Maestro). These determinations were tested for association with common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) using adjusted linear regression models and combined using meta-analysis methods. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for retinal thickness and AD were generated. RESULTS: Several genetic loci affecting retinal thickness were identified across the genome in accordance with previous reports. The genetic overlap between retinal thickness and dementia, however, was weak and limited to the GCIPL layer; only those observable with all-type dementia cases were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Our study does not support the existence of a genetic link between dementia and retinal thickness.

Exploiting the photophysical features of DMAN template in ITQ-51 zeotype in the search for FRET energy transfer.

The combination between photoactive molecules and inorganic structures is of great interest for the development of advanced materials in the field of optics. Particularly, zeotypes with extra-large pore size are attractive because they allow the encapsulation of bulky dyes. The microporous aluminophoshate Mg-ITQ-51 (IFO-type structure) represents an ideal candidate because of the synergic combination of two crucial features: the IFO framework itself, which is composed of non-interconnected one-dimensional extra-large elliptical channels with a diameter up to 11 Å able to host bulky guest species, and the particular organic structure-directing agent used for the synthesis (1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene, DMAN), which efficiently fills the IFO pores, and is itself a photoactive molecule with interesting fluorescence properties in the blue range of the visible spectrum, thus providing a densely-incorporated donor species for FRET processes. Besides, occlusion of DMAN dye in the framework triggers a notable improvement of its fluorescence properties by confinement effect. To extend the action of the material and to mimic processes such as photosynthesis in which FRET is essential, two robust laser dyes with bulky size, rhodamine 123 and Nile Blue, have been encapsulated for the first time in a zeolitic framework, together with DMAN, in a straightforward one-pot synthesis. Thus, photoactive systems with emission in the entire visible range have been achieved due to a partial FRET between organic chromophores protected in a rigid aluminophosphate matrix.

Calidad de vida en adolescentes. Un estudio longitudinal del impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 / Quality of life in adolescents. A longitudinal study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Diversos estudios han informado que la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en adolescentes ha disminuido durante la pandemia por COVID-19. En este trabajo se analizó la CVRS en jóvenes de 13 a 17 años una vez finalizada la pandemia. Para ello se hizo un seguimiento en tres momentos diferentes: antes de la pandemia (2019), durante las restricciones de la pandemia (2021) y tras las restricciones de la misma (2022). Se utilizó un diseño de retardo temporal (time-lag design) en tres fases, con un total de 2027 adolescentes que cumplimentaron el cuestionario Kidscreen-10 de CVRS. Mediante modelos ANOVA y de regresión logística se analizó la influencia del género, la práctica deportiva y estar en tratamiento en salud mental. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron un empeoramiento de la CVRS en 2021, cuando los jóvenes volvían a los centros educativos en régimen de semipresencialidad. Este descenso fue independiente del género. En 2022, una vez eliminadas todas las restricciones, la CVRS se recuperó a niveles prepandemia en los chicos, pero no en las chicas. Lo mismo ocurrió con los jóvenes en tratamiento de salud mental. En todos los casos, la práctica deportiva se mostró como un factor protector de la CVRS.(AU)

Several studies have reported that health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, HRQoL was analyzed in young people aged 13 to 17 years after the end of the pandemic. For this purpose, we followed up at three different points in time: before the pandemic (2019), during (2021) and af-ter the pandemic restrictions (2022).A time-lag design in three phases was used, with a total of 2027 adolescents completing the Kidscreen-10 HRQoL questionnaire. ANOVA and logistic regression models were used to analyze the influence of gender, playing sports and mental health treat-ment.The results obtained showed a worsening of HRQoL in 2021, when young people returned to school on a blended learning basis.This worsen-ing occurred regardless of gender. In 2022, once all restrictions were re-moved, boys recovered health-related quality of life to pre-pandemic levels, but this did not occur in girls. The same happened with young people in mental health treatment. In all cases, doing sports was shown to be a pro-tective factor for HRQoL.(AU)

Design of intelligent monitoring of loneliness in the elderly using a serverless architecture with real-time communication API.

BACKGROUND: Loneliness and social isolation are recognized as critical public health issues. Older people are at greater risk of loneliness and social isolation as they deal with things like living alone, loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss. Loneliness increases a person's risk of premature death from all causes, including dementia, heart disease, and stroke. To address these issues, the inclusion of technological platforms and the use of commercial monitoring devices are vastly increasing in healthcare and elderly care. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to design and develop a loneliness monitor serverless architecture to obtain real-time data from commercial activity wristbands through an Application Programming Interface. METHODS: For the design and development of the architecture, the Amazon Web Services platform has been used. To monitor loneliness, the Fitbit Charge 5 bracelet was selected. Through the web Application Programming Interface offered by the AWS Lambda service, the data is obtained and stored in AWS services with an automated frequency thanks to the event bridge. RESULTS: In the pilot stage in which the system is, it is showing great possibilities in the ease of collecting data and programming the sampling frequency. Once the request is made, the data is automatically analyzed to monitor loneliness. CONCLUSION: The proposed architecture shows great potential for easy data collection, analysis, security, personalization, real-time inference, and scalability of sensors and actuators in the future. It has powerful benefits to apply in the health sector and reduces cases of depression and loneliness.

Harnessing acoustic speech parameters to decipher amyloid status in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by a gradual decline in cognitive functions. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD, underscoring the importance of identifying individuals in the preclinical stages of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to enable early interventions. Among the neuropathological events associated with the onset of the disease is the accumulation of amyloid protein in the brain, which correlates with decreased levels of Aß42 peptide in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Consequently, the development of non-invasive, low-cost, and easy-to-administer proxies for detecting Aß42 positivity in CSF becomes particularly valuable. A promising approach to achieve this is spontaneous speech analysis, which combined with machine learning (ML) techniques, has proven highly useful in AD. In this study, we examined the relationship between amyloid status in CSF and acoustic features derived from the description of the Cookie Theft picture in MCI patients from a memory clinic. The cohort consisted of fifty-two patients with MCI (mean age 73 years, 65% female, and 57% positive amyloid status). Eighty-eight acoustic parameters were extracted from voice recordings using the extended Geneva Minimalistic Acoustic Parameter Set (eGeMAPS), and several ML models were used to classify the amyloid status. Furthermore, interpretability techniques were employed to examine the influence of input variables on the determination of amyloid-positive status. The best model, based on acoustic variables, achieved an accuracy of 75% with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 in the prediction of amyloid status evaluated by bootstrapping and Leave-One-Out Cross Validation (LOOCV), outperforming conventional neuropsychological tests (AUC = 0.66). Our results showed that the automated analysis of voice recordings derived from spontaneous speech tests offers valuable insights into AD biomarkers during the preclinical stages. These findings introduce novel possibilities for the use of digital biomarkers to identify subjects at high risk of developing AD.

Extended BODIPYs as Red-NIR Laser Radiation Sources with Emission from 610 nm to 750 nm.

Herein, we report the synthetic access to a set of π-extended BODIPYs featuring a penta-arylated (phenyl and/or thiophene) dipyrrin framework. We take advantage of the full chemoselective control of 8-methylthio-2,3,5,6-tetrabromoBODIPY when we conduct the Liebeskind-Srogl cross-coupling (LSCC) to functionalize exclusively the meso-position, followed by the tetra-Suzuki reaction to arylate the halogenated sites. All these laser dyes display absorption and emission bands in the red edge of the visible spectrum reaching the near-infrared with thiophene functionalization. The emission efficiency, both fluorescence and laser, of the polyphenylBODIPYs can be enhanced upon decoration of the peripheral phenyls with electron donor/acceptor groups at para positions. Alternatively, the polythiopheneBODIPYs show an astonishing laser performance despite the charge transfer character of the emitting state. Therefore, these BODIPYs are suitable as a palette of stable and bright laser sources covering the spectral region from 610 nm to 750 nm.

Macular vessel density in the superficial plexus is not associated to cerebrospinal fluid core biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease in individuals with mild cognitive impairment: The NORFACE cohort.

Background: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a novel method in the dementia field that allows the detection of retinal vascular changes. The comparison of OCT-A measures with established Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related biomarkers is essential to validate the former as a marker of cerebrovascular impairment in the AD continuum. We aimed to investigate the association of macular vessel density (VD) in the superficial plexus quantified by OCT-A with the AT(N) classification based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aß1-42, p181-tau and t-tau measurements in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Materials and methods: Clinical, demographic, ophthalmological, OCT-A and CSF core biomarkers for AD data from the Neuro-ophthalmology Research at Fundació ACE (NORFACE) project were analyzed. Differences in macular VD in four quadrants (superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal) among three AT(N) groups [Normal, Alzheimer and Suspected non-Alzheimer pathology (SNAP)] were assessed in a multivariate regression model, adjusted for age, APOE ε4 status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and smoking habit, using the Normal AT(N) group as the reference category. Results: The study cohort comprised 144 MCI participants: 66 Normal AT(N), 45 Alzheimer AT(N) and 33 SNAP AT(N). Regression analysis showed no significant association of the AT(N) groups with any of the regional macular VD measures (all, p > 0.16). The interaction between sex and AT(N) groups had no effect on differentiating VD. Lastly, CSF Aß1-42, p181-tau and t-tau measures were not correlated to VD (all r < 0.13; p > 0.13). Discussion: Our study showed that macular VD measures were not associated with the AT(N) classification based on CSF biomarkers in patients with MCI, and did not differ between AD and other underlying causes of cognitive decline in our cohort.

The Synergic Effect of AT(N) Profiles and Depression on the Risk of Conversion to Dementia in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Few studies have addressed the impact of the association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers and NPSs in the conversion to dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and no studies have been conducted on the interaction effect of these two risk factors. AT(N) profiles were created using AD-core biomarkers quantified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (normal, brain amyloidosis, suspected non-Alzheimer pathology (SNAP) and prodromal AD). NPSs were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q). A total of 500 individuals with MCI were followed-up yearly in a memory unit. Cox regression analysis was used to determine risk of conversion, considering additive and multiplicative interactions between AT(N) profile and NPSs on the conversion to dementia. A total of 224 participants (44.8%) converted to dementia during the 2-year follow-up study. Pathologic AT(N) groups (brain amyloidosis, prodromal AD and SNAP) and the presence of depression and apathy were associated with a higher risk of conversion to dementia. The additive combination of the AT(N) profile with depression exacerbates the risk of conversion to dementia. A synergic effect of prodromal AD profile with depressive symptoms is evidenced, identifying the most exposed individuals to conversion among MCI patients.

Differences in macular vessel density in the superficial plexus across cognitive impairment: the NORFACE cohort.

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) allows the detection of retinal vessel density (VD) loss, which is a reflection of brain vascular pathology. We aimed to investigate differences in macular VD in the superficial plexus in a large cohort of individuals cognitively unimpaired (CU), with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer´s disease (MCI-AD), MCI due to cerebrovascular pathology (MCI-Va), probable Alzheimer´s disease dementia (ADD) and Vascular Dementia (VaD). Clinical, demographical, ophthalmological and OCT-A data from the Neuro-ophthalmology Research at Fundació ACE (NORFACE) project were analyzed. Differences of macular VD in four quadrants (superior, nasal, inferior and temporal) among the five diagnostic groups were assessed in a multivariate regression model, adjusted by age, sex, education, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and stroke. The study cohort comprised 672 participants: 128 CU, 120 MCI-AD, 111 MCI-Va, 257 ADD and 56 VaD. Regression analysis showed a significantly higher VD in the temporal quadrant in MCI-AD compared to CU participants (49.05 ± 4.91 vs 47.27 ± 4.17, p = 0.02, d = 0.40), and a significantly lower VD in the inferior quadrant in MCI-Va compared to CU participants (48.70 ± 6.57 vs 51.27 ± 6.39, p = 0.02, d = 0.40). Individuals with heart disease presented significantly lower VD in the inferior quadrant than those without (p = 0.01). The interaction of sex and diagnosis had no effect in differentiating VD. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were not correlated to VD (all r < 0.16; p > 0.07). In conclusion, our study showed that the MCI-AD and MCI-Va groups had significant differences in macular VD in opposite directions in the temporal and inferior quadrants, respectively, compared to CU participants, suggesting that macular VD might be able to differentiate two pathogenic pathways (AD- and cerebrovascular-related) in early stages of cognitive decline.

Recomendaciones para el manejo de la hiperpotasemia en urgencias / Recommendations for the management of hyperkalemia in the emergency department

La hiperpotasemia es un trastorno electrolítico frecuente en los servicios de urgencias y un manejo adecuado impacta en el pronóstico de los pacientes. Este requiere de la integración de datos clínicos y analíticos sobre el estado de la función renal, la hidratación, el equilibrio ácido-base y la afectación cardiaca. Además, es necesaria una precisa toma de decisiones sobre la corrección de la concentración de potasio en el tiempo indicado para cada caso. Por estos mo- tivos la SEMES (Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias), la SEC (Sociedad Española de Cardiología) y la SEN (Sociedad Española de Nefrología) unen esfuerzos en consensuar definiciones y tratamientos que podrían mejorar el abordaje de estos pacientes en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios. El calcio intravenoso, la insulina con glucosa y el salbutamol siguen siendo los tratamientos que se emplean en la hiperpotasemia aguda. Los diuréticos de asa y tiazídicos también pueden ayudar en pacientes no depleccionados, y la hemodiálisis puede ser necesaria en hiperpotasemias graves en el contexto de insuficiencia renal. Los efectos secundarios y la baja tolerabilidad de las resinas de intercambio iónico están haciendo que caigan en desuso mientras que los nuevos intercambiadores catiónicos gastrointestinales van ganando su espacio e incluso podrían tener algún valor en el tratamiento agudo. Es fundamental el ajuste del tratamiento evitando retirar fármacos que, a pesar de favorecer la hiperpotasemia, mejoren el pronóstico a largo plazo, por lo que es imperativo buscar alternativas válidas para cada grupo de pacientes, asegurando después un estrecho seguimiento. (AU)

Hyperkalemia, a common electrolyte disorder, is seen often in emergency departments. Patient outcomes are impacted by proper management, which requires consideration of both clinical and laboratory findings in relation to kidney function, hydration, the acid–base balance, and heart involvement. Delicate decisions about the timing of potassium level correction must be tailored in each case. For these reasons the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC), and the Spanish Society of Nephrology (SEN) joined forces to come to a consensus on defining the problem and recommending treatments that improve hospital emergency department management of hyperkalemia. Intravenous calcium, insulin and glucose, and salbutamol continue to be used to treat acute hyperkalemia. Either loop or thiazide diuretics can help patients if volume is not depleted, and dialysis may be necessary if there is kidney failure. Ion-exchange resins are falling into disuse because of adverse effects and poor tolerance, whereas novel gastrointestinal cation-exchange resins are gaining ground and may even be of some use in managing acute cases. It is essential to adjust treatment rather than discontinue medications that, even if they favor the development of hyperkalemia, will improve a patient’s long-term prognosis. Valid alternative treatment approaches must therefore be sought for each patient group, and close follow-up is imperative. (AU)

Recommendations for the management of hyperkalemia in the emergency department. / Recomendaciones para el manejo de la hiperpotasemia en urgencias.

TEXT: Hyperkalemia, a common electrolyte disorder, is seen often in emergency departments. Patient outcomes are impacted by proper management, which requires consideration of both clinical and laboratory findings in relation to kidney function, hydration, the acid-base balance, and heart involvement. Delicate decisions about the timing of potassium level correction must be tailored in each case. For these reasons the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC), and the Spanish Society of Nephrology (SEN) joined forces to come to a consensus on defining the problem and recommending treatments that improve hospital emergency department management of hyperkalemia. Intravenous calcium, insulin and glucose, and salbutamol continue to be used to treat acute hyperkalemia. Either loop or thiazide diuretics can help patients if volume is not depleted, and dialysis may be necessary if there is kidney failure. Ion-exchange resins are falling into disuse because of adverse effects and poor tolerance, whereas novel gastrointestinal cation-exchange resins are gaining ground and may even be of some use in managing acute cases. It is essential to adjust treatment rather than discontinue medications that, even if they favor the development of hyperkalemia, will improve a patient's long-term prognosis. Valid alternative treatment approaches must therefore be sought for each patient group, and close follow-up is imperative.

TEXTO: La hiperpotasemia es un trastorno electrolítico frecuente en los servicios de urgencias y un manejo adecuado impacta en el pronóstico de los pacientes. Este requiere de la integración de datos clínicos y analíticos sobre el estado de la función renal, la hidratación, el equilibrio ácido-base y la afectación cardiaca. Además, es necesaria una precisa toma de decisiones sobre la corrección de la concentración de potasio en el tiempo indicado para cada caso. Por estos motivos la SEMES (Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias), la SEC (Sociedad Española de Cardiología) y la SEN (Sociedad Española de Nefrología) unen esfuerzos en consensuar definiciones y tratamientos que podrían mejorar el abordaje de estos pacientes en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios. El calcio intravenoso, la insulina con glucosa y el salbutamol siguen siendo los tratamientos que se emplean en la hiperpotasemia aguda. Los diuréticos de asa y tiazídicos también pueden ayudar en pacientes no depleccionados, y la hemodiálisis puede ser necesaria en hiperpotasemias graves en el contexto de insuficiencia renal. Los efectos secundarios y la baja tolerabilidad de las resinas de intercambio iónico están haciendo que caigan en desuso mientras que los nuevos intercambiadores catiónicos gastrointestinales van ganando su espacio e incluso podrían tener algún valor en el tratamiento agudo. Es fundamental el ajuste del tratamiento evitando retirar fármacos que, a pesar de favorecer la hiperpotasemia, mejoren el pronóstico a largo plazo, por lo que es imperativo buscar alternativas válidas para cada grupo de pacientes, asegurando después un estrecho seguimiento.

Attitudes toward School Violence against LGBTQIA+. A Qualitative Study.

School climate is one of the main concerns in terms of research and intervention worldwide. Although it can be directed toward any student, some groups seem to be more vulnerable, as is the case of the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex +) students, among others. Attitudes toward violence are a construct of particular importance for action plans focused on improving school coexistence. The aim of this study is to examine attitudes toward school violence against LGBTQIA+ students and their relationship with violent behaviors. For this purpose, 96 Spanish students of Spanish elementary education (PE) and compulsory secondary education (CSE) participated in this qualitative study through focus groups for its subsequent thematic analysis. The results identify four types of attitudes toward violence, such as the use of violence as a form of fun, to feel better, when it is perceived as legitimate, and as a way of relating to the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition, a greater number of negative attitudes and violent behaviors toward homosexual boys and transgender minors are observed.

A Concise Route to Water-Soluble 2,6-Disubstituted BODIPY-Carbohydrate Fluorophores by Direct Ferrier-Type C-Glycosylation.

Novel, linker-free, BODIPY-carbohydrate derivatives containing sugar residues at positions C2 and C6 are efficiently obtained by, hitherto unreported, Ferrier-type C-glycosylation of 8-aryl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl BODIPYs with commercially available tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal followed by saponification. This transformation, which involves the electrophilic aromatic substitution (SEAr) of the dipyrrin framework with an allylic oxocarbenium ion, provides easy access to BODIPY-carbohydrate hybrids with excellent photophysical properties and a weaker tendency to aggregate in concentrated water solutions.

White Light Emission by Simultaneous One Pot Encapsulation of Dyes into One-Dimensional Channelled Aluminophosphate.

By simultaneous occlusion of rationally chosen dyes, emitting in the blue, green and red region of the electromagnetic spectrum, into the one-dimensional channels of a magnesium-aluminophosphate with AEL-zeolitic type structure, MgAPO-11, a solid-state system with efficient white light emission under UV excitation, was achieved. The dyes herein selected-acridine (AC), pyronin Y (PY), and hemicyanine LDS722-ensure overall a good match between their molecular sizes and the MgAPO-11 channel dimensions. The occlusion was carried out via the crystallization inclusion method, in a suitable proportion of the three dyes to render efficient white fluorescence systems by means of fine-tuned FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) energy transfer processes. The FRET processes are thoroughly examined by the analysis of fluorescence decay traces using the femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion technique.

Manipulating Charge-Transfer States in BODIPYs: A Model Strategy to Rapidly Develop Photodynamic Theragnostic Agents.

On the basis of a family of BINOL (1,1'-bi-2-naphthol)-based O-BODIPY (dioxyboron dipyrromethene) dyes, it is demonstrated that chemical manipulation of the chromophoric push-pull character, by playing with the electron-donating capability of the BINOL moiety (BINOL versus 3,3'-dibromoBINOL) and with the electron-acceptor ability of the BODIPY core (alkyl substitution degree), is a workable strategy to finely balance fluorescence (singlet-state emitting action) versus the capability to photogenerate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (triplet-state photosensitizing action). It is also shown that the promotion of a suitable charge-transfer character in the involved chromophore upon excitation enhances the probability of an intersystem crossing phenomenon, which is required to populate the triple state enabling singlet oxygen production. The reported strategy opens up new perspectives for rapid development of smarter agents for photodynamic theragnosis, including heavy-atom-free agents, from a selected organic fluorophore precursor.

Tuning the Photonic Behavior of Symmetrical bis-BODIPY Architectures: The Key Role of the Spacer Moiety.

Herein we describe the synthesis, computationally assisted spectroscopy, and lasing properties of a new library of symmetric bridged bis-BODIPYs that differ in the nature of the spacer. Access to a series of BODIPY dimers is straightforward through synthetic modifications of the pending ortho-hydroxymethyl group of readily available C-8 (meso) ortho-hydroxymethyl phenyl BODIPYs. In this way, we have carried out the first systematic study of the photonic behavior of symmetric bridged bis-BODIPYs, which is effectively modulated by the length and/or stereoelectronic properties of the spacer unit. The designed bis-BODIPYs display bright fluorescence and laser emission in non-polar media. The fluorescence response is governed by the induction of a non-emissive intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process, which is significantly enhanced in polar media. The effectiveness of the fluorescence quenching and also the prevailing charge transfer mechanism (from the spacer itself or between the BODIPY units) rely directly on the electron-releasing ability of the spacer. Moreover, the linker moiety can also promote intramolecular excitonic interactions, leading to excimer-like emission characterized by new spectral bands and the lengthening of lifetimes. The substantial influence of the bridging moiety on the emission behavior of these BODIPY dyads and their solvent-sensitivity highlight the intricate molecular dynamics upon excitation in multichromophoric systems. In this regard, the present work represents a breakthrough in the complex relationship between the molecular structure of the chromophores and their photophysical signatures, thus providing key guidelines for rationalizing the design of tailored bis-BODIPYs with potential advanced applications.

Enhancement of NIR emission by a tight confinement of a hemicyanine dye within zeolitic MgAPO-5 nanochannels.

The encapsulation of a hemicyanine dye, LDS 730, into the 1D nanochannels of MgAPO-5 aluminophosphate by "one-pot" synthesis, based on "in situ" occlusion via a crystallization inclusion method, has led to a hybrid material with emission in the NIR region. The tight fitting between the molecular size of the guest dye and the pore dimensions of the host has enabled a rigid conformation of the LDS 730 dye within the nanochannels. Consequently, fluorescence in the NIR range of the spectra is enhanced with respect to the dye in solution. The synthesis of the hybrid material was optimized through a systematic variation of the gel composition via MW in order to obtain a pure phase.