199 research outputs found

    Experience in Construction in Hard Rock with Roadheader in the Ariz -Basauri section of the Bilbao Metro

    Get PDF
    The object of the works to be performed is the extension of the Bilbao Metro network (Vizcaya, Basque Region, Spain). The Ariz-Basauri section of line 2 of the Bilbao Metro is being performed by the UTE Ariz-Basauri, a joint venture formed by the companies Exc. Cantábricas S.A., Vda. de Sainz S.A. and Obras Subterráneas S.A. The total length of the section is 2,372 m. of which 2,108 m. are performed in mine tunnel. The section will provide a service to the centre of Basauri with two stations, Ariz station commencing approximately at KP 1+050 and Basauri station at KP 2+105. Introduction of a new transport infrastructure such as a Metro system in an urban environment has an inevitable impact which must be quantified and, as far as possible, minimized. This impact on the urban environment includes a number of aspects, affecting networks and services, buildings, road traffic and rail traffic, not only influencing the line layout, but also and in particular the construction processes to be applied to ensure a minimum impact on both the existing infrastructure and the population. From the constructor’s viewpoint the shallow nature of the work at around 25 m should be highlighted as well as a work plan requiring 3 shifts and involving night work. The decision taken by ETS (Euskal Trenbide Sarea) not to use explosives due to the urban environment in which the Metro is developed is therefore comprehensible

    Levels of Sustainability Awareness in Spanish University Students of Nautical Activities as Future Managers of Sports and Active Tourism Programmes

    Get PDF
    © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).Abstract: University students will play an important role in making decisions that will affect the environment, as future leaders of our society. Their level of sensitivity and environmental knowledge will play an important role in adequately facing future challenges. This article aims to measure the sustainability awareness of a sample of future graduates in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences in Spain. The literature supports that the sensitivity of these students can be estimated by using the Spanish adaptation of the SCQ-S. This allows for establishing the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour pertaining to sustainability in three dimensions: environmental, social and economic. The sample consisted of 170 students (58.8% males; 41.2% females) with a mean age of 20.5 years (±4.039). The overall Cronbach’s alpha showed a fairly good value (α = 0.836). The same was true for the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test values (KMO = 0.816) and Bartlett’s sphericity test (p < 0.001). The knowledge construct (4.56 ± 0.53) was the highest descriptive, followed by attitude (4.12 ± 0.59). The lowest value was behaviour (3.79 ± 0.66). By gender, girls obtained the highest sensitivity indexes. In addition, the place of habitual residence and physical activity in the natural environment were related to the overall behaviour of the university students. It is concluded that being in active contact with the natural environment allows us to have a higher level of awareness

    Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mice against the principal neutralizing domain of HIV-1 by immunization with an engineered T-cytotoxic-T-helper synthetic peptide construct

    Get PDF
    Peptide constructs were engineered by colinear synthesis of two short synthetic peptide determinants; a determinant recognized by T helper cells (TDh) and a determinant recognized by T cytotoxic cells (TDc). Three types of constructs were synthesized: TDc-TDh, TDh-TDc, and TDh-KK-TDc, where KK are two lysine residues. In vivo immunization with free construct induced cytolytic lymphocytes (CTL) only in the case of TDc-TDh. However, immunization with spleen cells to which these constructs had been internalized by hypertonic shock, induced CTL activity in all three cases. No CTL could be induced after immunization with free TDc in either protocol. These results indicate that cell internalization of the construct might be essential for CTL induction, and also, that "help" from the TDh seems to be required

    The role of conductive additives on the performance of hybrid carbon xerogels as electrodes in aqueous supercapacitors

    Get PDF
    Three different hybrid carbon xerogels containing Graphene Oxide (AXGO), Micronized Graphite (AXMG) and Carbon Black (AXCB) were synthesized using an easy, fast and affordable method. These three additives were initially selected to improve the electrical conductivity of the pristine activated carbon xerogel (AX) thus expecting to improve its performance in aqueous supercapacitors. Capacitances of the corresponding devices were measured as a function of current density and results of the high and low charge transfer regime of the supercapacitors were discussed separately. In both regimes, the differences observed between the hybrid electrodes were analyzed on the basis of the concurrent influence of the micro and mesoporosity, surface chemistry and electrical conductivity of the materials. Accordingly, even though all the hybrid carbon xerogels showed higher electrical conductivities, only AXGO rendered a better performance than AX, showing the highest capacitances in the whole interval of intensities studied. Consequently, at 16 A g−1, the energy and power densities of the AXGO supercapacitors increased up to 16% and 97%, respectively, with respect to AX, and of 143% and 409%, respectively, with respect to a commercial activated carbon used as reference. The performance of AXCB and, especially AXMG was worse than AX supercapacitors due to a combination of inadequate pore size distributions and/or a poor surface chemistry. Finally, TEM analysis helped to understand the different way the three additives were affecting the nanostructure (and final properties) of the hybrid carbon xerogels.Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad from Spain (Project CTQ2017-87820-R). MCR also acknowledges CSIC (Project I.E. 201880E010)

    A recurrent translocation, t(3;11)(q21;q13), found in two distinct cases of acute myeloid leukemia

    Get PDF
    We report two cases of acute myeloid leukemia (M1 and M5B subtypes) with a similar translocation, t(3;11)(q21;q13). We discuss the involvement of these breakpoints in acute leukemia and their putative clinical implications

    A variant t(14;17) in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Positive response to retinoic acid treatment

    Get PDF
    We present a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) carrying an atypical translocation involving chromosomes 14 and 17. This translocation could be considered a variant of the APL-specific t(15;17). Positive response to retinoic acid treatment suggests molecular rearrangement of retinoic acid receptor alpha

    Evaluation of brittle fracturing in the sedimentary rock through laboratory analysis and computer simulation

    Get PDF
    This is the final version. Available from Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies (FBERG), Technical University of Kosice via the DOI in this record. Estimation of the mechanical responses of a sample of rock is a critical characteristic to estimate the responses of rock strata under stress. In this paper, laboratory tests analysis and numerical modelling are used to analyse and replicate intact rock materials. Laboratory and petrographical analyses were undertaken to characterise the brittle response to the uniaxial loading of selected sedimentary samples. Complementary numerical modelling of virtual uniaxial compression tests is carried out using 3DEC software. These models were developed through a Grain Based Model capable of reproducing brittle failure of rocks, for which Voronoi 3D tessellation was generated. Failure mechanisms observed in laboratory and non-linear behaviour due to fracture propagation have been reproduced. Virtual modelling of intact rock with Discrete Element Code would allow, in combination with Discrete Fracture Networks, the numerical analysis of rock mass scale effects and anisotropy through Synthetic Rock Mass (SRM) modelling.Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS)Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Educatio

    Enhancement of peptide immunogenicity by insertion of a cathepsin B cleavage site between determinants recognized by B and T cells

    Get PDF
    The insertion of two lysine residues (cleavage sites of cathepsin B) at the boundary of a peptide recognized by B cells (BD) and a class-II- presentable sequence (TDh) enhanced the anti-BD antibody induction capacity of this type of peptide construct, as well as production of IL2. It is postulated that these lysines generate a neoprocessable site which helps in release of the TDh moiety from the construct, enabling its presentation to class II molecules, an essential step in clonal expansion of the antibody-producing B cell after internalization of the construct via the BD moiety

    Cytogenetic analysis of 280 patients with multiple myeloma and related disorders: primary breakpoints and clinical correlations

    Get PDF
    Cytogenetic analysis of unstimulated short-term bone marrow cell cultures was performed on 280 patients with multiple myeloma and related disorders. In 65% of the cases, an additional short term B-cell stimulated culture was also examined. Chromosomally abnormal clones were found in 31% of the patients, 15% in Waldenström macroglobulinemia. 25% in monoclonal gammopathies, 33% in multiple myeloma, and 50% in plasma cell leukemia. Three primary chromosomal breakpoints were recurrently involved: 14q32, 16q22, and 22q11. Structural rearrangements of chromosome 1 were the most frequent (26% of the abnormal cases), but always as a secondary change. Rearrangements of band 14q32 were found in 22% of the abnormal cases. Among the multiple myeloma patients who showed an abnormal karyotype, 33 (46%) were hyperdiploid, most frequently, with 52-56 chromosomes, 29 patients (40%) were pseudodiploid, and the remaining 12 cases (14%) were hypodiploid. A highly significant relation was observed between the presence of an abnormal karyotype and the following clinical parameters: stage III (P = 0.0001), bone marrow plasma cell infiltration greater than 30% (P = 0.0001), presence of bone lesions (P = 0.0009), and beta 2-microglobulin levels greater than 4 mg/L (P = 0.0001)
    • …
    corecore