WS2/MoS2 Heterostructures through Thermal Treatment of MoS2 Layers Electrostatically Functionalized with W3S4 Molecular Clusters

The preparation of 2D stacked layers that combine flakes of different nature, gives rise to countless number of heterostructures where new band alignments, defined at the interfaces, control the electronic properties of the system. Among the large family of 2D/2D heterostructures, the one formed by the combination of the most common semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides WS2/MoS2, has awaken great interest due to its photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical properties. Solution as well as dry physical methods have been developed to optimize the synthesis of these heterostructures. Here a suspension of negatively charged MoS2 flakes is mixed with a methanolic solution of a cationic W3S4-core cluster, giving rise to a homogeneous distribution of the clusters over the layers. In a second step, a calcination under N2 of this molecular/2D heterostructure leads to the formation of clean WS2/MoS2 heterostructures where the photoluminescence of both counterparts is quenched, proving an efficient interlayer coupling. Thus, this chemical method combines the advantages of a solution approach (simple, scalable and low-cost) with the good quality interfaces reached by using more complicated traditional physical methods

Invasion biology in non-free-living species: interactions between abiotic (climatic) and biotic (host availability) factors in geographical space in crayfish commensals (Ostracoda, Entocytheridae)

In invasion processes, both abiotic and biotic factors are considered essential, but the latter are usually disregarded when modeling the potential spread of exotic species. In the framework of set theory, interactions between biotic (B), abiotic (A), and movement-related (M) factors in the geographical space can be hypothesized with BAM diagrams and tested using ecological niche models (ENMs) to estimate A and B areas. The main aim of our survey was to evaluate the interactions between abiotic (climatic) and biotic (host availability) factors in geographical space for exotic symbionts (i.e., non-free-living species), using ENM techniques combined with a BAM framework and using exotic Entocytheridae (Ostracoda) found in Europe as model organisms. We carried out an extensive survey to evaluate the distribution of entocytherids hosted by crayfish in Europe by checking 94 European localities and 12 crayfish species. Both exotic entocytherid species found, Ankylocythere sinuosa and Uncinocythere occidentalis, were widely distributed in W Europe living on the exotic crayfish species Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus, respectively. No entocytherids were observed in the remaining crayfish species. The suitable area for A. sinuosa was mainly restricted by its own limitations to minimum temperatures in W and N Europe and precipitation seasonality in circum-Mediterranean areas. Uncinocythere occidentalis was mostly restricted by host availability in circum-Mediterranean regions due to limitations of P. leniusculus to higher precipitation seasonality and maximum temperatures. The combination of ENMs with set theory allows studying the invasive biology of symbionts and provides clues about biogeographic barriers due to abiotic or biotic factors limiting the expansion of the symbiont in different regions of the invasive range. The relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors on geographical space can then be assessed and applied in conservation plans. This approach can also be implemented in other systems where the target species is closely interacting with other taxa

Nuevo péptido inhibidor del intercambiador NA4+H+ (pinhe), y sus aplicaciones.

Fecha de solicitud: 15.07.2003.- Titulares: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).- Universidad de Valencia.- Universidad Miguel Hernández.[EN]The invention relates to a peptide (PINHE) comprising 28 amino acids, which is obtained by fractionation and purification of the supernatant of the culture of Haloferax gibbonsii alicante SPH7. PINHE acts as a natural physiological inhibitor of the Na/H exchanger in eukaryotes. Moreover, PINHE is active in wide ranges of saline concentrations, temperature and pH as well as being trypsin resistant and pronase sensitive. Owing to the reversible action of said peptide on the Na/H exchanger, it can be used (1) for the treatment or prophylaxis of pathologies such as cardiovascular, renal, cerebral and metabolic diseases, pathological proliferative processes, hyperproduction of hydrochloric acid, etc. and (2) for other diseases or pathologies associated with a post-ischemic reperfusion lesion and ischemia caused by hyperactivity of the NHE, such as ischemias caused by primary or secondary vascular alterations in different tissues, by post-infarction reperfusion, by an organ or tissue transplant, etc. The inventive peptide can also be used as a contraceptive (in male mammals), an antibiotic or an immunoregulatory agent and in plants as a saline stress modulator. [ES]La presente invención describe un péptido (PINHE) constituido por 28 aminoácidos obtenido por fraccionamiento y purificación del sobrenadante del cultivo de Haloferax gibbonsii alicante SPH7. El PINHE actúa como inhibidor fisiológico natural del intercambiador Na+/H+ en eucariotas. Es activo en rangos amplios de concentraciones salinas, temperatura y pH, resistente a tripsina y sensible a pronasa. De su acción reversible sobre el intercambiador Na+/H+ se deriva: (1) su uso para el tratamiento o profilaxis de patologías como enfermedades cardiovasculares, renales, cerebrales, metabólicas, procesos proliferativos patológicos, hiperproducción de ácido clorhídrico, etc., (2) en otras enfermedades o patologías que cursen con isquemia y lesión por reperfusión post-isquémica debida a la hiperactividad del NHE como isquemias por alteraciones vasculares primarias o secundarias en diversos tejidos, por reperfusión post-infarto, por transplante de órganos o tejidos, etc. También como contraceptivo (en mamíferos macho), antibiótico o agente inmunorregulador, y en plantas como modulador del estrés salino.Peer reviewe

Una halocina que actúa sobre el intercambiador Na+/H+ de Haloarchaea como un nuevo tipo de inhibidor de NHE de mamíferos

10 páginas, 3 figuras.[EN]: The capability of halocin H6 (a bacteriocin-like protein produced by haloarchaeaHaloferax gibbonsii) to inhibit Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) in mammalian cells and its cardio-protective efficacy on the ischemic and reperfused myocardium were evaluated in the present study. H6 inhibits NHE activity (measured by a flow cytometry method) in a dose-dependent form of cell lines of mammalian origin (HEK293, NIH3T3, Jurkat and HL-1) as well as in primary cell culture from human skeletal muscle (myocytes and fibroblasts).In vivo, an ischemia-reperfusion model in dogs by coronary arterial occlusion was used (two hours of regional ischemia and three hours of reperfusion). In animals treated with halocin H6 there was a significant reduction of premature ventricular ectopic beats and infarct size, whereas blood pressure and heart rate remained unchanged. Up to date, halocin H6 is the only described biological molecule that exerts a, specific inhibitory activity in NHE of eukaryotic cells.[ES]: En el presente trabajo se evalúa la capacidad de la halocina H6 (una proteína tipo bacteriocina producida por la haloarchaea Haloferax gibbonsii) para inhibir el intercambiador Na+/H+ (NHE) de células de mamífero y su posible eficacia cardioprotectora frente a los daños causados por isquemia-reperfusión del miocardio. En experimentos in vitro H6 inhibe la actividad de NHE (determinada por citometría de flujo) de forma dosis-dependiente tanto en líneas celulares de mamíferos (HEK293, NIH3T3, Jurkat y HL-1) como en cultivos primarios de miocitos y fibroblastos aislados de músculo esquelético humano. En experimentos in vivo se utilizó un modelo de isquemia- reperfusión en perros por oclusión de la arteria coronaria (dos horas de isquemia y tres de reperfusión). En animales tratados con halocina H6 se produjo una disminución significativa a nivel estadístico, tanto del número de latidos ectópicos ventriculares como del tamaño del infarto, mientras que no se produjeron cambios tanto en la presión sanguínea como en el ritmo cardíaco. Hasta la fecha la halocina H6 es la única molécula biológica descrita que ejerce una actividad inhibidora específica sobre el NHE de células eucariotas.M. Dolz held a fellowship of CSIC-Bancaja Foundation. This work was supported in part by Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC- 2001551).Peer reviewe

Pictavia Aurea

Este volumen, titulado Pictavia aurea, reúne 131 estudios que constituyen una granada muestra de los debates y las presentaciones en torno a la cultura hispánica del Siglo de Oro que entre los días 11 y 15 de julio de 2011 se dieron en la ciudad de Poitiers (Francia) en el marco del IX congreso de la Asociación Internacional “Siglo de Oro”. Auspiciada por la Universidad de Poitiers, a través del Centro de Estudios de la Literatura española de Entre Siglos (siglos xvii-xviii) (CELES XVII-XVIII) y el laboratorio «Formes et Représentations en Linguistique et Littérature» (FoReLL), la convocatoria reunió en la ciudad francesa a 276 participantes y a un centenar de asistentes en la novena edición del Congreso de la Asociación, que celebró entonces la efeméride del 450o aniversario del nacimiento de Luis de Góngora.A Isaías Lerner, maestro de la filología hispánic