Electronic excitation of furfural as probed by high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations

The electronic spectroscopy of isolated furfural (2-furaldehyde) in the gas phase has been investigated using high-resolution photoabsorption spectroscopy in the 3.5-10.8 eV energy-range, with absolute cross section measurements derived. Electron energy loss spectra are also measured over a range of kinematical conditions. Those energy loss spectra are used to derive differential cross sections and in turn generalised oscillator strengths. These experiments are supported by ab initio calculations in order to assign the excited states of the neutral molecule. The good agreement between the theoretical results and the measurements allows us to provide the first quantitative assignment of the electronic state spectroscopy of furfural over an extended energy range. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC

Hif-1 alpha Knockdown Reduces Glycolytic Metabolism and Induces Cell Death of Human Synovial Fibroblasts Under Normoxic Conditions

Increased glycolysis and HIF-1 alpha activity are characteristics of cells under hypoxic or inflammatory conditions. Besides, in normal O-2 environments, elevated rates of glycolysis support critical cellular mechanisms such as cell survival. The purpose of this study was to analyze the contribution of HIF-1 alpha to the energy metabolism and survival of human synovial fibroblasts (SF) under normoxic conditions. HIF-1 alpha was silenced using lentiviral vectors or small-interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes. Expression analysis by qRT-PCR and western blot of known HIF-1 alpha target genes in hypoxia demonstrated the presence of functional HIF-1 alpha in normoxic SF and confirmed the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as a HIF-1 alpha target even in normoxia. HIF-1 alpha silencing induced apoptotic cell death in cultured SF and, similarly, treatment with glycolytic, but not with OXPHOS inhibitors, induced SF death. Finally, in vivo HIF-1 alpha targeting by siRNA showed a significant reduction in the viability of human SF engrafted into a murine air pouch. Our results demonstrate that SF are highly dependent on glycolytic metabolism and that HIF-1 alpha plays a regulatory role in glycolysis even under aerobic conditions. Local targeting of HIF-1 alpha provides a feasible strategy to reduce SF hyperplasia in chronic arthritic diseases

Experimental and theoretical analysis for total electron scattering cross sections of benzene

Measurements of the total electron scattering cross sections (TCSs) from benzene, in the impact energy range of 1-1000 eV, are presented here by combining two different experimental systems. The first utilizes a magnetically confined electron transmission beam for the lower energies (1-300 eV), while the second utilizes a linear transmission beam apparatus for the higher energies (100-1000 eV). These cross sections have also been calculated by means of two different theoretical methods, the Schwinger Multichannel with Pseudo Potential (SMCPP) procedure, employing two different approaches to account for the polarization of the target for impact energies between 0.1 and 15 eV, and the Independent Atom Model with the Screening Corrected Additivity Rule including Interference effect (IAM-SCAR+I) paradigm to cover the 10-10 000 eV impact energy range. The present results are compared with available theoretical and experimental data, with the level of accord being good in some cases and less satisfactory in others, and some predicted resonances have been identified. In particular, we found a pi* shape resonance at 1.4 eV and another feature in the energy region 4.6-4.9 eV interpreted as a pi* resonance (B-2(2g) symmetry), which is a mixture of shape and a core excited resonance, as well as a Feshbach resonance at 5.87 eV associated with the 3s (a(1g)) Rydberg state. A Born-type formula to extrapolate TCS values for energies above 10 000 eV is also given. This study provides a complete set of TCS data, with uncertainty limits within 10%, ready to be used for modeling electron transport applications. Published under license by AIP Publishing

Resultados a largo plazo del tratamiento de las fracturas de rótula mediante hemipatelectomia

Han sido revisadas retrospectivamente 48 fracturas de rótula tratadas mediante hemipatelectomía, con un seguimiento medio de 14,6 años. Para la valoración se han seguido criterios clínicos, radiológicos, subjetivos y de potencia del aparato extensor. El rango de movilidad de la extremidad intervenida es del 89%, la potencia del aparato extensor de 83% y la medición de la circunferencia del muslo del 97%, tomando como referencia la extremidad no intervenida. Encontramos un 45% de resultados excelentes, 39,58% de buenos resultados, 10,41% de resultados regulares y 4,16% de malos resultados. Existe una relación estadísticamente significativa entre el tipo de fractura, la edad de los pacientes, la existencia de patología previa en la rodilla, las lesiones asociadas a la fractura rotuliana por el traumatismo y el resultado final obtenido. A la vista de estos resultados podemos concluir que la hemipatelectomía es una técnica eficaz y segura para el tratamiento de algunos tipos de fracturas de rótula.A retrospective stydy was made of 48 patellar fractures who were threated with a hemipatellectomy. The mean time of follow-up was 14,6 years. The results were assessed with use of clinical, radiological, subjective and isokinetic quadriceps strength-testing criteria. The mean active range of motion was 89%, the strength of quadriceps was 83% and the circumference of the thigh was 97% of these measurements in the contralateral extremity. The over-all results was rated as excellent in 45,83%, dood in 39,58%, fair in 10,41% and poor in 4,16%. There was a significant statistical correlation between the type of fracture, the previous patology in the knee, the associated lesions caused by trauma and the outcome. The results of this study indicate that hemipatellectomy can be an effective and secure treatment for selected patellar fractures

Estudio prospectivo de profilaxis ambulatoria con sulodexida después de una artroplastia total de cadera o rodilla

La falta de continuidad en el tratamiento profiláctico ambulatorio se muestra como una de las causas determinantes en la aparición de complicaciones tromboembólicas en el primer mes tras el alta hospitalaria. La dificultad de administración por parte del paciente de las heparinas de bajo peso molecular y la diferencia de preocupación entre los médicos de Atención Primaria y los Servicios especializados por el problema tromboembólico son algunas de las causas de esta discontinuidad. Se realiza un estudio prospectivo sobre 221 pacientes intervenidos de prótesis total de cadera y rodilla con la finalidad de estudiar los resultados obtenidos con el tratamiento profiláctico mediante Sulodexida, un fármaco que une a sus propiedades antitrombóticas la comodidad de la administración vía oral. Se encontró una respuesta satisfactoria sin aparición de complicaciones tromboembólicas en el 98,8% del grupo que completó el tratamiento (n=164), frente al 21% de complicaciones que presentó el grupo que no completó el estudio.The discontinous thromboprophylaxis is a determinant cause in the presence of thromboembolic complications in the first month after hospital discharge. The difficult administration of the low -molecular- weight heparin by the patient and the different preoccupation for this problem between the Primary Care and the orthopedics specialists are the causes that incite to discontinous thromboprophylaxis. A prospective study was made of 221 patients who undergoing a total hip arthroplasty or a total knee arthroplasty and the objective was to investigate the incidence of venous thrombosis in the patients who were treated with oral sulodexide in the first month after hospital discharge. We analized the efficacy and the secondary effects of sulodexide. There were satisfactory results in 98,8% of patients who were treated with sulodexide (1,2% of venous complications), and 21% of venous complications in the group of patients who did not continue the thromboprophylactic treatment

Principales modelos para la selección de carteras

The main objective of this work is to analyze, with a certain level of detail, the subject of selection methods and portfolio management from the model of Markowitz, pioneer for his great contribution to the Economic Theory of Finance, to the model of CAPM (Capital Assets Princing Model), passing through other relevant authors who have raised criticisms of the first. We will also consider the relationship between our case study and business investments of an economic nature, since these will be valued by equating a financial investment of similar amount, term and risk. So, it will be the financial market that provides the minimum return required to a productive investment

Modeling crosstalk and afterpulsing in silicon photomultipliers

An experimental method to characterize the crosstalk and afterpulsing in silicon photomultipliers has been developed and applied to two detectors fabricated by Hamamatsu. An analytical model of optical crosstalk that we presented in a previous publication has been compared with new measurements, confirming our results. Progresses on a statistical model to describe afterpulsing and delayed crosstalk are also shown and compared with preliminary experimental data. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Principales modelos para la selección de carteras

The main objective of this work is to analyze, with a certain level of detail, the subject of selection methods and portfolio management from the model of Markowitz, pioneer for his great contribution to the Economic Theory of Finance, to the model of CAPM (Capital Assets Princing Model), passing through other relevant authors who have raised criticisms of the first. We will also consider the relationship between our case study and business investments of an economic nature, since these will be valued by equating a financial investment of similar amount, term and risk. So, it will be the financial market that provides the minimum return required to a productive investment

Study of protein expresion [sic] in peri-infarct tissue after cerebral ischemia

In this work, we report our study of protein expression in rat peri-infarct tissue, 48 h after the induction of permanent focal cerebral ischemia. Two proteomic approaches, gel electrophoresis with mass spectrometry and combined fractional diagonal chromatography (COFRADIC), were performed using tissue samples from the periphery of the induced cerebral ischemic lesions, using tissue from the contra-lateral hemisphere as a control. Several protein spots (3408) were identified by gel electrophoresis, and 11 showed significant differences in expression between peri-infarct and contralateral tissues (at least 3-fold, p < 0.05). Using COFRADIC, 5412 proteins were identified, with 72 showing a difference in expression. Apart from blood-related proteins (such as serum albumin), both techniques showed that the 70 kDa family of heat shock proteins were highly expressed in the peri-infarct tissue. Further studies by 1D and 2D western blotting and immunohistochemistry revealed that only one member of this family (the inducible form, HSP72 or HSP70i) is specifically expressed by the peri-infarct tissue, while the majority of this family (the constitutive form, HSC70 or HSP70c) is expressed in the whole brain. Our data support that HSP72 is a suitable biomarker of peri-infarct tissue in the ischemic brain

Aplicación de tecnología NIR portátil a la estimación el parcela de la concentración de azúcares en uva

During the 2008 growing season field tests have been carried out on three varieties of wine grape. Over 2500 samples of wine grape berries were scanned with a portable and commercial near infrared (NIR) spectrometer and subsequently processed to determine °Brix using a digital refractometer. The main objectives of this research are to evalúate the potential of a portable NIR equipment to measure the changes in soluble solid contents of grapes during the pre-harvest period, and to establish calibration model for soluble solid contení (°Brix) in grapes, in order to provide a non destructive tool for determining optimal harvest date. A first calibration model has been constructed based on data of three varieties with a R2 of 0.81