Prospects of optical biosensors for emerging label-free RNA analysis

RNA is critical in countless cellular processes, and researchers are constantly discovering new types and attributing them different roles. Consequently, a growing interest in efficient RNA analysis has arisen. However, RNA detection is complicated and generally requires the use of labels. Major efforts are being devoted to conceive new approaches for RNA analysis with no need of markers. Optical biosensing is a highly sensitive approach that circumvents many of conventional methods' limitations. Lately, label-free applications with optical biosensors have been developed for short as well as for long RNAs. The low limits of detection at the pM level enabled by optical biosensors, together with a fast analysis, their reusability and the label-free scheme of operation, clearly highlight them among the most promising next-generation RNA screening platforms. This review covers the most relevant optical biosensor platforms and their potential for enabling sensitive and label-free RNA analysis

Estudio de la funcionalización de secciones eficaces de celda en multigrupos para cálculos best-estimate 3D pin-by-pin de núcleos PWR

Uno de los objetivos del Proyecto europeo NURISP (NUclear Reactor Integrated Platform) del 7º Programa Marco es avanzar en la simulación de reactores de agua ligera mediante el acoplamiento de códigos best-estimate que profundicen en la física de núcleo, termohidráulica bifásica y comportamiento del combustible [1]. Uno de estos códigos es COBAYA3, código de difusión 3D en multigrupos pin-by-pin desarrollado en la UPM, que requiere de librerías de secciones eficaces homogeneizadas a nivel de la barrita de combustible

Estudio de la funcionalización de secciones eficaces nodales en multigrupos para cálculos 3D neutrónicos-termohidráulicos de núcleos PWR

La tendencia más extendida actualmente para el análisis tridimensional de núcleos PWR se basa en la utilización de códigos de difusión en multigrupos. Uno de ellos es el código COBAYA3, desarrollado en el Departamento de Ingeniería Nuclear de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Estos códigos emplean como datos de entrada librerías de parámetros equivalentes homogeneizados (secciones eficaces y factores de discontinuidad), que dependen, entre otros, de las variables locales en el reactor (temperatura del combustible, temperatura del moderador, densidad del moderador y concentración de boro). Típicamente, esos parámetros se pre-generan para cada tipo de elemento con un código de transporte determinista.

Prospects of optical biosensors for emerging label-free RNA analysis

RNA is critical in countless cellular processes, and researchers are constantly discovering new types and attributing them different roles. Consequently, a growing interest in efficient RNA analysis has arisen. However, RNA detection is complicated and generally requires the use of labels. Major efforts are being devoted to conceive new approaches for RNA analysis with no need of markers. Optical biosensing is a highly sensitive approach that circumvents many of conventional methods' limitations. Lately, label-free applications with optical biosensors have been developed for short as well as for long RNAs. The low limits of detection at the pM level enabled by optical biosensors, together with a fast analysis, their reusability and the label-free scheme of operation, clearly highlight them among the most promising next-generation RNA screening platforms. This review covers the most relevant optical biosensor platforms and their potential for enabling sensitive and label-free RNA analysis

Are psychological belief built on the ideology of early christian fathers? [¿Se basan las creencias psicológicas en la ideología de los padres de la iglesia cristiana temprana?]

ABSTRACT The aims of the present study were to investigate the relationship between: a) Patristic ideology and mentalist and behaviorist beliefs, and b) the relationship between mentalist and behaviorist beliefs and cognitive, neuropsychological and interbehavioral beliefs. The beliefs were assessed through an instrument purposely built for this research. A sample composed of 284 university students of first-semester psychology (84 men and 200 women; mean ages M = 17.82 years, SD = 2.34, range 16-38 years) were enrolled. After performing structural equation modelling (SEM), results show that patristic ideology is not related to behaviorism (β = .09, p = .387), but it is related with mentalism (β = .26, p = .042), also the mentalism is related with cognitive beliefs (β = .72, p =.001) and neuropsychological beliefs (β = .87, p = .014), while behaviorism is related with interbehavioral beliefs (β = .42, p = .014). It was found that first-year psychology students show less acceptance of the early patristic ideology (M = 75.28), it is less successful than mentalism (M = 86.33). The conclusion is that mentalism, successor of Patristic ideology, continues to be related to cognitive and neuropsychological beliefs

α,γ-Peptide nanotube templating of one-dimensional parallel fullerene arrangements

(Figure Presented) The formation and full characterization of single self-assembling α,γ-peptide nanotubes (α,γ-SPNs) is described. The introduction of C60 into cyclic peptides allows the preparation of supramolecular 1D fullerene arrangements induced by peptide nanotube formation under appropriate conditions. © 2009 American Chemical Society.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science and the ERDF [SAF2007-61015 and Consolider Ingenio 2010 (CSD2007-00006)] and the Xunta de Galicia (GRC2006/ 132, PGIDIT06PXIB209018PR, PGIDIT08CSA047209PR, and R2006/ 124). The work by J.M.V. and J.L.C. was supported by Grants BFU2007- 62382/BMC from the Spanish MEC (J.M.V.) and S-0505/MAT/0283 from the Madrid Regional Government (J.M.V. and J.L.C.). C.R. and R.J.B. thank the Spanish MEC for their FPU Fellowships. We also thank Dr. Carmen Serra (Nanotechnology and Surface Analysis Service at C.A.C.T.I., University of Vigo) for her help with STM. We also thank Dowpharma for their kind gift of ENZA enzymes used in the preparation of D-Boc-γ-Acp-OH.Peer reviewe

Healthcare workers hospitalized due to COVID-19 have no higher risk of death than general population. Data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Aim To determine whether healthcare workers (HCW) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19 have a worse prognosis than non-healthcare workers (NHCW). Methods Observational cohort study based on the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry, a nationwide registry that collects sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data on patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Spain. Patients aged 20-65 years were selected. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results As of 22 May 2020, 4393 patients were included, of whom 419 (9.5%) were HCW. Median (interquartile range) age of HCW was 52 (15) years and 62.4% were women. Prevalence of comorbidities and severe radiological findings upon admission were less frequent in HCW. There were no difference in need of respiratory support and admission to intensive care unit, but occurrence of sepsis and in-hospital mortality was lower in HCW (1.7% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.024 and 0.7% vs. 4.8%; p<0.001 respectively). Age, male sex and comorbidity, were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality and healthcare working with lower mortality (OR 0.211, 95%CI 0.067-0.667, p = 0.008). 30-days survival was higher in HCW (0.968 vs. 0.851 p<0.001). Conclusions Hospitalized COVID-19 HCW had fewer comorbidities and a better prognosis than NHCW. Our results suggest that professional exposure to COVID-19 in HCW does not carry more clinical severity nor mortality

Prospects of optical biosensors for emerging label-free RNA analysis

RNA is critical in countless cellular processes, and researchers are constantly discovering new types and attributing them different roles. Consequently, a growing interest in efficient RNA analysis has arisen. However, RNA detection is complicated and generally requires the use of labels. Major efforts are being devoted to conceive new approaches for RNA analysis with no need of markers. Optical biosensing is a highly sensitive approach that circumvents many of conventional methods' limitations. Lately, label-free applications with optical biosensors have been developed for short as well as for long RNAs. The low limits of detection at the pM level enabled by optical biosensors, together with a fast analysis, their reusability and the label-free scheme of operation, clearly highlight them among the most promising next-generation RNA screening platforms. This review covers the most relevant optical biosensor platforms and their potential for enabling sensitive and label-free RNA analysis.Authors thank founding from Fundación Botín and EPISENS project of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (TEC2012-3428). The nanoB2A is a consolidated research group (Grup de Recerca) of the Generalitat de Catalunya and has support from the Departament d'Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació de la Generalitat de Catalunya (2014 SGR 624). ICN2 acknowledges support of the Spanish MINECO through the Severo Ochoa Centers of Excellence Program under Grant SEV-2013-0295.Peer Reviewe

Prospects of optical biosensors for emerging label-free RNA analysis

RNA is critical in countless cellular processes, and researchers are constantly discovering new types and attributing them different roles. Consequently, a growing interest in efficient RNA analysis has arisen. However, RNA detection is complicated and generally requires the use of labels. Major efforts are being devoted to conceive new approaches for RNA analysis with no need of markers. Optical biosensing is a highly sensitive approach that circumvents many of conventional methods' limitations. Lately, label-free applications with optical biosensors have been developed for short as well as for long RNAs. The low limits of detection at the pM level enabled by optical biosensors, together with a fast analysis, their reusability and the label-free scheme of operation, clearly highlight them among the most promising next-generation RNA screening platforms. This review covers the most relevant optical biosensor platforms and their potential for enabling sensitive and label-free RNA analysis

Una estrategia de diseminación en la psicología: los talleres interactivos Interactive workshops as a dissemination strategy in psychology

OBJETIVO: Evaluar los talleres interactivos como una estrategia de diseminación de un modelo de intervención psicológica para el tratamiento de los bebedores problema, en profesionales de la salud del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se trabajó con 206 profesionales de la salud de siete clínicas del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, en el periodo 1999-2000. Los sujetos fueron seleccionados por las autoridades de las clínicas. El tipo de estudio utilizado fue cuasi-experimental con un diseño pre-test/pos-test. Inicialmente se aplicó a los participantes el cuestionario de actitudes, intereses y conocimientos, luego se impartieron los talleres interactivos, y al final de éstos nuevamente se aplicó el cuestionario para identificar cambios. El análisis estadístico se realizó a través de una prueba t de student de muestras pareadas. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron diferencias estadísticas significativas en los conocimientos de los participantes sobre alcoholismo t (206, 205), y en los intereses de los mismos t (206, 205)=2.318, p=0.021. CONCLUSIONES: El taller interactivo es una herramienta efectiva para diseminar el programa de Auto-Cambio Dirigido en los escenarios de las clínicas del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, por lo que los profesionales de la salud pueden convertirse en agentes de cambio de las innovaciones psicológicas.OBJECTIVE: To assess whether interactive workshops are an effective strategy for promoting a psychological intervention model among healthcare providers, to treat problem drinkers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted between the years 1999 and 2000, among 206 healthcare providers at seven Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Mexican Institute of Social Security, IMSS) clinics. Study subjects were selected by hospital executive officers. The study design is a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study. Data on providers' attitudes, interests, and knowledge were collected using a questionnaire. After that, interactive workshops were conducted, and the same questionnaire was applied again at the end of the workshops. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student's t test for matched samples. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in participants' knowledge on alcoholism t (206, 205)= -9.234, p= 0.001, as well as in their interest t (206, 205)= -2.318, p=0.021. CONCLUSIONS: Interactive workshops are an effective tool to disseminate the Guided Self-Help Program conducted in IMSS clinics. Healthcare providers can become change-inducing/promoting agents of psychological innovations