Fonts per a l'estudi de la fraseologia catalana

This article has a practical and orientative purpose: through the Catalan lexicographical production, it intro­duces a list of collections of idioms classified according to whether they incorporate with more or less intensity the reality of the idioms, in order to facilitate further investigations

The composition of the protosolar disk and the formation conditions for comets

Conditions in the protosolar nebula have left their mark in the composition of cometary volatiles, thought to be some of the most pristine material in the solar system. Cometary compositions represent the end point of processing that began in the parent molecular cloud core and continued through the collapse of that core to form the protosun and the solar nebula, and finally during the evolution of the solar nebula itself as the cometary bodies were accreting. Disentangling the effects of the various epochs on the final composition of a comet is complicated. But comets are not the only source of information about the solar nebula. Protostellar disks around young stars similar to the protosun provide a way of investigating the evolution of disks similar to the solar nebula while they are in the process of evolving to form their own solar systems. In this way we can learn about the physical and chemical conditions under which comets formed, and about the types of dynamical processing that shaped the solar system we see today. This paper summarizes some recent contributions to our understanding of both cometary volatiles and the composition, structure and evolution of protostellar disks.Comment: To appear in Space Science Reviews. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11214-015-0167-

Pleosporales

One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are treated. Phaeotrichaceae as well as Kriegeriella, Zeuctomorpha and Muroia are excluded from Pleosporales. Based on the multigene phylogenetic analysis, the suborder Massarineae is emended to accommodate five families, viz. Lentitheciaceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae

On the generalized logistic random differential equation: Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations with real-world data

[EN] Based on the previous literature about the random logistic and Gompertz models, the aim of this paper is to extend the investigations to the generalized logistic differential equation in the random setting. First, this is done by rigorously constructing its solution in two different ways, namely, the sample-path approach and the mean-square calculus. Secondly, the probability density function at each time instant is derived in two ways: by applying the random variable transformation technique and by solving the associated Liouville's partial differential equation. It is also proved that both the stochastic solution and its density function converge, under specific conditions, to the corresponding solution and density function of the logistic and Gompertz models, respectively. The investigation finishes showing some examples, where a number of computational techniques are combined to construct reliable approximations of the probability density of the stochastic solution. In particular, we show, step-by-step, how our findings can be applied to a real-world problem. (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.This work has been supported by the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigacion grant PID2020-115270GB-I00. Vicente Bevia acknowledges the doctorate scholarship granted by Programa de Ayudas de Investigacion y Desarrollo (PAID), Universitat Politecnica de Valencia.Bevia, V.; Calatayud-Gregori, J.; Cortés, J.; Jornet-Sanz, M. (2023). On the generalized logistic random differential equation: Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations with real-world data. Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation. 116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnsns.2022.10683211

Growth factor choice is critical for successful functionalization of nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) show new characteristics compared to the corresponding bulk material. These nanoscale properties make them interesting for various applications in biomedicine and life sciences. One field of application is the use of magnetic NPs to support regeneration in the nervous system. Drug delivery requires a functionalization of NPs with bio-functional molecules. In our study, we functionalized self-made PEI-coated iron oxide NPs with nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Next, we tested the bio-functionality of NGF in a rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) and the bio-functionality of GDNF in an organotypic spinal cord culture. Covalent binding of NGF to PEI-NPs impaired bio-functionality of NGF, but non-covalent approach differentiated PC12 cells reliably. Non-covalent binding of GDNF showed a satisfying bio-functionality of GDNF:PEI-NPs, but turned out to be unstable in conjugation to the PEI-NPs. Taken together, our study showed the importance of assessing bio-functionality and binding stability of functionalized growth factors using proper biological models. It also shows that successful functionalization of magnetic NPs with growth factors is dependent on the used binding chemistry and that it is hardly predictable. For use as therapeutics, functionalization strategies have to be reproducible and future studies are needed

M2 Macrophages Activate WNT Signaling Pathway in Epithelial Cells: Relevance in Ulcerative Colitis

Macrophages, which exhibit great plasticity, are important components of the inflamed tissue and constitute an essential element of regenerative responses. Epithelial Wnt signalling is involved in mechanisms of proliferation and differentiation and expression of Wnt ligands by macrophages has been reported. We aim to determine whether the macrophage phenotype determines the expression of Wnt ligands, the influence of the macrophage phenotype in epithelial activation of Wnt signalling and the relevance of this pathway in ulcerative colitis. Human monocyte-derived macrophages and U937-derived macrophages were polarized towards M1 or M2 phenotypes and the expression of Wnt1 and Wnt3a was analyzed by qPCR. The effects of macrophages and the role of Wnt1 were analyzed on the expression of β-catenin, Tcf-4, c-Myc and markers of cell differentiation in a co-culture system with Caco-2 cells. Immunohistochemical staining of CD68, CD206, CD86, Wnt1, β-catenin and c-Myc were evaluated in the damaged and non-damaged mucosa of patients with UC. We also determined the mRNA expression of Lgr5 and c-Myc by qPCR and protein levels of β-catenin by western blot. Results show that M2, and no M1, activated the Wnt signaling pathway in co-culture epithelial cells through Wnt1 which impaired enterocyte differentiation. A significant increase in the number of CD206+ macrophages was observed in the damaged mucosa of chronic vs newly diagnosed patients. CD206 immunostaining co-localized with Wnt1 in the mucosa and these cells were associated with activation of canonical Wnt signalling pathway in epithelial cells and diminution of alkaline phosphatase activity. Our results show that M2 macrophages, and not M1, activate Wnt signalling pathways and decrease enterocyte differentiation in co-cultured epithelial cells. In the mucosa of UC patients, M2 macrophages increase with chronicity and are associated with activation of epithelial Wnt signalling and diminution in enterocyte differentiation

Magnetic nanoparticles for magnetically guided therapies against neural diseases

Neurological pathologies and nerve damage are two problems of significant medical and economic impact because of the hurdles of losing nerve functionality in addition to significant mortality and morbidity, and demanding rehabilitation. There are currently a number of examples of how nanotechnology can provide new solutions for biomedical problems. Current strategies for nerve repair rely on the use of functionalized scaffolds working as nerve guidance channels to improve axonal regeneration and to direct axonal re-growth across the nerve lesion site. Since low invasiveness and high selectivity of the growth stimulation are usually conflicting requirements, new approaches are being pursued in order to overcome such limitations. Engineered magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged from this need for noninvasive therapies for both positioning and guiding neural cells in response to an external magnetic field. Here, we review the current state of the use of MNPs for neuroprotective and magnetically guided therapies. We discuss some conceivable outcomes of current magnetically driven strategies seeking integrated platforms for regenerative action on damaged tissues

Ion transport through homogeneous and heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes in single salt and multicomponent electrolyte solutions

The increasing demand for clean industrial processes has intensified the use of electrodialysis in the treatment of metal containing effluents and encourages the investigation of the different phenomena involved in the transport of metal ions through cation-exchange membranes. Ion sorption, chronopotentiometric and current–voltage characteristics have been obtained to characterize the transport of sodium and iron through homogeneous and heterogeneous cation-exchange membranes. The heterogeneous membranes having a broader pore size distribution showed increased electrical resistances with solutions of trivalent iron, which may be caused by the blockage of the smallest pores by multivalent ions. However, for both types of membranes an unexpected decrease of the electrical resistance with increasing current densities was verified with concentrated solutions of Fe2(SO4)3. This behavior was explained to be a consequence of the dissociation of FeSO4+ ions into more conductive Fe3+ and SO42− ions as the depleting solution layer becomes diluted. When tested with multicomponent mixtures, the homogeneous perfluorosulfonic membranes show an increased preference for Na+ ions at low current densities and, once Na+ ions are depleted from the membrane surface Fe3+ ions are transported preferentially at higher current densities. On the contrary, both Na+ ions and Fe(III) species are responsible for the ion transport through the heterogeneous membranes within the ohmic regime of currents.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain) with the Project number CTQ2012-37450-C02-01/PPQ. M.C. Marti-Calatayud is grateful to the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for a postgraduate grant (Ref. 2010-12). D.C. Buzzi wants to express her gratitude to CAPES (Brazil) for a postgraduate grant (Proc. BEX 8747/11-3).Martí Calatayud, MC.; Buzzi, DC.; García Gabaldón, M.; Bernardes, AM.; Tenório, JAS.; Pérez Herranz, V. (2014). Ion transport through homogeneous and heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes in single salt and multicomponent electrolyte solutions. Journal of Membrane Science. 466:45-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2014.04.033S455746

Matter effects in neutrino visible decay at future long-baseline experiments

Neutrino visible decay in the presence of matter is re-evaluated. We study these effects in two future long-baseline experiments where matter effects are relevant: DUNE (1300 km) and a hypothetical beam aimed towards ANDES (7650 km). We find that matter effects are negligible for the visible component of neutrino decay at DUNE, being much more relevant at ANDES. We perform a detailed simulation of DUNE, considering $\nu_\mu$ disappearance and $\nu_e$ appearance channels, for both FHC and RHC modes. The sensitivity to the decay constant $\alpha_3$ can be as low as $2\times10^{-6}$ eV$^2$ at 90% C.L., depending on the neutrino masses and type of coupling. We also show the impact of neutrino decay in the determination of $\theta_{23}$ and $\delta_{\rm CP}$, and find that the best-fit value of $\theta_{23}$ can move from a true value at the lower octant towards the higher octant.Comment: 18 pages; v2: Minor changes, version accepted for publication in EPJ