Synthesis of isoquinolines by irradiation of 1-methoxy-2-azabuta-1,3-dienes in a neutral medium

We describe, for the first time, the photocyclization of 2-azadienes in a neutral medium. The reaction leads to the formation of isoquinolines. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Anomaly detection in video sequences

Video processing and understanding lab. Trabajo parcialmente financiado pro el Gobierno de España bajo el proyecto TEC2011-25995 (EventVídeo).In this work, a comprehensive study of an existing anomaly detection framework has been carried out. After identifying current challenges in the field of anomaly detection in video sequences, an existing framework has been selected for its implementation and evaluation. A set of video sequences containing anomalies from common surveillance scenarios have been selected from publicly available datasets. The system has been evaluated on these video sequences in order to identify existing shortcomings. Improvements to the original algorithm have been proposed in order to address the observed limitations. Finally, the performance of the proposed changes has been evaluated on the same video sequences for comparison

Liderazgo transformacional y confianza organizacional en funcionarios de municipalidades rurales de la región del Maule

58 p.La presente investigación, de tipo no experimental, transversal, tuvo como objetivo general identificar la relación entre confianza organizacional y liderazgo transformacional en una muestra de 117 funcionarios de dos municipios rurales de la región del Maule a través de una metodología cuantitativa, que incluye análisis descriptivos, correlacionales y análisis comparativos. Además, este estudio se fundamenta en la psicología organizacional positiva (POP), la que se enfoca en el estudio de variables relacionadas con el funcionamiento óptimo del ser humano. Dentro de este enfoque, se encuentra el modelo HERO (Healthy and Resilient Organizations) de organizaciones saludables y resilientes (Salanova et al., 2012), del que se extrajeron las variables investigadas. Entre los resultados relevantes, se obtuvo que las medias de las variables confianza organizacional y liderazgo transformacional son similares en ambas instituciones (MA=3,46; DTA=1,16; MB=3,76; DTB Se discuten los resultados obtenidos y se plantean sugerencias a considerar en próximos estudios de esta línea de investigación. =1,15) y correlacionan de manera positiva y significativa (r=0,519; p<0,001), lo que se explicaría, en parte, por la naturaleza similar de ambas organizaciones seleccionadas para la investigación. Palabras Clave: Psicología positiva, Modelo HERO, Liderazgo Transformacional, Confianza, Municipios rurales

ICTs for determining operational parameters of engineered wetlands designed for the treatment of nitrate-polluted water

En España, debido a las prácticas agrícolas, el 13% del territorio ha sido declarado vulnerable a la contaminación del agua por nitratos. Para mitigar los impactos ambientales generados por el nitrógeno, se ha construido un sistema híbrido de humedales artificiales gracias al proyecto europeo LIFE REAGRITECH. El prototipo ha sido pensado como un sistema compacto, modular y móvil, automatizado y operado de forma remota. El monitoreo del sistema producirá conocimientos valiosos para la administración pública, los agricultores, investigadores y universidades, y proporcionará información útil para mejorar la toma de decisiones con el fin de preservar los recursos hídricos y el medio ambiente. El proyecto REAGRITECH tiene grandes perspectivas de futuro en el campo de la agricultura en Europa y en Colombia.Due to the agricultural practices in Spain, 13% of the entire territory has been declared as vulnerable to nitrate-polluted water. In order to mitigate the environmental impact caused by nitrogen, a hybrid system of artificial wetlands has been engineered thanks to the European project known as LIFE REAGRITECH. The prototype has been thought as a compact, modular, and portable system, automated and operated in a remote manner. Monitoring of the system will result in valuable knowledge for public management, farmers, researchers, and universities, and it will provide useful information intended to improve the decision-making process as a way of preserving water resources and environment. Project REAGRITECH offers significant future perspectives in the field of agriculture in Europe and in Colombia as well

Pixel-based colour contrast for abandoned and stolen object discrimination in video surveillance

This paper is a postprint of a paper submitted to and accepted for publication in Electronics Letters and is subject to Institution of Engineering and Technology Copyright. The copy of record is available at IET Digital LibraryA novel approach is proposed for discriminating between abandoned or stolen previously detected stationary foreground regions in video surveillance. It is based on measuring the colour contrast of the contour of the stationary object under analysis at pixel level. Two contrasts are computed by analysing such a contour in the current and background frames. Then, both are combined for performing the discrimination. The experimental results over a heterogeneous dataset containing real scenarios demonstrate that this approach outperforms the related literature and greatly reduces the computational cost of the discrimination task, allowing real-time operation.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Government (TEC2011-25995), by the Consejería de Educación of the Comunidad de Madrid and by The European Social Fund

A New Perspective on Huntington's Disease: How a Neurological Disorder Influences the Peripheral Tissues

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a toxic, aggregationprone expansion of CAG repeats in the HTT gene with an age-dependent progression that leads to behavioral, cognitive and motor symptoms. Principally affecting the frontal cortex and the striatum, mHTT disrupts many cellular functions. In fact, increasing evidence shows that peripheral tissues are affected by neurodegenerative diseases. It establishes an active crosstalk between peripheral tissues and the brain in different neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on the current knowledge of peripheral tissue effects in HD animal and cell experimental models and identifies biomarkers and mechanisms involved or affected in the progression of the disease as new therapeutic or early diagnostic options. The particular changes in serum/plasma, blood cells such as lymphocytes, immune blood cells, the pancreas, the heart, the retina, the liver, the kidney and pericytes as a part of the blood–brain barrier are described. It is important to note that several changes in different mouse models of HD present differences between them and between the different ages analyzed. The understanding of the impact of peripheral organ inflammation in HD may open new avenues for the development of novel therapeutic targets

Circulating miR-330-3p in Late Pregnancy is Associated with Pregnancy Outcomes Among Lean Women with GDM

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is characterised by insulin resistance accompanied by reduced beta-cell compensation to increased insulin demand, typically observed in the second and third trimester and associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is a need for a biomarker that can accurately monitor status and predict outcome in GDM, reducing foetal-maternal morbidity and mortality risks. To this end, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) present themselves as promising candidates, stably expressed in serum and known to play crucial roles in regulation of glucose metabolism. We analysed circulating miRNA profiles in a cohort of GDM patients (n=31) and nondiabetic controls (n=29) during the third trimester for miRNA associated with insulin-secretory defects and glucose homeostasis. We identified miR-330-3p as being significantly upregulated in lean women with GDM compared to nondiabetic controls. Furthermore, increased levels of miR-330-3p were associated with better response to treatment (diet vs. insulin), with lower levels associated with exogenous insulin requirement. We observed miR-330-3p to be significantly related to the percentage of caesarean deliveries, with miR-330-3p expression significantly higher in spontaneously delivered GDM patients. We report this strong novel association of circulating miR-330-3p with risk of primary caesarean delivery as a pregnancy outcome linked with poor maternal glycaemic control, strengthening the growing body of evidence for roles of diabetes-associated miRNAs in glucose homeostasis and adaptation to the complex changes related to pregnancy

Prospective Evaluation of Intensity of Symptoms, Therapeutic Procedures and Treatment in Palliative Care Patients in Nursing Homes

The aim of the study is to evaluate the intensity of symptoms, and any treatment and therapeutic procedures received by advanced chronic patients in nursing homes. A multi-centre prospective study was conducted in six nursing homes for five months. A nurse trainer selected palliative care patients from whom the sample was randomly selected for inclusion. The Edmonton Symptoms Assessment Scale, therapeutic procedures, and treatment were evaluated. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to evaluate month-to-month differences and differences between those who died and those who did not. A total of 107 residents were evaluated. At the end of the follow-up, 39 had (34.6%) died. All symptoms (p < 0.050) increased in intensity in the last week of life. Symptoms were more intense in those who had died at follow-up (p < 0.05). The use of aerosol sprays (p = 0.008), oxygen therapy (p < 0.001), opioids (p < 0.001), antibiotics (p = 0.004), and bronchodilators (p = 0.003) increased in the last week of life. Peripheral venous catheters (p = 0.022), corticoids (p = 0.007), antiemetics (p < 0.001), and antidepressants (p < 0.05) were used more in the patients who died. In conclusion, the use of therapeutic procedures (such as urinary catheters, peripheral venous catheter placement, and enteral feeding) and drugs (such as antibiotics, anxiolytics, and new antidepressant prescriptions) should be carefully considered in this clinical setting.This paper has been partially supported by the Junta de Andalucía, by project FQM-235 and the Andalusian CICYE project AP-0105-201