Hierarchical self-assembly of di-, tri- and tetraphenylalanine peptides capped with two fluorenyl functionalities: from polymorphs to dendrites

Homopeptides with 2, 3 and 4 phenylalanine (Phe) residues and capped with fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl and fluorenylmethyl esters at the N-terminus and C-terminus, respectively, have been synthesized to examine their self-assembly capabilities. Depending on the conditions, the di-and triphenylalanine derivatives self-organize into a wide variety of stable polymorphic structures, which have been characterized: stacked braids, doughnut-like shapes, bundled arrays of nanotubes, corkscrew-like shapes and spherulitic microstructures. These highly aromatic Phe-based peptides also form incipient branched dendritic microstructures, even though they are highly unstable, making their manipulation very difficult. Conversely, the tetraphenylalanine derivative spontaneously self-assembles into stable dendritic microarchitectures made of branches growing from nucleated primary frameworks. The fractal dimension of these microstructures is similar to 1.70, which provides evidence for self-similarity and two-dimensional diffusion controlled growth. DFT calculations at the M06L/6-31G(d) level have been carried out on model beta-sheets since this is the most elementary building block of Phe-based peptide polymorphs. The results indicate that the antiparallel beta-sheet is more stable than the parallel one, with the difference between them growing with the number of Phe residues. Thus, the cooperative effects associated with the antiparallel disposition become more favorable when the number of Phe residues increases from 2 to 4, while those of the parallel disposition remained practically constant.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Pla estratègic d’atenció geriàtrica especialitzada de Catalunya: bases del model de futur

Pla estratègic; Atenció geriàtrica; Atenció centrada en la personaPlan estratégico; Atención geriátrica; Atención centrada en la personaStrategic plan; Geriatric care; Attention focused on the personAquest Pla aborda la planificació estratègica de l’atenció a les persones grans per part dels equips i dispositius geriàtrics especialitzats (atenció geriàtrica especialitzada), mentre que de forma conjunta amb la direcció estratègica d’atenció primària serà necessari el replantejament de l’atenció a la gent gran de forma transversal, així com amb Salut Pública

Cirurgia de columna vertebral als hospitals públics de Catalunya: proposta organitzativa

Cirurgia de columna vertebral; Hospitals públics; OrganitzacióCirugía de columna vertebral; Hospitales públicos; OrganizaciónSpinal surgery; Public hospitals; OrganizationEls objectius d'aques document son: 1. Consensuar els criteris d’indicació de la cirurgia de columna vertebral en diferents situacions clíniques. 2. Analitzar i definir els diferents nivells quirúrgics segons complexitat de la cirurgia de columna vertebral en la població de Catalunya. 3. Establir els criteris i requeriments mínims dels centres hospitalaris per proveir cirurgia de columna vertebral segons els nivells de complexitat a Catalunya

Pla estratègic d'atenció geriàtrica i pal·liativa especialitzada de Catalunya: línies estratègiques, projectes i actuacions

Pla estratègic; Atenció pal·liativa; Atenció centrada en la personaPlan estratégico; Atención paliativa; Atención centrada en la personaStrategic plan; Palliative care; Person centered careAquest document conté les línies estratègiques, projectes i actuacions del Pla estratègic d'atenció geriàtrica i pal·liativa especialitzada de Catalunya

Ontologia per a la comprensió dels conceptes i dades educacionals

L'ontologia que proposa aquest Treball Final de Grau (TFG) és una estandarització dels conceptes compresos dins del domini del e-learning, i de com estan relacionats entre ells. Aquesta ontologia és un resultat genèric i aplicable a qualsevol LMS.The ontology proposed in this Treball Final de Grau (TFG) is an standarization of the concepts within the e-learning domain, and the relationships between them. This ontology is a generic result and suitable to any LMS

Ontologia per a la comprensió dels conceptes i dades educacionals

L'ontologia que proposa aquest Treball Final de Grau (TFG) és una estandarització dels conceptes compresos dins del domini del e-learning, i de com estan relacionats entre ells. Aquesta ontologia és un resultat genèric i aplicable a qualsevol LMS.The ontology proposed in this Treball Final de Grau (TFG) is an standarization of the concepts within the e-learning domain, and the relationships between them. This ontology is a generic result and suitable to any LMS

Empowering teachers' self assessment of their own practice on student's oral skills: EVALOE decision support system

School is an essential context that contributes to children's communicative competence. Decision Support Systems (DSS) are tools that can help teachers to assess their own practice and to make decisions to improve it (Gregg, 2009). Our aim is the construction, implementation and validation of a digital Decision Support System (EVALOE-DSS), conceived as a teacher empowerment tool for self-assessment and decision making about their teaching practice concerning students' oral skills. Participants are 4 teachers and their groups of students of 4 diverse schools. The research procedure includes: 1) design and development of a DSS for different type of schools; 2) researcher assessment of one classroom observation using EVALOE-DSS; 3) weekly teacher self-assessment of classroom observation and decision making using EVALOE-DSS; 4) analysis of self-assessments, decision making and changes in teaching practices; 5) teacher-researcher assessment of the helpfulness of DSS and introduction of changes. EVALOE-DSS is a multimedia tool consisting of 30 items that assess 5 dimensions: teaching management, instructional design, communicative functions and teacher strategies, students' communicative functions, and students' management. It includes, also, a brief description of each item and a variety of resources to help teachers to make decisions and introduce the actions in their teaching practice.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Empowering teachers' self assessment of their own practice on student's oral skills: EVALOE decision support system

School is an essential context that contributes to children's communicative competence. Decision Support Systems (DSS) are tools that can help teachers to assess their own practice and to make decisions to improve it (Gregg, 2009). Our aim is the construction, implementation and validation of a digital Decision Support System (EVALOE-DSS), conceived as a teacher empowerment tool for self-assessment and decision making about their teaching practice concerning students' oral skills. Participants are 4 teachers and their groups of students of 4 diverse schools. The research procedure includes: 1) design and development of a DSS for different type of schools; 2) researcher assessment of one classroom observation using EVALOE-DSS; 3) weekly teacher self-assessment of classroom observation and decision making using EVALOE-DSS; 4) analysis of self-assessments, decision making and changes in teaching practices; 5) teacher-researcher assessment of the helpfulness of DSS and introduction of changes. EVALOE-DSS is a multimedia tool consisting of 30 items that assess 5 dimensions: teaching management, instructional design, communicative functions and teacher strategies, students' communicative functions, and students' management. It includes, also, a brief description of each item and a variety of resources to help teachers to make decisions and introduce the actions in their teaching practice.Peer Reviewe

Developing a digital application (EVALOE-DSS) for the professional development of teachers aiming to improve their students’ linguistic competence

This paper reports the development and validation of a digital application (Assessment Scale of Oral Language at School - Decision Support System, EVALOE-DSS) for the professional development of teachers aiming to improve their students’ linguistic competence. We performed a multiple case study involving seven teachers and their students from seven different schools. Over a six–month period, the teachers used the digital application to self-assess their classes, make decisions and introduce changes into their teaching practices. The researchers observed four class sessions of each teacher and assessed them with the same digital application. Each teacher-researcher dyad discussed the tool and its use over three meetings during the semester. Despite some differences between the teachers, use of the digital application produced progress in the competences of both the teachers and the students. Thus, the digital application can be used for professional development in teachers.This study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund (EDU2015-63616-P) (MINECO / ERDF).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

DNA adsorbed on hydroxyapatite surfaces

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles with very different surface charges and compositions (i.e. different Ca/P and CO32-/PO43- ratios) have been obtained by varying the experimental conditions used during the chemical precipitation process. The DNA adsorption capacity and protection imparted against the attack of nucleases of HAp particles have been proved to depend on the surface charge while the buffering capacity is affected by the chemical composition. On the basis of both the surface charge and the crystallinity, the predominant planes at the surfaces of HAp particles have been identified. Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of surfaces constructed with these planes (i.e. (001) and the two terminations of (010)) with the adsorbed B-DNA double helix have been performed to get microscopic understanding of the influence of the mineral in the biomolecule structure and the interaction energies. The results indicate that the DNA secondary structure is perfectly preserved on the (001) surface, this stability being accompanied by an attractive binding energy. In contrast, the (010) surface with PO43-, OH- and Ca2+ ions in the termination induces significant local and global deformations in the double helix, repulsive OH-(HAp)/PO43- (DNA) interactions provoking the desorption of the biomolecule. Finally, although the termination of the (010) surface with PO43- and Ca2+ ions also deforms the double helix, it forms very strong attractive interactions with the biomolecule. These binding characteristics are in excellent agreement with the DNA adsorption and protection abilities experimentally determined for the HAp samples. Finally, the surface charge has been found less decisive than the chemical composition in the efficacy of the transfection process.Peer Reviewe