Hydrogenation of α, β unsaturated aldehydes over polycrystalline, (111) and (100) preferentially oriented Pt nanoparticles supported on carbon

The influence of the shape/surface structure of Pt nanoparticles on the selective hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde has been studied. (111) and (100) preferentially oriented Pt nanoparticles (10 nm) as well as polyoriented Pt nanoparticles (3 nm) were synthesized, characterized (by TEM, cyclic voltammetry and adsorption microcalorimetry) and their catalytic properties evaluated. TEM analysis provided information about the size and shape of the Pt nanoparticles, whereas cyclic voltammetry allowed gaining qualitative and quantitative information about their surface structure. Thus, small Pt nanoparticles ( ) were revealed to have a polyoriented surface, containing high ratio of corner and edges atoms to terrace atoms, whereas large Pt nanoparticles ( ) were shown to have larger Pt domains with (100) and (111) surface structures. Microcalorimetric results for CO adsorption showed higher values of initial heat for polyoriented Pt/C compared to preferentially oriented samples, thus accounting for a higher amount of highly unsaturated surface platinum atoms for Pt/C, in agreement with cyclic voltammetry. The catalytic performances of the samples showed a strong structure-sensitive character for both reactions, with TOF values following the trend Pt(100)/C > Pt(111)/C > Pt/C. Moreover, Pt(111)/C showed higher selectivities to unsaturated alcohol than Pt(100)/C and Pt/C samples.Es la versión prepritn del artículo. Se puede consultar la versión final en https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2007.10.01

Limits on the Dipole Moments of the τ\tau-Lepton via the Process $e^{+}e^{-}\to \tau^+ \tau^- \gamma in a Left-Right Symmetric Model

Limits on the anomalous magnetic moment and the electric dipole moment of the $\tau$ lepton are calculated through the reaction $e^{+}e^{-}\to \tau^+ \tau^- \gamma$ at the $Z_1$-pole and in the framework of a left-right symmetric model. The results are based on the recent data reported by the L3 Collaboration at CERN LEP. Due to the stringent limit of the model mixing angle $\phi$, the effect of this angle on the dipole moments is quite small.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure

Evaluación de la peligrosidad sísmica en España para aplicaciones relacionadas con la seguridad nuclear. Resultados preliminares.

En este trabajo se presentan los avances realizados en el marco del proyecto “Evaluación de la Peligrosidad Sísmica en España para aplicaciones relacionadas con la seguridad nuclear” financiado por el Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear. La finalidad última del proyecto es ahondar en el conocimiento de la peligrosidad sísmica y de su incertidumbre en los emplazamientos de instalaciones críticas como instalaciones nucleares y almacenamientos de residuos radiactivos en nuestro país. Con ese propósito, una primera fase del proyecto está destinada a recopilar y estructurar toda la información generada en proyectos previos financiados por el CSN (DAÑOS, SIGMA, PRIOR, EXPEL y DATACIÓN) concerniente a estudio de fallas activas, análisis de paleosismicidad, catálogos sísmicos y de movimiento fuerte del suelo, etc.. Esta información está siendo integrada y unificada en una Base de Datos y en un Sistema de Información Geográfica. Paralelamente, el código informático desarrollado en el proyecto EXPEL está siendo actualizado para desarrollar cálculos de peligrosidad sísmica siguiendo la metodología PSHA de una forma eficiente, incluyendo formulación de un árbol lógico, cuantificación de incertidumbres epistémicas y aleatorias, análisis de sensibilidad de diferentes opciones en los resultados y desagregación. Los resultados preliminares del proyecto son presentados en esta comunicación, dando una orientación hacia futuros desarrollos y toma de decisiones relacionados con la seguridad nuclear

Sublittoral soft bottom communities and diversity of Mejillones Bay in northern Chile (Humboldt Current upwelling system)

The macrozoobenthos of Mejillones Bay (23°S; Humboldt Current) was quantitatively investigated over a 7-year period from austral summer 1995/1996 to winter 2002. About 78 van Veen grab samples taken at six stations (5, 10, 20 m depth) provided the basis for the analysis of the distribution of 60 species and 28 families of benthic invertebrates, as well as of their abundance and biomass. Mean abundance (2,119 individuals m-2) was in the same order compared to a previous investigation; mean biomass (966 g formalin wet mass m-2), however, exceeded prior estimations mainly due to the dominance of the bivalve Aulacomya ater. About 43% of the taxa inhabited the complete depth range. Mean taxonomic Shannon diversity (H', Log e) was 1.54 ± 0.58 with a maximum at 20 m (1.95 ± 0.33); evenness increased with depth. The fauna was numerically dominated by carnivorous gastropods, polychaetes and crustaceans (48%). About 15% of the species were suspensivorous, 13% sedimentivorous, 11% detritivorous, 7% omnivorous and 6% herbivorous. Cluster analyses showed a significant difference between the shallow and the deeper stations. Gammarid amphipods and the polychaete family Nephtyidae characterized the 5-mzone, the molluscs Aulacomya ater, Mitrella unifasciata and gammarids the intermediate zone, while the gastropod Nassarius gayi and the polychaete family Nereidae were most prominent at the deeper stations. The communities of the three depth zones did not appear to be limited by hypoxia during non-El Niño conditions. Therefore, no typical change in community structure occurred during El Niño 1997–1998, in contrast to what was observed for deeper faunal assemblages and hypoxic bays elsewhere in the coastal Humboldt Current system

Enhancing dna immunization by targeting asfv antigens to sla-ii bearing cells

One of the main criticisms to DNA vaccines is the poor immunogenicity that they confer on occasions, at least in large animals. Confirming this theory, immunization with plasmid DNA encoding two African swine fever virus genes in frame (pCMV-PQ), failed in inducing detectable immune responses in pigs, while it was successful in mice. Aiming to improve the immune responses induced in swine, a new plasmid was constructed, encoding the viral genes fused in frame with a single chain variable fragment of an antibody specific for a swine leukocyte antigen II (pCMV-APCH1PQ). Our results clearly demonstrate that targeting antigens to antigen professional cells exponentially enhanced the immune response induced in pigs, albeit that the DNA vaccine was not able to confer protection against lethal viral challenge. Indeed, a viremia exacerbation was observed in each of the pigs that received the pCMV-APCH1PQ plasmid, this correlating with the presence of non-neutralizing antibodies and antigen-specific SLA II-restricted T-cells. The implications of our discoveries for the development of future vaccines against African swine fever virus and other swine pathogens are discussed.Fil: Argilaguet, J. M.. No especifíca;Fil: Pérez Martín, E.. No especifíca;Fil: Gallardo, C.. No especifíca;Fil: Salguero, F. J.. No especifíca;Fil: Borrego, B.. No especifíca;Fil: Lacasta, A.. No especifíca;Fil: Accensi, F.. No especifíca;Fil: Díaz, I.. No especifíca;Fil: Nofrarías, M.. No especifíca;Fil: Pujols, J.. No especifíca;Fil: Blanco, E.. No especifíca;Fil: Pérez Filgueira, Daniel Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Escribano, José M.. No especifíca;Fil: Rodríguez, F.. No especifíca

A replication study confirms the association of TNFSF4 (OX40L) polymorphisms with systemic sclerosis in a large European cohort

<p><b>Objectives</b> The aim of this study was to confirm the influence of TNFSF4 polymorphisms on systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility and phenotypic features.</p> <p><b>Methods</b> A total of 8 European populations of Caucasian ancestry were included, comprising 3014 patients with SSc and 3125 healthy controls. Four genetic variants of TNFSF4 gene promoter (rs1234314, rs844644, rs844648 and rs12039904) were selected as genetic markers.</p> <p><b>Results</b> A pooled analysis revealed the association of rs1234314 and rs12039904 polymorphisms with SSc (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.31; OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.29, respectively). Significant association of the four tested variants with patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) was revealed (rs1234314 OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.38; rs844644 OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.99; rs844648 OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20 and rs12039904 OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.33). Association of rs1234314, rs844648 and rs12039904 minor alleles with patients positive for anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) remained significant (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.37; OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.25; OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.38, respectively). Haplotype analysis confirmed a protective haplotype associated with SSc, lcSSc and ACA positive subgroups (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.96; OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.96; OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.97, respectively) and revealed a new risk haplotype associated with the same groups of patients (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26; OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.35; OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.42, respectively).</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b> The data confirm the influence of TNFSF4 polymorphisms in SSc genetic susceptibility, especially in subsets of patients positive for lcSSc and ACA.</p&gt

A genome-wide association study follow-up suggests a possible role for PPARG in systemic sclerosis susceptibility

Introduction: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) comprising a French cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) reported several non-HLA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing a nominal association in the discovery phase. We aimed to identify previously overlooked susceptibility variants by using a follow-up strategy.<p></p> Methods: Sixty-six non-HLA SNPs showing a P value <10-4 in the discovery phase of the French SSc GWAS were analyzed in the first step of this study, performing a meta-analysis that combined data from the two published SSc GWASs. A total of 2,921 SSc patients and 6,963 healthy controls were included in this first phase. Two SNPs, PPARG rs310746 and CHRNA9 rs6832151, were selected for genotyping in the replication cohort (1,068 SSc patients and 6,762 healthy controls) based on the results of the first step. Genotyping was performed by using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Results: We observed nominal associations for both PPARG rs310746 (PMH = 1.90 × 10-6, OR, 1.28) and CHRNA9 rs6832151 (PMH = 4.30 × 10-6, OR, 1.17) genetic variants with SSc in the first step of our study. In the replication phase, we observed a trend of association for PPARG rs310746 (P value = 0.066; OR, 1.17). The combined overall Mantel-Haenszel meta-analysis of all the cohorts included in the present study revealed that PPARG rs310746 remained associated with SSc with a nominal non-genome-wide significant P value (PMH = 5.00 × 10-7; OR, 1.25). No evidence of association was observed for CHRNA9 rs6832151 either in the replication phase or in the overall pooled analysis.<p></p> Conclusion: Our results suggest a role of PPARG gene in the development of SSc

Regeneración de campus para la creación de un laboratorio vivo de sostenibilidad ("living lab") en el Campus de Excelencia Internacional de Moncloa

La Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) a través de su Centro de Innovación en Tecnología para el Desarrollo Humano (itdUPM) está propiciando la generación de conciencia, conocimiento y soluciones innovadoras que contribuyen al cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible a través de un edificio que sirve como laboratorio de prueba para nuevas tecnologías verdes y como plataforma de ideación colaborativa y activación social

Spatial variability of vegetation index and soil properties in an integrated crop-livestock system

The knowledge of soil property spatial variability is useful for determining the rational use of inputs, such as the site-specific application of lime and fertilizer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vegetation index and spatial variability of physical and chemical soil properties in an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS). Soil samples were taken from a 6.9 ha area in a regular hexagon grid at 0-0.20 m depths. Soil P, K, Ca, Mg, and cation exchange capacity - CEC; base saturation; clay and sand were analyzed. Soil electrical conductivity (ECa) was measured with a contact sensor. The site was evaluated at the end of the corn season (April) and during forage production (October) using Landsat 5 images, remote sensing techniques and a geographic information system (GIS). Results showed that the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was associated with ECa and soil parameters, indicating crop and pasture variations in the ICLS. Geostatistics and GIS were effective tools for collecting data regarding the spatial variability of soil and crop indicators, identifying variation trends in the data, and assisting data interpretation to determine adequate management strategies.201