Study of the thermal properties and the fire performance of flame retardant-organic PCM in bulk form

The implementation of organic phase change materials (PCMs) in several applications such as heating and cooling or building comfort is an important target in thermal energy storage (TES). However, one of the major drawbacks of organic PCMs implementation is flammability. The addition of flame retardants to PCMs or shape-stabilized PCMs is one of the approaches to address this problem and improve their final deployment in the building material sector. In this study, the most common organic PCM, Paraffin RT-21, and fatty acids mixtures of capric acid (CA), myristic acid (MA), and palmitic acid (PA) in bulk, were tested to improve their fire reaction. Several flame retardants, such as ammonium phosphate, melamine phosphate, hydromagnesite, magnesium hydroxide, and aluminum hydroxide, were tested. The properties of the improved PCM with flame retardants were characterized by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), the dripping test, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results for the dripping test show that fire retardancy was considerably enhanced by the addition of hydromagnesite (50 wt %) and magnesium hydroxide (50 wt %) in fatty acids mixtures. This will help the final implementation of these enhanced PCMs in building sector. The influence of the addition of flame retardants on the melting enthalpy and temperatures of PCMs has been evaluated

New formulation and characterization of enhanced bulk-organic phase change materials

The main drawbacks faced by researchers to successfully implement organic-PCM as materials to improve the thermal performance of building systems are their low thermal conductivity, their high flammability, and their low thermal cycling stability. T In the present work, authors present a new enhanced PCM formulations aimed to solve the stated disadvantages in organic bulk-PCM. The new enhanced PCM were prepared by adding high thermal conductivity particles and two kinds of flame retardants into organic PCM (paraffin and fatty acid eutectic mixtures). In the first stage, the effective thermal conductivity of organic-PCM was increased by using two different methods: directly dispersion of powder graphite (PG) bulk-PCM and vacuum impregnation of PCM into expanded graphite (EG). In the second stage, the fire reaction behaviour of the thermal conductivity enhanced PCM formulations was improved by adding two kind of flame retardant: magnesium hydroxide and ammonium phosphate (APP).. Their fire reaction behaviour, thermal conductivity and thermophysical properties were measured by adapting the dripping test (UNE 23727-90), the hot-wire method and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The enhanced PCM composites show a self-extinguished behaviour in terms of fire performance mechanism. The EG working with endothermic and phosphates flame retardants improve the fire performance of PCM by acting as a synergic system and the thermal conductivity is increased. However, their thermal storage capacity is significant decreased due to the large amount of flame retardant added (up to 40%). The thermal reliability was also tested, the enhanced PCM composites were stable up to 1000 thermal cycles

Elisidepsin interacts directly with glycosylceramides in the plasma membrane of tumor cells to induce necrotic cell death

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.Plasma membrane integrity is essential for cell life. Any major break on it immediately induces the death of the affected cell. Different molecules were described as disrupting this cell structure and thus showing antitumor activity. We have previously defined that elisidepsin (Irvalec®, PM02734) inserts and self-organizes in the plasma membrane of tumor cells, inducing a rapid loss of membrane integrity, cell permeabilization and necrotic death. Here we show that, in sensitive HCT-116 colorectal cells, all these effects are consequence of the interaction of elisidepsin with glycosylceramides in the cell membrane. Of note, an elisidepsin-resistant subline (HCT-116-Irv) presented reduced levels of glycosylceramides and no accumulation of elisidepsin in the plasma membrane. Consequently, drug treatment did not induce the characteristic necrotic cell death. Furthermore, GM95, a mutant derivative from B16 mouse melanoma cells lacking ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) activity and thus the synthesis of glycosylceramides, was also resistant to elisidepsin. Over-expression of UGCG gene in these deficient cells restored glycosylceramides synthesis, rendering them sensitive to elisidepsin, at a similar level than parental B16 cells. These results indicate that glycosylceramides act as membrane targets of elisidepsin, facilitating its insertion in the plasma membrane and the subsequent membrane permeabilization that leads to drug-induced cell death. They also indicate that cell membrane lipids are a plausible target for antineoplastic therapy.Funding: The work of CV, AM and CM was partially supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (www.mineco.gob.es) [grant numbers SAF2010-14916 and SAF2013-45800-R], and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (www.isciii.es) [grant numbers FIS-RECAVA RD06/0014/0025 and FIS-RIC RD12/0042/0019]. The work of MPL and CG was partially supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad [grant number CTQ 2010-1645]. CM and AM hold FPI and JAE-Predoc (www.csic.es) fellowships, respectively.Peer Reviewe

High magnetic anisotropy of Fe+ ions in KTaO3 and SrCl2

The zero-field splitting constant, D, and the gyromagnetic tensor of the off-center system KTaO3:Fe+ and SrCl2:Fe+ have been explored by means of calculations based on the density-functional theory at the C4v local equilibrium geometry. The calculated D values for KTaO3:Fe+ (9?cm?1) and SrCl2:Fe+ (53 cm?1) are found to be much higher than typical figures measured for insulating compounds containing common 3d Kramers ions with a spin S>1/2 in the ground state. This result together with the calculated g? and g? values concur with available experimental information. The high magnetic anisotropy derived for Fe+ in KTaO3 and SrCl2 is shown to be strongly related to the existence of a 4E excited state lying only at about 3000 and 600?cm?1, respectively, above the ground state. Implications of present findings in the search of new molecular magnets with high values of the magnetic anisotropy are discussed in some detail.The support by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología under Projects No. FIS2006-02261 and No. FIS2009-07083 is acknowledged.The support by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología under Projects No. FIS2006-02261 and No. FIS2009-07083 is acknowledged

Diferencias de percepción en la decisión de compra vs precio. Una aplicación de semántica diferencial en el ámbito inmobiliario.

[ESP] El escenario económico actual se caracteriza por la alta competencia que existe entre las empresas en el mercado. Desde este concepto las empresas consiguen un reclamo para captar clientes, incrementando su nivel de competitividad. Por ello, es cada vez más común que se utilicen técnicas novedosas de diseño que se centran en investigar las percepciones del usuario para trasladarlas a los atributos objetivos del producto a diseñar, cumpliendo las expectativas y deseos esperados. El punto inicial de este estudio se centra en la percepción entendida como el conjunto de sensaciones interiores que resultan de una impresión material hecha en nuestros sentidos. La novedad es que mediante técnicas metodológicas se evita el inconveniente del análisis de parámetros establecidos por expertos y, a diferencia de lo que sucede en la mayoría de técnicas de desarrollo de productos, se identifica y utiliza un esquema conceptual definido por el propio usuario y cliente. Con esto se consigue dar un paso más, y establecer unos nuevos criterios en el diseño de producto como son los propios del usuario más perceptivos y sensitivo-emocionales de una manera científica, objetiva y parametrizada

Los dominios culturales de la malaria: una aproximación a los saberes no institucionales

Introduction: Malaria control policies have not fully achieved the expected results due to little consideration of cultural aspects, among other factors.Objective: To explore the cultural domains pertaining to this disease in an endemic Colombian population, in order to both design and implement effective action plans.Materials and methods: A convenience sampling was conducted to select inhabitants from 12 villages in Tierralta, Córdoba. In order to generate free-lists, participants were asked about their communities’ health problems, causes of malaria, control measures and those responsible for malaria control. Smith’s indexes were calculated for each item answered.Results: Between 30 and 38 individuals per village participated in the study (N=401). The mean age was 40.24 years (standard deviation (SD)=14.22) and women were 45.39% of the total. Participants recognized malaria and respiratory infections as the primary health problems in the community (median Smith’s indexes: 0.83 and 0.63, respectively). A lack of environmental interventions was identified as the main determinant of malaria (median Smith´s index: 0.65). Finally, the health care center (median Smith’s index: 0.71) and health professionals (median Smith´s index: 0.52) were identified as those most responsible for malaria control.Conclusions: The design of programs to reduce the impact of malaria requires developing interventions or initiatives that are adapted to the community’s needs, demands and available resources. Free-listing is proposed as an effective tool to collect information about cultural domains related to health.Introducción. Las políticas de control de la malaria o paludismo no han logrado todos los resultados esperados, debido, entre otras razones, a la poca consideración prestada a los aspectos culturales.Objetivo. Explorar los dominios culturales en torno a esta enfermedad en una población colombiana asentada en zona endémica, con el propósito de diseñar e implementar planes de intervención efectivos.Materiales y métodos. Mediante muestreo por conveniencia se seleccionaron residentes de 12 veredas de Tierralta, Córdoba. Con el fin de generar listados libres, se les preguntó a los participantes sobre los problemas de salud en la comunidad, las causas de la malaria, las medidas de control y los responsables de aplicarlas. Para cada uno de estos ítems se calcularon índices de Smith.Resultados. Participaron entre 30 y 38 personas por vereda (n=401), con una edad promedio de 40,24 años (desviación estándar (DE)=14,22); las mujeres representaban 45,39 % del total de la población. El grupo de participantes reconoció la malaria y las infecciones respiratorias como los problemas de salud más importantes de la comunidad (mediana de los índices de Smith: 0,83 y 0,63, respectivamente). Se reconoció la falta de intervención en las condiciones ambientales como el factor más importante generador de la malaria (mediana del índice de Smith=0,65). Por último, los participantes identificaron al centro de salud (mediana del índice de Smith=0,71) y a los profesionales de la salud (mediana del índice de Smith=0,52) como los principales responsables del control de la malaria.Conclusiones. El diseño de programas para la reducción del impacto de la malaria exige la formulación de intervenciones o iniciativas que involucren la perspectiva de las comunidades y se adapten a las necesidades, demandas y recursos disponibles. La técnica de listados libres se propone como una alternativa eficiente de recolección de información sobre los dominios culturales relacionados con la salud

Are technological projects reducing social inequalities and improving people's well-being? A capability approach analysis of renewable energy-based electrification projects in Cajamarca, Peru

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Journal of Human Development and Capabilities on 18/11/2013, available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2013.837035".[EN] This paper analyses four renewable energy-based electrification projects that were implemented by the non-governmental organization Practical Action in the rural area of Cajamarca, Peru. Using the capability approach, the research examines the effect of the projects on the things people value. It confirms that projects provide different benefits to the communities (reducing air pollution caused by candles and kerosene, improving access to communication through television and radio, providing the possibility of night study under appropriate light, etc.), but also detects an expansion of the capabilities in other areas not considered by the non-governmental organization such as those related to religion, leisure or community participation. However, the expansion of capabilities is different for men and women. The study reveals the limitations of interventions designed to supply technology, electrification in this particular case, which do not take into account certain elements that can make the use of technology contribute unequally to the expansion of people's capabilities. The paper concludes that technological projects can generate inequalities, and some recommendations are presented in order to address these issues when planning interventions.We would like to thank the people from the Peruvian communities where the case study was implemented. Many thanks also to Practical Action-Peru for their collaboration, and to the Centro de Cooperación al Desarrollo of our University who granted this research through Adsideo 2010, and special thanks to José Sastre for his involvement during the fieldwork.Fernández-Baldor Martínez, Á.; Boni Aristizábal, A.; Lillo Rodrigo, P.; Hueso, A. (2014). Are technological projects reducing social inequalities and improving people's well-being? A capability approach analysis of renewable energy-based electrification projects in Cajamarca, Peru. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. 15(1):13-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2013.837035S132715

Fanconi anemia proteins function in mitophagy and immunity

Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway genes are important tumor suppressors whose best-characterized function is repair of damaged nuclear DNA. Here, we describe an essential role for FA genes in two forms of selective autophagy. Genetic deletion of Fancc blocks the autophagic clearance of viruses (virophagy) and increases susceptibility to lethal viral encephalitis. Fanconi anemia complementation group C (FANCC) protein interacts with Parkin, is required in vitro and in vivo for clearance of damaged mitochondria, and decreases mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inflammasome activation. The mitophagy function of FANCC is genetically distinct from its role in genomic DNA damage repair. Moreover, additional genes in the FA pathway, including FANCA, FANCF, FANCL, FANCD2, BRCA1, and BRCA2, are required for mitophagy. Thus, members of the FA pathway represent a previously undescribed class of selective autophagy genes that function in immunity and organellar homeostasis. These findings have implications for understanding the pathogenesis of FA and cancers associated with mutations in FA genes