Método para la generación de modelos realistas en tres dimensiones de células neuronales

Esta invención presenta un método para la generación de modelos tridimensionales de células neuronales partiendo de la información morfológica incompleta extraída mediante métodos de muestreo estándar. Los modelos generados incluyen un soma realista, árboles dendríticos y axonales, y espinas dendríticas, pudiendo ser generados a diferentes niveles de resolución. La invención propone una técnica innovadora que permite obtener una forma realista del soma partiendo de una definición simple del mismo (tal como centro y radio) que resulta incompleta para reconstruir la forma 3D original. El método propuesto se basa en la deformación de una forma inicial, guiada por restricciones establecidas de acuerdo a las propiedades morfológicas de los árboles dendríticos y axonales (por ejemplo: posición y grosor de las dendritas de primer orden). La distribución de un conjunto de espinas a lo largo de las dendritas completa el modelo, generando un modelo tridimensional adecuado para su visualización en una amplia gama de entornos 3D.Peer reviewedUniversidad Rey Juan Carlos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Método para la generación de modelos realistas en tres dimensiones de células neuronales

Esta invención presenta un método para la generación de modelos tridimensionales de células neuronales partiendo de la información morfológica incompleta extraída mediante métodos de muestreo estándar. Los modelos generados incluyen un soma realista, árboles dendríticos y axonales, y espinas dendríticas, pudiendo ser generados a diferentes niveles de resolución. La invención propone una técnica innovadora que permite obtener una forma realista del soma partiendo de una definición simple del mismo (tal como centro y radio) que resulta incompleta para reconstruir la forma 3D original. El método propuesto se basa en la deformación de una forma inicial, guiada por restricciones establecidas de acuerdo a las propiedades morfológicas de los árboles dendríticos y axonales (por ejemplo: posición y grosor de las dendritas de primer orden). La distribución de un conjunto de espinas a lo largo de las dendritas completa el modelo, generando un modelo tridimensional adecuado para su visualización en una amplia gama de entornos 3D.Peer reviewedUniversidad Rey Juan Carlos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasA1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Thermodynamic Analysis of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Reservoirs in Abandoned Mines Using Different Sealing Layers

[EN] Million cubic meters from abandoned mines worldwide could be used as subsurface reservoirs for large scale energy storage systems, such as adiabatic compressed air energy storage (A-CAES). In this paper, analytical and three-dimensional CFD numerical models have been conducted to analyze the thermodynamic performance of the A-CAES reservoirs in abandoned mines during air charging and discharging processes. Unlike other research works, in which the heat transfer coefficient is considered constant during the operation time, in the present investigation a correlation based on both unsteady Reynolds and Rayleigh numbers is employed for the heat transfer coefficient in this type of application. A tunnel with a 35 cm thick concrete lining, 200 m3 of useful volume and typical operating pressures from 5 to 8 MPa were considered. Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) and steel were employed as sealing layers in the simulations around the fluid. Finally, the model also considers a 2.5 m thick sandstone rock mass around the concrete lining. The results obtained show significant heat flux between the pressurized air and the sealing layer and between the sealing layer and concrete lining. However, no temperature fluctuation was observed in the rock mass. The air temperature fluctuations are reduced when steel sealing layer is employed. The thermal energy balance through the sealing layer for 30 cycles, considering air mass flow rates of 0.22 kg s−1 (charge) and −0.45 kg s−1 (discharge), reached 1056 and 907 kWh for FRP and steel, respectively. In general, good agreements between analytical and numerical simulations were obtained.S

Concentration, Propagation and Dilution of Toxic Gases in Underground Excavations under Different Ventilation Modes

[EN] The drill-and-blast method is widely used for the excavation of hard rock tunnels. Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are released immediately after blasting by the detonation of explosives. To provide a safe working environment, the concentration of noxious gases must be reduced below the threshold limit value according to health and safety regulations. In this paper, one-dimensional mathematical models and three-dimensional CFD numerical simulations were conducted to analyze the concentration, propagation and dilution of the blasting fumes under different operating conditions. Forced, exhaust and mixed ventilation modes were compared to determine the safe re-entry times after blasting in a 200 m-long tunnel excavated using the top-heading-and-benching method. Based on the numerical simulations, carbon monoxide was the most critical gas, as it required a longer ventilation time to reduce its concentration below the threshold limit value. The safe re-entry time reached 480 s under the typical forced ventilation mode, but was reduced to 155 s when a mixed ventilation system was used after blasting, reducing the operating costs. The reduction of the re-entry time represents a significant improvement in the excavation cycle. In addition, the results obtained show that 1D models can be used to preliminary analyze the migration of toxic gases. However, to reliably determine the safe re-entry times, 3D numerical models should be developed. Finally, to verify the accuracy of the CFD results, field measurements were carried out in a railway tunnel using gas sensors. In general, good agreements were obtained between the 3D numerical simulations and the measured values.S

Elucidation of the chemical role of the pyroclastic materials on the state of conservation of mural paintings from Pompeii

Pyroclastic strata have always been thought to protect the archaeological remains of the Vesuvian area (Italy), hence allowing their conservation throughout the centuries. In this work, we demonstrate that they constitute a potential threat for the conservation state of the mural paintings of Pompeii. The ions that could be leached from them and the ion‐rich groundwater coming from the volcanic soil/rocks may contribute to salt crystallisation. Thermodynamic modelling not only allowed to predict which salts can precipitate from such leaching events but also assisted the identification of additional sources of sulfates and alkali metals to explain the formation of the sulfates identified in efflorescences from the mural paintings of Pompeii. For the future, fluorine, mainly related to a volcanic origin, can be proposed as a marker to monitor the extent of the impact in the mural paintings of Pompeii in situ

Catalytic activity of iridium NHC complexes covalently bonded to carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide

Trabajo presentado a la Annual World Conference on Carbon, celebrada en Dresden (Alemania) del 12 al 17 de julio de 2015.Carbon nanotubes and graphene have been extensively applied as proactive supports to generate heterogeneous catalysts. Both exhibit a carbon structure composed by carbon atoms with sp2 hybridization and both are used in similar applications, as in catalysis. However, the role of each particular substrate, determined by its structural peculiarities, can be differentvshould be studied for each particular catalytic reaction and in their structure.The aim of this work is to study the differences between oxidized carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene oxides (GO) as proactive supports of iridium Nheterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyst. The effect of their inherent structure in the catalytic activity in hydrogen transfer reactions was studied in detail.The authors thank MINECO/MECD (Projects CONSOLIDER INGENIO 2010 CSD2009-00050, CTQ 2010-15221, Ramón y Cajal contract of P. Alvarez and fellowship of M. Blanco) and the Diputación General de Aragón (E07) for their financial support.Peer Reviewe

Elucidation of the Chemical Role of the Pyroclastic Materials on the State of Conservation of Mural Paintings from Pompeii

Pyroclastic strata have always been thought to protect the archaeological remains of the Vesuvian area (Italy), hence allowing their conservation throughout the centuries. In this work, we demonstrate that they constitute a potential threat for the conservation state of the mural paintings of Pompeii. The ions that could be leached from them and the ion‐rich groundwater coming from the volcanic soil/rocks, may contribute to salt crystallisation. Thermodynamic modelling not only allowed to predict which salts can precipitate from such leaching events, but also assisted the identification of additional sources of sulfates and alkali metals, to explain the formation of the sulfates identified in efflorescences from the mural paintings of Pompeii. For the future, fluorine, mainly related to a volcanic origin, can be proposed as a marker to monitor in situ the extent of the impact in the mural paintings of Pompeii.The research leading to these results has received funding from “la Caixa” Foundation (Silvia Pérez-Diez, ID 100010434, Fellowship code LCF/BQ/ES18/11670017). This work has been supported by the projects MADyLIN (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness from Spain, Grant No. BIA2017‐87063‐P) funded by the Spanish Agency for Research AEI (MINECO-FEDER/UE) and MINECO-17-CTQ2016-77887-C2-1-R

Chemometrics and elemental mapping by portable LIBS to identify the impact of volcanogenic and non-volcanogenic degradation sources on the mural paintings of Pompeii

Crystallization of soluble salts is a common degradation phenomenon that threatens the mural paintings of Pompeii. There are many elements that contribute to the crystallization of salts on the walls of this archaeological site. Notably, the leachates of the pyroclastic materials ejected in 79 AD by Mount Vesuvius and local groundwater, rich in ions from the erosion of volcanic rocks. Both sources could contribute to increase the concentration of halides (fluorides and chlorides) and other salts in these walls. The distribution of volcanogenic salts and their impact on the conservation of Pompeian mural paintings have however not yet been fully disclosed. In this work, an analytical methodology useful to determine the impact of the main sources of degradation affecting the mural paintings of Pompeii is presented. This methodology combines the creation of qualitative distribution maps of the halogens (CaF and CaCl) and related alkali metals (Na and K) by portable Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and a subsequent Principal Component Analysis of these data. Such maps, together with the in-situ identification of sulfate salts by portable Raman spectroscopy, provided information about the migration and distribution of volcanogenic halides and the influence of ions coming from additional sources (marine aerosol and modern consolidation mortars). Additionally, the thermodynamic modeling developed using the experimentally determined ionic content of Pompeian rain- and groundwater allowed to determine their specific role in the formation of soluble salts in the mural paintings of Pompeii.The research leading to these results has received funding from “la Caixa” Foundation (Silvia P erez-Diez, ID 100010434, Fellowship code LCF/BQ/ES18/11670017). This work has been supported by the Spanish Agency for Research AEI (MINECO- FEDER /UE) through the projects MADyLIN (BIA2017-87063-P) and MINECO-17-CTQ2016-77887-C2-1-R, and the Government of the Principality of Asturias (GRUPIN IDI/2018/000186). The authors thank for technical and human support provided by the laboratory Raman-LASPEA of SGIker (UPV/EHU/ ERDF, EU)

Detección de condiciones de engelamiento en el interior de las masas nubosas: aplicación a la mejora de la seguridad aérea

Ponencia presentada en: XXXV Jornadas Científicas de la AME y el XIX Encuentro Hispano Luso de Meteorología celebrado en León, del 5 al 7 de marzo de 2018.Durante las campañas experimentales TECOAGUA y METEORISK se realizaron una serie de vuelos científicos con la plataforma de investigación aérea C212 en las cercanías de la Sierra de Guadarrama y en la zona más occidental de la cordillera Cantábrica. Estos vuelos se realizaron en época invernal y en diversas condiciones meteorológicas, pero siempre con el objetivo de buscar y caracterizar las zonas en las que aparecía SLW y, cuando era posible, detectar las SLD. En este trabajo se describen algunas de las acciones que se establecieron para garantizar tanto la operación de vuelo como la toma de datos de microfísica de nubes en el transcurso de diferentes campañas realizadas entre 2011 y 2017. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que contenidos de agua líquida cercanos a 0.1 g/m3, si se detectan SLD, hacen que la probabilidad de que se produzca carga de hielo en las partes más expuestas del fuselaje de un avión sea muy elevada. La aparición de estas regiones suele ser formando bolsas y más probables en las cercanías de las bases de las nubes, en donde se produce una acumulación de contenido SLW.Este trabajo se ha realizado en el marco del Proyecto SAFEFLIGHT financiado por el MINECO (CGL2016-78702)

Healthcare experience among patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional survey using the IEXPAC tool

[Abstract] Aim: To assess the experience with health care among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and to evaluate patients' demographic variables and healthcare-related characteristics which may affect their experience. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was delivered to T2DM adults. Patient experiences were assessed with the 'Instrument for Evaluation of the Experience of Chronic Patients' (IEXPAC) questionnaire, a validated 12-item survey, which describes patient experience within the last 6 months (items 1-11) and hospitalization in the last 3 years (item 12), with possible scores ranging from 0 (worst) to 10 (best experience). Results: A total of 451 T2DM patients responded to the survey (response rate 72.3%; mean age 69.5 ± 10.1 years, 67.8% men). The mean overall IEXPAC score was 5.92 ± 1.80. Mean scores were higher for productive interactions (7.92 ± 2.15) and self-management (7.08 ± 2.27) than for new relational model (1.72 ± 2.01). Only 32.8% of patients who had been hospitalized in the past 3 years reported having received a follow-up call or visit after discharge. Multivariate analyses identified that regular follow-up by the same physician and follow-up by a nurse were associated with a better patient experience. Continuity of healthcare score was higher only in those patients requiring help from others. Conclusions: The areas of T2DM care which may need to be addressed to ensure better patient experience are use of the Internet, new technologies and social resources for patient information and interaction with healthcare professionals, closer follow-up after hospitalization, and a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach with regular follow-up by the same physician and a nurse