Síntesi i estudi de ciclopèptids antibiòtics

Treballs Finals de Grau de Química, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Any: 2018, Tutor: Francesc Rabanal AngladaThere is currently an important clinical worldwide challenge around the infections produced by multidrug-resistant bacteria. The discovery of effective antibiotics has diminished a lot in recent years, evidencing a great threat and an urgent need of new and safer antibiotics with broader spectrum to fight against these bacteria. A new field of study consists in reconsidering polymyxin, a cyclopeptide that presents excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. However, its use has been reduced over the years due to their neuro and nephrotoxicity, so that they are currently used only as a last resort antibiotic. As a consequence, one of the research areas consists in the synthesis of polymyxin analogs with the aim of improving its biological activity and reducing its toxicity. Regarding this work, three polymyxin analogs are firstly synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis using Fmoc/tBu orthogonal protection strategy. Secondly, cyclization is carried out by the oxidation between two cysteine residues and finally, the analogs obtained are characterized by using RP-HPLC and ESI mass spectrometry. Moderately good yields and high purity are obtained for the analogs synthetized. Subsequently, the microbiological activity of the analogs is evaluated by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and, later, their hemolytic activity is studied as a toxicity tes

The perils of thresholding

The thresholding of time series of activity or intensity is frequently used to define and differentiate events. This is either implicit, for example due to resolution limits, or explicit, in order to filter certain small scale physics from the supposed true asymptotic events. Thresholding the birth-death process, however, introduces a scaling region into the event size distribution, which is characterised by an exponent that is unrelated to the actual asymptote and is rather an artefact of thresholding. As a result, numerical fits of simulation data produce a range of exponents, with the true asymptote visible only in the tail of the distribution. This tail is increasingly difficult to sample as the threshold is increased. In the present case, the exponents and the spurious nature of the scaling region can be determined analytically, thus demonstrating the way in which thresholding conceals the true asymptote. The analysis also suggests a procedure for detecting the influence of the threshold by means of a data collapse involving the threshold-imposed scale.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

Can the use of an auditory feedback device improve the gait pattern of paediatric patients with hemiparesis?

Postprint (published version

Use of water-based carbonyl-functional polymers on a cross-linker-free highperformance leather finish

The present paper aims to study a new high-performance coating formulation while avoiding the use of cross-linkers. By using acrylic polymers with carbonyl functional groups, the negative environmental effects of the finishing process can be minimized. These new polymers can give very good physical properties without losing the inherent properties of flexibility and elasticity needed in upholstery leatherPostprint (published version

Ús de minicasos a les classes expositives de psicologia

L’assoliment de l’Espai Europeu d’Educació Superior implica nous rols per a professors i alumnes i la introducció de noves metodologies docents. En aquest article es presenta una experiència d’innovació en la docència de la Psicologia consistent en la incorporació de minicasos a les classes expositives de l’assignatura troncal i anual “Avaluació Psicològica” de segon curs de la llicenciatura de Psicologia. S’exposa el procediment i s’analitza l’opinió dels estudiants respecte a la utilitats dels minicasos per incrementar l’atenció, l’interès i la comprensió de l’assignaturaEl logro del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior implica nuevos roles para los profesores y alumnos, y la introducción de nuevas metodologías docentes. En el presente artículo se presenta una experiencia de innovación en la docencia de la Psicología consistente en la incorporación de minicasos en las clases expositivas de la asignatura troncal y anual “Evaluación Psicológica” de segundo curso de la licenciatura de Psicología. Se expone el procedimiento y se analiza la opinión de los estudiantes respecto a la utilización de los minicasos para incrementar la atención, el interés y la comprensión de la asignaturaThe achievement of the European Higher Education Area goals requires new roles of the professors and students, as well as the introduction of new educational methodologies. The aim of this article is to present an innovative approach to teaching psychology which consists of the application of minicases on the core subject of “Psychological Assessment”. The procedure and the student’s opinion about the utility of minicases to increase attention, interest and comprehension are discusse

Ciències i lletres: transitant la frontera

Segons l'Enquesta de Percepció Social de la Ciència del 2018, més de la meitat dels espanyols diu que té dificultats per comprendre la ciència i més d’un 40% considera que el nivell d’educació tecnocientífica és baix o molt baix. Aquest article presenta un clam de científics humanistes per "dessacralitzar les teories i baixar-les a la terra"