Effect of Titanium Dioxide Supports on the Activity of Pt-Ru toward Electrochemical Oxidation of Methanol

TiO2and Nb-TiO2 were investigated as stable supports for Pt-Ru electrocatalysts towards methanol oxidation. X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) data for all these TiO2-based supports show oxidation states of Ti4+, with no Ti3+, suggesting low electronic conductivity. However, the deposition of metal nanoparticles onto the supports at loadings of 60 wt% metal dramatically increased conductivity, making these electrodes (metal particles + support) suitable for electrochemistry even though the supports have low conductivity. For some of these TiO2-based supports, the activity of Pt-Ru towards methanol oxidation was excellent, even surpassing the activity of the same electrocatalysts supported on carbon. The activity of the electrocatalyst depended on TiO2 crystalline structure, the addition of Nb into the support and the weight loading of metal. For example, using anatase Nb-TiO2 as a support increased the electrochemical activity of Pt-Ru by 83% compared to the same electrocatalysts supported on either carbon Vulcan XC-72R or rutile Nb-TiO2. This electrode was also 64% more active than the one that had anatase TiO2 as the support with no Nb. Finally, increasing the weight loading of metal from 5 to 60% increased the conductivity by 5 orders of magnitude and the activity by a factor of 20

Una nueva asociación de matorral gipsófilo para el Sur de España (Provincia Bética)

El estudio de los matorrales gípsicos en el sur de España, revela la presencia de una comunidad diferente del resto de asociaciones descritas hasta el momento dentro de la alianza Lepidion subulati, al existir diferencias florísticas, ecológicas y biogeográficas. Por ello se propone la asociación Ononido angustifolii-Anthyllidetum cytisoidi nova, con un área subbética e hispalense, que se presenta en ambientes, secos y subhúmedos, sobre substratos gípsicos, los cuales dependiendo del ombrotipo se encuentran más o menos lavados, por lo que el matorral puede presentar más o menos gipsófitos estrictos. Asociación que se desarrolla sobre sustratos gípsicos, los cuales experimentan una pérdida de sales en ambientes seco-subhúmedos, por lo que esta nueva comunidad presenta un bajo porcentaje de gipsófilos estrictos frente a una mayor frecuencia de especies menos estrictas. Por lo que se propone la nueva alianza Resedo constrictae-Helianthemion syriacae nova de distribución ibérico-magrebíA study of the thickets growing on gypsum soils in the south of Spain reveals the presence of a community different from the other associations already described within the suballiance Lepidienion subulati as a result of the floristic, ecological and biogeographical differences. Therefore, we propose the association Ononido angustifolii-Anthyllidetum cytisoidi nova with a Subbetic and Hispalensean distribution. The association occurs in semiarid, dry and subhumid environments, on gypsum soils which, depending on the ombrotype, are more or less washed-out and, consequently, the thicket may comprise more o less strict gypsophytes. The association grows on gypsum soils which undergo salt deprivation in dry-subhumid environments. Thus, in this new community the percentage of strict gypsophilous taxa is low as compared to the number of less strict gypsophytes. To propose the new alliance Resedo constrictae-Helianthemion syriacae iberico-magrebi distribution

Protective Effect of Melatonin Against Mitomycin C-Induced Genotoxic Damage in Peripheral Blood of Rats

Mitomycin C (MMC) generates free radicals when metabolized. We investigated the effect of melatonin against MMC-induced genotoxicity in polychromatic erythrocytes and MMC-induced lipid peroxidation in brain and liver homogenates. Rats (N = 36) were classified into 4 groups: control, melatonin, MMC, and MMC + melatonin. Melatonin and MMC doses of 10 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg, respectively, were injected intraperitoneally. Peripheral blood samples were collected at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours posttreatment and homogenates were obtained at 96 hours posttreatment. The number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCE) per 1000 PCE was used as a genotoxic marker. Malondialdehyde (MDA) plus 4-hydroxyalkenal (4-HDA) levels were used as an index of lipid peroxidation. The MMC group showed a significant increase in MN-PCE at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours that was significantly reduced with melatonin begin coadministrated. No significant differences were found in lipid peroxidation. Our results indicate that MMC-induced genotoxicity can be reduced by melatonin

Resistin Regulates Pituitary Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation In Vivo and In Vitro

The adipokine resistin is an insulin-antagonizing factor that also plays a regulatory role in inflammation, immunity, food intake, and gonadal function and also regulates growth hormone (GH) secretion in rat adenopituitary cells cultures with the adipokine. Although adipose tissue is the primary source of resistin, it is also expressed in other tissues, including the pituitary. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible action of resistin on the lipid metabolism in the pituitary gland in vivo (rats in two different nutritional status, fed and fast, treated with resistin on acute and a chronic way) and in vitro (adenopituitary cell cultures treated with the adipokine). Here, by a combination of in vivo and in vitro experimental models, we demonstrated that central acute and chronic administration of resistin enhance mRNA levels of the lipid metabolic enzymes which participated on lipolysis and moreover inhibiting mRNA levels of the lipid metabolic enzymes involved in lipogenesis. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that resistin has a regulatory role on lipid metabolism in the pituitary gland providing a novel insight in relation to the mechanism by which this adipokine can participate in the integrated control of lipid metabolism.Sara Borrell Postdoctoral program; BFU 2011 and CIBER Obesidad y Nutricion (Instituto de Salud Carlos Tercero (ISCIII), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion). Juan de la Cierva Program (Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia)S

Phytochemical Characterization and Antiplatelet Activity of Mexican Red Wines and Their By-products

Red wines and their grape pomaces are important sources of phenolic compounds. Inhibition of plateletaggregation is one of the mechanisms proposed for cardioprotective effect of phenolic compounds fromwine and grape pomace; however, phenolic content is affected by region, variety and winemaking process.In the present study, antiplatelet effect of red wines and grape pomaces was related to its phenolic content(determined by spectrophotometric techniques) and profile (determined using HPLC-MS/MS). in vitroAnti-platelet aggregation was determined using human platelets. Results showed that Zinfandel wine andCabernet Sauvignon grape pomace presented the highest phenolic content. Phenolic profiles presenteddifferences in the presence of flavonoids and oligomeric tannins. Results from platelet aggregationshowed that Merlot and Petit Verdot wines and Petit Verdot grape pomace sample presented the highestantiaggregant effect. These results indicate that antiplatelet effect could be related to phenolic profile thanphenolic content in wines and grape pomaces. Cardioprotective effect of red wines and grape pomacecould be related to specific compounds such as monomeric and polymeric flavan-3-ols

Resistin Regulates Pituitary Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation In Vivo

The adipokine resistin is an insulin-antagonizing factor that also plays a regulatory role in inflammation, immunity, food intake, and gonadal function and also regulates growth hormone (GH) secretion in rat adenopituitary cells cultures with the adipokine. Although adipose tissue is the primary source of resistin, it is also expressed in other tissues, including the pituitary. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible action of resistin on the lipid metabolism in the pituitary gland in vivo (rats in two different nutritional status, fed and fast, treated with resistin on acute and a chronic way) and in vitro (adenopituitary cell cultures treated with the adipokine). Here, by a combination of in vivo and in vitro experimental models, we demonstrated that central acute and chronic administration of resistin enhance mRNA levels of the lipid metabolic enzymes which participated on lipolysis and moreover inhibiting mRNA levels of the lipid metabolic enzymes involved in lipogenesis. Taken together, our results demonstrate for the first time that resistin has a regulatory role on lipid metabolism in the pituitary gland providing a novel insight in relation to the mechanism by which this adipokine can participate in the integrated control of lipid metabolism

Toma de decisiones inteligente a partir de registros médicos almacenados en CDA-HL7

Debido al incremento exponencial de la información almacenada en las organizaciones, la Sociedad de la Información está siendo superada por la necesidad de nuevos métodos capaces de procesar la información y asegurar su uso productivo. Esto se hace lógicamente extensible a los centros hospitalarios, a partir del uso extendido de las Historias Clínicas en formato electrónico. Disponer de información sistematizada, gestionarla de forma eficiente y segura es esencial para garantizar mejores prácticas en salud. A esto se le añade la necesidad de soportar estándares que permitan el intercambio entre las instituciones de salud; específicamente HL7 se ha convertido en uno de los más utilizados debido a que proporciona el intercambio a partir del metalenguaje XML. En este trabajo se propone una metodología para el descubrimiento de conocimiento implícito en Historias Clínicas en formato semi-estructurado utilizando el contenido y la estructura de los mismos. Los principales resultados son: (1) La metodología para el agrupamiento de Historias Clínicas; (2) La interpretación de los resultados del agrupamiento para asistir la toma de decisiones diagnósticas; (3) La implementación del estándar HL7, para la manipulación de documentos médicos a partir de CDA.Palabras Clave: agrupamiento, descubrimiento de Conocimiento, HCE, XML, CDA

Estado actual de la implementación de las Normas Internacionales de Información Financieras (NIIF) en PyMEs de la ciudad de Montería, Colombia

El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar las razones por las cuales las pequeñas y medianas empresas (en adelante PyMEs) de la ciudad de Montería, registran retrasos en la implementación de las Normas Internacionales de Información Financiera (en adelante NIIF). En concreto, los indicadores evaluados en este trabajo se concentraron en: 1) la identificación de las empresas que han realizado procesos de adopción de NIIF; 2) las dificultades en la construcción del estado financiero de apertura (en adelante ESFA); y 3) los mayores problemas relacionados con el conocimiento de las normas, recursos económicos y tecnológicos. Se utilizó una metodología de carácter descriptivo y no experimental de campo a partir de la aplicación de una encuesta estructurada a una muestra de 36 PyMEs de la ciudad de Montería (Colombia). Los hallazgos reflejan que el 44% de las empresas han iniciado el proceso de adopción de NIIF y solo un 5% han presentado informes de acuerdo a los estándares internacionales. El 39% promedio restante se encuentra en proceso de revisión de saldos, auditoria de cuenta y procesos de capacitación. En definitiva, se evidencia que los principales factores que inciden negativamente en los procesos de implementación de NIIF son: 1) desconocimiento de las normas contables, 2) bajo nivel en los procesos de capacitación profesional por parte de las empresas, y 3) dificultades en los recursos tecnológicos y económicos.The objective of this research was to identify the reasons why small and medium enterprises (hereinafter, SMEs) of the city of Monteria, experience delays in the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (hereinafter, IFRS). Specifically, the indicators evaluated in this work focused on: 1) the identification of companies that have undergone IFRS adoption processes, 2) the difficulties encountered in the construction of the opening financial statement (hereinafter, ESFA), 3) the major problems related to the knowledge of standards, economic and technological resources. A descriptive and non-experimental field methodology was implemented, based on the application of a structured survey, in a sample of 36 SMEs of the city of Monteria (Colombia). Outcomes show that 44% of the surveyed companies have started the process of adopting IFRS while only 5% have submitted reports according to international standards. The remaining 39% are in process of balance review, audit of accounts, and training processes. In short, it is evident that the main factors that negatively affect IFRS implementation processes are: 1) ignorance of accounting standards, 2) low level of professional training processes by companies, 3) difficulties in the technological and economic resources.Fil: Fuentes-Doria, Deivi D. Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. Facultad de Administración de Empresas; Colombia.Fil: García-Alarcón, Héctor A. Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia. Facultad de Ciencias Administrativas, Contables y Afines; Colombia.Fil: Toscano-Hernández, Aníbal E. Universidad de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Administrativas y Jurídicas; Colombia

Probing the innermost regions of AGN jets and their magnetic fields with RadioAstron II. Observations of 3C 273 at minimum activity

RadioAstron is a 10 m orbiting radio telescope mounted on the Spektr-R satellite, launched in 2011, performing Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry (SVLBI) observations supported by a global ground array of radio telescopes. With an apogee of about 350 000 km, it is offering for the first time the possibility to perform {\mu}as-resolution imaging in the cm-band. We present observations at 22 GHz of 3C 273, performed in 2014, designed to reach a maximum baseline of approximately nine Earth diameters. Reaching an angular resolution of 0.3 mas, we study a particularly low-activity state of the source, and estimate the nuclear region brightness temperature, comparing with the extreme one detected one year before during the RadioAstron early science period. We also make use of the VLBA-BU-BLAZAR survey data, at 43 GHz, to study the kinematics of the jet in a 1.5-year time window. We find that the nuclear brightness temperature is two orders of magnitude lower than the exceptionally high value detected in 2013 with RadioAstron at the same frequency (1.4x10^13 K, source-frame), and even one order of magnitude lower than the equipartition value. The kinematics analysis at 43 GHz shows that a new component was ejected 2 months after the 2013 epoch, visible also in our 22 GHz map presented here. Consequently this was located upstream of the core during the brightness temperature peak. These observations confirm that the previously detected extreme brightness temperature in 3C 273, exceeding the inverse Compton limit, is a short-lived phenomenon caused by a temporary departure from equipartition. Thus, the availability of interferometric baselines capable of providing {\mu}as angular resolution does not systematically imply measured brightness temperatures over the known physical limits for astrophysical sources.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&