A Computational Study of Blood Flow and Vascular Nitric Oxide Transport

Atherosclerosis occurs in a spatially heterogeneous fashion within the arterial system. The patchy nature of the disease is thought to reflect spatial variation in haemodynamic factors such as wall shear stress (WSS) and in the concentration of vascular species. This thesis numerically investigates blood flow and vascular transport of the atheroprotective agent nitric oxide (NO) using a spectral/hp element method. Firstly, NO distribution is analysed within a parallel-plate flow chamber coated with endothelial cells. Contrary to the accepted hypothesis that NO concentration increases with WSS (as does NO production), it is observed that NO concentration depends on WSS in a non-monotonic fashion. Furthermore, these results emphasise the effect of convection on in vitro NO transport, which has been overlooked or misinterpreted in most previous computational studies. Secondly, blood flow and NO transport are investigated within a detailed representation of the rabbit thoracic aorta and its branches, which was reconstructed using high resolution computed tomography (CT) scan data of a vascular corrosion cast. The computed WSS distribution exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity, reflecting the complexity of the blood flow. In particular it is observed that two Dean-type vortices (associated with a skewed velocity profile) form in the aortic arch and propagate along the descending aorta. This results in streaks of WSS similar in nature to the fatty streaks of early stage atherosclerosis observed in mature rabbits. This finding provides further support for the hypothesis that blood flow mediates atherogenesis. The vascular distribution of NO is found to depend significantly on the relationship between NO production and WSS. Furthermore, it is concluded that mechanisms preventing NO consumption by haemoglobin (such as diffusional barriers) must exist in order for NO to exert its atheroprotective action. This study represents the first effort to model NO transport in a realistic representation of the major arteries

Shannon entropy and particle decays

We deploy Shannon's information entropy to the distribution of branching fractions in a particle decay. This serves to quantify how important a given new reported decay channel is, from the point of view of the information that it adds to the already known ones. Because the entropy is additive, one can subdivide the set of channels and discuss, for example, how much information the discovery of a new decay branching would add; or subdivide the decay distribution down to the level of individual quantum states (which can be quickly counted by the phase space). We illustrate the concept with some examples of experimentally known particle decay distributions.Comment: 12 pages, 18 plots; to appear in Nuclear Physics

Music Learning Tools for Android Devices

In this paper, a musical learning application for mobile devices is presented. The main objective is to design and develop an application capable of offering exercises to practice and improve a selection of music skills, to users interested in music learning and training. The selected music skills are rhythm, melodic dictation and singing. The application includes an audio signal analysis system implemented making use of the Goertzel algorithm which is employed in singing exercises to check if the user sings the right musical note. This application also includes a graphical interface to represent musical symbols. A set of tests were conducted to check the usefulness of the application as musical learning tool. A group of users with different music knowledge have tested the system and reported to have found it effective, easy and accessible.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A haplotype-resolved draft genome of the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus)

The European sardine (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum, 1792) is culturally and economically important throughout its distribution. Monitoring studies of sardine populations report an alarming decrease in stocks due to overfishing and environmental change, which has resulted in historically low captures along the Iberian Atlantic coast. Important biological and ecological features such as population diversity, structure, and migratory patterns can be addressed with the development and use of genomics resources.Agência financiadora Portuguese national funds from FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology: UID/Multi/04326/2016; European Regional Development Fund (FEDER): 22153-01/SAICT/2016; ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121; ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022231; MAR2020 operational programme of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (project SARDI-NOMICS): MAR-01.04.02-FEAMP-0024; European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme: 654008info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High performance novel gadolinium doped ceria/yttria stabilized zirconia/nickel layered and hybrid thin film anodes for application in solid oxide fuel cells

Magnetron sputtering under oblique angle deposition was used to produce Ni-containing ultra thin film anodes comprising alternating layers of gadolinium doped ceria (GDC) and yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) of either 200 nm or 1000 nm thickness. The evolution of film structure from initial deposition, through calcination and final reduction was examined by XRD, SEM, TEM and TOF-SIMS. After subsequent fuel cell usage, the porous columnar architecture of the two-component layered thin film anodes was maintained and their resistance to delamination from the underlying YSZ electrolyte was superior to that of corresponding single component Ni-YSZ and Ni-GDC thin films. Moreover, the fuel cell performance of the 200 nm layered an- odes compared favorably with conventional commercially available thick anodes. The observed dependence of fuel cell performance on individual layer thicknesses prompted study of equivalent but more easily fabricated hybrid anodes consisting of simultaneously deposited Ni-GDC and Ni-YSZ, which procedure resulted in exceptionally intimate mixing and interaction of the components. The hybrids exhibited very unusual and favorable I---V characteristics, along with exceptionally high power densities at high currents. Their discovery is the principal contribution of the present work.European Union's Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007–2013Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative under the T-CELL project, grant 298300MINECO (Spain), grants nº MAT2013-40852RJuan de la Cierva Programme FPDI-2013-1862

Tripeptide Self-Assembly into Bioactive Hydrogels: Effects of Terminus Modification on Biocatalysis

Bioactive hydrogels based on the self-assembly of tripeptides have attracted great interest in recent years. In particular, the search is active for sequences that are able to mimic enzymes when they are self-organized in a nanostructured hydrogel, so as to provide a smart catalytic (bio)material whose activity can be switched on/off with assembly/disassembly. Within the diverse enzymes that have been targeted for mimicry, hydrolases find wide application in biomaterials, ranging from their use to convert prodrugs into active compounds to their ability to work in reverse and catalyze a plethora of reactions. We recently reported the minimalistic l-His-d-Phe-d-Phe for its ability to self-organize into thermoreversible and biocatalytic hydrogels for esterase mimicry. In this work, we analyze the effects of terminus modifications that mimic the inclusion of the tripeptide in a longer sequence. Therefore, three analogues, i.e., N-acetylated, C-amidated, or both, were synthesized, purified, characterized by several techniques, and probed for self-assembly, hydrogelation, and esterase-like biocatalysis. This work provides useful insights into how chemical modifications at the termini affect self-assembly into biocatalytic hydrogels, and these data may become useful for the future design of supramolecular catalysts for enhanced performance

Characterization of dextrin hydrogels by FTIR spectroscopy and solid state NMR spectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 13C solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to study dextrin structural changes occurring upon hydrogel formation by vinyl acrylate (VA) grafting and subsequent free radical polymerization. The degrees of VA substitution (DS) and polymerization (DP) were quantified up to 40%VA by FTIR intensity measurements and partial least squares (PLS)/FTIR, the latter being a faster and less error-prone method. Above 40%VA, both parameters are underestimated by FTIR. A spin counting NMR experiment showed high carbon observabilities for hydrogels and improved PLS/NMR models were achieved for DS and DP determination. Alternative NMR integration methods are hindered by the broad VA peaks and need for area correction, due to their CP dynamics. NMR changes in C1 profile showed that a single helical conformation predominates at lower %VA, being replaced by disordered conformations as %VA increases. Furthermore, a correlation FTIR/NMR study indicated that ring conformations are significantly affected in hydrogels, compared to unpolymerized dextrin.Funding is acknowledged from the Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal, for project POCI/QUI/ 56229/2004 and grants for H.G. and C.G. (SFRH/22242/ 2005). The authors also wish to acknowledge CICECO for partial funding of this work.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

La construcción de una metodología feminista cualitativa de enfoque narrativo-crítico

Se presenta una metodología cualitativa narrativa crítica como un formato posible y coherente con las bases teóricas de los feminismos, para mostrar la importancia política y ética de los proyectos feministas, en especial, el compromiso con el cambio socia l de la metodología feminista, y con la investigación en general. Con base epistemológica en los principios y criterios del Constructivismo Social , el Feminismo Post -Estructuralista y la Teoría Queer, la metodología utilizada como ejemplo para esta discusi ón fue aplicada en un estudio doctoral que investigó el proceso de construcción -deconstrucción de las subjetividades masculinas con un enfoque terapéutico, en el marco de un programa público de atención a hombres que ejercieron violencia contra mujeres. A través de este ejemplo empírico, se observó que este formato analítico ofrece herramientas para una reflexión crítica sobre las metodologías feministas. Se estableció que el uso de esta metodología específica permite una mejor visualización del problema de la violencia. Se destaca la necesidad de nuevos paradigmas que promuevan el compromiso ético y político, que incluyan contribuciones y permitan el diálogo con avances históricos feministas y estudios de hombres y masculinidades.A critical narrative qualitative methodology is presented as a possible and coherent format with the theoretical bases of feminisms, to show the political and ethical importance of feminist projects, especially the commitment to the social change of feminist methodology, and to the Research in general. With an epistemological basis in the principles and criteria of social co nstructivism, Post -Structural Feminism and Queer Theory, the methodology used a s an example for this discussion was applied in a doctoral study that investigated the process of construction -deconstruction of masculine subjectivities with a Therapeutic approach, within the framework of a public program of care for men who exercised vi olence against women. Through this empirical example, it was observed that this analytical format offers tools for a critical reflection on feminist methodologies. It was established that the use of this specific methodology allows a better visualization o f the problem of violence. It highlights the need for new paradigms that promote ethical and political commitment, which include contributions and allow dialogue with feminist historical advances and studies of men and masculinitie

Analysis of the consequences of car to micromobility user side impact crashes

Mobility has changed in recent years in cities worldwide, th.anks to tb.e strong rise in vehicles of micromobility. Bicycle riding is the most widespread micromobility transport mode, followed by stand-up electric scooters (e-scooters). This increase in its use has also led to an increase in related crashes. Both cyclists and e-scooter riders are vulnerable road users and are lik.ely to sustain severe injuries in crashes, especially with motor vehicles. The crashes consequences involving cyclists and other micromobility users have already investigated using numerical simulation software, such as MADYMO and PC-Crash. Most of them have been focused on bicycles and electric bicycles, whereas only few of tbem have analyzed e-scooter crashes consequences. Posirisuk: et al. [1] carried out a computational prediction ofhead-ground impact k:inematics :in e-scooter falls. Ptak et al. [2] analyzed the e-scooter user kinematics after a crash against SUV when the e-scooter chives into the sidefront of tbe vehicle, a side B-pillar crash and a frontal impact initiated by tbe e-scooter to tbe front-end of the vehicle. However, they did not study the consequ.ences of a car to e-scooter side impact crashes. Xu et al. [3] did study these crashes but considering electric self-balancing scooters that are less widespread than e-scooters. Current study focuses on the consequences of a car to micromobility user (cyclist and e-scooter rider) side impact crashes. The analysis is based on numerical simulations with PC-Crash software