139 research outputs found

    Unraveling monoamine receptors involved in the action of typical and atypical antipsychotics on glutamatergic and serotonergic transmission in prefrontal cortex

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    El pdf del artículo es la versión post-print.The systemic administration of noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists has been considered as a pharmacological model of schizophrenia. In the present work, we used in vivo microdialysis to examine: first, the effects of MK-801, on the efflux of glutamate and serotonin (5-HT) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rat; second, whether the MK-801-induced changes in the cortical efflux of both transmitters could be blocked by atypical (clozapine and olanzapine) and classical (haloperidol and chlorpromazine) antipsychotic drugs given intra-mPFC; and third, the role of local blockade of dopamine D2/D3/D4, serotonin 5-HT2A and α1-adrenergic receptors as well as agonism at dopamine D1/D5 and 5-HT1A receptors in the mPFC on the increased efflux of glutamate and 5-HT elicited by MK-801. The four antipsychotic drugs blocked the MK-801-induced increase in glutamate, whereas only clozapine and olanzapine were able to block the increased efflux of 5-HT. Furthermore, M100907 (5-HT2A antagonist), BAY x 3702 (5-HT1A agonist) and prazosin (α1-adrenergic antagonist) blocked the MK-801-induced increase of 5-HT and glutamate in the mPFC. In contrast, raclopride (D2/D3 antagonist) and L-745,870 (D4 antagonist) were able to prevent the increased efflux of glutamate (but not that of 5-HT) elicited by MK-801. SKF-38393 (dopamine D1/D5 agonist) also prevented the MK-801-induced increase of glutamate in the mPFC, but the same effect on cortical 5-HT was reached only at the highest concentration tested. We suggest that the blockade of an exacerbated 5-HT release in the mPFC induced by NMDA antagonists can be a characteristic of atypical antipsychotic drugs. Moreover, we propose that D 2/D3/D4 receptor antagonists would act predominantly on a subpopulation of GABAergic interneurons of the mPFC, thus enhancing cortical inhibition, which would prevent an excessive glutamatergic transmission. Dopamine D1/D5 agonists would further stimulate GABA release from other subpopulation of interneurons controlling cortical output to the dorsal raphe nucleus. Atypical antipsychotic drugs might further act upon 5-HT2A, 5-HT1A and α1- adrenoceptors present in pyramidal cells (including those projecting to the dorsal raphe nucleus), which would directly inhibit an excessive excitability of these cells. © 2010 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS Grant PI070111 to A. A.), the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Grant SAF 2007-62378 to F.A.), and the Generalitat de Catalunya (SGR2005/00758). X.L.- G. is the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC).Peer Reviewe

    Is the utilization of methane gas, the sollution of air pollution in difuse sectors?. The case of port of Castellón

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    Within an scenario of highly sensitivity on environmental questions, followed by an international regulation body, that is restricting the emission levels from ships in ports with the future possibilit y of more stringent local regulations; the challenge for the world’s fleet are not only technical but economic and logistical. From one side, there are different technical alternatives affording to accomplish the nowadays international regulations. Even avoiding on board modifications, the owner can decide to use low sulphur content fuels, together with slight changes in engines to reduce the levels of nitrogen oxides. But the question posed in this paper is how to support the decision to use high quality oil derivatives, because environment questions, but with a favorable economic balance. That superior cost will be translated in a higher transport chain cost. Additionally regarding coastal navigation, it is possible in the future that some new regulations could penalize elevated rates of CO2 emissions, not yet considered by MARPOL convention. This paper will analyze the availability of the use of methane as ideal fuel to get compliment of the nowa days and even future, local and international regulations of CO2 and NOX, regarding the fuel derivatives and no emissions of sulphur oxides and ashes.Postprint (published version

    Novena campanya d'excavacions a la ciutat romana de Lesera

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    En aquesta nota presentem un avanç dels resultats de la campanya d'excavacions de 2015 realitzada a la ciutat romana de Lesera, que fou finançada per la Mancomunitat Comarcal dels Ports en el marc del Pla Formatiu d'auxiliars en Arqueologia del Taller d'Ocupació, i es desenvolupà de manera discontínua entre els dies 16 de març i 22 de juliol. Les excavacions es feren en el marc de les pràctiques dels alumnes d'aquest taller1. L'actuació consistí en la continuació dels treballs començats en els anys 2008-2009 als sondeigs 6 i 8 (Arasa 2009a), situats al sector N de la plataforma inferior del jaciment. Les conclusions que exposem tenen un caràcter provisional, atés que encara no ha finalitzat l'estudi dels materials recuperats

    Wheel shape optimization approaches to reduce railway rolling noise

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    [EN] A wheel shape optimization of a railway wheel cross section by means of Genetic Algorithms (GAs) is presented with the aim of minimizing rolling noise radiation. Two different approaches have been implemented with this purpose, one centred on direct Sound poWer Level (SWL) minimization, calculated using TWINS methodology, and another one emphasizing computational efficiency, focused on natural frequencies maximization. Numerical simulations are carried out with a Finite Element Method (FEM) model using general axisymmetric elements. The design space is defined by a geometric parametrization of the wheel cross section with four parameters: wheel radius, a web thickness factor, fillet radius and web offset. For all wheel candidates a high-cycle fatigue analysis has been performed according to actual standards, in order to assure structural feasibility. Rolling noise reductions have been achieved, with a decrease of up to 5 dB(A) when considering the wheel component. Response surfaces have been also computed to study the dependency of the objective functions on the geometric parameters and to test the adequacy of the optimization algorithm applied.This study was financially supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades - Agencia Estatal de Investigacion, European Regional Development Fund (project TRA2017-84701-R), and Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigacio, Cultura i Esport (Generalitat Valenciana, project Prometeo/2016/007).García-Andrés, FX.; Gutiérrez-Gil, J.; Martínez Casas, J.; Denia, FD. (2020). Wheel shape optimization approaches to reduce railway rolling noise. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. 62(5):2555-2570. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-020-02700-6S25552570625Beranek LL (2007) Basic acoustical quantities: levels and decibels, chapter 1 pp 1–24, John Wiley & Sons, LtdBouvet P, Vincent N, Coblentz A, Demilly F (2000) Optimization of resilient wheels for rolling noise control. J Sound Vib 231(3):765–777Bühler S (2006) Methods and results of field testing of a retrofitted freight train with composite brake blocks. J Sound Vib 293(3-5):1041–1050Cigada A, Manzoni S, Vanali M (2008) Vibro-acoustic characterization of railway wheels. Appl Acoust 69(6):530–545Clausen U, Doll C, Franklin FJ, Franklin GV, Heinrichmeyer H, Kochsiek J, Rothergatter W, Sieber N (2012) Reducing railway noise pollution. Technical Report, Policy Department Structural and Cohesion Policies, European ParliamentCoello CAC (2002) Theoretical and numerical constraint-handling techniques used with evolutionary algorithms: a survey of the state of the art. Comput Method in Appl M 191(11-12):1245–1287Cui D, Wang R, Allen P, An B, Li L, Wen Z (2019) Multi-objective optimization of electric multiple unit wheel profile from wheel flange wear viewpoint. Struct Multidiscipl Optim 59(1):279–289de Vos P (2016) Railway noise in Europe. Technical Report, International Union of RailwaysDIN (2017) Railway applications. Wheelsets and bogies. Monobloc wheels. Design assessment procedure. Part 1: forged and rolled wheels DIN-prEN-13979-1:2017. Technical standard, DIN Standards Committee RailwayEfthimeros GA, Photeinos DI, Diamantis ZG, Tsahalis DT (2002) Vibration/noise optimization of a FEM railway wheel model. Eng Computation 19(7-8):922–931Fahy F, Gardonio P (2007) Sound and structural vibration, 2nd edition. Academic Press, OxfordGarcia-Andrés X, Gutiérrez-Gil J, Martínez-Casas J, Denia FD (2019) Sound power minimization of a railway wheel by means of a modal-based geometric optimization technique. In: Proceedings of 48th International Congress and Exhibition on Noise Control EngineeringGrassie SL, Gregory RW, Harrison D, Johnson KL (1982) The dynamic response of railway track to high frequency vertical excitation. J Mechan Eng Sci 24(2):77–90Hare W, Nutini J, Tesfamariam S (2013) A survey of non-gradient optimization methods in structural engineering. Adv Eng Softw 59:19–28Holland JH (1975) Adaptation in natural and artificial systems, 1st edition. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MIJanssens MHA, Thompson DJ, de Beer FG (2014a) TWINS version 3.3 Track-Wheel Interaction Noise Software user manual. TNO reportJanssens MHA, Thompson DJ, de Beer FG, Dittrich M, Jansen H (2014b) TWINS version 3.3 Track-Wheel Interaction Noise Software theoretical manual. TNO reportJones CJC, Hardy AEJ, Jones RRK, Wang A (1996) Bogie shrouds and low track-side barriers for the control of railway vehicle rolling noise. J Sound Vib 193(1):427–431Jones CJC, Thompson DJ (2003) Extended validation of a theoretical model for railway rolling noise using novel wheel and track designs. J Sound Vib 267(3):509–522Kalker JJ (1967) On the rolling contact of two elastic bodies in the presence of dry friction. PhD thesis, Technical University of DelftKnothe K, Gross-Thebing A (1986) Derivation of frequency dependent creep coefficients based on an elastic half-space model. Vehicle Syst Dyn 15(3):133–153Lang S (1985) Complex analysis, 2nd edition. Springer New York, New YorkLee S, Lee DH, Lee J (2019) Integrated shape-morphing and metamodel-based optimization of railway wheel web considering thermo-mechanical loads. Struct Multidiscipl Optim 60(1):315–330Marler RT, Arora JS (2004) Survey of multi-objective optimization methods for engineering. Struct Multidiscipl Optim 26(6):369–395Merideno I, Nieto J, Gil-Negrete N, Giménez Ortiz JG, Landaberea A, Iartza J (2014) Theoretical prediction of the damping of a railway wheel with sandwich-type dampers. J Sound Vib 333(20):4897–4911Nielsen JCO (1994) Dynamic interaction between wheel and track - A parametric search towards an optimal design of rail structures. Vehicle Syst Dyn 23(1):115–132Nielsen JCO (2000) Acoustic optimization of railway sleepers. J Sound Vib 231(3):753–764Nielsen JCO, Fredö CR (2006) Multi-disciplinary optimization of railway wheels. J Sound Vib 293(3-5):510–521Petyt M (2010) Vibration of solids, 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press, CambridgeRemington PJ (1976) Wheel/rail noise part IV: rolling noise. J Sound Vib 46(3):419–436Remington PJ (1987) Wheel/rail rolling noise, II: validation of the theory. J Acoust Soc Am 81 (6):1824–1832Rios LM, Sahinidis NV (2013) Derivative-free optimization: a review of algorithms and comparison of software implementations. J Global Optim 56(3):1247–1293Thompson DJ (1988) Predictions of acoustic radiation from vibrating wheels and rails. J Sound Vib 120(2):275–280Thompson DJ (1991) Wheel-rail noise: theoretical modelling of the generation of vibrations. PhD thesis, University of SouthamptonThompson DJ (1993a) Wheel-rail noise generation, part I: introduction and interaction model. J Sound Vib 161(3):387–400Thompson DJ (1993b) Wheel-rail noise generation, part II: wheel vibration. J Sound Vib 161 (3):401–419Thompson DJ (1993c) Wheel-rail noise generation, part IV: contact zone and results. J Sound Vib 161(3):447–466Thompson DJ (2010) Railway noise and vibration. Mechanisms, modelling and means of control, 1st edition. Elsevier, AmsterdamThompson DJ, Fodiman P, Mahé H (1996a) Experimental validation of the TWINS prediction program for rolling noise, part 2: results. J Sound Vib 193(1):137–147Thompson DJ, Hemsworth B, Vincent N (1996b) Experimental validation of the TWINS prediction program for rolling noise, part 1: description of the model and method. J Sound Vib 193(1):123–135Thompson DJ, Jones CJC (2002) Sound radiation from a vibrating railway wheel. J Sound Vib 253(2):401–419Thompson DJ, Squicciarini G, Zhang J, Lopez-Arteaga I, Zea E, Dittrich M, Jansen E, Arcas K, Cierco E, Magrans F, Malkoun A, Iturritxa E, Guiral A, Stangl M, Schleinzer G, Martin-Lopez B, Chaufour C, Wändell J (2018) Assessment of measurement-based methods for separating wheel and track contributions to railway rolling noise. Appl Acoust 140:48–62Timoshenko SP, Gere JM (1963) Theory of elastic stability. Dover, Mineola, New York, 2nd editionUNE (2011) Railway applications. Wheelsets and bogies. Monobloc wheels. Technical approval procedure. Part 1: forged and rolled wheels UNE-EN-13979-1:2006. Technical standard, Asociación Española de Normalización (UNE)Vincent N, Bouvet P, Thompson DJ, Gautier PE (1996) Theoretical optimization of track components to reduce rolling noise. J Sound Vib 193(1):161–171Wang Z, Jiao Y, Chen Z (2019) Parameter study of friction damping ring for railway wheels based on modal analysis. Appl Acoust 153:140–146WHO (2011) Burden of disease from environmental noise. Technical Report, European Centre for Environment and Healt

    Clozapine and haloperidol differently suppress the MK-801-increased glutamatergic and serotonergic transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex of the rat

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    The administration of noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists such as phencyclidine and ketamine has been shown to increase the extracellular concentration of glutamate and serotonin (5-HT) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In the present work, we used in vivo microdialysis to examine the effects of the more potent noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, on the efflux of glutamate and 5-HT in the mPFC, and whether the MK-801-induced changes in the cortical efflux of both transmitters could be blocked by clozapine and haloperidol given systemically or intra-mPFC. The systemic, but not the local administration of MK-801, induced an increased efflux of 5-HT and glutamate, which suggests that the NMDA receptors responsible for these effects are located outside the mPFC, possibly in GABAergic neurons that tonically inhibit glutamatergic inputs to the mPFC. The MK-801-induced increases of extracellular glutamate and 5-HT were dependent on nerve impulse and the activation of mPFC AMPA/kainate receptors as they were blocked by tetrodotoxin and NBQX, respectively. Clozapine and haloperidol blocked the MK-801-induced increase in glutamate, whereas only clozapine was able to block the increased efflux of 5-HT. The local effects of clozapine and haloperidol paralleled those observed after systemic administration, which emphasizes the relevance of the mPFC as a site of action of these antipsychotic drugs in offsetting the neurochemical effects of MK-801. The ability of clozapine to block excessive cortical 5-HT efflux elicited by MK-801 might be related to the superior efficacy of this drug in treating negative/cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science Grants SAF 2004-05525 and SAF 2003-04930 and by the Generalitat de Catalunya (SGR2005/00758 and SGR2005/00826). XL-G, ZB, and MA-B were recipients of predoctoral fellowships from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, and Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), respectively.Peer reviewe

    A revision of the X-ray absorption nature of BALQSOs

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    Aims. Broad absorption-line quasars (BALQSOs) are key objects for studying the structure and emission/absorption properties of AGN. However, despite their fundamental importance, the properties of BALQSOs remain poorly understood. To investigate the X-ray nature of these sources, as well as the correlations between X-ray and rest-frame UV properties, we compile a large sample of BALQSOs observed by XMM-Newton. Methods. We collect information for 88 sources from the literature and existing catalogues, creating the largest BALQSO sample analysed optically and in X-ray to date. We performed a full X-ray spectral analysis (using unabsorbed and both neutral and ionized absorption models) on a sample of 39 sources with higher X-ray spectral quality, and an approximate hardness-ratio analysis on the remaining sources. Using available optical spectra, we calculate the BALnicity index and investigate the dependence of this optical parameter on different X-ray properties. Results. Using the neutral absorption model, we find that 36% of our BALQSOs have NnH < 5 × 1021 cm−2, lower than the expected X-ray absorption for these objects. However, when we used a physically-motivated model for the X-ray absorption in BALQSOs, i.e., ionized absorption, ∼90% of the objects are absorbed. The observed difference in ionized properties of sources with the BALnicity index (BI) =0 and BI > 0 might be explained by different physical conditions of the outflow and/or inclination effects. The absorption properties also suggest that LoBALs may be physically different objects from HiBALs. In addition, we report on a correlation between the ionized absorption column density and BAL parameters. There is evidence (at the 98% level) that the amount of X-ray absorption is correlated with the strength of high-ionization UV absorption. Not previously reported, this correlation can be naturally understood in virtually all BALQSO models, as being driven by the total amount of gas mass flowing towards the observer. We also find a hint of a correlation between the BI and the ionization level detected in X-rays.We thank the anonymous referee for helpful comments. The first author would like to thank the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación for a Juan de la Cierva contract. XB, FJC and RGM acknowledge financial support by the Spanish MICINN under project ESP2006-13608-C02-01.We also acknowledge the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (http://www.sdss.org/). Funding for the SDSS has been provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Participating Institutions, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Japanese Monbukagakusho, the Max Planck Society, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England

    SIRA: Relightable Avatars from a Single Image

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    Recovering the geometry of a human head from a single image, while factorizing the materials and illumination is a severely ill-posed problem that requires prior information to be solved. Methods based on 3D Morphable Models (3DMM), and their combination with differentiable renderers, have shown promising results. However, the expressiveness of 3DMMs is limited, and they typically yield over-smoothed and identity-agnostic 3D shapes limited to the face region. Highly accurate full head reconstructions have recently been obtained with neural fields that parameterize the geometry using multilayer perceptrons. The versatility of these representations has also proved effective for disentangling geometry, materials and lighting. However, these methods require several tens of input images. In this paper, we introduce SIRA, a method which, from a single image, reconstructs human head avatars with high fidelity geometry and factorized lights and surface materials. Our key ingredients are two data-driven statistical models based on neural fields that resolve the ambiguities of single-view 3D surface reconstruction and appearance factorization. Experiments show that SIRA obtains state of the art results in 3D head reconstruction while at the same time it successfully disentangles the global illumination, and the diffuse and specular albedos. Furthermore, our reconstructions are amenable to physically-based appearance editing and head model relighting

    Treatments to Optimize Dental Implant Surface Topography and Enhance Cell Bioactivity

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    Osseointegration is a biological process in which histological, surgical, infectious factors, biomechanical load, and the choice of biomaterials all play important roles. In the case of dental implants, the success of this process is also influenced by the design, composition, and properties of the implant surface, which may stimulate cell bioactivity and promote osteoblast adhesion. Currently, the raw materials most frequently used in the manufacture of dental implants are titanium, its alloys, and certain ceramic materials such as zirconia. Multiple macroscopic designs incorporating various diameters, lengths, shapes, and types of screw offer different options for specific clinical situations. The characteristics of implant surfaces have aroused great interest, due to their importance in osseointegration. The different methods used to modify surface properties are classified as additive (i.e., impregnation and coating) or subtractive (i.e., physical, mechanical and chemical methods). The surface characteristics of dental implants also have a significant influence on peri-implant microbiota

    Screening of antioxidant activity of Gentian Lutea root and its application in Oil-in-Water Emulsions

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    Gentiana Lutea root (G. Lutea) is a medicinal herb, traditionally used as a bitter tonic in gastrointestinal ailments for improving the digestive system. The active principles of G. Lutea were found to be secoiridoid bitter compounds as well as many other active compounds causing the pharmacological effects. No study to date has yet determined the potential of G. Lutea antioxidant activity on lipid oxidation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an extract of G. Lutea on lipid oxidation during storage of an emulsion. G. Lutea extracts showed excellent antioxidant activity measured by DPPH scavenging assay and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. An amount of 0.5% w/w G. Lutea lyophilise was able to inhibit lipid oxidation throughout storage (p < 0.05). A mixture of G. Lutea with 0.1% (w/w) BSA showed a good synergic effect and better antioxidant activity in the emulsion. Quantitative results of HPLC showed that G. Lutea contained secoiridoid-glycosides (gentiopiocroside and sweroside) and post column analysis displayed radical scavenging activity of G. Lutea extract towards the ABTS radical. The results from this study highlight the potential of G. Lutea as a food ingredient in the design of healthier food commoditiesPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version
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