Synthesis of Tannic acid and Gallic acid nanostructures with biomedical applications

Motivation: Tannic acid (TA) and Gallic acid (GA) are natural polyphenolic compounds belonging to the family of tannins, a subset of secondary metabolites that stands out due to their biological activity, including anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral activities [1,2]. Our group has developed TA nanoparticles with antitumor activity that can be selectively targeted to tumors, thereby reducing the undesirable side effects associated with chemotherapy [3].In this work we have broadened the scope of these promising nanoparticles by introducing GA in their formulation. Additionally, we have tackled the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on TA and GA. Methods and Results: The obtained nanostructures have been characterized by physicochemical techniques: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman Spectroscopy, Tyndall Effect, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), UV-Visible and Infrared Spectroscopy.Our TA/GA nanoparticles have a hydrodynamic diameter of just 202 nm and a zeta potential of -34 mV. This is an improvement over the previously described TA nanoparticles. Their entrapment efficiency is very high (92.4 %). Moreover, we have simplified the synthesis by reducing the amount of coating polymer.In a different approach we have also synthesized MOFs using TA and GA as ligand and different metal cations (Fe2+, Fe3+ or Ni2+). They have different hydrodynamic diameters and shapes, and their crystallinity is being studied by X-Ray Diffraction.Conclusions: TA/GA nanoparticles have been obtained by using polymers Generally Recognized As Safe (or GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration. Their size has been optimized, so they are suitable for intravenous administration. With respect to the MOFs structures synthesized, their potential applications are more diverse (including, for example, catalytic processes) depending on their size, porosity and crystallinity

Semantic Geodemography and Urban Interoperability

Nowadays there exists an increasing interest on the use of the information collected by cities coming from different resources as data with dynamic nature like the one provided by sensor networks, as static data associated to the socio-technical system that the city performs. As well as the Semantic Sensor Web allows the standardization of data, it is essential to give an appropriate dealing to geo-demographic data. In this paper, an approach to the semantization of the geo-demographic information is presented, with the aim of achieving interoperability within other systems of the geospatial cyberinfrastructure. Furthermore, fundamental aspects of the creation of ontologies by starting from socio-demographical systems are discussed and the process is illustrated with a case study.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2009-09492Junta de Andalucía TIC-606

Operational space control of a lightweight robotic arm actuated by shape memory alloy wires: a comparative study.

This article presents the design and control of a two-link lightweight robotic arm using shape memory alloy wires as actuators. Both a single-wire actuated system and an antagonistic configuration system are tested in open and closed loops. The mathematical model of the shape memory alloy wire, as well as the kinematics and dynamics of the robotic arm, are presented. The operational space control of the robotic arm is performed using a joint space control in the inner loop and closed-loop inverse kinematics in the outer loop. In order to choose the best joint space control approach, a comparative study of four different control approaches (proportional derivative, sliding mode, adaptive, and adaptive sliding mode control) is carried out for the proposed model. From this comparative analysis, the adaptive controller was chosen to perform operational space control. This control helps us to perform accurate positioning of the end-effector of shape memory alloy wire–based robotic arm. The complete operational space control was successfully tested through simulation studies performing position reference tracking in the end-effector space. Through simulation studies, the proposed control solution is successfully verified to control the hysteretic robotic arm

Novel types of anti-ecloud surfaces

In high power RF devices for space, secondary electron emission appears as the main parameter governing the multipactor effect and as well as the e-cloud in large accelerators. Critical experimental activities included development of coatings with low secondary electron emission yield (SEY) for steel (large accelerators) and aluminium (space applications). Coatings with surface roughness of high aspect ratio producing the so-call secondary emission suppression effect appear as the selected strategy. In this work a detailed study of the SEY of these technological coatings and also the experimental deposition methods (PVD and electrochemical) are presented. The coating-design approach selected for new low SEY coatings include rough metals (Ag, Au, Al), rough alloys (NEG), particulated and magnetized surfaces, and also graphene like coatings. It was found that surface roughness also mitigate the SEY deterioration due to aging processes.Comment: 4 pages, contribution to the Joint INFN-CERN-EuCARD-AccNet Workshop on Electron-Cloud Effects: ECLOUD'12; 5-9 Jun 2012, La Biodola, Isola d'Elba, Italy; CERN Yellow Report CERN-2013-002, pp.153-15

Evaluación de un método para la detección de plaguicidas anticolinesterasa en subproductos de la refinación de aceite.

Los plaguicidas anticolinesterasa, o inhibidores de colinesterasas son compuestos químicos que inhiben a las enzimas colinesterasas impidiendo que se destruya la acetilcolina liberada, produciendo como consecuencia un aumento en la concentración y en la duración de los efectos del neurotransmisor. Entre los mas usados para el control de las plagas se encuentran los organofosforados y carbamatos y pueden contaminar agua, suelo y tener permanencia en los alimentos. Productos contaminados pueden llegar al consumidor, por lo que seria muy util un método para la detección rapida de estos compuestos. En el presente estudio, se llevó acabo la detección de inhibidores de colinesterasas por del método Ellman, que se basa en la actividad enzimática de la acetilcolinesterasa (AChE). Se elaboro un extaracto enzimatico AChE a partir de subproducto de cabezas de pescado y se estandarizo la concentración de extracto que mostró actividad lineal durante cinco minutos. Como inhibidor de AChE se utilizó el organofosforado diazinon a diferentes concentraciones. Se evaluó el efecto de solventes lipidicos a utilizar, seleccionando el etanol al 10%. Finalmente, se ensayaron cuatro muestras de subproductos de la refinación de aceite de soya, solas y con adición de diazinon para detectar inhibidores de colinesterasas. El porcentaje de inhibición fue expresado como equivalentes de diazinon. El método fue sensible por lo que podría ser implementado en el análisis de alimentos

Testing accuracy in 2D and 3D geometric morphometric methods for cut mark identification and classification

The analysis of bone surface modifications (BSMs) is a prominent part of paleoanthropological studies, namely taphonomic research. Behavioral interpretations of the fossil record hinge strongly upon correct assessment of BSMs. With the significant impact of microscopic analysis to the study of BSMs, multiple authors have discussed the reliability of these technological improvements for gaining resolution in BSM discrimination. While a certain optimism is present, some important questions are ignored and others overemphasized without appropriate empirical support. This specifically affects the study of cut marks. A diversity of geometric morphometric approaches applied to the study of cut marks have resulted in the coexistence (and competition) of different 2D and 3D methods. The present work builds upon the foundation of experiments presented by Maté-González et al. (2015), Courtenay et al. (2017) and Otárola-Castillo et al. (2018) to contrast for the first time 2D and 3D methods in their resolution of cut mark interpretation and classification. The results presented here show that both approaches are equally valid and that the use of sophisticated 3D methods do not contribute to an improvement in accuracy

La música también cuenta: combinando matemáticas y música en el aula

Es bien conocida la estrecha e histórica relación entre música y matemática. De hecho, numerosos músicos y científicos han puesto de manifiesto las conexiones existentes entre ambas disciplinas. En contraposición, existen muy pocas aportaciones, experiencias y materiales didácticos que vinculen ambas disciplinas en el medio escolar, especialmente en el contexto español. En el presente artículo se ilustra esta situación exponiendo, por un lado, el estado de la cuestión a nivel internacional y, por otro, la escasa producción académica en castellano. Partiendo de esta realidad, se presenta un proyecto europeo, el European Music Portfolio: Sounding Ways into Mathematics, que precisamente busca cubrir este déficit utilizando una perspectiva pedagógica que supere la estrechez disciplinar aún predominante. En base a las experiencias escolares existentes, dicho proyecto se propone perfilar buenas prácticas, crear materiales y actividades, y diseñar cursos de formación del profesorado a nivel europeo. Finalmente, el artículo termina discutiendo en torno al interés y al potencial que contiene el proyecto dado el contexto sociopolítico y el escenario educativo españoles actuales.The close and historical relationship between music and mathematics is well known. In fact, many musicians and scientists have highlighted existing connections between both disciplines. In contrast, there are very few contributions, experiences, and teaching materials that link the two disciplines in schools, particularly in the Spanish context. This article sheds light on this situation. For this purpose, we describe, on the one hand, the state of the art at an international level and, on the other hand, the limited academic production available in Spanish. Taking this reality as a starting point, the project European Music Portfolio: Sounding Ways into Mathematics is presented. This European project seeks to cover this deficit using a pedagogical perspective that goes beyond the narrowness of the disciplines, which still occupies a predominant position. Based on existing school experiences, this project aims to outline good practices, create materials and activities, and design teacher training courses at a European continental level. Finally, the article concludes by arguing in turn the interest and potential of the project given the current socio-political context and educational scenario in Spain

A comparative study between wmms and tls for the stability analysis of the San Pedro church barrel vault by means of the finite element method

Stability of masonry constructions is highly conditioned by the geometric disposition of its elements due to its low tensile strength and great compressive mechanical properties. Under this framework, this paper attempts to evaluate the suitability of a wearable mobile mapping solution, equipped in a backpack and based on the well-known simultaneous location and mapping paradigm, for the structural diagnosis of historical constructions. To evaluate the suitability of this device, the structural analysis obtained is compared with a high precision terrestrial laser scanner, which is considered as ground truth. The Romanesque church of San Pedro (Becerril del Carpio, Spain) was selected as a study case. This construction, initially conceived in the XIIIth century, has experimented in the past a soil settlement promoting the leaning of the north wall, several plastic hinges in its barrel vault and a visible geometrical deformation. The comparison of both techniques was carried out at different levels: i) an evaluation of the time needed to obtain the point cloud of the church; ii) an accuracy assessment based on the comparison of a terrestrial network using artificial spheres as checkpoints and; iii) an evaluation of the discrepancies, in terms of safety factor and collapse topology, found during the advance numerical evaluation of the barrel vault by means of the finite element method. This comparison places this wearable mobile mapping solution as an interesting tool for the creation of advanced numerical simulations to evaluate the structural stability of historical constructionsJunta de Castilla y León | Ref. SA075P17FEDER | Ref. SOE1/P5/P025

ONGOING RESEARCH ON SPECIES OF DINOPHYSIS: ALTERNATIVES WITH UNCULTURABLE DINOFLAGELLATES

Dinophysis 200

Intron splice acceptor site polymorphism in the hMSH2 gene in sporadic and familial colorectal cancer

A polymorphism in hMSH2 gene has been associated with an increased susceptibility to develop colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we show that it is a genetic risk factor for CRC in the Spanish population. However, its presence does not apparently affect hMSH2 function. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig