Diffusion-flame flickering as a hydrodynamic global mode

The present study employs a linear global stability analysis to investigate buoyancy-induced flickering of axisymmetric laminar jet diffusion flames as a hydrodynamic global mode. The instability-driving interactions of the buoyancy force with the density differences induced by the chemical heat release are described in the infinitely fast reaction limit for unity Lewis numbers of the reactants. The analysis determines the critical conditions at the onset of the linear global instability as well as the Strouhal number of the associated oscillations in terms of the governing parameters of the problem. Marginal instability boundaries are delineated in the Froude number/Reynolds number plane for different fuel jet dilutions. The results of the global stability analysis are compared with direct numerical simulations of time-dependent axisymmetric jet flames and also with results of a local spatio-temporal stability analysis.Norbert Peters pointed out the need for the present analysis in his seminal paper with John Buckmaster published thirty years ago (Buckmaster & Peters 1986). It is with great sorrow that we received the news of his passing last year. This paper is devoted to his memory in gratitude for his many outstanding contributions to Combustion Science. The constructive comments of one anonymous referee have led to substantial improvements of the paper and are gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by the Spanish MCINN through project no. CSD2010-00010 and by the Spanish MINECO through project no. DPI2014-59292-C3-1-P

A Carboxylesterase 2 Gene Polymorphism as Predictor of Capecitabine on Response and Time to Progression

Este artículo ha sido publicado en la revista Current Drug Metabolism Esta versión tiene Licencia Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND Le remito pdf recibido de mi solicitud a la revista del postprint, y que me han enviado por correo electrónico con permiso para su depósito.Capecitabine is a drug that requires the consecutive action of three enzymes: carboxylesterase 2 (CES 2), cytidine deaminase (CDD), and thymidine phosphorylase (TP) for transformation into 5-fluorouracil (5FU). The metabolism of 5FU requires the activity of thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) among other enzymes. The present study prospectively examined the possible relationship between the toxicity and efficacy of capecitabine and 14 different polymorphisms in CES 2, CDD, TS and DPD. Between 2003 and 2005, a total of 136 patients with advanced breast or colorectal cancer treated with capecitabine were prospectively enrolled. The presence of two polymorphisms (CDD 943insC and CES 2 Exon3 6046 G/A) were associated with a non-statistically significant higher incidence of grade 3 hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (p=0.07) and grade 3-4 diarrhoea (p=0.09), respectively. Patients heterozygous or homozygous for the polymorphism CES 2 5’UTR 823 C/G exhibited a significantly greater response rate to capecitabine, and time to progression of disease (59%, 8.7 months) than patients with the wild type gene sequence (32%, p=0.015; 5.3 months, p=0.014). For the first time, an association between a polymorphism in the CES2 gene and the efficacy of capecitabine has been described, providing preliminary evidence of its predictive and prognostic value

Thrombospondin-1/CD47 interaction regulates Th17 and treg differentiation in psoriasis

Accumulating evidence on the role of Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in the immune response has emerged during the last years. In spite of the importance of TSP-1 not only as anti-angiogenic factor but also as an immunomodulatory molecule, studies on the role of TSP-1 in psoriasis have been neglected. TSP-1 and CD47 expression were analyzed in skin samples from psoriasis patients and control subjects using RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Expression of these molecules was also evaluated in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells, moDCs, and circulating primary DCs. The functional role of TSP-1/CD47 signaling axis in psoriasis was assessed in Th17 and Treg differentiation assays. Additionally, small interfering RNA assays specific to TSP-1 were performed in CD4+ T cells and monocyte derived DC to specifically evaluate the function of this protein. Lesional skin of psoriasis patients expressed lower TSP-1 and CD47 mRNA levels compared to non-lesional skin or skin from controls. Immunofluorescence staining revealed decreased expression of CD47 in CD45+ dermal cells from psoriasis samples compared to control subjects. Peripheral CD4+ T cells and circulating primary DCs from psoriasis also expressed lower levels of CD47 compared to controls. Although no significant differences were detected in TSP-1 expression in CD4+ T cells and moDCs between patients and controls, TSP-1 expression in psoriasis patients inversely correlated with disease activity evaluated by the Psoriasis Area and Index Activity. Furthermore, exogenous TSP-1 inhibited Th17 differentiation and stimulated the differentiation of CD4+ T cells toward Treg cells. Furthermore, RNA interference specific for TSP-1 confirmed the role of this molecule as a negative regulator of T cell activation. Because of the impact of TSP-1/CD47 signaling axis in Th17 and Treg differentiation, a dysregulated expression of these molecules in the immune cells from psoriasis patients may favor the exacerbated inflammatory response in this diseaseInstituto de Salud Carlos III (AES 2017): PI17/01972 to ED. Janssen; Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO): Plan Nacional de Salud SAF2017-82886-R, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV); Proyecto Integrado de Excelencia PIE13/00041, Instituto de Salud Carlos III to FS-M, Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI16/02166, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Banco Santander (grant 2017/EEUU/03), and Red Temática de Excelencia en Investigación en Hipoxia (SAF 2017-90794-REDT) to MJC. This research has been co-financed by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER

Analysis of Photobioreactors for Culturing High-Value Microalgae and Cyanobacteria Via an Advanced Diagnostic Technique: CARPT

Photosynthetic Algal Cultures Are a Potential Source of Many High-Value Products. in Photobioreactors (PBR), the Availability and the Intensity of the Light, Which Are Affected by the Cells\u27 Movement, Are the Major Factors Controlling the Biomass Productivity. Hydrodynamics, Hence, Play a Significant Role in the Reactor\u27s Performance, as They Determine Not Only the Flow Field, I.e. Liquid Flow and Mixing, Shear Stresses, Etc., But Also the Movements of the Cells. in This Work, Computer-Automated Radioactive Particle Tracking (CARPT) Technique Was Employed to Evaluate its Feasibility for Characterizing PBRs. Liquid Velocity Profiles, Cells\u27 Movement, and the Temporal Irradiance Patterns Obtained by Coupling the Cells\u27 Trajectories and the Irradiance Distribution Model Have Been Determined. the Effects of the Biomass Concentration, Reactor Geometry, and the Aeration Rate on the Irradiance Patterns Are Discussed. the Results Demonstrate that the CARPT Technique is Promising for PBR Analysis. It Provides Fundamental Information Needed to Advance the Cells\u27 Growth Prediction and Modeling, and the Design, Scale-Up and Operation of PBRs. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All Rights Reserved

Spectra of weighted algebras of holomorphic functions

We consider weighted algebras of holomorphic functions on a Banach space. We determine conditions on a family of weights that assure that the corresponding weighted space is an algebra or has polynomial Schauder decompositions. We study the spectra of weighted algebras and endow them with an analytic structure. We also deal with composition operators and algebra homomorphisms, in particular to investigate how their induced mappings act on the analytic structure of the spectrum. Moreover, a Banach-Stone type question is addressed.Comment: 25 pages Corrected typo

Contexto comunicativo, familiar y escolar del adolescente y conducta sexual.

Adolescence is considered as a particularly sensitive period in the evolutionary process of the human being. It is during this period that certain risk behaviors will be acquired by the adolescent. The main objective is to analyze the communicative, family and school context in relation to the adolescent sexual behavior (debut, use of contraceptive measures and knowledge of sexual diseases). A questionnaire, that addressed demographic, family and educational factors, as well as various issues related to their sexual behavior, was given to students of E.S.O. (Obligatory Secondary Education) of all Andalusia. The results show that, in the majority of cases, adolescents have received sex education, which is very positively valued but which is not decisive for the use of contraceptive methods, although it facilitates the knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases. Those who have received sex education are initiated earlier in risky sexual practices. The condom is the most used method being the reason of use to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Those who start early in sexual relations have parents with lower level of education, manifest a worse relationship with them both in terms of communication, control and discipline and have worse academic results. The results show the importance of family and educational factors when starting adolescents in their sexual life in an early manner.La adolescencia es considerada como un periodo especialmente sensible en el proceso evolutivo del ser humano. Es en este periodo donde se van a adquirir determinados comportamientos denominados de riesgo para el adolescente. El objetivo fundamental se centra en analizar el contexto comunicativo, familiar y escolar en relación al comportamiento sexual del adolescente (debut, uso de medidas anticonceptivas y conocimiento de enfermedades sexuales). Se les administró a alumnos de E.S.O. (Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria) de toda Andalucía un cuestionario en donde se abordaban factores demográficos, familiares y educativos; así como diversas cuestiones relacionadas con su conducta sexual. Los resultados muestran que de manera mayoritaria, los adolescentes han recibido educación sexual, valorada muy positivamente, pero que sin embargo no resulta determinante para el uso de métodos anticonceptivos aunque si facilita el conocimiento de enfermedades de transmisión sexual. Aquellos que han recibido educación sexual se inician antes en prácticas sexuales de riesgo. El preservativo es el método más utilizado siendo el motivo de uso evitar un embarazo no deseado. Los que se inician precozmente en las relaciones sexuales poseen padres con menor nivel de estudios, manifiestan una peor relación con los mismos tanto a nivel de comunicación, como de control y disciplina y poseen peores resultados académicos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran la importancia de los factores familiares y educativos a la hora de iniciarse los adolescentes en su vida sexual de una manera temprana

La biopsia embrionaria con láser permite el diagnóstico genético preimplantacional ovino sin reducir la supervivencia a término

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