Ancient Martian Floods in a Plausible Variable Climatic Environment as Revealed from the Sequential Growth of Allan Hills 84001 Carbonate Globules

No abstract available

Oxidative degradation of a novel AMP/AEP blend designed for CO2 capture based on partial oxy-combustion technology

Versión aceptada. Embargo 24 mesesSolvent degradation and volatile compound emissions are two of the major concerns about the deployment of carbon capture technologies based on chemical absorption. In this context, partial oxy-combustion might reduce the solvent degradation due to the use of a higher CO2 concentrated flue gas. This work evaluates the oxidative degradation of a novel AMP/AEP blend, namely POS #1, under partial oxy-combustion conditions. The effects of temperature and flue gas composition were evaluated in terms of solvent loss, degradation rates, NH3 emissions and degradation products. The experiments were set at temperatures up to 70 °C and two levels of O2 concentration – 3%v/v and 6%v/v. The CO2 concentration of the flue gas ranged between 15%v/v and 60%v/v CO2. The novel solvent POS#1 showed high resistance to degrade and resulted in lower degradation rates than MEA in all the operating conditions evaluated in this work. The maximum degradation of AEP and AMP was 24% and 19%, respectively. MEA degraded almost double under the same conditions. Temperature and O2 concentration enhanced the oxidative degradation of POS #1. However, the use of higher CO2 concentration in the flue gas led to lower degradation rates of AEP and AMP and hence oxidative degradation was partially inhibited under partial oxy-combustion conditions. The presence of higher CO2 content in the flue gas decreased the NH3 production and a 70% reduction of its emissions was achieved as the CO2 concentration shifted from 15%v/v to 60%v/v. Other major degradation compounds such as formate and 2,4-lutidine were also decreased. New degradation products were not identified so that the suggested degradation pathways proposed in the literature were not influenced by the presence of higher CO2 concentrations.Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad CTM-2014-58573-RUnión Europea, European Development Research Fund (EDRF

Cell biophysical stimuli in lobodopodium formation: a computer based approach

Different cell migration modes have been identified in 3D environments, e.g., modes incorporating lamellopodia or blebs. Recently, a new type of cellular migration has been investigated: lobopodia-based migration, which appears only in three-dimensional matrices under certain conditions. The cell creates a protrusion through which the nucleus slips, dividing the cell into two parts (front and rear) with different hydrostatic pressures. In this work, we elucidate the mechanical conditions that favour this type of migration. One of the hypotheses about this type of migration is that it depends on the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix. That is, lobopodia-based migration is dependent on whether the extracellular matrix is linearly elastic or non-linearly elastic. To determine whether the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix are crucial in the choice of cell migration mode and which mechanotransduction mechanism the cell might use, we develop a finite element model. From our simulations, we identify two different possible mechanotransduction mechanisms that could regulate the cell to switch from a lobopodial to a lamellipodial migration mode. The first relies on a differential pressure increase inside the cytoplasm while the cell contracts, and the second relies on a change in the fluid flow direction in non-linearly elastic extracellular matrices but not in linearly elastic matrices. The biphasic nature of the cell has been determined to mediate this mechanism and the different behaviours of cells in linearly elastic and non-linearly elastic matrices

Modelling actin polymerization: the effect on confined cell migration

The aim of this work is to model cell motility under conditions of mechanical confinement. This cell migration mode may occur in extravasation of tumour and neutrophil-like cells. Cell migration is the result of the complex action of different forces exerted by the interplay between myosin contractility forces and actin processes. Here, we propose and implement a finite element model of the confined migration of a single cell. In this model, we consider the effects of actin and myosin in cell motility. Both filament and globular actin are modelled. We model the cell considering cytoplasm and nucleus with different mechanical properties. The migration speed in the simulation is around 0.1 µm/min, which is in agreement with existing literature. From our simulation, we observe that the nucleus size has an important role in cell migration inside the channel. In the simulation the cell moves further when the nucleus is smaller. However, this speed is less sensitive to nucleus stiffness. The results show that the cell displacement is lower when the nucleus is stiffer. The degree of adhesion between the channel walls and the cell is also very important in confined migration. We observe an increment of cell velocity when the friction coefficient is higher

Finite Element Simulation of the Deformation of a Cell Driven by Creeping Flow

The purpose of this work is to calculate the deformation undergone by a cell in function of its nucleus size and mechanical properties. The cell immersed in a fluid go through a variable section channel and it is deformed by fluid forces.Cell deformation into the channel causes changes at the fluid velocity profile. This fluid configuration change results in diferent normal and viscous forces around the cell. Due to strong correlation between cell deformation and fluid velocity profile, a fluidsolid interacción (FSI) is required

Preliminary Study and Proposal for Restoring a Jesuit College at Saragossa, Spain

A historical study and a construction pathology survey were conducted prior to proposing a solution for restoring the upper windows on the south side of Old San Carlos College at Saragossa (16th-17th centuries), wich had been forteited to add a third storey to the cloister. Althought initially designed to a simple large hall format, the church is a harmonius blend of Aragonese Gothic architecture and typical Jesuit scheme, consisting in a central nave flanket by chapel-confessional and raised galleries for the community. A subsequent enlargement of the roof, wich rests on the original framing over the central nave, reduced the mechanical strength of the principal rafters on the opposite side, prompting a concomitant imbalance of forces that has affected the entire structure. In view of the foregoing, in addition to restituting the upper window, the proposal solution envisages restoring the roof over the central nave to its original design, and with the interior lighting in the church

The evolution of Arbequina olive oil quality during ripening in a commercial super-high density orchard in north-east Spain

The objective of this work was to follow the maturity of the olives in a commercial Arbequina super-high density orchard and to study the evolution of the olive oil quality. For this objective, the physicochemical, nutritional and sensory parameters were studied. The free acidity was found to be similar during ripening whereas the peroxide index and K232, K270 decreased. The total phenol content and oxidative stability showed a similar trend. First, it increased and then decreased. alpha-tocopherol, saturated fatty acid and pungency decreased. The polyunsaturated content increased while the MUFAS/PUFAS ratio decreased. In 2010, the crop maturity was quicker, and the maturity indexes were higher than in the 2009 crop for the same picking date. Even in the same orchard, the maturity is changing in each crop season. For this reason, it is necessary to choose the optimal harvesting date

In silico mechano-chemical model of bone healing for the regeneration of critical defects: The effect of BMP-2

The healing of bone defects is a challenge for both tissue engineering and modern ortho- paedics. This problem has been addressed through the study of scaffold constructs com- bined with mechanoregulatory theories, disregarding the influence of chemical factors and their respective delivery devices. Of the chemical factors involved in the bone healing pro- cess, bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) has been identified as one of the most power- ful osteoinductive proteins. The aim of this work is to develop and validate a mechano- chemical regulatory model to study the effect of BMP-2 on the healing of large bone defects in silico. We first collected a range of quantitative experimental data from the literature con- cerning the effects of BMP-2 on cellular activity, specifically proliferation, migration, differen- tiation, maturation and extracellular matrix production. These data were then used to define a model governed by mechano-chemical stimuli to simulate the healing of large bone de- fects under the following conditions: natural healing, an empty hydrogel implanted in the de- fect and a hydrogel soaked with BMP-2 implanted in the defect. For the latter condition, successful defect healing was predicted, in agreement with previous in vivo experiments. Further in vivo comparisons showed the potential of the model, which accurately predicted bone tissue formation during healing, bone tissue distribution across the defect and the quantity of bone inside the defect. The proposed mechano-chemical model also estimated the effect of BMP-2 on cells and the evolution of healing in large bone defects. This novel in silico tool provides valuable insight for bone tissue regeneration strategies

Rabdomiólisis tras la práctica de spinning: una asociación peculiar

ResumenLa rabdomiólisis de esfuerzo es una entidad clínica con unas características especiales. Se describe un cuadro de rabdomiólisis en un varón joven y sano, tras la práctica de una única sesión de spinning y se compara con otros descritos en la literatura. El objetivo es exponer las peculiaridades de la asociación del spinning con la rabdomiólisis por esfuerzo y conocer el riesgo de esta patología, aun en personas sanas, en relación con esta práctica deportiva. La contracción muscular que se produce en este ejercicio y la percepción disminuida del esfuerzo, al ser una actividad realizada en grupo, estimulada ambientalmente y alentada por un monitor, pueden contribuir a esta asociación.AbstractExertional rhabdomyolysis is a distinct entity with special characteristics. We present a case report, and literature review, of rhabdomyolysis in a young healthy male adult after practicing a single spinning session. The objective is to explain the peculiarities of the association spinning and exertional rhabdomyolysis and determine the risk of this disease, even in healthy people, concerning this sport. Muscular contraction during this exercise and the diminished perception of effort, due to being a group activity encouraged by a monitor, may contribute to its association