Rudiments of Holography

An elementary introduction to Maldacena's AdS/CFT correspondence is given, with some emphasis in the Fefferman-Graham construction. This is based on lectures given by one of us (E.A.) at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.Comment: 60 pages, additional misprints corrected, references adde

Lipid-free Antigen B subunits from echinococcus granulosus: oligomerization, ligand binding, and membrane interaction properties

Background: The hydatid disease parasite Echinococcus granulosus has a restricted lipid metabolism, and needs to harvest essential lipids from the host. Antigen B (EgAgB), an abundant lipoprotein of the larval stage (hydatid cyst), is thought to be important in lipid storage and transport. It contains a wide variety of lipid classes, from highly hydrophobic compounds to phospholipids. Its protein component belongs to the cestode-specific Hydrophobic Ligand Binding Protein family, which includes five 8-kDa isoforms encoded by a multigene family (EgAgB1-EgAgB5). How lipid and protein components are assembled into EgAgB particles remains unknown. EgAgB apolipoproteins self-associate into large oligomers, but the functional contribution of lipids to oligomerization is uncertain. Furthermore, binding of fatty acids to some EgAgB subunits has been reported, but their ability to bind other lipids and transfer them to acceptor membranes has not been studied.<p></p> Methodology/Principal Findings: Lipid-free EgAgB subunits obtained by reverse-phase HPLC were used to analyse their oligomerization, ligand binding and membrane interaction properties. Size exclusion chromatography and cross-linking experiments showed that EgAgB8/2 and EgAgB8/3 can self-associate, suggesting that lipids are not required for oligomerization. Furthermore, using fluorescent probes, both subunits were found to bind fatty acids, but not cholesterol analogues. Analysis of fatty acid transfer to phospholipid vesicles demonstrated that EgAgB8/2 and EgAgB8/3 are potentially capable of transferring fatty acids to membranes, and that the efficiency of transfer is dependent on the surface charge of the vesicles.<p></p> Conclusions/Significance: We show that EgAgB apolipoproteins can oligomerize in the absence of lipids, and can bind and transfer fatty acids to phospholipid membranes. Since imported fatty acids are essential for Echinococcus granulosus, these findings provide a mechanism whereby EgAgB could engage in lipid acquisition and/or transport between parasite tissues. These results may therefore indicate vulnerabilities open to targeting by new types of drugs for hydatidosis therapy.<p></p&gt

HEPATITIS ALOINMUNE FETAL

ResumenLa hepatitis aloinmune fetal, conocida anteriormente como hemocromatosis neonatal, ha demostrado en los últimos años ser una enfermedad completamente distinta a la hemocromatosis del adulto, tanto en su etiología como en su la fisiopatología. Este conocimiento abre nuevas perspectivas tanto en la prevención de la enfermedad en futuros embarazos, así como en el tratamiento con inmunoglobulina endovenosa en la madre durante el embarazo y eventualmente el tratamiento postnatal, en el que el trasplante de hígado juega un rol primordial.SummaryFetal alloimmune hepatitis, until few years ago was known as neonatal hemochromatosis, has shown to be a completely different disease from hemochromatosis in the adult, in its etiology and pathophysiology. This knowledge opens up opportunities of counselling in future pregnancies as well as in the treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin to the mother during pregnancy, and eventually the postnatal treatment, in which liver transplantation plays a primary role

Gas-phase hydrodechlorination of mixtures of chloromethanes with activated carbon-supported platinum catalysts

Platinum catalysts supported on activated carbon (Pt/C) at different metal loadings (0.5-2% Pt) have been tested in the gas-phase hydrodechlorination (HDC) of mixtures of dichloromethane (DCM) and chloroform (TCM), with a total feed concentration of 1000ppmv. Almost complete dechlorination was achieved at 250°C, 1kghmol-1 space time and a H2/CM molar ratio of 25 with the 2% Pt catalyst. At a reaction temperature of 250°C, scarce inhibition in the conversion of both compounds was observed compared to the HDC of the individual chloromethanes. The TOF values for DCM increase with the Pt content, which can be attributed to the higher proportion of the zero-valent species. The selectivity to reaction products suggests a parallel reactions scheme. The catalysts showed a high stability, demonstrated by the unchanged conversion of both chloromethanes upon time on stream in long-term experiments carried out at up to 26h.The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) through the project CTM2011-2835

Lithium Borate Ionic Liquids as Single-Component Electrolytes for Batteries

Current electrolytes for lithium batteries are usually composed of at least two chemical compounds, an organic solvent such as a cyclic carbonate and a lithium salt such as LiPF6. Here, the concept of using a single-component electrolyte is demonstrated in lithium batteries based on new lithium borate ionic liquids at room temperature. The design concept of this class of lithium ionic liquids (LiILs) is based on an asymmetrically substituted central tetracoordinate boron atom with oligoethylene glycol groups, fluorinated electron-attracting groups, and one alkane group. The optimized borateLi+ LiILs show a high ionic conductivity value of >10−4 S cm−1 at 25 °C, high lithium transference numbers ( = 0.4 – 0.5) and electrochemical stability (>4 V). Some of the LiILs present high compatibility with lithium-metal electrodes showing stable polarization profiles in platting/stripping tests. The selected LiIL is investigated as single-component electrolytes in lithium-metal battery cells showing discharge capacity values in Li0/LiIL/lithium–iron phosphate and Li0/LiIL/lithium titanate cells of 124 and 75 mAh g−1, respectively, at a C-rate of 0.2 C and 65 °C with low-capacity loss.This work was funded and supported by a Grant for Basque Government through grant IT1309-19, and European Commission's funded Marie Skłodowska–Curie project POLYTE-EID (Project No. 765828) and Spanish MCIN/AEI/PID2020-119026GB-I00. G.G.-G. is grateful to “Secretaría de Educación, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación” from Ciudad de México for the postdoctoral fellowship through grant SECTEI/133/2019. G.G.-G. also thanks the PhD. IOSM for being the driving force and constant support

Looking back to look forward: a timeline of the Fitzroy River catchment. Report to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Given proposed expansion of developments in northern Australia and current tensions among different interest groups, there is a need to develop new planning approaches that support multiple uses of land and water, while maintaining environmental and cultural values. Our project aimed to demonstrate how to operationalise multi-objective catchment planning supported by scenario thinking, by which stakeholders collaboratively build and assess the outcomes of alternative development futures. The project used participatory scenario planning to guide stakeholders through a systematic and critical examination of possible development trajectories and their associated environmental and socioeconomic outcomes. A multi-stakeholder group worked through a series of workshops to explore alternative development pathways and their outcomes. On July 10-11, NESP researchers led the first project workshop, gathering 40 people from 26 organisations across all main interest groups, including the federal Department of the Environment and Energy, state agencies, local governments, mining, agriculture and tourism organisations, environmental NGOs, and Aboriginal organisations representing the views and interests of Traditional Owners. The workshop involved a series of activities for team members to get to know each other, strengthen relationships, and build trust – all critical elements of participatory scenario planning. During the workshop, we discussed the meaning of development, driving forces of land use change, and development initiatives proposed for the region. An important goal of the first workshop was to create shared understandings of what is happening in the region that could shape the future development of the catchment. Therefore, before exploring the future, we looked back into the past. We created a timeline for the Fitzroy, identifying the events and forces that have shaped how the catchment looks today and could drive land use change in the future. Such events included social movements, policy changes, resource exploration, early irrigation projects, road improvements, and the proclamation of the Native Title Act that recognizes the rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in land and waters according to their traditional laws and customs, among many others. This report summarises the process underpinning the creation of a timeline of the Fitzroy River catchment. For this timeline, the group identified the things that have changed the region and shaped the way things are today. Building this timeline helped participants to understand and share ideas about driving forces of land-use change. This activity opened up thinking on how local and external events and processes have shaped and will continue to change the region. The Story Map referred to in this report (Looking back to look forward: A timeline of the Fitzroy River catchment) was created based on the timeline. The online application combines text, images, and maps to describe a series of key events that have shaped the Fitzroy catchment

Proinflammatory and Anabolic Gene Expression Effects of Platelet-Rich Gel Supernatants on Equine Synovial Membrane Explants Challenged with Lipopolysaccharide

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparations are used in horses with osteoarthritis (OA). However, some controversies remain regarding the ideal concentration of platelets and leukocytes to produce an adequate anti-inflammatory and anabolic response in the synovial membrane. The aims of this study were to study the influence of leukoconcentrated platelet-rich gel (Lc-PRG) and leukoreduced platelet-rich gel (Lr-PRG) supernatants on the quantitative expression of some proinflammatory and anabolic genes in equine synovial membrane explants (SMEs) challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). SMEs from six horses were cultured over 96 h. Then, SMEs were harvested for RNA extraction and quantitative gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR for nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS-4), collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), collagen type II alpha 1 (COL2A1), and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). The 25% and 50% Lc-PRG supernatants led to downregulation of NFκB, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, COL1A1, COL2A1, and COMP in SMEs. Lr-PRG supernatants (particularly at the 50% concentration) induced downregulation of NFκB, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and COL1A1 and upregulation of COL2A1 and COMP. Lr-PRG supernatants should be used for the treatment of inflammatory arthropathies in horses because they have anti-inflammatory and anabolic effects in the synovial membrane

FUNCIÓN DE LYAPUNOV PARA UNA CASO PARTICULAR DEL CIRCUITO DE CHUA

This paper considers the existence of periodic solutions in space, in a particular case the system of differential equations describing the Chua circuit. Determine their equilibrium; linearize the system and thoroughly study the roots of the characteristic polynomial p( lambda) = lambda3 + ( alphac + 1) lambda2 + (alphac alpha + beta) lambda + alpha betac = 0, giving necessary conditions for each of the parameters alpha, beta and c. As in ordinary nonlinear determining global asymptotic stability in the equilibrium points differential systems is particularly important, build a Lyapunov function for the linear system under certain conditions, showing that the equilibrium point is asymptotically stable since the derivative of the Lyapunov function is less than zero.En este trabajo se considera la existencia de soluciones periódicas en el espacio, en un caso particular del sistema de ecuaciones diferenciales que describe el circuito de Chua. Determinaremos sus puntos de equilibrio; linealizamos el sistema y estudiaremos a fondo las raíces del polinomio característico. Dado que en los sistemas diferenciales ordinarios no lineales la determinación de la estabilidad global asintótica en los puntos de equilibrio tiene una importancia especial, construiremos una función de Lyapunov para el sistema lineal bajo ciertas condiciones, demostrando que el punto de equilibrio es asintóticamente estable ya que la derivada de la función de Lyapunov es menor que cero.

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes and/or respiratory muscle training in patients with post-COVID conditions: a systematic review

Background: The term “post-COVID-19 condition” refers to the symptomatology that appears between four to twelve weeks after Covid-19 infection. These symptoms can persist for weeks or even months, significantly diminishing the quality of life for affected individuals. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation programs and/or respiratory muscle training on respiratory sequelae in patients with post-COVID condition. Methods: The literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, PEDro, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science. Randomized clinical trials were included in which participants were aged 18 years or older. Articles were excluded if at least one of the therapies did not involve pulmonary rehabilitation or respiratory muscle training, if the participants were COVID positive, if studies lacked results, and finally, if interventions were conducted without supervision or at home. This review only encompasses supervised non-virtual interventions. This study adheres to the PRISMA statement and has been registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023433843). Results: The outcomes obtained in the included studies are assessed across the following variables: Exercise capacity using the 6-minute walk test, Dyspnea, fatigue, Pulmonary function, Maximum inspiratory pressure, and Quality of life. Conclusion: Despite the absence of a specific treatment at present, it was evident from this review that a well-structured pulmonary rehabilitation program that incorporates both aerobic and muscular strength exercises along with techniques and inspiratory muscle exercises was the most effective form of treatment.14 página