Evaluation of a protective acrylic finish applied to surfaces painted with acrylic paints for outdoor or indoor uses

Protection of contemporary murals to reduce paint fading caused by exposure to sunlight is currently under study due to a general demand. In this study we evaluated the effectiveness of a commercial protective acrylic finish applied to concrete and brick mock-ups previously painted with different coloured (red and yellow) paints for outdoor and indoor uses. The mock-ups were exposed to an accelerated aging test, with artificial UV irradiation for 3630 h. UV radiation is the most threatening sunlight portion to the paints used in these artworks, inducing mainly fading. Colorimetric measurements were made on the surfaces every 15 days. At the end, aged samples and the respective controls (not subjected to the aging test) were evaluated by stereomicroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Application of the protective finish modified the surface of the paintwork, but generally reduced the rate at which the colour changed. In the mock-ups painted with paint for indoor use without the protective finish, the paintwork degraded faster on brick than on concrete.The findings highlight the need for appropriate selection of paints depending on where they will be applied and the suitability of using a protective finish depending on the composition of each paint.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RYC2020-028902-IUniversidade de Vigo/CISU

Seismic model analysis by means of a series method

La respuesta desde la Mecánica Estructural a los fenómenos sísmicos, hace necesario mejorar el cálculo de las estructuras así como su análisis. Para ello los métodos especialmente basados en el análisis estático no lineal necesitan tener una mayor precisión. El análisis no lineal se puede abordar mediante modelos discretos o continuos. Los modelos discretos representan la estructura a través de un número finito de grados de libertad; en este caso las ecuaciones de movimiento son ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias que se resuelven por métodos numéricos. En este trabajo se muestra una aplicación del método de series ɸ-funciones para calcular la respuesta ante un terremoto de las estructuras modeladas mediante sistemas SDOF (Single Degree Of Freedom system) y 2DOF (Two Degree Of Freedom systems). Además, en el caso de SDOF, el método se ha aplicado tomando como la frecuencia forzada la frecuencia natural de vibración. La solución de los modelos sísmicos se ha obtenido mediante la generación de un algoritmo numérico y su implementación computacional. El método de series ɸ-funciones integra osciladores forzados y es una adaptación de los métodos de Scheifele, con la ventaja de integrar, sin error de truncamiento, el problema perturbado con sólo las dos primeras ɸ-funciones. El cálculo de coeficientes de la serie se efectúa por recurrencias algebraicas sencillas en las que se implica la función de perturbación. El buen comportamiento y precisión del método de series ɸ-funciones se ilustra cuando se contrasta con otros métodos de integración ya conocidos e implementados en MAPLE, comparándose también con los métodos clásicos de Ingeniería de Estructuras.The seismic events have attracted interest and the need to improve the structures and their analysis to sustain this type of oscillation. To do this, new methods especially those based on static non-linear analysis need to have increased accuracy. The non-linear analysis can be approached by means of discrete or continuous models. The discrete models represent the structure through a finite number of degrees of freedom; in this case the equations of motion are ordinary differential equations which are solved by numerical methods. This paper shows an application of the ɸ-functions series method to calculate the response of structures, modeled as both SDOF(Single Degree Of Freedom system) and 2DOF (Two Degree Of Freedom systems) systems, to an earthquake. Furthermore, in the case of SDOF, the method has been applied taking as the forcing frequency the natural frequency of vibration. The solution of the seismic models has been obtained by the generation of the numerical algorithm and its computational implementation. The ɸ-functions series method integrates forced oscillators and it is an adaptation of Scheifele's methods, with the advantage of integrating, without truncation error, the perturbed problem with just the first two ɸ-functions. The calculation of series coefficients is effected by simple algebraic recurrences in which the perturbation function is takes part. The good precision of ɸ-functions series method is illustrated when contrasted with other methods of integration already known and implemented in MAPLE and even with classic methods of Structural Engineering

Inhibition of glutaminase expression increases Sp1 phosphorylation and Sp1/Sp3 transcriptional activity in Ehrlich tumor cells

Abstract Tumor cells expressing antisense glutaminase RNA show a drastic inhibition of glutaminase activity and they acquire a more differentiated phenotype. We have studied the expression of Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors in both Ehrlich tumor cells and their derivative 0.28AS-2 antisense glutaminase expressing cells. The expression of phosphorylated Sp1 in 0.28AS-2 cells was 3-fold the expression in EATC. Full length Sp3 was also incremented in 0.28AS-2 cells. Sp1 and Sp3 binding to a consensus Sp1 probe was higher in 0.28AS-2 nuclear extracts, as determined by supershift assays. Sp1-DNA binding was inhibited by phosphatase treatment, demonstrating that phosphorylation of Sp1 is critical for its DNA binding capacity. The Sp1 and Sp3 DNA binding found in 0.28AS-2 cells was also correlated with an increased Sp1 activity, as shown in transient transfections assays carried out with a luciferase reporter plasmid. Incubation of Ehrlich tumor cells with the differentiation agent PMA could not totally reproduce the Sp1/Sp3 changes observed in 0.28AS-2 cells. However, it was demonstrated that the intracellular concentration of glutamine, but not glutamate or aspartate, is increased in 0.28AS-2 cells. In conclusion, the antisense inhibition of glutaminase leads to an increased expression of phosphorylated Sp1 and that correlates with an increase in Sp1 activity.

Recent developments on the crossing number of the complete graph

Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadEuropean Science Foundatio

El impacto de la crisis en el empleo público local: el caso del área metropolitana de Valencia

The current adjustments from fiscal consolidation that are the Spanish government have been beaten to force a weak institutional framework: public employment of local governments in our country, explained both by the lack of effective institutionalization of a system merit as well as weak of management mechanisms. In this context, and after five years and economic crisis is to account using aggregate data from a study conducted in the framework of the SAIS-AMV ("social and environmental sustainability in metropolitan areas: the case of the metropolitan area of Valencia") how, through what strategies and what public policy adjustments have occurred in the field of human resources at the same time it attempts to explain on the adjustment path.Los ajustes derivados de actual proceso de consolidación fiscal en que se hallan las Administraciones Públicas españolas han golpeado con fuerza a un entramado institucional débil: el empleo público de los gobiernos locales de nuestro país, explicable tanto por la fragilidad sobre el terreno del sistema de mérito, como por la falta de aplicación efectiva de mecanismos de gestión. En este contexto y transcurridos ya cinco años de crisis económica se trata de dar cuenta, mediante datos agregados y de un estudio realizado en el marco del proyecto SAIS-AMV (“sostenibilidad social y ambiental en espacios metropolitanos: el caso del área metropolitana de Valencia”), de qué modo, mediante qué estrategias y sobre qué políticas públicas se han producido los ajustes en el ámbito de los recursos humanos, al mismo tiempo que se ensaya una explicación sobre la senda de ajuste seguida

Equipartitioning triangles

An intriguing conjecture of Nandakumar and Ramana Rao is that for every convex body K ⊆ R2, and for any positive integer n, K can be expressed as the union of n convex sets with disjoint interiors and each having the same area and perimeter. The first difficult case- n = 3- was settled by Bárány, Blagojevi¢, and Szucs using powerful tools from algebra and equivariant topology. Here we give an elementary proof of this result in case K is a triangle, and show how to extend the approach to prove that the conjecture is true for triangles.Ministerio de Educación y CienciaEuropean Science FoundationNational Science Foundatio

Expression of Gls and Gls2 glutaminase isoforms in astrocytes

The expression of glutaminase in glial cells has been a controversial issue and matter of debate for many years. Actually, glutaminase is essentially considered as a neuronal marker in brain. Astrocytes are endowed with efficient and high capacity transport systems to recapture synaptic glutamate which seems to be consistent with the absence of glutaminase in these glial cells. In this work, a comprehensive study was devised to elucidate expression of glutaminase in neuroglia and, more concretely, in astrocytes. Immunocytochemistry in rat and human brain tissues employing isoform-specific antibodies revealed expression of both Gls and Gls2 glutaminase isozymes in glutamatergic and GABAergic neuronal populations as well as in astrocytes. Nevertheless, there was a different subcellular distribution: Gls isoform was always present in mitochondria while Gls2 appeared in two different locations, mitochondria and nucleus. Confocal microscopy and double immunofluorescence labeling in cultured astrocytes confirmed the same pattern previously seen in brain tissue samples. Astrocytic glutaminase expression was also assessed at the mRNA level, real-time quantitative RT-PCR detected transcripts of four glutaminase isozymes but with marked differences on their absolute copy number: the predominance of Gls isoforms over Gls2 transcripts was remarkable (ratio of 144:1). Finally, we proved that astrocytic glutaminase proteins possess enzymatic activity by in situ activity staining: concrete populations of astrocytes were labeled in the cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus of rat brain demonstrating functional catalytic activity. These results are relevant for the stoichiometry of the Glu/Gln cycle at the tripartite synapse and suggest novel functions for these classical metabolic enzymes

Inventario y descripción de las soluciones de accesibilidad a la web existentes para personas con discapacidad fisica y sensorial

El elemento más representativo de la nueva sociedad de la información lo constituye sin duda la World Wide Web. La Red, como es conocida popularmente, une a millones de ordenadores en todo el mundo, aportando una riqueza de información inimaginable hace pocos años y un interfaz de uso tan gráfico e intuitivo que ha significado una expansión permanente de su uso a millones de usuarios nuevos cada año. La accesibilidad Web se puede definir como la posibilidad de que un producto o servicio Web sea usado por el mayor número posible de personas, independientemente de las limitaciones del individuo o de las del contexto de uso. De acuerdo con el Tratado de Amsterdam de la Unión Europea, en aplicación de la cláusula de no-discriminación, las políticas europeas y la de los Estados miembros deberían inspirarse en el principio de no-discriminación con vistas a hacer realidad la igualdad para las personas con discapacidad. Este informe tiene como objetivo realizar un inventario de las soluciones, existentes en el mercado, tanto de software como de hardware para poder garantizar esa no discriminación de todas las personas

Parastomal hernia after radical cystectomy. Incidence, natural history and predictive factors – A single center study

Purpose: Parastomal hernia (PH) is one of the most frequent complications after stoma creation. Our objective was to analyze the incidence, evolution and predictive factors of PH in Bricker-type urinary diversion. Patients and methods: Case series analysis of 125 patients submitted to radical cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion for cancer in a single center during 2006-2021. Patient’s record and imaging tests were reviewed to identify those suffering PH. Moreno-Matías classification was used to define radiological PH (rPH). Demographic and preoperative characteristics of the patients, surgical details and postoperative complications were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the effect of each predictive variable on the development and progression of PH. Results: 21.6% of patients developed PH (median follow-up 37 months). Incidence increased with follow-up time (15.2% at 1 year, 20.8% at 2 years). BMI ≥ 25 (Expβ 8.31, 95% CI 1.06- 65.18, p = 0.04), previous midline laparotomy (Expβ 6.74, 95% CI 1.14-39.66, p = 0.04) and wound infection (Expβ 3.87, 95% CI 1.21-12.33, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with PH. Half of the patients with hernia had symptoms, 25.9% requiring surgical correction. 46% of type 1 hernias and 40% of type 2 hernias progressed to grade 3 with a median of 11 months. No variable was associated with radiological progression. Conclusions: This study proved 3 independent factors (overweight, laparotomy and wound infection) that increase the risk of developing PH

Calidad de vida y sus factores determinantes en universitarios españoles de Ciencias de la Salud

La calidad de vida en la población universitaria adquiere una especial importancia ya que permite obtener información sobre las condiciones de vida de los universitarios y, sobre todo, de cómo éstos las perciben. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida de los universitarios que cursan estudios en ciencias de la salud y su relación con diferentes factores tales como: hábitos de vida, parámetros antropométricos y la influencia de las distintas variables sobre su percepción. Material y Método: Estudio transversal de una muestra de 1.753 estudiantes de ciencias de la salud de nueve universidades españolas con diseño muestral aleatorio y estatrificado según curso y facultad al que se le aplicó un cuestionaro ad hoc que recogía todas las variables a estudio. Resultados: La calidad de vida percibida por los participantes fue Me = 75. Los factores explorados de la calidad de vida se co-relacionaron significativamente con la percepción global de calidad de vida de los estudiantes (p<0,001). Se establecieron 3 dimensiones y el impacto de cada una de ellas sobre la percepción de calidad de vida global fue p<0,001. Los varones percibieron mejor calidad de vida que las mujeres y también los estudiantes con menor Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC). Conclusión: Los universitarios son una población clave para realizar actividades de promoción y prevención de la salud por lo que resulta necesario crear mejores infraestucturas y recursos educativos para mejorar la CV y fomentar hábitos y estilos de vida saludable con especial atención en la alimentación y la realización de una adecuada actividad física.Abstract Introduction: The quality of life of university students acquires special importance because it provides information about their life conditions and especially how they perceive it. Objetive: Evaluate the quality of life of students who are enrolled in health science studies and its relation with the following diverse factors: life and dietetic habits, anthropometric parameters and the influence of distinct variables on their perception. Methods: Transversal study of a sample of 1753 health science degree students of nine Spanish universities with a randomized design and stratified by course and faculty for which we applied an ad hoc questionnaire that considered all study variables. Results: The quality of life (QoL) perceived by the participants had a Median of 75. The factors that were explored about the quality of life correlated significantly with their global perception of it (p<0.001). Three dimensions were established and the impact of each one of them on their global perception of QoL was p<0.001. Men perceived better QoL then women and the students with lower Body Mass Index (BMI). Conclusions: University students are a key population for realizing health promotion and prevention activities therefore it is necessary to develop and provide better infrastructures and educative resources in order to enhance their QoL and to promote healthier habits and life styles with special attention on dietetics habits and the performance of an adequate physical activity