A refined analysis of the low-mass eclipsing binary system T-Cyg1-12664

The observational mass-radius relation of main sequence stars with masses between ~0.3 and 1.0 Msun reveals deviations between the stellar radii predicted by models and the observed radii of stars in detached binaries. We generate an accurate physical model of the low-mass eclipsing binary T-Cyg1-12664 in the Kepler mission field to measure the physical parameters of its components and to compare them with the prediction of theoretical stellar evolution models. We analyze the Kepler mission light curve of T-Cyg1-12664 to accurately measure the times and phases of the primary and secondary eclipse. In addition, we measure the rotational period of the primary component by analyzing the out-of-eclipse oscillations that are due to spots. We accurately constrain the effective temperature of the system using ground-based absolute photometry in B, V, Rc, and Ic. We also obtain and analyze V, Rc, Ic differential light curves to measure the eccentricity and the orbital inclination of the system, and a precise Teff ratio. From the joint analysis of new radial velocities and those in the literature we measure the individual masses of the stars. Finally, we use the PHOEBE code to generate a physical model of the system. T-Cyg1-12664 is a low eccentricity system, located d=360+/-22 pc away from us, with an orbital period of P=4.1287955(4) days, and an orbital inclination i=86.969+/-0.056 degrees. It is composed of two very different stars with an active G6 primary with Teff1=5560+/-160 K, M1=0.680+/-0.045 Msun, R1=0.799+/-0.017 Rsun, and a M3V secondary star with Teff2=3460+/-210 K, M2=0.376+/-0.017 Msun, and R2=0.3475+/-0.0081 Rsun. The primary star is an oversized and spotted active star, hotter than the stars in its mass range. The secondary is a cool star near the mass boundary for fully convective stars (M~0.35 Msun), whose parameters appear to be in agreement with low-mass stellar model.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, 15 table

Herramientas matemáticas para monitorizar Erasmus+: Estudio comparado con datos FP K102 en Francia, Alemania, Italia, España y Reino Unido

Erasmus+ fosters the creation of a common education framework for the European Union. The mathematical tools proposed by the present research can be used to evaluate equity in all the of the Erasmus+ key actions, comparing the equity in the funds’ distribution between the countries participating in the Erasmus+ programme and its evolution over time. The text analyses the distribution of Erasmus+ KA102 VET funds and evaluates if this distribution is being done fairly, with equity. This analysis has been done with mathematical tools proposed by the author that provide information from three different perspectives: the impact of the funds on the students (Students with a Fair Access to Funds – SFAF), the regions NUTS1/NUTS2 (Regional Mobility Efficiency-RME) and the nations (National Equity – NE). The countries studied in the current research are France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. These five countries contain more than half of all the vocational education and training students in the European Union. Also, these countries had the most students participating in mobilities during the previous Leonardo da Vinci programme. Hence, it is possible to consider that the conclusions of the current research offer a significant image of the situation of VET mobilities in EuropeErasmus+ fomenta la creación de un espacio común de formación en la Unión Europea.Las herramientas matemáticas propuestas sirven para evaluar la equidad en todas las acciones clave de Erasmus+, comparando la equidad de la distribución de fondos en los países participantes del programa y a lo largo del tiempo. Como ejemplo, analizamos la distribución de los fondos Erasmus+ para FP KA 102. Valoramos el grado en que esta distribución se hace de forma equitativa. Este análisis se realiza mediante las herramientas matemáticas propuestas que aportan información desde tres perspectivas diferentes: el impacto de los fondos en los estudiantes (Students with a Fair Access to Funds – SFAF), en las regiones (Regional Mobility Efficiency-RME) y a nivel nacional (National Equity – NE). Los países analizados son Francia, Alemania, Italia, España y Reino Unido. Estos 5 países aportan más de la mitad de los estudiantes de formación profesional en la Unión Europea. Además, son los países que más alumnos movilizaron en el programa previo Leonardo da Vinci. Por ello, es posible considerar que las conclusiones obtenidas son significativas a la hora de analizar el conjunto de la movilidad de la formación profesional en Europ

Flavonoids As DNA Topoisomerase I Poisons

The therapeutic anticancer potential of flavonoids shown by recent research needs a greater understanding of these compounds. They are antioxidants and antimutagenic agents that can inhibit tumor promotion and transformation and can modify the activity of a large number of mammalian enzyme systems, such as human DNAtopoisomerases. Poisons of topoisomerases generate toxic DNA damage by stabilization of the covalent DNA-topoisomerase cleavage complex and some of them have therapeutic efficacy in human cancer. The present investigation has assayed ten flavonoids, isolated in our laboratory, as topoisomerase I poisons obtaining myricetin and myricetin-3-galactoside as two new topoiosomerase I poisons. These two flavonoids, and the plant extract from which they were isolated, were assayed for cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines using the SRB assay. Taking into account our previous research, structural requisites implicated in the topoisomerase poisoning are discussed.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología de España. SAF 2000-016

Comentarios a la guía ESC/ERS 2015 sobre el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hipertensión pulmonar

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Revista Española de Cardiología 69.2 (2016): 59-65, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.recesp.2015.11.03

Sex-Specific Effects of Early Life Stress on Brain Mitochondrial Function, Monoamine Levels and Neuroinflammation

Sex differences have been reported in the susceptibility to early life stress and its neurobiological correlates in humans and experimental animals. However, most of the current research with animal models of early stress has been performed mainly in males. In the present study, prolonged maternal separation (MS) paradigm was applied as an animal model to resemble the effects of adverse early experiences in male and female rats. Regional brain mitochondrial function, monoaminergic activity, and neuroinflammation were evaluated as adults. Mitochondrial energy metabolism was greatly decreased in MS females as compared with MS males in the prefrontal cortex, dorsal hippocampus, and the nucleus accumbens shell. In addition, MS males had lower serotonin levels and increased serotonin turnover in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. However, MS females showed increased dopamine turnover in the prefrontal cortex and increased norepinephrine turnover in the striatum, but decreased dopamine turnover in the hippocampus. Sex differences were also found for pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, with increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of MS males, and increased IL-6 levels in the striatum of MS females. These results evidence the complex sex- and brain region-specific long-term consequences of early life stress.This work was supported by grants PSI 2017-83038-P to HGP and NC, PSI 2017-90806-REDT to JLA, PSI 2017-83893-R to JLA (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain)

Induction of Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Colon Carcinoma Cells by Corema album Leaves

The leaves of Corema album (Ericaceae), an endemic shrub which grows in Atlantic coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula, are rich in flavonoids and other secondary metabolites. Silica gel column chromatography of the ethyl acetate extract from dried leaves was performed and a flavonic active fraction was obtained. The cytotoxic activity of this fraction was assessed using the colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29. After 48 hours of treatment, cell viability was determined with luminescence-based ATPLite assay, showing IC50 values of 7.2 ± 0.7 and 6.8 ± 1.2 µg/mL, respectively. The study by flow cytometry revealed that the cytotoxicity of this fraction was mediated, at least in part, by induction of apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest. The active fraction was then subjected to Sephadex LH-20 chromatography and two flavonoids were separated and identified as the flavanone pinocembrin and 2’,4’-dihydroxychalcone after UV, MS and NMR analysis

One-Pot Cu/TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesis for Trans-Ferulic Acid Conversion into Vanillin

In this study, the co-synthesis of TiO2 and Cu metallic nanoparticles obtained via one-pot cost-efficient hydrothermal process has been addressed. Different nanocatalysts with Cu contents were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The TiO2 and Cu metallic nanoparticles were synthesized with copper loading up to one (Cu/Ti atomic ratio). Synthesized catalysts exhibited pore sizes in the mesoporous range and high surface areas above 150 m2/g. The particle size for TiO2 presented a homogeneous distribution of approximately 8 nm, moreover, Cu nanoparticles varied from 12 to >100 nm depending on the metal loading. The nanostructured materials were successfully tested in the conversion of trans-ferulic acid into vanillin under sustainable conditions, achieving the best performance for 0.3 Cu/Ti atomic ratio (70% vanillin yield)

Meroterpenoids from the Brown Alga Cystoseira usneoides as Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Lung Anticancer Agents

The anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of eight meroterpenoids isolated from the brown seaweed Cystoseira usneoides have been evaluated. The algal meroterpenoids (AMTs) 1-8 were tested for their inhibitory effects on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-stimulated THP-1 human macrophages. The anticancer effects were assessed by cytotoxicity assays against human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and normal lung fibroblastic MRC-5 cells, together with flow cytometry analysis of the effects of these AMTs on different phases of the cell cycle. The AMTs 1-8 significantly reduced the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta, and suppressed the COX-2 and iNOS expression, in LPS-stimulated cells (p < 0.05). The AMTs 1-8 displayed higher cytotoxic activities against A549 cancer cells than against MRC-5 normal lung cells. Cell cycle analyses indicated that most of the AMTs caused the arrest of A549 cells at the G2/M and S phases. The AMTs 2 and 5 stand out by combining significant anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, while 3 and 4 showed interesting selective anticancer effects. These findings suggest that the AMTs produced by C. usneoides may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases and lung cancer