Spatial distribution patterns of the striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina, L. 1758) natural beds in the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Spain)

VENUSEstudio integral de los bancos naturales de moluscos bivalvos en el Golfo de Cádiz para su gestión sostenible y la conservación de sus hábitats asociado

Spatial distribution and community structure of megabenthic bivalves in the subtidal area of the Gulf of Cádiz (SW Spain)

VENUSEstudio integral de los bancos naturales de moluscos bivalvos en el Golfo de Cádiz para su gestión sostenible y la conservación de sus hábitats asociado

International conference on the healthy effect of virgin olive oil

Ageing represents a great concern in developed countries because the number of people involved and the pathologies related with it, like atherosclerosis, morbus Parkinson, Alzheime's disease, vascular dementia, cognitive decline, diabetes and cancer. Epidemiological studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet (which is rich in virgin olive oil) decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The Mediterranean diet, rich in virgin olive oil, improves the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as the lipoprotein profile, blood pressure, glucose metabolism and antithrombotic profile. Endothelial function, inflammation and oxidative stress are also positively modulated. Some of these effects are attributed to minor components of virgin olive oil. Therefore, the definition of the Mediterranean diet should include virgin olive oil. Different observational studies conducted in humans have shown that the intake of monounsaturated fat may be protective against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Microconstituents from virgin olive oil are bioavailable in humans and have shown antioxidant properties and capacity to improve endothelial function. Furthermore they are also able to modify the haemostasis, showing antithrombotic properties. In countries where the populations fulfilled a typical Mediterranean diet, such as Spain, Greece and Italy, where virgin olive oil is the principal source of fat, cancer incidence rates are lower than in northern European countries. The protective effect of virgin olive oil can be most important in the first decades of life, which suggests that the dietetic benefit of virgin olive oil intake should be initiated before puberty, and maintained through life. The more recent studies consistently support that the Mediterranean diet, based in virgin olive oil, is compatible with a healthier ageing and increased longevity. However, despite the significant advances of the recent years, the final proof about the specific mechanisms and contributing role of the different components of virgin olive oil to its beneficial effects requires further investigations. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Asymmetric Organocatalytic Formal [2 + 2]-Cycloadditions via Bifunctional H-Bond Directing Dienamine Catalysis

A new concept in organocatalysis allowing for the construction of cyclobutanes with four contiguous stereocenters with complete diastereo- and enantiomeric control by a formal [2 + 2]-cycloaddition is presented. The concept is based on simultaneous dual activation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and nitroolefins by amino- and hydrogen-bonding catalysis, respectively. A new bifunctional squaramide-based aminocatalyst has been designed and synthesized in order to enable such an activation strategy. The potential and scope of the reaction are demonstrated, and computational studies which account for the stereochemical outcome are presented

Evaluating polymer-supported isothiourea catalysis in industrially-preferable solvents for the acylative kinetic resolution of secondary and tertiary heterocyclic alcohols in batch and flow

Polymer-supported Lewis base catalysts, based on the homogeneous isothioureas HyperBTM and BTM, have been synthesised and applied for the acylative kinetic resolution of secondary and tertiary heterocyclic alcohols. In batch, the use of industrially-preferable solvents was investigated, with dimethyl carbonate proving to be most generally-applicable. Significantly, the HyperBTM-derived immobilised catalysts were readily recycled, with no loss in either activity or selectivity. In addition to the kinetic resolution of secondary benzylic, propargylic, allylic and cycloalkanol derivatives, a range of 22 tertiary heterocyclic alcohols, based on privileged 3-hydroxyoxindole and 3-hydroxypyrrolidinone substructures, were resolved with up to excellent selectivity (s = 7– 190). Finally, the immobilised isothiourea catalysts were applied in a packed bed reactor to demonstrate the first example of the kinetic resolution of tertiary heterocyclic alcohols in a continuous flow process. High selectivities were obtained for the resolution of 3-hydroxyoxindole derivatives in ethyl acetate (s up to 70); and for 3-hydroxypyrrolidinones derivatives in toluene (s up to 42)