Observacions sobre la traducció llatina del Talmud (París, mitjan segle XIII)

Aquest article ha estat elaborat dins el marc del projecte d'investigació «The Latin Talmud and its Influence on Christian-Jewish Polemic», finançat per l'European Research Council de la Unió Europea (FP7/ 2007-2013 / ERC Grant agreement n. 613694 [http://pagines. uab.cat/lattal]); també, al seu torn, és el resultat escrit de la conferència «Lex super os vel in ore: la traducció del Talmud ( תורה שבעל פה ) al llatí durant el segle xiii», presentada per U. Cecini, Ó. de la Cruz i E. Vernet durant l'assemblea anual celebrada per la Societat Catalana d'Estudis Hebraics el dia 2 de juny de 2015 a la seu de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans.L'objectiu d'aquest article és el d'oferir alguns dels trets característics presents en la traducció llatina del Talmud, anomenada Extractiones de Talmud, que fou elaborada a París pels volts de 1244-1245. Aquestes Extractiones de Talmud són importants pel fet que configuren la primera traducció més o menys extensa del Talmud. Aquesta primera traducció llatina es caracteritza per ser força extensa, però no pas completa, car ofereix una selecció de diferents llocs talmúdics, amb finalitat teològica i pensada per a la refutació del judaisme. Feta una breu presentació del context en què neix aquesta traducció llatina, se'n fa una descripció del text, bo i comentant-ne alguns exemples, per tal de valorar-ne la qualitat

Circuit model for mode conversion in coplanar waveguide asymmetric series-impedances

A new `circuit model' for converting between even and odd modes in asymmetric series impedances in the ground plane of a coplanar waveguide is presented. The model is based on the separation of modes into two input and two output ports. In contrast to previous work, it enables a quantitative analysis of the energy exchange between modes to be obtained.Peer Reviewe

Circuit model for slotline-to-coplanar waveguide asymmetrical transitions

A new `circuit-model' for slotline-to-coplanar waveguide asymmetrical transitions is presented and applied to the design of slotline resonators. The model, based on the separation of coplanar-waveguide (CPW) modes into two different ports, overcomes limitations of previous models because it explains the transition behaviour even if CPW air-bridges are not used.Peer Reviewe

Trade-offs among aboveground, belowground, and soil organic carbon stocks along altitudinal gradients in Andean tropical montane forests

Tropical montane forests (TMFs) play an important role as a carbon reservoir at a global scale. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive understanding on the variation in carbon storage across TMF compartments [namely aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), and soil organic matter] along altitudinal and environmental gradients and their potential trade-offs. This study aims to: 1) understand how carbon stocks vary along altitudinal gradients in Andean TMFs, and; 2) determine the influence of climate, particularly precipitation seasonality, on the distribution of carbon stocks across different forest compartments. The study was conducted in sixty 0.1 ha plots along two altitudinal gradients at the Podocarpus National Park (Ecuador) and Río Abiseo National Park (Peru). At each plot, we calculated the amount of carbon in AGB (i.e. aboveground carbon stock, AGC), BGB (i.e. belowground carbon stock, BGC), and soil organic matter (i.e. soil organic carbon stock, SOC). The mean total carbon stock was 244.76 ± 80.38 Mg ha–1 and 211.51 ± 46.95 Mg ha–1 in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian plots, respectively. Although AGC, BGC, and SOC showed different partitioning patterns along the altitudinal gradient both in Ecuador and Peru, total carbon stock did not change with altitude in either site. The combination of annual mean temperature and precipitation seasonality explained differences in the observed patterns of carbon stocks across forest compartments between the two sites. This study suggests that the greater precipitation seasonality of colder, higher altitudes may promote faster turnover rates of organic matter and nutrients and, consequently, less accumulation of SOC but greater AGC and BGC, compared to those sites with lesser precipitation seasonality. Our results demonstrate the capacity of TMFs to store substantial amounts of carbon and suggest the existence of a trade-off in carbon stocks among forest compartments, which could be partly driven by differences in precipitation seasonality, especially under the colder temperatures of high altitudesAuthorizations to work in protected areas were granted by national authorities: Ecuador (MAE-DNB-CM2015-0016) and Perú (001-2016-SERNANP-PNRA-JEF

Immunometabolism modulation in therapy

The study of cancer biology should be based around a comprehensive vision of the entire tumor ecosystem, considering the functional, bioenergetic and metabolic state of tumor cells and those of their microenvironment, and placing particular importance on immune system cells. Enhanced understanding of the molecular bases that give rise to alterations of pathways related to tumor development can open up new therapeutic intervention opportunities, such as metabolic regulation applied to immunotherapy. This review outlines the role of various oncometabolites and immunometabolites, such as TCA intermediates, in shaping pro/anti-inflammatory activity of immune cells such as MDSCs, T lymphocytes, TAMs and DCs in cancer. We also discuss the extraordinary plasticity of the immune response and its implication in immunotherapy efficacy, and highlight different therapeutic intervention possibilities based on controlling the balanced systems of specific metabolites with antagonistic functions

Observacions sobre la traducció llatina del Talmud (París, mitjan segle XIII)

L'objectiu d'aquest article és el d'oferir alguns dels trets característics presents en la traducció llatina del Talmud, anomenada Extractiones de Talmud, la qual fou elaborada a París pels volts de 1244-1245. Aquestes Extractiones de Talmud són importants pel fet que configuren la primera traducció més o menys extensa del Talmud. Aquesta primera traducció llatina es caracteritza per ser una traducció força exhaustiva, però no pas completa, car ofereix una selecció de diferents llocs talmúdics, amb finalitat teològica i pensada per a la refutació del judaisme. Feta una breu presentació del context en què neix aquesta traducció llatina, passarem a descriure'n el text, bo i comentant-ne alguns exemples, per tal de valorar la qualitat d'aquesta traducció

Preparation and characterization of micro-nano engineered targets for high-power laser experiments

[EN] The continuous development of ultra-fast high-power lasers (HPL) technology with the ability of working at unprecedented repetition rates, between 1 and 10 Hz, is raising the target needs for experiments in the different areas of interest to the HPL community. Many target designs can be conceived according to specific scientific issues, however to guarantee manufacturing abilities that enable large number production and still allow for versatility in the design is the main barrier in the exploitation of these high repetition rate facilities. Here, we have applied MEMS based manufacturing processes for this purpose. In particular, we have focused on the fabrication and characterization of submicrometric conductive membranes embedded in a silicon frame. These kinds of solid targets are used for laser-driven particle acceleration through the so-called Target Normal Sheath Acceleration mechanism (TNSA). They were obtained by top-down fabrication alternating pattern transfer, atomic layer deposition, and selective material etching. The adaptability of the approach is then analyzed and discussed by evaluating different properties of targets for use in laser-driven particle acceleration experiments. These characteristics include the surface properties of membranes after fabrication and the high density of the target array. Finally, we were able to show their efficiency for laser-driven proton acceleration in a series of experiments with a 3 TW table-top laser facility, achieving stable proton acceleration up to 2 MeV.The authors highly appreciate the collaboration of Radosys (Budapest) which provided CR-39 detector material, etching bath, and readout equipment. This project has been financed by the Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness within the Retos-Colaboracion 2015 initiative, ref. RTC-2015-3278-1. P. Mur has received a grant of the Garantia Juvenil 2015 program. This work has made use of the Spanish ICTS Network MICRONANOFABS partially supported by MEINCOM.Zaffino, R.; Seimetz, M.; Quirión, D.; Ruiz-De La Cruz, A.; Sánchez, I.; Mur, P.; Benlliure, J.... (2018). Preparation and characterization of micro-nano engineered targets for high-power laser experiments. Microelectronic Engineering. 194:67-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mee.2018.03.011S677019

Spectroscopy and reactivity of transition metals. Módulos interactivos de aprendizaje for PC (e-learning) and mobile devices móviles (m-learning)

Se han desarrollado herramientas de aprendizaje autónomo en el campo de la Química, teniendo como temática la espectroscopia y complejos de los metales de transición. Los módulos de aprendizaje que se han desarrollado son de carácter auto-explicativo e interactivo para potenciar el aprendizaje autónomo del alumno, aunque tutelados por el profesor. También son de interés por su potencial aplicación en las modalidades de enseñanza virtual y semipresencial. Los módulos se han desarrollado para ser ejecutados tanto para ordenadores (e-Learning) como para dispositivos móviles (m-Learning), permitiendo trabajar no solo "on-line" sino también "off-line". Es decir, que las aplicaciones puedan ser descargadas e instaladas en los dispositivos fijos y/o móviles para su uso sin conexión a internet.We have developed some self-learning seminars in Chemistry. The main topic is the spectroscopy and complexes of transition metals. The learning modules developed are interactive and try to promote the autonomous learning of the student, although its use in this academic course will be tutored by the teacher. They are also of interest for their potential application in partial and fully on-line courses. All the modules can be downloaded and executed in both PC (e-Learning) and mobile devices (m-Learning), thus allowing to work not only "on-line" but also "off-line"

Allelic variants of melanocortin 3 receptor gene (MC3R) and weight loss in obesity: a randomised trial of hypo-energetic high- versus low-fat diets

INTRODUCTION: The melanocortin system plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Mice genetically deficient in the melanocortin-3 receptor gene have a normal body weight with increased body fat, mild hypophagia compared to wild-type mice. In humans, Thr6Lys and Val81Ile variants of the melanocortin-3 receptor gene (MC3R) have been associated with childhood obesity, higher BMI Z-score and elevated body fat percentage compared to non-carriers. The aim of this study is to assess the association in adults between allelic variants of MC3R with weight loss induced by energy-restricted diets. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This research is based on the NUGENOB study, a trial conducted to assess weight loss during a 10-week dietary intervention involving two different hypo-energetic (high-fat and low-fat) diets. A total of 760 obese patients were genotyped for 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms covering the single exon of MC3R gene and its flanking regions, including the missense variants Thr6Lys and Val81Ile. Linear mixed models and haplotype-based analysis were carried out to assess the potential association between genetic polymorphisms and differential weight loss, fat mass loss, waist change and resting energy expenditure changes. RESULTS: No differences in drop-out rate were found by MC3R genotypes. The rs6014646 polymorphism was significantly associated with weight loss using co-dominant (p = 0.04) and dominant models (p = 0.03). These p-values were not statistically significant after strict control for multiple testing. Haplotype-based multivariate analysis using permutations showed that rs3827103-rs1543873 (p = 0.06), rs6014646-rs6024730 (p = 0.05) and rs3746619-rs3827103 (p = 0.10) displayed near-statistical significant results in relation to weight loss. No other significant associations or gene*diet interactions were detected for weight loss, fat mass loss, waist change and resting energy expenditure changes. CONCLUSION: The study provided overall sufficient evidence to support that there is no major effect of genetic variants of MC3R and differential weight loss after a 10-week dietary intervention with hypo-energetic diets in obese Europeans

The Talmud in Dispute During the High Middle Ages

The Christian discovery of the Babylonian Talmud is a significant landmark in the long and complex history of anti-Jewish polemic. While the Talmudic corpus developed in the same period as early Christianity, this post-biblical text was largely unknown to the Christians. Full awareness of the Talmud among Christian authors did not arise until the late 1230s, when the Jewish convert Nicholas Donin presented a Latin translation of Talmudic fragments to Pope Gregory IX. Though the Talmud was subsequently put on trial (1240) and burnt (1241/2) in Paris, the controversy surrounding it continued over the following years, as Pope Innocent IV called for a revision of its condemnation. The textual basis for this revision is the Extractiones de Talmud, that is, a Latin translation of 1.922 Talmudic fragments. The articles in this volume shed new light on this monumental translation and its historical context. The also offer critical editions of related texts such as Donin's anti-Talmudic polemic