Advanced architectural descriptors in foams: novel 3D computational methods

This work presents 3D computational strategies aimed at providing foam de-structuration of the basic components of a cellular material (struts and cell walls) offering the possibility of analysing separately the structural elements that play an important role in the physical properties of thee materials. Two different methodologies have been used depending on the topological similarities existing between the struts and cell walls: 3D erosion-dilation procedure (thick struts) and solid classification algorithm (thin struts). In a second step, analysis of cell walls is performed in order to show the advantages of analysing separately the two foams components. Particularly, cell wall thickness distribution reveals differences that could not be found prior to the de-structuration

Platinum(II) compounds containing cyclometalated tridentate ligands: Synthesis, luminescence studies, and a selective fluoro for methoxy substitution

Two series of potentially tridentate ligands of formula ArCH=N(CH2)2NMe2 and ArCH=N(CH2)3NMe2 (Ar = C6H5, 2-FC6H4, 4-FC6H4, 2,3,4-F3C6H2) were used to prepare [C,N,N′]-cyclometalated platinum compounds containing either a chloro or a methyl ancillary ligand. The synthesis of the compounds [PtCl{Me2N(CH2)xN=CHR}] (3a−h), via the corresponding compounds [PtCl2{Me2N(CH2)xN=CHAr}] (2), requires drastic conditions and proceeds more easily for ligands derived from N,N-dimethylpropylenediamine (x = 3). Along the process, an unexpected selective nucleophilic substitution of a fluoro for a methoxy substituent took place at the aryl ring for ligands 2,3,4-F3C6H2CH=N(CH2)xNMe2. The syntheses of compounds [PtMe{Me2N(CH2)xN=CHR}] (4a−h) using [Pt2Me4(μ-SMe2)2] as a precursor took place for all ligands under relatively mild conditions. All compounds were fully characterized, including molecular structure determination for [PtCl{Me2N(CH2)3N=CH(4-FC6H3)}] (3b) and [PtCl{Me2N-(CH2)3N=CH(2-OMe,3,4-F2C6H)}] (3g). The absorption and emission spectra were also studied for the [C,N,N′]-cyclometalated platinum(II) compounds, and all of the compounds were emissive in the solid state and in dichloromethane solution at room temperature (compounds 3) or at 77 K (compounds 4). The size of the [N,N′]-chelate ring and the number and position of the substituents in the aryl ring modulate the intensity and the energy of the emission

Computational approaches for tortuosity determination in 3D structures

Tortuosity is a parameter of key importance to study transport properties in either solid phase (thermal, electrical) and/or fluid phase (acoustics, mass/heat flow, etc). This structure-related parameter expresses mathematically the real pathway distance in comparison to the straightest one when travelling along certain direction through the material’s internal structure. Tortuosity determination is not reliable in 2D and needs to be computed in 3D structures. However, computation of 3D algorithms in complex structures is not an easy task. This work discusses two methodological approaches based on their correspondent computation algorithms working on a collection of 3D tomography data sets of different cellular materials. The tortuosity analysis is carried out in both solid and fluid phases. Results will be compared and correlated. A detailed discussion in terms of these models and the materials will be given

Luminescent Pt-II and Pt-IV Platinacycles with Anticancer Activity Against Multiplatinum-Resistant Metastatic CRC and CRPC Cell Models

Platinum-based chemotherapy persists to be the only effective therapeutic option against a wide variety of tumours. Nevertheless, the acquisition of platinum resistance is utterly common, ultimately cornering conventional platinum drugs to only palliative in many patients. Thus, encountering alternatives that are both effective and non-cross-resistant is urgent. In this work, we report the synthesis, reduction studies, and luminescent properties of a series of cyclometallated (C,N,N')PtIV compounds derived from amine- imine ligands, and their remarkable efficacy at the high nanomolar range and complete lack of cross57 resistance, as an intrinsic property of the platinacycle, against multiplatinum-resistant colorectal cancer (CRC) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) metastatic cell lines generated for this work. We have also determined that the compounds are effective and selective for a broader cancer panel, including breast and lung cancer. Additionally, selected compounds have been further evaluated, finding a shift in their antiproliferative mechanism towards more cytotoxic and less cytostatic than cisplatin against cancer cells, being also able to oxidize cysteine residues and inhibit topoisomerase II, thereby holding great promise as future improved alternatives to conventional platinum drugs

Room-Temperature Phosphorescence and Efficient Singlet Oxygen Production by Cyclometalated Pt(II) Complexes with Aromatic Alkynyl Ligands

The synthesis of five novel cyclometalated platinum(II) compounds containing five different alkynyl-chromophores was achieved by the reaction of the previously synthesized Pt-Cl cyclometalated compound (1) with the corresponding RC (math)CH by a Sonogashira reaction. It was observed that the spectral and photophysical characteristics of the cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes (Pt-Ar) are essentially associated with the platinum-cyclometalated unit. Room-temperature emission of the Pt-Ar complexes was attributed to phosphorescence in agreement with DFT calculations. Broad nanosecond (ns)-transient absorption spectra were observed with decays approximately identical to those obtained from the emission of the triplet state. From the femtosecond-transient absorption (fs-TA) data, two main excited- state decay components were identified: one in the order of a few picoseconds was assigned to fast intersystem crossing to populate the triplet excited-state and the second (hundreds of ns) was associated with the decay of the transient triplet state. In general, efficient singlet oxygen photosensitization quantum yields were observed from the triplet state of these complexes

Pollenia rudis y otros califóridos (Diptera: Calliphoridae) capturados en el oriente del municipio de Torreón, Coahuila, México

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar la dipterofauna asociada a las palmas W. robusta y ampliar el conocimiento sobre la taxonomía, hábitos y distribución de moscas de la familia Calliphoridae. Durante la primavera de 2018, se llevaron a cabo muestreos en palmas sanas, enfermas y muertas en la parte oriente de la ciudad de Torreón, Coahuila. El monitoreo se realizó mediante la colocación de 15 trampas con etanol al 70%. Se colectaron en total 51 individuos; de los cuales, el 65% pertenecieron a la familia Calliphoridae (33 especímenes), 25% a la familia Sarcophagidae (13 especímenes), el 4% a la familia Anthomyiidae y  6% no fueron identificadas. Se documentó por primera vez en el municipio de Torreón la presencia de Pollenia rudis Fabricius y Phormia regina Meigen, ambas especies pertenecientes a la familia Calliphoridae. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54167/tecnociencia.v14i3.74

A genome-wide association study follow-up suggests a possible role for PPARG in systemic sclerosis susceptibility

Introduction: A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) comprising a French cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) reported several non-HLA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing a nominal association in the discovery phase. We aimed to identify previously overlooked susceptibility variants by using a follow-up strategy.<p></p> Methods: Sixty-six non-HLA SNPs showing a P value <10-4 in the discovery phase of the French SSc GWAS were analyzed in the first step of this study, performing a meta-analysis that combined data from the two published SSc GWASs. A total of 2,921 SSc patients and 6,963 healthy controls were included in this first phase. Two SNPs, PPARG rs310746 and CHRNA9 rs6832151, were selected for genotyping in the replication cohort (1,068 SSc patients and 6,762 healthy controls) based on the results of the first step. Genotyping was performed by using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Results: We observed nominal associations for both PPARG rs310746 (PMH = 1.90 × 10-6, OR, 1.28) and CHRNA9 rs6832151 (PMH = 4.30 × 10-6, OR, 1.17) genetic variants with SSc in the first step of our study. In the replication phase, we observed a trend of association for PPARG rs310746 (P value = 0.066; OR, 1.17). The combined overall Mantel-Haenszel meta-analysis of all the cohorts included in the present study revealed that PPARG rs310746 remained associated with SSc with a nominal non-genome-wide significant P value (PMH = 5.00 × 10-7; OR, 1.25). No evidence of association was observed for CHRNA9 rs6832151 either in the replication phase or in the overall pooled analysis.<p></p> Conclusion: Our results suggest a role of PPARG gene in the development of SSc

Recursos d’informació integrats i tranversals per totes les assignatures de 2n semestre del grau de Psicologia (2012PID-UB/105, modalitat A). Memòria Final

Convocatòria d'ajuts per al desenvolupament de projectes d’innovació docent a la Universitat de BarcelonaLa disponibilitat d’informació en la societat del coneixement comporta el desenvolupament de l’alfabetització digital: l’habilitat d’accedir, avaluar i utilitzar informació de diverses fonts. La coordinació de les cinc assignatures que cursen els estudiants en el segon semestre de Psicologia va permetre l’elaboració d’un pla d’actuació de forma transversal. Els estudiants que van seguir la formació van obtenir notables resultats quan s'enfrontaven a exercicis pràctics específics (identificació de paraules clau o factors d'impacte), però van mostrar mancances a l’hora de resoldre tasques que requerien la cerca avançada, l’ús de l'estil APA, la identificació de títols de revistes científiques o el coneixement global dels usos i recursos d'informació. Tot i així, els estudiants que van rebre la formació van ser lleugerament més competents que els seus companys de darrer curs del grau (al què no se'ls ha format específicament, però se'ls suposa experiència en cerca, atesa les demandes de les diferents assignatures que han cursat). L'avaluació de la competència informacional no va resultar independent de la resta de competències avaluades. Es va observar que va correlacionar positivament, tant en la tasca de defensa oral, com en la puntuació de l'examen final de continguts bàsics de l'assignatura (valors rxy entre 0,09 i 0,18).(2012PID-UB/105, modalitat A

Automated synthesis of transmission lines loaded with complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) and open complementary split ring resonators (OCSRRs) through aggressive space mapping (ASM)

This paper is focused on the application of space mapping optimization to the automated synthesis of transmission lines loaded with complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) and open complementary split ring resonators (OCSRRs). These structures are of interest for the implementation of resonant-type metamaterial transmission lines and for the design of planar microwave circuits based on such complementary resonators. The paper presents a method to generate the layouts of CSRR- and OCSRR-loaded microstrip lines from the elements of their equivalent circuit models. Using the so-called aggressive space mapping, a specific implementation that uses quasi-Newton type iteration, we have developed synthesis algorithms that are able to provide the topology of these CSRR and OCSRR-loaded lines in few steps. The most relevant aspect, however, is that this synthesis process is completely automatic, i.e., it does not require any action from the designers, other than initiating the algorithm. Moreover, this technique can be translated to other electrically small planar elements described by lumped element equivalent circuit models.This work has been partially supported by MICIIN-Spain (Projects TEC2010-17512 METATRANSFER, TEC2010-21520-C04-01 AVANSAT, CONSOLIDER EMET CSD2008-00066, and Grant AP2008-04707), Generalitat de Catalunya (Project 2009SGR-421), and MITyC-Spain (Project TSI-020100-2010-169 METASINTESIS). Ferran Martin is in debt to ICREA for supporting his work through an ICREA Academia Award (calls 2008 and 2013).Selga, J.; Rodríguez Pérez, AM.; Orellana, M.; Boria Esbert, VE.; Martín, F. (2014). Automated synthesis of transmission lines loaded with complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) and open complementary split ring resonators (OCSRRs) through aggressive space mapping (ASM). Applied Physics A. 117(2):557-565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-014-8703-xS5575651172G.V. Eleftheriades, K.G. 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Martín, Application of resonant-type metamaterial transmission lines to the design of enhanced bandwidth components with compact dimensions. Microw. Opt. Technol. Lett. 50, 127–134 (2008)I.H. Lin, M. De Vincentis, C. Caloz, T. Itoh, Arbitrary dual-band components using composite right/left handed transmission lines. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 52, 1142–1149 (2004)A.C. Papanastasiou, G.E. Georghiou, G.V. Eleftheriades, A quad-band Wilkinson power divider using generalized NRI transmission lines. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett. 18, 521–523 (2008)M. Durán-Sindreu, G. Sisó, J. Bonache, F. Martín, Planar multi-band microwave components based on the generalized composite right/left handed transmission line concept. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 58(12), 3882–3891 (2010)J. Bonache, I. Gil, J. García-García, F. Martín, Novel microstrip band pass filters based on complementary split ring resonators. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 54, 265–271 (2006)M. Gil, J. Bonache, J. 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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) catheter-related bacteraemia in haemodialysis patients

Background: the aim of the study was to determine clinical and microbiological differences between patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) catheter-related bacteraemia (CRB) undergoing or not undergoing haemodialysis, and to compare outcomes. Methods: prospective multicentre study conducted at 21 Spanish hospitals of patients with MRSA bacteraemia diagnosed between June 2008 and December 2009. Patients with MRSA-CRB were selected. Data of patients on haemodialysis (HD-CRB) and those not on haemodialysis (non-HD-CRB) were compared. Results: among 579 episodes of MRSA bacteraemia, 218 (37.7 %) were CRB. Thirty-four (15.6 %) were HD-CRB and 184 (84.4 %) non-HD-CRB. All HD-CRB patients acquired the infection at dialysis centres, while in 85.3 % of the non-HD-CRB group the infection was nosocomial (p < .001). There were no differences in age, gender or severity of bacteraemia (Pitt score); comorbidities (Charlson score ≥ 4) were higher in the HD-CRB group than in the non-HD-CRB group (73.5 % vs. 46.2 %, p = .003). Although there were no differences in VAN-MIC ≥1.5 mg/L according to microdilution, using the E-test a higher rate of VAN-MIC ≥1.5 mg/L was observed in HD-CRB than in non-HD-CRB patients (63.3 % vs. 44.1 %, p = .051). Vancomycin was more frequently administered in the HD-CRB group than in the non-HD-CRB group (82.3 % vs. 42.4 %, p = <.001) and therefore the appropriate empirical therapy was significantly higher in HD-CRB group (91.2 % vs. 73.9 %, p = .029). There were no differences with regard to catheter removal (79.4 % vs. 84.2 %, p = .555, respectively). No significant differences in mortality rate were observed between both groups (Overall mortality: 11.8 % vs. 27.2 %, p = .081, respectively), but there was a trend towards a higher recurrence rate in HD-CRB group (8.8 % vs. 2.2 %, p = .076). Conclusions: in our multicentre study, ambulatory patients in chronic haemodialysis represented a significant proportion of cases of MRSA catheter-related bacteraemia. Although haemodialysis patients with MRSA catheter-related bacteraemia had significantly more comorbidities and higher proportion of strains with reduced vancomycin susceptibility than non-haemodialysis patients, overall mortality between both groups was similar