Strategies for penicillin V dendronization with cationic carbosilane dendrons and study of antibacterial properties.

Strategies to synthesize a cationic carbosilane dendron containing the antibiotic penicillin V potassium salt (PenVK) at the focal point are discussed. The preparation of such a compound requires the use of systems with no donor atoms such as N or S in their framework, because their presence favours the rupture of the penicillin beta-lactam ring. The antibacterial activity of the new dendron containing ammonium groups, at the periphery, and the PenV moiety, at the focal point, against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus strains was evaluated. These results were compared with those obtained for free PenVK, a related cationic dendron without a penicillin moiety at the focal point, and also compared with an equimolar mixture of this last dendron with free PenV. The data obtained indicate that, on one hand, the conjugation or interaction of PenV with cationic dendrons reduces its activity in comparison with free PenVK. On the other hand, the penicillin dendron is able to release the antibiotic in the presence of esterease, due to the breaking of the ester bond in this derivative.Ministerio de Economía y Empres

Locating the Self in Autobiographical Memories: A New Approach to Analysis

Systematic cross-cultural variation in autobiographical memory has been reported in numerous previous research. Variations have often been interpreted as mirroring differences in culturally diverging self-conceptions, implying that content characteristics of autobiographical memories can be used as indirect measures of self. However, a majority of these characteristics rest on the traditional independence vs. interdependence dimension, and might only be suitable for typically Western and Eastern populations. Other content characteristics could be more instrumental for “locating” the self in autobiographical memories, such as the incidence of actions, mental states and reflections. We therefore propose a new approach to content analysis of autobiographical memories. The approach is theoretically grounded in Kagitcibasi’s (2005) model of autonomy and relatedness and Bruner’s (1987) distinction between landscape of action and landscape of consciousness. Operationalizing these concepts and building on empirical work of Qi Wang (e.g. Wang, 2001), we present a four-step coding system for content analysis of autobiographical memories. In the first step, memories are divided into separate units of analysis. In the next three steps, these units are placed within a number of different categories, and that with regards to who the units’ subjects are, what these subjects are doing or experiencing, and whether they are thereby showing any signs of agency and/or relatedness. Ultimately, the proposed coding system aims to capture how the self is present, and presented, in autobiographical memory in a more nuanced way, compared with previous research. Hence, the system could be applicable for use in studies with a variety of culturally diverse populations

Structure-activity relationship study of cationic carbosilane dendritic systems as antibacterial agents

This work focuses on the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gramnegative Escherichia coli and the hemolytic properties of two types of ammonium cationic carbosilane systems: dendrimers and dendrons. The effects of: i) the generation, ii) the type of peripheral groups near the cationic charges (a SiMe2 moiety or a S atom depending on the synthetic procedure, hydrosilylation or thiol-ene addition, respectively), iii) the core of dendrimers (polyphenoxo vs. Si atom) and iv) the focal point of dendrons (-N3, -NH2, -OH) have been assessed. The structure-activity relationship analysis indicates the importance of an adequate balance between the hydrophilic and lipophilic fragments of these molecules to reach the best antibacterial activity. Regarding hemolysis, lowest toxicity values were registered for dendritic systems with a sulfur atom close to the surface and, in the particular case of dendrons, for those with a hydroxyl focal point. One dendrimer and one dendron, both bearing a sulfur atom close to the surface, scored best in the activity-toxicity relationship analysis and were chosen for resistance assays. No changes in the inhibitory and bactericidal capacity in the case of the dendron and only a slight increase of these values for the dendrimer were observed after 15 subculture cycles. Furthermore, these two compounds stayed active towards different strains of resistant bacteria and avoid formation of biofilm at concentrations over the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).Ministerio de Economía y Empres

(Self) Positions and voices on co-education: constructing teacher identities in equality programmes implementation

En el presente artículo se proponen las nociones de posiciones del yo y de voces como herramientas analíticas para estudiar cómo un grupo de profesoras y profesores especialistas en coeducación usan sus narrativas para construir y negociar posibles identidades profesionales. En concreto, cómo se desarrolla este proceso a lo largo de un grupo de discusión en torno a los cambios que en los escenarios educativos ha supuesto la aplicación de planes de igualdad. En este trabajo, se desarrolla una concepción de la identidad como un continuo y cambiante relato (narrativa) en el que el yo se constituye en una realidad múltiple, cambiante y constantemente negociada, y a partir de la que los individuos establecen quiénes son en su relación con otros y con los contextos en los que participan. Se analizan una serie de extractos de un grupo de discusión entre profesionales educativos en torno a las consecuencias de la aplicación de planes de igualdad en los centros. Se describen las distintas posiciones que van adoptando a lo largo del debate, el complejo juego –y negociación- entre ellas, así como las voces que las articulan en cuanto a su procedencia, nivel de generalidad, etc. Se concluye que las identidades profesionales de nuestras expertas en coeducación se están construyendo en un contexto cultural e ideológico específico.The notions of I-positions and voices are proposed as analytical tools for studying how a group of teachers, specialists in co-education, use their narratives to construct and negotiate possible professional identities. More specifically, we analyse how this process develops in a focus-group organised to discuss the educational changes elicited by the implementation of gender equality programmes. In this study we conceive identity as a continuous and changing narrative in which the self is also construed as a multiple, changing and constantly negotiated reality where individuals establish who they are in relation with others and with the contexts they participate in. Some excerpts from a focus-group of professionals in education discussing about the consequences of the application of a gender equality programme promoted by the regional government are analysed. From this analysis, the interplay of the different positions adopted by the participants in the debate, as well as the voices that articulated these positions are examined. We conclude that the professional identities of our experts in co-education are being constructed in a specific cultural and ideological context.Grupo FORCE (HUM-386). Departamento de Didáctica y Organización Escolar de la Universidad de Granada

Sensitivity to anti-Fas is independent of increased cathepsin D activity and adrenodoxin reductase expression occurring in NOS-3 overexpressing HepG2 cells

Stable overexpression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS-3) in HepG2 cells (4TO-NOS) leads to increased nitro-oxidative stress and upregulation of the cell death mediators p53 and Fas. Thus, NOS-3 overexpression has been suggested as a useful antiproliferative mechanism in hepatocarcinoma cells. We aimed to identify the underlying mechanism of cell death induced by NOS-3 overexpression at basal conditions and with anti-Fas treatment. The intracellular localization of NOS-3, the nitro-oxidative stress and the mitochondrial activity were analysed. In addition, the protein expression profile in 4TO-NOS was screened for differentially expressed proteins potentially involved in the induction of apoptosis. NOS-3 localization in the mitochondrial outer membrane was not associated with changes in the respiratory cellular capacity, but was related to the mitochondrial biogenesis increase and with a higher protein expression of mitochondrial complex IV. Nitro-oxidative stress and cell death in NOS-3 overexpressing cells occurred with the expression increase of pro-apoptotic genes and a higher expression/activity of the enzymes adrenodoxin reductase mitochondrial (AR) and cathepsin D (CatD). CatD overexpression in 4TO-NOS was related to the apoptosis induction independently of its catalytic activity. In addition, CatD activity inhibition by pepstatin A was not effective in blocking apoptosis induced by anti-Fas. In summary, NOS-3 overexpression resulted in an increased sensitivity to anti-Fas induced cell death, independently of AR expression and CatD activityThis study was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS 09/00185). G. Ferrín was supported by the Networked Biomedical Research Center Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD

Distributed physical sensors network for the protection of critical infrastractures against physical attacks

The SCOUT project is based on the use of multiple innovative and low impact technologies for the protection of space control ground stations and the satellite links against physical and cyber-attacks, and for intelligent reconfiguration of the ground station network (including the ground node of the satellite link) in the case that one or more nodes fail. The SCOUT sub-system devoted to physical attacks protection, SENSNET, is presented. It is designed as a network of sensor networks that combines DAB and DVB-T based passive radar, noise radar, Ku-band radar, infrared cameras, and RFID technologies. The problem of data link architecture is addressed and the proposed solution described

Survival of patients receiving a liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma, and risk of tumor recurrence

Objective: the goal of this research has been to evaluate the survival, in long and short term, of the patient receiving liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the risk of posttransplant tumor relapse and factors related to this complication. Design: retrospective study of a consecutive series of patients having had liver transplant for HCC. Patients and methodology: transplant patients for HCC from 1989 to November 2003. Patients were selected due to general limitations of nodule size and quantity, which were subsequently published as Milan criteria. Also, criteria agreed in the Conference of Barcelona were followed in the pre-transplant diagnosis. Results: the survival of this 81 patients group was of the 80, 61 and 52% for 1, 5 and 10 years respectively. In the 32% of the cases the HCC was an incidental finding in the explant. In the 12.3%, the tumor relapse was verified. The multivariate research identified the size of the nodule (OR = 1,7944) (IC 95% = 1,1332-2,8413) and the vascular invasion (OR = 6,6346) (IC 95% = 1,4624-30,1003) as risk factors of relapse. Conclusions: the liver transplant in selected patients with HCC has good results in medium and long term. The risk of post-transplant tumor relapse becomes notably reduced and is associated with the size of the nodule and the microscopic vascular invasion

Increased Expression of AQP 1 and AQP 5 in Rat Lungs Ventilated with Low Tidal Volume is Time Dependent

Background and GoalsMechanical ventilation (MV) can induce or worsen pulmonary oedema. Aquaporins (AQPs) facilitate the selective and rapid bi-directional movement of water. Their role in the development and resolution of pulmonary oedema is controversial. Our objectives are to determine if prolonged MV causes lung oedema and changes in the expression of AQP 1 and AQP 5 in rats.Methods25 male Wistar rats were subjected to MV with a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg, during 2 hours (n = 12) and 4 hours (n = 13). Degree of oedema was compared with a group of non-ventilated rats (n = 5). The expression of AQP 1 and AQP 5 were determined by western immunoblotting, measuring the amount of mRNA (previously amplified by RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining of AQPs 1 and 5 in lung samples from all groups.ResultsLung oedema and alveolar-capillary membrane permeability did not change during MV. AQP-5 steady state levels in the western blot were increased (p<0.01) at 2 h and 4 h of MV. But in AQP-1 expression these differences were not found. However, the amount of mRNA for AQP-1 was increased at 2 h and 4 h of MV; and for AQP 5 at 4 h of MV. These findings were corroborated by representative immunohistochemical lung samples.ConclusionIn lungs from rats ventilated with a low tidal volume the expression of AQP 5 increases gradually with MV duration, but does not cause pulmonary oedema or changes in lung permeability. AQPs may have a protective effect against the oedema induced by MV