Women’s disengagement from legal proceedings for intimate partner violence in southern Spain: Variables related to legal proceedings

This article studies the relationship between a set of variables related to the legal process and women’s disengagement from legal proceedings against their (ex)partners in Southern Spain. A total of 345 women answered a questionnaire. Results evidenced that request for a protection order (PO), granting such PO, imprisonment of the offender, and women’s perception of who decided during the process were significantly related to disengagement (medium effect size). In addition, a logistic regression model was developed to predict disengagement with two variables: granting a PO and women’s perception of who decided. Results are interpreted in terms of the necessity that the judicial system gives support, protects, and provides women with opportunities to participate in the recovery process.Junta de Andalucía 1071/0453Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (España) FPU15/0037

Synthesis and reactivity of new silyl-substituted monocyclopentadienyl molybdenum and tungsten complexes

The functionalized silylated cyclopentadienyl molybdenum and tungsten complexes [MCpCl(CO)3H] (M=Mo, W; CpCl=η5-C5H4SiMe2Cl) are prepared easily from the reaction of [M(CO)3(NCMe)3] with C5H5SiMe2Cl in refluxing THF, via C–H activation and H transfer to the metal centre. Metathetical replacement of hydride by chloride is readily achieved when their methylene chloride solutions are treated with a few milliliters of CCl4 to give the chloro complexes [MCpCl(CO)3Cl] (M=Mo, W). The chloro–molybdenum complexes react with 1/2 equivalent of deoxygenated water to give the corresponding dinuclear complexes [{Mo(CO)3X}2(μ-CpOCp)], (X=H, Cl; CpOCp=η5-C5H4-SiMe2-O-SiMe2-η5-C5H4), whereas their reaction with one equivalent of anhydrous LiOH in toluene leads to selective substitution of the silicon-bonded chlorine atom to give the hydroxo complexes [MoCpOH(CO)3X] (X=H, Cl; CpOH=η5-C5H4SiMe2OH). These hydroxosilyl complexes can be transformed into the dinuclear compounds [{Mo(CO)3X}2(μ-CpOCp)] by heating (50°C, 2 h) or by their reaction with one equivalent of the respective hydrido and chloro derivatives [MoCpCl(CO)3X]. Total decarbonylation of the hydrido compounds results from oxidation with a stoichiometric amount of PCl5 to give the paramagnetic molybdenum(V) and tungsten(V) complexes [MCpClCl4] (M=Mo, W). Reactions of these complexes with one equivalent of NH2R in the presence of NEt3 yield the imido derivatives [MCpCl(NR)Cl2] (M=Mo, R=2,6-Me2-Ph; M=W, R=tBu) and subsequent oxidation of the tungsten complex with 1/2 equivalent of PCl5 gives [WCpCl(NtBu)Cl3]. Reduction of [MoCpClCl4] with two equivalents of Na/Hg gives the dinuclear molybdenum(III) complex [MoCpCl]2(μ-Cl)4. All of the reported compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and 1H- and 13C NMR-spectroscopy.The authors acknowledge DGICYT (project PB92-0178-C) for financial support

Magnetic nanoparticles coated with carboxylate-terminated carbosilane dendrons as a reusable and green approach to extract/purify proteins

Extraction/purification of proteins, at both analytical and industrial levels, is a limiting step that usually requires the use of organic solvents and involves tedious work and a high cost. This work proposes a more sustainable alternative based on the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with carboxylate-terminated carbosilane dendrons. MNPs coated with first- and second-generation carbosilane dendrons and bare MNPs were employed for the extraction of proteins with different molecular weights and charges. Interaction of proteins with MNPs significantly varied with the pH, the protein, and the dendron generation (different sizes and number of charges in the periphery). Optimal dendron:protein molar ratios and suitable conditions for disrupting interactions after protein extraction were also researched. Second-generation dendron-coated MNPs showed 100% retention capability for all proteins when using acidic conditions. They were reused without losing magnetism or interaction capacity after a disruption of protein-dendron interactions with 0.2% SDS at 100 degrees C for 10 min. The capacity of dendron-coated MNPs was successfully applied to the recovery/purification of proteins from two food byproducts, olive seeds and cheese whey

STEM Tools for Semiconductor Characterization: Beyond High-Resolution Imaging

The smart engineering of novel semiconductor devices relies on the development of optimized functional materials suitable for the design of improved systems with advanced capabilities aside from better efficiencies. Thereby, the characterization of these materials at the highest level attainable is crucial for leading a proper understanding of their working principle. Due to the striking effect of atomic features on the behavior of semiconductor quantum- and nanostructures, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tools have been broadly employed for their characterization. Indeed, STEM provides a manifold characterization tool achieving insights on, not only the atomic structure and chemical composition of the analyzed materials, but also probing internal electric fields, plasmonic oscillations, light emission, band gap determination, electric field measurements, and many other properties. The emergence of new detectors and novel instrumental designs allowing the simultaneous collection of several signals render the perfect playground for the development of highly customized experiments specifically designed for the required analyses. This paper presents some of the most useful STEM techniques and several strategies and methodologies applied to address the specific analysis on semiconductors. STEM imaging, spectroscopies, 4D-STEM (in particular DPC), and in situ STEM are summarized, showing their potential use for the characterization of semiconductor nanostructured materials through recent reported studies.This work has been co-financed by the 2014-2020 ERDF Operational Programme and by the Department of Economy, Knowledge, Business and the University of the Regional Government of Andalusia. (FEDER-UCA18-106586). Co-funding from Junta de Andalucia (Research group INNANOMAT, ref. TEP-946) and UE is also acknowledged

Revisionado en Westworld y el cambio perceptual en el espectador a través del Plot twist como recurso narrativo

Con el objetivo de determinar cuáles son los cambios que se producen en el espectador con respecto al plot-twist, en un primer y segundo visionado de un producto audiovisual televisivo catalogado de ¿narrativa compleja¿. En esta investigación se identificarán aquellos elementos narrativos tales como puntos de vista, focalizaciones, esquemas, rangos de conocimiento, montaje, etc. que afectan a la percepción del espectador y son empleados en la serie Westworld para generar los plot-twists localizados en la misma. Para posteriormente identificar los cambios que se producen en la audiencia a nivel cognitivo durante el proceso de re-watching, estableciendo los roles que durante ambos procesos adopta. También se hablará de la importancia del re-watching en Westworld como fenómeno dentro de la cultura de convergencia para comprender que el re-watching no se trata de un fenómeno individual, sino colectivo.The aim of this dissertation is to establish the changes produced in the audience response in regards to plot-twists, for this we consider a first and second screening of a televisión media text that is classified as ¿complex narrative¿. This research will identify narrative elements such as: points of view, focalization, schemes, hierarchy of knowledge, editing, etc. These are employed in the TV show Westworld to generate plot-twists that affect the perception of the viewers. In order to later on, identify the transformation within the audience¿s cognitive level during the rewatch process, setting down the roles they adopt in the course of both these viewings. In addition, there will also be a focus on the importance of the concept of ¿rewatch¿ referring to Westworld as a collective, rather than individual, phenomenon within the convergence culture.Mata Iglesias, MDL. (2018). Revisionado en Westworld y el cambio perceptual en el espectador a través del Plot twist como recurso narrativo. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/112072TFG

Therapeutic Effect of Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Corneal Failure Due to Limbal Stem Cell Niche Damage

Producción CientíficaLimbal stem cells are responsible for the continuous renewal of the corneal epithelium. The destruction or dysfunction of these stem cells or their niche induces limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) leading to visual loss, chronic pain, and inflammation of the ocular surface. To restore the ocular surface in cases of bilateral LSCD, an extraocular source of stem cells is needed to avoid dependence on allogeneic limbal stem cells that are difficult to obtain, isolate, and culture. The aim of this work was to test the tolerance and the efficacy of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAT-MSCs) to regenerate the ocular surface in two experimental models of LSCD that closely resemble the different severity grades of the human pathology. hAT-MSCs transplanted to the ocular surface of the partial and total LSCD models developed in rabbits were well tolerated, migrated to inflamed tissues, reduced inflammation, and restrained the evolution of corneal neovascularization and corneal opacity. The expression profile of the corneal epithelial cell markers CK3 and E-cadherin, and the limbal epithelial cell markers CK15 and p63 was lost in the LSCD models, but was partially recovered after hAT-MSC transplantation. For the first time, we demonstrated that hAT-MSCs improves corneal and limbal epithelial phenotypes in animal LSCD models. These results support the potential use of hAT-MSCs as a novel treatment of ocular surface failure due to LSCD. hAT-MSCs represent an available, non-immunogenic source of stem cells that may provide therapeutic benefits in addition to reduce health care expenses.This work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, CIBER‐BBN, Spain (CB06/01/003 MINECO/FEDER, EU); Regional Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy, Castilla y León, Spain; Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain (SAF2010–14900); Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and European Regional Development Fund, Spain (SAF2015–63594‐R MINECO/FEDER, EU

Gender Gaps in Labor Informality: The Motherhood Effect

Recent work has quantified the large negative effects of motherhood on female labor market outcomes in Europe and the US. But these results may not apply to developing countries, where labor markets work differently and informality is widespread. In less developed countries, informal jobs, which typically include microenterprises and self-employment, offer more time flexibility but poorer social protection and lower labor earnings. These characteristics affect the availability of key inputs in the technology to raise children, and therefore may affect the interplay between parenthood and labor market outcomes. Through an event-study approach we estimate short and long-run labor market impacts of children in Chile, an OECD developing country with a relatively large informal sector. We find that the birth of the first child has strong and long lasting effects on labor market outcomes of Chilean mothers, while fathers remain unaffected. Becoming a mother implies a sharp decline in mothers' labor supply, both in the extensive and intensive margins, and in hourly wages. We also show that motherhood affects the occupational structure of employed mothers, as the share of jobs in the informal sector increases remarkably. In order to quantify what the motherhood effect would have been in the absence of an informal labor market, we build a quantitative model economy, that includes an informal sector which offers more flexible working hours at the expense of lower wages and weaker social protection, and a technology to produce child quality that combines time, material resources and the quality of social protection services. We perform a counterfactual experiment that indicates that the existence of the informal sector in Chile helps to reduce the drop in LFP after motherhood in about 35%. We conclude that mothers find in the informal sector the flexibility to cope with both family and labor responsibilities, although at the cost of resigning contributory social protection and reducing their labor market prospects.Centro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociales (CEDLAS

Gender Gaps in Labor Informality: The Motherhood Effect

Recent work has quantified the large negative effects of motherhood on female labor market outcomes in Europe and the US. But these results may not apply to developing countries, where labor markets work differently and informality is widespread. In less developed countries, informal jobs, which typically include microenterprises and self-employment, offer more time flexibility but poorer social protection and lower labor earnings. These characteristics affect the availability of key inputs in the technology to raise children, and therefore may affect the interplay between parenthood and labor market outcomes. Through an event-study approach we estimate short and long-run labor market impacts of children in Chile, an OECD developing country with a relatively large informal sector. We find that the birth of the first child has strong and long lasting effects on labor market outcomes of Chilean mothers, while fathers remain unaffected. Becoming a mother implies a sharp decline in mothers' labor supply, both in the extensive and intensive margins, and in hourly wages. We also show that motherhood affects the occupational structure of employed mothers, as the share of jobs in the informal sector increases remarkably. In order to quantify what the motherhood effect would have been in the absence of an informal labor market, we build a quantitative model economy, that includes an informal sector which offers more flexible working hours at the expense of lower wages and weaker social protection, and a technology to produce child quality that combines time, material resources and the quality of social protection services. We perform a counterfactual experiment that indicates that the existence of the informal sector in Chile helps to reduce the drop in LFP after motherhood in about 35%. We conclude that mothers find in the informal sector the flexibility to cope with both family and labor responsibilities, although at the cost of resigning contributory social protection and reducing their labor market prospects.Centro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociales (CEDLAS

Functionalization of silica with amine and ammonium alkyl chains, dendrons and dendrimers: Synthesis and antibacterial properties

Materials modified with ammonium groups on the surface have shown antibacterial activity. In this paper, alkyl chains, carbosilane (CBS) dendrimers and dendrons and poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers containing amine and ammonium groups have been grafted to silica surface and the influence of molecule structure on the stability and on antibacterial activity have been evaluated. These materials have been characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), zeta (Z) potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (C-13 CP MAS NMR). The degree of silica functionalization depends on type of outer groups, amine or ammonium, type and core of dendrimer, and length of chains. The Z potential measurements of these materials in water suspensions were used to test their stability in this medium. These measurements showed, for some of the modified silicas, the diminishing of Z potential from positive values toward zero, probably due to interaction of the functional groups with the silica surface. This variation was also dependent on ligand structure and peripheral functions. Finally, studies of inhibition of bacteria growth stand out again the relevance of ligand structure and number of functional groups on silica surface. The most active systems were those with more surface covered, those with cationic groups further away from silica surface and higher dendritic generation.Universidad de AlcaláMinisterio de Economía, Industria y CompetitividadComunidad de Madri

Development of carbon fiber acrylonitrile styrene acrylate composite for large format additive manufacturing

The increasing interest of Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) technologies in various industrial sectors mainly lies on the attainable production of pieces reaching several cubic meters. These new technologies require the development of optimized materials with two-folded capabilities, able to satisfy functional in-service requirements but also showing a proper printability. Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA) is among the most interesting thermoplastic materials to be implemented in a LFAM device due to its excellent wettability and mechanical properties. This research focuses on the development and characterization of ASA and carbon fiber (CF) ASA composites suitable for LFAM. The rheological, thermal and mechanical properties of neat ASA and ASA containing 20 wt% CF are addressed. The results evidence the higher performance of the CF loaded composite compared to the raw ASA polymer (i.e., the 20 wt% CF composite shows a 350% increase in flexural Young's Modulus and a 500% increment in thermal conductivity compared with neat ASA). Additionally, both materials were successfully printed along perpendicular directions (X and Z), showing the maximum tensile strain for the composite printed along the X orientation as was expected. The results of the flexural tests are comparable or slightly higher than those of injected parts. Finally, the fracture surface was analysed, identifying different types of porosity