Mejora de sensores vítreos sol-gel para la conservación preventiva de materiales históricos frente a la acidez

[ES] Los sensores a base de recubrimientos vítreos sol-gel dopados con ácido 2[4-(dimetil-amino) fenilazo] benzoico son capaces de cambiar su absorción óptica cuando se someten a distintas concentraciones de iones H3O+ y OH-. La respuesta de los sensores en ensayos de campo se estudió en Cracovia (Polonia) variando el procedimiento normal de uso, con el fin de mejorar su respuesta. Se midieron tanto los parámetros ópticos de los sensores como las condiciones ambientales (temperatura, humedad, presión y concentraciones de SO2 y de NOx). La respuesta de los sensores se analizó en términos de los cambios de su absorción visible. Dichos cambios se deben a reacciones locales de neutralización que tienen lugar en la superficie de los sensores, debido al efecto conjunto de los contaminantes de carácter ácido y a la humedad ambiental. Se establecieron correlaciones entre la concentración del contaminante principal (SO2) y la respuesta de los sensores para elaborar una calibración directa entre la absorción óptica y el pH ambiental. Los sensores pueden detectar y evaluar la acidez ambiental, así como alertar sobre la concentración de contaminantes ácidos que pueden dañar a la mayoría de los materiales históricos.[EN] Sensors based on sol-gel glassy coatings doped with 2[4-(dimethyl-amino) phenylazo] benzoic acid are able to change their optical absorption when they are submitted to different concentration of H3O+ and OH-. The sensors behaviour in field tests was studied in Cracow (Poland), varying the normal procedure of operation to improve their response. Both the sensors optical parameters and the environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, pressure, SO2 and NOx concentrations) were measured. The sensors response was analysed in terms of their visible absorbance changes, which are due to local neutralisation reactions in the sensors surface by the join effect of acid pollutants and humidity. Correlations between the main acid pollutant (SO2) concentration and the sensors response are established to provide a relation between the optical absorption and the environmental pH. The sensors are able to detect and monitorise environmental acidity, as well as to alert on the pollutant concentration that may damage most of the historical materials.The authors wish to acknowledge bilateral Polish-Spanish project Ref. PAN-CSIC 2003PL0011, European Marie Curie project Ref. MERG-CT-2004-516436 and Spanish project Ref. CICYT-MAT-2003-03231 for financing support. N.C. acknowledges CSIC-ESF for an I3P postdoctoral contract.Peer reviewe

CD40/CD40 ligand interactions and TNFα treatment reduce activity of P105 promoter of the human papilloma virus-18 in vitro

Background: Cervical carcinoma cells including those infected with the oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) and several cervical carcinoma cell lines show a strong expression of the CD40 receptor, unlike benign cervical epithelial cells infected with HPV. The functional relevance of this up-regulated expression in the tumor is not fully understood. Nevertheless, it might offer a unique possibility to target those malignant cells due to the antiviral and antitumoral effects of the CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L) interactions. Aim: In vitro assessment of the effect of CD40L on HPV 18-P105 promoter activity and the subsequent release of IL-6 by the promoter transfected HeLaCD₄₀ cells, which express CD40 constitutively. Material and Methods: Transfection of HeLaCD₄₀ cells was achieved by electroporation after optimizing the parameters by the pCMV-β-Gal vector and β-Gal stain. Transfected HeLaCD₄₀ cells were challenged with BHKCD40L and TNFα, in addition to BHKwt and medium alone as controls. HPV18P105 promoter activity was demonstrated by luciferase reporter gene assay while IL-6 was assessed by ELISA. Results: CD40/ CD40L interactions and TNFα treatment significantly reduced HPV18-P105 promoter activity (56.0 ± 10.2% and 64.1 ± 9.1% vs. control, respectively; p < 0.001). Likewise, IL-6, which is a sensitive cytokine of CD40 activation, was significantly increased in HeLaCD₄₀ cells in the same experiments (2.7 fold after stimulation with BHKCD₄₀L and 5.2 fold after stimulation with TNFα vs. control; p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: It is likely that the CD40/CD40L interactions and TNFα are effective against cervical carcinomas by repressing transcriptional activity of HPV promoter. This can result in new adjuvant treatments

Challenges of and Insights into Acid-Catalyzed Transformations of Sugars

The selective transformation of hexose and pentose sugars to intermediate platform chemicals, such as furans, is an essential step in the conversion of cellulosic and hemicellulosic biomass to biofuels and biochemicals. Yet, many challenges in achieving commercially viable processes remain. In this feature article, we outline challenges that need to be overcome to enable these transformations. Then, we present the newly introduced acid-catalyzed isomerization of aldose sugars to ketose sugars via a class of solid Lewis acid catalysts (e.g., Sn-Beta, Ti-Beta). We elucidate mechanistic insights arising from subnanometer cooperativity and solvent effects that can be controlled to tune reaction pathways and selectivity and draw parallels between heterogeneous and homogeneous Lewis acid catalysts. Subsequently, we discuss fructose dehydration to 5-hydroxyl-methylfurfural (HMF) via homogeneous and heterogeneous Brønsted acid-catalyzed chemistry. We show how fundamental insights arising from the combination of kinetics, spectroscopy, and multiscale simulations rationalize the improved yield of HMF in water–organic cosolvents. The stability of heterogeneous Lewis acid catalysts under low pH enables tandem Brønsted and Lewis acid-catalyzed reactions in a single pot that overcomes equilibrium limitations and gives a high HMF yield starting from sugar raw materials. Additionally, we provide an overview of multicomponent adsorption of biomass derivatives from solution in microporous materials and discuss how structure–property relations can lead to superior micro- and micromesoporous carbon adsorbents for reactive adsorption toward high HMF yield. Finally, we provide an outlook for the field

A policy-based management architecture for flexible service deployment in active networks

This paper describes a dynamic, scalable and extensible policy-based network management (PBNM) system that is fully integrated with a service provisioning architectures for active networks. The key result is network customisation according to the needs of the different service providers and its end users. Our component-based service provisioning architecture enables us to render service- and user-specific requirements, across single/multiple administrative domains, at deployment time and to dynamically map service components onto the network using the corresponding management policies. The architecture presented in this paper describes the approach undertaken by the IST-FAIN research project as well as the main issues that we encounter in developing and integrating the PBNM with the service provisioning mechanism

Prospects of Transition Interface Sampling simulations for the theoretical study of zeolite synthesis

The transition interface sampling (TIS) technique allows to overcome large free energy barriers within reasonable simulation time, which is impossible for straightforward molecular dynamics. Still, the method does not impose an artificial driving force, but it surmounts the timescale problem by an importance sampling of true dynamical pathways. Recently, it was shown that the efficiency of TIS to calculate reaction rates is less sensitive to the choice of reaction coordinate than those of the standard free energy based techniques. This could be an important advantage in complex systems for which a good reaction coordinate is usually very difficult to find. We explain the principles of this method and discuss some of the promising applications related to zeolite formation.Comment: 9 pages, accepted for publication in Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. for the special issue of the CECAM workshop: Computational aspects of building blocks, nucleation, and synthesis of porous materials Aug. 29 2006 to Aug. 31 200

Production Scheduling Requirements to Smart Manufacturing

The production scheduling has attracted a lot of researchers for many years, however most of the approaches are not targeted to deal with real manufacturing environments, and those that are, are very particular for the case study. It is crucial to consider important features related with the factories, such as products and machines characteristics and unexpected disturbances, but also information such as when the parts arrive to the factory and when should be delivered. So, the purpose of this paper is to identify some important characteristics that have been considered independently in a lot of studies and that should be considered together to develop a generic scheduling framework to be used in a real manufacturing environment.authorsversionpublishe

What causes hidradenitis suppurativa? - 15 years after

The 14 authors of the first review article on hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) pathogenesis published 2008 in EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY cumulating from the 1st International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Research Symposium held March 30?April 2, 2006 in Dessau, Germany with 33 participants were prophetic when they wrote "Hopefully, this heralds a welcome new tradition: to get to the molecular heart of HS pathogenesis, which can only be achieved by a renaissance of solid basic HS research, as the key to developing more effective HS therapy." (Kurzen et al. What causes hidradenitis suppurativa? Exp Dermatol 2008;17:455). Fifteen years later, there is no doubt that the desired renaissance of solid basic HS research is progressing with rapid steps and that HS has developed deep roots among inflammatory diseases in Dermatology and beyond, recognized as ?the only inflammatory skin disease than can be healed?. This anniversary article of 43 research-performing authors from all around the globe in the official journal of the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation e.V. (EHSF e.V.) and the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, Inc (HSF USA) summarizes the evidence of the intense HS clinical and experimental research during the last 15 years in all aspects of the disease and provides information of the developments to come in the near future

What causes hidradenitis suppurativa ?—15 years after

The 14 authors of the first review article on hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) pathogenesis published 2008 in EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY cumulating from the 1st International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Research Symposium held March 30–April 2, 2006 in Dessau, Germany with 33 participants were prophetic when they wrote “Hopefully, this heralds a welcome new tradition: to get to the molecular heart of HS pathogenesis, which can only be achieved by a renaissance of solid basic HS research, as the key to developing more effective HS therapy.” (Kurzen et al. What causes hidradenitis suppurativa? Exp Dermatol 2008;17:455). Fifteen years later, th