Bioactive and luminescent indole and isatin based gold(i) derivatives

A series of luminescent monometallic [AuL(PPh 3 )] (1-3) and bimetallic [Au 2 (µ-dppe)L 2 ] (4, 6, 8) and [Au 2 (µ-dppp)L 2 ] (5, 7, 9) complexes, where L is either 4-cyano-indole, isatin, or 5, 7-dimethyl-isatin, and dppe and dppp are 1, 2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane and 1, 3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, respectively, have been synthesised. X-ray diffraction confirmed the tendency to establish aurophillic interations for those complexes containing dppe. Luminescence studies and theoretical calculations revealed a different origin for both families, i.e. indole and isatin species. Thus, indole derivatives presented a ligand-to-ligand-charge-transfer transition (LLCT) from the indole to the PPh 3 fragment, whereas for the isatin derivatives an intraligand-charge-transfer transition (ILCT) within the isatin fragment is proposed. In both cases, the gold centre was slightly implicated as a ligand-to-metal-charge transfer transition (LMCT) (from the indole/isatin to Au(i)). Cell antiproliferative assays in lung cancer cells (A549), leukemia Jurkat-pLVTHM and Jurkat-shBak cells (cisplatin sensitive and resistant, respectively) showed excellent cytotoxic values (10.11-0.28 µM), showing the leukemia cells to be the most sensitive and the bimetallic species to be the most active agents. Preliminary studies associated the cytotoxicity with a combination of different factors, the metallic fragment being mainly responsible. Remarkably, these complexes are able to inhibit the cellular growth of cisplatin resistant Jurkat-shBak cells highlighting their promising future as an alternative anticancer agent

From geodesics of the multipole solutions to the perturbed Kepler problem

A static and axisymmetric solution of the Einstein vacuum equations with a finite number of Relativistic Multipole Moments (RMM) is written in MSA coordinates up to certain order of approximation, and the structure of its metric components is explicitly shown. From the equation of equatorial geodesics we obtain the Binet equation for the orbits and it allows us to determine the gravitational potential that leads to the equivalent classical orbital equations of the perturbed Kepler problem. The relativistic corrections to Keplerian motion are provided by the different contributions of the RMM of the source starting from the Monopole (Schwarzschild correction). In particular, the perihelion precession of the orbit is calculated in terms of the quadrupole and 2$^4$-pole moments. Since the MSA coordinates generalize the Schwarzschild coordinates, the result obtained allows measurement of the relevance of the quadrupole moment in the first order correction to the perihelion frequency-shift

Some analytical models of radiating collapsing spheres

We present some analytical solutions to the Einstein equations, describing radiating collapsing spheres in the diffusion approximation. Solutions allow for modeling physical reasonable situations. The temperature is calculated for each solution, using a hyperbolic transport equation, which permits to exhibit the influence of relaxational effects on the dynamics of the system.Comment: 17 pages Late

Estado del arte del proyecto

La propuesta de investigación doctoral consiste en la realización de una Evaluación Ambiental Estratégica a la explotación petrolera costa afuera en la región del caribe colombiano, guiado por la necesidad de los planes gubernamentales de realizar estas actividades y la oposición generada por los accidentes ambientales ocurridos en Colombia y alrededor del mundo; la investigación buscara generar una guía que permita fortalecer el plan de desarrollo desde los marco institucionales y políticos. Empresas vinculadas al sector petrolero y gasífero, tales como la Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (ANH), Comisión de Regulación de Energía y Gas (CREG), la Unidad de Planeación Minero-Energética (UPME), empresas operadoras de campos costa afuera, además del Ministerio de Minas y Energía. En términos generales, las entidades encargadas de la regulación, planeación y control del mercado del gas y el petróleo. Los eventuales resultados de esta tesis doctoral implicarían un cambio en los esquemas para la exploración y explotación de los campos petroleros costa afuera en la región caribe de Colombia. La Evaluación Ambiental Estratégica permitirá tener un modelo de evaluación para generar propuestas y recomendaciones para la formulación de una política petrolera adaptada a la problemática ambiental y social del país

On the stability of the shear-free condition

The evolution equation for the shear is reobtained for a spherically symmetric anisotropic, viscous dissipative fluid distribution, which allows us to investigate conditions for the stability of the shear-free condition. The specific case of geodesic fluids is considered in detail, showing that the shear-free condition, in this particular case, may be unstable, the departure from the shear-free condition being controlled by the expansion scalar and a single scalar function defined in terms of the anisotropy of the pressure, the shear viscosity and the Weyl tensor or, alternatively, in terms of the anisotropy of the pressure, the dissipative variables and the energy density inhomogeneity.Comment: 19 pages Latex. To appear in Gen. Rel. Gra

Evaluación ambiental estratégica de la explotación petrolera costa afuera en la Región Caribe Colombiana

La propuesta de investigación doctoral consiste en la realización de una Evaluación Ambiental Estratégica a la explotación petrolera costa afuera en la región del caribe colombiano, guiado por la necesidad de los planes gubernamentales de realizar estas actividades y la oposición generada por los accidentes ambientales ocurridos en Colombia y alrededor del mundo; la investigación buscara generar una guía que permita fortalecer el plan de desarrollo desde los marco institucionales y políticos. Empresas vinculadas al sector petrolero y gasífero, tales como la Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (ANH), Comisión de Regulación de Energía y Gas (CREG), la Unidad de Planeación Minero-Energética (UPME), empresas operadoras de campos costa afuera, además del Ministerio de Minas y Energía. En términos generales, las entidades encargadas de la regulación, planeación y control del mercado del gas y el petróleo. Los eventuales resultados de esta tesis doctoral implicarían un cambio en los esquemas para la exploración y explotación de los campos petroleros costa afuera en la región caribe de Colombia. La Evaluación Ambiental Estratégica permitirá tener un modelo de evaluación para generar propuestas y recomendaciones para la formulación de una política petrolera adaptada a la problemática ambiental y social del país

Transplante autólogo “melhorado” stem cells medula óssea cd34+ em pacientes com angina refratária: estudo piloto

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of 6 months of autologous CD34+ stem cells in bone marrow “enhanced” by ischemic preconditioning in patients with refractory angina.Methods: A pilot study with 14 patients with refractory angina, with a functional class greater than or equal to III clinical (NYHA and CCS), of the Department of Cardiology of the Central Military Hospital. They were selected by convenience 14 patients who were randomly assigned to two groups, the first (intervention) with autologous stem cells CD34+ bone marrow powered by ischemic preconditioning, intravenously more conventional medical treat­ment, and the second (control) with conventional medical treatment. Baseline measurements were performed and six months’ threshold angina/ischemia measured in mets and functional class.Results: Comparing the medians, the change in threshold value angina/ischemia six months later for the interven­tion group was 3.5 mets vs 0.9 mets for the control group P = 0.013. No inherent complications to treatment were recorded.Conclusions: In this study patients with refractory angina who underwent autologous stem cell transplant of bone marrow CD34+ powered by ischemic preconditioning, showed an improvement in threshold angina and functional class of 6 months.Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia a 6 meses del trasplante autólogo de células madre CD34+ de médula ósea “potenciado”, mediante pre-condicionamiento isquémico en pacientes con angina refractaria.Métodos: Estudio piloto con 14 pacientes con angina refractaria, clase funcional clínica mayor o igual a III (NYHA y CCS), del Servicio de Cardiología del Hospital Militar Central. Fueron seleccionados por conveniencia 14 pacientes los cuales se asignaron aleatoriamente a 2 grupos, el primero (intervención) con trasplante autólogo de células madre CD34+ de médula ósea potenciado mediante pre-condicionamiento isquémico por vía intravenosa más tratamiento médico convencional, y el segundo (control) con tratamiento médico convencional. Se realizaron mediciones basales a 6 meses del umbral de angina/isquemia medido en mets y clase funcional.Resultados: Al comparar las medianas, el cambio en el valor umbral de angina/isquemia 6 meses después, para el grupo intervenido fue de 3.5 mets vs 0.9 mets, para el grupo control P= 0.013. No se registraron complicaciones inherentes al tratamiento.Conclusiones: En esta investigación, los pacientes con angina refractaria intervenidos con trasplante autólogo de células madre de médula ósea CD34+ potenciado mediante precondicionamiento isquémico mostraron mejoría del umbral de angina y clase funcional a 6 meses. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia de 6 meses de células-tronco autólogas CD34 + na medula óssea “aumentada” pelo pré-condicionamento isquêmico em pacientes com angina refratária.Métodos: Um estudo piloto com 14 pacientes com angina refratária, com classe funcional maior ou igual a III clínica (NYHA e CCS), Do Departamento de Cardiologia do Hospital Militar Central. Eles foram selecionados por conveniência 14 pacientes que foram aleatoriamente designados para dois grupos, a primeira (intervenção) com cé­lulas-tronco autólogas CD34+ medula óssea alimentado por pré-condicionamento isquêmico, tratamento intravenoso mais convencional, e o segundo (controle) com tratamento médico convencional. Medidas de linha de base foram realizadas e seis meses de angina limiar /isquemia medido em mets e classe funcional.Resultados: Comparando as mediana, a alteração do valor limiar angina / isquemia seis meses depois para o grupo de intervenção foi de 3,5 mets vs 0,9 mets para o grupo de controlo P = 0,013. Não foram registadas complicações inerentes ao tratamento.Conclusões: Neste estudo, pacientes com angina refratária submetidos a transplante de células-tronco autólogas de medula óssea CD34+ alimentado por pré-condicionamento isquêmico, apresentaram melhora da angina limiar e classe funcional de 6 meses

Enhancing organizational capacity to provide cancer control programs among Latino churches: design and baseline findings of the CRUZA Study

Abstract Background Faith-based organizations (FBOs) have been successful in delivering health promotion programs for African Americans, though few studies have been conducted among Latinos. Even fewer have focused on organizational change, which is required to sustain community-based initiatives. We hypothesized that FBOs serving Latinos would be more likely to offer evidence-based strategies (EBS) for cancer control after receiving a capacity enhancement intervention to implement health programs, and designed the CRUZA trial to test this hypothesis. This paper describes the CRUZA design and baseline findings. Methods We identified Catholic parishes in Massachusetts that provided Spanish-language mass (n = 65). A baseline survey assessed organizational characteristics relevant to adoption of health programs, including readiness for adoption, “fit” between innovation and organizational mission, implementation climate, and organizational culture. In the next study phase, parishes that completed the baseline assessment will be recruited to a randomized cluster trial, with the parish as the unit of analysis. Both groups will receive a Program Manual and Toolkit. Capacity Enhancement parishes will also be offered technical support, assistance forming health committees and building inter-institutional partnerships, and skills-based training. Results Of the 49 parishes surveyed at baseline (75%), one-third (33%) reported having provided at least one health program in the prior year. However, only two program offerings were cancer-specific. Nearly one-fifth (18%) had an active health ministry. There was a high level of organizational readiness to adopt cancer control programs, high congruence between parish missions and CRUZA objectives, moderately conducive implementation climates, and organizational cultures supportive of CRUZA programming. Having an existing health ministry was significantly associated with having offered health programs within the past year. Relationships between health program offerings and other organizational characteristics were not statistically significant. Conclusions Findings suggest that many parishes do not offer cancer control programs, yet many may be ready to do so. However, the perceptions about existing organizational practices and policies may not be conducive to program initiation. A capacity enhancement intervention may hold promise as a means of increasing health programming. The efficacy of such an intervention will be tested in phase two of this study

Spherically symmetric dissipative anisotropic fluids: A general study

The full set of equations governing the evolution of self--gravitating spherically symmetric dissipative fluids with anisotropic stresses is deployed and used to carry out a general study on the behaviour of such systems, in the context of general relativity. Emphasis is given to the link between the Weyl tensor, the shear tensor, the anisotropy of the pressure and the density inhomogeneity. In particular we provide the general, necessary and sufficient, condition for the vanishing of the spatial gradients of energy density, which in turn suggests a possible definition of a gravitational arrow of time. Some solutions are also exhibited to illustrate the discussion.Comment: 28 pages Latex. To appear in Phys.Rev.

Frecuencia y variables asociadas a estigma-discriminación percibido en víctimas del conflicto armado colombiano

Resumen: Se desconoce la frecuencia de complejo estigma-discriminación percibido en víctimas del conflicto armado colombiano. El objetivo del estudio fue establecer la frecuencia y variables asociadas al estigma-discriminación percibido en víctimas del conflicto armado, en municipios del Departamento del Magdalena, Colombia. Se realizó un estudio transversal con víctimas registradas en el Programa de Atención Psicosocial y Salud Integral a Víctimas. Los síntomas depresivos se cuantificaron con cuatro ítems dicotómicos (tres o más se clasificaron como alto nivel de síntomas depresivos) y el estigma-discriminación percibido se cuantificó con seis incisos dicotómicos (dos o más afirmaciones se categorizó como alto estigma-discriminación percibido). Participaron 943 adultos (M = 47,9; DE = 14,2); 67,4%, mujeres; 109 (11,6%) informaron alto nivel de síntomas depresivos y 217 (23%) presentaron alto estigma-discriminación percibido. El alto estigma-discriminación percibido se asoció a alto nivel de síntomas depresivos (OR = 6,47; IC95%: 4,23-9,88). Se concluye que un cuarto de las víctimas del conflicto armado en Magdalena informa alto estigma-discriminación percibido; éste se asocia significativamente a alto nivel de síntomas depresivos