El terme castral de Cervelló. Estructura territorial i econòmica (segles X i XI)

Màster de Cultures Medievals. Facultat de Filologia i Comunicació. Universitat de Barcelona. Curs: 2019-2020, Tutora: Maria Soler SalaEls termes castrals constitueixen una xarxa d’ordenament del territori i de la població en l’espai del domini comtal que amb l’avenç de la frontera que es produeix durant el segle X també s’establirà a la Marca. És en aquest àmbit que trobem el castell de Cervelló i el seu terme..

On the Role of the Sr3−xCaxAl2O6 Sacrificial Layer Composition in Epitaxial La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Membranes

The possibility to fabricate freestanding single crystal complex oxide films has raised enormous interest to be integrated in next-generation electronic devices envisaging distinct and novel properties that can deliver unprecedented performance improvement compared to traditional semiconductors. The use of the water-soluble SrAlO (SAO) sacrificial layer to detach the complex oxide film from the growth substrate has significantly expanded the complex oxide perovskite membranes library. Nonetheless, the extreme water sensitivity of SAO hinders its manipulation in ambient conditions and restricts the deposition approaches to those using high vacuum. This study presents a pioneering study on the role of Ca-substitution in solution processed SAO (SrCaAlO with x ⩽ 3) identifying a noticeable improvement on surface film crystallinity preserving a smooth surface morphology while favoring the manipulation in a less-restricted ambient conditions. Then, the study focuses on the effect of the sacrificial composition on the subsequent ex situ deposition of LaSrMnO (LSMO) by pulsed laser deposition, to obtain epitaxial films with a variable degree of strain. Finally, epitaxial and strain-free LSMO membranes with metal-insulator transition at 290 K are delivered. This study offers a hybrid and versatile approach to prepare and easily manipulate crystalline perovskite oxide membranes by facilitating ex situ growth on SAO-based sacrificial layer

Clozapine and paliperidone palmitate antipsychotic combination in treatment-resistant schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders: A retrospective 6-month mirror-image study

Background: Around 30% of patients with schizophrenia are considered treatment resistant (TRS). Only around 40% of TRS patients respond to clozapine. Long acting injectable antipsychotics could be a useful augmentation strategy for nonresponders. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, observational, naturalistic, retrospective, 6-month mirror-image study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of clozapine and paliperidone palmitate association in 50 patients with TRS and other psychotic disorders. Clinical outcomes and side effects were systematically assessed. Results: Six months after starting the combined treatment, participants showed a significant relief of symptoms, decreasing the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score from 18.32 ± 7.71 to 7.84 ± 5.16 (p < 0.001). The number of hospitalizations, the length of hospital stays and the number of visits to emergency services also decreased, while an increase of the functionality was observed (Personal and Social Performance total score increased from 46.06 ± 118.7 to 60.86 ± 18.68, p < 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in the number and severity of side effects with the combination therapy, decreasing the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser total score from 10.76 ± 8.04 to 8.82 ± 6.63 (p = 0.004). Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that combining clozapine with paliperidone palmitate in patients with TRS and other psychotic disorders could be effective and safe, suggesting further research with randomized controlled trials of augmentation strategies for clozapine nonresponder patients. Policy Significance Statement: Patients with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia show a variable response to antipsychotic treatments. Around 30% of patients are considered treatment resistant, indicated by insufficient symptom control to at least two different drugs. In these resistant cases, clozapine should be indicated, as it has shown to be superior to other options. However, only 40% of patients respond to clozapine, being necessary to establish which treatments could best potentiate clozapine action. Combining clozapine with long acting injectable antipsychotics, and particularly paliperidone palmitate, could be a useful strategy. We conducted a multicenter study of 50 patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders comparing the efficacy and tolerability in the 6 month-period prior and after starting the clozapine and paliperidone palmitate association. Our study suggests that this combination could be effective and safer, laying the groundwork for future clinical trials with this combination

Iron Behaving Badly: Inappropriate Iron Chelation as a Major Contributor to the Aetiology of Vascular and Other Progressive Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases

The production of peroxide and superoxide is an inevitable consequence of aerobic metabolism, and while these particular "reactive oxygen species" (ROSs) can exhibit a number of biological effects, they are not of themselves excessively reactive and thus they are not especially damaging at physiological concentrations. However, their reactions with poorly liganded iron species can lead to the catalytic production of the very reactive and dangerous hydroxyl radical, which is exceptionally damaging, and a major cause of chronic inflammation. We review the considerable and wide-ranging evidence for the involvement of this combination of (su)peroxide and poorly liganded iron in a large number of physiological and indeed pathological processes and inflammatory disorders, especially those involving the progressive degradation of cellular and organismal performance. These diseases share a great many similarities and thus might be considered to have a common cause (i.e. iron-catalysed free radical and especially hydroxyl radical generation). The studies reviewed include those focused on a series of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological diseases, where iron can be found at the sites of plaques and lesions, as well as studies showing the significance of iron to aging and longevity. The effective chelation of iron by natural or synthetic ligands is thus of major physiological (and potentially therapeutic) importance. As systems properties, we need to recognise that physiological observables have multiple molecular causes, and studying them in isolation leads to inconsistent patterns of apparent causality when it is the simultaneous combination of multiple factors that is responsible. This explains, for instance, the decidedly mixed effects of antioxidants that have been observed, etc...Comment: 159 pages, including 9 Figs and 2184 reference

Design and Development of an Integrated Renewable Energy Centre in Cervià de les Garrigues, Catalonia

This theoretical project has been accomplished in cooperation with Novia University of Applied Sciences and the City Council of Cervià de les Garrigues. The purpose was to design an integrated renewable energy centre capable of supplying the public electricity demand of the village, using agricultural waste and offering socio-cultural services to the area. Literature research was undertaken to obtain background information about the municipality. Furthermore, with the meteorological and biomass data estimated, the viability of different green technologies was analysed. According to the availability of usable natural resources, it is feasible to install photovoltaic panels and a combined heat and power biofuel boiler. Power simulations were performed with SAM software to estimate electricity generation, obtaining an environmentally-safe installed capacity of 394 kW that provides a net output of 1,466 MWh/year. Additionally, a financial analysis was conducted, determining that the estimated initial investment of €503,524 would be amortized over a minimum period of 14.6 years. To conclude, several limitations and enhancements were identified to be able to apply the methodology to forthcoming studies of these characteristics

Lower follow-up attendance after physical restraint

El uso de la contención mecánica (CM) durante el manejo de los pacientes agitados es poco recomendado y mal percibido desde hace ya décadas. Sin embargo, pocos estudios han profundizado en las consecuencias potenciales de ser físicamente contenido sobre la vinculación posterior. Usando la base de datos del servicio de urgencias de psiquiatría, escogimos todos los pacientes que habían sido contenidos a lo largo de 2012 (un 3 % del total). La desvinculación fue unas 4 veces superior en el grupo CM que en el grupo no CM (16,2-17,6 % vs 4,1-5,4 % a lo largo de los 6 meses posteriores a la crisis; p <0.05). Estos resultados respaldan el uso de un manejo de la agitación sin CM

Urinary extracellular vesicles as a source of biomarkers reflecting renal cellular biology in human disease

For more than a decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been the focus of extensive research efforts attempting to uncover their biological function in health and disease. Likewise, numerous studies have investigated them as a source of potential biomarkers to complement or replace the routine diagnostic procedures. Urinary extracellular vesicles take a distinct place among these studies, as they hold the promise to reflect changes in the cellular biology of the nephron and can be isolated without any invasive procedure. However, their potential has been insufficiently exploited since both their biological function and their use for diagnostic purposes in human disease have only gained increasing attention in the last years. This review aims to give an overview of the present knowledge about urinary extracellular vesicles with a special focus on novel nomenclature recommendations, current techniques for urinary EV separation and potential biomarkers that have emerged from the analysis of urinary EVs