Procedimiento de aplicación de sepiolitas básicas como catalizadores en reacciones de condensación de Knoevenagel

Referencia OEPM: P8904192.-- Fecha de solicitud: 12/12/1989.-- Titular: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).El procedimiento de invención se refiere a la aplicación de sepiolitas básicas como catalizadores en reacción de condensación de Knoevenagel. Las sepiolitas empleadas se obtienen mediante modificación de la sepiolita natural con iones alcalinos o alcalinotérreos. Estos catalizadores poseen una elevada área superficial y un elevado volumen de poro.Peer reviewe

Fatigue properties of nanocrystallized surfaces obtained by high energy shot peening

AbstractAn unconventional method of shot peening aimed to generation of a nanograined layer over the surface of specimens has been applied by means of the standard air blast equipment but using peening parameters essentially different from typical ones. Surface nanocrystallization is verified and affirmed through different experimental procedures. Rotating bending fatigue tests are performed to evaluate the effect of this high energy shot peening and the nanocrystallized layer on fatigue life. First series results are available and the other tests are still in progress

Effect of Shot Peening on Oxidation and Precipitation in Inconel 718

In this study, the effect of the surface state on the behaviour of Inconel 718 alloy exposed to 640 ∘ C and 700 ∘ C environments for times varying between one and one hundred hours was investigated. In particular, the focus was set on the evolution of oxidation and precipitation phenomena during thermal exposure. Three surface states were considered: two generated through shot peening treatments featuring different coverage levels, while the third condition is a non-peened one. Shot peening treatments modify the surface condition and introduce higher residual stresses and microhardness values than in the non-treated condition. The morphology of the oxides appears to be different depending on the condition observed. Regarding the kinetics, over time the oxidation process follows a parabolic trend and appears to be influenced by the surface state; in particular, severe shot peening treatment is characterized by the highest intensity of the phenomenon. However, the order of magnitude of the weight gains measured suggests that the observed variations can be neglected, and that the positive effect of shot peening can be exploited without introducing oxidation problems. From the point of view of the microstructural evolution, an increase in the coarsening kinetics of γ ” phase was observed in the shot peened layer

The correlation between urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and sperm quality in infertile men and rotating shift workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that modulates a wide range of neuroendocrine functions. However, excessive circulating serotonin levels may induce harmful effects in the male reproductive system. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the levels of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIIA), a major serotonin metabolite, correlate with different classical seminal parameters.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Human ejaculates were obtained from 40 men attending infertility counselling and rotating shift workers by masturbation after 4-5 days of abstinence. Urinary 5- HIIA concentration was quantified by using a commercial ELISA kit. Forward motility was assessed by a computer-aided semen analysis (CASA) system. Sperm concentration was determined using the haemocytometer method. Sperm morphology was evaluated after Diff-Quik staining, while sperm vitality was estimated after Eosin-Nigrosin vital staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results show that urinary 5-HIIA levels obtained from a set of 20 volunteers negatively correlated with sperm concentration, forward motility, morphology normal range and sperm vitality. On the other hand, we checked the relationship between male infertility and urinary 5-HIIA levels in 20 night shift workers. Thus, urinary 5-HIIA levels obtained from 10 recently-proven fathers were significantly lower than those found in 10 infertile males. Additionally, samples from recent fathers exhibited higher sperm concentration, as well as better forward motility and normal morphology rate.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the light of our findings, we concluded that high serotonin levels, indirectly measured as urinary 5-HIIA levels, appear to play a role as an infertility determinant in male subjects.</p

Cardiovascular and Gastrointestinal Safety of NSAIDs: a Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Clinical Trials.

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Simulations of micro-sphere/shell 2D silica photonic crystals for radiative cooling

Altres ajuts: the CERCA Program/Generalitat de Catalunya.L'article s'ha publicat sota la OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement https://www.osapublishing.org/submit/review/pdf/OSACopyTransferOAAgrmnt(2017-09-05).pdfPassive daytime radiative cooling has recently become an attractive approach to address the global energy demand associated with modern refrigeration technologies. One technique to increase the radiative cooling performance is to engineer the surface of a polar dielectric material to enhance its emittance atwavelengths in the atmospheric infrared transparency window (8-13 ìm) by outcoupling surface-phonon polaritons (SPhPs) into free-space. Here we present a theoretical investigation of new surface morphologies based upon self-assembled silica photonic crystals (PCs) using an in-house built rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) code. Simulations predict that silica micro-sphere PCs can reach up to 73 K below ambient temperature, when solar absorption and conductive/convective losses can be neglected. Micro-shell structures are studied to explore the direct outcoupling of the SPhP, resulting in near-unity emittance between 8 and 10 ìm. Additionally, the effect of material composition is explored by simulating soda-lime glass micro-shells, which, in turn, exhibit a temperature reduction of 61 K below ambient temperature. The RCWA code was compared to FTIR measurements of silica micro-spheres, self-assembled on microscope slides

CNS Drugs

BACKGROUND: Hepatotoxicity may be a concern when prescribing antidepressants. Nevertheless, this risk remains poorly understood for serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs: venlafaxine, milnacipran, duloxetine) and 'other antidepressants' (mianserin, mirtazapine, tianeptine and agomelatine), particularly in comparison with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs: fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, escitalopram), which are by far the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. OBJECTIVE: We quantified the risk of serious liver injury associated with new use of SNRIs and 'other antidepressants' compared with SSRIs in real-life practice. METHODS: Based on the French national health insurance database, this cohort study included 4,966,825 individuals aged 25 years and older with a first reimbursement of SSRIs, SNRIs or 'other antidepressants' between January 2010 and June 2015. We compared the risk of serious liver injury within the 6 months following antidepressant initiation according to antidepressant class, with SSRIs as the reference, using an inverse probability-of-treatment-weighted Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for demographic characteristics and risk factors of liver injury. RESULTS: We identified 382 serious liver injuries overall (none for milnacipran initiators). Age and gender standardized incidence rates per 100,000 person-years were 19.2 for SSRIs, 22.2 for venlafaxine, 12.6 for duloxetine, 21.5 for mianserin, 32.8 for mirtazapine, 31.6 for tianeptine and 24.6 for agomelatine initiators. Initiation of antidepressants of interest versus SSRIs was not associated with an increased risk of serious liver injury [adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval): venlafaxine 1.17 (0.83-1.64), duloxetine 0.54 (0.28-1.02), mianserin 0.90 (0.58-1.41), mirtazapine 1.17 (0.67-2.02), tianeptine 1.35 (0.82-2.23) and agomelatine 1.07 (0.51-2.23)]. This finding was confirmed by the results of an additional study using a case-time-control design. CONCLUSION: These results do not provide evidence of an increased risk of serious liver injury following initiation of SNRIs or 'other antidepressants' compared with SSRIs in real-life practice. This could reflect an inherent lack of difference in risk between the drug classes, or the fact that individuals with higher susceptibility to drug-induced liver injury are not prescribed drugs considered to be more hepatotoxic

El Diseño Curricular por Competencias: Una Experiencia de Investigación-Acción en la Asignatura de Tecnología en Educación Secundaria Obligatoria

Competency-based evaluation is a priority in the last legislative frameworks that regulate the educational system in Spain. However, this evaluation procedure has not been satisfactorily resolved in any of these frameworks. In this paper we present a proposal for the integration of competences in the design of learning sequences. This proposal has emerged as a result of an action research process conducted for a couple of years by a team of three researchers, leaded by a technology teacher in mandatory secondary education. The proposal was made in accordance with LOE (the Spanish General Educational Law approved in 2006), but as discussed in the article, it adapts to the proposal made afterwards by LOMCE (the current Spanish General Education Law, approved in 2013) to overcome some of the issues found in the implementation of Competency-based evaluation. The findings of the study show that it is necessary to break down the learning standards defined in LOMCE to facilitate their assessment. Moreover, we have also found that the evaluation of learning should be continuous and differentiated based on observation according to the learning goals.La evaluación por competencias aparece como prioridad en los últimos marcos legislativos que regulan la educación obligatoria en España, pero a nivel operativo no está resuelta satisfactoriamente en ninguno de ellos. En este artículo presentamos una propuesta de integración de competencias en el diseño de secuencias de aprendizaje. Ésta ha surgido fruto de un proceso de investigación-acción llevado a cabo a lo largo de dos años por un equipo de tres investigadores liderado por un profesor de Tecnología de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. La propuesta se realizó en el contexto de la LOE, pero tal y como discute el artículo, se adapta a las propuesta de la LOMCE y supera alguna de sus dificultades. La reflexión sobre el proceso de diseño y aplicación de la propuesta muestra que es necesario desglosar los estándares de aprendizaje definidos en la LOMCE para facilitar su evaluación, y que la evaluación de los aprendizajes debe ser continua, basada en la observación y diferenciada según su objetivo.La evaluación por competencias aparece como prioridad en los últimos marcos legislativos que regulan la educación en España, pero a nivel operativo no está resuelta satisfactoriamente en ninguno de ellos.En este artículo presentamos una propuesta de integración de las competencias básicas en el diseño de secuencias de aprendizaje.Dicha propuesta surgió como fruto de un proceso de investigación-acción llevado a cabo a lo largo de dos años por un profesor de Tecnología de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. Con el fin último de mejorar el grado de aprendizaje de los alumnos, el proceso de investigación-acción se concretó en el perfeccionamiento del diseño y gestión de las actividades en la etapa de educación secundaria.La propuesta se realizó en el contexto de la LOE, pero tal y como discute el artículo, se adapta a las propuesta de la LOMCE y supera alguna de sus dificultades.La reflexión sobre el proceso de diseño y aplicación de la propuesta muestra que es necesario desglosar los estándares de aprendizaje definidos en la LOMCE para facilitar su evaluación, y que la evaluación de los aprendizajes debe ser continua, basada en la observación y diferenciada según su objetivo