Control y mejoras del instrumento Sinton WCT-100 para medidas de tiempo de vida de los portadores en c-Si

En los últimos diez años se ha producido un crecimiento global muy importante en el mercado fotovoltaico. El principal objetivo es reducir los costes de la generación fotovoltaica, de manera que resulte competitiva respecto a otras formas de energía. La mayor parte el mercado se ha volcado en células solares basadas en silicio y cada vez más delgadas. Debido al aumento de la relación superficie-volumen, se necesitan instrumentos que permitan una detallada caracterización de la recombinación superficial. La empresa Sinton Consulting es experta en el diseño de dichos instrumentos y en concreto el Sinton WCT-100 es ampliamente utilizado en el grupo de investigación fotovoltaica de la UPC. En este TFC se ha controlado y mejorado dicho instrumento. La primera tarea realizada en el presente TFC es un rediseño del software de medida. Se mejoró el tratamiento de datos agrupándolos todos en un único libro de Excel permitiendo una mejor interpretación de los resultados. El protocolo de obtención de datos se modificó de hacerlo a través del puerto serie a utilizar el bus GP-IB. Con el objetivo de ampliar el rango de niveles de inyección disponibles, para obtener información adicional sobre la recombinación superficial, se introdujo un amplificador lock-in en la detección. En un TFC anterior, se desarrolló un array de LED’s con su correspondiente driver como fuente de luz. Esto permite una excitación modulada y por tanto una detección coherente mediante el lock-in. Se diseñó un software que permite la automatización del proceso de medida alcanzando dos órdenes de magnitud más en el rango disponible de niveles de inyección. Además, se desarrolló una rutina de calibración para el nuevo escenario

Literatura para escuchar y mirar

Esta contribución de Natalia Puertas se ha organizado en dos momentos. En el primer momento la autora expresa una reflexión a partir de una experiencia áulica que ayudó a conectar la literatura con otros consumos culturales y, en el segundo, reúne recomendaciones de proyectos donde la literatura se ofrece para escuchar y mirar

Talleres de lectura. Conspiraciones en la biblioteca popular

El presente trabajo es una relatoría que expone dos talleres realizadas en bibliotecas populares: “Literatura de escritores de post dictadura: lecturas siniestras” en la Biblioteca popular de arte que funciona en el Centro Municipal de Cultura durante los meses de octubre y noviembre de 2019 y “La lectura literaria como oportunidad de habitar el mundo de otra manera. Leer desde la perspectiva de género. Escrituras desobedientes” en la Biblioteca Popular Bartolomé Mitre de la ciudad de Viedma durante los meses de noviembre y diciembre de 2019

Monitoreo digital como insumo para un análisis comparado de la imagen de Uber en Colombia

88 PáginasUber Technologies Inc. es una organización que proporciona a sus usuarios una red de transporte privado, conectando conductores y pasajeros particulares a través de su software de aplicación móvil y web en más de 600 ciudades alrededor del mundo. Como la mayoría de las empresas internacionales modernas, Uber cuenta con canales de comunicación en redes sociales donde envía y recibe a diario, cientos de mensajes de todo tipo de públicos de interés (Uber, s.f)

Morphofunctional and Molecular Assessment of Nutritional Status in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Systemic Treatment: Role of Inflammasome in Clinical Nutrition

Malnutrition in patients with head and neck cancer is frequent, multifactorial and widely associated with clinical evolution and prognosis. Accurate nutritional assessments allow for early identification of patients at risk of malnutrition in order to start nutritional support and prevent sarcopenia. We aimed to perform a novel morphofunctional nutritional evaluation and explore changes in inflammasome-machinery components in 45 patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing systemic treatment. To this aim, an epidemiological/clinical/anthropometric/biochemical evaluation was performed. Serum RCP, IL6 and molecular expression of inflammasome-components and inflammatory-associated factors (NOD-like-receptors, inflammasome-activation-components, cytokines and inflammation/apoptosis-related components, cell-cycle and DNA-damage regulators) were evaluated in peripheral-blood mononuclear-cells (PBMCs). Clinical-molecular correlations/associations were analyzed. Coherent and complementary information was obtained in the morphofunctional nutritional assessment of the patients when bioimpedance, anthropometric and ultrasound data were analyzed. These factors were also correlated with different biochemical and molecular parameters, revealing the complementary aspect of the whole evaluation. Serum reactive C protein (RCP) and IL6 were the most reliable parameters for determining patients with decreased standardized phase angle, which is associated with increased mortality in patients with solid malignancies. Several inflammasome-components were dysregulated in patients with malnutrition, decreased phase angle and dependency grade or increased circulating inflammation markers. A molecular fingerprint based on gene-expression of certain inflammasome factors (p27/CCL2/ASC) in PBMCs accurately differentiated patients with and without malnutrition. In conclusion, malnutrition induces a profound alteration in the gene-expression pattern of inflammasome-machinery components in PBMCs. A comprehensive nutritional assessment including novel morphofunctional techniques and molecular markers allows a broad characterization of the nutritional status in cancer patients. Profile of certain inflammasome-components should be further studied as potential targets for nutrition-focused treatment strategies in cancer patients

HEPPA-II model-measurement intercomparison project : EPP indirect effects during the dynamically perturbed NH winter 2008-2009

We compare simulations from three high-top (with upper lid above 120 km) and five medium-top (with upper lid around 80 km) atmospheric models with observations of odd nitrogen (NOx D NO+NO2), temperature, and carbon monoxide from seven satellite instruments (ACE-FTS on SciSat, GOMOS, MIPAS, and SCIAMACHY on Envisat, MLS on Aura, SABER on TIMED, and SMR on Odin) during the Northern Hemisphere (NH) polar winter 2008/2009. The models included in the comparison are the 3-D chemistry transport model 3dCTM, the ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model, FinROSE, the Hamburg Model of the Neutral and Ionized Atmosphere (HAMMO-NIA), the Karlsruhe Simulation Model of the Middle Atmosphere (KASIMA), the modelling tools for SOlar Climate Ozone Links studies (SOCOL and CAO-SOCOL), and the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM4). The comparison focuses on the energetic particle precipitation (EPP) indirect effect, that is, the polar winter descent of NOx largely produced by EPP in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. A particular emphasis is given to the impact of the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) in January 2009 and the subsequent elevated stratopause (ES) event associated with enhanced descent of mesospheric air. The chemistry climate model simulations have been nudged toward reanalysis data in the troposphere and stratosphere while being unconstrained above. An odd nitrogen upper boundary condition obtained from MIPAS observations has further been applied to medium-top models. Most models provide a good representation of the mesospheric tracer descent in general, and the EPP indirect effect in particular, during the unperturbed (pre-SSW) period of the NH winter 2008/2009. The observed NOx descent into the lower mesosphere and stratosphere is generally reproduced within 20 %. Larger discrepancies of a few model simulations could be traced back either to the impact of the models' gravity wave drag scheme on the polar wintertime meridional circulation or to a combination of prescribed NOx mixing ratio at the uppermost model layer and low vertical resolution. In March-April, after the ES event, however, modelled mesospheric and stratospheric NOx distributions deviate significantly from the observations. The too-fast and early downward propagation of the NO x tongue, encountered in most simulations, coincides with a temperature high bias in the lower mesosphere (0.2-0.05 hPa), likely caused by an overestimation of descent velocities. In contrast, upper-mesospheric temperatures (at 0.05-0.001 hPa) are generally underestimated by the high-top models after the onset of the ES event, being indicative for too-slow descent and hence too-low NOx fluxes. As a consequence, the magnitude of the simulated NOx tongue is generally underestimated by these models. Descending NOx amounts simulated with mediumtop models are on average closer to the observations but show a large spread of up to several hundred percent. This is primarily attributed to the different vertical model domains in which the NOx upper boundary condition is applied. In general, the intercomparison demonstrates the ability of state-of- the-art atmospheric models to reproduce the EPP indirect effect in dynamically and geomagnetically quiescent NH winter conditions. The encountered differences between observed and simulated NOx, CO, and temperature distributions during the perturbed phase of the 2009 NH winter, however, emphasize the need for model improvements in the dynamical representation of elevated stratopause events in order to allow for a better description of the EPP indirect effect under these particular conditions.Peer reviewe

Lysyl oxidase-dependent extracellular matrix crosslinking modulates calcification in atherosclerosis and aortic valve disease

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an active player in cardiovascular calcification (CVC), a major public health issue with an unmet need for effective therapies. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) conditions ECM biomechanical properties; thus, we hypothesized that LOX might impact on mineral deposition in calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and atherosclerosis. LOX was upregulated in calcified valves from two cohorts of CAVD patients. Strong LOX immunostaining was detected surrounding calcified foci in calcified human valves and atherosclerotic lesions colocalizing with RUNX2 on valvular interstitial cells (VICs) or vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Both LOX secretion and organized collagen deposition were enhanced in calcifying VICs exposed to osteogenic media. β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), an inhibitor of LOX, attenuated collagen deposition and calcification. VICs seeded onto decellularized matrices from BAPN-treated VICs calcified less than cells cultured onto control scaffolds; instead, VICs exposed to conditioned media from cells over-expressing LOX or cultured onto LOX-crosslinked matrices calcified more. Atherosclerosis was induced in WT and transgenic mice that overexpress LOX in VSMC (TgLOXVSMC) by AAV-PCSK9D374Y injection and high-fat feeding. In atherosclerosis-challenged TgLOXVSMC mice both atherosclerosis burden and calcification assessed by near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging were higher than in WT mice. These animals also exhibited larger calcified areas in atherosclerotic lesions from aortic arches and brachiocephalic arteries. Moreover, LOX transgenesis exacerbated plaque inflammation, and increased VSMC cellularity, the rate of RUNX2-positive cells and both connective tissue content and collagen cross-linking. Our findings highlight the relevance of LOX in CVC and postulate this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for CVC.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (RTI2018-094727-B-100 and PID2021-122509OB-I00 funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII; Spain; PI21/01048), and Fundación Española de Arteriosclerosis (FEA-2022). C.B-S and L.P-U were supported by a FPU (Ministerio de Universidades; Spain), and PFIS (ISCIII) fellowships, respectively and N.L-A by a Miguel Servet contract (ISCIII). There is no financial or personal relationship with organizations that could potentially influence the described research.Peer reviewe

HEPPA-II model–measurement intercomparison project: EPP indirect effects during the dynamically perturbed NH winter 2008-2009

We compare simulations from three high-top (with upper lid above 120 km) and five medium-top (with upper lid around 80 km) atmospheric models with observations of odd nitrogen (NOx  =  NO + NO2), temperature, and carbon monoxide from seven satellite instruments (ACE-FTS on SciSat, GOMOS, MIPAS, and SCIAMACHY on Envisat, MLS on Aura, SABER on TIMED, and SMR on Odin) during the Northern Hemisphere (NH) polar winter 2008/2009. The models included in the comparison are the 3-D chemistry transport model 3dCTM, the ECHAM5/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model, FinROSE, the Hamburg Model of the Neutral and Ionized Atmosphere (HAMMONIA), the Karlsruhe Simulation Model of the Middle Atmosphere (KASIMA), the modelling tools for SOlar Climate Ozone Links studies (SOCOL and CAO-SOCOL), and the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM4). The comparison focuses on the energetic particle precipitation (EPP) indirect effect, that is, the polar winter descent of NOx largely produced by EPP in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. A particular emphasis is given to the impact of the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) in January 2009 and the subsequent elevated stratopause (ES) event associated with enhanced descent of mesospheric air. The chemistry climate model simulations have been nudged toward reanalysis data in the troposphere and stratosphere while being unconstrained above. An odd nitrogen upper boundary condition obtained from MIPAS observations has further been applied to medium-top models. Most models provide a good representation of the mesospheric tracer descent in general, and the EPP indirect effect in particular, during the unperturbed (pre-SSW) period of the NH winter 2008/2009. The observed NOx descent into the lower mesosphere and stratosphere is generally reproduced within 20 %. Larger discrepancies of a few model simulations could be traced back either to the impact of the models\u27 gravity wave drag scheme on the polar wintertime meridional circulation or to a combination of prescribed NOx mixing ratio at the uppermost model layer and low vertical resolution. In March–April, after the ES event, however, modelled mesospheric and stratospheric NOx distributions deviate significantly from the observations. The too-fast and early downward propagation of the NOx tongue, encountered in most simulations, coincides with a temperature high bias in the lower mesosphere (0.2–0.05 hPa), likely caused by an overestimation of descent velocities. In contrast, upper-mesospheric temperatures (at 0.05–0.001 hPa) are generally underestimated by the high-top models after the onset of the ES event, being indicative for too-slow descent and hence too-low NOx fluxes. As a consequence, the magnitude of the simulated NOx tongue is generally underestimated by these models. Descending NOx amounts simulated with medium-top models are on average closer to the observations but show a large spread of up to several hundred percent. This is primarily attributed to the different vertical model domains in which the NOx upper boundary condition is applied. In general, the intercomparison demonstrates the ability of state-of-the-art atmospheric models to reproduce the EPP indirect effect in dynamically and geomagnetically quiescent NH winter conditions. The encountered differences between observed and simulated NOx, CO, and temperature distributions during the perturbed phase of the 2009 NH winter, however, emphasize the need for model improvements in the dynamical representation of elevated stratopause events in order to allow for a better description of the EPP indirect effect under these particular conditions

Sistemas de apoyo clínico en Atención primaria: uso de e-learning e ilustraciones médicas en la toma de decisiones compartidas

Comunicación oral presentada en la Segunda Conferencia Internacional de Comunicación en Salud, celebrada el 23 de octubre de 2015 en la Universidad Carlos III de MadridIntroducción: La digitalización de la historia clínica supone un nuevo paradigma en la consulta de atención primaria permitiendo la continuidad asistencial y una gran accesibilidad a la información. Incorporar la participación del paciente aumenta su confianza y satisfacción hacia el profesional disminuyendo la iatrogenia y el coste sanitario. Esta visita personalizada requiere más tiempo, pero el aprendizaje electrónico mutuo (e-learning) aumenta la precisión diagnóstica y terapéutica, minimizando errores y efectos secundarios. Objetivos: evaluar el uso del e-learning e ilustraciones médicas en la toma de decisiones compartidas en el Centro de Atención Primaria Raval Sud de Barcelona; valorar la efectividad en la utilización de imágenes y gráficos para empoderar a la población atendida para comprender y participar en la toma de decisiones referentes a su salud; conocer la satisfacción y preferencias de uso del paciente y del profesional. Metodología: Diseño: Estudio cualitativo fenomenológico. Ámbito de estudio: Centro de Atención Primaria Raval Sud de Barcelona (zona urbana socialmente deprimida, 60% población inmigrada). Población de estudio: Pacientes atendidos por cualquier motivo (muestreo por bola de nieve) que accedan a participar en nuestro estudio. Técnicas de recogida de información: Observaciones y entrevistas individuales semiestructuradas. Durante la visita se observa la comunicación médico-paciente mediante la utilización del soporte visual electrónico, posteriormente se entrevista al paciente y al profesional para conocer su opinión. Análisis: Las observaciones y entrevistas son grabadas (grabadora de sonido) con posterior transcripción literal del texto y marcaje de citas, códigos y categorías. Análisis de contenido temático y categorización a posteriori. Resultados: Tras una prueba piloto se observa mayor facilitación y comprensión tras la visita, el paciente se muestra satisfecho y prefiere el uso del e-learning e ilustraciones médicas a la visita tradicional

Role of Seroalbumin in the Cytotoxicity of cis-Dichloro Pt(II) Complexes with (N^N)-Donor Ligands Bearing Functionalized Tails

Given the potent anticancer properties of cisdiamminedichloroplatinum( II) and knowing its mode of action, we synthesized four new cis-[PtCl2(N^N)] organoplatinum complexes, two with N-substituted pbi ligands (pbiR = 1-R-2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole) (namely, 1 and 2) and two more with 4,4′-disubstituted bpy ligands (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) (namely, 3 and 4). We explored their cytotoxicity and ability to bind to deoxyguanosine monophosphate (dGMP), DNA, and albumin models. By 1H NMR and UV−vis spectroscopies, circular dichroism, agarose gel electrophoresis, differential scanning calorimetry measurements, and density functional theory calculations, we verified that only 3 can form aquacomplex species after dimethyl sulfoxide solvation; surprisingly, 1, 2, and 3 can bind covalently to DNA, whereas 4 can form a noncovalent complex. Interestingly, only complexes 1 and 4 exhibit good cytotoxicity against human ovarian carcinoma (HeLa) cell line, whereas 2 and 3 are inactive. Although lung carcinoma (A549) cells are more resistant to the four platinum complexes than HeLa cells, when the protein concentration in the extracellular media is lower, the cytotoxicity becomes substantially enhanced. By native electrophoresis of bovine seroalbumin (BSA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry uptake studies we bear out, on one hand, that 2 and 3 can interact strongly with BSA and its cellular uptake is negligible and, on the other hand, that 1 and 4 can interact with BSA only weakly, its cellular uptake being higher by several orders. These results point up the important role of the protein binding features on their biological activity and cellular uptake of cis-“PtCl2” derivatives. Our results are valuable in the future rational design of new platinum complexes with improved biological properties, as they expose the importance not only of their DNA binding abilities but also of additional factors such as protein binding.La Caixa Foundation (LCF/PR/PR12/11070003), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-FEDER (CTQ2014-58812-C2-2- R, CTQ2014-58812-C2-1-R, and CTQ2015-70371-REDT), Consejería de Educación−Junta de Castilla y León-FEDER (BU042U16), Spain