Na+-dependent NO3- uptake in leaf cells of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is an endemic Mediterranean seagrass of recognized ecological significance and, as other seagrasses, this species has secondarily adapted to live in the marine environment. In this alkaline medium with a high Na+ concentration (0.5 M), the high inwardly directed electrochemical potential gradient for sodium is used in the seagrass Zostera marina to energize the uptake of nitrate1 and phosphate that usually occur at concentration below 10 µM. Here we summarize several evidences for the operation of a sodium-dependent high-affinity nitrate transport system at the plasma membrane of the mesophyll leaf cells of P. oceanica. Leaf cells of P. oceanica possess a H+-ATPase as a primary pump, exhibit a plasma membrane potential (Em) of -174 ± 10 mV and show reduced Na+ permeability. The addition of micromolar nitrate concentrations induces membrane depolarizations that show saturation kinetics. Curve fitting of the values renders a semisaturation constant (Km) of 21.3 ± 6.6 μM and a maximum depolarization (Dmax) of 7 ± 1 mV. In dark conditions, Dmax decreases by fifty percent but no significant effect is observed on the Km value. On the other hand, nitrate induced depolarizations show sodium dependence. The depolarizations induced by 100 µM NO3- in media containing increasing Na+ concentrations (from 0 to 250 mM) show saturation kinetics, rendering a Km value of 16 ± 5 mM Na+. Moreover, the depolarization induced by 100 µM NO3- is accompanied by a simultaneous increase of cytosolic sodium, measured by Na+-sensitive microelectrodes, of 0.4 ± 0.2 mM above the resting cytosolic sodium concentration (17 ± 2 mM). Finally, nitrate uptake rates, measured in depletion experiments, decreases by 50% and 80% in dark conditions and in the absence of Na+, respectively, compared with control conditions (0.5 M Na+ and light). All together, these results strongly suggest that NO3- uptake in P. oceanica leaf cells is mediated by a high-affinity nitrate carrier that uses Na+ as the driving ion. 1 Rubio et al. (2005). J. Exp. Bot, 412: 613-622. Project Funding: CTM 2011-30356. (MEC)Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Plasma Growth Factors in Cerebral Palsy

The use of plasma growth factors is opening a new field of clinical application in medicine, developing a new discipline called regenerative medicine. In many fields such as traumatology, dental implantology or anesthesia, the use of this biotechnology is improving the quality of life of patients, through techniques that are not invasive but with extraordinary functional results. A discipline where this type of procedure opens an interesting field of application is undoubtedly neurology, especially those processes of ischemic or hypo-anoxic origin such as cerebral palsy, where recent studies point to an improvement of cognitive abilities in patients, together with specific neurorehabilitation therapies

Clinical Applications of Plasma Growth Factors

The use of plasma rich in growth factors has become a technique increasingly used in various fields of medicine. Since its inception in use in sports medicine and dental implants in the mid-80s, gradually it has expanded its field of use in clinical specialties. The power cell tropism for certain tissues, attributed to growth factors, has currently talked of a new medical discipline as Regenerative Medicine. Not only has experienced an ever increasing boom in various medical specialties, but simultaneously has increased exponentially types and methodology for obtaining application forms even for the same pathology. So much so that now its use has exceeded the capacity to produce scientific evidence for successful clinical application

Análisis sobre la influencia de la densidad en la termografía de infrarrojos y el alcance de esta técnica en la detección de defectos internos en la madera

This paper shows the results of a laboratory phase for the determination of the 1limits of infrared thermography in detecting internal defects in wood and, furthermore, it analyses how the density of this material can influence the surface temperature displayed in a thermogram. To this end, experimental work is carried out whereby a series of work and environmental parameters are monitored (such as environmental temperature, relative humidity, distance to target), and the process is systematized by using pieces of different wood species (different densities) and by devising a set of samples for which various possible cases are analysed in terms of size and internal position of the damage. Similarly, using these samples, a study has been conducted on the effect on the thermal image produced by an increase of humidity inside the defect phenomena normally associated with wood decay.En el presente artículo se muestran los resultados obtenidos en una fase de laboratorio al tratar de determinar el alcance de la termografía de infrarrojos en la detección de defectos internos en la madera y, por otro lado, cómo interviene la densidad de este material sobre la temperatura superficial mostrada en un termograma. Para ello se ha desarrollado un trabajo experimental donde se han controlado una serie de parámetros ambientales y de trabajo (temperatura ambiente, humedad relativa, distancia al objetivo…), y se ha sistematizado el proceso utilizando piezas de distintas especies de madera (distintas densidades) y diseñando una serie de probetas donde se han analizado varias casuísticas posibles en cuanto a tamaño y posición interna de los daños. Análogamente, sobre estas probetas se ha estudiado el efecto que produce sobre la imagen termográfica un incremento de humedad interna en el defecto asociada normalmente a los fenómenos de pudrición de la madera

Un estudio unificado de la convergencia semilocal de métodos tipo Newton de dos puntos en espacios de Banach

En este trabajo consideramos procesos iterativos tipo Newton de dos puntos para aproximar una solución de una ecuación no lineal en espacios de Banach. A partir de una expresión general que caracteriza estos procesos iterativos, obtenemos resultados de convergencia semilocal, estableciendo una teoría unificada para el an´alisis de este tipo de procesos.Ministerio de Educación y Cienci

The discovery of the proportions established by Vitruvius and Alberti in the Maestrazgo de Montesa lands, thanks to graphical architectural surveys

La orden de Montesa fue una orden religiosa militar creada en el siglo XIV. Una amplia zona del norte de la provincia de Castellón se denominó Maestrazgo de Montesa. Y es en estas tierras donde se encuentra una de las iglesias renacentistas más importantes de las tierras valencianas: la parroquial de Vistabella del Maestrazgo, construida a principios del siglo XVII. Un exhaustivo levantamiento gráfico arquitectónico realizado tanto con métodos tradicionales, como con modernas tecnologías con escáner 3d, ha permitido hallar el canon que rige el edificio, y a partir de éste, establecer las proporciones del mismo. Dicho canon o módulo, basado en el palmo valenciano, relaciona las partes entre sí y éstas con el todo, principio plasmado ya por Vitrubio en la antigua Roma y por Alberti en el quattrocento italiano. Esto evidencia que en el edificio no aparecen sólo formas y ornamentos renacentistas, sino también estructuras espaciales, todo ello fruto de la madurez, del conocimiento y de la asimilación del lenguaje del clasicismo que poseía el arquitecto autor de la obra

Harmony, order, equilibrium and proportion in renaissance cloisters and patios of Castellón

Los claustros y patios renacentistas conservados en la actual provincia de Castellón son escasos. El objetivo del presente artículo es realizar un estudio comparativo entre ellos esencialmente desde el punto de vista gráfico. La metodología a seguir parte de exhaustivos levantamientos gráficos arquitectónicos, para tras intensos estudios gráficos elaborar análisis contrastados y a partir de ellos descubrir conexiones técnicas, formales, espaciales, metrológicas, compositivas y geométricas.Universitat Jaume I P1·1B2015-

Harmony, order, equilibrium and proportion in renaissance cloisters and patios of Castellón

Los claustros y patios renacentistas conservados en la actual provincia de Castellón son escasos. El objetivo del presente artículo es realizar un estudio comparativo entre ellos esencialmente desde el punto de vista gráfico. La metodología a seguir parte de exhaustivos levantamientos gráficos arquitectónicos, para tras intensos estudios gráficos elaborar análisis contrastados y a partir de ellos descubrir conexiones técnicas, formales, espaciales, metrológicas, compositivas y geométricas.Universitat Jaume I P1·1B2015-

The diffusion of architectural Heritage, through social networks, as a digital Heritage

Digital heritage obtained by real and tangible heritage, is formed by computer material, such as images through passive systems or active systems, or other graphic material, such as blueprints. These computer materials possess and must preserve the same cultural, historical, aesthetic, scientific or ethnologic value as the buildings they come from. Traditional means of architectural heritage diffusion consisted of brochures, books, articles in scientific journals or conference papers. In recent years, those diffusion means have changed. The increasing evolution of new technologies, novel computer tool, or Internet has made new means of dissemination arise. These new methods allow an observer to contemplate monuments from anywhere around the world, with no time or space restrictions. These novel methodologies make it possible, at times, to be introduced virtually in buildings as if being physically inside them. With these new means, graphical and physical limits disappear. The aim of this article is to show the results obtained after disseminating some digital materials obtained from the study of architectural heritage on social networks, in order to value them and allow universal access to them

Characterisation of recycled ceramic mortars for use in prefabricated beam-filling pieces in structural floors

This study analyses a procedure to manufacture mortars with different percentages of ceramic waste as partial replacement for aggregates. The study also examines the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the new mortars, analysing substitution ratios that range from 10% to 50%. Prior to this, all the materials used in the production of the mortar were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fluorescence (XRF). The objective was to determine the similarity between different types of ceramic waste, as well as the differences in the minerology and chemical composition with the aggregate. The results of the study show that it is possible to obtain mortars with lower densities compared to the same product with no recycled content. The product’s characteristics make it ideal for the manufacture of prefabricated components for structural floors for rehabilitation works. Finally, the pieces are used in a real rehabilitation case study, highlightining the structural advantages.Caracterización de morteros con cerámica reciclada y su uso en piezas prefabicadas para entrevigado de forjados. Este trabajo analiza morteros con diferentes porcentajes de cerámica reciclada como sustituto parcial de la arena. Además el estudio examina las propiedades físicas, químicas y mecánicas de los nuevos morteros, empleando diferentes porcentajes de sustitución (10% - 50%). Con anterioridad, se caracterizaron todos los materiales empleados en este trabajo mediante difracción y fluorescencia de rayos-X. El objetivo fue determinar las diferencias y similitudes en la composición química y mineralógica de los distintos tipos de residuos cerámicos y del resto de áridos utilizados. Los resultados muestran que es posible obtener morteros con menor densidad frente a las muestras sin contenido reciclado. Sus características los hacen idóneos para la creación de piezas prefabricadas de entrevigado para rehabilitación de forjados. Finalmente. Las piezas se usaron en un caso de estudio real, destacando las ventajas estructurales que conlleva su uso