Host Range of Myrmecophiles

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a major complication of diabetes and is a leading cause of blindness in western countries. DR has been considered a microvascular disease, and the blood-retinal barrier breakdown is a hallmark of this disease. The available treatments are scarce and not very effective. Despite the attempts to control blood glucose levels and blood pressure, many diabetic patients are affected by DR, which progresses to more severe forms of disease, where laser photocoagulation therapy is needed. DR has a huge psychological impact in patients and tremendous economic and social costs. Taking this into account, the scientific community is committed to find a treatment to DR. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of DR will facilitate the development of strategies to prevent, or at least to delay the progression of the disease. The involvement of the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products, protein kinase C and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of DR is well-documented, and several clinical trials have been conducted to test the efficacy of various drugs. More recent findings also demonstrate that DR has characteristics of chronic inflammatory disease and neurodegenerative disease, which increases the opportunity of intervention at the pharmacological level. This review presents past and recent evidences demonstrating the involvement of different molecules and processes in DR, and how different approaches and pharmacological tools have been used to prevent retinal cell dysfunction.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) e FEDE

Diseño de interfases funcionales: Estudio de procesos de transferencia electrónica a través de monocapas moleculares autoensambladas sobre oro

El proyecto aborda el estudio de la transferencia electrónica sobre superficies de oro modificadas con monocapas autoensambladas (SAMs) puras o mixtas, es decir, constituidas por uno o varios componentes moleculares. Este estudio contribuye al desarrollo de conceptos fundamentales en áreas de investigación relacionados con la Electroquímica Interfacial, Bioelectroquímica, Electrocatálisis, Ciencia de Superficies y Nanociencia y Nanotecnología.1-7 El interés fundamental de estos sistemas radica en las expectativas que suscita el diseño de interfaces donde la composición y distribución superficial de sus componentes puede ser controlada a escala nanométrica a partir del concepto de ensamblaje molecular. Además, la organización estructural de las SAMs también determina las interacciones con otros materiales, y la forma en que se inmovilizan. La influencia de todos estos aspectos en la transferencia electrónica de proteínas redox como la Myoglobina es básica para explicar tanto su función como la dinámica de diferentes procesos biológicos, así como para el diseño racional de sensores y biosensores electroquímicos.3-7. Con este trabajo se logra el control a nivel molecular de la organización de SAMs puras y mixtas a nivel molecular, en particular en la funcionalización superficial de sustratos de Au con alcanotioles ω-sustituidos (ej. grupos terminales –COOH, -CH3, etc.). Se estudia detalladamente con técnicas de caracterización electroquímicas (VC, EIS, etc.) y espectroscópicas (RR, IRRAS) las interacciones electrostáticas e hidrofóbicas de la Myoglobina con las interfaces funcionalizadas diseñadas, y en consecuencia su efecto sobre la transferencia electrónica y capacidad electrocatalítica del grupo redox

A Dynamic Risk Factors-Based Typology of Sexual Offenders

The purpose of this article was to develop an Spanish psychometric typology of sexual offenders taking into account dynamic risk factors. The sample comprised 94 sex offenders imprisoned in Spain (52 rapists and 42 child molesters). The analysis yielded two different offender categories based on the subjects' criminogenic needs level (high and low). The results also showed that social desirability has a strong influence on the developed typologies, whereas the offence type, sociodemographic characteristics, and criminal history do not. A dynamic risk factors typology, such as the one proposed here, could help criminal and correctional facilities to fulfill their remit. It could also be useful for linking treatment intensity to offenders' criminogenic needs, as well as providing a platform for recidivism risk assessments

Experimental and Theoretical Advances on Single Atom and Atomic Cluster-Decorated Low-Dimensional Platforms towards Superior Electrocatalysts

The fundamental relationship between structure and properties, which is called “structure-property”, plays a vital role in the rational designing of high-performance catalysts for diverse electrocatalytic applications. Low-dimensional (LD) nanomaterials, including 0D, 1D, 2D materials, combined with low-nuclearity metal atoms, ranging from single atoms to subnanometer clusters, are currently emerging as rising star nanoarchitectures for heterogeneous catalysis due to their well-defined active sites and unbeatable metal utilization efficiencies. In this work, a comprehensive experimental and theoretical review is provided on the recent development of single atom and atomic cluster-decorated LD platforms towards some typical clean energy reactions, such as water-splitting, nitrogen fixation, and carbon dioxide reduction reactions. The upmost attractive structural properties, advanced characterization techniques, and theoretical principles of these low-nuclearity electrocatalysts as well as their applications in key electrochemical energy devices are also elegantly discussed

Boosting the electrochemical oxygen reduction activity of hemoglobin on fructose@graphene-oxide nanoplatforms

A metal-free oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst with outstanding performance was obtained through an easy and one-pot synthesis of hemoglobin functionalized fructose@graphene-oxide (GO) nanocomposites. The active pyridinic nitrogen sites of the highly unfolded proteins together with the excellent electronic properties of GO appears to be the main factors causing the improved electrocatalytic activity

Cercosporin quantification in Cercospora coffeicola isolates by spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography: a comparative analysis

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Facile synthesis of C60-nano materials and their application in High-Performance Water Splitting Electrocatalysis

Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of crystalline C60 nanomaterials and their applications as bifunctional water splitting catalysts. The shapes of the resulting materials were tuned via a solvent engineering approach to form rhombic-shaped nanosheets and nanotubes with hexagonal close packed-crystal structures. The as-synthesized materials exhibited suitable properties as bifunctional catalysts for HER and ORR reactions surpassing by far the electrocatalytic activity of commercially available amorphous C60. The C60 nanotubes displayed the most efficient catalytic performance with a small onset potential of −0.13 V vs. RHE and ultrahigh electrochemical stability properties towards the generation of molecular hydrogen. Additionally, the rotating-disk electrode measurements revealed that the oxygen reduction mechanism at the nanotube electrochemical surfaces followed an effective four-electron pathway. The improved catalytic activity was attributed to the enhanced local electric fields at the high curvature surfaces