Self-assembly of Clicked Star-Shaped Triazines into Functional Nanostructures

Two non-amphiphilic star-shaped 2, 4, 6-tris(1, 2, 3-triazol-4-yl)-1, 3, 5-triazines showing different behavior in terms of self-assembly and luminescent properties are described. They aggregate in the liquid phase to form low-dimensional nanostructures with a variety of morphologies, such as spherical particles, one-hole hollow spheres, toroids, twisted fibers or helical nanotubes, just by varying the conditions of a straightforward reprecipitation method. Aggregation has an opposite effect concerning the fluorescent properties of the proposed compounds, either causing the enhancement or the quenching of the emission after the self-assembly. Quantum chemical calculations have been also performed to assist in the structural and electronic characterization of the two star-shaped compounds

Deactivation and regeneration of solid acid and base catalyst bodies used in cascade for bio-oil synthesis and upgrading

The modes of deactivation -and the extent to which their properties can be restored- of two catalyst bodies used in cascade for bio-oil synthesis have been studied. These catalysts include a solid acid granulate (namely ZrO2/desilicated zeolite ZSM-5/attapulgite clay) employed in ex-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass, and a base extrudate (K-exchanged zeolite USY/attapulgite clay) for the subsequent bio-oil upgrading. Post-mortem analyses of both catalyst bodies with Raman spectroscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of highly poly-aromatic coke distributed in an egg-shell manner. Deactivation due to coke adsorption onto acid sites affected the zeolite ZSM-5-based catalyst, while for the base catalyst it is structural integrity loss, resulting from KOH-mediated zeolite framework collapse, the main deactivating factor. A hydrothermal regeneration process reversed the detrimental effects of coke in the acid catalyst, largely recovering catalyst acidity (∼80%) and textural properties (∼90%), but worsened the structural damage suffered by the base catalyst

Computational discovery of novel anthelmintic natural compounds from Agave Brittoniana trel. Spp. Brachypus

Helminth infections are a medical problem in the world nowadays. This report used bond-based 2D quadratic indices, a bond-level QuBiLs-MAS molecular descriptor family, and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to obtain a quantitative linear model that discriminates between anthelmintic and non-anthelmintic drug-like organic-compounds. The model obtained correctly classified 87.46% and 81.82% of the training and external data sets, respectively. The developed model was used in a virtual screening to predict the biological activity of all chemicals (19) previously obtained and chemically characterized by some authors of this report from Agave brittoniana Trel. spp. Brachypus. The model identified several metabolites (12) as possible anthelmintics, and a group of 5 novel natural products was tested in an in vitro assay against Fasciola hepatica (100% effectivity at 500 µg/mL). Finally, the two best hits were evaluated in vivo in bald/c mice and the same helminth parasite using a 25 mg/kg dose. Compound 8 (Karatavinoside A) showed an efficacy of 92.2% in vivo. It is important to remark that this natural compound exhibits similar-to-superior activity as triclabendazole, the best human fasciolicide available in the market against Fasciola hepatica, resulting in a novel lead scaffold with anti-helminthic activity.15 página

Aplicación de técnicas virtuales al Patrimonio Arquitectónico Teatral: Reconstrucción y estudio de arquitecturas inexistentes

[ES] Este trabajo muestra nuevas posibilidades de investigación teatral a través del uso de herramientas de simulación virtual acústica y visual para recrear entornos espaciales inexistentes. Con las nuevas tecnologías, es posible modelizar recintos desaparecidos tomando como punto de partida la documentación histórica de archivo existente. De este modo, apoyándonos en hipótesis avaladas por la investigación teatral, histórica y filológica, seremos capaces de escuchar la dramatización de textos clásicos con la acústica y la imagen de recintos teatrales inexistentes. En este estudio hemos puesto en práctica las citadas técnicas para recrear morfologías del Teatro Principal de Valencia en épocas pasadas, permitiendo no sólo una valoración rigurosa de la evolución acústica del edificio, sino su percepción sonora virtual en cualquier localidad y momento histórico de la sala teatral.Proyectos cuyas referencias son: BIA2003-09306-C04-01, BIA2008-05485 y BIA2012-36896.Barba Sevillano, A.; Giménez Pérez, A.; Cibrian Ortiz De Anda, RM.; Cerdá Jordá, S.; Montell Serrano, RE.; Segura Garcia, J. (2013). Aplicación de técnicas virtuales al Patrimonio Arquitectónico Teatral: Reconstrucción y estudio de arquitecturas inexistentes. Teatro de palabras: revista sobre teatro áureo. (7):457-481. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/114245S457481

Veinte años de seguimiento poblacional de ungulados silvestres de Aragón

The remarkable increase of wild ungulates populations in Aragon during the last 50 years, both in numbers and distribution, has made population monitoring a need for effective management of these species. In parallel to their raising numbers, problems related to crop damage and collisions with vehicles are growing. In this situation there has been a shift in the management goals from conservation to population control. Different methods have been used in the surveys: postal enquiries for distribution, battues, distance sampling, night spotlight surveys and indirect ones based on transect and plot counts of pellet groups. Surveys started in 1985 for red deer, 1990 for wild boar and Iberian wild goat, 1995 for chamois and 2002 for roe deer, gradually becoming a population monitoring program. The surveys are carried out by rangers and wildlife consultants under the coordination and supervision of the Fish and Game Service of the Aragon Government. The ungulate populations are still growing (wild boar, wild goat, red and roe deer), are relatively stabilised (fallow deer, feral goat), fluctuate due to diseases (chamois) or show small populations limited to fenced states (Barbary sheep, mouflon). Hunting bags went from 1,100 to 36,000 during an eleven-year period (1990-2009): 303 chamois, 1,173 wild goats, 2,141 roe deer, 2,424 red deer and 29,595 wild boars, showing a trend which is still increasing. The main tool is therefore hunting quota and its verification through hunting bags declarations, damages to crops and car crashes, and population trend and abundance.La importante expansión de las poblaciones de ungulados silvestres en Aragón desde los años 50 del siglo XX hasta la actualidad, tanto en superficie ocupada como en abundancia de ejemplares, ha hecho necesario el seguimiento de las mismas para su adecuada gestión. Su incremento en las dos últimas décadas, junto con el importante aumento de daños agrícolas y colisiones con vehículos, ha motivado un importante cambio en los criterios gestores; pasando de la conservación y fomento al control e incluso reducción de efectivos. Los métodos utilizados para el seguimiento de las poblaciones fueron: encuestas quincenales de distribución, batidas, muestreos de distancia, captura – recaptura, fareos nocturnos y muestreos indirectos basados en el conteo de grupos de excrementos en transectos y parcelas fijas. Los seguimientos se comenzaron a realizar en 1985 en el caso del ciervo, 1990 en el jabalí y cabra montesa, 1995 en el sarrio y 2002 en el corzo, habiéndose convertido paulatinamente en una verdadera monitorización poblacional. Los seguimientos son realizados por Agentes de Protección de la Naturaleza del Gobierno de Aragón y asistencias técnicas externas, bajo la supervisión y coordinación de los responsables administrativos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que, algunas poblaciones continúan su expansión e incremento (jabalí, ciervo, corzo, cabra montesa), otras se encuentran relativamente estabilizadas (gamo, cabra doméstica asilvestrada), y unas pocas fluctúan debido a enfermedades (sarrio) o muestran presencias testimoniales prácticamente reducidas a cercados (arruí, muflón). Las capturas declaradas han pasado de 1.100 a 36.000 en 11 años (1999-2009): 303 sarrios, 1.173 cabras montesas, 2.141 corzos, 2.424 ciervos y 29.595 jabalíes, con una tendencia al incremento que aún no ha finalizado. El instrumento fundamental por lo tanto son los cupos de caza y su verificación se realiza a partir de las declaraciones de capturas, los daños a la agricultura y accidentes automovilísticos y la tendencia y abundancia poblacional

Direct-acting antivirals are effective and safe in HCV/HIV-coinfected liver transplant recipients who experience recurrence of hepatitis C: A prospective nationwide cohort study.

Direct-acting antivirals have proved to be highly efficacious and safe in monoinfected liver transplant (LT) recipients who experience recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, there is a lack of data on effectiveness and tolerability of these regimens in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients who experience recurrence of HCV infection after LT. In this prospective, multicenter cohort study, the outcomes of 47 HCV/HIV-coinfected LT patients who received DAA therapy (with or without ribavirin [RBV]) were compared with those of a matched cohort of 148 HCV-monoinfected LT recipients who received similar treatment. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. HCV/HIV-coinfected patients had a median (IQR) CD4 T-cell count of 366 (256-467) cells/µL. HIV-RNA was <50 copies/mL in 96% of patients. The DAA regimens administered were SOF + LDV ± RBV (34%), SOF + SMV ± RBV (31%), SOF + DCV ± RBV (27%), SMV + DCV ± RBV (5%), and 3D (3%), with no differences between the groups. Treatment was well tolerated in both groups. Rates of SVR (negative serum HCV-RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment) were high and similar for coinfected and monoinfected patients (95% and 94%, respectively; P = .239). Albeit not significant, a trend toward lower SVR rates among patients with advanced fibrosis (P = .093) and genotype 4 (P = .088) was observed. In conclusion, interferon-free regimens with DAAs for post-LT recurrence of HCV infection in HIV-infected individuals were highly effective and well tolerated, with results comparable to those of HCV-monoinfected patients

Engineering the acidity and accessibility of the zeolite ZSM-5 for efficient bio-oil upgrading in catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulose

The properties of the zeolite ZSM-5 have been optimised for the production and deoxygenation of the bio-oil∗ (bio-oil on water-free basis) fraction by lignocellulose catalytic pyrolysis. Two ZSM-5 supports possessing high mesopore/external surface area, and therefore enhanced accessibility, have been employed to promote the conversion of the bulky compounds formed in the primary cracking of lignocellulose. These supports are a nanocrystalline material (n-ZSM-5) and a hierarchical sample (h-ZSM-5) of different Si/Al ratios and acid site concentrations. Acidic features of both zeolites have been modified and adjusted by incorporation of ZrO2, which has a significant effect on the concentration and distribution of both Brønsted and Lewis acid sites. These materials have been tested in the catalytic pyrolysis of acid-washed wheat straw (WS-ac) using a two-step (thermal/catalytic) reaction system at different catalyst/biomass ratios. The results obtained have been assessed in terms of oxygen content, energy yield and composition of the produced bio-oil∗, taking also into account the selectivity towards the different deoxygenation pathways. The ZrO2/n-ZSM-5 sample showed remarkable performance in the biomass catalytic pyrolysis, as a result of the appropriate combination of accessibility and acidic properties. In particular, modification of the zeolitic support acidity by incorporation of highly dispersed ZrO2 effectively decreased the extent of secondary reactions, such as severe cracking and coke formation, as well as promoted the conversion of the oligomers formed initially by lignocellulose pyrolysis, thus sharply decreasing the proportion of the components not detected by GC-MS in the upgraded bio-oil∗

Factors related to the development of health-promoting community activities in Spanish primary healthcare: two case-control studies.

Objective Spanish primary healthcare teams have the responsibility of performing health-promoting community activities (CAs), although such activities are not widespread. Our aim was to identify the factors related to participation in those activities. Design Two case–control studies. setting Performed in primary care of ve Spanish regions. subjects In the rst study, cases were teams that performed health-promoting CAs and controls were those that did not. In the second study (on case teams from the rst study), cases were professionals who developed these activities and controls were those who did not. Main outcome measures Team, professional and community characteristics collected through questionnaires (team managers/professionals) and from secondary sources. results The rst study examined 203 teams (103 cases, 100 controls). Adjusted factors associated with performing CAs were percentage of nurses (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14), community socioeconomic status (higher vs lower OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.95) and performing undergraduate training (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.93). In the second study, 597 professionals responded (254 cases, 343 controls). Adjusted factors were professional classi cation (physicians do fewer activities than nurses and social workers do more), training in CAs (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.1), team support (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 5.7), seniority (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.09), nursing tutor (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.5), motivation (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.8 to 7.5), collaboration with non-governmental organisations (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.1) and participation in neighbourhood activities (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.9 to 5.1). Conclusions Professional personal characteristics, such as social sensitivity, profession, to feel team support or motivation, have in uence in performing health-promoting CAs. In contrast to the opinion expressed by many professionals, workload is not related to performance of health-promoting CAs

Flipped classroom en el aprendizaje multidisciplinar colaborativo en diferentes Grados Universitarios

La implementación de nuevas metodologías que nos permita valorar si el estudiante ha alcanzado los conocimientos necesarios así como una serie de competencias y habilidades, es una de las prioridades docentes del proceso de convergencia en el espacio europeo de educación superior. El empleo de la clase inversa (flipped classroom) con el cambio en los roles aula/casa y profesor/estudiante consigue que el estudiante adquiera un papel protagonista en el proceso de la enseñanza, alcanzando destrezas en el aprendizaje autónomo, trabajo en equipo y empleo de las nuevas tecnologías. Al mismo tiempo, esta metodología hace posible la participación de estudiantes de distintos grados que trabajen en grupos temas relacionados con su titulación, así como la consecución de competencias básicas (que los estudiantes puedan transmitir información, ideas, problemas y soluciones a un público tanto especializado como no especializado), generales (capacidad para las relaciones interpersonales y el trabajo en equipo) y específicas. Esta experiencia piloto tiene como objetivo mejorar el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje de los estudiantes del grado en farmacia, grado en ingeniería agroalimentaria y medio rural y grado en biotecnología, mediante la implementación de la metodología flipped classroom para potenciar el aprendizaje autónomo, desarrollo de competencias cognitivas y habilidades interpersonales de comunicación

Virtual Acoustics: a tool to evaluate architectural heritage

[ES] La acústica virtual ha demostrado ser una herramienta muy efectiva en el diseño acústico de recintos. Su aplicación al estudio de salas y edificios del patrimonio arquitectónico valenciano, ha permitido analizar la acústica de estos entornos y auralizar (cálculo de la respuesta del recinto a una determinada señal sonora), tanto señal musical como hablada (natural o generada sintéticamente). En este trabajo, describimos tanto el proceso de integración en el entorno virtual, con representación visual y sonora, como el de evaluación de la respuesta de estas salas a diferentes estímulos acústicos. Esta inmersión en el entorno virtual nos permite analizar subjetivamente la respuesta acústica del recinto, según la naturaleza de la señal trasmitida.El desarrollo del trabajo que vamos a exponer se gestó en el proyecto BIA2003-09306-C04Segura Garcia, J.; Montell Serrano, RE.; Cerdá Jordá, S.; Barba Sevillano, A.; Cibrian Ortiz De Anda, RM.; Planells Pérez, A.; Querol Baquero, L.... (2013). Acústica Virtual: una herramienta para la evaluación del patrimonio histórico-arquitectónico. Teatro de palabras: revista sobre teatro áureo. (7):445-456. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/114249S445456