Nanomaterials Self-Assembly Driven by Beta-Amyloid Peptides

Nanomaterials such as gold nanowires and gold nanoparticles were self-assembled with several peptides derived from betaamyloid peptide. The peptides propensity to form fibrilar structures was exploited. The products obtained by aggregation of the peptides with the nano materials were studied using HPLC, UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM and optical light microscopy

Parameter estimation for partial differential equations using stochastic methods

The aim of this thesis is to compare the efficiency of different algorithms on estimating parameters that arise in partial differential equations: Kalman Filters (Ensemble Kalman Filter, Stochastic Collocation Kalman Filter, Karhunen-Lo`eve Ensemble Kalman Filter, Karhunen- Lo`eve Stochastic Collocation Kalman Filter), Markov-Chain Monte Carlo sampling schemes and Adjoint variable-based method. We also present the theoretical results for stochastic optimal control for problems constrained by partial differential equations with random input data in a mixed finite element form. We verify experimentally with numerical simulations using Adjoint variable-based method with various identification objectives that either minimize the expectation of a tracking cost functional or minimize the difference of desired statistical quantities in the appropriate Lp norm

MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER STIGMA, ATTITUDE, AND BELIEF: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL STUDY ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS, AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

Existing stigma in the form of negative attitudes towards individuals with severe mental illness by mental health practitioners, has the potential to set barriers towards recovery. A survey of 72 mental health practitioners from three disciplines were surveyed, in an attempt to measure mental health practitioner attitudes towards individuals with severe mental illness, and how their attitudes impact their belief in client recovery. This was a quantitative study, based on two Likert Scale surveys and distributed both in paper form and using Survey Monkey. Participants were gathered through a snowball effect, and consisted of 42 social workers, 18 marriage and family therapists, and 12 clinical psychologists. The Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Mental Health Practitioners was utilized in an attempt to measure stigmatizing behaviors. The Consumer Optimism scale was also incorporated in an attempt to measure practitioner’s belief in recovery. Content analysis was conducted through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The findings of the study were inconclusive and did not support the original hypothesis, as no relationship between mental health practitioner attitudes towards individuals with severe mental illness and their belief in recovery was found. However, two key finding emerged through further content analysis. A positive relationship was found between negative attitudes and the practitioner’s desire to be socially distant from individuals with severe mental illness. Practitioners from inpatient work settings showed higher levels of belief in client recovery, than those in outpatient and private practice. Further research can be conducted regarding the potential reasons that inpatient mental health workers have higher belief in client recovery, in order to help outpatient agencies and private practice individuals also achieve higher levels of optimism towards recovery. The findings of negative attitudes in mental health practitioners and their desire to remain socially distant from individuals with a severe mental illness can also be a key component in recent efforts to combat stigmatizing behaviors

Biodegradation study of some food packaging biopolymers based on PVA

Abstract Polymers are a common choice as protective materials since they combine flexibility, variable sizes and shapes, relatively light weight, stability, resistance to breaking, barrier properties and perceived high-quality image with cost-effectiveness. Currently, mainly non-biodegradable petroleum-based synthetic polymers are used as packaging materials for foods, because of their availability, low cost and functionality. However, biopolymers can be made from renewable resources without the environmental issues of petroleum-based polymers and with the additional advantage of being available from renewable sources or as by-products or waste-products from the food and agriculture industries. The aim of this study was to test some food packaging biopolymers based on PVA. In this respect, some biopolymers for food packaging applications were subjected to biodegradation tests by covering the tested samples with soil. The samples were incubated in known temperature and humidity conditions. The experiment lasted 45 days, after that the samples were washed, weighed and the biodegradation degree was calculated. The obtained results shows that PVA is a promising material for food packaging usage, as it is made from renewable resources and it is environmentally friendly.Â

The Impact of Infertility on Women’s Social Life and the Role of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Infertility shall be defined as failure to conceive naturally after one year of unprotected sexual relations with the same partner. Worldwide, average births per woman have been falling for at least two generations, and for the first time in more than a hundred years, the total world population growth is slowing. Europe has the lowest total fertility rate. Since 1950, the average births per woman in Europe has fallen from more than 3 to only 1.6There are multiple factors that affect a couple’s chances of conceiving. Apart from changes in attitudes, affordability of child and healthcare, it is partially down to infertility.Western countries have undergone variable economic expansion, marriage is no longer essential to family life, fewer people adhere to religions that encourage large families, tertiary education is available for both men and women and women are now more likely to be employed outside their home

Comisiones Obreras Aragón: un sindicato de mujeres y hombres

En este trabajo se muestra por un lado, en que han consistido mis prácticas dentro de CC.OO. Zaragoza y por otro lado, que es lo que se trabaja desde la Secretaría de Igualdad para conseguir una igualdad real entre mujeres y hombres y evitar todo tipo de discriminaciones que puedan sufrir las mujeres por el mero hecho de serlo. Para ello, en este trabajo realizó una presentación de la documentación que he ido analizando a través de las prácticas porque, tal como se verá en la memoria, la mayor parte de las sesiones han consistido en leer normas jurídicas y otro tipo de documentación. En concreto, en este trabajo se explica los siguientes temas desde una perspectiva de género: salud laboral; lenguaje no sexista; violencia de género y derechos laborales y prostitución

Algunos aspectos de la flexiseguridad en España según microdatos de Epa

Este trabajo estudia algunos de los posibles efectos de la implantación de la estrategia de flexiseguridad mediante la Reforma laboral del 2012 en el mercado de trabajo español, a través de micro datos de la Encuesta de la Población Activa (EPA). El cambio a un nuevo modelo laboral, tanto por su estructura como por sus objetivos, crea ciertas modificaciones sustanciales para empresas y trabajadores. Del estudio se concluye que en el período 2013-2017, debido a la incidencia de los empleos atípicos (temporalidad) cabe presumir que hay mayor compromiso con la dimensión flexibilidad que con la dimensión seguridad

STUDY OF THE CONTAMINATING MICROBIOTA OF OLD PAPER SUPPORTS

Biodeterioration has drawn the attention of different specialists who started to cooperate and to understand the need of joint research to have a picture as comprehensive as possible of the degradation agents and the measures that can be taken to salvage the heritage assets. This paper contains a description of the microbiota identified in two types of old paper supports part of a private collection from North Moldavia (Romania), namely a church book from the end of the 19th century for which the paper was obtained manually from textile fibres, and a book from 1870 with paper from cellulose pulp derived from wood. To the purpose of identifying the types of bacteria and fungi present on the supports examined, several comments were made related to the morphology of the colonies developed on the growth medium, which provided important indications for the determination based on the microscopical examination as well. Bacterial contamination (of the genera Bacillus, Clostridium, Pseudomonas and Micrococcus) was detected in most samples collected. The diversity of the fungi isolated from the paper supports (the genera Penicillium, Alternaria) is the result of the fact that since they are highly hygroscopic materials, they have the capability to retain water more easily, which stimulates fungal growth. The investigations made to determine the presence of microorganisms responsible for degradation and their identification allowed the discovery and acertainment of the real and justified need to find ways to prevent biodeterioration or to inactivate and destroy biodeteriogens by non-invasive, eco-friendly chemical and physical treatments

Severe Plastic Deformation an Advanced Method for Nanostructuring Shape Memory Alloys

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) is an advanced plastic deformation. In this process nanostructuring metals and alloys may be produced. Nanostructured shape memory alloys are associate with a very high strength, toughness, fatigue life and wear resistance. In recent, bulk nanostructured SMA are used for medicine advanced applications and smart micro devices. In this paper we present the concept and principles SPD. There are two distinct methods: Equal Channel Angular Pressing ECAP or Equal Cannel Angular Extrusion –ECAE and High Pressure Torsion – HPT. Also we present some results about nanostructuring a hard deformable shape memory alloy using a original HPT, and a improved ECAE device