Solar active envelope module with an adjustable transmittance/absorptance

A solar active envelope module with a high flexibility degree is proposed in this paper. The transparent module controls the day-lighting of the room, improving the indoor environment, while absorbing the superfluous solar energy inside. That energy is used to increase the efficiency of heating, ventilation, and the air-conditioning (HVAC) system of the building. This is carried out through a fine control of the absorptance of the envelope module. The active envelope module consists of three glazed chambers with advanced coatings and frames to assure a minimum thermal transmittance while allowing transparency. A fluid containing heat-absorbing nanoparticles flows inside the central chamber and is heated up due to the impinging solar energy. Unlike other systems proposed in the past, which included transparency control systems based on complex filters and chemical processes, the absorption of the module is controlled by the variation of the thickness of the central chamber with a mechanical device. That is, varying the thickness of the central chamber, it allows controlling the absorptance of the whole system and, as a result, indoor day-lighting and thermal loads. Therefore, a new system is proposed that enables to

The administration of chitosan-tripolyphosphate-DNA nanoparticles to express exogenous SREBP1a enhances conversion of dietary carbohydrates into lipids in the liver of Sparus aurata

In addition to being essential for the transcription of genes involved in cellular lipogenesis, increasing evidence associates sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) with the transcriptional control of carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of overexpression SREBP1a, a potent activator of all SREBP-responsive genes, on the intermediary metabolism of Sparus aurata, a glucose-intolerant carnivorous fish. Administration of chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles complexed with a plasmid driving expression of the N-terminal transactivation domain of SREBP1a significantly increased SREBP1a mRNA and protein in the liver of S. aurata. Overexpression of SREBP1a enhanced the hepatic expression of key genes in glycolysis-gluconeogenesis (glucokinase and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase), fatty acid synthesis (acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2), elongation (elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 5) and desaturation (fatty acid desaturase 2) as well as reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate production (glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase) and cholesterol synthesis (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase), leading to increased blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Beyond reporting the first study addressing in vivo effects of exogenous SREBP1a in a glucose-intolerant model, our findings support that SREBP1a overexpression caused multigenic effects that favoured hepatic glycolysis and lipogenesis and thus enabled protein sparing by improving dietary carbohydrate conversion into fatty acids and cholesterolPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Mechanical properties of wood from Pinus sylvestris L. treated with Light Organic Solvent Preservative and with waterbone Copper Azole

El objetivo del estudio es determinar el efecto de tratamiento de la madera de Pinus sylvestris con sustancias protectoras en las propiedades mecánicas. Para ello se utilizan 40 muestras de madera libre de defectos de Pinus sylvestris L. tratándose con protectores orgánicos (Vacsol Azure WR 2601) 50 con protectores hidrosolubles (Tanalith E 3492) y 40 muestras de control sin tratamiento. Se evaluó la resistencia mecánica a la flexión estática, módulo de elasticidad y la fuerza de compresión paralela a la fibra fueron comparados con madera no tratada. El análisis de regresión entre la penetración y la fuerza de compresión paralela se realizó con las muestras tratadas con conservante a base de agua. Resultados principales: Los resultados indican que la madera tratada (con cualquiera de los productos) presenta un aumento estadísticamente significativo de la resistencia mecánica en todas las tres características mecánicas. Los resultados obtenidos difieren de estudios anteriores llevada a cabo por otros autores. No hubo correlación entre la resistencia a la compresión en paralelo y el grado de impregnación de la madera con base de agua de cobre azoles. La explicación más probable para estos resultados se refiere a cambios en la presión durante el tratamiento. El uso de muestras de control no tratadas en lugar de las muestras tratadas sólo con agua es más probable para producir resultados significativos en los estudios de resistencia mecánica . La investigación pone de relieve que la madera tratada presenta un aumento estadísticamente significativo en el Modulo de Elasticidad, módulo de rotura a la flexión estática y resistencia a la compresión paralela. No hubo correlación entre la resistencia a la compresión en paralelo y el grado de impregnación con conservante hidrosoluble

Mitigating slipping-related mortality from purse seine fisheries for small pelagic fish: case studies from European Atlantic waters

The release of unwanted catches (UWC) from purse seines, while the catch is still in the water, is known as “slipping”. Once thought to be a benign process, compared to discarding UWC overboard from the fishing vessel, it is now recognised that “slipping” can lead to significant mortality in the released fish if done inappropriately. In this chapter, we examine purse seining and slipping operations, and discuss what drives slipping and potential mitigation measures to reduce slipping mortality. We use three examples of purse seine fisheries for small pelagic species in the North-east Atlantic; from Norway, Portugal and Spain. The ideal solution (identifying and avoiding UWC before the net is set) requires the development of tools to enable fishers to better characterise target schools in terms of key selection criteria, e.g., with respect to species, individual size and catch biomass. Such tools are being developed, based primarily on hydro-acoustic technology. However, some UWC in purse seine catches are inevitable, and operational improvements in slipping practices have been shown to significantly reduce stress and mortality in the released UWC. We conclude with a discussion on the challenges currently facing the implementation of the European Union (EU) Landing Obligation with regards to minimising slipping related mortality.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Single-Stranded Condensation Stochastically Blocks G-Quadruplex Assembly in Human Telomeric RNA

"This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b00722."[EN] TERRA is an RNA molecule transcribed from human subtelomeric regions toward chromosome ends potentially involved in regulation of heterochromatin stability, semiconservative replication, and telomerase inhibition, among others. TERRA contains tandem repeats of the sequence GGGUUA, with a strong tendency to fold into a four-stranded arrangement known as a parallel G-quadruplex. Here, we demonstrate by using single-molecule force spectroscopy that this potential is limited by the inherent capacity of RNA to self-associate randomly and further condense into entropically more favorable structures. We stretched RNA constructions with more than four and less than eight hexanucleotide repeats, thus unable to form several G-quadruplexes in tandem, flanked by non-G-rich overhangs of random sequence by optical tweezers on a one by one basis. We found that condensed RNA stochastically blocks G-quadruplex folding pathways with a near 20% probability, a behavior that is not found in DNA analogous molecules.Dedicated to the memory of Alfredo Villasante. The authors thank E. Poyatos-Racionero for auxiliary experiments. I.G. is supported by Fundacion IMDEA Nanociencia and M.G. by a Juan de la Cierva contract (FJCI-2016-28474). This research received grants from the MINECO (MAT2015-71806-R and BFU2017-89707-P). IMDEA Nanociencia acknowledges support from the "Severo Ochoa" Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (MINECO, Grant SEV-2016-0686).Gutiérrez, I.; Garavís, M.; De Lorenzo, S.; Villasante, A.; González, C.; Arias-Gonzalez, JR. (2018). Single-Stranded Condensation Stochastically Blocks G-Quadruplex Assembly in Human Telomeric RNA. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 9(10):2498-2503. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b00722S2498250391

Hyaluronic acid-based bioink improves the differentiation and network formation of neural progenitor cells

Introduction: Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a promising technique for the development of neuronal in vitro models because it controls the deposition of materials and cells. Finding a biomaterial that supports neural differentiation in vitro while ensuring compatibility with the technique of 3D bioprinting of a self-standing construct is a challenge. Methods: In this study, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), methacrylated alginate (AlgMA), and hyaluronic acid (HA) were examined by exploiting their biocompatibility and tunable mechanical properties to resemble the extracellular matrix (ECM) and to create a suitable material for printing neural progenitor cells (NPCs), supporting their long-term differentiation. NPCs were printed and differentiated for up to 15 days, and cell viability and neuronal differentiation markers were assessed throughout the culture. Results and Discussion: This composite biomaterial presented the desired physical properties to mimic the ECM of the brain with high water intake, low stiffness, and slow degradation while allowing the printing of defined structures. The viability rates were maintained at approximately 80% at all time points. However, the levels of β-III tubulin marker increased over time, demonstrating the compatibility of this biomaterial with neuronal cell culture and differentiation. Furthermore, these cells showed increased maturation with corresponding functional properties, which was also demonstrated by the formation of a neuronal network that was observed by recording spontaneous activity via Ca2+ imaging

Transformação ambiental de um estuário industrializado no século XIX: o registo sedimentar de Avilés (Asturias, N Espanha)

ABSTRACT: The Avilés estuary is one of the most important industrial ports in northern Spain, whose natural characteristics have been largely altered since the 1830s. Here, the environmental transformation of this estuary during the 19th century is explored using a multi-proxy approach including benthic foraminiferal content, sedimentology (grain-size), trace metals and short-lived radionuclides (210Pb and 137Cs) analysed from a 50-cm-long sediment core and a surface sample collected from the middle part of the estuary in the Pedro Menéndez Channel. The obtained results provide evidence that indicate an evolution from a naturally-driven environment with high a marine influence towards a more restricted setting under brackish conditions. The observed environmental change is interpreted as being mostly derived from physical modifications linked to the marsh reclamation and channelling starting in 1833 and intensified since 1860. This study provides a preindustrial environmental reference framework for future studies in coastal areas of the NW Atlantic Iberian margin.RESUMO: O estuário de Avilés é um dos portos industriais mais importantes do norte de Espanha, cujas características naturais foram bastante alteradas desde 1830. A transformação ambiental deste estuário durante o século XIX é estudada usando uma abordagem multi-proxy incluindo foraminíferos bentónicos, sedimentologia (dimensão do grão), metais traço e radionuclídeos de vida curta (210Pb e 137Cs) analisados a partir de sedimento de um testemunho de sondagem com 50 cm de comprimento e uma amostra recolhida à superfície na parte média do estuário do Canal de Pedro Menéndez. Os resultados obtidos fornecem evidências que indicam evolução de um ambiente com elevada influência marinha para um ambiente mais restrito em condições salobras. A alteração ambiental observada é interpretada como resultado de modificações físicas ligadas à recuperação e canalização de pântanos a partir de 1833, e intensificada desde 1860. Este estudo fornece um exemplo de referência ambiental pré-industrial para estudos futuros em áreas costeiras da margem NW Ibérica do Atlântico.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio