Prediction of destructive properties using descriptive analysis of nd measurements

Three groups of measurements related to peach maturity were acquired through destructive (D) mechanical tests (Magness Taylor Firmness, MTF), mechanical non destructive (ND) tests, and ND optical spectroscopy (Optical indexes). The relationship between these groups of variables was studied in order to estimate D mechanical measurements (MTF, with higher instrumental and sampling variability, time consuming, generally used as a reference for the assessment of peach handling), from ND measurements (quick, applicable on line, dealing better with the high variability found in fruit products). Multivariate exploratory analysis was used to extract the structure of the data. The information about the data structure of ND measurements, the relationship of MTF with the space defined by ND variables, and the expert knowledge regarding to the dataset was then used for modelling MTF (R 2 =0.72 and standard error on validation 5.73 N

Combination of optical and on-destructivemechanicaltechniques for the measurement of maturity in peach

Increasing consumer dissatisfaction related with lack of ripeness in peach has been repeatedly reported since 1990 to the present day. There is thus, a great interest in improving the assessment of peach maturity, currently based on Magness Taylor firmness (destructive, highly variable, and time consuming) and colour (not reliable for highly coloured varieties). The present research studies as an alternative several non-destructive (ND) measurements, based on multispectral imaging, visible spectra, and low mass impact response. Their relationship with maturity, as well as the potential of their combination was studied. As a result, two rather independent (R2 = 0.3) groups of non-destructive measurements, chlorophyll related optical indexes and low mass impact (LMI) measurements, were identified. Optical measurements showed the best behaviour for assessing maturity at harvest, while LMI measurements reflected handling incidences, showing a promising potential to be used to control transport and postharvest handling

The use of optical and ND mechanical techniques for the measurement of maturity and firmness in peach

Explore the relationship between non destructive (ND) measurements (impact and optical) and: 9Maturity: referenced by the date of harvest. Peach trees produce a staggered fruit maturation, so high variability is expected for a certain harvest date. Thus, average values for each date are used as a reference. 9MTF: Most extended reference used by growers and fruit industry to assess postharvest handling on peach

Magnetism of Cr10 wheels on Au(111) and Cu(111) surfaces

Trabajo presentado al X Meeting de GEFES (División de Física de la Materia Condensada de la Real Sociedad Española de Física), celebrado en Valencia del 24 al 26 de enero de 2018We report on the magnetic properties of {Cr10} wheels (Cr10(OMe)20(O2CCMe)10) UHVsublimated on Cu(111) and Au(111) single-crystals investigated by means of by XAS & XMCD, SQUID magnetometry and STM. We discuss the magnetic anisotropy and magnetic moment field-dependence of the grafted {Cr10} molecules, as a function of the metallic substrate and layer thickness, and compare it with bulk material. Our results demonstrate that evaporated molecules show negligible anisotropy and weak dependence with the substrate. A combination of XMCD and SQUID magnetometry show that Mono- and Multilayer {Cr10} samples exhibit a magnetic behavior stemming from a S = 9 ground state, ruling out some previous results. Montecarlo simulations show that the magnetic evolution can be explained by {Cr10} molecules magneticaly consisting of two semi-crowns containing 4 Cr ions interacting ferromagnetically, separated by 2 Cr ions with antiferromagnetic interactions, giving rise to the ground S = 9 state, in agreement with previous EPR data in literature. Evaporation of {Cr10} onto a substrate producing subtle structural changes induce strong changes in the Cr-Cr interactions and distinct magnetic behavior from the bulk.Peer Reviewe

Lepton flavor violating Higgs boson decays from massive seesaw neutrinos

Lepton flavor violating Higgs boson decays are studied within the context of seesaw models with Majorana massive neutrinos. Two models are considered: The SM-seesaw, with the Standard Model Particle content plus three right handed neutrinos, and the MSSM-seesaw, with the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model particle content plus three right handed neutrinos and their supersymmetric partners. The widths for these decays are derived from a full one-loop diagrammatic computation in both models, and they are analyzed numerically in terms of the seesaw parameters, namely, the Dirac and Majorana mass matrices. Several possible scenarios for these mass matrices that are compatible with neutrino data are considered. In the SM-seesaw case, very small branching ratios are found for all studied scenarios. These ratios are explained as a consequence of the decoupling behaviour of the heavy right handed neutrinos. In contrast, in the MSSM-seesaw case, sizeable branching ratios are found for some of the leptonic flavor violating decays of the MSSM neutral Higgs bosons and for some choices of the seesaw matrices and MSSM parameters. The relevance of the two competing sources of lepton flavor changing interactions in the MSSM-seesaw case is also discussed. The non-decoupling behaviour of the supersymmetric particles contributing in the loop-diagrams is finally shown.Comment: 44pgs. Version to appear in Phys.Rev.

Microtubule Destabilizing Sulfonamides as an Alternative to Taxane-Based Chemotherapy

Pan-Gyn cancers entail 1 in 5 cancer cases worldwide, breast cancer being the most commonly diagnosed and responsible for most cancer deaths in women. The high incidence and mortality of these malignancies, together with the handicaps of taxanes—first-line treatments—turn the development of alternative therapeutics into an urgency. Taxanes exhibit low water solubility that require formulations that involve side effects. These drugs are often associated with dose-limiting toxicities and with the appearance of multi-drug resistance (MDR). Here, we propose targeting tubulin with compounds directed to the colchicine site, as their smaller size offer pharmacokinetic advantages and make them less prone to MDR efflux. We have prepared 52 new Microtubule Destabilizing Sulfonamides (MDS) that mostly avoid MDR-mediated resistance and with improved aqueous solubility. The most potent compounds, N-methyl-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-4-methylaminobenzenesulfonamide 38, N-methyl-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-4-methoxy-3-aminobenzenesulfonamide 42, and N-benzyl-N-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-4-methoxy-3-aminobenzenesulfonamide 45 show nanomolar antiproliferative potencies against ovarian, breast, and cervix carcinoma cells, similar or even better than paclitaxel. Compounds behave as tubulin-binding agents, causing an evident disruption of the microtubule network, in vitro Tubulin Polymerization Inhibition (TPI), and mitotic catastrophe followed by apoptosis. Our results suggest that these novel MDS may be promising alternatives to taxane-based chemotherapy in chemoresistant Pan-Gyn cancers.We thank the people at Frigoríficos Salamanca S.A slaughterhouse for providing us with the calf brains, “Servicio General de NMR” and “Servicio General de Espectrofotometría de Masas” of the University of Salamanca for equipment. M.G. acknowledges a predoctoral fellowship from the Junta de Castilla y León (ORDEN EDU/529/2017 de 26 de junio). M.O.-S. acknowledges a predoctoral fellowship from the IBSAL (IBpredoc17/00010). A.V.-B. acknowledges a predoctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (FPU15/02457). This research was funded by the Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León (SA030U16, SA262P18 and SA116P20), co-funded by the EU’s European Regional Development Fund-FEDER, the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (RTI2018-099474-BI00) and the health research program of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, PI16/01920 and PI20/01569) co-funded with FEDER founds

μ−e\mu-e conversion in nuclei within the CMSSM seesaw: universality versus non-universality

In this paper we study $\mu-e$ conversion in nuclei within the context of the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, enlarged by three right handed neutrinos and their supersymmetric partners, and where the neutrino masses are generated via a seesaw mechanism. Two different scenarios with either universal or non-universal soft supersymmetry breaking Higgs masses at the gauge coupling unification scale are considered. In the first part we present a complete one-loop computation of the conversion rate for this process that includes the photon-, $Z$-boson, and Higgs-boson penguins, as well as box diagrams, and compare their size in the two considered scenarios. Then, in these two scenarios we analyse the relevance of the various parameters on the conversion rates, particularly emphasising the role played by the heavy neutrino masses, $\tan \beta$, and especially $\theta_{13}$. In the case of hierachical heavy neutrinos, an extremely high sensitivity of the rates to $\theta_{13}$ is indeed found. The last part of this work is devoted to the study of the interesting loss of correlation between the $\mu-e$ conversion and $\mu \to e \gamma$ rates that occurs in the non-universal scenario. In the case of large $\tan \beta$ and light $H^0$ Higgs boson an enhanced ratio of the $\mu-e$ to $\mu \to e \gamma$ rates, with respect to the universal case is found, and this could be tested with the future experimental sensitivities.Comment: 48 pages, 15 figures. Minor typos corrected and some references adde

Scaffold coupling: ERK activation by trans-phosphorylation across different scaffold protein species.

RAS-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway signals are modulated by scaffold proteins that assemble the components of different kinase tiers into a sequential phosphorylation cascade. In the prevailing model scaffold proteins function as isolated entities, where the flux of phosphorylation events progresses downstream linearly, to achieve ERK phosphorylation. We show that different types of scaffold proteins, specifically KSR1 (kinase suppressor of Ras 1) and IQGAP1 (IQ motif-containing guanosine triphosphatase activating protein 1), can bind to each other, forming a complex whereby phosphorylation reactions occur across both species. MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) bound to IQGAP1 can phosphorylate ERK docked at KSR1, a process that we have named trans-phosphorylation. We also reveal that ERK trans-phosphorylation participates in KSR1-regulated adipogenesis, and it also underlies the modest cytotoxicity exhibited by KSR-directed inhibitors. Overall, we identify interactions between scaffold proteins and trans-phosphorylation as an additional level of regulation in the ERK cascade, with broad implications in signaling and the design of scaffold protein-aimed therapeutics

Synergistic DNA-damaging effect in multiple myeloma with the combination of zalypsis, bor tezomib and dexamethasone

Despite new advances in multiple myeloma treatment and the consequent improvement in overall survival, most patients relapse or become refractory to treatment. This suggests that new molecules and combinations that may further inhibit important survival pathways for these tumor cells are needed. In this context, zalypsis is a novel compound, derived from marine organisms, with a powerful preclinical anti-myeloma effect based on the sensitivity of malignant plasma cells to DNA-damage induction; and it has already been tested in a phase I/II clinical trial in multiple myeloma. We hypothesized that the addition of this compound to the combination of bortezomib plus dexamethasone may improve efficacy with acceptable toxicity. The triple combination demonstrated strong synergy and higher efficacy compared with double combinations; not only in vitro, but also ex vivo and, especially, in in vivo experiments. The triple combination triggers cell death, mainly through a synergistic induction of DNA damage and a decrease in the nuclear localization of nuclear factor kappa B. Our findings support the clinical evaluation of this combination for relapsed and refractory myeloma patients.This work was in part funded by the Spanish ISCIII-FIS (PI 15/0067 and PI15/02156) and FEDER, the Spanish RTICC (RD12/0036/0058), "Asociación Española Contra el Cancer" (AECC, GCB120981SAN), the regional Council from “Castilla y León” (GRS 1175/A/15 and FIC335U14) and a research grant from Pharmamar SAU. MMS were also supported by the Network of Centers for Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapy from Castilla y León, Spain. A-A López-Iglesias was supported by a grant from the Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy.Peer Reviewe

En función de la orientación recibida, ¿qué eligen hacer nuestros estudiantes en su futuro próximo?

L'orientació acadèmica i professional té nombroses limitacions dins del sistema educatiu i, tot i ser un dret dels estudiants dins la legislació espanyola, són diverses les millores que caldria fer per poder garantir la seva eficàcia. En aquesta investigació es presenta una anàlisi de la relació que existeix entre la percepció de l'alumnat sobre l'orientació acadèmica i professional rebuda en els seus respectius centres educatius i la selecció del itinerari un cop finalitzats els seus estudis de batxillerat. Amb una mostra de 540 individus, els resultats permeten confirmar que sols el 38.3% dels alumnes entrevistats consideren útil l'orientació rebuda, mentre que la resta dels entrevistats o bé no han rebut orientació o bé tenen una percepció negativa de la mateixa. Independentment d'això, un gran percentatge dels alumnes decideix l'itinerari que desitjaria cursar al finalitzar els seus estudis de batxillerat, fet que suposa un problema al no comptar amb la correcta informació que els centres educatius haurien d'haver proporcionat.Academic-professional guidance has numerous limitations within the educational system and, despite being a right of students within Spanish legislation, there are several improvements that should be made today to ensure its effectiveness. This research presents an analysis of the relationship that exists between the students' perception of the academic-professional guidance received in their educational centers and the selection of the itinerary after completing their Baccalaureate studies. With a sample of 540 subjects, the results confirm that only 38.3% of the students interviewed perceive the orientation received as useful, the rest being students who either have not received orientation or have a negative perception of it. Regardless of this, a large percentage of students decide the itinerary that they would like to take at the end of their studies in Baccalaureate, which is a problem because they do not have the correct information that schools should provide.La orientación académico-profesional cuenta con numerosas limitaciones dentro del sistema educativo y, a pesar de ser un derecho de los estudiantes dentro de la legislación española, varias son las mejoras que deberían realizarse en la actualidad para garantizar su eficacia. En esta investigación se presenta un análisis de la relación que existe entre la percepción del alumnado acerca de la orientación académico-profesional recibida en sus centros educativos y la selección del itinerario tras finalizar sus estudios de Bachillerato. Con una muestra de 540 sujetos, los resultados permiten confirmar que solo el 38.3% de los alumnos entrevistados percibe la orientación recibida como útil, siendo el resto de alumnos que o bien no han recibido orientación o tienen una percepción negativa de la misma. Independientemente de ello, un gran porcentaje de alumnos decide el itinerario que desearía cursar al finalizar sus estudios en Bachillerato, lo cual supone un problema al no contar con la correcta información que los centros educativos deberían proporcionarles