Estructura cristalina de ADN y su utilización para la identificación de fármacos

Estructura cristalina de ADN y su utilización para la identificación de fármacos. La estructura cristalina que comprende un entrecruzamiento de tres cadenas de ADN está caracterizada porque: pertenece al grupo espacial P4(1)32 y tiene unas dimensiones de celda a=b=c=70,98 ± 0,7°A; todos los nucleótidos que constituyen dichas cadenas de ADN se encuentran emparejados; y dicho entrecruzamiento de tres cadenas de ADN alberga, en una cavidad hidrofóbica, una molécula. La estructura cristalina de la invención es una diana adecuada para el diseño de fármacos anti-ADN con una elevada especificidad.Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)B1 Patente sin examen previ

Intercalative DNA binding of the marine anticancer drug variolin B

Variolin B is a rare marine alkaloid that showed promising anti-cancer activity soon after its isolation. It acts as a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, although the precise mechanism through which it exerts the cytotoxic effects is still unknown. The crystal structure of a variolin B bound to a DNA forming a pseudo-Holliday junction shows that this compound can also contribute, through intercalative binding, to either the formation or stabilization of multi-stranded DNA forms

Thermal energy storage with phase change materials in building envelopes

Els materials de canvi de fase (PCM) han estat considerats per a l’emmagatzematge tèrmic en edificis des de 1980. Amb la inclusió dels PCM en plaques de guix, guix, formigó o altres materials que s’utilitzen per a cobrir les parets, l’emmagatzematge tèrmic pot ser part de les estructures fins i tot en edificis lleugers. Les noves tècniques de microencapsulació han obert moltes possibilitats en aplicacions per a edificis. El treball que es presenta és el desenvolupament d’un formigó innovador mesclat amb PCM microencapsulat, amb un punt de fusió de 26 oC i una entalpia de canvi de fase de 110 kJ/kg. El primer experiment va ser la inclusió del PCM microencapsulat dins del formigó i la construcció d’una caseta amb aquest nou formigó-PCM. Es va construir una segona caseta al costat de la primera amb les mateixes característiques i orientació però amb formigó convencional que serveix com a referència. Durant els anys 2005 i 2006 es va analitzar el comportament d’ambdues casetes i més tard es va edificar un mur Trombe a la paret sud de totes dues per investigar la seva influència durant la tardor i l’hivern.Phase change materials (PCM) have been viable for thermal storage in buildings since before 1980. With the advent of gypsum board, plaster, concrete or other wall covering materials containing PCM, thermal storage can be part of the building structure even for lightweight buildings. New microencapsulation techniques offer many possibilities in building applications. The work we present here uses an innovative concrete that contains a commercial microencapsulated PCM with a melting point of 26oC and a phase change enthalpy of 110 kJ/kg. First we introduced the microencapsulated PCM into the concrete, and then we constructed a small house-sized cubicle from this new PCM-concrete. A second cubicle with the exact same characteristics and orientation, but built from standard concrete, was located next to the first as a reference system. We tested the behaviour of the cubicles in 2005 and 2006. Later, a Trombe wall was added to the cubicles to study its effect during autumn and winter.The work was partially funded by the project ENE2005- 08256-C02-01/ALT (Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia). M. Medrano would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science for his Ramon y Cajal research appointment

Differences in Emotion Regulation Considering Gender, Age, and Gambling Preferences in a Sample of Gambling Disorder Patients

Impairments in emotion regulation are understood to be a transdiagnostic risk factor of suffering from compulsive and addictive behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of emotion regulation deficits in gambling disorder and to analyze these differences taking gender, age, and gambling activity preferences into account. Methods: The sample included n = 484 patients seeking treatment for gambling disorder at a specialized outpatient service. Main outcomes were sociodemographic variables, emotion regulation, and gambling severity. Results: Differences between sexes were found in non-acceptance of emotions. Older patients obtained higher levels in non-acceptance of emotions, lack of emotion regulation strategies, emotional clarity, and global emotion regulation scores. No differences were found in emotion scores considering gambling preferences (non-strategic versus strategic). Path analysis showed that emotion regulation scores and age had a direct effect on gambling disorder severity, while emotion regulation and gambling preference were not mediational variables in the relationships of gender and age with gambling severity. Conclusions: Emotion regulation impairments differ in patients seeking treatment for gambling problems. Early prevention and intervention programs should incorporate the different dimensions of this process, taking into account clinical phenotypes