Fonts per a l'estudi de la fraseologia catalana

This article has a practical and orientative purpose: through the Catalan lexicographical production, it intro­duces a list of collections of idioms classified according to whether they incorporate with more or less intensity the reality of the idioms, in order to facilitate further investigations

Growth factor choice is critical for successful functionalization of nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) show new characteristics compared to the corresponding bulk material. These nanoscale properties make them interesting for various applications in biomedicine and life sciences. One field of application is the use of magnetic NPs to support regeneration in the nervous system. Drug delivery requires a functionalization of NPs with bio-functional molecules. In our study, we functionalized self-made PEI-coated iron oxide NPs with nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Next, we tested the bio-functionality of NGF in a rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) and the bio-functionality of GDNF in an organotypic spinal cord culture. Covalent binding of NGF to PEI-NPs impaired bio-functionality of NGF, but non-covalent approach differentiated PC12 cells reliably. Non-covalent binding of GDNF showed a satisfying bio-functionality of GDNF:PEI-NPs, but turned out to be unstable in conjugation to the PEI-NPs. Taken together, our study showed the importance of assessing bio-functionality and binding stability of functionalized growth factors using proper biological models. It also shows that successful functionalization of magnetic NPs with growth factors is dependent on the used binding chemistry and that it is hardly predictable. For use as therapeutics, functionalization strategies have to be reproducible and future studies are needed

Matter effects in neutrino visible decay at future long-baseline experiments

Neutrino visible decay in the presence of matter is re-evaluated. We study these effects in two future long-baseline experiments where matter effects are relevant: DUNE (1300 km) and a hypothetical beam aimed towards ANDES (7650 km). We find that matter effects are negligible for the visible component of neutrino decay at DUNE, being much more relevant at ANDES. We perform a detailed simulation of DUNE, considering $\nu_\mu$ disappearance and $\nu_e$ appearance channels, for both FHC and RHC modes. The sensitivity to the decay constant $\alpha_3$ can be as low as $2\times10^{-6}$ eV$^2$ at 90% C.L., depending on the neutrino masses and type of coupling. We also show the impact of neutrino decay in the determination of $\theta_{23}$ and $\delta_{\rm CP}$, and find that the best-fit value of $\theta_{23}$ can move from a true value at the lower octant towards the higher octant.Comment: 18 pages; v2: Minor changes, version accepted for publication in EPJ

Ion transport through homogeneous and heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes in single salt and multicomponent electrolyte solutions

The increasing demand for clean industrial processes has intensified the use of electrodialysis in the treatment of metal containing effluents and encourages the investigation of the different phenomena involved in the transport of metal ions through cation-exchange membranes. Ion sorption, chronopotentiometric and current–voltage characteristics have been obtained to characterize the transport of sodium and iron through homogeneous and heterogeneous cation-exchange membranes. The heterogeneous membranes having a broader pore size distribution showed increased electrical resistances with solutions of trivalent iron, which may be caused by the blockage of the smallest pores by multivalent ions. However, for both types of membranes an unexpected decrease of the electrical resistance with increasing current densities was verified with concentrated solutions of Fe2(SO4)3. This behavior was explained to be a consequence of the dissociation of FeSO4+ ions into more conductive Fe3+ and SO42− ions as the depleting solution layer becomes diluted. When tested with multicomponent mixtures, the homogeneous perfluorosulfonic membranes show an increased preference for Na+ ions at low current densities and, once Na+ ions are depleted from the membrane surface Fe3+ ions are transported preferentially at higher current densities. On the contrary, both Na+ ions and Fe(III) species are responsible for the ion transport through the heterogeneous membranes within the ohmic regime of currents.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Spain) with the Project number CTQ2012-37450-C02-01/PPQ. M.C. Marti-Calatayud is grateful to the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for a postgraduate grant (Ref. 2010-12). D.C. Buzzi wants to express her gratitude to CAPES (Brazil) for a postgraduate grant (Proc. BEX 8747/11-3).Martí Calatayud, MC.; Buzzi, DC.; García Gabaldón, M.; Bernardes, AM.; Tenório, JAS.; Pérez Herranz, V. (2014). Ion transport through homogeneous and heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes in single salt and multicomponent electrolyte solutions. Journal of Membrane Science. 466:45-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2014.04.033S455746

Magnetic nanoparticles for magnetically guided therapies against neural diseases

Neurological pathologies and nerve damage are two problems of significant medical and economic impact because of the hurdles of losing nerve functionality in addition to significant mortality and morbidity, and demanding rehabilitation. There are currently a number of examples of how nanotechnology can provide new solutions for biomedical problems. Current strategies for nerve repair rely on the use of functionalized scaffolds working as nerve guidance channels to improve axonal regeneration and to direct axonal re-growth across the nerve lesion site. Since low invasiveness and high selectivity of the growth stimulation are usually conflicting requirements, new approaches are being pursued in order to overcome such limitations. Engineered magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged from this need for noninvasive therapies for both positioning and guiding neural cells in response to an external magnetic field. Here, we review the current state of the use of MNPs for neuroprotective and magnetically guided therapies. We discuss some conceivable outcomes of current magnetically driven strategies seeking integrated platforms for regenerative action on damaged tissues

Responses of evergreen and deciduous Quercus species to enhanced ozone levels

Plants of one evergreen oak (Quercus ilex) and three deciduous oaks (Q. faginea, with small leaves; Q. pyrenaica and Q. robur, with large leaves) were exposed both to filtered air and to enhanced ozone levels in Open-Top Chambers. Q. faginea and Q. pyrenaica were studied for the first time. Based on visible injury, gas exchange, chlorophyll content and biomass responses, Q. pyrenaica was the most sensitive species, and Q. ilex was the most tolerant, followed by Q. faginea. Functional leaf traits of the species were related to differences in sensitivity, while accumulated ozone flux via stomata (POD1.6) partly contributed to the observed differences. For risk assessment of Mediterranean vegetation, the diversity of responses detected in this study should be taken into account, applying appropriate critical levels. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.We thank both the Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Maritimo (in collaboration with ICP-Forests), and the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, Aigua i Habitatge and Interreg III (ForMedOzone and VegetPollOzone projects) for supporting the OTC activity. Institut Universitario CEAM-UMH is also supported by Generalitat Valenciana and Fundacion Bancaja, benefiting from CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 (GRACCIE) and Prometeo (Generalitat Valenciana) Programs. Filippo Bussotti and two anonymous referees are thanked for their useful comments. Carmen Martin is also thanked for taking care of the plants.Calatayud, V.; Cervero, J.; Calvo, E.; García Breijo, FJ.; Reig Armiñana, J.; Sanz, M. (2011). Responses of evergreen and deciduous Quercus species to enhanced ozone levels. Environmental Pollution. 159(1):55-63. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2010.09.024S5563159

2: Species on Lecanora s. l., Rhizoplaca and Squamarina

Abstract A study on the taxonomy, morphology and anatomy of the lichenicolous species of the genus Cercidospora (Dothideales, incertae sedis) growing on lichens of the genera Lecanora (Lecanoraceae), specifically of the L. polytropa group and the L. saxicola group (i.e. L. muralis sensu auct. group, Protoparmeliopsis spp.), Rhizoplaca (Lecanoraceae) and Squamarina (Stereocaulaceae) is presented. The following species are proposed as new: Cercidospora barrenoana on Rhizoplaca peltata, and C. melanophthalmae on Rhizoplaca melanophthalma. C. stenotropae is proposed provisionally; this fungus grows on Lecanora stenotropa and other taxa of the L. polytropa group. A key for the species of the genus Cercidospora treated is provided

Effluents from the copper electrorefining as a secondary source of antimony: Role of mass transfer on the recovery by electrodeposition

The limited availability of antimony has increased the need for exploiting alternative sources to its direct extraction from stibnite deposits. Furthermore, introducing recovery techniques in industries where antimony is released in wastewaters leads to more responsible production routes. In this work, electrodeposition is employed to recover the antimony present in a secondary waste effluent of the copper electrorefining that is highly concentrated in hydrochloric acid. The electrochemical characterization of the system was conducted by voltammetry to identify a range of suitable operating conditions for the potentiostatic and galvanostatic electro-recovery of antimony. In potentiostatic mode, the progress of the secondary electrode reactions of hydrogen and chlorine evolution at potentials more cathodic than −0.38 V vs. Ag/AgCl causes the detachment and redissolution of the deposited antimony. Operating under galvanostatic control, similar effects were observed when the limiting current density is exceeded. Current efficiency and specific energy consumption values above 50 % and below 65 kW·h·kg−1, were achieved below the limiting current density (1.265 mA·cm−2). The operational range where electrodeposition of antimony is accelerated at increasing current densities can be broadened at intensified hydrodynamic conditions and higher concentrations of antimony. The detrimental effect of the hydrogen evolution reaction on the recovery of antimony decreases at high HCl concentrations

Comparing two approaches for parsimonious vegetation modelling in semiarid regions using satellite data

[EN] Large portions of Earth's terrestrial surface are arid or semiarid. As in these regions, the hydrological cycle and the vegetation dynamics are tightly interconnected, a coupled modelling of these two systems is needed to fully reproduce the ecosystem behaviour. In this paper, the performance of two parsimonious dynamic vegetation models, suitable for the inclusion in operational ecohydrological models and based on well-established but different approaches, is compared in a semiarid Aleppo Pine region. The first model [water use efficiency (WUE) model] links growth to transpiration through WUE; the second model [light use efficiency (LUE) model] simulates biomass increase in relation to absorbed photosynthetically active radiation and LUE. Furthermore, an analysis of the information contained in MODIS products is presented to indicate the best vegetation indices to be used as observational verification for the models. Enhanced Vegetation Index is reported in literature to be highly correlated with leaf area index, so it is compared with modelled LAI(mod) (rWUE model = 0.45; rLUE model = 0.57). In contrast, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index appears highly linked to soil moisture, through the control exerted by this variable on chlorophyll production, and is therefore used to analyze LAI*(mod), models' output corrected by plant water stress (rWUE model = 0.62; rLUE model = 0.59). Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer Leaf Area Index and evapotranspiration are found to be unrealistic in the studied area. The performance of both models in this semiarid region is found to be reasonable. However, the LUE model presents the advantages of a better performance, the possibility to be used in a wider range of climates and to have been extensively tested in literature. (C) Copyright 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.The research leading to these results has received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the research projects FLOOD-MED (ref. CGL2008-06474-C02-02), SCARCE-CONSOLIDER (ref. CSD2009-00065) and ECO-TETIS (ref. CGL2011-28776-C02-01), and from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7 2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 238366. The MODIS data were obtained through the online Data Pool at the NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Centre (LP DAAC), USGS/Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Centre, Sioux Falls, South Dakota (https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/get_data). The meteorological data were provided by the Spanish National Weather Agency (AEMET). The authors thank Antonio Del Campo Garcia and Maria Gonzalez Sanchis at the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for their support and valuable comments.Pasquato, M.; Medici, C.; Friend, A.; Francés, F. (2015). Comparing two approaches for parsimonious vegetation modelling in semiarid regions using satellite data. Ecohydrology. 8(6):1024-1036. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1559S102410368

Voltammetric and electrodeposition study for the recovery of antimony from effluents generated in the copper electrorefining process

Antimony is a metalloid with limited availability as a primary resource, but it is commonly found as an impurity in effluents generated in the copper metallurgy. Thus, the development of clean and selective processes to recover antimony from these wastewaters would improve the sustainability of the copper production. In this work, an emulated effluent of the copper electrorefining industry that contains antimony and hydrochloric acid was characterized by means of voltammetric and electrodeposition tests using two different cell configurations: a static cell, and a dynamic cell with a rotating disk electrode (RDE). Voltammograms were obtained at varying hydrochloric acid and antimony concentrations, inversion potentials, scan rates and RDE rotation rates. Two main conclusions were drawn: (a) the deposition of antimony is a mass transfer-controlled process; and (b) an increase in hydrochloric acid concentration improves the deposition of antimony. The diffusion coefficient of antimony species was obtained applying the Randles-ˇ Sevˇcík and the Levich equations; both of them providing very similar values (5.29 ± 0.20 ⋅ 10− 6 cm2 s − 1). The effective electrodeposition of antimony from highly concentrated hydrochloric acid solutions was demonstrated. The surface examination of the electrodes revealed that compact and adherent deposits of antimony could be obtained under operating conditions that minimize the hydrogen evolution reaction in both potentiostatic and galvanostatic modes. Intensified convective regimes by using the RDE improve the supply of dissolved antimony towards the electrode surface, thus leading to a notorious increase in current density and, consequently, in the rate of antimony deposition