Simulations of micro-sphere/shell 2D silica photonic crystals for radiative cooling

Altres ajuts: the CERCA Program/Generalitat de Catalunya.L'article s'ha publicat sota la OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement https://www.osapublishing.org/submit/review/pdf/OSACopyTransferOAAgrmnt(2017-09-05).pdfPassive daytime radiative cooling has recently become an attractive approach to address the global energy demand associated with modern refrigeration technologies. One technique to increase the radiative cooling performance is to engineer the surface of a polar dielectric material to enhance its emittance atwavelengths in the atmospheric infrared transparency window (8-13 ìm) by outcoupling surface-phonon polaritons (SPhPs) into free-space. Here we present a theoretical investigation of new surface morphologies based upon self-assembled silica photonic crystals (PCs) using an in-house built rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) code. Simulations predict that silica micro-sphere PCs can reach up to 73 K below ambient temperature, when solar absorption and conductive/convective losses can be neglected. Micro-shell structures are studied to explore the direct outcoupling of the SPhP, resulting in near-unity emittance between 8 and 10 ìm. Additionally, the effect of material composition is explored by simulating soda-lime glass micro-shells, which, in turn, exhibit a temperature reduction of 61 K below ambient temperature. The RCWA code was compared to FTIR measurements of silica micro-spheres, self-assembled on microscope slides

In vitro adherence of conjunctival bacteria to different oculoplastic materials

AIM: To investigate the resistance to bacterial adhesion of materials used in oculoplastic surgery, particularly materials used in the manufacture of orbital implants. METHODS: Seven organisms of conjunctival flora (two strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and one strain each of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hominis, Corynebacterium amycolatum, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Serratia marcescens) were selected. A lactic acid bacterium (Lactobacillus rhamnosus) was also included as positive control because of its well-known adhesion ability. Eight materials used to make oculoplastic prostheses were selected (glass, steel, polytetrafluoroethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, silicone from orbital implants, commercial silicone, porous polyethylene, and semi-smooth polyethylene). Materials surfaces and biofilms developed by strains were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Kinetics of growth and adhesion of bacterial strains were determined by spectrophotometry. Each strain was incubated in contact with plates of the different materials. After growth, attached bacteria were re-suspended and colony-forming units (CFUs) were counted. The number of CFUs per square millimetre of material was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A mature biofilm was observed in studied strains except Staphylococcus hominis, which simply produced a microcolony. Materials showed a smooth surface on the microbial scale, although steel exhibited 1.0-μm-diameter grooves. Most organisms showed significant differences in adhesion according to the material. There were also significant differences in the total number of CFUs per square millimetre from each material (P=0.044). CFU counts were significantly higher in porous polyethylene than in silicone from orbital implants (P=0.038). CONCLUSION: Silicone orbital implants can resist microbial colonization better than porous polyethylene implants

Distribución de competencias tributarias y financiación local en América Latina: un análisis comparado

El presente Documento de Trabajo recoge los artículos seleccionados en el marco del Call for Papers sobre Fiscalidad en América Latina que convoco el Instituto de Estudios Latinoamericanos de la Universidad de Alcalá. Este número presenta los artículos relativos a la temática económicaLos procesos de descentralización llevados a cabo en muchos países de América Latina han provocado el traspaso de un gran número de competencias desde la Administración Central a otras de ámbito inferior y, en particular, hacia los Gobiernos locales. Esta asunción de competencias por parte de las entidades subcentrales de gobierno implica la necesidad de recursos para alcanzar un grado suficiente de autonomía financiera por lo que el diseño de los modelos de financiación local resulta esencial. En el presente trabajo se han analizado los sistemas de financiación de las Haciendas Locales de algunos países representativos de América Latina como Brasil, Argentina, Chile, El Salvador y Perú. Para ello se han tenido en cuenta los modelos de distribución de competencias, los regímenes tributarios locales y los sistemas de transferencias como mecanismos de financiación intergubernamentalesThe decentralization processes carried out in many countries of Latin America have caused the transfer of different tax competencies from Central Government to lower levels and, in particular, to Local Governments. This assumption of tax competencies by Sub central levels of Governments implies the need of resources to achieve an adequate degree of financial self‐government. Thereby, the design of Local funding models is essential. In this paper, we have analyzed the Local funding models in some representative countries of Latin America such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, El Salvador and Peru. Bearing this in mind, we have taken into account the patterns of tax competencies, the Local tax models and the grants systems as intergovernmental funding mechanism

Distribución de competencias tributarias y financiación local en América Latina: un análisis comparado

El presente Documento de Trabajo recoge los artículos seleccionados en el marco del Call for Papers sobre Fiscalidad en América Latina que convoco el Instituto de Estudios Latinoamericanos de la Universidad de Alcalá. Este número presenta los artículos relativos a la temática económicaLos procesos de descentralización llevados a cabo en muchos países de América Latina han provocado el traspaso de un gran número de competencias desde la Administración Central a otras de ámbito inferior y, en particular, hacia los Gobiernos locales. Esta asunción de competencias por parte de las entidades subcentrales de gobierno implica la necesidad de recursos para alcanzar un grado suficiente de autonomía financiera por lo que el diseño de los modelos de financiación local resulta esencial. En el presente trabajo se han analizado los sistemas de financiación de las Haciendas Locales de algunos países representativos de América Latina como Brasil, Argentina, Chile, El Salvador y Perú. Para ello se han tenido en cuenta los modelos de distribución de competencias, los regímenes tributarios locales y los sistemas de transferencias como mecanismos de financiación intergubernamentalesThe decentralization processes carried out in many countries of Latin America have caused the transfer of different tax competencies from Central Government to lower levels and, in particular, to Local Governments. This assumption of tax competencies by Sub central levels of Governments implies the need of resources to achieve an adequate degree of financial self‐government. Thereby, the design of Local funding models is essential. In this paper, we have analyzed the Local funding models in some representative countries of Latin America such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, El Salvador and Peru. Bearing this in mind, we have taken into account the patterns of tax competencies, the Local tax models and the grants systems as intergovernmental funding mechanism

Functional and Structural Analysis of C-Terminal BRCA1 Missense Variants

Germline inactivating mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOCS). Genetic testing of these genes is available, although approximately 15% of tests identify variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Classification of these variants into pathogenic or non-pathogenic type is an important challenge in genetic diagnosis and counseling. The aim of the present study is to functionally assess a set of 7 missense VUS (Q1409L, S1473P, E1586G, R1589H, Y1703S, W1718L and G1770V) located in the C-terminal region of BRCA1 by combining in silico prediction tools and structural analysis with a transcription activation (TA) assay. The in silico prediction programs gave discrepant results making its interpretation difficult. Structural analysis of the three variants located in the BRCT domains (Y1703S, W1718L and G1770V) reveals significant alterations of BRCT structure. The TA assay shows that variants Y1703S, W1718L and G1770V dramatically compromise the transcriptional activity of BRCA1, while variants Q1409L, S1473P, E1586G and R1589H behave like wild-type BRCA1. In conclusion, our results suggest that variants Y1703S, W1718L and G1770V can be classified as likely pathogenic BRCA1 mutations

Association of acid phosphatase locus 1*C allele with the risk of cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Introduction: Acid phosphatase locus 1 (ACP1) encodes a low molecular weight phosphotyrosine phosphatase implicated in a number of different biological functions in the cell. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of ACP1 polymorphisms to susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as the potential contribution of these polymorphisms to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CV) observed in RA patients. Methods: A set of 1,603 Spanish RA patients and 1,877 healthy controls were included in the study. Information related to the presence/absence of CV events was obtained from 1,284 of these participants. All individuals were genotyped for four ACP1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs10167992, rs11553742, rs7576247, and rs3828329, using a predesigned TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Classical ACP1 alleles (*A, *B and *C) were imputed with SNP data. Results: No association between ACP1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to RA was observed. However, when RA patients were stratified according to the presence or absence of CV events, an association between rs11553742*T and CV events was found (P = 0.012, odds ratio (OR) = 2.62 (1.24 to 5.53)). Likewise, the ACP1*C allele showed evidence of association with CV events in patients with RA (P = 0.024, OR = 2.43). Conclusions: Our data show that the ACP1*C allele influences the risk of CV events in patients with R

Experiencias y retos de la escuela frente al desplazamiento forzado

El presente módulo surge a partir del proyecto "La Escuela frente al desplazamiento forzado. Acompañamiento pedagógico a instituciones educativas distritales en la inclusión y atención diferencial de niños, niñas, jóvenes y mujeres en situación de desplazamiento forzado", en el marco del convenio de asociación No. 1821 del 6 de diciembre de 2011, entre la Secretaría de Educación de Bogotá -SED-y la Fundación para la Educación y el Desarrollo-FEDES-. El proyecto se propuso impulsar dos procesos pedagógicos para favorecer la inclusión adecuada y la atención diferencial de niños, niñas, jóvenes y mujeres víctimas del desplazamiento forzado

Determinacions del perfil genètic del càncer pediàtric

Oncologia; Perfil genètic; Càncer pediàtric; PrecisióOncología; Perfil genético; Cáncer pediátrico; PrecisiónOncology; Genetic profile; Pediatric cancer; AccuracyL'àmbit d'aquest grup de treball és la implementació de panels NGS per a diagnòstic / pronòstic / tractament de càncer en pacients menors de 18 anys (oncologia i hematologia). Els casos de predisposició genètica en pacients pediàtrics es tractaran en el grup de predisposició genètica. El càncer infantil comprèn més de 40 entitats entre leucèmies, limfomes, tumors cerebrals i sòlids extracranials; per la qual cosa no és possible tècnicament o operativament fer panels específics per a cada un d'aquests càncers. Serà necessari utilitzar panels comercials o acadèmics dissenyats específicament per a càncer infantil

Determinacions del perfil genètic del càncer pediàtric

Oncologia; Perfil genètic; Càncer pediàtric; PrecisióOncología; Perfil genético; Cáncer pediátrico; PrecisiónOncology; Genetic profile; Pediatric cancer; AccuracyL'àmbit d'aquest grup de treball és la implementació de panels NGS per a diagnòstic / pronòstic / tractament de càncer en pacients menors de 18 anys (oncologia i hematologia). Els casos de predisposició genètica en pacients pediàtrics es tractaran en el grup de predisposició genètica. El càncer infantil comprèn més de 40 entitats entre leucèmies, limfomes, tumors cerebrals i sòlids extracranials; per la qual cosa no és possible tècnicament o operativament fer panels específics per a cada un d'aquests càncers. Serà necessari utilitzar panels comercials o acadèmics dissenyats específicament per a càncer infantil

Long-term follow-up of certolizumab pegol in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases : multicentre study of 80 patients

Objectives To evaluate effectiveness and safety of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). Methods Multicentre study of CZP-treated patients with IMID uveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppressant. Effectiveness was assessed through the following ocular parameters: best-corrected visual acuity, anterior chamber cells, vitritis, macular thickness and retinal vasculitis. These variables were compared between the baseline, and first week, first, third, sixth months, first and second year. Results We studied 80 (33 men/47 women) patients (111 affected eyes) with a mean age of 41.6±11.7 years. The IMID included were: spondyloarthritis (n=43), Behçet's disease (n=10), psoriatic arthritis (n=8), Crohn's disease (n=4), sarcoidosis (n=2), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n=1), reactive arthritis (n=1), rheumatoid arthritis (n=1), relapsing polychondritis (n=1), Conclusions CZP seems to be effective and safe in uveitis related to different IMID, even in patients refractory to previous biological drugs