http://hdl.handle.net/2117/2333 2013-05-19T21:27:33Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19117 Title: Some experiences related to innovation methodologies within the university classroom Authors: Amante García, Beatriz; Martínez Martínez, María del Rosario 2013-05-07T11:07:59Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19115 Title: Towards methodological improvement in the Spanish studies Authors: Amante García, Beatriz; Martínez Martínez, María del Rosario 2013-05-07T10:51:03Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19114 Title: A proposal to improve your evaluation skills Authors: Amante García, Beatriz; Martínez Martínez, María del Rosario 2013-05-07T10:19:24Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19113 Title: Biphasic calcium sulfate dihydrate/iron-modified alpha-tricalcium phosphate bone cement for spinal applications : in vitro study Authors: Vlad, María Daniela; Valle Mendoza, Luis Javier del; Poeata, I.; López López, José; Torres Cámara, Ricardo; Barraco Serra, Marc; Fernández Aguado, Enrique Abstract: In this study, the cytocompatibility of new ‘iron-modified/alpha-tricalcium phosphate (IM/α-TCP) and calcium sulfate dihydrate (CSD)’ bone cement (IM/α-TCP/CSD-BC) intended for spinal applications has been approached. The objective was to investigate by direct-contact osteoblast-like cell cultures (from 1 to 14 days) the in vitro cell adhesion, proliferation, morphology and cytoskeleton organization of MG-63 cells seeded onto the new cements. The results were as follows: (a) quantitative MTT-assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that cell adhesion, proliferation and viability were not affected with time by the presence of iron in the cements; (b) double immunofluorescent labeling of F-actin and α-tubulin showed a dynamic interaction between the cell and its porous substrates sustaining the locomotion phenomenon on the cements’ surface, which favored the colonization, and confirming the biocompatibility of the experimental cements; (c) SEM-cell morphology and cytoskeleton observations also evidenced that MG-63 cells were able to adhere, to spread and to attain normal morphology on the new IM/α-TCP/CSD-BC which offered favorable substratum properties for osteoblast-like cells proliferation and differentiation in vitro. The results showed that these new iron-modified cement-like biomaterials have cytocompatible features of interest not only as possible spinal cancellous bone replacement biomaterial but also as bone tissue engineering scaffolds. Description: Premi del "National University Research Council" del Ministeri d'Educació i Recerca de Romania, a autors romanesos per l'impacte de la seva recerca. 2013-05-07T09:56:44Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19096 Title: Chitosan and chitosan ZnO-based complex nanoparticles: formation, characterization, and antibacterial activity Authors: Perelshtein, Ilana; Ruderman, Yelena; Perkas, Nina; Tzanov, Tzanko; Beddow, Jamie; Joyce, Eadaoin; Mason, Timothy J.; Blanes, María; Mollá, Korina; Patlolla, Anitha; Frenkel, Anatoly I.; Gedanken, Aharon 2013-05-03T13:19:06Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19042 Title: Retos de la formación práctica tutelada en los planes de estudio de las titulaciones de grado en óptica y optometria Authors: Guaus Guerrero, Ester 2013-04-30T08:12:47Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/19027 Title: Journal of Structural Biology Authors: Zanuy Gomara, David; Kotla, Rohith; Nussinov, Ruth; Teesalu, Tambet; Sugahara, Kazuki N.; Alemán Llansó, Carlos; Haspel, Nurit Abstract: Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a hub receptor that plays an essential role in angiogenesis and vascular perme- ability. It is over-expres sed in the new blood vessels grown by tumor cells and is a target for anti-tumor treatment s. Peptides that expose the consensus sequence R/K/ XX R/K at the C-terminus ( C-end rule or CendR peptides) bind to NRP-1 and are internalized into the cell. We used peptide phage display binding assays and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the potential role of the central residues of CendR peptides in binding and activa tion of the NRP-1 receptor. The high stability of RPAR–receptor domain complex stems from the formation of a characteristic pattern of three hydrogen bonds between the peptide C-terminus and the residues in the NRP-1 loop III. Any changes in the peptide structure that fail to preserve this triad result in a less-stable complex. We performed a systematic study of R XX R mutants, where X = A/D/S/R/P, in order to test the effect of replacement of A or P on the binding capabil- ities. Our results, both experimental and computational, show that RRAR, RDAR, RPDR, RPRR and RPPR are capable of binding NRP-1. However, only RPPR and RPRR segments form an optimal organization around loop III with low potential energy. In other analogs, the absence of these stabilizing interactions always results in higher potential energy of the complexes. The binding of RPAR analogs does not guarantee receptor activation; only stable complexes that are properly stabilized via loop III appear able to trigger NRP-1 activati on 2013-04-29T08:13:25Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18873 Title: Ecologically friendly polymer-metal and polymer-metal oxide nanocomposites for complex water treatment Authors: Alonso González, Amanda; Bastos Arrieta, Julio; Davies, Gemma L.; Gun'ko, Yuri K.; Vigués, Núria; Muñoz Berbel, Xavier; Macanàs de Benito, Jorge; Mas i Gordi, Jordi; Muñoz Tapia, Maria; Muraviev, Dmitri N. 2013-04-18T14:49:41Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18872 Title: Bifunctional polymer-metal nanocomposite ion exchange materials Authors: Domènech Garcia, Berta; Bastos Arrieta, Julio; Alonso González, Amanda; Macanàs de Benito, Jorge; Muñoz Tapia, Maria; Muraviev, Dmitri N. 2013-04-18T14:23:49Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18862 Title: Multidisciplinary study of tutoring using virtual characters and second life Authors: Amante García, Beatriz; Campo Sud, David del; Martínez Martínez, María del Rosario Abstract: In this article we present the planning and methodology followed in order to apply virtual tutoring sessions in different subjects and universities. The Second Life environment, together with the Voki speaking avatars will be employed. It is a multidisciplinary study that includes personal and collective tutoring sessions, answering key questions through animated avatars, virtual labs, and posters exhibition for peer-evaluation. From a survey run among the students it is concluded that most of them are willing to learn and try this kind of tutoring sessions, but at the same time some feel skeptical about its utility 2013-04-18T10:23:24Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18723 Title: Fundamentals of selective ion transport through multilayer polyelectrolyte membranes Authors: Cheng, Chao; Yaroshchuk, Andriy; Bruening, Merlin L. Abstract: Membranes composed of multilayer poly(4-styrenesul- fonate) (PSS)/protonated poly(allylamine) (PAH) fi lms on porous alumina supports exhibit high monovalent/divalent cation selectivities. Remarkably, the di ff usion dialysis K + /Mg 2+ selectivity is >350. However, in nano fi ltration this selectivity is only 16, suggesting some convective ion transport through fi lm imperfections. Under MgCl 2 concentration gradients across either (PSS/PAH) 4 - or (PSS/ PAH) 4 PSS-coated alumina, transmembrane potentials indicate Mg 2+ transference numbers approaching 0. The low Mg 2+ transference numbers with both polycation- and polyanion-terminated fi lms likely stem from exclusion of Mg 2+ due to its large size or hydration energy. However, these high anion/cation selectivities decrease as the solution ionic strength increases. In nano fi ltration, the high asymmetry of membrane permeabilities to Mg 2+ and Cl − creates transmembrane di ff usion potentials that lead to negative rejections (the ion concentration in the permeate is larger than in the feed) as low as − 200% for trace monovalent cations such as K + and Cs + . Moreover, rejection becomes more negative as the mobility of the trace cation increases. Knowledge of single-ion permeabilities is vital for predicting the performance of polyelectrolyte fi lms in the separation and puri fi cation of mixed salts. 2013-04-09T10:30:57Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18720 Title: Fuzzy model for risk assessment of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic ecosystems Authors: Seguí, Xavier; Pujolasus, Edgar; Betrò, S.; Agueda Costafreda, Alba; Casal Fàbrega, Joaquim; Ocampo-Duque, W.; Rudolph, I.; Barra, R.; Páez, M.; Barón, E.; Eljarrat, E.; Barceló, D.; Darbra Roman, Rosa Maria Abstract: We developed a model for evaluating the environmental risk of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to aquatic organisms. The model is based on fuzzy theory and uses information provided by international experts through a questionnaire. It has been tested in two case studies for a particular type of POPs: brominated flame retardants (BFRs). The first case study is related to the EU-funded AQUATERRA project, with sampling campaigns carried out in two Ebro tributaries in Spain (the Cinca and Vero Rivers). The second one, named the BROMACUA project, assessed different aquatic ecosystems in Chile (San Vicente Bay) and Colombia (Santa Marta Marsh). In both projects, the BFRs under study were polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). However, the model can be extrapolated to other POPs and to different aquatic ecosystems to provide useful results for decision-makers. 2013-04-09T10:14:39Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18676 Title: Thorium sorption onto magnetite and ferrihydrate in acidic conditions Authors: Rojo, I.; Seco, F.; Rovira, M.; Giménez Izquierdo, Francisco Javier; Cervantes, G.; Martí Gregorio, Vicenç; De Pablo Ribes, Joan Abstract: Sorption of Th(IV) onto two-line ferrihydrite and magnetite in NaClO4 solutions has been studied as a function of pH and ionic strength revealing that sorption onto both solids increases with pH while it is independent on ionic strength. Sorption capacity of both solids is high, the maximum sorption (almost 100% of Th(IV)) occurs at pH higher than 3.5 for ferrihydrite, and higher than 3.0 for magnetite. Sorption variation with pH was modeled with three different models using the FITEQL 4.0 code: non-electrostatic model, constant capacitance model, and diffuse-double layer model. In all cases, good fit to the experimental data is obtained with one-species: a corner-sharing bidentate-mononuclear surface complex, (triple bond; length of mdashFeO)2Th2+, which coincides with the surface complex postulated on these solids surface in previous spectroscopic studies; however, the monodentate species triple bond; length of mdashFeOThOH2+ also gives a satisfactory fit. Under the experimental conditions of the present study, any effect of possible thorium colloid formation is negligible. 2013-04-08T09:20:06Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18643 Title: Secondary phase formation on UO2 in phosphate media Authors: Rey, A.; Giménez Izquierdo, Francisco Javier; Casas Pons, Ignasi; Clarens, F.; De Pablo Ribes, Joan Abstract: he dissolution of UO2 (a chemical analog of uraninite and of spent nuclear fuel) has been studied by using a flow-through reactor. The UO2 dissolution rates at total View the MathML source concentrations of 10−4, 10−5, and 10−6 mol dm−3 have been determined to be: 1.3 × 10−10 mol m−2 s−1, 6.7 × 10−11 mol m−2 s−1, and 2.0 × 10−11 mol m−2 s−1, respectively. The dissolution rates determined are found to be higher than the ones determined for similar carbonate concentrations. Moreover, the surface of the UO2 has been studied in static tests by means of the scanning force microscopy technique (SFM) in order to follow the formation of any secondary solid phase on its surface. The formation of chernikovite (H2(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O) has been observed at a 10−4 M total View the MathML source concentration, while no uranyl-phosphate secondary phases have been found at lower View the MathML source concentrations. In experiments performed in the presence of both carbonate and phosphate, no precipitation of secondary phases has been observed. It is postulated that this is due to the formation of the highly stable uranyl-carbonate complexes in solution. 2013-04-05T11:20:49Z http://hdl.handle.net/2117/18630 Title: High Tg bio-based aliphatic polyesters from bicyclic D-mannitol Authors: Lavilla Aguilar, Cristina; Alla Bedahnane, Abdelilah; Martínez de Ilarduya Sáez de Asteasu, Domingo Antxon; Muñoz Guerra, Sebastián Abstract: The carbohydrate-based diol 2,4:3,5-di- O -methylene- D -mannitol (Manx) has been used to obtain aliphatic polyesters. Manx is a symmetric bicyclic compound consisting of two fused 1,3-dioxane rings and bearing two primary hydroxyl groups. In terms of sti ff ness, it is comparable to the widely known isosorbide, but it a ff ords the additional advantages of being much more reactive in polycondensation and capable of producing stereoregular polymers with fairly high molecular weights. A fully bio-based homopolyester (PManxS) has been synthesized by polycondensation in the melt from dimethyl succinate and Manx. The high thermal stability of PManxS, its relatively high glass transition temperature ( T g =68 ° C) and elastic modulus, and its enhanced sensitivity to the action of lipases point to PManxS as a polyester of exceptional interest for those applications where biodegradability and molecular sti ff ness are priority requirements. In addition, random copolyesters (PB x Manx y S) covering a broad range of compositions have been obtained using mixtures of Manx and 1,4-butanediol in the reaction with dimethyl succinate. All PB x Manx y S were semicrystalline and displayed T g values from − 29 to +51 ° C steadily increasing with the content in Manx units. The stress − strain behavior of these copolyesters largely depended on their content in Manx and they were enzymatically degraded faster than PBS. 2013-04-05T08:29:59Z