Structural relaxation and chain dynamics in polymer melts : a computational investigation on the role of the intramolecular barriers

149 p. : il. col.

Retroviral Infections in Sheep and Goats: Small Ruminant Lentiviruses and Host Interaction

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are members of the Retrovirus family comprising the closely related Visna/Maedi Virus (VMV) and the Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus (CAEV), which infect sheep and goats. Both infect cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage and cause lifelong infections. Infection by VMV and CAEV can lead to Visna/Maedi (VM) and Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis (CAE) respectively, slow progressive inflammatory diseases primarily affecting the lungs, nervous system, joints and mammary glands. VM and CAE are distributed worldwide and develop over a period of months or years, always leading to the death of the host, with the consequent economic and welfare implications. Currently, the control of VM and CAE relies on the control of transmission and culling of infected animals. However, there is evidence that host genetics play an important role in determining Susceptibility/Resistance to SRLV infection and disease progression, but little work has been performed in small ruminants. More research is necessary to understand the host-SRLV interaction.

A Temperature Sensor Based on a Polymer Optical Fiber Macro-Bend

The design and development of a plastic optical fiber (POF) macrobend temperature sensor is presented. The sensor has a linear response versus temperature at a fixed bend radius, with a sensitivity of 1.92.10(-3) (degrees C)(-1). The sensor system used a dummy fiber-optic sensor for reference purposes having a resolution below 0.3 degrees C. A comprehensive experimental analysis was carried out to provide insight into the effect of different surrounding media on practical macro-bend POF sensor implementation. Experimental results are successfully compared with bend loss calculations.

Polymer-Optical-Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers Doped with Organic Dyes

Polymer optical fibers (POFs) doped with organic dyes can be used to make efficient lasers and amplifiers due to the high gains achievable in short distances. This paper analyzes the peculiarities of light amplification in POFs through some experimental data and a computational model capable of carrying out both power and spectral analyses. We investigate the emission spectral shifts and widths and on the optimum signal wavelength and pump power as functions of the fiber length, the fiber numerical aperture and the radial distribution of the dopant. Analyses for both step-index and graded-index POFs have been done.

Prognostic Role of Host Cyclooxygenase and Cytokine Genotypes in a Caucasian Cohort of Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma

11 p.

Novel Papillomaviruses in Free-Ranging Iberian Bats: No Virus-Host Co-evolution, No Strict Host Specificity, and Hints for Recombination

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are widespread pathogens. However, the extent of PV infections in bats remains largely unknown. This work represents the first comprehensive study of PVs in Iberian bats. We identified four novel PVs in the mucosa of free-ranging Eptesicus serotinus (EserPV1, EserPV2, and EserPV3) and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (RferPV1) individuals and analyzed their phylogenetic relationships within the viral family. We further assessed their prevalence in different populations of E. serotinus and its close relative E. isabellinus. Although it is frequent to read that PVs co-evolve with their host, that PVs are highly species-specific, and that PVs do not usually recombine, our results suggest otherwise. First, strict virus-host co-evolution is rejected by the existence of five, distantly related bat PV lineages and by the lack of congruence between bats and bat PVs phylogenies. Second, the ability of EserPV2 and EserPV3 to infect two different bat species (E. serotinus and E. isabellinus) argues against strict host specificity. Finally, the description of a second noncoding region in the RferPV1 genome reinforces the view of an increased susceptibility to recombination in the E2-L2 genomic region. These findings prompt the question of whether the prevailing paradigms regarding PVs evolution should be reconsidered.

A Self-Referencing Intensity Based Polymer Optical Fiber Sensor for Liquid Detection

A novel self-referencing fiber optic intensity sensor based on bending losses of a partially polished polymer optical fiber (POF) coupler is presented. The coupling ratio (K) depends on the external liquid in which the sensor is immersed. It is possible to distinguish between different liquids and to detect their presence. Experimental results for the most usual liquids found in industry, like water and oil, are given. K value increases up to 10% from the nominal value depending on the liquid. Sensor temperature dependence has also been studied for a range from 25 degrees C (environmental condition) to 50 degrees C. Any sector requiring liquid level measurements in flammable atmospheres can benefit from this intrinsically safe technology.

Diseño y desarrollo de una solución de resistant communications al protocolo Host Identity Protocol

[ES]Este Trabajo de Fin de Grado consiste en diseñar y desarrollar una solución de resilient communications para su uso en entornos de movilidad, en concreto, en entornos vehiculares. Se diseñara una solución que consiste en añadir soporte de múltiples vías de comunicación entre dos extremos para el protocolo de movilidad HIP. Este trabajo consiste en buscar una solución de resilient communications, ya que buscamos como objetivo principal aumentar la disponibilidad del sistema de comunicaciones, es decir, aumentar aspectos tales como la tolerancia a fallos y contra ataques de seguridad, concretamente contra ataques contra la disponibilidad.

Modular integration and on-chip sensing approaches for tunable fluid control polymer microdevices

228 p.

Self-assembly of metalloporphyrins: first TPP-bipy coordination polymer with CoII (TPP=meso-tetraphenylporphyrin and bipy=4,4´-bipyridine)

Póster presentado en: 11th International Symposium on Applied Bioinorganic Chemistry. 2-5 Diciembre 2011. Barcelona, España (ISABC 2011)

The role of H-bonds on the structure and dynamics of very concentrated polymer solutions

153 p.

Self-assembly of iron TCPP (meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin) into a chiral 2D coordination polymer

Artículo Polyhedron 2011

Novel Papillomaviruses in Free-Ranging Iberian Bats: No Virus-Host Co-evolution, No Strict Host Specificity, and Hints for Recombination

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are widespread pathogens. However, the extent of PV infections in bats remains largely unknown. This work represents the first comprehensive study of PVs in Iberian bats. We identified four novel PVs in the mucosa of free-ranging Eptesicus serotinus (EserPV1, EserPV2, and EserPV3) and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (RferPV1) individuals and analyzed their phylogenetic relationships within the viral family. We further assessed their prevalence in different populations of E. serotinus and its close relative E. isabellinus. Although it is frequent to read that PVs co-evolve with their host, that PVs are highly species-specific, and that PVs do not usually recombine, our results suggest otherwise. First, strict virus-host co-evolution is rejected by the existence of five, distantly related bat PV lineages and by the lack of congruence between bats and bat PVs phylogenies. Second, the ability of EserPV2 and EserPV3 to infect two different bat species (E. serotinus and E. isabellinus) argues against strict host specificity. Finally, the description of a second noncoding region in the RferPV1 genome reinforces the view of an increased susceptibility to recombination in the E2-L2 genomic region. These findings prompt the question of whether the prevailing paradigms regarding PVs evolution should be reconsidered.

Characterization of cobalt based TPP-bipy coordination polymer

Comunicación a congreso: Póster presentado en The 4th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress (4ECC), Prague, Czech Republic, August 26–30, 2012

Efficient Synthesis of Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles via Amide Formation

Single-chain technology (SCT) allows the transformation of individual polymer chains to folded/collapsed unimolecular soft nanoparticles. In this work we contribute to the enlargement of the SCT toolbox by demonstrating the efficient synthesis of single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) via intrachain amide formation. In particular, we exploit cross-linking between active methylene groups and isocyanate moieties as powerful "click" chemistry driving force for SCNP construction. By employing poly(methyl methacrylate)- (PMMA-) based copolymers bearing beta-ketoester units distributed randomly along the copolymer chains and bifunctional isocyanate cross-linkers, SCNPs were successfully synthesized at r.t. under appropriate reaction conditions. Characterization of the resulting SCNPs was carried out by means of a combination of techniques including size exclusion chromatography (SEC), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and elemental analysis (EA).