Diseño y caracterización de plataformas de biorreconocimiento basadas en el uso de nanoestructuras, biomoléculas y polímeros. Aplicaciones para el desarrollo de (bio)sensores electroquímicos. Design and characterization of biorecognition platforms based on the use of nanostructures, biomolecules and polymers. Applications for the development of electrochemical (bio)sensors.

Los requerimientos de métodos analíticos que permitan realizar determinaciones más eficientes en diversas ramas de la Química, así como el gran desarrollo logrado por la Nanobiotecnología, impulsaron la investigación de nuevas alternativas de análisis. Hoy, el campo de los Biosensores concita gran atención en el primer mundo, sin embargo, en nuestro país es todavía un área de vacancia, como lo es también la de la Nanotecnología. El objetivo de este proyecto es diseñar y caracterizar nuevos electrodos especialmente basados en el uso de nanoestructuras y estudiar aspectos básicos de la inmovilización de enzimas, ADN, aptámeros, polisacáridos y otros polímeros sobre dichos electrodos a fin de crear nuevas plataformas de biorreconocimiento para la construcción de (bio)sensores electroquímicos dirigidos a la cuantificación de analitos de interés clínico, farmaco-toxicológico y ambiental.Se estudiarán las propiedades de electrodos de C vítreo, Au, "screen printed" y compósitos de C modificados con nanotubos de C (CNT) y/o nanopartículas (NP) de oro y/o nanoalambres empleando diversas estrategias. Se investigarán nuevas alternativas de inmovilización de las biomoléculas antes mencionadas sobre dichos electrodos, se caracterizarán las plataformas resultantes y se evaluarán sus posibles aplicaciones analíticas al desarrollo de biosensores con enzimas y ADNs como elementos de biorreconocimiento. Se funcionalizarán CNT con polímeros comerciales y sintetizados en nuestro laboratorio modificados con moléculas bioactivas. Se diseñarán y caracterizarán nuevas arquitecturas supramoleculares basadas en el autoensamblado de policationes, enzimas y ADNs sobre Au. Se evaluarán las propiedades catalíticas de NP de magnetita y de perovskitas de Mn y su aplicación al desarrollo de biosensores enzimáticos. Se diseñarán biosensores que permitan la detección altamente sensible y selectiva de secuencias específicas de ADNs de interés clínico. Se estudiará la interacción de genotóxicos con ADN (en solución e inmovilizado) y se desarrollarán biosensores que permitan su cuantificación. Se construirán biosensores enzimáticos para la cuantificación de bioanalitos, especialmente glucosa, fenoles y catecoles, y sensores electroquímicos para la determinación de neurotransmisores, ácido úrico y ácido ascórbico. Se diseñarán nuevos aptasensores electroquímicos para la cuantificación de biomarcadores, comenzando por lisozima y trombina y continuando con otros de interés regional/nacional.Se emplearán las siguientes técnicas: voltamperometrías cíclica (CV), de pulso diferencial (DPV) y de onda cuadrada (SWV); "stripping" potenciométrico a corriente constante (PSA); elipsometría; microbalanza de cristal de cuarzo con cálculo de pérdida de energía por disipación (QCM-D); resonancia de plasmón superficial con detección dual (E-SPR); espectroscopía de impedancia electroquímica (EIE); microscopías de barrido electroquímico (SECM), de barrido electrónico (SEM), de transmisión (TEM) y de fuerzas atómicas (AFM); espectrofotometría UV-visible; espectroscopías IR, Raman, de masas, RMN.Se espera que la inclusión de los CNT y/o de las NP metálicas y/o de los nanoalambres en los diferentes electrodos permita una mejor transferencia de carga de diversos analitos y por ende una detección más sensible y selectiva de bioanalitos empleando enzimas, ADN y aptámeros como elementos de biorreconocimiento. Se espera una mayor eficiencia en los aptasensores respecto de los inmunosensores, lo que permitirá la determinacion selectiva de diversos biomarcadores. La modificación de electrodos con nanoestructuras posibilitará la detección altamente sensible y selectiva del evento de hibridación. La respuesta obtenida luego de la interacción de genotóxicos con ADN permitirá un mejor conocimiento de la asociación establecida, de la cinética y de las constantes termodinámicas. Los neurotransmisores podrán ser determinados a niveles nanomolares aún en muestras complejas.

Ricci-flat complex geometry and its applications

Magdeburg, Univ., Fak. für Mathematik, Habil.-Schr., 2010

Wireless communication techniques for indoor positioning and tracking applications

Magdeburg, Univ., Fak. für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik, Diss., 2010

Technique and clinical applications of double balloon enteroscopy for the evaluation of small bowel diseases

Magdeburg, Univ., Med. Fak., Diss., 2012

Thymulin: biochemistry, biology and therapeutical applications

Thymulin is a pharmacologically active metallononapeptide inducing the differentiation of T cells and enhancing several functions of the various T cell subsets in normal or partially thymus-deficient recipients. Its effect on suppressor T cells is, so far, the most remarkable and should be the first to find useful clinical applications. The peptide is a natural hormone, available in synthetic form. It is not toxic and one may foresee its clinical use as one of the major immunoregulatory agents in the near future.

A survey on recent p-adic integration theories and arithmetic applications

"Vegeu el resum a l'inici del document del fitxer adjunt."

Treeline and climate change : analyzing and modeling patterns and shifts in the Swiss Alps

Summary: Global warming has led to an average earth surface temperature increase of about 0.7 °C in the 20th century, according to the 2007 IPCC report. In Switzerland, the temperature increase in the same period was even higher: 1.3 °C in the Northern Alps anal 1.7 °C in the Southern Alps. The impacts of this warming on ecosystems aspecially on climatically sensitive systems like the treeline ecotone -are already visible today. Alpine treeline species show increased growth rates, more establishment of young trees in forest gaps is observed in many locations and treelines are migrating upwards. With the forecasted warming, this globally visible phenomenon is expected to continue. This PhD thesis aimed to develop a set of methods and models to investigate current and future climatic treeline positions and treeline shifts in the Swiss Alps in a spatial context. The focus was therefore on: 1) the quantification of current treeline dynamics and its potential causes, 2) the evaluation and improvement of temperaturebased treeline indicators and 3) the spatial analysis and projection of past, current and future climatic treeline positions and their respective elevational shifts. The methods used involved a combination of field temperature measurements, statistical modeling and spatial modeling in a geographical information system. To determine treeline shifts and assign the respective drivers, neighborhood relationships between forest patches were analyzed using moving window algorithms. Time series regression modeling was used in the development of an air-to-soil temperature transfer model to calculate thermal treeline indicators. The indicators were then applied spatially to delineate the climatic treeline, based on interpolated temperature data. Observation of recent forest dynamics in the Swiss treeline ecotone showed that changes were mainly due to forest in-growth, but also partly to upward attitudinal shifts. The recent reduction in agricultural land-use was found to be the dominant driver of these changes. Climate-driven changes were identified only at the uppermost limits of the treeline ecotone. Seasonal mean temperature indicators were found to be the best for predicting climatic treelines. Applying dynamic seasonal delimitations and the air-to-soil temperature transfer model improved the indicators' applicability for spatial modeling. Reproducing the climatic treelines of the past 45 years revealed regionally different attitudinal shifts, the largest being located near the highest mountain mass. Modeling climatic treelines based on two IPCC climate warming scenarios predicted major shifts in treeline altitude. However, the currently-observed treeline is not expected to reach this limit easily, due to lagged reaction, possible climate feedback effects and other limiting factors. Résumé: Selon le rapport 2007 de l'IPCC, le réchauffement global a induit une augmentation de la température terrestre de 0.7 °C en moyenne au cours du 20e siècle. En Suisse, l'augmentation durant la même période a été plus importante: 1.3 °C dans les Alpes du nord et 1.7 °C dans les Alpes du sud. Les impacts de ce réchauffement sur les écosystèmes - en particuliers les systèmes sensibles comme l'écotone de la limite des arbres - sont déjà visibles aujourd'hui. Les espèces de la limite alpine des forêts ont des taux de croissance plus forts, on observe en de nombreux endroits un accroissement du nombre de jeunes arbres s'établissant dans les trouées et la limite des arbres migre vers le haut. Compte tenu du réchauffement prévu, on s'attend à ce que ce phénomène, visible globalement, persiste. Cette thèse de doctorat visait à développer un jeu de méthodes et de modèles pour étudier dans un contexte spatial la position présente et future de la limite climatique des arbres, ainsi que ses déplacements, au sein des Alpes suisses. L'étude s'est donc focalisée sur: 1) la quantification de la dynamique actuelle de la limite des arbres et ses causes potentielles, 2) l'évaluation et l'amélioration des indicateurs, basés sur la température, pour la limite des arbres et 3) l'analyse spatiale et la projection de la position climatique passée, présente et future de la limite des arbres et des déplacements altitudinaux de cette position. Les méthodes utilisées sont une combinaison de mesures de température sur le terrain, de modélisation statistique et de la modélisation spatiale à l'aide d'un système d'information géographique. Les relations de voisinage entre parcelles de forêt ont été analysées à l'aide d'algorithmes utilisant des fenêtres mobiles, afin de mesurer les déplacements de la limite des arbres et déterminer leurs causes. Un modèle de transfert de température air-sol, basé sur les modèles de régression sur séries temporelles, a été développé pour calculer des indicateurs thermiques de la limite des arbres. Les indicateurs ont ensuite été appliqués spatialement pour délimiter la limite climatique des arbres, sur la base de données de températures interpolées. L'observation de la dynamique forestière récente dans l'écotone de la limite des arbres en Suisse a montré que les changements étaient principalement dus à la fermeture des trouées, mais aussi en partie à des déplacements vers des altitudes plus élevées. Il a été montré que la récente déprise agricole était la cause principale de ces changements. Des changements dus au climat n'ont été identifiés qu'aux limites supérieures de l'écotone de la limite des arbres. Les indicateurs de température moyenne saisonnière se sont avérés le mieux convenir pour prédire la limite climatique des arbres. L'application de limites dynamiques saisonnières et du modèle de transfert de température air-sol a amélioré l'applicabilité des indicateurs pour la modélisation spatiale. La reproduction des limites climatiques des arbres durant ces 45 dernières années a mis en évidence des changements d'altitude différents selon les régions, les plus importants étant situés près du plus haut massif montagneux. La modélisation des limites climatiques des arbres d'après deux scénarios de réchauffement climatique de l'IPCC a prédit des changements majeurs de l'altitude de la limite des arbres. Toutefois, l'on ne s'attend pas à ce que la limite des arbres actuellement observée atteigne cette limite facilement, en raison du délai de réaction, d'effets rétroactifs du climat et d'autres facteurs limitants.

An introductory review on gravitational-deformation induced structures, fabrics and modeling

Recent studies have pointed out a similarity between tectonics and slope tectonic-induced structures. Numerous studies have demonstrated that structures and fabrics previously interpreted as of purely geodynamical origin are instead the result of large slope deformation, and this led in the past to erroneous interpretations. Nevertheless, their limit seems not clearly defined, but it is somehow transitional. Some studies point out continuity between failures developing at surface with upper crust movements. In this contribution, the main studies which examine the link between rock structures and slope movements are reviewed. The aspects regarding model and scale of observation are discussed together with the role of pre-existing weaknesses in the rock mass. As slope failures can develop through progressive failure, structures and their changes in time and space can be recognized. Furthermore, recognition of the origin of these structures can help in avoiding misinterpretations of regional geology. This also suggests the importance of integrating different slope movement classifications based on distribution and pattern of deformation and the application of structural geology techniques. A structural geology approach in the landslide community is a tool that can greatly support the hazard quantification and related risks, because most of the physical parameters, which are used for landslide modeling, are derived from geotechnical tests or the emerging geophysical approaches.

WePreserve 2009: DPE/Planets/CASPAR/nestor Joint Training Event: The Preservation challenge: basic concepts and practical applications (Barcelona, 23-27 març 2009)

Reseña del congreso WePreserve 2009 que tuvo lugar los pasados 23 al 27 de marzo en Barcelona, organizadopor la Facultad de Biblioteconomía y Documentación de la Universitat de Barcelona, con la colaboración del Institut d'Estudis Catalans, la Biblioteca de Catalunya y el Consorci de Biblioteques de Barcelona. El seminario 2009 WePreserve se celebra anualmente desde el año 2007 y participan todas las figuras de referencia europeas en materia de investigación en sistemas y metodologías que garantizan la preservación digital de los documentos: Digital Preservation Europe (DPE), Preservation and Long-term Access Through Networked Services (Planets), Cultural Artistic and Scientific Knowledge for Preservation, Access and Retrieval (CASPAR), y Network of expertise in Digital long-term preservation (nestor).

The cover basement contact beneath the Rawil axial depression (Western Alps) - True amplitude seismic processing, petrophysical properties, and modeling

Since 1986, several near-vertical seismic reflection profiles have been recorded in Switzerland in order to map the deep geologic structure of the Alps. One objective of this endeavour has been to determine the geometries of the autochthonous basement and of the external crystalline massifs, important elements for understanding the geodynamics of the Alpine orogeny. The PNR-20 seismic line W1, located in the Rawil depression of the western Swiss Alps, provides important information on this subject. It extends northward from the `'Penninic front'' across the Helvetic nappes to the Prealps. The crystalline massifs do not outcrop along this profile. Thus, the interpretation of `'near-basement'' reflections has to be constrained by down-dip projections of surface geology, `'true amplitude'' processing, rock physical property studies and modelling. 3-D seismic modelling has been used to evaluate the seismic response of two alternative down-dip projection models. To constrain the interpretation in the southern part of the profile, `'true amplitude'' processing has provided information on the strength of the reflections. Density and velocity measurements on core samples collected up-dip from the region of the seismic line have been used to evaluate reflection coefficients of typical lithologic boundaries in the region. The cover-basement contact itself is not a source of strong reflections, but strong reflections arise from within the overlaying metasedimentary cover sequence, allowing the geometry of the top of the basement to be determined on the basis of `'near-basement'' reflections. The front of the external crystalline massifs is shown to extend beneath the Prealps, about 6 km north of the expected position. A 2-D model whose seismic response shows reflection patterns very similar to the observed is proposed.

Direct analysis of dried blood spots coupled with mass spectrometry: concepts and biomedical applications.

Because of the emergence of dried blood spots (DBS) as an attractive alternative to conventional venous plasma sampling in many pharmaceutical companies and clinical laboratories, different analytical approaches have been developed to enable automated handling of DBS samples without any pretreatment. Associated with selective and sensitive MS-MS detection, these procedures give good results in the rapid identification and quantification of drugs (generally less than 3 min total run time), which is desirable because of the high throughput requirements of analytical laboratories. The objective of this review is to describe the analytical concepts of current direct DBS techniques and to present their advantages and disadvantages, with particular focus on automation capacity and commercial availability. Finally, an overview of the different biomedical applications in which these concepts could be of major interest will be presented.

The Endocannabinoid System as Pharmacological Target Derived from Its CNS Role in Energy Homeostasis and Reward. Applications in Eating Disorders and Addiction

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been implicated in many physiological functions, including the regulation of appetite, food intake and energy balance, a crucial involvement in brain reward systems and a role in psychophysiological homeostasis (anxiety and stress responses). We first introduce this important regulatory system and chronicle what is known concerning the signal transduction pathways activated upon the binding of endogenous cannabinoid ligands to the Gi/0-coupled CB1 cannabinoid receptor, as well as its interactions with other hormones and neuromodulators which can modify endocannabinoid signaling in the brain. Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are severe and disabling psychiatric disorders, characterized by profound eating and weight alterations and body image disturbances. Since endocannabinoids modulate eating behavior, it is plausible that endocannabinoid genes may contribute to the biological vulnerability to these diseases. We present and discuss data suggesting an impaired endocannabinoid signaling in these eating disorders, including association of endocannabinoid components gene polymorphisms and altered CB1-receptor expression in AN and BN. Then we discuss recent findings that may provide new avenues for the identification of therapeutic strategies based on the endocannabinod system. In relation with its implications as a reward-related system, the endocannabinoid system is not only a target for cannabis but it also shows interactions with other drugs of abuse. On the other hand, there may be also a possibility to point to the ECS as a potential target for treatment of drug-abuse and addiction. Within this framework we will focus on enzymatic machinery involved in endocannabinoid inactivation (notably fatty acid amide hydrolase or FAAH) as a particularly interesting potential target. Since a deregulated endocannabinoid system may be also related to depression, anxiety and pain symptomatology accompanying drug-withdrawal states, this is an area of relevance to also explore adjuvant treatments for improving these adverse emotional reactions.