Síntesi i caracterització de membranes electrolítiques d'oxo-vanadi-sulfats per aplicacions en la reducció d'emissions de SO2

La recerca de nous materials pel desenvolupament de membranes per a la reducció d���emissions de SO2 ha estat en el punt de mira de nombrosos estudis recents, degut al seu gran potencial per a dur a terme aquests processos i pel gran impacte mediambiental causat pel SO2. La temàtica d���aquest projecte consisteix en la síntesi i caracterització de nous materials basats en compostos d���Oxo-Vanadi-Sulfats de metalls alcalins per tal de preparar aquestes membranes supressores de SO2.

High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in a Swiss rheumatology outpatient population.

Vitamin D is important for bone metabolism and neuromuscular function. While a routine dosage is often proposed in osteoporotic patients, it is not so evident in rheumatology outpatients where it has been shown that the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is high. The aim of the current study was to systematically evaluate the vitamin D status in our outpatient rheumatology population to define the severity of the problem according to rheumatologic diseases. During November 2009, all patients were offered a screening test for 25-OH vitamin D levels and categorised as deficient (<10 µg/l [ng/ml] [25 nmol/l]), insufficient (10 µg/l to 30 µg/l [25 to 75 nmol/l]) or normal (>30 µg/l [75 nmol/l]). A total of 272 patients were included. The mean 25-OH vitamin D level was 21 µg/l (range 1.5 to 45.9). A total of 20 patients had vitamin D deficiency, 215 patients had an insufficiency and 37 patients had normal results. In the group of patients with osteoporosis mean level of 25-OH vitamin D was 25 µg/l and 31% had normal results. In patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (N = 219), the mean level of 25-OH vitamin D was 20.5 µg/l, and only 12% had normal 25-OH vitamin D levels. In the small group of patients with degenerative disease (N = 33), the mean level of 25-OH vitamin D was 21.8 µg/l, and 21% had normal results. Insufficiency and deficiency were even seen in 38% of the patients who were taking supplements. These results confirm that hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent in an outpatient population of rheumatology patients, affecting 86% of subjects. Despite oral supplementation (taken in 38% of our population), only a quarter of those on oral supplementation attained normal values of 25-OH vitamin D.

Posada a punt i validació de l'anàlisi d'urea en llet crua mitjançant IR per transformada de Fourier

L’objectiu principal d���aquest projecte és posar a punt el mètode d���anàlisi d���urea en llet crua de vaca mitjançant la tècnica d���Infraroig per Transformada de Fourier (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, FTIR). S’haurà de portar a terme la validació del mètode per FTIR (seguint els criteris de la ISO 17025) mitjançant la comparació amb el mètode de referència utilitzat actualment al laboratori.

Creació d'un sistema d'informació per a la gestió, visualització i ús de les dades d'anivellacions

El present projecte ha consistit en la creació del SIA, Sistema d���Informació d���Anivellacions. Un SIG integrat que ha estat creat per emmagatzemar, gestionar i consultar les dades d���anivellació topogràfica i GPS. El projecte ha comportat tres grans fases: en primer terme s’ha creat una BBDD en Oracle i, posteriorment, amb la finalitat de facilitar la inserció de dades, es crea una aplicació que permet la ràpida inclusió a la BBDD de les noves mesures que arribin a l’IGC. Finalment, es crea un visualitzador amb tecnologia ESRI, més concretament la nova API de Flex que ESRI ha desenvolupat.

La pau en moviment. Protestes, polítiques, impactes. Les experiències del moviment per la pau a Itàlia i Espanya. Barcelona, 29-30 d'octubre de 2010

Relatoria del seminario internacional “La paz en movimiento. Protestas, políticas, impactos. Las experiencias del movimiento por la paz en Italia y en España” celebrado en Barcelona en octubre de 2010 y organizado por el Instituto Catalán Internacional para la Paz (ICIP). El seminario tuvo como objetivo propiciar un espacio de intercambio de ideas en el que confluyeran tanto los activistas como los estudiosos del movimiento por la paz italiano y español. La publicación recoge tanto un resumen de las presentaciones realizadas como de los debates generados.

El Consum de drogues tòxiques, estupefaents i substàncies pisoctròpiques, per menors d'edat, en llocs públics del districte d'Horta-Guinard�� de la ciutat de Barcelona

Com ja he indicat en més d���una ocasió al llarg d���aquest Màster, l’elecció del tema sobre el que versa aquest Projecte final respon, en bona part, a l’interès que em va suscitar la qüestió durant el temps que vaig estar ocupant el lloc de cap del Servei d���Assessorament Jurídic de la Direcció General de la Policia. Entre les funcions que aquesta unitat tenia assignades hi havia la tramitació dels procediments sancionadors incoats per les denúncies efectuades pels cossos de policia local i la policia de la Generalitat-mossos d���esquadra, per infraccions a la Llei orgànica 1/1992, de 21 de febrer, de protecció de la seguretat ciutadana. Al Servei d���Assessorament Jurídic li va correspondre la responsabilitat d���iniciar la tramitació de les denúncies esmentades, tan bon punt es va engegar el procés de desplegament de la policia de la Generalitat-mossos d���esquadra com a policia ordinària i integral, en substitució de les forces i els cossos de seguretat de l’Estat, a l’octubre de 1994. A mesura que s’anava produint el desplegament, la funció de tramitar les actes esteses per la policia de la Generalitat-mossos d���esquadra i per les policies locals, es va anar assumint pels serveis territorials d���Administració en què es va estructurar la Direcció General de Seguretat Ciutadana (en l’actualitat, Direcció General de la Policia).

Female asylum seekers with musculoskeletal pain: the importance of diagnosis and treatment of hypovitaminosis D.

BACKGROUND: Hypovitaminosis D is well known in different populations, but may be under diagnosed in certain populations. We aim to determine the first diagnosis considered, the duration and resolution of symptoms, and the predictors of response to treatment in female asylum seekers suffering from hypovitaminosis D. METHODS: Design: A pre- and post-intervention observational study. Setting: A network comprising an academic primary care centre and nurse practitioners. Participants: Consecutive records of 33 female asylum seekers with complaints compatible with osteomalacia and with hypovitaminosis D (serum 25-(OH) vitamin D < 21 nmol/l). Treatment intervention: The patients received either two doses of 300,000 IU intramuscular cholecalciferol as well as 800 IU of cholecalciferol with 1000 mg of calcium orally, or the oral treatment only. Main outcome measures: We recorded the first diagnosis made by the physicians before the correct diagnosis of hypovitaminosis D, the duration of symptoms before diagnosis, the responders and non-responders to treatment, the duration of symptoms after treatment, and the number of medical visits and analgesic drugs prescribed 6 months before and 6 months after diagnosis. Tests: Two-sample t-tests, chi-squared tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed. Analyses were performed using SPSS 10.0. RESULTS: Prior to the discovery of hypovitaminosis D, diagnoses related to somatisation were evoked in 30 patients (90.9%). The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 2.53 years (SD 3.20). Twenty-two patients (66.7%) responded completely to treatment; the remaining patients were considered to be non-responders. After treatment was initiated, the responders' symptoms disappeared completely after 2.84 months. The mean number of emergency medical visits fell from 0.88 (SD 1.08) six months before diagnosis to 0.39 (SD 0.83) after (P = 0.027). The mean number of analgesic drugs that were prescribed also decreased from 1.67 (SD 1.5) to 0.85 (SD 1) (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hypovitaminosis D in female asylum seekers may remain undiagnosed, with a prolonged duration of chronic symptoms. The potential pitfall is a diagnosis of somatisation. Treatment leads to a rapid resolution of symptoms, a reduction in the use of medical services, and the prescription of analgesic drugs in this vulnerable population.

Opening statement by Mr Michael Scanlan, Secretary General of the Department of Health & Children at the meeting of the D��ƒil Committee of Public Accounts on 7th May 2009

Opening statement by Mr Michael Scanlan, Secretary General of the Department of Health & Children at the meeting of the D��ƒÂ¡il Committee of Public Accounts on 7th May 2009 Click here to download PDF 37kb

A monoclonal antibody which blocks the function of factor D of human complement.

Factor D is an essential enzyme for activation of complement by the alternative pathway (AP). It has been difficult to obtain mouse monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) which block the function of factor D. We have developed a strategy to obtain such Mabs using a double screening procedure of the initial clones. We selected the clone whose supernatant had the lowest level of anti-factor D Ab by ELISA and abolished factor D haemolytic activity. Addition of this Mab to human serum was shown to abolish conversion of C3 by cobra venom factor, haemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes, and activation of C3 and C5 by cuprophane dialysis membranes.

Experimental reinfection of BALB/c mice with different recombinant type I/III strains of Toxoplasma gondii: involvement of IFN-³ and IL-10

To assess reinfection of BALB/c mice with different Toxoplasma gondii strains, the animals were prime infected with the non-virulent D8 strain and challenged with virulent recombinant strains. Thirty days after challenge, brain cysts were obtained from surviving BALB/c mice and inoculated in Swiss mice to obtain tachyzoites for DNA extraction and PCR-RFLP analysis to distinguish the different T. gondii strains present in possible co-infections. Anti-Toxoplasma immune responses were evaluated in D8-primed BALB/c mice by detecting IFN-³ and IL-10 produced by T cells and measuring immunoglobulin levels in serum samples. PCR-RFLP demonstrated that BALB/c mice were reinfected with the EGS strain at 45 days post prime infection (dpi) and with the EGS and CH3 strains at 180 dpi. High levels of IFN-³ were detected after D8 infection, with no significant difference between 45 and 180-day intervals. However, higher IL-10 levels and higher plasmatic IgG1 and IgA were detected from samples obtained 180 days after infection. BALB/c mice were susceptible to reinfection with different recombinant T. gondii strains and this susceptibility correlated with enhancement of IL-10 production.

"Royal" pediculosis in Renaissance Italy: lice in the mummy of the King of Naples Ferdinand II of Aragon (1467-1496)

Pediculosis seems to have afflicted humans since the most ancient times and lice have been found in several ancient human remains. Examination of the head hair and pubic hair of the artificial mummy of Ferdinand II of Aragon (1467-1496), King of Naples, revealed a double infestation with two different species of lice, Pediculus capitis, the head louse, and Pthirus pubis, the pubic louse. The hair samples were also positive for the presence of mercury, probably applied as an anti-pediculosis therapy. This is the first time that these parasites have been found in the hair of a king, demonstrating that even members of the wealthy classes in the Renaissance were subject to louse infestation.

Pere Torroella i les corts dels infants d'Aragó al segle XV

En aquest article es parla breument de Pere Torroella i de les corts dels infants d���Aragó (Carles de Viana, Joan d���Aragó i Joana d���Aragó), és a dir, de les corts de Joan II i el Magnànim. Per fer-ho es basa en cinc documents inèdits, tots ells referits a diferents moments de la vida de Pere Torroella

L'Explotació d'audiovisuals i la gestió de drets d'autor en els establiments hotelers

Estudi sobre el tractament de la propietat intel•lectual i els drets d���autor en el sector turístic hotelera, amb l’objectiu d���esbrinar com funciona aquesta gestió. S’incideix més en l´’us de les televisions en les habitacions d���hotel, i en quins criteris utilitzen les entitats de gestió per exigir aquest dret. Es proposen alternatives als establiments hotelers a partir dels criteris dels tribunals