Left-handed metamaterial coatings for subwavelength-resolution imaging

We report on a procedure to improve the resolution of far-field imaging by using a neighboring high-index medium that is coated with a left-handed metamaterial. The resulting plot can also exhibit an enhanced transmission by considering proper conditions to retract backscattering. Based on negative refraction, geometrical aberrations are considered in detail since they may cause a great impact in this sort of diffraction-unlimited imaging by reducing its resolution power. We employ a standard aberration analysis to refine the asymmetric configuration of metamaterial superlenses. We demonstrate that low-order centrosymmetric aberrations can be fully corrected for a given object plane. For subwavelength-resolution imaging, however, high-order aberrations become of relevance, which may be balanced with defocus. Not only the point spread function but also numerical simulations based on the finite-element method support our theoretical analysis, and subwavelength resolution is verified in the image plane.

Single-cell derived clones from human adipose stem cells present different immunomodulatory properties

Human adipose mesenchymal stem cells are a heterogeneous population, where cell cultures derived from single cell-expanded clones present varying degrees of differential plasticity. This work focuses on the immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory properties of these cells. To this end, 5 single cell clones were isolated (generally called 1.X and 3.X) from 2 volunteers. Regarding the expression level of the lineage-characteristic surface antigens, clones 1.10 and 1.22 expressed the lowest amounts, while clones 3.10 and 3.5 expressed more CD105 than the rest and clone 1.7 expressed higher amounts of CD73 and CD44. Regarding cytokine secretion, all clones were capable of spontaneously releasing high levels of IL-6 and low to moderate levels of IL-8. These differences can be explained in part by the distinct methylation profile exhibited by the clones. Furthermore and after lipopolysaccharide stimulation, clone 3.X produced the highest amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, while clones 1.10 and 1.22 highly expressed IL-4 and IL-5. In co-culture experiments, clones 1.X are altogether more potent inhibitors than clones 3.X for proliferation of total, CD3+T, CD4+T and CD8+T lymphocytes and NK cells. The results of this work indicates that adipose stem cell population is heterogeneous in cytokine production profile, and that isolation, characterization and selection of the appropriate cell clone is a more exact method for the possible treatment of different patients or pathologies.

3D Hand Pose Estimation with Neural Networks

We propose the design of a real-time system to recognize and interprethand gestures. The acquisition devices are low cost 3D sensors. 3D hand pose will be segmented, characterized and track using growing neural gas (GNG) structure. The capacity of the system to obtain information with a high degree of freedom allows the encoding of many gestures and a very accurate motion capture. The use of hand pose models combined with motion information provide with GNG permits to deal with the problem of the hand motion representation. A natural interface applied to a virtual mirrorwriting system and to a system to estimate hand pose will be designed to demonstrate the validity of the system.

Trabajo de coordinación para la implantación del Máster en Optometría Avanzada y Salud Visual

Durante el curso 2013-2014 la Universidad de Alicante ha propuesto la implantación del Master en Optometría Avanzada y Salud Visual, dicha solicitud está siendo actualmente evaluada por la ANECA. Con el fin de coordinar la docencia de este Máster y dentro del Proyecto de Redes de Investigación en Docencia Universitaria 2013-2014, se ha creado una red formada por todos los profesores que han participado en la elaboración del plan de estudios. En esta red esta red se pretende la coordinación entre las distintas asignaturas para elaborar las guías docentes a partir de los datos de las fichas enviadas a la ANECA. Por otra parte también se ha modificado la memoria atendiendo a las alegaciones realizadas por la ANECA. Y se han desarrollado los contenidos, la metodología de las distintas actividades propuestas con el fin de asegurar la consecución de las competencias previstas.

Subwavelength beams with polarization singularities in plasmonic metamaterials

We investigated the diffraction behavior of plasmonic Bessel beams propagating in metal-dielectric stratified materials and wire media. Our results reveal various regimes in which polarization singularities are selectively maintained. This polarization-pass effect can be controlled by appropriately setting the filling factor of the metallic inclusions and its internal periodic distribution. These results may have implications in the development of devices at the nanoscale level for manipulation of polarization and angular momentum of cylindrical vector beams.

Pyrimidine-Derived Prolinamides as Recoverable Bifunctional Organocatalysts for Enantioselective Inter- and Intramolecular Aldol Reactions under Solvent-Free Conditions

Chiral L-prolinamides 2 containing the (R,R)- and (S,S)-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine scaffold and a 2-pyrimidinyl unit are synthesized and used as general organocatalysts for intermolecular and intramolecular aldol reactions with 1,6-hexanedioic acid as a co-catalyst under solvent-free conditions. The intermolecular reaction between ketone–aldehyde and aldehyde–aldehyde must be performed under wet conditions with catalyst (S,S)-2b at 10 °C, which affords anti-aldols with high regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivities. For the Hajos–Parrish–Eder–Sauer–Wiechert reaction, both diastereomers of catalyst 2 give similar results at room temperature in the absence of water to give the corresponding Wieland–Miescher ketone and derivatives. Both types of reactions were scaled up to 1 g, and the organocatalysts were recovered by extractive workup and reused without any appreciable loss in activity. DFT calculations support the stereochemical results of the intermolecular process and the bifunctional role played by the organocatalyst by providing a computational comparison of the H-bonding networks occurring with catalysts 2a and 2b.

Primary Amine–2-Aminopyrimidine Chiral Organocatalysts for the Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Branched Aldehydes to Maleimides

Chiral primary amines containing the (R,R)- and (S,S)-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine scaffold and a pyrimidin-2-yl unit are synthesized and used as general organocatalysts for the Michael reaction of α-branched aldehydes to maleimides. The reaction takes place with 10 mol% organocatalyst loading and hexanedioic acid as cocatalyst in aqueous N,N-dimethylformamide at 10 °C affording the corresponding succinimides in good yields and enantioselectivities. DFT calculations support the stereochemical results and the role played by the solvents.

Puesta en marcha y coordinación del Máster en Optometría Avanzada y Salud Visual

Durante el curso 2015-2016 se va a implantar, en la Universidad de Alicante, el máster en Optometría Avanzada y Salud Visual, que fue aprobado por la ANECA en diciembre del 2014. Con el fin de coordinar las actividades docentes de cada una de las asignaturas del máster y dentro del Proyecto de Redes de Investigación en Docencia Universitaria 2014-2015, se ha creado una red formada por todos los profesores coordinadores de las asignaturas que constituyen el plan de estudios y que han participado en la realización de la memoria de dicho máster. En esta red se pretende la coordinación entre todas las asignaturas para organizar y desarrollar sus actividades con el fin de conseguir una buena distribución de la carga docente y un mejor aprovechamiento por parte del alumno de la docencia recibida. Por otra parte, dado que en este máster participan varias empresas del sector óptico y clínicas oftalmológicas es necesario determinar qué actividades propuestas por las empresas y clínicas se van a incluir en cada asignatura y planificarlas adecuadamente.

Bifunctional primary amine 2-aminobenzimidazole organocatalyst anchored to trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine in enantioselective conjugate additions of aldehydes

Bifunctional chiral primary amine 8 containing an (S,S)-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine scaffold and a 2-benzimidazole unit is used as a general organocatalyst for the Michael addition of α,α-branched aldehydes to nitroalkenes and maleimides. The reactions take place, with 20 mol % of catalyst in dichloromethane at rt for nitroalkenes and with 15 mol % catalyst loading in toluene at 10 °C for maleimides, in good yields and enantioselectivities. DFT calculations demonstrate the bifunctional character of this organocatalyst activating the aldehyde by enamine formation and the Michael acceptor by double hydrogen bonding.