Universidad, conocimiento y economía

La política de desarrollo tecnológico y derivada de esta, el papel que se pretende asignar a la universidad, se sustenta en un conjunto de ideas e interpretaciones erradas sobre la articulación entre ciencia, investigación y aplicaciones tecnológicas; ideas que han ido adquiriendo, aun en el medio académico, el estatus de sabiduría convencional de tal manera que, aceptadas como verdades, tienden a legitimar la acción de las instituciones y agencias gubernamentales. Este artículo analiza la propensión de ver a la universidad como la fuente de conocimiento e información directamente aplicable para la producción de bienes y servicios comerciales y cuestiona la perspectiva de considerar a la universidad simplemente como un agente de la esfera económica. El trabajo sostiene que el papel de la investigación universitaria consiste básicamente en un insumo para la enseñanza y que el bien público que provee la universidad es la creación de un sentido nacional de cultura, una forma de identidad y cohesión social.

La historia de Nay y Sinar de Jorge Isaacs y Sab de Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda: un contrapunto (Dossier: Novela, historia y nación en América Latina)

En este texto el autor se propone cotejar la historia de Nay y Sinar incluida en la novela María, de Jorge Isaacs (1867), con la de Bernabé en Sab (publicada en Madrid en 1841), de Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda. Esta exploración busca, por un lado, crear un contrapunto de ambos textos, por otro lado, se propone pasar revista a temas como la construcción de lo masculino en los dos textos, la posición antiesclavista de las mismas y Madre Natura como antagonista y coadyuvante de los protagonistas. Para cerrar este trabajo el autor aplicará un par de ideas de Benedict Anderson intentando explicar lo siguiente: los personajes de Isaacs y Gómez de Avellaneda provienen de una comunidad imaginada perdida y se ven en la imposibilidad de reproducir en un contexto diferente los límites de ese reino que ya no existe o que quizá no existió, por ser parte de la imaginación comunitaria.

The creation of euro area financial safety nets. Bruegel Working Paper 2012/09, July 2012

The financial crisis has exposed the need to devise stronger and broader international and regional safety nets in order to deal with economic and financial shocks and allow for countries to adjust. The euro area has developed several such mechanisms over the last couple of years through a process of trial and error and gradual enhancement and expansion. Their overall architecture remains imperfect and leaves areas of vulnerabilities. This paper provides an overview of the recent financial stability mechanisms and their various shortcomings and tries to brush the outline of a more comprehensive safety net architecture that would coherently address the banking, sovereign and external imbalances crises against both transitory and more permanent shocks. It aims to provide a roadmap for further improvements of the current mechanism and the creation of new devices including a banking resolution mechanism and amore powerfulmechanismto provide financial assistance addressing both the sovereign and external dimensions of the shocks thereby reducing the need for the ECB to fill the current void.

A review and classification of the existing models of cyanobacteria

Bloom-forming and toxin-producing cyanobacteria remain a persistent nuisance across the world. Modelling of cyanobacteria in freshwaters is an important tool for understanding their population dynamics and predicting bloom occurrence in lakes and rivers. In this paper existing key models of cyanobacteria are reviewed, evaluated and classified. Two major groups emerge: deterministic mathematical and artificial neural network models. Mathematical models can be further subcategorized into those models concerned with impounded water bodies and those concerned with rivers. Most existing models focus on a single aspect such as the growth of transport mechanisms, but there are a few models which couple both.

The composition and crystallinity of the near-surface regions of weathered alkali feldspars

Our ability to identify thin non-stoichiometric and amorphous layers beneath mineral surfaces has been tested by undertaking X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) work on alkali feldspars from pH 1 dissolution experiments. The outcomes of this work were used to help interpret XPS and TEM results from alkali feldspars weathered for <10,000 years in soils overlying the Shap Granite (north-west England). The chemistry of effluent solutions indicates that silica-rich layers a few nanometers in thickness formed during the pH I experiments. These layers can be successfully identified by XPS and have lower Al/Si, Na/Si, K/Si and Ca/Si values than the outermost similar to 9 nm of unweathered controls. Development of Al-Si non-stoichiometry is coupled with loss of crystal structure to produce amorphous layers that are identifiable by TEM where >similar to 2.5 nm thick, whereas the crystallinity of albite is retained despite leaching of Na to depths of tens to hundreds on nanometers. Integration of XPS data over the outermost 6-9 nm of naturally weathered Shap feldspars shows that they have stoichiometric Al/Si and K/Si ratios, which is consistent with findings of previous TEM work on the same material that they lack amorphous layers. There is some XPS evidence for loss of K from the outermost couple of nanometers of Shap orthoclase, and the possibility of leaching of Na from albite to greater depths cannot be excluded using the XPS or TEM results. This study demonstrates that the leached layer model, as formulated from laboratory experiments, is inapplicable to the weathering of alkali feldspars within acidic soils, which is an essentially stoichiometric reaction. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modelling the inorganic nitrogen behaviour in a small Mediterranean forested catchment, Fuirosos (Catalonia)

The aim of this work was to couple a nitrogen (N) sub-model to already existent hydrological lumped (LU4-N) and semi-distributed (LU4-R-N and SD4-R-N) conceptual models, to improve our understanding of the factors and processes controlling nitrogen cycling and losses in Mediterranean catchments. The N model adopted provides a simplified conceptualization of the soil nitrogen cycle considering mineralization, nitrification, immobilization, denitrification, plant uptake, and ammonium adsorption/desorption. It also includes nitrification and denitrification in the shallow perched aquifer. We included a soil moisture threshold for all the considered soil biological processes. The results suggested that all the nitrogen processes were highly influenced by the rain episodes and that soil microbial processes occurred in pulses stimulated by soil moisture increasing after rain. Our simulation highlighted the riparian zone as a possible source of nitrate, especially after the summer drought period, but it can also act as an important sink of nitrate due to denitrification, in particular during the wettest period of the year. The riparian zone was a key element to simulate the catchment nitrate behaviour. The lumped LU4-N model (which does not include the riparian zone) could not be validated, while both the semi-distributed LU4-R-N and SD4-R-N model (which include the riparian zone) gave satisfactory results for the calibration process and acceptable results for the temporal validation process.

The influence of G protein subtype on agonist action at D-2 dopamine receptors

In previous studies, we have shown that agonists influence the ability of D-2 dopamine receptors to couple to G proteins and here we extend this work. The human D-2Short dopamine receptor and a natural polymorphism of this D-2Short(Ser(311)Cys), have been studied by co-expressing the receptors in insect cells with Gbeta(1)gamma(2) and either Galpha(o), Galpha(i1), Galpha(i2) or Galpha(i3) G protein subunits. These preparations have been used to study the G protein coupling profiles of the two receptors and the influence of agonists. Receptor/G protein coupling was analysed in dopamine/[H-3]spiperone competition binding experiments and through stimulation of [S-35]GTPgammaS binding. Although the Ser(311)Cys polymorphism itself had no appreciable effect on the G protein coupling specificity of the D-2 receptor, agonist stimulation of [S-35]GTPgammaS binding, revealed that both dopamine and (+)-3PPP showed a clear preference for Galpha(o) compared to the Galpha(i) subtypes, but quinpirole did not. These results indicate that agonists are able to stabilise different receptor conformations with different abilities to couple to G proteins. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oxorhenium(V) complexes with tetradentate NSNO pyridylthioazophenolates: syntheses, spectral and electrochemical studies

A family of oxorhenium (V) complexes of newly designed pyridylthioazophenolate ligands has been synthesized and isolated in pure form. The solid state structure of an organic compound (HL1) has been established by X-ray crystallography. The molecular structure observed in the solid state is that the two molecules of the ligand (HL1) in the asymmetric unit have similar geometries, except for the orientation of the pyridine ring. This series of organic moieties acts as tetradentate monobasic NSNO donor chelators in oxorhenium(V) complexes which has been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, H-1-NMR, UV-Vis. The complexes are 1: 1 electrolytes in nature in MeOH solution, the counter anion being ClO4). The electrochemical studies of the [(ReO)-O-V(L)Cl]ClO4 complexes in MeCN using TBAP as supporting electrolyte exhibit quasi-reversible voltammogram showing one-electron couple for [(ReO)-O-VI(L)Cl](2+)-[(ReO)-O-V(L)Cl](+) in the 1.11-1.29 V vs SCE range.

A new emissive Ru(II)N5O core

From the reaction of cis-Ru(1,10-phenanthroline)(2)Cl(2 center dot)2H(2)O with 2-picolinic acid in 1:1 molar ratio in degassed methanol-water mixture, [Ru(1,10-phenanthroline)(2)(2-picolinate)]PF6 center dot H2O (1) has been isolated as a red compound by adding excess of NH4PF6. Single crystal X-ray crystallography shows that the metal in 1 has an octahedral N5O coordination sphere. Complex 1 displays (MLCT)-M-1 bands in the 400-500 nm region in acetonitrile. Upon excitation at 435 nm, complex 1 gives rise to a broad emission band at 675 nm in acetonitrile at room temperature with a quantum yield of 0.0022. The energy of the MLCT state in 1 is estimated as 1.99 eV. Since, from cyclic voltammetry, the ground state potential of the Ru(II/III) couple in 1 is found to be 1.01 V vs NHE, the potential of the same couple in the excited state is calculated as -0.98 V vs NHE. The emissive state in 1 seems to be the triplet Ru(II) -> 1, 10-phenanthroline charge transfer state.

trans-[Ru-III(N-N)(2)Cl-2](+) species, where N-N is bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane

Using bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane as an N-N donor ligand, a trans-[Ru-III(N-N)(2)Cl-2](+) core has been isolated from the direct reaction of the ligand with RuCl3 center dot xH(2)O and characterized structurally for the. first time. The core displays a rhombic EPR spectrum and a quasireversible Ru(II/III) couple with an E-1/2 of -0.34 V versus NHE. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A deliberate synthesis of a mononuclear trans-dimethoxide complex of ruthenium(III). X-ray crystal structure, electrochemistry and electron paramagnetic resonance

Using bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl) methane as the bidentate N donor ligand L, the yellow compound trans-[(RuL2)-L-III(OMe)(2)]ClO4 center dot CH2Cl2 is synthesized. It is a rare example of a mononuclear dialkoxo complex of Ru(III). It shows a quasireversible Ru(II/III) couple at -0.65 V versus NHE in acetonitrile at a Pt electrode. Its magnetic moment at room temperature corresponds to one unpaired electron. It displays a rhombic EPR spectrum in acetone at 77 K with g = 2.219, 2.062 and 1.855. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

A hemiacetalate complex of Ru(II)

Reaction of cis-Ru(bisox)(2)Cl-2, where bisox is 4,4,4',4'-tetramethyl-2,2'-bisoxazoline, with excess of pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde (py-2-al) in 1:1 (v/v) methanol-water mixture under nitrogen atmosphere and subsequent addition of excess of NH4PF6 give [Ru(bisox)(2)(py-2-al)](PF6)(2)center dot H2O (1). Refluxing of 1 in dehydrated methanol in presence of triethylamine yields the corresponding hemiacetalate complex: [Ru(bisox)(2) (pyridine-2-(alpha-methoxymethanolato))] PF6 center dot 1.5H(2)O (2). Both the complexes have been characterised by single crystal X-ray crystallography, FTIR and NMR. In cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile at a glassy carbon electrode, 2 displays a quasireversible Ru(II/III) couple at 1.08 V versus NHE which is not observed in 1. A tentative mechanism is proposed for the conversion of 1 to 2. DFT calculations with the LanL2DZ basis set have been performed to investigate these observations theoretically. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ligand effects in cis-Ru-II(N-N)(2)L-2 species where N-N is a substituted 2,2 '-bisoxazoline and L is monodentate

Starting from previously reported cis-Ru(MeL)(2)Cl-2, where MeL is 4,4,4',4'-tetramethyl-2,2'-bisoxazoline, cis-Ru(MeL)(2)Br-2 (1), cis-Ru( MeL)(2)I-2 (2), cis-Ru(MeL)(2)(NCS)(2) center dot H2O (3), cis-Ru(MeL)(2)(N-3)(2) (4) and cis-[Ru(MeL)(2)(MeCN)(2)](PF6)(2) center dot (CH3)(2)CO (5) are synthesised. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 1, 2, 3 and 5 have been determined. All the five new complexes have been characterized by FTIR, ESIMS and H-1 NMR. In cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile at a glassy carbon electrode, the complexes display a quasireversible Ru(II/III) couple in the range 0.32-1.71 V versus NHE. The Ru(II/III) potentials yield a satisfactorily linear correlation with Chatt's ligand constants P-L for the monodantate ligands. From the intercept and by comparing the known situation in Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)(2)L-2, it is concluded that MeL, a non-aromatic diimine, is significantly more pi-acidic than 2,2'-bipyridine. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A fluxional (CuN2O2)-N-I core: binding of a keto oxygen atom to Cu-I and Ag-I

[Cu(2-acetylpyridine)(2)]ClO4 (1), characterised here, has a novel Cu'N202 core in the solid state. Variable-temperature H-1 NMR studies show that the two chelate rings open up in solution at room temperature and the keto oxygen atoms dangle freely. As the temperature is lowered, the 0 atoms tend to bind to the metal atom. The corresponding silver(I) complex, [Ag(2-acetylpyridine)2]ClO4 (4), characterised by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, has an (AgN2)-N-I core in the solid state as well as in solution. Thus, while 1 is fluxional, 4 is not. In cyclic voltammetry, complex 1 displays a quasireversible Cu-II/I couple with a half-wave potential of 0.40 V vs. SCE. Complex I is easily oxidised by air and H2O2 in methanol to give rise to a dinuclear copper(II) complex where the ligand framework is not simple acetylpyridine. ((c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005).

An electrochemical study of 4-aminothiophenol/pt nanoparticle multilayers on gold electrodes

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements of the formation of a 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP)self-assembled monolayer (SAM) at a gold electrode showed that a surface coverage of 118 ng cm(-2) was obtained after a 3 h exposure period, indicating that good surface coverage was achieved. Cyclic voltammetry of the ferricyanide redox couple across this SAM modified surface produced similar results to those of a bare electrode; however, the electroreduction of oxygen was found to be impaired. The 4-ATP SAM layer was not stable to repeated electrochemical oxidation and reduction; it is believed that the 4-ATP SAM layer was first converted to a 4'-mercapto-N-phenylquinone diimine (NPQD) layer followed by subsequent formation of a 4'-mercapto-N-phenylquinone monoimine (NPQM) layer. We also report a quartz crystal microbalance study of the attachment of platinum nanoparticles to such SAM modified electrodes. We show that five times the amount of platinum nanoparticles can be attached to a 4-ATP modified electrode surface (observed frequency change - 187 Hz) compared with an NPQD modified electrode surface (observed frequency change -35 Hz). The presence of the platinum particles was confirmed electrochemically by their surface electrochemical properties, which were different from those of the underlying gold electrode. It is believed that this is the first time that such direct evidence of electrochemical communication between platinum nanoparticles and a SAM modified electrode surface has been obtained. It was also shown to be possible to build up multilayer SAM/nanoparticle modified surfaces while maintaining efficient electrochemical communication. Up to three SAM/nanoparticle sandwich layers were constructed.