SiC-Based MIS gas sensor for high water vapor environments

In this work we will prove that SiC-based MIS capacitors can work in environments with extremely high concentrations of water vapor and still be sensitive to hydrogen, CO and hydrocarbons, making these devices suitable for monitoring the exhaust gases of hydrogen or hydrocarbons based fuel cells. Under the harshest conditions (45% of water vapor by volume ratio to nitrogen), Pt/TaOx/SiO2/SiC MIS capacitors are able to detect the presence of 1 ppm of hydrogen, 2 ppm of CO, 100 ppm of ethane or 20 ppm of ethene, concentrations that are far below the legal permissible exposure limits.

Estatuto jurídico y urbanismo en la Tingitana (s. I-VII d.C.). Russadir

El objetivo de este trabajo es discernir, en la medida de lo posible, si la ciudad de Russadir (Melilla) obtuvo en la antigüedad un estatuto jurídico romano. Se utilizan tanto las fuentes literarias grecolatinas y árabes medievales, como la arqueología. Los autores concluyen, en base a los datos de que se dispone en la actualidad, que la ciudad disponía de un estatuto jurídico romano desde el s. I a.C., no siendo posible determinar con precisión su evolución posterior.

Electrical signature of modern and ancient tectonic processes in the crust of the Atlas mountains of Morocco.

The Atlas Mountains in Morocco are considered as type examples of intracontinental chains, with high topography that contrasts with moderate crustal shortening and thickening. Whereas recent geological studies and geodynamic modeling have suggested the existence of dynamic topography to explain this apparent contradiction, there is a lack of modern geophysical data at the crustal scale to corroborate this hypothesis. Newly-acquired magnetotelluric data image the electrical resistivity distribution of the crust from the Middle Atlas to the Anti-Atlas, crossing the tabular Moulouya Plain and the High Atlas. All the units show different and unique electrical signatures throughout the crust reflecting the tectonic history of development of each one. In the upper crust electrical resistivity values may be associated to sediment sequences in the Moulouya and Anti-Atlas and to crustal scale fault systems in the High Atlas developed during the Cenozoic times. In the lower crust the low resistivity anomaly found below the Mouluya plain, together with other geophysical (low velocity anomaly, lack of earthquakes and minimum Bouguer anomaly) and geochemical (Neogene-Quaternary intraplate alkaline volcanic fields) evidence, infer the existence of a small degree of partial melt at the base of the lower crust. The low resistivity anomaly found below the Anti-Atlas may be associated with a relict subduction of Precambrian oceanic sediments, or to precipitated minerals during the release of fluids from the mantle during the accretion of the Anti-Atlas to the West African Supercontinent during the Panafrican orogeny ca. 685 Ma).

Ipilimumab-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of regulatory T cells ex vivo by nonclassical monocytes in melanoma patients.

Enhancing immune responses with immune-modulatory monoclonal antibodies directed to inhibitory immune receptors is a promising modality in cancer therapy. Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated with antibodies blocking inhibitory immune checkpoints such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) or PD-1/PD-L1. Treatment with ipilimumab, a fully human CTLA-4-specific mAb, showed durable clinical efficacy in metastatic melanoma; its mechanism of action is, however, only partially understood. This is a study of 29 patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma treated with ipilimumab. We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and matched melanoma metastases from 15 patients responding and 14 not responding to ipilimumab by multicolor flow cytometry, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay, and immunohistochemistry. PBMCs and matched tumor biopsies were collected 24 h before (i.e., baseline) and up to 4 wk after ipilimumab. Our findings show, to our knowledge for the first time, that ipilimumab can engage ex vivo FcγRIIIA (CD16)-expressing, nonclassical monocytes resulting in ADCC-mediated lysis of regulatory T cells (Tregs). In contrast, classical CD14(++)CD16(-) monocytes are unable to do so. Moreover, we show that patients responding to ipilimumab display significantly higher baseline peripheral frequencies of nonclassical monocytes compared with nonresponder patients. In the tumor microenvironment, responders have higher CD68(+)/CD163(+) macrophage ratios at baseline and show decreased Treg infiltration after treatment. Together, our results suggest that anti-CTLA-4 therapy may target Tregs in vivo. Larger translational studies are, however, warranted to substantiate this mechanism of action of ipilimumab in patients.

Fauvinet-Ranson, Valerie,2006, Decor ciuitatis, decor Italiae. Monuments, travaux publics et spectacles au VIe siècle d'après les Variae de Cassiodore

Se trata de una obra fundamental para conocer el pensamiento de Casiodoro, así como para profundizar en el estudio de las ciudades de la Italia ostrogoda. En efecto, la ciudad es la verdadera protagonista del libro de Fauvinet-Ranson, una ciudad que se halla en plena transformación y que ya no se encuadra en el marco del Imperio romano, sino en el naciente Reino godo y que en muchos casos se halla en un estado casi crítico.

Los inicios de la conquista romana de Hispania. Los campamentos de campaña del curso inferior del rio Ebro.

La investigación arqueológica de los campamentos de campaña romano-republicanos localizados en el curso inferior del río Ebro permite una nueva perspectiva de estudio sobre los inicios de la conquista romana en la península ibérica.

Vespignani, Giorgio, Iппoδρoμoς. Il circo di Costantinopoli nuova Roma dalla realtà alla storiografia, Fondazione Centro Italiano di Studi sull"Alto Medioevo, Spoleto, 2010, 303 páginas. ISBN: 978 88-7988-197-5

"El Circo Máximo es su templo, su hogar, su asamblea y la esperanza de todos sus deseos" (AmmiAnvs mArc., Res gest., XXVIII, 4, 29: eisque templum et habitaculum et contio et cupitorum spes omnis Circus est maximus). De este modo describió el historiador Amiano Marcelino, hacia el 382/397, la pasión que la plebe de Roma sentía hacia los espectáculos, especialmente hacia los ludi circenses. Se trata de una afición que se fue incrementando a lo largo de toda la historia del Imperio Romano, hasta el extremo que a mediados del siglo iv, según el calendario de Filócalo (CIL, I2, 1, p. 256-278), se alcanzaron los 177 días de juegos anuales. Y evidentemente tal apasionamiento no fue exclusivo de la ciudad de Roma, sino que se vivió de un modo común en todo el Imperio, sobre todo en las ciudades más grandes, entre las que destacó de una manera especial la capital de Oriente, Constantinopla, la nueva Roma fundada por Constantino I.

The Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Osteocyte Capacity to Modulate Dendritic Cell Functions Is Strictly Dependent on the Culture System.

In vitro differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) into osteocytes (human differentiated osteogenic cells, hDOC) before implantation has been proposed to optimize bone regeneration. However, a deep characterization of the immunological properties of DOC, including their effect on dendritic cell (DC) function, is not available. DOC can be used either as cellular suspension (detached, Det-DOC) or as adherent cells implanted on scaffolds (adherent, Adh-DOC). By mimicking in vitro these two different routes of administration, we show that both Det-DOC and Adh-DOC can modulate DC functions. Specifically, the weak downregulation of CD80 and CD86 caused by Det-DOC on DC surface results in a weak modulation of DC functions, which indeed retain a high capacity to induce T-cell proliferation and to generate CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells. Moreover, Det-DOC enhance the DC capacity to differentiate CD4(+)CD161(+)CD196(+) Th17-cells by upregulating IL-6 secretion. Conversely, Adh-DOC strongly suppress DC functions by a profound downregulation of CD80 and CD86 on DC as well as by the inhibition of TGF-β production. In conclusion, we demonstrate that different types of DOC cell preparation may have a different impact on the modulation of the host immune system. This finding may have relevant implications for the design of cell-based tissue-engineering strategies.

Population Variation and Genetic Control of Modular Chromatin Architecture in Humans.

Chromatin state variation at gene regulatory elements is abundant across individuals, yet we understand little about the genetic basis of this variability. Here, we profiled several histone modifications, the transcription factor (TF) PU.1, RNA polymerase II, and gene expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines from 47 whole-genome sequenced individuals. We observed that distinct cis-regulatory elements exhibit coordinated chromatin variation across individuals in the form of variable chromatin modules (VCMs) at sub-Mb scale. VCMs were associated with thousands of genes and preferentially cluster within chromosomal contact domains. We mapped strong proximal and weak, yet more ubiquitous, distal-acting chromatin quantitative trait loci (cQTL) that frequently explain this variation. cQTLs were associated with molecular activity at clusters of cis-regulatory elements and mapped preferentially within TF-bound regions. We propose that local, sequence-independent chromatin variation emerges as a result of genetic perturbations in cooperative interactions between cis-regulatory elements that are located within the same genomic domain.

Capturing diagnosis-timing in ICD-coded hospital data: recommendations from the WHO ICD-11 topic advisory group on quality and safety.

PURPOSE: To develop a consensus opinion regarding capturing diagnosis-timing in coded hospital data. METHODS: As part of the World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases-11th Revision initiative, the Quality and Safety Topic Advisory Group is charged with enhancing the capture of quality and patient safety information in morbidity data sets. One such feature is a diagnosis-timing flag. The Group has undertaken a narrative literature review, scanned national experiences focusing on countries currently using timing flags, and held a series of meetings to derive formal recommendations regarding diagnosis-timing reporting. RESULTS: The completeness of diagnosis-timing reporting continues to improve with experience and use; studies indicate that it enhances risk-adjustment and may have a substantial impact on hospital performance estimates, especially for conditions/procedures that involve acutely ill patients. However, studies suggest that its reliability varies, is better for surgical than medical patients (kappa in hip fracture patients of 0.7-1.0 versus kappa in pneumonia of 0.2-0.6) and is dependent on coder training and setting. It may allow simpler and more precise specification of quality indicators. CONCLUSIONS: As the evidence indicates that a diagnosis-timing flag improves the ability of routinely collected, coded hospital data to support outcomes research and the development of quality and safety indicators, the Group recommends that a classification of 'arising after admission' (yes/no), with permitted designations of 'unknown or clinically undetermined', will facilitate coding while providing flexibility when there is uncertainty. Clear coding standards and guidelines with ongoing coder education will be necessary to ensure reliability of the diagnosis-timing flag.

Canvis ambientals i modelació antròpica del territori entre l'època ibèrica i l'alt medieval a Catalunya: aportacions de la palinologia

[spa] En los últimos años ha aumentado el interés arqueológico por los cambios territoriales de época histórica. Asimismo, el número de registros polínicos ha aumentado sensiblemente. A pesar de que la falta de marcos cronológicos fiables impone límites a las interpretaciones sobre antropización, el presente artículo pretende realizar una síntesis de los cambios paleoambientales documentados entre los siglos VIII aC y XII dC, haciendo especial referencia a las transformaciones humanas del entorno. Este conjunto de datos polínicos hace evidente una intervención humana al inicio del periodo ibérico, presión que se intensifica durante el iberismo Pleno con la expansión de actividades agrícolas. El mundo romano significa una explotación del espacio menos extensiva, si bien el el siglo VII dC se produce una extensión de los pastos tanto en sectores elevados del Pirineo como de litoral catalán que modifica profundamente el paisaje. [eng] The archaeological interest on the environmental changes during historical times has increased during the last decades. In accordance, a number of palynological from NE Spain records has been recently published. Despite chronological frame works are not yet enough reliable, this paper proposes a synthesis of landscape changes from VIIIth century BC to XIIth century AD. Palynological data suggest the presence of human impacts at ghe beginning of iberic times. Humans pressure, mainly farmning activities, intensified during iberian times. Roman times record a less extensive land use but at the IVth century AD, grazing expanded at regional scale. Pastures expanded again at VIIth century AD, reaching high altitudes in the Pyrenees while at littoral plains, meadows were used for grazing. This period resulted in a deep change of the Catalan lansacapes.

Pseudo-Próspero de Aquitania, Sobre la providencia de Dios. Introducción, texto latino revisado, traducción y comentario de Raúl Villegas Marín, Publicacions i edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 2010, 346 pp. ISBN 9788447534869

El primer tercio del siglo V representó un momento muy convulso en la historia del Imperio Romano. Algunas zonas, como la Galia, se vieron inmersas en una crisis provocada principalmente por las devastaciones que poblaciones bárbaras estaban llevando a cabo, desde inicios de la centuria, en casi todo su territorio. El foedus pactado por el Imperio con los visigodos, por el cual éstos se establecían en Aquitania (418), lejos de representar una solución no hizo sino aumentar los problemas de convivencia entre galorromanos y germanos. El pesimismo cundió entre la población autóctona: la teología eusebiana que presentaba al Dios cristiano como garante de los bienes materiales a través de su culto ―siguiendo la tradicional ideología del do ut des― había fallado, y muchas conciencias cristianas se hundieron en la angustia al preg

Catalytic gates for gas sensors based on SiC technology

En este trabajo se presenta un estudio químico y estructural de las capas metálicas de Pt y TaSix utilizadas como puerta catalítica en sensores de gas de alta temperatura basados en dispositivos MOS de SiC. Para ello se han depositado capas de diferentes espesores sobre substratos de Si. Los resultados muestran que con la reducción del espesor de Pt y con un recocido se consigue aumentar la rugosidad de las capas de puerta, lo que debería aumentar la sensibilidad y la velocidad de respuesta de los dispositivos que las incorporasen. Otro efecto del recocido es la transformación química del material de la puerta que, para capas delgadas de Pt con TaSix, produce la transformación total Pt en Pt2Ta, lo que podría afectar a las características catalíticas de la puerta. Los primeros resultados eléctricos indican que, a pesar de que las capas de Pt empleadas son gruesas y compactas, los diodos MOS túnel de SiC son sensibles a los gases CO y NO2, aunque presentan una velocidad de respuesta bastante lenta.