Suberization-the second life of an endodermal cell.

The endodermis is the innermost cortical cell layer that surrounds the central vasculature and deposits an apoplastic diffusion barrier known as the Casparian strip. Although discovered 150 years ago, the underlying mechanisms responsible for formation of the Casparian strips have only recently been investigated. However, the fate of the endodermal cell goes further than formation of Casparian strips as they undergo a second level of differentiation, defined by deposition of suberin as a secondary cell wall. The presence and function of endodermal suberin in root barriers has remained enigmatic, as its role in barrier formation is not clear, especially in respect to the already existing Casparian strips. In this review, we present recent advances in the understanding of suberin synthesis, transport to the secondary cell wall, developmental features and functions. We focus on some of the major unknown questions revolving the function of endodermal suberin, which we now have the means to investigate. We further provide thoughts on how this knowledge might expand our current models on the developmental and physiological adaptation of root in response to the environment.

Exploring the relative DNA contribution of first and second object's users on mock touch DNA mixtures

Contact stains recovered at break-in crime scenes are frequently characterized by mixtures of DNA from several persons. Broad knowledge on the relative contribution of DNA left behind by different users overtime is of paramount importance. Such information might help crime investigators to robustly evaluate the possibility of detecting a specific (or known) individual's DNA profile based on the type and history of an object. To address this issue, a contact stain simulation-based protocol was designed. Fourteen volunteers either acting as first or second object's users were recruited. The first user was required to regularly handle/wear 9 different items during an 8-10-day period, whilst the second user for 5, 30 and 120 min, in three independent simulation sessions producing a total of 231 stains. Subsequently, the relative DNA profile contribution of each individual pair was investigated. Preliminary results showed a progressive increase of the percentage contribution of the second user compared to the first. Interestingly, the second user generally became the major DNA contributor when most objects were handled/worn for 120 min, Furthermore, the observation of unexpected additional alleles will then prompt the investigation of indirect DNA transfer events.

Infrastructure and nation building: The regulation and financing of network transportation infrastructures in Spain (1720-2010)

This paper analyzes Spanish infrastructure policy since the early 1700s: Road building in the eighteenth century, railway creation and expansion in the nineteenth, motorway expansion in the twentieth, and high speed rail development in the twenty-first. The analysis reveals a long-term pattern, in which infrastructure policy in Spain has been driven not by the requirements of commerce and economic activity, but rather by the desire to centralize transportation around the country’s political capital.

Aggregate material formulated with MSWI bottom ash and APC fly ash for use as secondary building material

The main goal of this paper is to obtain a granular material formulated with Municipal Solid Waste Incinerarion (MSWI) bottom ash (BA) and air pollution control (APC) ash to be used as secondary building material. Previously, an optimum concrete mixture using both MSWI residues as aggregates was formulated. A compromise between the environmental behaviour and the economy of the process was considered. Unconfined compressive strength and abrasion resistance values were measured in order to evaluate the mechanical properties. From these results, the granular mixture was not suited for certain applications owing to the high BA/APC content and low cement percentages used to reduce the costs of the final product. Nevertheless, the leaching test performed showed that the concentrations of all heavy metals were below the limits established by the current Catalan legislation for their reutilization. Therefore, the material studied might be mainly used in embankments, where high mechanical properties are not needed and environmental safety is assured.

Acción educativa para la prevención y el tratamiento de la neglicencia parental en el barrio de Can Rull del municipio de Sabadell

Este trabajo se inscribe en el ámbito de la prevención de la negligencia parental. Basado en un proceso teórico-práctico, el programa de intervención está sujeto a la línea de los programas de formación de padres, por lo que sigue una dinámica psico-educativa y comunitaria. Para la realización del trabajo se ha partido de la idea que la familia es la base del desarrollo personal de los humanos y que el buen desarrollo de los menores dependerá en gran parte de las relaciones intrafamiliares. Se establece como objetivo principal ofrecer un servicio específico, estable y continuo, vinculado a los servicios de atención a la infancia y a la familia, que trabaje con el fin de conseguir un cambio conductual en aquellas familias en las que se presente una dinámica parental negligente. La metodología utilizada ha combinado diferentes técnicas de investigación. Para el trabajo de documentación se ha realizado una búsqueda bibliográfica alrededor del concepto de negligencia parental, se han analizado las acciones que se llevan a cabo a nivel institucional y se ha establecido el marco conceptual en el que se incluye tanto los aspectos legal de las diferentes áreas de la administración como aquellos conceptos que forman la estructura de una intervención en el ámbito de la infancia y la familia. También se ha tenido en cuenta la comunicación directa con algunos profesionales del ámbito social, sanitario y educativo como parte importante y determinante del proceso de ejecución del programa. El diseño del programa sigue la metodología del planeamiento estratégico e incluye un diagnóstico preliminar, un plan de acción detallado de las diferentes fases de implementación de la propuesta de intervención, la previsión de mecanismos de evaluación y un presupuesto detallado. En la primera parte del trabajo se refleja la gravedad y el impacto que tiene la negligencia parental en nuestra sociedad, observando la evolución histórica del concepto y la visualización de la problemática a la que va asociado. También se expone la necesidad de crear programas destinados a trabajar esta problemática y una revisión del marco legal que regula la atención a la infancia por parte de las administraciones públicas. En una segunda parte, se propone un programa específico destinado a trabajar la negligencia parental desde una perspectiva de reeducación y cambio conductual. Este proyecto de intervención se ubica en el barrio de Can Rull en Sabadell, del cual se detallan sus especificidades socioeconómicas y su realidad institucional.

The evolution and distribution of second-hand house prices in Barcelona

The aim of this study is to collect and analyze variables that could have a relationship with the second-hand house prices in Barcelona, as much disaggregated as possible from 2008 to 2011 and make a statistical analysis. The study consists of two parts. The first part is the preliminary study of the data and the second part is the econometric analysis of the data to see if there is any relationship between the second-hand house prices and the variables chosen. Finally, we looked at if there was any atypical observation and if the model presented multicollinarity. With all this information, we extract some conclusions and then, we analyzed more deeply the information.

A Formal Framework for Specifying, Reusing and Implementing Educational Settings. Second level

Peer-reviewed

Protected maleimide building blocks for the decoration of peptides, peptoids and peptide nucleic acids

Monomers allowing for the introduction of [2,5-dimethylfuran]-protected maleimides into polyamides such as peptides, peptide nucleic acids, and peptoids were prepared, as well as the corresponding oligomers. Suitable maleimide deprotection conditions were established in each case. The stability of the adducts generated by Michael-type maleimide-thiol reaction and Diels-Alder cycloaddition to maleimide deprotection conditions was exploited to prepare a variety of conjugates from peptide and PNA scaffolds incorporating one free and one protected maleimide. The target molecules were synthesized by using two subsequent maleimide-involving click reactions separated by a maleimide deprotection step. Carrying out maleimide deprotection and conjugation simultaneously gave better results than performing the two reactions subsequently.

Building an open social learning community around a Dspace repository on Statistics

LORs, addressing content management and preservation, have the positive collaterals of institutional positioning and dissemination, but their main benefit is the empowerment of interest-centred learning communities, as we recognise that learning is much more than content, which becomes infrastructure: the LOR provides the learner interaction with the LOs, but also with other learners and teachers.

Building a Social Education curriculum based on Professional Competences : the experience of University of Girona

This article describes the process of adapting Social Education studies to the European Higher Education Area undertaken by a team of the teaching staff at the University of Girona (Spain). The aim of the experience is to build a curriculum based on thecompetencies recognized as such by professionals in the field of social education in our region. The article specifies the development of the various phases, each involving the active participation of professionals and teaching staff from the universities. To conclude, main characteristics of the curriculum are highlighted

Maasulkuvirtojen kehitys ja kompensointi Haminan Energia Oy:n keskijänniteverkossa

Tässä työssä tutkitaan maasulkuvirtoja sekä niiden vaikutusta ja kehitystä Haminan Ener-gia Oy:n keskijänniteverkossa. Lisäksi tarkastellaan erilaisia mahdollisuuksia rajoittaa maasulkuvirtojen suuruuksia. Tutkimusalueena käytetään koko Haminan Energia Oy:n keskijänniteverkkoaluetta. Maasulkuvirtojen suuruuden ja vaikutusten tutkimiseksi suori-tetaan erilaisin lähtökriteerein maasulkujen vikavirtalaskennat verkkotietojärjestelmällä. Verkon kehittymisen analysoimiseksi selvitetään sen ikätietoja, kaava-alueiden muutok-sia sekä päämuuntaja- ja varasyöttökapasiteetteja. Analyysien pohjalta saatujen tulosten perusteella työssä laaditaan arvio maasulkuvirtojen kehityksestä tulevaisuudessa. Maasulkuvirtojen kompensoimiseksi päädytään rakenta-maan uusi päämuuntaja Laurilan sähköasemalle sekä parantamaan eräiden muuntamoiden ja erottimien maadoituksia. Nämä parannusehdotukset toteuttamalla pystytään sähkötur-vallisuusmääräykset täyttämään maasulkujen osalta pitkälle tulevaisuuteen sekä vähentä-mään asiakkaiden kokemia keskeytyksiä. Lisäksi työssä tehdään ohjeistus Haminan Energia Oy:lle maasulkuvirtojen laskentaa varten.

Multi-sensor Simultaneous Localization and Mapping

Simultaneous localization and mapping(SLAM) is a very important problem in mobile robotics. Many solutions have been proposed by different scientists during the last two decades, nevertheless few studies have considered the use of multiple sensors simultane¬ously. The solution is on combining several data sources with the aid of an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). Two approaches are proposed. The first one is to use the ordinary EKF SLAM algorithm for each data source separately in parallel and then at the end of each step, fuse the results into one solution. Another proposed approach is the use of multiple data sources simultaneously in a single filter. The comparison of the computational com¬plexity of the two methods is also presented. The first method is almost four times faster than the second one.