Abstract: Changing the normal metabolic environment of cancer cells by using artificial diets in which the levels and ratios of specific amino acids and lipids are manipulated. Because of their DNA alterations, cancer cells will not be able to fully adapt to the new metabolic environment, which will reduce their survival capacity and their protection against the immune system. Artificial diet compositions are provided that induce remarkable anticancer activities in animal models of metastatic cancers; these activities were higher than in mice receiving the pharmacological treatments used in cancer patients. The levels of methionine and leucine have a major impact on the in vivo anticancer activity of the diets. In all the active diets, the levels of methionine are less than or equal to 0.6% and the levels of leucine are less than or equal to 10%, based on the total weight of the whole dry composition.

Abstract: The photomultiplier includes a set of macrocells, each comprising at least two microcells, each being connected to an output node according to an OR diagram, and achieving great energy efficiency upon deactivating each of the microcells when these are activated almost simultaneously, and that otherwise would have been masked by the OR diagram. To this end, each of the microcells comprises an active quenching and recharge circuit; an avalanche diode; a first deactivation transistor with its gate connected to an external processor, and its drain and source associated with the active quenching and recharge circuit; a second deactivation transistor with its gate connected to an external processor, and its source associated with the active quenching and recharge circuit.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for predicting or prognosticating the risk of death or vasospasm in a patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which comprises the following steps: performing a clinical assessment of the patient according to the Hunt and Hess scale and the World Federation of Neurosurgeons (WFNS) scale; obtaining a computerised axial tomography image of the patient's skull; normalising the image obtained according to a standard skull template; obtaining a region corresponding to intracranial blood by segmenting the normalised image; calculating at least the following parameters of the region of cranial blood obtained: total volume, fractal dimension and surface-volume ratio; and determining the probability of death or vasospasm in the patient according to at least the parameters calculated.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in a subject. The invention provides compositions, uses and methods for the treatment of SIRS.

Abstract: A method of molecular self-assembly is disclosed using two interacting streams that are allowed to interact and are subsequently forced through an orifice. A first stream of a dope solution of polymer molecules is extruded out of a capillary. The dope stream is surrounded by a focusing fluid which is miscible with the dope solution. The interaction between the jet of dope solution and surrounding focusing fluid creates hydrodynamic stretching and allows for extracting solvent from the dope solution. Concentrated polymers within the solution at stretched regions of the jet interact, and finally self-assembly takes place after the fluids are forced through the outlet of a converging nozzle. The formation of the structure can be optionally completed in a coagulating space. The structures thus obtained such as fibers or threads can be wound onto a mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus comprises a liquid dispenser comprising a liquid outlet, the liquid dispenser being configured to generate a droplet stream. The apparatus also comprises a first fluid flow device configured to generate a confinement fluid flow for confining a trajectory of the droplet stream therein, the first fluid flow device comprising an outlet arranged to allow the droplet stream to exit therefrom, wherein the fluid outlet is arranged within the confinement fluid flow device. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a second fluid flow device configured to generate a reaction fluid flow for reacting with droplets in the droplet stream, wherein the outlet of the first fluid flow device is arranged within the second fluid flow device. A method is also described.

Abstract: Concentric flow focusing encapsulation devices and methods for production of microencapsulated droplets of a first core material surrounded by a second shell material include assessment of non-dimensional fluid dynamic parameters that are related to the characteristics of produced droplets. The parameters are specifically related to characteristics such as homogenous or non-homogenous modes of concentric droplet breakup, density distribution of various droplet sizes, and qualities such as monodispersity of droplets produced. By identifying control parameters in specific regions, control variables may be selected to produce droplets or particles with desired qualities.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for detecting and quantifying gluten peptides resistant to gastrointestinal digestion in human body fluids, preferably urine. The presence or absence of gluten peptides is controlled by immunological assays based on specific gluten peptide antibodies directed thereagainst.

Abstract: The present invention fitted in the medical-clinical sector, shows a method for monitoring the ingestion of gluten by measuring protein/gluten peptides present in fecal samples with antibodies against immunogenic peptides resistant to gastrointestinal digestion. The presence or absence of these immunogenic peptides is controlled by immunological assays based on antibodies reactive against immunogenic gluten peptides that are resistant to proteolysis. These assays may be quantitative techniques ELISAs, or qualitative as rapid immunochromatographic assays, immunoblots, etc. These measures may also be applied to verify compliance with the gluten-free diet, to improve diagnosis in cases of refractory or severe symptoms of celiac disease in which a gluten-free diet is supposedly being respected, or to clinical research on the effectiveness of enzymatic therapies related with prolamin detoxification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple method for selecting varieties of seeds from wheat, barley, rye and, in particular, oats, which enables said seeds, whether or not genetically manipulated, to be used in the production of gluten-free foods and beverages suitable for coeliac patients, and also the preparation of excipients for specific drugs. This invention is based on a simple immunological detection system that makes it possible to quantify the most immunogenic peptides of gluten with a view to ascertaining whether the cereal variety, preferably oats, can be used to produce suitable seeds that can form part of the diet of a coeliac patient. Preferred tests would make use of at least one antibody that recognizes the most immunogenic part of prolamines, the reactivity of which antibody vis-à-vis cereal seeds having been demonstrated to be proportional to the immunogenicity thereof with T-cells from coeliac patients.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, comprising detecting the level of expression of the gene GATA-4, or the quantity of the protein GATA-4, in the isolated biological sample of liver tissue. The invention also relates to a diagnosis kit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis and application of gold catalysts supported in mixed CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 oxides prepared on the basis of their corresponding solids with a hydrotalcite structure as catalysts in the water-gas shift reaction, for use in fuel processors coupled to fuel cells.

Abstract: A method of molecular self-assembly is disclosed using two interacting streams that are allowed to interact and are subsequently forced through an orifice. A first stream of a dope solution of polymer molecules is extruded out of a capillary. The dope stream is surrounded by a focusing fluid which is miscible with the dope solution. The interaction between the jet of dope solution and surrounding focusing fluid creates hydrodynamic stretching and allows for extracting solvent from the dope solution. Concentrated polymers within the solution at stretched regions of the jet interact, and finally self-assembly takes place after the fluids are forced through the outlet of a converging nozzle. The formation of the structure can be optionally completed in a coagulating space. The structures thus obtained such as fibers or threads can be wound onto a mandrel.

Abstract: Method for generating piecewise-affine multivariate functions, wherein the online computation of the search tree is performed in order to locate the input value in the polytopes of the partition, and the subsequent generation of the corresponding affine function. It also proposes a configurable and programmable device for generating piecewise-affine multivariate functions composed of an architecture with four functional blocks namely: a control unit block (1), a tree memory block, a parameter memory block and an arithmetic unit block; and it has at least three operating modes which can be selected using different values of a bus (config): writing of the tree memory, writing of the parameter memory and evaluating the affine function. It may include a fourth operating mode, which is the test mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new series of compounds having general formula (I) and the optical isomer or enantiomer forms thereof, which belong to the family of sulforaphane derivatives. The invention also relates to the production method thereof. The invention further relates to the multiple medical (pharmaceutical, homeopathic and phytotherapeutic), food, cosmetic and dietary uses of said series of compounds, especially the use thereof in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases and any type of illness or damage associated with an oxidative process or which, although not involved in said process, are mediated by the Nrf2 transcription factor, such as, for example, cancer. The compounds can be used alone or, alternatively, encapsulated in cyclodextrins.

Abstract: Morphing aircraft wing with a mobile upper surface comprising a double skinning on the upper surface of the wing wherein one of the skinnings corresponds to the leading edge and the other corresponds to the trailing edge and they overlap in the central area of the wing with the possibility of relative displacement between the two skinnings and they extend in the direction of the chord of the wing profile, the wing comprises actuators that are positioned on the main wing spars and which exert a reaction force against said spars when they exert the force required to morph the wing displacing the skinnings in the direction of the chord of the profile to the configuration of low speed flight, take-off and landing.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method, and to a device to produce emulsions and particle suspensions by using electro-hydrodinamic forces and microfluidics This combined use allow the production of droplets with mean diameters which may be either smaller than those obtained in conventional microfluidic devices or larger than those obtained by electrospray, bridging the gap between the two methods acting independently.

Abstract: An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles contains a microfluidic flow focusing device. The microfluidic flow focusing device includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

Abstract: Device for edge detection and quality enhancement in an image which comprises a grouping of identical and locally interconnected elementary processing cells. Each processing cell is characterized in turn by a comparator which carries out in parallel the comparison of each pair of neighboring pixels. The threshold voltage which establishes the difference in voltage between pixels considered to be part of an edge is determined by means of a temporary adjustment of a control signal. This adjustment, along with that of the filtering control signal, also temporary in nature, are the only ones necessary for configuring the required processing. No external analog control signals are required making it easier to program the hardware by the device which is used and reducing the number of digital/analog converters of the final system.

Abstract: The present invention, fitted in the medical-clinical sector, shows a method for monitoring the ingestion of gluten by measuring protein/gluten peptides present in fecal samples with antibodies against immunogenic peptides resistant to gastrointestinal digestion. The presence or absence of said immunogenic peptides is controlled by immunological assays based on reactive antibodies against immunogenic gluten peptides that are resistant to proteolysis. These assays may be quantitative techniques as ELISAs, or qualitative as rapid immunochromatographic assays, immunoblots, etc. These measures may also be applied to verify compliance with the gluten-free diet, to improve diagnosis in cases of refractory or severe symptoms of celiac disease, in cases in which a gluten-free diet is supposedly being respected, or to clinical research on the effectiveness of enzymatic therapies related with prolamin detoxification.