Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for biodetection applications comprising two basic elements, a substrate with a functionalized surface and a nanoparticle, the system being capable of enhancing the plasmonic effect of the nanoparticle. The invention also relates to a biosensor incorporating such system, in addition to the method for detecting and quantifying a target analyte selected in a sample using such system. Finally, the invention relates to a device which can detect the enhanced optoplasmonic effect of the nanoparticles by means of the system of the invention or by combining the detection of such optoplasmonic effect with the analysis of the changes in the mechanical characteristics in the substrate.

Abstract: Methods for processing a crude oil feedstock include introducing a crude oil stream to a reactive distillation unit to remove conradson carbon and metals from the crude oil stream and generate a distillate stream having a mean boiling point distribution less than the crude oil stream and passing the distillate stream in a gaseous form in a continuous manner and without further processing to a catalytic cracking reactor operating at a temperature of 300° C. to 800° C. with a cracking catalyst disposed therein that cracks the distillate stream to form a petrochemical product stream including light olefins and BTX.

Abstract: Methods for processing a crude oil feedstock include introducing a crude oil stream to a reactive distillation unit to remove conradson carbon and metals from the crude oil stream and generate a distillate stream having a mean boiling point distribution less than the crude oil stream and passing the distillate stream in a gaseous form in a continuous manner and without further processing to a catalytic cracking reactor that cracks the distillate stream to form a petrochemical product stream including light olefins and BTX. The catalytic cracking reactor includes a cracking catalyst and a susceptor material dispersed throughout the catalytic cracking reactor. Further, the catalytic cracking reactor operates at a temperature of 300° C. to 800° C. with heating from magnetic induction of the susceptor material.

Abstract: The invention relates to neuroprotective, antioxidant quinolylnitrones to which the blood-brain barrier is highly permeable, as potential drugs for the treatment of a cerebral stroke or ischaemia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to activated and ground sodium hexametaphosphate frit particles and antimicrobial composite material comprising said activated and ground sodium hexametaphosphate frit particles embedded in a thermoplastic polymer such as low density polyethylene (LDPE). The invention also relates to the method for obtaining the composite material of the invention and a thermal activation method for the thermal activation of a sodium hexametaphosphate salt in order to generate the activated and ground sodium hexametaphosphate frit particles. The antimicrobial material of the invention is preferably used in the food industry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pyrazolylbenzene-1,3-diols as cannabidiol derivatives, its use for the manufacture of a medicament, and more particularly, to the use of this medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of a disorder associated with the GPR18 and/or TRPV1 receptors and the use of these compounds for pharmacological assays related to GPR18 and/or TRPV1.

Abstract: A device for the detection of gamma rays presents a high resolution in the three-dimensional position of the impact of the gamma ray within one or more scintillation crystal blocks coupled to an array of photosensors, for the determination of the impact energy of said gamma ray, the determination of the instant in time when said impact occurred, the interaction depth and the determination of the time-of-flight. Advantageously, in said device, the scintillation crystal detection blocks are optically isolated, in such a way that the scintillation light can only exit said blocks via the output region; and the scintillation crystal detection blocks and the array of photosensors are disposed in direct optical coupling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a lens for an ultrasound apparatus, as well as to an apparatus comprising the lens. The method comprises choosing a source point, providing a treatment volume situated inside a bone tissue model, providing a plurality of nodes distributed inside the treatment volume, and simulating the emission of a spherical wave from each of the nodes. Thus, a simulated wave front is created, in which each spherical wave has an amplitude and a phase, there being at least two nodes with different amplitudes and/or phases. The simulated wave front is received on a receiving surface. On the basis of the processed results, a holographic lens surface is designed, which can generate a wave pattern equivalent to the simulated wave.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a self-standing catecholamine-based membrane, the process comprising the steps of: (a) cross-linking a catechol derivative with an amine selected from the group consisting of: a known aliphatic amine hydrocarbon of formula (II); and an aromatic amine of formula (IIbis), in a liquid medium, wherein both the catechol and the amine are soluble, at a pH comprised from 6.5 to 10, and under appropriate agitation to create a catecholamine membrane in the air/liquid interface in the absence of any support; and b) isolating the membrane resulting from step (a) from the air/liquid interface. The resulting self-standing catecholamine-based membrane was robust, easy to handle and manipulate, highly flexible and adaptable to any kind of surface without breaking, and adhesive.

Abstract: A pyrophosphate-free mixture with fire retardancy, including a mixture of non-polymer organic components, wherein at least a first compound of the mixture acts as a hydrogen-bridge donor and at least a second compound of the mixture acts as a hydrogen-bridge acceptor. The disclosure also relates to a method for preparing the fire-retardant mixture and to the use thereof as a fire retardant in extinguishing forest fires.

Abstract: An integrated mode converter and multiplexer (/demultiplexer) combines a multimode interference coupler, at least one phase-shifter and a symmetrical Y-junction. The dispersion of the multimode interference coupler is engineered through subwavelength structures in order to achieve a very wide bandwidth. Several phase-shifter topologies for further bandwidth enhancement are disclosed, as well as architectures for multiplexing a greater number of optical modes.

Abstract: In a method of preparing an immobilized selenium system or body, a selenium-carbon-oxygen mixture is formed. The mixture is then heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of selenium and the heated mixture is then cooled to ambient or room temperature, thereby forming the immobilized selenium system or body.

Abstract: It comprises optical assemblies that focus light onto individual first optical fibers which are combined together in a final single optical fiber, collecting a considerable amount of light from a target, to feed an instrument such as a spectrograph. The first optical fibers are kept centred on the target through image devices that also provide images, and these images can be combined to give rise to a high-quality image of the field surrounding the target. The final effective aperture of the device is scalable, using different numbers of optical assemblies and depending on their diameters.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method using no switching elements for multiplexing and reading arrays of sensors whose electrical resistance is modulated by the signals to be measured are proposed. Sensor elements are arranged in groups and columns where each column is fed with a continuous voltage waveform of different amplitude, frequency and phase characteristics which then produce current signals that are modulated by the variable resistance signals to be measured. Modulated currents are summed row-wise and collected at the read-out circuits, either by applying a constant voltage to each row of the array or by connecting a capacitor and converting these current summations into output voltage signals. The read-out circuits de-multiplex each individual sensor signal to be measured by lock-in demodulation according to the frequencies and phases employed for the stimulation of each column.

Abstract: A method for controlled production of an array of planar microparticles with the multiplexing of molecules on the surface thereof, intended to function as molecular sensors and/or actuators and a matrix (array) of microparticles, the surface thereof being printed with all of the molecular components required to provide the surface with functionality. Different molecular elements are multiplexed on the surface of each particle while they are supported on a substrate by means of a structural foot engraved below the particle. These microparticles can be released mechanically from the support on which they are produced using a controlled mechanical rupture method which is not chemically aggressive and therefore does not affect the molecules previously printed on the surface. The array and the particles contained therein offer great versatility in both chemical and/or biological applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a series of compounds having a structural benzothiazole-benzamide core with capacity to inhibit the LRRK2 enzyme, due to which the invention also relates to the use of these compounds for treating neurodegenerative diseases in which this enzyme is involved, such as Parkinson's Disease or Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dynamic chemical network that mimics the transfer of information and ultimately produces a chemical response, for example a readable signal. More specifically, the invention discloses a dynamic system able to selectively sense a biologically-relevant analyte, such as cysteine, in its reduced or its oxidized form (cystine) in aqueous media and in a biofluid (such as urine) for diagnostic application. Due to this property, said dynamic system is useful for the detection of cysteine or its derivatives in biological fluids such as urine.

Abstract: A chemiresistive sensor has a low limit for detecting NO2 at ambient temperature. An active layer of the sensor includes a few-layer graphene material. The response of the sensor is not altered by relative humidity, and the sensor also demonstrates very low interference with ammonia, allowing this interference to be disregarded in the measurements.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for treatment of IL13R?2-overexpressing cancer, wherein the treatment comprises administering a protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing wheat lines that are low gliadin, low-gluten and transgene-free using genome editing. Also described are nucleic acid constructs and sgRNA molecules for use in genome editing, as well as genetically altered plants obtained by these methods.