University of Valencia

About: University of Valencia is a education organization based out in Valencia, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 27096 authors who have published 65669 publications receiving 1765689 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitat de València & UV.

The Determinants of Survival of Spanish Manufacturing Firms

Abstract: This paper analyses the factors determining Spanish manufacturing firms’ survival–and exit. The data are drawn from the survey Encuesta sobre Estrategias Empresariales for the period 1990–1999. The methodology includes both non-parametric techniques and the estimation of a Cox proportional hazards model (CPHM). Our results suggest that the probability of exit is higher for small firms and also for young and mature firms. Furthermore, exporting firms and firms performing R&D activities enjoy better survival prospects.

The insect nephrocyte is a podocyte-like cell with a filtration slit diaphragm

Abstract: The blood-filtering barrier in the glomerulus of the vertebrate kidney, where blood is ultrafiltered to form urine, is made up of modified epithelial cells called podocytes. The nephron — consisting of the glomerulus and renal tubule — is considered a characteristic adaptive feature of vertebrates. But 'nephron-like' features are found in the excretory systems of many invertebrates. Now Weavers et al. report that an insect filtration cell known as the nephrocyte shares striking similarity with the podocyte. Fly orthologues of the major constituents of the slit diaphragm of the kidney form a complex of interacting proteins resembling that found in vertebrates. The nephrocyte diaphragm is completely lost in flies mutant for nephrin or NEPH1 orthologues, similar to the phenotype of the human kidney disease congenital nephrotic syndrome (NPHS1). This establishes the insect nephrocyte as a model for the study of kidney podocyte biology and podocyte-associated diseases. This paper shows that insects possess a structure very similar, both anatomically and functionally, to the blood-filtering tissue of the vertebrate kidney, and raises the possibility that components of the vertebrate excretory system were inherited from their invertebrate ancestors. It is also shown that fly orthologues of the major constituents of the slit diaphragm of the kidney form a complex of interacting proteins similar to the vertebrate slit diaphragm complex. The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the vertebrate kidney. It is composed of a glomerulus, the site of ultrafiltration, and a renal tubule, along which the filtrate is modified. Although widely regarded as a vertebrate adaptation1, ‘nephron-like’ features can be found in the excretory systems of many invertebrates, raising the possibility that components of the vertebrate excretory system were inherited from their invertebrate ancestors2. Here we show that the insect nephrocyte has remarkable anatomical, molecular and functional similarity to the glomerular podocyte, a cell in the vertebrate kidney that forms the main size-selective barrier as blood is ultrafiltered to make urine. In particular, both cell types possess a specialized filtration diaphragm, known as the slit diaphragm in podocytes or the nephrocyte diaphragm in nephrocytes. We find that fly (Drosophila melanogaster) orthologues of the major constituents of the slit diaphragm, including nephrin, NEPH1 (also known as KIRREL), CD2AP, ZO-1 (TJP1) and podocin, are expressed in the nephrocyte and form a complex of interacting proteins that closely mirrors the vertebrate slit diaphragm complex. Furthermore, we find that the nephrocyte diaphragm is completely lost in flies lacking the orthologues of nephrin or NEPH1—a phenotype resembling loss of the slit diaphragm in the absence of either nephrin (as in human congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type, NPHS1) or NEPH1. These changes markedly impair filtration function in the nephrocyte. The similarities we describe between invertebrate nephrocytes and vertebrate podocytes provide evidence suggesting that the two cell types are evolutionarily related, and establish the nephrocyte as a simple model in which to study podocyte biology and podocyte-associated diseases.

High efficiency single-junction semitransparent perovskite solar cells

Abstract: Semitransparent perovskite solar cells with a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) above 6% and 30% full device transparency have been achieved by implementing a thin perovskite layer and a simple foil compatible layout.

Bioactive peptides as natural antioxidants in food products – A review

Abstract: Background Diseases related to oxidative stress and food quality decay are of major concern worldwide as they can lead to economic losses in both public health and food production. The antioxidant peptides, extracted from food proteins, can be explored as natural new drug and food ingredient. Scope and approach Antioxidant peptides are extracted from non-antioxidant precursor proteins from different origin by the activity of either proteolytic microorganisms or isolated enzymes. In the present review, the main sources of bioactive peptides will be discussed. Moreover, the current strategies to obtain these compounds as well as their health benefits and in vivo biological effects will be evaluated. Considerations for further research and development of strategies to increase the knowledge about this underexplored activity of peptides will be also considered. Key findings and conclusions Bioactive peptides' content and profile differ according to the matrix studied and the method used. The utilization of fermentation processes and enzymes has been established to obtain antioxidant bioactive peptides from proteins, being isolated enzymes the most commonly used method, due to their superior control over releasing and obtaining targeted peptides. Antioxidant peptides have the ability to reduce the formation of oxidative products along with the induction of antioxidant enzymes in vivo. However, at this stage of development more in vivo studies are needed in order to evaluate the specific effects on the health of selected antioxidant peptides. In food technology, successful application in meat products strengthens the role of selected peptides as antioxidant additives, although there is a need to observe the effects of the isolated bioactive peptides in other food matrices along with studies to scale-up its production.

State and Training Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Brain Networks Reflect Neuronal Mechanisms of Its Antidepressant Effect

Abstract: The topic of investigating how mindfulness meditation training can have antidepressant effects via plastic changes in both resting state and meditation state brain activity is important in the rapidly emerging field of neuroplasticity. In the present study, we used a longitudinal design investigating resting state fMRI both before and after 40 days of meditation training in 13 novices. After training, we compared differences in network connectivity between rest and meditation using common resting state functional connectivity methods. Interregional methods were paired with local measures such as Regional Homogeneity. As expected, significant differences in functional connectivity both between states (rest versus meditation) and between time points (before versus after training) were observed. During meditation, the internal consistency in the precuneus and the temporoparietal junction increased, while the internal consistency of frontal brain regions decreased. A follow-up analysis of regional connectivity of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex further revealed reduced connectivity with anterior insula during meditation. After meditation training, reduced resting state functional connectivity between the pregenual anterior cingulate and dorsal medical prefrontal cortex was observed. Most importantly, significantly reduced depression/anxiety scores were observed after training. Hence, these findings suggest that mindfulness meditation might be of therapeutic use by inducing plasticity related network changes altering the neuronal basis of affective disorders such as depression.