The rural landscape of Eastern Iberia Iron Age : agricultural intensification and sociopolitical dynamics
This paper focuses on the rural landscape during the Iberian Iron Age in the Valencia Region (Eastern Spain). This paper deals with two main issues. The first is to integrate and analyze the results of archeological fieldwork to understand the systems of settlement and land-use intensification during the Iberian Iron Age. The second issue addresses socio-economic aspects related to changes in the observable spatial patterns. These processes are characterized by the dynamics of urbanization and emergence of Iberian Early States.
L'assentament de la Torre Redona (Alcoi) i la formació del paisatge romà a les comarques de l'Alcoià-el Comtat
Aquest treball s’ha realitzat en el marc del projecte HAR2012-37003-C03-02 “Arqueologia de la conquista e implantacion romana en Hispania. Estrategias y modelos de control territorial en el Este de la Provincia Citerior (ss. II-I aC)” del MINECO.
Optimized Delivery System Achieves Enhanced Endomyocardial Stem Cell Retention
Background—Regenerative cell-based therapies are associated with limited myocardial retention of delivered stem cells. The objective of this study is to develop an endocardial delivery system for enhanced cell retention. Methods and Results—Stem cell retention was simulated in silico using 1- and 3-dimensional models of tissue distortion and compliance associated with delivery. Needle designs, predicted to be optimal, were accordingly engineered using nitinol, a nickel and titanium alloy displaying shape memory and superelasticity. Biocompatibility was tested with human mesenchymal stem cells. Experimental validation was performed with species-matched cells directly delivered into Langendorff-perfused porcine hearts or administered percutaneously into the endocardium of infarcted pigs. Cell retention was quantified by flow cytometry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction methodology. Models, computing optimal distribution of distortion calibrated to favor tissue compliance, predicted that a 75°-curved needle featuring small-to-large graded side holes would ensure the highest cell retention profile. In isolated hearts, the nitinol curved needle catheter (C-Cath) design ensured 3-fold superior stem cell retention compared with a standard needle. In the setting of chronic infarction, percutaneous delivery of stem cells with C-Cath yielded a 37.7±7.1% versus 10.0±2.8% retention achieved with a traditional needle without effect on biocompatibility or safety. Conclusions—Modeling-guided development of a nitinol-based curved needle delivery system with incremental side holes achieved enhanced myocardial stem cell retention.