Interaction between calcium and casein hydrolysates: stoichiometry, binding constant, binding sites and thermal stability of casein phosphopeptide complexes

The ability of a casein hydrolysate rich in casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) to form calcium complexes was studied. An association constant of 125 ± 32 L mol−1 at 25 °C was determined electrochemically, forming 1:1 complexes according to conductivity measurements. Chloride anions increased the affinity for calcium and number of CPPs bound to calcium in solution to more than one. From temperature dependence of the association constant, the enthalpy of binding of calcium chloride to CPPs was determined to be −24 kJ mol−1. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed solid state binding of chloride and calcium to CPPs, further showing a positive cooperativity induced by calcium due to opening of the alpha-helix structure of CPPs. In addition, calcium chloride complexation was shown to increase the thermal stability of CPPs according to the results of thermogravimetry differential scanning calorimetry. In conclusion, hydrolysed casein could be considered as a potential enhancer of calcium availability in food.Universidade de Vig

Flexible user mapping for radio resource assignment in advanced satellite payloads

This work explores the flexible assignment of users to beams in order to match the non-uniform traffic demand in satellite systems, breaking the conventional cell boundaries and serving users not necessarily by the corresponding beams yielding more power. The smart beam-user mapping is jointly explored with adjustable bandwidth allocation per beam, and tested against different techniques for payloads with flexible radio resource allocation. Thus, both beam capacity and load are adjusted to cope with the traffic demand. The specific locations of the user terminals play a major role, although their complexity does not increase as part of the proposed scheme. Numerical results are obtained for various non-uniform traffic distributions to evaluate the performance of the solutions. The traffic profile across beams is shaped by the Dirichlet distribution, which can be conveniently parameterized, and makes simulations easily reproducible. Even with ideal conditions for the power allocation, both flexible beam-user mapping and adjustable power allocation similarly enhance the flexible assignment of the bandwidth on average. Results show that a smart pairing of users and beams provides considerable advantages in highly asymmetric demand scenarios, with improvements up to 10% and 30% in terms of the offered and the minimum user rates, respectively, in hot-spot like cases.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2019-105717RB-C21Xunta de Galici

On the least square prenucleolus for games with externalities

Abstract In this paper we address the problem of determining the least square prenucleolus for games with externalities. Specifically, this solution is based on the minimization of the variance of the excess vectors that can be associated to any allocation vector over the set of all embedded coalitions using a least square criterion. From a theoretical point of view, an axiomatization of this solution is provided. Besides, we analyse its relations with other proposals of solution in the game-theoretical literature.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C-2020/03Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/24Universidade de Vigo/CISUGAgencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2021-124030NB-C33Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2021- 124030NB-C3

Interpretación del patrimonio y turismo marinero: museos y centros de interpretación en Galicia

Introducción. El turismo litoral en Galicia sigue fundamentado actualmente en el producto “sol y playa”. En función de lo cual, los destinos turísticos litorales presentan un marcado problema de estacionalidad tanto de la oferta como la demanda (Patiño Romarís, 2020 y 2021). Ante esta problemática, muchos expertos recomiendan como estrategia turístico territorial ampliar y diversificar la oferta de productos, que debería basarse en las características identitarias del lugar; frente a los efectos de la globalización, existen corrientes de revalorización de lo local como estrategia de desarrollo y de reafirmación o de resignificación de la identidad territorial. En otro orden, la demanda turística presenta cada vez más un perfil heterogéneo y con intereses diversos, busca la complementariedad de diferentes experiencias en los destinos que visitan. Estas dos realidades dentro del mercado turístico han propiciado la aparición de una oferta de productos más diversificada en los destinos turísticos litorales (turismo cultural, turismo de salud, ecoturismo, turismo náutico, turismo gastronómico, …). [...

El impacto social y empresarial de los estudios de Comunicación en Pontevedra

La implantación de los estudios de Comunicación en la Comunidad Autónoma Gallega no ha estado exenta de problemas y polémicas. Tras más de 25 años del inicio de las titulaciones de este ámbito, resulta necesario realizar una valoración de su evolución buscando generar un documento de referencia para conocer sus datos de partida, pero también para reflexionar sobre su evolución. De una forma más concreta, se aporta una visión específica sobre cómo la puesta en marcha de los estudios de Publicidad y Relaciones Públicas y Comunicación Audiovisual han incidido en la realidad empresarial de la pequeña ciudad de Pontevedra, generando no sólo un tejido específico de este tipo de negocios si no una cultura real en torno al fenómeno comunicativo. El trabajo recopila datos de referencia en torno a los estudios, pero también en torno al sector empresarial y aplica una metodología de investigación amplia. Palabras clave: comunicación, publicidad, Pontevedra, Grados, Universidad, Galicia

Larval aquatic and terrestrial mites infesting parthenogenetic Ischnura hastata (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from the Azores islands

We report here the prevalence of parasitism by water mites (Arrenurus sp.) and terrestrial mites (Leptus killingtoni) on parthenogenetic Ischnura hastata (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from the Azores islands. Leptus killingtoni was only found on the island of Pico, and the prevalence of infestation was highly variable among the different ponds studied, ranging from 0 to 41%. Leptus killingtoni was observed on three of the four odonate species from the archipelago: I. hastata, I. pumilio, and Sympetrum fonscolombii, all of them new hosts for this species. Aquatic mites have been found parasitizing I. hastata females on the island of São Miguel. The prevalence of mite parasitism by Arrenurus sp. on I. hastata was very low, ranging from 12% (2003) to 1% (2008), and in most of the studied ponds, no mites were found attached to females. Although I. hastata coexists with a sexual congener species in the Azores (I. pumilio), they are syntopic in only a small fraction of ponds. Therefore, a comparison between I. hastata and I. pumilio was insufficient to test the predictions of the Red Queen Hypothesis, and further research on parasitism rates in both species needs to be done. In any case, the low prevalence of mite parasitism found in the Azores, coupled with the fact that most of the populations in the archipelago are almost free from competitors and predators, could explain the persistence of these I. hastata parthenogenetic populations, despite their low levels of genetic variation.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia | Ref. CGL2005-0012

Probabilistic model for mechanical power fluctuations in asynchronous wind parks

Wind parks and their impact on electrical power systems have become an important area for analysis over the last decade. Particularly, the influence of wind turbines on power quality of electrical power systems is today a subject of study for several electrical and wind turbine manufacturing companies, standards committees, and universities. In this paper, a new probabilistic model for analyzing electrical power fluctuations from wind parks with asynchronous generators is developed. The model is based on the aggregation of the linearized electrical and mechanical equations for wind turbines, and it can be used for power quality analysis. The proposed model is also used for assessing voltage and current fluctuations and flicker emission in the wind park

Integrated wind farm power curve and power curve distribution function considering the wake effect and terrain gradient

This work presents a computational method for the simulation of wind speeds and for the calculation of the statistical distributions of wind farm (WF) power curves, where the wake effects and terrain features are taken into consideration. A three-parameter (3-P) logistic function is used to represent the wind turbine (WT) power curve. Wake effects are simulated by means of the Jensen’s wake model. Wind shear effect is used to simulate the influence of the terrain on the WTs located at different altitudes. An analytical method is employed for deriving the probability density function (PDF) of the WF power output, based on the Weibull distribution for describing the cumulative wind speed behavior. The WF power curves for four types of terrain slopes are analyzed. Finally, simulations applying the Monte Carlo method on different sample sizes are provided to validate the proposed model. The simulation results indicate that this approximated formulation is a possible substitute for WF output power estimation, especially for the scenario where WTs are built on a terrain with gradient.Electric Power Research Institute of China | Ref. ZBKJXM2018001

Characterization of the autoimmune response against the nerve tissue S100β in patients with type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes results from destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in pancreatic islets and is characterized by islet cell autoimmunity. Autoreactivity against non-beta cell-specific antigens has also been reported, including targeting of the calcium-binding protein S100β. In preclinical models, reactivity of this type is a key component of the early development of insulitis. To examine the nature of this response in type 1 diabetes, we identified naturally processed and presented peptide epitopes derived from S100β, determined their affinity for the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*04:01 molecule and studied T cell responses in patients, together with healthy donors. We found that S100β reactivity, characterized by interferon (IFN)-γ secretion, is a characteristic of type 1 diabetes of varying duration. Our results confirm S100β as a target of the cellular autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes with the identification of new peptide epitopes targeted during the development of the disease, and support the preclinical findings that autoreactivity against non-beta cell-specific autoantigens may have a role in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis.Instituto de Salud Carlos III | Ref. PI10/00207Xunta de GaliciaFundación Pedro Barrié de la Maza, Conde de Fenos

Traceability management systems and capacity building as new approaches for improving sustainability in the fashion multi-tier supply chain

Fast fashion companies have been working over the last decade to reduce harmful impacts in their global supply chains (SC); nevertheless, the literature shows that the sustainability of operations in their multi-tier SC beyond the traditional tier-1 level is still a challenge. This paper aims to contribute to filling this gap: first, by finding out how leading fast fashion companies are promoting sustainability in terms of relationships and practices developed upstream in SC. Second, by assessing the level of commitment with their Code of Conduct that those four companies perceive in their suppliers, aiming at identifying the factors that may contribute to achieve the best performance. With this purpose, we conduct a content analysis on the last six sustainability reports of the four largest companies in the fast fashion industry. We have developed a multi-criteria decision-making approach to assess which company has reached the best performance according to sustainability criteria, checking the robustness of the assessment with a sensitivity analysis. Results show companies are mainly implementing traceability management systems, training and capacity building teams, and joint long-term planning programmes to improve SC performance. However, performance assessment is no easy task due to the lack of transparency about the level of identification, compliance with CoC and relationships developed in the tier-1 position and beyond