Minimizing Shadow Area in Mountain Roads for Improving the Sustainability of Infrastructures

[EN] The lack of sunlight on mountain roads in the wintertime leads to an increase in accidents. In this paper, a methodology is presented for the use of sunny and shady areas to be included as a parameter in road design. The inclusion of this parameter allows for the design of an iterative method for the projected infrastructures. The parameterization of the road layout facilitates the possibility of applying an iterative process of modifying the geometric elements that constitute it, examining different layout alternatives until a layout is achieved in which the surface area in the shady area is minimized, increasing the road safety and minimizing environmental impact. The methodology has been defined, generating and analyzing the results of the solar lighting study using a file in IFC format capable of integrating with the rest of the design elements (platform, signaling, structures, etc.) and thus obtaining a BIM format which allows the model to be viewed in three dimensions and moves towards 4D and 5D. The model used for the study was a high mountain road located in the province of Teruel (Spain). It is a road section characterized by successive curves in which several traffic accidents have occurred due to running off the road, partly because of the presence of ice on the platform.Aranda Domingo, JÁ.; Moncho-Santonja, M.; Gil Sauri, MA.; Peris Fajarnes, G. (2021). Minimizing Shadow Area in Mountain Roads for Improving the Sustainability of Infrastructures. Sustainability. 13(10):1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105392S116131

Innovative strategies to treat skin wounds with mangiferin: fabrication of transfersomes modified with glycols and mucin

Aim: The moisturizing properties of glycerol, the penetration enhancing capability of propylene glycol and the bioadhesive properties of mucin were combined to improve the carrier capabilities of transfersomes and the efficacy of mangiferin in the treatment of skin lesions. Materials & methods: Mangiferin was incorporated in transfersomes and glycoltransfersomes, which were also modified with mucin. The physico-chemical features were assessed, along with the efficacy against oxidative stress and skin wounds in vitro and in vivo. Results: Glycoltransfersomes promoted the deposition of mangiferin in epidermis and dermis, protected fibroblasts from oxidative stress and stimulated their proliferation. The wound healing and anti-inflammatory efficacy of glycoltransfersomes were confirmed in vivo. Conclusion: Results confirmed the potential of glycoltransfersomes in preventing/treating of skin lesions

Primeras etapas de corrosión de metales en agua de mar artificial: I. cobre

El cobre y sus aleaciones son utilizados en estructuras expuestas al agua del mar, donde están sometidos al ataque corrosivo, principalmente debido al alto contenido de iones de cloruro. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar las primeras etapas de corrosión de cobre en agua de mar artificial (conocida como agua del acuario) con la finalidad de descartar la bio-corrosión debida a la incrustación de bio-organismos presentes en el mar (bio-fouling), enfocándose al desarrollo del proceso de corrosión en su ausencia. Muestras planas de Cu electrolítico fueron sumergidas por 1, 2, 3 y 4 meses en el agua del mar. A estos periodos de tiempo fue registrado su potencial de corrosión Ecorr y la pérdida de masa (Vcorr); así mismo, se analizó la morfología (mediante SEM) del ataque corrosivo y la composición (mediante XRD) de los productos de corrosión. Al inicio la fase mayoritaria cristalina fue la cuprita (Cu2O), conocida como patina, una capa protectora del metal, la cual posteriormente se transformó en paratacamita, Cu2(OH)3Cl. La velocidad de corrosión mostró un crecimiento no lineal, alcanzando un valor de 141 g m-2 (0.015 mm) en el cuarto mes siendo 0.21 g m-2 la liberación (runoff) de iones de cobre. Con el tiempo Ecorr tuvo una tendencia hacia valores más negativos, relacionado con las transformaciones en la fase cuprita. Las imágenes de SEM revelaron que con el avance del proceso de corrosión la superficie de cobre mostró una degradación más profunda y no uniforme

Leishmania spp. epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in the Yucatan Peninsula

Canine Leishmaniasis is widespread in various Mexican states, where different species of Leishmania have been isolated from dogs. In the present study, we describe the detection of L. braziliensis, L. infantum, and L. mexicana in serum of dogs from the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). A total of 412 sera were analyzed by ELISA using the total extract of the parasite and the iron superoxide dismutase excreted by different trypanosomatids as antigens. We found the prevalence of L. braziliensis to be 7.52%, L. infantum to be 6.07%, and L. mexicana to be 20.63%, in the dog population studied. The results obtained with ELISA using iron superoxide dismutase as the antigen were confirmed by western blot analysis with its greater sensitivity, and the agreement between the two techniques was very high

Microencapsulation of the Aroma from Capsicum chinense Jacq. cv. Habanero

An aroma distillate with the odour note described as ‘fresh Habanero chilli pepper’ was obtained from hydrodistillation of the fruit. GC-MS analysis of the volatile constituents from the aroma distillate allowed the identification of 100 compounds, most of them esters followed by aldehydes, alcohols, terpenes, ketones, and acids. Encapsulation process of the aroma distillate by spray drying was optimised using response surface methodology. Independent variables were inlet air temperature (150–200 °C) and carrier (maltodextrin 10 DE and gum arabic in 2:1 ratio) content (10–20% wb), while response variables were powder moisture and volatiles retention. Moisture content of the powder varied inversely proportional to the air temperature, while the volatile retention was directly related. Retention of volatiles in the powder increased when the carrier content increased, while this factor negatively affected moisture content. Based on the optimisation model of the response variables, the powder with the highest flavour quality was obtained with an air inlet temperature of 200 °C and 20% wb carrier content, with 4% moisture content and 88.6% volatiles retention

Experiencias sobre la seguridad alimentaria en Yucatán, México

Se presenta una investigación-acción-participativa, en la Zona Maya de México. Se aborda el problema del desconocimiento sobre la seguridad alimentaria (SA). Objetivo: realizar un diagnóstico sobre la SA, y plantear alternativas de solución. Se encontró que la producción de milpa y huerto familiar, tiene: insuficiente infraestructura; problemas en los cultivos; falta de agua, caminos, transporte, asistencia técnica, recursos económicos y mercados alternativos; y problemas de consumo seguro de alimentos. Se encontró una biodiversidad agrícola de 50 especies; producción de bovinos y aves; poco excedente para venta. Los huertos familiares complementan su dieta; el estado proporciona apoyos insuficientes, y se ayudan con remesas que envían sus familiares desde Estados Unidos. La dieta del "buen comer" es variable en las comunidades. Se analiza la información con los ejes alimentarios: disponibilidad, accesibilidad, consumo y utilización de alimentos; y se proponen las alternativas.Participatory Action Research in the Mexican Mayan Zone is presented. The problem of lack of food security (SA) is tackled. Objective: to make a diagnosis of the SA, and suggest alternative solutions. It was found that the production of cornfield and homegarden, is: poor in infrastructure, with problems in their crops; and they have lack of water, roads, transportation, technical assistance, financial resources and alternative markets; and they also have problems of safe consumption of food. Agricultural biodiversity of 50 species were found; and production of cattle and poultry; they have little surplus for sale. Homegardens supplement their diet; the government provides insufficient support, and they complement their economy with the remittances of their relatives sent from the United States. The diet of "good eating" is variable in communities. The information is analyzed with food axes of availability, accessibility, consumption and utilization of food. Alternatives are proposed.Eje A6: Desarrollo Rural, Movimientos Sociales, Estado y AgroecologíaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Experiencias sobre la seguridad alimentaria en Yucatán, México

Se presenta una investigación-acción-participativa, en la Zona Maya de México. Se aborda el problema del desconocimiento sobre la seguridad alimentaria (SA). Objetivo: realizar un diagnóstico sobre la SA, y plantear alternativas de solución. Se encontró que la producción de milpa y huerto familiar, tiene: insuficiente infraestructura; problemas en los cultivos; falta de agua, caminos, transporte, asistencia técnica, recursos económicos y mercados alternativos; y problemas de consumo seguro de alimentos. Se encontró una biodiversidad agrícola de 50 especies; producción de bovinos y aves; poco excedente para venta. Los huertos familiares complementan su dieta; el estado proporciona apoyos insuficientes, y se ayudan con remesas que envían sus familiares desde Estados Unidos. La dieta del "buen comer" es variable en las comunidades. Se analiza la información con los ejes alimentarios: disponibilidad, accesibilidad, consumo y utilización de alimentos; y se proponen las alternativas.Participatory Action Research in the Mexican Mayan Zone is presented. The problem of lack of food security (SA) is tackled. Objective: to make a diagnosis of the SA, and suggest alternative solutions. It was found that the production of cornfield and homegarden, is: poor in infrastructure, with problems in their crops; and they have lack of water, roads, transportation, technical assistance, financial resources and alternative markets; and they also have problems of safe consumption of food. Agricultural biodiversity of 50 species were found; and production of cattle and poultry; they have little surplus for sale. Homegardens supplement their diet; the government provides insufficient support, and they complement their economy with the remittances of their relatives sent from the United States. The diet of "good eating" is variable in communities. The information is analyzed with food axes of availability, accessibility, consumption and utilization of food. Alternatives are proposed.Eje A6: Desarrollo Rural, Movimientos Sociales, Estado y AgroecologíaFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Magnetic resonance microscopy and correlative histopathology of the infarcted heart

Altres ajuts:The present study was supported by the EU Joint Programming Initiative 'A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life' (JPI HDHL INTIMIC-085), Generalitat Valenciana (GV/2018/116), INCLIVA and Universitat de Valencia (program VLC-BIOCLINIC 20-nanomIRM-2016A).Delayed enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (MR) is the gold-standard for non-invasive assessment after myocardial infarction (MI). MR microscopy (MRM) provides a level of detail comparable to the macro objective of light microscopy. We used MRM and correlative histopathology to identify infarct and remote tissue in contrast agent-free multi-sequence MRM in swine MI hearts. One control group (n = 3 swine) and two experimental MI groups were formed: 90 min of ischemia followed by 1 week (acute MI = 6 swine) or 1 month (chronic MI = 5 swine) reperfusion. Representative samples of each heart were analysed by contrast agent-free multi-sequence (T1-weighting, T2-weighting, T2*-weighting, T2-mapping, and T2*-mapping). MRM was performed in a 14-Tesla vertical axis imager (Bruker-AVANCE 600 system). Images from MRM and the corresponding histopathological stained samples revealed differences in signal intensities between infarct and remote areas in both MI groups (p-value < 0.001). The multivariable models allowed us to precisely classify regions of interest (acute MI: specificity 92% and sensitivity 80%; chronic MI: specificity 100% and sensitivity 98%). Probabilistic maps based on MRM images clearly delineated the infarcted regions. As a proof of concept, these results illustrate the potential of MRM with correlative histopathology as a platform for exploring novel contrast agent-free MR biomarkers after MI

Inhibiting cardiac myeloperoxidase alleviates the relaxation defect in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes.

AIMS: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterised by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and disarray, and myocardial stiffness due to interstitial fibrosis, which result in impaired left ventricular filling and diastolic dysfunction. The latter manifests as exercise intolerance, angina, and dyspnoea. There is currently no specific treatment for improving diastolic function in HCM. Here, we investigated whether myeloperoxidase (MPO) is expressed in cardiomyocytes and provides a novel therapeutic target for alleviating diastolic dysfunction in HCM. METHODS AND RESULTS: Human cardiomyocytes derived from control induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) were shown to express MPO, with MPO levels being increased in iPSC-CMs generated from two HCM patients harbouring sarcomeric mutations in the MYBPC3 and MYH7 genes. The presence of cardiomyocyte MPO was associated with higher chlorination and peroxidation activity, increased levels of 3-chlorotyrosine-modified cardiac myosin binding protein-C (MYBPC3), attenuated phosphorylation of MYBPC3 at Ser-282, perturbed calcium signalling, and impaired cardiomyocyte relaxation. Interestingly, treatment with the MPO inhibitor, AZD5904, reduced 3-chlorotyrosine-modified MYBPC3 levels, restored MYBPC3 phosphorylation, and alleviated the calcium signalling and relaxation defects. Finally, we found that MPO protein was expressed in healthy adult murine and human cardiomyocytes, and MPO levels were increased in diseased hearts with left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that MPO inhibition alleviates the relaxation defect in hypertrophic iPSC-CMs through MYBPC3 phosphorylation. These findings highlight cardiomyocyte MPO as a novel therapeutic target for improving myocardial relaxation associated with HCM, a treatment strategy which can be readily investigated in the clinical setting, given that MPO inhibitors are already available for clinical testing. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: There are currently no specific therapies for improving diastolic function in patients with HCM. We show for the first time that myeloperoxidase (MPO) is present in and is up-regulated in cardiomyocytes derived from human iPSCs obtained from HCM patients, where it impairs cardiomyocyte relaxation by reducing phosphorylation of cardiac MYBPC3. Treatment with the MPO inhibitor, AZD5904, restored MYBPC3 phosphorylation and alleviated the relaxation defect, demonstrating cardiomyocyte MPO to be a novel therapeutic target for improving diastolic function in HCM, a treatment strategy which can be evaluated in HCM patients given that MPO inhibitors are already available for clinical testing