Building Energy System Design and Planning: The Universidad de Santander Case

Renewable generation is gaining more thrust as the time passes, however, the growth rate of such production has been faster than the rate of the electrical grid modernization. This growth comes with great opportunities and challenges for building energy system (BES) design and planning. In this respect, this paper presents the experience and lessons learned from the design and planning of the BES of the “Universidad de Santander” (UDES) central campus. This BES renewable generation is composed of a rooftop PV system distributed across the campus buildings. The system started with 30 kWp of installed capacity (100 kWh/day on average) and now is ready to deliver near 300 kWh/day thanks to 70 kWp of extra capacity installed. In general, the implementation has been a success that now is being replied in other UDES’ campuses, and the decision taking involved highlighted the importance of a proper energy efficiency policy and electrical regulation analysis

Most worrysome weeds in Spain

Se presentan los resultados de una encuesta realizada durante el periodo de junio a octubre de 2014, y en la que participaron 315 técnicos de campo de toda España. Los datos están disponibles en Internet y su análisis permite concluir que a) las malas hierbas preocupan tanto como las plagas y enfermedades; b) respecto a los métodos de control, el control químico con herbicidas es el más usado y el considerado más eficaz; se han detectado las malas hierbas más preocupantes en una serie de cultivos, incluyendo el motivo de la preocupación. En cultivos leñosos, destaca “Conyza” por su dificultad de control, en arroz destacan “Echinochloa” y “Cyperus”; en algodón y maíz preocupan “Abutilon”, “Chenopodium”, “Cyperus”, Echinochloa y Sorghum; en cultivos extensivos de secano, la preocupación no está tan concentrada en pocas especies, destacando malas hierbas gramíneas en trigo y cebada junto con Centaurea, que es considerada preocupante adicionalmente en el cultivo del girasol. Finalmente, se seleccionan arvenses de preocupación creciente, entre las que destacan “Abutilon”, “Centaurea”, “Chenopodium” y “Sorghum”.Since June to October 2014, 315 Spanish field advisors participated in a survey. Data is available on internet and results show that a) weeds are as worrying as other pests and diseases; b) chemical control is the most used weed control method and is considered to be the most efficient one; c) knowledge transfer in weed management is largely dependant on herbicide industry; d) most worrying weeds have been identified for several crops, as well as the reasons why they are considered worrysome. In permanent crops, “Conyza” is refered to be by far the worst weed, mainly because it is difficult to control; in rice, the worst weeds are “Echinochloa” and “Cyperus”; in corn and cotton “Abutilon”, “Chenopodium”, “Cyperus”, “Echinochloa” and “Sorghum”; in annual dryland crops weed problems are less focused, being the most worrying weeds annual grasses in wheat and barley, besides “Centaurea”, which is also considered to be a problem in sunflower. Finally, there are weeds of increasing threat like “Abutilon”, “Centaurea”, “Chenopodium” and “Sorghum”

hnRNP A1 and hnRNP F Modulate the Alternative Splicing of Exon 11 of the Insulin Receptor Gene

Exon 11 of the insulin receptor gene (INSR) is alternatively spliced in a developmentally and tissue-specific manner. Linker scanning mutations in a 5′ GA-rich enhancer in intron 10 identified AGGGA sequences that are important for enhancer function. Using RNA-affinity purification and mass spectrometry, we identified hnRNP F and hnRNP A1 binding to these AGGGA sites and also to similar motifs at the 3′ end of the intron. The hnRNPs have opposite functional effects with hnRNP F promoting and hnRNP A1 inhibiting exon 11 inclusion, and deletion of the GA-rich elements eliminates both effects. We also observed specific binding of hnRNP A1 to the 5′ splice site of intron 11. The SR protein SRSF1 (SF2/ASF) co-purified on the GA-rich enhancer and, interestingly, also competes with hnRNP A1 for binding to the splice site. A point mutation -3U→C decreases hnRNP A1 binding, increases SRSF1 binding and renders the exon constitutive. Lastly, our data point to a functional interaction between hnRNP F and SRSF1 as a mutant that eliminates SRSF1 binding to exon 11, or a SRSF1 knockdown, which prevents the stimulatory effect of hnRNP F over expression

Usefulness of bone turnover markers as predictors of mortality risk, disease progression and skeletal-related events appearance in patients with prostate cancer with bone metastases following treatment with zoledronic acid: TUGAMO study

Owing to the limited validity of clinical data on the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) and bone metastases, biochemical markers are a promising tool for predicting survival, disease progression and skeletal-related events (SREs) in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive capacity of biochemical markers of bone turnover for mortality risk, disease progression and SREs in patients with PCa and bone metastases undergoing treatment with zoledronic acid (ZA). Methods: This was an observational, prospective and multicenter study in which ninety-eight patients were included. Patients were treated with ZA (4mg every 4 weeks for 18 months). Data were collected at baseline and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after the beginning of treatment. Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphtase (BALP), aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type I (P1NP) and beta-isomer of carboxiterminal telopeptide of collagen I (b-CTX) were analysed at all points in the study. Data on disease progression, SREs development and survival were recorded. Results: Cox regression models with clinical data and bone markers showed that the levels of the three markers studied were predictive of survival time, with b-CTX being especially powerful, in which a lack of normalisation in visit 1 (3 months after the beginning of treatment) showed a 6.3-times more risk for death than in normalised patients. Levels of these markers were also predictive for SREs, although in this case BALP and P1NP proved to be better predictors. We did not find any relationship between bone markers and disease progression. Conclusion: In patients with PCa and bone metastases treated with ZA, b-CTX and P1NP can be considered suitable predictors for mortality risk, while BALP and P1NP are appropriate for SREs. The levels of these biomarkers 3 months after the beginning of treatment are especially importantThis study was supported by Novartis Oncology Spai

Sexual Relationships in Hispanic Countries: a Literature Review

This is a pre-print of an article published in Current Sexual Health Reports. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-020-00272-6Purpose of Review: Sexuality is a complex dimension for which culture seems to play an important role, particularly in countries that are more traditional. This review summarizes the knowledge about sexual relationships in Hispanic countries, considering sexual debut, attitudes, behaviors, and satisfaction. Recent Findings: In line with the literature reviewed, the sexual double standard seems to be continuing to influence sexual relationships. Some countries show more open expressions of sexuality based on the level of gender inequality or sexualized context, and within countries, variables such as religious commitment, family characteristics, and access to resources may play important roles in sexuality. Summary: Future research, policies, and interventions should consider these specific characteristics, including these forms of expression of sexuality, in the adjustment of cross-cultural and cross-national strategies

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

The Genotype of the donor for the (GT)n polymorphism in the promoter/enhancer of FOXP3 Is associated with the development of severe acute GVHD but does not affect the GVL effect after myeloablative HLA-Identical allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

The FOXP3 gene encodes for a protein (Foxp3) involved in the development and functional activity of regulatory T cells (CD4+/CD25+/Foxp3+), which exert regulatory and suppressive roles over the immune system. After allogeneic stem cell transplantation, regulatory T cells are known to mitigate graft versus host disease while probably maintaining a graft versus leukemia effect. Short alleles (≤(GT)15) for the (GT)n polymorphism in the promoter/enhancer of FOXP3 are associated with a higher expression of FOXP3, and hypothetically with an increase of regulatory T cell activity. This polymorphism has been related to the development of auto- or alloimmune conditions including type 1 diabetes or graft rejection in renal transplant recipients. However, its impact in the allo-transplant setting has not been analyzed. In the present study, which includes 252 myeloablative HLA-identical allo-transplants, multivariate analysis revealed a lower incidence of grade III-IV acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) in patients transplanted from donors harboring short alleles (OR = 0.26, CI 0.08-0.82, p = 0.021); without affecting chronic GVHD or graft versus leukemia effect, since cumulative incidence of relapse, event free survival and overall survival rates are similar in both groups of patients