The interplay between zinc and iron homeostasis in Aspergillus fumigatus under zinc-replete conditions relies on the iron-mediated regulation of alternative transcription units of zafA and the basal amount of the ZafA zinc-responsiveness transcription factor

[EN] Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophyte fungus that typically grows on organic decaying matter but can also parasitize immunosuppressed hosts. This is explained, in part, by its great ability to take up Zn2+ ions from living tissues, which is induced by the ZafA transcription factor. This study shows that the ZafA-mediated regulation of fungal growth is also influenced by iron availability and that A. fumigatus is well adapted to grow in zinc-limiting and zinc-replete media with Zn:Fe ratios lower in the former than in the latter. Accordingly, this indicates that iron availability appears to be more critical for fungal growth in zinc-replete than in zinc-limiting environments. Interestingly, the cross-regulation of zinc/iron homeostasis under zinc-replete conditions relies on an unprecedented iron-mediated regulation of different zafA transcription units that, along with a limited transcript translation, allows synthesizing the right basal amount of ZafA dependent on iron availability. We posit that this regulatory strategy has evolved in fungi as a mechanism to adjust zinc intake to iron availability under zinc-replete conditions. Thus, fungal growth is enhanced in zinc- and iron-replete media but restricted by reducing zinc intake under iron starvation to prevent the noxious side effects of an intracellular zinc excess during iron deficiency

La globalización de la Información Geográfica

La aparición en la Red de Google Earth, otras aplicaciones similares, las Infraestructuras de Datos Espaciales basadas en estándares y la neocartografía, o cartografía colaborativa, ofrece enormes posibilidades para completar y compartir la cartografía disponible de nuestro planeta. El grupo de trabajo de la IDEE, liderado por Antonio Rodríguez, nos exponen en este artículo la situación actual en que se encuentra la Información Geográfica en el mundo.Peer Reviewe

Proyecto de construcción de una conservera y envasadora de garbanzos en el término municipal de Ayerbe (Huesca).

En el presente Trabajo de Final de Grado se describen las necesidades constructivas para la instalación y puesta en funcionamiento de una industria destinada al almacenamiento, selección, conserva y envasado de garbanzos. El proyecto está localizado en el municipio de Ayerbe (Huesca), dentro del Parque Industrial de Ayerbe. La producción anual de la planta de procesado es de 1.000 toneladas de producto terminado, de las cuales 750 toneladas son de conservas de garbanzos y 250 toneladas son de garbanzos secos. En primer lugar, se realiza un análisis del sector de las leguminosas y del garbanzo, (superficie del cultivo, producción, mercado interior y exterior, etc) y un estudio del entorno donde va a tener lugar el emplazamiento. A continuación, se describe el proceso productivo y el balance de materia, seguido de la maquinaria necesaria para su funcionamiento. Posteriormente, se establecen las zonas de la planta industrial y se realizan los cálculos estructurales y de las instalaciones (fontanería, saneamiento, eléctrica, etc), apoyadas con planos.Una vez obtenido el presupuesto de la obra civil, maquinaria y equipos, y seguridad y salud, se realiza el estudio de viabilidad económica. Finalmente, se ejecuta el pliego de condiciones y el estudio de seguridad y salud.<br /

La experiencia de la UAM-AZC: con modelos estructurales de experimentación como material didáctico

Ponencia presentada a Session 3: Educación y arquitectura en las universidades / Architectural education in the universitie

High pressure treatment and green tea extract synergistically control enteric virus contamination in beverages

Consumers are driving food production toward the use of natural preservatives and minimal processing technologies. Green tea extract (GTE) at low concentration could be combined with high pressure processing (HPP) for reduced treatment times and quality impact on foods in a hurdle concept for synergistic effects on foodborne viral pathogens, specifically human norovirus and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Viral inactivation by HPP (at 300, 400, and 500 MPa for 5 min) combined with 3.3 mg/mL aged-GTE was initially evaluated in buffer (PBS) against murine norovirus (MNV), a culturable human norovirus surrogate, and HAV. Furthermore, human norovirus inactivation was evaluated by the novel human intestinal enteroid system (HIE) and a capsid integrity binding assay (ISC-RT-qPCR). HPP treatment completely inhibits human norovirus GII.4 infectivity when applied at 500 MPa alone and at 400 MPa combined with aged-GTE. Additional experiments investigated the reduction of MNV and HAV infectivity in apple and horchata juices exposed to combined aged-GTE and HPP treatments. Results demonstrated that the addition of aged-GTE to the juices exposed to HPP significantly inactivated MNV and HAV at reduced holding pressure time. This synergistic effect of aged-GTE combined with HPP treatments represents a hurdle technology that could be exploited as a control measure to improve the food safety of beverages

Expresión de E-cadherina, laminina y colágeno IV en la evolución de displasia a carcinoma epidermoide oral

Objetivos: Estudiar la pérdida o reducción de la adhesión celular mediada por E-cadherina en leucoplasias, carcinomas epidermoides y metástasis ganglionares. Estudiar la pérdida de continuidad de la expresión de laminina y colágeno IV en la membrana basal epitelial en el desarrollo biológico de las leucoplasias y carcinomas orales. Material y metodo: Hemos estudiado 124 muestras de pacientes portadores de leucoplasias y carcinomas orales con diversos diagnósticos que abarcan desde epitelio normal (13 muestras), displasias leves (2), displasias moderadas (12), carcinomas in situ (13) carcinomas microinvasores (11) Carcinoma epidermoide oral (64 muestras) y metástasis ganglionar (9). Se construyeron 7 bloques de tissue microarrays con aguja de 2mm y se realizó un estudio mediante técnica inmunohistoquímica para E-cadherina (clona 36, T.D. ABD Company), Laminina (078P, Biogenex) y Colágeno IV (PHM12, Biogenex). Resultados: En Displasias Leves y Moderadas presentan pérdida de expresión de E-cadherina, Laminina, y Colágeno IV (20%). En Carcinomas in situ y Microinvasores, presentaron pérdida de expresión de E-cadherina (73%), y en Laminina y Colágeno IV (57%). En los carcinomas epidermoides, encontramos pérdida de expresión de E-cadherina (90%) y discontinuidad en la M. basal (70%). Todas las metástasis ganglionares presentaron pérdida de E-cadherina y discontinuidad en Laminina y Colágeno IV. Conclusiones: La pérdida de expresión de E-cadherina se incrementa al aumentar el grado de displasia de las lesiones. La perdida de continuidad en la expresión de laminina y Colágeno IV sigue una evolución paralela desde displasias a metástasis ganglionares. La disminución en la expresión de los tres marcadores ha sido significativa en la evolución de las lesiones orales.Objectives: Study the loss or reduction of the cellular adhesion mediated for E-cadherin in oral leukoplakias, oral squamous cell carcinomas and metastatic nodules. Study the loss of continuity of the laminin and collagen IV expression in the epithelial basal membrane from the biological development of the oral leukoplakias and oral carcinomas. Material and method: we have studied 124 samples of patient payees leukoplakias and oral carcinomas with diverse diagnosis that embrace from normal epithelium (13 samples), mild dysplasias (2), moderate dysplasias (12), 'in situ' carcinomas (13), microinvasive carcinomas (11) oral squamous cell carcinomas (64 samples) and metastatic nodules (9). 7 blocks of tissue microarrays were built with needle of 2mm and was carried out a study by means of immunohistochemical technique for E-cadherin (clone 36, Biogenex), Laminin (078P, Biogenex) and Collagen IV (PHM12, Biogenex). Results: In Mild and Moderate Dysplasias the results present loss of E-cadherin, Laminin, and Collagen IV (20%) expression. 'in situ' and microinvasive carcinomas, the results presented loss of E-cadherin expression (73%), and loss in Laminin and Collagen IV expression (57%). In the squamous cell carcinomas , we find E-cadherin underexpression (90%) and discontinuity in the Basal Membrane. (70%). All the metastatic nodules presented loss of E-cadherin expression and discontinuity in Laminin and Collagen IV expression. Conclusions: The loss of E-cadherin expression is increased when increasing the dysplasia grade of lesions. The loss of continuity in the laminin and Collagen IV expression follow a parallel evolution from dysplasias to metastatic nodules. The underexpression of the three markers has been significant in the evolution of the oral lesions

Expresión proteica de p53 y proliferación celular en leucoplasias orales

Objetivos: Conocer la expresión proteica de las alteraciones genéticas que se producen en las etapas precoces de la cancerización del campo de cavidad oral en nuestro medio. Estudiar la proliferación celular mediante Ki-67 y la expresión de la proteína p53 para valorar si las alteraciones en la expresión proteica de estos marcadores suceden de forma secuencial a través de las distintas etapas en la cancerización del campo de la cavidad oral. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio mediante técnicas de inmunohistoquímica sobre 53 pacientes que presentaron lesiones de leucoplasia oral, atendidos por el Servicio de O.R.L del Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, desde 1.990 hasta 2000. Se incluyen en el estudio 11 muestras de epitelio normal, 15 displasias leves y moderadas, 15 carcinomas in situ, y 12 carcinomas microinvasores. Resultados: Encontramos la proliferación celular aumentada y sobreexpresión de p53 a medida que avanzamos en el grado de severidad histopatológica de las lesiones. Las alteraciones más precoces son el aumento significativo de la proliferación celular en displasias leves y moderadas y el aumento de expresión de p53. Conclusión: La leucoplasia oral es un estado precanceroso que constituye una lesión cancerizable debido a las alteraciones genéticas que intervienen en la evolución de la lesión. El estudio inmunohistoquímico y molecular de las lesiones es un medio rutinario que permite conocer la expresión proteica de las alteraciones genéticas, que puede ayudar en el diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento de esta patología, teniendo especial relevancia el estudio de Ki-67 en etapas iniciales y p53 en lesiones más avanzadas.OBJECTIVES: We intend to know the protein expression of genetic alterations that take place in the early stages in the field cancerization of oral cavity in our means as well as to study the cellular proliferation by means of Ki-67 and the protein product expression of p53 to value if the alterations in the protein products expression of these markers happen in a sequential pathway through the different stages in the field cancerization of oral cavity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was made by immunohistochemistry on 53 patients that presented lesions of oral leukoplaquia, assisted by the ENT service at University Hospital of Salamanca, from 1.990 up to 2000. 11 samples of normal epithelium, 15 mild to moderate dysplasias, 15 in situ carcinomas and 12 microinvasive carcinomas are included in the study. RESULTS: we find an increased cellular proliferation and p53 over-expression as we advance in the grade of severity histopathologic of these lesions. The most early alterations are a significant increase of cell proliferation in mild and moderate dysplasias and an increased p53 over-expression. CONCLUSIONS: Oral leukoplaquia is a precancerous stage that constitutes a canzerisable lesion due to the genetic alterations that mediate in the evolution of lesion. Routine Immunohistochemical and molecular study of these lesions allow us to know the protein expression of genetic alterations that can help in the early diagnosis and treatment of this pathology, having special relevance the study of Ki-67 in early stages and p53 in advanced lesions

Form-stable bitumen/paraffin-wax/polymer binders for energy-efficient building applications

Novel form-stable bitumen/paraffin-wax/polymer binders were successfully manufactured to be applied as energy-efficient building materials with advanced thermal energy storage and thermoregulation features. These roofing materials are composed of bitumen (B), styrene butadiene styrene copolymer (SBS), and paraffin wax (PW) as phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage applications. Systems with a fixed weight ratio B/SBS = 7.33 and PW concentration ranging from 0 to 70 wt% were prepared. Then, thermal stability, microstructure, rheological properties, technological and leakproof performance tests were performed on these binders to assess the optimal compositions. After that, a comprehensive thermal energy storage characterization was conducted on the selected prototypes and, finally, the temperature regulation performance was studied by using simulated solar irradiation. All materials show excellent thermal stability no matter PW concentration used, whereas the rheological properties improve as PW content in blends increases. However, softening temperature requirements, specified by ASTM D8051, limited PW concentration to 30 wt%. Interestingly, no liquid PW leakage from bituminous matrix was found for such a concentration, which has a high heat storage capacity (ca. 60 J/g) and suitable thermal properties (e.g. thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity). As a result, material exhibits a complex solar and thermal behaviour that yields a Latent Heat Thermoregulation Index (LHTI) value greater than for other efficient energy building materials.This work is part of the project TED2021-131284B-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) and European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR; and the Cátedra Fundación CEPSA through the project “BituFoil” of the edition 2023. Clara Delgado-Sánchez also acknowledges financial support from Junta de Andalucía through post-doctoral Grant No. DC 01228 (PAIDI 2020), co-funded by the EU Fondo Social Europeo (FSE). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA.Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Química Física y Ciencias de los Materiale

Bio and waste-based binders with hybrid rubberized-thermoplastic characteristics for roofing

Non-bituminous binders with sustainable characteristics have been developed as potential roofing materials. A vegetable colophony rosin ester, waste cooking oil, waste crumb rubber and a blend of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) have been used for binder formulations. Rheological, calorimetric and technological characterizations have been performed to assess the compatibility among binder components and optimal compositions. Additionally, thermal conductivity, heat capacity and solar radiation tests have been performed on selected non-bituminous and bitumen-based binders. Solar radiation experimental set-up has been simulated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in order to get a deeper insight into heat transmission mechanisms involved. A binder formulation composed of 40 wt% maleic-modified rosin ester, 32 wt % waste oil, 20 wt% crumb rubber and 8 wt% recycled HDPE/PP blend has shown suitable mechanical properties and solar behaviour for roofing materials. The use of recycled thermoplastics and elastomers imparts material with a hybrid character, showing enhanced flexibility and softening points, respectively, at low and high inservice temperatures. Its solar behaviour is comparable to that of the modified bitumen, with a similar heat absorption from Sun (about 30 %) but lower heat storage capacity at ambient temperature.This work is co-funded by FEDER European Programme (80 %) and Junta de Andalucía (Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidades/Agencia-IDEA) and of project TED2021-131284 B–I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) and European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR. Clara Delgado-Sánchez also acknowledges financial support from Junta de Andalucía through post-doctoral Grant No. DC 01228 (PAIDI 2020), co-funded by the EU Fondo Social Europeo (FSE).Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Química Física y Ciencias de los Materiale

Utilidad de la tomografía de coherencia óptica de segmento anterior en las enfermedades de la córnea. Utilidad médica

La Tomografía de Coherencia Óptica constituye uno de los mayores avances tecnológicos de los últimos años en el mundo de la oftalmología, lo que la ha convertido en la prueba más usada para el diagnóstico y seguimiento de múltiples enfermedades de nervio óptico, retina o del segmento anterior. Con este trabajo se pretende demostrar la eficacia de la OCT para el diagnóstico de patologías corneales, basándonos en casos clínicos reales de pacientes con diferentes patologías corneales que pertenecen a la consulta especializada en superficie corneal del Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet (HUMS). Los ópticos optometristas son los profesionales capacitados para realizar las diferentes técnicas que demuestran la clara eficacia que la OCT tiene en la detección y el diagnóstico de dichas patologías