Genome sequences of triacylglycerol metabolism in Rhodococcus as a platform for comparative genomics

Bacteria belonging to the Rhodococcus genus are usually able to synthesize and accumulate variable amounts of triacylglycerols (TAG) from diverse carbon sources. Although some significant advances in the basic knowledge on TAG metabolism in rhodococci have been made, the fundamental understanding of this process and its regulation remains to be clarified. The abundantly available genomic information for several rhodococcal species provides the possibility for comparative genome analysis on the occurrence and distribution of key genes and pathways involved in TAG metabolism. Our bioinformatic analyses of available databases from six rhodococcal strains demonstrated that genes/enzymes for reactions related to TAG biosynthesis and degradation, and fatty acid β-oxidation are surprisingly abundant in rhodococcal genomes. Several genes/enzymes of glycerolipids and fatty acid metabolism are highly represented in the analyzed genomes. A number of previously undescribed, new putative genes for glycerolipid metabolism in rhodococci have been identified and the size of each family has been estimated

Emprendimiento, rentas de las familias y políticas activas de empleo

En este artículo comenzamos analizando las Políticas Activas de Empleo de apoyo al emprendimiento en Aragón utilizando los datos del Servicio Público de Empleo. Estudiamos los programas de ayuda a autoempleo durante el periodo 2010-2018 a través de los datos sobre un pago único para las personas que se establecen como autónomas, o en forma de distintos tipos de subvenciones (subvenciones al establecimiento como trabajador autónomo, incentivos a la consolidación de proyectos, subvenciones financieras, subvenciones para asistencia técnica o subvenciones para formación). Este artículo enfatiza lo altamente interesante que resulta el análisis de la eficacia de las PAE destinadas al emprendimiento como herramienta de intermediación laboral y generación de renta aplicado desde el ámbito territorial

Obtaining of repair lime renders with microencapsulated phase change materials: optimization of the composition, application, mechanical and microstructural studies

Different batches of repair lime rendering mortars were designed by mixing microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and other additives. The final aim of these renders is to improve the thermal efficiency of the envelope of the Built Heritage, while allowing the practitioners to apply a render with positive final performance. The combinations of the PCMs in different weight percentages, a superplasticiser (to increase the fluidity of the render keeping constant the mixing water), an adhesion improver and a pozzolanic additive were studied. The adhesion of these renders onto bricks and limestone specimens and the shrinkage and cracking of the mortars were studied in detail. X-ray diffraction technique was used to study the composition and evolution of the carbonation process. Compressive strength measurements were studied in hardened specimens. In addition, the porous structure of the rendering mortars was studied by mercury intrusion porosimetry to assess the effect of the PCMs' addition. Samples underwent accelerated climatic ageing to study their durability and the preservation of the thermal efficiency. Results have shown that these thermally enhanced mortars are feasible materia Is for real-life application in the context of architectural heritage restoration and conservation

Enhancement of latent heat storage capacity of lime rendering mortars

Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (PCMs) were included in air lime rendering mortars in order to improve the thermal comfort of the inhabitants and the energy efficiency of buildings of the Architectural Heritage under the premises of mínimum intervention and maximum compatibility. Three different PCMs were tested and directly added during the mixing process to fresh air lime mortars in three different percentages: 5, 10 and 20 wt. %. Some chemical additives were also incorporated to improve the final performance of the renders: a starch derivative as an adhesion booster; metakaolin as pozzolanic addition to shorten the setting time and to increase the final strength; anda polycarboxylated ether as a superplasticizer to adjust the fluidity of the fresh renders avoiding an excess of mixing water. The specific heat Cp, the enthalpy ti.H ascribed to the phase change and the melting temperature of the PCMs were determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The capacity of the renders to store/release heat was demonstrated at a laboratory scale. The favourable results proved the effect of these PCMs with respect to the thermal performance of these rendering mortars, offering a promising way of enhancement of the thermal efficiency of building materia Is of the Cultural Heritage

Fighting against plant saline stress: Development of a novel bioactive composite based on bentonite and L-proline

Soil salinity is one of the most critical environmental stresses that affects crop productivity. In a context in which world demand for food is growing continuously, this problem requires urgent attention. Actions that go beyond traditional agricultural practices are needed. The objective of the current study was to develop a bioactive, economic, and sustainable compound that can increase the tolerance of cultivated plants in saline-stress situations by combining the hosting capacity of natural bentonite nanoclay (Bent) with a phytoactive osmoprotective compound, L-Proline (Pro). The Bent-Pro nanocomposite synthesis method, its final chemical structure, and in vitro bioactivity were addressed here. The results indicated that Bent can retain a maximum of 14.4% (w/w) of Pro. The (001) X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak of Bent shifted to smaller angles in the pattern of Bent-Pro, indicating that Pro has a monolayer arrangement between the Bent layers. The results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) also supported this result. Pro was also retained on the edges or external surfaces of Bent, as indicated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, Pro functional groups identified by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that it was present in its zwitterionic form. The role of Bent-Pro as a protector against plant saline stress was assayed using Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) as a model, demonstrating that it mitigates the detrimental effects of NaCl-mediated salt stress on seed germination and the leaf chlorophyll level, thus highlighting the relevance of this contribution and the versatility and broad applicability of clays.Fil: Merino, Danila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Iglesias, María J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Mansilla, Andrea Yamila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Casalongué, Claudia A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Vera A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin

Metabolism of triacylglycerols in Rhodococcus species: insights from physiology and molecular genetics

Rhodococcus bacteria possess the ability to accumulate variable amounts of triacylglycerols (TAG) during growth on diverse carbon sources. The evolution seems to have selected these microorganisms as specialists in the accumulation of TAG among bacteria, since their biochemistry is efficiently designed for the biosynthesis and mobilization of these lipids. Detailed research of rhodococcal TAG metabolism started only a few years ago; thus, the fundamental understanding of this process and its regulation remains to be clarified. However, some interesting advances in the basic knowledge on TAG metabolism in rhodococci have been made. Most studies have focused on the physiology of TAG biosynthesis and mobilization in rhodococci. Only recently, some advances in molecular biology and genetics on TAG metabolism occurred as a result of the increasing available genomic information and the development of new genetic tools for rhodococci. These studies have been focused principally on some enzymes of TAG biosynthesis, such as the wax esters/diacylglycerolacyltransferases (WS/DGAT) and TAG granule-associated proteins. In this context, the most relevant achievements of basic research in the field have been summarized in this review article

Masculine, feminine and neutral sports: Extracurricular sport modalities in practice

The present work constitutes a novel approach to extracurricular sport modalities. The aim was to analyze the participation model and to determine the relevance of sex in this context. Data from 616 students, aged 15 to 17, were collected. The questionnaire on sport lifestyle from a gender perspective (Alvariñas-Villaverde et al., 2009) was used for assessment. The results showed that sport choice corresponds to sports traditionally associated with men or women. Nevertheless, these coexist with other neutral sports. Girls’ practice was more diverse, while boys’ profile was more resistant to changing classic patterns. Specific strategies are needed to make boys become more interested in typically female activities

Estudio del polen atmosférico primaveral de la ciudad de Pamplona

El presente trabajo es un estudio del polen presente en la atmósfera de Pamplona, recogido diariamente durante los meses de marzo, abril, mayo, junio de 1978. Abstract: The spring atmospherical pollen of Pamplona is studied in this work. The pollen has been collected everyday during spring´s months of March, April, May, June in 1978

Domogis: Prototipo de un interfaz del sistema de control de un edificio integrado en un SIG

Este trabajo trata de la utilización de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG) en uno de las nuevos requerimientos de la arquitectura, el control domótico. El objetivo es el desarrollo de un interfaz de comunicación del Sistema de Control de un Edificio (SCE) integrado en un SIG. La consecución de este objetivo implica previamente el desarrollo del SIG del Campus de Montegancedo sede de la Facultad de Informática de la UPM y la creación de un interfaz integrado en el SIG, desarrollado en lenguaje de programacion C# de Microsoft. Este interfaz dirige al usuario en la realización de ciertas tareas de control domótico de las instalaciones urbanas y edificios del Campus universitario, como evaluar, monotorizar y gestionar datos procedentes de sensores estratégicamente situados en dicho Campus

Novel dual single sided silicon strip detector chip for radiotherapy verification

A novel dual single sided silicon strip detector (SSSSD) chip was designed to meet clinical requirements in radiotherapy verification. An available design from Micron Semiconductor Ltd. (BB7, 500 µ m thick) was the base of a two-dimensional detector adapted into a special configuration with the aim of uniforming and minimizing foreing materials around the active area (64 × 64 mm2). With this purpose, two independent BB7 SSSSDs were mounted in a perpendicular configuration, separated by a 500 µ m kapton dielectric film with the same dimensions as the silicon wafers, thus minimizing air gaps in between. This new configuration, called the dual SSSSD chip design, was mounted on kapton printed circuit board (PCB). Both silicon wafers were divided into 32 strips, 2 mm width each. The aim of developing this detector was to allow 2D dose measurements, improve spatial resolution and perform radiotherapy treatment verification faster than with a previous prototype. Characteristics and performance of the novel detector are presented