Implementación y estudio de la viabilidad de un glucómetro no invasivo

El objetivo del proyecto es implementar implementar un glucómetro no invasivo basado en infrarrojos y realizar un análisis de sus prestaciones y viabilidadBellón Morales, J. (2016). Implementación y estudio de la viabilidad de un glucómetro no invasivo. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/80432

Determination of precipitate strengthening in Al-Cu alloys through micropillar compression: Experiments and multiscale simulations

Al-Cu alloys are efficiently strengthened by different types of precipitates: Guinier-Preston zones, θ\u27\u27 (Al3Cu) and θ\u27 (Al2Cu). The contribution of each type of precipitate to the strengthening of the alloy was determined by means of a high-throughput strategy based on micropillar compression. To this end, an Al-4 wt.% Cu alloy was manufactured by casting, following by several homogenization heat treatments at high temperature. The alloy was aged at 23ºC and 180ºC for different times to produce different precipitate structures [1]. Micropillars were machined using a focus ion beam in grains oriented for single and multiple slip and compressed at ambient temperature. The critical resolved shear stress was determined as a function of the applied strain for micropillars with different sizes oriented for single slip to assess the size effect. It was found that the properties of the bulk crystals could be obtained by testing square micropillars with cross-section \u3e 5 x 5 µm2. In addition, the precipitate type and spatial distribution as well as the mechanisms of dislocation/precipitate interaction were studied in the transmission electron microscope from lamella extracted from the deformed micropillars. It was found that Guinier-Preston zones and small θ\u27\u27 precipitates (\u3c 50 nm) were sheared by dislocations while dislocations formed Orowan loops around large θ\u27 precipitates. Afterwards, the effect of latent hardening for the different types of precipitates was studied by compression of micropillars oriented for double slip (coplanar and non-coplanar) as well as for multiple slip. In parallel, the critical resolved shear stress in the overaged Al-Cu alloys containing large θ\u27 precipitates was simulated by means of dislocation dynamics simulations using the discrete-continuous method in combination with a fast Fourier transform solver to compute the mechanical fields [2]. Simulations took into account the effect of precipitate shape, orientation and volume fraction as well the elastic mismatch between the matrix and the precipitate, the stress-free transformation strain around the precipitate and the dislocation character as well as dislocation cross-slip. In addition, the results of the micropillar compression tests were used to calibrate the latent hardening parameters of a crystal plasticity model, so they can be used to predict the mechanical behavior of polycrystals by means of computational homogenization. Overall, the results of this investigation show how micropillar compression can be used as a high-throughput technique to obtain the bulk properties of precipitation-strengthened alloys as well as to validate the results of simulation strategies at lower length scales (dislocation dynamics) and to provide input information for simulations at larger length scales (computational homogenization of polycrystals). [1] A. Rodríguez-Veiga, B. Bellón, I. Papadimitriou, G. Esteban-Manzanares, I. Sabirov, J. LLorca. A multidisciplinary approach to study precipitation kinetics and hardening in an Al-4wt.%Cu alloy. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 757, 504-519, 2018. [2] R. Santos-Güemes, G. Esteban-Manzanares, I. Papadimitriou, J. Segurado, L. Capolungo, J. LLorca. Discrete dislocation dynamics simulations of dislocation- θ’ precipitate interaction in Al-Cu alloys. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 118, 228-244, 2018

The Biostimulant, Potassium Humate Ameliorates Abiotic Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana by Increasing Starch Availability

[EN] Potassium humate is a widely used biostimulant known for its ability to enhance growth and improve tolerance to abiotic stress. However, the molecular mechanisms explaining its effects remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action of potassium humate using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We demonstrated that a formulation of potassium humate effectively increased the fresh weight accumulation of Arabidopsis plants under normal conditions, salt stress (sodium or lithium chloride), and particularly under osmotic stress (mannitol). Interestingly, plants treated with potassium humate exhibited a reduced antioxidant response and lower proline accumulation, while maintaining photosynthetic activity under stress conditions. The observed sodium and osmotic tolerance induced by humate was not accompanied by increased potassium accumulation. Additionally, metabolomic analysis revealed that potassium humate increased maltose levels under control conditions but decreased levels of fructose. However, under stress, both maltose and glucose levels decreased, suggesting changes in starch utilization and an increase in glycolysis. Starch concentration measurements in leaves showed that plants treated with potassium humate accumulated less starch under control conditions, while under stress, they accumulated starch to levels similar to or higher than control plants. Taken together, our findings suggest that the molecular mechanism underlying the abiotic stress tolerance conferred by potassium humate involves its ability to alter starch content under normal growth conditions and under salt or osmotic stress.This research was funded by the CDTI program project EXP 00137666/IDI-20210456. awarded to CALDIC Ibérica S.L. and the research contract. "DESARROLLO DE FORMULADOS BIOESTIMULANTES Y BIOFERTILIZANTES INNOVADORES DE ORIGEN NATURAL (CALBIO) DESTINADOS A LA AGRICULTURA CONVENCIONAL Y ECOLÓGICA. ESTUDIO CIENTÍFICO DE EFECTOS SINÉRGICOS ENTRE BIOACTIVOS MICROBIANOS Y NO MICROBIANOS" Between CALDIC Ibérica S.L. and Universitat Politècnica de València. The APC was funded by the aforementioned research contract.Benito, P.; Bellón, J.; Porcel, R.; Yenush, L.; Mulet, JM. (2023). The Biostimulant, Potassium Humate Ameliorates Abiotic Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana by Increasing Starch Availability. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(15):1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512140121241

Use of Yucca (Yucca schidigera) Extracts as Biostimulants to Promote Germination and Early Vigor and as Natural Fungicides

[EN] Climate change is increasing drought and salinity in many cultivated areas, therefore threatening food production. There is a great demand for novel agricultural inputs able to maintain yield under the conditions imposed by the anthropogenic global warming. Biostimulants have been proposed as a useful tool to achieve this objective. We have investigated the biostimulant effect of different yucca (Yucca schidigera) extracts on plant growth at different stages of development under different abiotic stress conditions. The extracts were tested in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and in three different crops; tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var microtom), broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa var romana). We have found that the investigated extracts are able to promote germination and early vigor under drought/osmotic and salt stress induced either by sodium chloride or lithium chloride. This effect is particularly strong in Arabidopsis thaliana and in the Brassicaceae broccoli. We have also determined using antibiograms against the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that the evaluated extracts may be used also as a natural fungicide. The results in this report show that yucca extracts may be used to enhance early vigor in some crops and as a natural fungicide, providing a new and useful tool for farmers.This research was funded by the CDTI program project EXP 00137666/IDI-20210456. awarded to CALDIC Iberica S.L. and the research contract. "DESARROLLO DE FORMULADOS BIOESTIMULANTES Y BIOFERTILIZANTES INNOVADORES DE ORIGEN NATURAL (CALBIO) DESTINADOS A LA AGRICULTURA CONVENCIONAL Y ECOLOGICA. ESTUDIO CIENTIFICO DE EFECTOS SINERGICOS ENTRE BIOACTIVOS MICROBIANOS Y NO MICROBIANOS" Between CALDIC Iberica S.L. and Universitat Politecnica de Valencia. The APC was funded by the afore mentioned research contract.Benito, P.; Ligorio, D.; Bellón, J.; Yenush, L.; Mulet, JM. (2023). Use of Yucca (Yucca schidigera) Extracts as Biostimulants to Promote Germination and Early Vigor and as Natural Fungicides. Plants. 12(2):1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants1202027411212

Eficiencia energética en el alumbrado público

El presente proyecto trata la eficiencia energética en el alumbrado público. Éste está dividido en dos partes. La primera parte nos introduce los conceptos de alumbrado público y eficiencia energética; profundizando en el estado del alumbrado público en España y en la normativa vigente referente a la eficiencia energética, relacionándolos y ahondando en el Reglamento de eficiencia energética en el alumbrado público. Una forma de contribuir con la eficiencia energética es mediante la realización de auditorías. En la segunda parte del proyecto se establecen las pautas para la ejecución de una auditoría de eficiencia energética en el alumbrado público mediante el Protocolo vigente y se ejemplifica mediante la auditoría de un pequeño municipio en la cual se realiza un estudio de las instalaciones actuales y se aportan soluciones que contribuyan a la mejora de la eficiencia energética de dicho alumbrado

Development and psychometric properties of the human papillomavirus‑quality of life (HPV‑QoL) questionnaire to assess the impact of HPV on women health‑related‑quality‑of‑life.

Purpose The HPV-Quality-of-Life (HPV-QoL) questionnaire was developed to determine the impact of Human-Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and related interventions on women health-related quality-of-life. This study provides the development and preliminary psychometric properties of a novel HPV-QoL questionnaire for adult women with HPV. Methods After reviewing literature and cognitive debriefing interviews in women who had experienced HPV-related conditions, instrument items and domains were developed. A draft questionnaire was pilot tested for comprehension and ease of completion. Psychometric evaluation of the final HPV-QoL scale was conducted in a psychometric study including 252 adult women derived to our centre by a positive HPV test in the cervical cancer screening program and/or presenting genital warts. Results The present study reveals that the HPV-QoL questionnaire, structured in four domains: general well-being [including psychological well-being and social well-being subdomains], health, contagiousness and sexuality, showed good metric properties of feasibility irrespective of age or educational level, and time to administer was less than 5 min. Internal consistency and temporal stability (reliability) showed values above the acceptable standards. The instrument showed its concurrent validity by means of a significant correlation with mental and sexual existing instruments; GHQ-12 and FSFI questionnaires, respectively, and also known groups validity showing significant differences among the subgroups regarding either sexual dysfunction or mental deterioration. Conclusion This study provides an HPV-QoL questionnaire with an innovative patient-reported outcomes specific measurement tool to assess HRQoL in women with HPV infection. The present study suggests this questionnaire has satisfactory psychometric properties, including validity and reliability. Results support the use of the HPV-QoL questionnaire as a HRQoL measurement instrument for daily medical practice and clinical research.pre-print927 K

Lymphocyte Transformation Test (LTT) in allergy to benznidazole: A promising approach

Benznidazole (Bzn) from the nitroimidazole family and nifurtimox from nitrofurans family, are drugs used as first and second line treatment for acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease (CD). Even though skin reactions are frequent, confirmed allergy to Bzn is rare, and there are few cases reported in the literature. Since CD treatment is very restrained, the possibility of cross-reactivity between members of the same and other pharmacological families highlights the importance of an adequate diagnosis that allows alternative treatments in CD and other diseases. We report a series of 31 patients (69% women) referred to our Allergy unit with suspected hypersensitivity to Bzn, twenty three of them with mild reactions and eight of them with severe reactions. LTT with Bzn was performed in 31 patients and in 8 negative controls. LTT was also performed in 25 and 20 of these patients with nifurtimox and Mtn, respectively. Twenty-one out of thirtyone patients were Bzn prick tested, and all were negative. We obtained 2/19 positive results on patch tests to Bzn. LTT with Bzn was positive in 22/31 patients (Sensitivity 75.9% and specificity 100%). The test was considered positive with a stimulation index 2. There was a positive result in 7/25 patients for nifurtimox and in 7/20 patients with Mtn. After negative LTT and skin tests, oral provocation was performed in 4/9 patients, all negative. LTT is a safe test that seems to be more useful than skin tests (prick and patch test), particularly in severe reactions, in confirming delayed hypersensitivity to Bzn and detecting cross reactivity with other imidazoles such as Mtn and reactivity to other drugs like nifurtimox. Tests for these drugs need to be included in the workup of patients with hypersensitivity to Bzn in case they are needed as an alternative treatment for CD or to treat other frequent infectious diseases.This work was funded by FIS PI13/01768 to T

Continuous renal replacement therapy in children after cardiac surgery

ObjectiveThe objective was to study the clinical course of children requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) after cardiac surgery and to analyze the factors associated with mortality.MethodsA prospective observational study was performed that included all children requiring CRRT after cardiac surgery, comparing these patients with other critically ill children requiring CRRT. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the influence of each factor on mortality.ResultsEighty-one (4.9%) of 1650 children undergoing cardiac surgery required CRRT; 65 of them (80.2%) presented multiorgan failure. Children starting CRRT after cardiac surgery had lower mean arterial pressure and lower urea and creatinine levels, and were more likely to require mechanical ventilation than other children on CRRT. The incidence of complications was similar. Cardiac surgery increased the probability of requiring CRRT for more than 14 days. Mortality was 43% in children receiving CRRT after cardiac surgery and 29% in other children (P = .05). Factors associated with mortality in the univariate analysis were age less than 12 months, weight less than 10 kg, higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score, hypotension, lower urea and creatinine on starting CRRT, and use of hemofiltration. In the multivariate analysis, the only factor associated with mortality was hypotension on starting CRRT (hazard ratio, 4.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-13.4; P = .024).ConclusionsAlthough only a small percentage of children undergoing cardiac surgery required CRRT, mortality in these patients was high. Hypotension at the time of starting the technique was the only factor associated with a higher mortality