Critical Analysis of the GreenMetric World University Ranking System: The Issue of Comparability

The Universitas Indonesia GreenMetric World Ranking is the most widely adopted system nowadays to rank worldwide universities' sustainability. The number of participating universities has consistently increased throughout the last decade. An in-depth analysis of this ranking system is made to assess how sustainability in universities is measured through specific indicators. Specifically, based on expert knowledge, common logic and the scientific literature, these indicators are assessed with respect to whether they can be used to fairly quantify and rank worldwide universities' sustainability development. Some indicators proposed by the ranking system, such as the number of renewable energy sources on campus and the number of various types of programs for sustainable development, were found to be unable to measure any sustainability development effectively and fairly. Many others, such as the opted sewage disposal modality, the percentage of university budget for sustainability efforts and the ratio of sustainability research funding to total research funding, were found to need adjustment to account for context-specific factors such as availability of renewable energy sources, weather, landscape, original construction and the cultural habits of the enrolled people. Taking into account these considerations, a fairer evaluation and comparison of universities' sustainability could be achieved which provides universities with information on how to effectively improve their sustainability

Loss of heterozygosity at the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase locus in human ovarian carcinomas.

The high-affinity folate-binding protein (FBP) is primarily involved in the uptake of the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and its expression may be physiologically regulated by the intracellular folate content. The overexpression of FBP on the cell surface of ovarian carcinoma cells may be responsible for an increased folate uptake. We tested the hypothesis of the existence of a defect in the 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) in ovarian tumours that could cause reduced intracellular regeneration of the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and induce increased FBP expression. No sequence mutations were found in the MTHFR gene, but allelic deletions of this gene were frequently detected in ovarian tumours (59%). Chromosomal losses appeared to be confined to the 1p36.3 region to which the MTHFR gene maps. Although it cannot be stated that MTHFR is the target gene of the chromosomal loss involving the 1p36.3 region, a correlation between loss of heterozygosity at this locus and decrease in MTHFR activity was shown, suggesting a role of these allelic deletions in generating a biochemical defect in folate metabolism. Further studies are needed to assess further the relationship between MTHFR and FBP overexpression, but the demonstration of the alteration of a key metabolic enzyme of the folate cycle in a subset of human ovarian tumours is in accordance with the hypothesis of an altered folate metabolism in these neoplasias and might be exploited for therapeutic purposes

Aprovechamiento integral del grano de Quinoa. Aspectos tecnológicos, fisioquímicos, nutricionales y sensoriales.

El libro APROVECHAMIENTO INTEGRAL DEL GRANO DE QUINOA. Aspectos Tecnológicos, Fisicoquímicos, Nutricionales y Sensoriales, tiene por objeto difundir las investigaciones y desarrollos realizados en la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina por el “Grupo quinoa”. Este grupo está constituido por un conjunto de docentes-investigadores los que integran un equipo multidisciplinario que llevan a cabo su trabajo en el Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos (ICTA) y del Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos Córdoba (ICYTAC), Unidad Ejecutora del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)

Synthesis and evaluation of fluorimetric and colorimetric chemosensors for anions based on (oligo)thienyl-thiosemicarbazones

A family of heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone dyes (3a-d) containing thienyl groups has been synthesized, characterized and their chromo-fluorogenic response in acetonitrile in the presence of selected anions studied. Acetonitrile solutions of 3a-d show absorption bands in the 338-425 nm range which are modulated by the groups attached to the thiosemicarbazone moiety. The fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen sulfate, nitrate, acetate and anions were used in the recognition studies. Only sensing features were observed for fluoride, cyanide, acetate and dihydrogen phosphate anions. Two different chromogenic responses were found, (i) a small shift of the absorption band due to coordination of the anions with the thiourea protons and (ii) the appearance of a new red shifted band due to deprotonation of the receptor. For the latter process changes in the color solutions from pale-yellow to orange-red were observed. Fluorescence studies showed a different emission behavior according to the number of thienyl rings in the π-conjugated bridges. Stability constants for the two processes (complex formation + deprotonation) for receptors 3a-d in the presence of fluoride and acetate anions were determined from spectrophotometric titrations using the HypSpec program. The interaction of 3d with fluoride was also studied through 1H NMR titrations. Semiempirical calculations to evaluate the hydrogen-donating ability of the receptors were also performed.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) , Acções Integradas Luso-Espanholas/CRUP, Generalitat Valenci

Highly Sensitive Fluorescence Probe Based on Functional SBA-15 for Selective Detection of Hg2+

An inorganic–organic hybrid fluorescence chemosensor (DA/SBA-15) was prepared by covalent immobilization of a dansylamide derivative into the channels of mesoporous silica material SBA-15 via (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) groups. The primary hexagonally ordered mesoporous structure of SBA-15 was preserved after the grafting procedure. Fluorescence characterization shows that the obtained inorganic–organic hybrid composite is highly selective and sensitive to Hg2+ detection, suggesting the possibility for real-time qualitative or quantitative detection of Hg2+ and the convenience for potential application in toxicology and environmental science

Synthesis and evaluation of thiosemicarbazones functionalized with furyl moieties as new chemosensors for anion recognition

A family of heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone dyes (3a-f and 4) containing furyl groups were synthesized in good yields, characterized and their response in acetonitrile in the presence of selected anions was studied. Acetonitrile solutions of 3a-f and 4 show absorption bands in the 335-396 nm range which are modulated by the electron donor or acceptor strength of the heterocyclic systems appended to the thiosemicarbazone moiety. Fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen sulphate, nitrate, acetate and cyanide anions, were used in recognition studies. From these anions, only sensing features were seen for fluoride, cyanide, acetate and dihydrogen phosphate. Two clearly different chromo-fluorogenic behaviours were observed, (i) a small shift of the absorption band due to the coordination of the anions with the thiourea protons and (ii) the appearance of a new red shifted band due to deprotonation. For the latter effect, a change in the colour solution from pale yellow to purple was observed. Fluorescence studies were also in agreement with the different effects observed in the UV/Vis titrations. In this case, hydrogen bonding interactions were visible through the enhancement of the emission band, whereas deprotonation induced the appearance of a new red-shifted emission. Logarithms of stability constants for the two processes (complex formation + deprotonation) for receptors 3a-f in the presence of fluoride and acetate anions were determined from spectrophotometric titrations using the HypSpec V1.1.18 program. Semi-empirical calculations to evaluate the hydrogen-donating ability of the receptors and a prospective electrochemical characterization of compound 3b in the presence of fluoride were also performed.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Acções Integradas Luso-espanholas/CRUP, Generalitat Valenciana