Synthesis and oxidative stability of monoacylglycerols containing polyunsaturated fatty acids by enzymatic glycerolysis in a solvent-free system

Monoacylglycerols (MAG) containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been synthesized by glycerolysis of anchovy oil using Lipozyme RM-IM in a solvent-free system. The experimental conditions, reaction temperature, substrate molar ratio (glycerol/triacylglycerol, Gly/TAG) and enzyme concentration were studied. A response surface methodology was employed to analyze the effect of the individual variables on MAG production and oxidative stability with respect to induction time. The operating conditions that simultaneously optimized MAG yields and oxidative stability were a reaction temperature of 40 °C, a Gly/TAG molar ratio of 2:1 and 6% enzyme load. The yield obtained was 20.34% of MAG (with 12.12% of 2-MAG) and an induction time of 1.88 h

Sostenibilidad curricular de titulaciones universitarias: un proyecto del Grupo SAC-UBU para conocer la percepción del alumnado de la Facultad de Ciencias

Póster presentado en: VIII Jornadas de Innovación Docente de la UBU, Burgos, 5 de abril de 2016, organizadas por el Instituto de Formación e Innovación Educativa-IFIE de la Universidad de Burgo

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Immobilization of Rhodococcus by encapsulation and entrapment: a green solution to bitter citrus by-products

Debittering of citrus by-products is required to obtain value-added compounds for application in the food industry (e.g., dietary fber, bioactive compounds). In this work, the immobilization of Rhodococcus fascians cells by encapsulation in Ca-alginate hollow beads and entrapment in poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyethylene glycol (PVA/PEG) cryogels was studied as an alternative to chemical treatments for degrading the bitter compound limonin. Previously, the Rhodococcus strain was adapted using orange peel extract to increase its tolerance to limonoids. The optimal conditions for the encapsulation of microbial cells were 2% Na-alginate, 4% CaCl2, 4% carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and a microbial load of 0.6 OD600 (optical density at 600 nm). For immobilization by entrapment, the optimal conditions were 8% PVA, 8% PEG, and 0.6 OD600 microbial load. Immobilization by entrapment protected microbial cells better than encapsulation against the citrus medium stress conditions (acid pH and composition). Thus, under optimal immobilization conditions, limonin degradation was 32 and 28% for immobilization in PVA/PEG gels and in hollow beads, respectively, in synthetic juice (pH 3) after 72 h at 25 °C. Finally, the microbial cells entrapped in the cryogels showed a higher operational stability in orange juice than the encapsulated cells, with four consecutive cycles of reuse (runs of 24 h at 25 °C)

Alkaline Phosphatase−Polyresorcinol Complex: Characterization and Application to Seed Coating

An alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) from Escherichia coli ATCC27257 was immobilized by copolymerization with resorcinol. The phosphatase−polyresorcinol complex synthesized retained about 74% of the original enzymatic activity. The pH and temperature profile of the immobilized and free enzyme revealed a similar behavior. Kinetic parameters were determined: Km and Ki values were 2.44 and 0.423 mM, respectively, for the phosphatase−polyresorcinol complex and 1.07 and 0.069 mM, respectively, for free phosphatase. The thermal and storage stabilities of the immobilized phosphatase were higher than those of the native one. On addition to soil, free enzyme was completely inactivated in 4 days, whereas the phosphatase−polyresorcinol complex was comparatively stable. Barley seed coated with the immobilized enzyme exhibited higher rhizosphere phosphatase activity. Under pot culture conditions, an increase in the soil inorganic phosphorus was detected when the seed was encapsulated with the phosphatase−polyresorcinol complex, and a positive influence on biomass and inorganic phosphorus concentration of shoot was observed

Jornadas formativas y de sensibilización en sostenibilidad de la Facultad de Ciencias

Póster presentado en: VI Jornadas de Innovación Docente de la UBU, Burgos, 23 y 24 de febrero de 2012, organizadas por el Instituto de Formación e Innovación Educativa-IFIE de la Universidad de Burgo

Diseño de proyectos piloto de adaptación de asignaturas de la Licenciatura en Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos a las nuevas demandas de implantación de créditos ECTS

Resumen tomado de la publicaciónSe adaptan las asignaturas de la Licenciatura de en Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos a los créditos ECTS. Se constituye un grupo permanente de trabajo, diseño de un cuestionario, el cuál se pasó a los estudiantes de un grupo representativo de asignaturas de complementos de formación y estudio de encuestas. Se toma conciencia del cambio de metodología docente que implica el crédito ECTS, y manifestación de la urgente necesidad de que se valore académica y económicamente su dedicación docente, en particular, en lo que respecta al diseño y evaluación de todas las actividades propuestas a los estudiantes. Se constata la idoneidad de establecer grupos de prácticas con un número considerablemente más reducido de alumnos que el actual de 24 estudiantes por grupo, puesto que de seguir como hasta el momento, sería prácticamente imposible converger con Europa al no poder impartir una docencia mucho más personalizada, que es la que implica, precisamente, el crédito ECTS. En las jornadas llevadas a cabo sobre propuestas de innovación educativa en clave de convergencia europea para los estudios de Química, y sobre el proyecto piloto realizado en la Universidad de Barcelona para la Licenciatura en Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, se explica que el éxito de la enseñanza propuesta por la convergencia europea con el sistema ECTS esta supeditado al número de alumnos, que tenía que ser inferior a 30 estudiantes por grupo de teoría. Posteriormente se detallan los resultados de la segunda fase del proyecto para cada asignatura evaluada.Castilla y LeónConsejería de Educación. Dirección General de Universidades e Investigación; Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Prado, Autovía Puente Colgante s. n.; 47071 Valladolid; +34983411881; +34983411939;ES