1,855 research outputs found

    How new technologies can promote an active and healthy city. Digital platform to identify areas of informal sport practise in the city of Malaga

    Get PDF
    La investigación realizada se ha llevado a cabo en el marco de la Cátedra Tecnologías Emergentes para la Ciudadanía, Red de Cátedras Estratégicas del Vicerrectorado de Proyectos Estratégicos, Universidad de Málaga, y el Polo Digital, Ayuntamiento de Málaga.In recent years the urban public space has become the largest casual sports infrastructure in cities and suburbs. WHO establishes a direct relationship between the Active Healthy City, social cohesion of communities and public space. This approach provides a framework for research and work on the design of the city and urban space as support for this sport practice. Moreover, new technologies provide an opportunity to promote the sport in the city. “Malaga Activa” digital platform project is an initiative that wants to promote the informal sport practice on the urban public space (outside the regulated sports facilities) and healthy living in the neighborhoods of the city of Malaga. This paper presents the results of the first phase of the project identifying the active sport areas -those in which physical and casual sport activities take place-. It also includes a methodology and a performance test of the created digital platform, as well as an assessment of the experience and possible improvements to be incorporated in the successive phases of the project.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

    Corrosion Effect in Carbon Steel: Process Modeling Using Fuzzy Logic Tools

    Get PDF
    Acid mine drainage (AMD), resulting from mining activities, poses a significant environmental concern. It adversely affects metallic materials, particularly carbon steel composites used in mining machinery and structures. Highly acidic and oxidizing compounds like sulfuric acid and ferric ions cause corrosion, iron oxide formation, and hydrogen gas release, which degrade carbon steel. AMD also alters the solvent’s properties, dissolving heavy metals and contaminants, and intensifying the environmental impact of mining. A 30-week experiment immersed metal plates in AMD to study its effects. Weekly observations of the plates and solvent were made. The plate measurements and physicochemical data were analyzed using graphical–statistical analysis and fuzzy logic techniques to assess the data quality and identify errors. The results reveal consistent findings with prior studies, such as material degradation with weight loss and alterations in acid drainage media, including increased pH and total dissolved solids (TDS). These changes in the solvent characteristics stem from the dissolution of metal ions from corroded surfaces, reacting with the acid solution. Overall, this study discusses the effects of AMD (acid mine drainage) on metallic materials and emphasizes the significance of monitoring and reducing the environmental consequences of mining activities.This research was funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain), grant number PID2021-123130OB-I00

    Identification of different mechanisms leading to PAX6 down-regulation as potential events contributing to the onset of Hirschsprung disease

    Get PDF
    Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is attributed to a failure of neural crest derived cells to migrate, proliferate, differentiate or survive in the bowel wall during embryonic Enteric Nervous System (ENS) development. This process requires a wide and complex variety of molecules and signaling pathways which are activated by transcription factors. In an effort to better understand the etiology of HSCR, we have designed a study to identify new transcription factors participating in different stages of the colonization process. A differential expression study has been performed on a set of transcription factors using Neurosphere-like bodies from both HSCR and control patients. Differential expression levels were found for CDYL, MEIS1, STAT3 and PAX6. A significantly lower expression level for PAX6 in HSCR patients, would suit with the finding of an over-representation of the larger tandem (AC)m(AG)n repeats within the PAX6 promoter in HSCR patients, with the subsequent loss of protein P300 binding. Alternatively, PAX6 is a target for DNMT3B-dependant methylation, a process already proposed as a mechanism with a role in HSCR. Such decrease in PAX6 expression may influence in the proper function of signaling pathways involved in ENS with the confluence of additional genetic factors to the manifestation of HSCR phenotype.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad PI1301560Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa CTS-744

    Hospitalisation cost of patients with diabetic foot ulcers in Valencia (Spain) in the period 2009-2013 : a retrospective descriptive analysis

    Get PDF
    Ulcers are the main cause of hospitalisation and clinical complications in patients with diabetes. We analyse the length and cost of hospital stay of patients with diabetic foot ulcers, taking into consideration that hospitalisation and, if necessary, amputation represent the greatest area of expense to the healthcare system for such patients. This analysis focuses on the treatment provided to these patients in public hospitals in the region of Valencia (Spain), registered in the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set, during the period 2009-2013. The number of acute hospital admissions in this respect is increasing and has a high socioeconomic cost. During the study period, there were over 2700 hospital admissions, an average of nearly 550 per year. The total hospital stay for these patients was 30,886 days, with an average of 11.4 days and a cost of 7633 per admission. Preventive policies and the deployment of multidisciplinary teams are essential to reduce these costs and avoid future complications such as amputation

    Efecto de los pigmentos en la estabilidad atmosférica de dos formulaciones industriales de plasticos de PVC para aislantes de cables eléctricos

    Get PDF
    Durante cinco años fue investigado el envejecimiento atmosférico de muestras de dos formulaciones industriales de plásticos de PVC para aislan­tes de cables eléctricos en las condiciones del clima tropical-húmedo de Cuba. Durante años, estos aislantes de PVC, han sido empleados, en la industria cuba­na, con resultados satisfactorios. Las muestras naturales y las pigmentadas (ver­de, rojo y negro), fueron expuestas en tres estaciones de ensayo diferentes (ru­ral, marina e industrial). En las estaciones rural y marina, las muestras fueron expuestas a la intemperie y bajo techo. En la industrial, fueron expuestas sola­mente a la intemperie. Los cambios en las propiedades de los materiales duran­te el envejecimiento, fueron controlados sistemáticamente mediante inspec­ción visual, ensayos físico-mecánicos, dieléctricos y biológicos. Las muestras pigmentadas en negro, a la intemperie, mantuvieron mejor comportamiento en cuanto a las propiedades fisico-mecánicas durante un mayor período de tiem­po. Las muestras pigmentadas en verde y rojo mantuvieron un comportamien­to ligeramente superior a las muestras no pigmentadas (natural). Sin embargo, después de dos años de exposición, a la intemperie, el pigmento negro no ga­rantizó, en la zona costera, la misma acción protectora que en las zonas rural e industrial. Mediante ensayos microbiológicos, se comprobó, que la acción de los microorganismos no afecta las propiedades físico-mecánicas ni las dieléctricas, en las condiciones bajo techo, durante 5 años de exposición. Tam­bién pudo determinarse, que la acción climática de las diferentes estaciones de ensayo, no siempre se manifiesta de igual forma para un mismo material

    Hints for Metal-Preference Protein Sequence Determinants: Different Metal Binding Features of the Five Tetrahymena thermophila Metallothioneins

    Get PDF
    The metal binding preference of metallothioneins (MTs) groups them in two extreme subsets, the Zn/Cd- and the Cu-thioneins. Ciliates harbor the largest MT gene/protein family reported so far, in-cluding 5 paralogs that exhibit relatively low sequence similarity, excepting MTT2 and MTT4. In Tet-rahymena thermophila, three MTs (MTT1, MTT3 and MTT5) were considered Cd-thioneins and two (MTT2 and MTT4) Cu-thioneins, according to gene expression inducibility and phylogenetic analysis. In this study, the metal-binding abilities of the five MTT proteins were characterized, to obtain information about the folding and stability of their cognate- and non-cognate metal complexes, and to characterize the T. thermophila MT system at protein level. Hence, the five MTTs were recombinantly synthesized as Zn2+-, Cd2+- or Cu+-complexes, which were analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), circular dichroism (CD), and UV-vis spectrophotometry. Among the Cd-thioneins, MTT1 and MTT5 were optimal for Cd2+ coordination, yielding unique Cd17- and Cd8- complexes, respectively. When binding Zn2+, they rendered a mixture of Zn-species. Only MTT5 was capable to coordinate Cu+, although yielding heteronuclear Zn-, Cu-species or highly unstable Cu-homometallic species. MTT3 exhibited poor binding abilities both for Cd2+ and for Cu+, and although not optimally, it yielded the best result when coordinating Zn2+. The two Cu-thioneins, MTT2 and MTT4 isoforms formed homometallic Cu-complexes (major Cu20-MTT) upon synthesis in Cu-supplemented hosts. Contrarily, they were unable to fold into stable Cd-complexes, while Zn-MTT species were only recovered for MTT4 (major Zn10-MTT4). Thus, the metal binding preferences of the five T. thermophila MTs correlate well with their previous classification as Cd- and Cu-thioneins, and globally, they can be classified from Zn/Cd- to Cu-thioneins according to the gradation: MTT1>MTT5>MTT3>MTT4>MTT2. The main mechanisms underlying the evolution and specialization of the MTT metal binding preferences may have been in-ternal tandem duplications, presence of doublet and triplet Cys patterns in Zn/Cd-thioneins, and op-timization of site specific amino acid determinants (Lys for Zn/Cd- and Asn for Cu-coordination)

    Physico-Chemical Influence of Surface Water Contaminated by Acid Mine Drainage on the Populations of Diatoms in Dams (Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Spain)

    Get PDF
    Twenty-three water dams located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt were studied during March 2012 (early spring) in order to carry out an environmental assessment based on diatom communities and to define the relationships between these biological communities and the physico-chemical characteristics of the dam surface water. This is the first time that a diatom inventory has been done for dams a ected by acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Spanish part of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). It was found that the pH was the main factor influencing the behaviour of the diatom communities. Then, using a dbRDA approach it was possible to organize the aggrupation of diatoms into four groups in response to the physico-chemical conditions of the ecosystem, especially pH: (1) Maris, Aac, Gos, Cmora (pH 2–3); (2) Andc, San, And, Dpin (pH 3–4.5); (3) Gran, Pleon, Oliv, Lagu, Chan, SilI, SilII, Joya, Gar, Agrio, Camp, Corum (pH 4.5–6); (4) Herr, Diq I, Diq II (pH 6–7). The obtained results confirmed the response of benthic diatom communities to changes in the physico-chemical characteristics of surface water, and helped to understand the role of diatoms as indicators of the degree of AMD contamination in those 23 dams. Special attention was given to those that have an acidophilic or acid-tolerant profile (pH 2–3 and pH 3–4.5) such as Pinnularia aljustrelica, Pinnularia acidophila, Pinnularia acoricola and Eunotia exigua, which are the two groups found in the most AMD contaminated dams.Cuantificacíon de la carga metalica y sulfatos aportada por procesos AMD a embalses de la Faja Piritica Iberica: modelizacíon del processo y velocidades de colmatacíon” (CGL2010-21268-C02-01), Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. “Cuantificacion de la carga metálica y sulfatos aportada por procesos AMD a embalses de la Faja Piritica Iberica” (P10-RNM-6570), Junta de Andalucía-Convocatoria Proyectos de Excelencia. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), I.P. National funds in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19

    Odiel River (SW Spain), a Singular Scenario Affected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD): Graphical and Statistical Models to Assess Diatoms and Water Hydrogeochemistry Interactions

    Get PDF
    The Odiel River (SW Spain) is one of the most cited rivers in the scientific literature due to its high pollution degree, generated by more than 80 sulphide mines’ (mostly unrestored) contamination in the Iberian Pyritic Belt (IPB), that have been exploited for more than 5000 years. Along the river and its tributaries, the physico-chemical parameters and diatoms, from 15 sampling points, were analyzed in the laboratory. Physico-chemical parameters, water chemical analysis, together with richness and Shannon–Wiener indexes were integrated in a matrix. An initial graphical treatment allowed the definition and proposal of a functioning system model, as well as the establishment of cause–effect relationships between pollution and its effects on biota. Then, the proposed model was statistically validated by factor analysis. For acidic pH waters, high values of Eh, TDS, sulphate, ∑REE and ∑Ficklin were found, while diatomologic indicators took low values. Thus, factor analysis was a very effective tool for graphical treatment validation as well as for pollution–biota interaction models’ formulation, governed by two factors: AMD processes and water balance suffered by the studied river. As a novelty, the cause–effect relationships between high barium concentration and low diversity and richness were demonstrated in the IPB, for the first time: The authors are grateful to the Departments of Biology and Geosciences of the University of Aveiro, Portugal where diatom samples were identified. The authors are grateful to the Sustainable Mining Engineering Research Group, Department of Mining, Mechanic, Energetic and Construction Engineering at the Higher Technical School of Engineering, University of Huelva, Spain for paying for the water analyses. AT Luís is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of 29 August, changed by Law 57/2017, of 19 Jul

    Manejo intervencionista de una insuficiencia mitral por pseudocleft en paciente pluripatológico

    Get PDF
    We report a case of heart failure with poor response to conventional medical treatment in a multi-pathological patient with severe mitral valve insufficiency secondary to pseudocleft in which an interventional approach was decided with a MitraClip implant. This clinical case describes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of heart failure patients by integrating multiples areas of cardiology such as clinical, advanced imaging and percutaneous interventions.Se presenta un caso de insuficiencia cardíaca refractaria a tratamiento médico en paciente pluripatológico con insuficiencia mitral grave por pseudocleft en el que se decide un manejo intervencionista con implante de MitraClip. Este caso destaca la importancia del manejo multidisciplinar de la insuficiencia cardíaca integrando distintas áreas de la cardiología como la clínica, la imagen avanzada y el intervencionismo percutáneo
    corecore