Cellulosic ethanol: Improving cost efficiency by coupling semi-continuous fermentation and simultaneous saccharification strategies

A novel approach to improve ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse is proposed. Biomass was pretreated with sodium hydroxide, sulfuric, oxalic, and maleic acids (1% w/v) at different temperatures (130–170 °C) and times (10–30 min). The pretreatment with NaOH at 160 °C for 20 min was found to be the most efficient for further enzymatic saccharification. A semi-continuous fermentation system coupled with a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation strategy was used, attaining fermented liquor every 24 h. The amount of enzymes needed for saccharification was optimized, as well as the production time and ethanol concentration. The process occurred with near to complete depletion of glucose, obtaining ethanol concentrations ranging from 8.36 to 10.79% (v/v). The whole system, at bench scale, showed stability over 30 days, and ease of management and control. This strategy may improve cost efficiency in the production of cellulosic ethanol at industrial scale

Assessment of the effect of nitrogen concentration on fermentation and selection of a highly competitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for efficient ethanol production

The optimum nitrogen concentration for media supplementation and strain dominance are aspects of key importance to the industrial production of ethanol with a view to reducing costs and increasing yields. In this work, these two factors were investigated for four ethanologenic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (CLQCA-INT-001, CLQCA-INT-005, CLQCA-10-099, and UCLM 325), selected from the screening of 150 isolates, mostly from Ecuadorian yeast biodiversity. The effect of nitrogen concentration was assessed in terms of cellular growth, glucose consumption and ethanol production, and the yeast strains’ dominance was evaluated in continuous co-fermentation with cellular recycling by mitochondrial DNA analyses. Among the four selected yeast strains under study, CLQCA-INT-005 presented the highest glucose consumption at a nitrogen supplement concentration as low as 0.4 g·L−1, attaining an ethanol yield of up to 96.72% in 24 h. The same yeast strain was found to be highly competitive, showing a dominance of 80% after four cycles of fermentation in co-culture. Thus, CLQCA-INT-005 may be deemed as a very promising candidate to be used both at pilot-plant scale and at industrial scale cellulosic ethanol production

El hipertexto para el fortalecimiento de la comprensi?n lectora de los estudiantes del grado 4? de b?sica primaria del instituto acad?mico Colombia Grande

119 p. Recurso Electr?nicoEste informe de investigaci?n refleja, como el hipertexto ayuda a promover en los estudiantes de cuarto grado de primaria del Instituto Acad?mico Colombia Grande la comprensi?n lectora. Esta herramienta permite que el estudiante adopte la lectura como un buen h?bito y la comprenda de mejor manera. Para la realizaci?n de este informe se siguieron varias fases, las cuales ayudaron a tener una mirada m?s anal?tica a la problem?tica evidenciada y los factores que inciden en ?sta, y se destacan: ? Observaci?n etnogr?fica en los estudiantes de cuarto, diario de Campo y estudio de caso, donde se recopilo y determin? la problem?tica evidenciada, entrevista, cuyo fin fue hallar la raz?n a dicha problem?tica y posibles estrategias, grupos focales, donde se rese?? lo observado, y la aplicaci?n y evaluaci?n de talleres dise?ados para mejorar la problem?tica. Este informe fue apoyado por diferentes autores como: Carlos Lomas, Spiro, S?nchez, David Ausbel entre otros, quienes nutrieron la experiencia vivida durante el proceso de aplicaci?n de la propuesta educativa, pero adem?s de esto enriquecieron el conocimiento al grupo en cuanto a c?mo desarrollar la comprensi?n lectora en el aula, y el adecuado manejo del hipertexto en las TICS beneficiando el uso de herramientas tecnol?gicas con fines acad?micos. Finalmente, se pudo intervenir una poblaci?n espec?fica durante el proceso lo cual arrojo resultados significativos para los estudiantes y la comunidad educativa, teniendo la posibilidad de ser objeto de consulta para quien le interese indagar sobre el tema.This research informs explains how the hypertext helps to promote the Reading comprehension in students of forth of primary level at Institute Academic Colombia Grande. This instrument allows student to adopt reading as a beneficial habit and so his/her comprehension can also be good. Several phases were applied to carry out this inform, these steps helped to get a more analytical view towards the evidenced problematic and the factors that influence in such as a problematic, some of the most highlighted are: ? Ethnographic observation applied to students from forth, field diary and case study, which was compiled and determined the problems evidenced, interview, whose purpose was to find the reason for this problem and possible strategies, focus groups, where the observed outlined and application and evaluation of the workshops designed to improve the problematic. This research informs is backed up by several authors like: Carlos Lomas, Spiro, Sanchez, David Ausbel among others, who is it contributed to the experience lived during the implementation process of the educative proposal. Additionally, this process helped to the knowledge of the group in terms of developing reading comprehension in the classroom and the appropriate use of the hypertext in ITC?s which can benefit the use of technological tools with academic aims. Finally, it could intervene on a specific population during the process obtaining meaningful results for both students and academic community, having the possibility of being a consult object for those interested in studying the topic. Keywords: Research informs, intervention, reading comprehension, ITC?s, hypertext

Circulation of zoonotic flaviviruses in wild passerine birds in Western Spain

We explore the presence of zoonotic flaviviruses (West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV)) neutralizing antibodies in rarely studied passerine bird species. We report, for the first time in Europe, WNV-specific antibodies in red avadavat and cetti's warbler, and USUV in yellow-crowned bishop. The evidence of WNV and USUV circulating in resident and migratory species has implications for both animal and public health. Future outbreaks in avian reservoir hosts may occur and passerines should be considered as priority target species in flavivirus surveillance programmes.This work was funded by Consejería de Economía e Infraestructura of the Junta de Extremadura and the European Regional Development Fund, a Way to Make Europe, through the research project (grant numbers IB20089 and IB16135), and PR (19_ECO_0070) project Aves y Enfermedades Infecciosas Emergentes: Impacto de las Especies Exóticas y Migratorias en la transmisión de Malaria aviar y el virus del Nilo Occidental - AvEIEs from Ayudas Fundación BBVA a Equipos de Investigación Científica 2019. CISA (INIA-CSIC) was funded by INIA projects number E-RTA2015–00002-CO2–01 and AEI PID2020–116768RR-C21. MF was supported by a Juan de la Cierva 2017 Formación contract (FJCI-2017–34394) from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and she is currently funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie (grant agreement No 844285, ‘EpiEcoMod’). JM was supported by a postdoctoral grant from the Juan de la Cierva Subprogram (FJCI-2017–34109), with the financial sponsorship of the MICINN. FG-C is supported by Ayudas a la Formación Investigador Predoctoral 2018 (PD18056) from the Extremadura Government. PA-S is supported by an FPI-SGIT predoctoral contract from INIA/CISA.Peer reviewe

Identification of Usutu Virus Africa 3 Lineage in a Survey of Mosquitoes and Birds from Urban Areas of Western Spain

10 Pág.Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging zoonotic arbovirus that has caused an increasing number of animal and human cases in Europe in recent years. Understanding the vector species and avian hosts involved in the USUV enzootic cycle in an area of active circulation is vital to anticipate potential outbreaks. Mosquitoes were captured in 2020, while wild birds were sampled in both 2020 and 2021 in Extremadura, southwestern Spain. The presence of USUV in the mosquito vectors was assessed by a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay and confirmed by sequencing amplicons from two generic RT-PCR sets for flaviviruses. Sequences were analysed phylogenetically. Bird sera were screened for flavivirus antibodies with a blocking ELISA kit and subsequently tested for virus-specific antibodies with a micro-virus-neutralization test. Overall, 6,004 mosquitoes belonging to 13 species were captured, including some well-known flavivirus vectors (Culex pipiens, Cx. perexiguus, and Cx. univittatus). Of the 438 pools tested, USUV was detected in two pools of Cx. pipiens. Phylogenetic analysis using a fragment of the NS5 gene assigned the USUV detected the Africa 3 lineage. Out of 1,413 wild birds tested, USUV-specific antibodies were detected in 17 birds (1.2%, 10 males and 7 females) from eight species. The first detection of USUV Africa 3 lineage in mosquitoes from Spain, together with serologically positive resident wild birds in urban and rural areas, indicates active circulation and a possible risk of exposure for the human population, with necessity to establish specific surveillance plans.This study was funded from Ayudas Fundación BBVA a Equipos de Investigación Científica 2019 (PR (19_ECO_0070)), Research State Agency Project (PID2020-116768RR-C21/C22), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI19CIII_00014), Consejería de Economía e Infraestructura of the Junta de Extremadura, and the European Regional Development Fund, a Way to Make Europe, through the research project under grant numbers IB20089, GR21122, and GR21084. MF was supported by a Juan de la Cierva 2017 Formación contract (FJCI-2017-34394) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and she is currently funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 844285, “EpiEcoMod.” CMR was funded by a FPU grant from the Ministry of Universities of Spain (reference: FPU20/01039). FGC was supported by “Ayudas a la Formación Investigador Predoctoral 2018” Formative contract (PD18056) from the Extremadura Regional Government.Peer reviewe