Aplicación del modelo de poros finos en el acondicionamiento de aguas para calderas

This investigation deals with the use of an intermediate membrane category for boiler water conditioning, in which the joining of the flows exists, but in a much smaller degree that In the viscous flow. In this work, different models have been proposed for this membrane application, such that represent these intermediate characteristics, as those reported by Sourirajan (1964) for cellulose acetate low-porous membranes. Three spiral polymeric reverse osmosis membranes (ESPA1, CPA2 and PAC) were used. Coefficients used in the model equations were obtained from flow and conductivity experimental data using these membranes. The model was optimized by means of the least squares algorithm and adjusted with a function objective, to obtain definitive coefficients for each membrane. Finally, model predictions were used for a boiler water conditioning system design.Esta investigación se desarrolló con el propósito de reemplazar el proceso de intercambio iónico en el acondicionamiento de aguas para calderas, debido a las ventajas de tipo técnico, ambiental y económico que tienen las tecnologías limpias que utilizan membranas, como es el caso de la ósmosis inversa. En las membranas de poros finos hay acoplamiento entre el flujo de solvente y solutos, pero en un grado mucho menor que en las membranas de flujo viscoso. Éstas fueron reportadas por Sourirajan (1964). Para ellas se han propuesto varios modelos, tal como el presentad() por. Merten (1966), del que se deriva esta aplicación. En este trabajo se utilizaron tres membranas poliméricas en espiral (ESPA1, CPA2 y PAC). Los coeficientes utilizados en las ecuaciones para su modelización se determinaron de forma experimental a partir de los datos de flujos y conductividades. El modelo de poros finos fue optimizado con el algoritmo de los mínimos cuadrados y ajustado con una función objetivo. La aplicación del modelo se hizo utilizando sus predicciones de flujo total y retención de solutos en el diseño de un sistema de acondicionamiento de aguas para caldera

Sensitive targeted multiple protein quantification based on elemental detection of Quantum Dots

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2015.03.015A generic strategy based on the use of CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots (QDs) as elemental labels for protein quantification, using immunoassays with elemental mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), detection is presented. In this strategy, streptavidin modified QDs (QDs-SA) are bioconjugated to a biotinylated secondary antibody (b-Ab2). After a multi-technique characterization of the synthesized generic platform (QDs-SAb-Ab2) it was applied to the sequential quantification of five proteins (transferrin, complement C3, apolipoprotein A1, transthyretin and apolipoprotein A4) at different concentration levels in human serum samples. It is shown how this generic strategy does only require the appropriate unlabeled primary antibody for each protein to be detected. Therefore, it introduces a way out to the need for the cumbersome and specific bioconjugation of the QDs to the corresponding specific recognition antibody for every target analyte (protein). Results obtained were validated with those obtained using UV–vis spectrophotometry and commercial ELISA Kits.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN, CTQ2010-16636), the European FEDER program co-financing, the “Plan de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación” of the Principado de Asturias (FICYT, IE13-031) and Agilent Technologies Foundation. A.R.M.B. and M.G.C thank the MICINN and “Gobierno del Principado de Asturias” for their Ph.D. funding through the FPU and Severo Ochoa (BP13-110) programs, respectively. M.C.P. “Catedrático Rafael del Pino en Oftalmología” and H.G.I. acknowledge financial support from the “Fundación Ma Cristina Masaveu Peterson” and The Glaucoma Foundation (NY, USA).https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2015.03.01

Diseño de instalaciones para acondicionamiento de aguas mediante tecnologías limpias

This study is carried out to asses the use of a methodology and its application in designing a set up for nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes as conditioning of feed boiler water depending on wáter salinity. The used model is one based in the fine porous principle because is the best for nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes. It is necessary to know quality feed water and volume per second. The design has a thirty per cent recovery of the permeate feed water. The hydraulics study determinate elements number, energy losses, tangential speed, the permeation and rejection concentrations of membranes, volume of water rejection and jump power. The optimal result is with 0.06 and 0.6 mg/1 of calcium and necessary unadulterated water volume.Se presenta una metodología y su aplicación en el diseño de instalaciones con membranas para acondicionamiento de aguas ultrapuras para calderas, utilizando un modelo basado en el principio de los poros finos, como el más representativo para membranas de nanofiltración y ósmosis inversa. Se debe conocer la calidad del agua de alimentación y caudal que se requiere. El diseño tuvo en cuenta una recuperación de permeado del 30% del agua de alimentación. Según estudio hidráulico, se determinó el número de elementos, las pérdidas de carga, la velocidad tangencial, las concentraciones de permeado y de rechazo en las membranas, la cantidad de agua rechazada y la potencia de la bomba. El diseño óptimo se definió cuando se hallaron concentraciones de permeado del orden de 0,06 y 0,6 mg/1 de calcio y los caudales de agua ultrapura requeridos

Role of GUCA1C in Primary Congenital Glaucoma and in the Retina: Functional Evaluation in Zebrafish

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is a heterogeneous, inherited, and severe optical neuropathy caused by apoptotic degeneration of the retinal ganglion cell layer. Whole-exome sequencing analysis of one PCG family identified two affected siblings who carried a low-frequency homozygous nonsense GUCA1C variant (c.52G > T/p.Glu18Ter/rs143174402). This gene encodes GCAP3, a member of the guanylate cyclase activating protein family, involved in phototransduction and with a potential role in intraocular pressure regulation. Segregation analysis supported the notion that the variant was coinherited with the disease in an autosomal recessive fashion. GCAP3 was detected immunohistochemically in the adult human ocular ciliary epithelium and retina. To evaluate the ocular effect of GUCA1C loss-of-function, a guca1c knockout zebrafish line was generated by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of GCAP3 in the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium and retina of adult wild-type fishes. Knockout animals presented up-regulation of the glial fibrillary acidic protein in Müller cells and evidence of retinal ganglion cell apoptosis, indicating the existence of gliosis and glaucoma-like retinal damage. In summary, our data provide evidence for the role of GUCA1C as a candidate gene in PCG and offer new insights into the function of this gene in the ocular anterior segment and the retina.This research was funded by research grants from the “Instituto de Salud Carlos III/European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)” (PI15/01193, PI19/00208 and RD16/0008/0019, OFTARED), the Regional Ministry of Science and Technology of the Board of the Communities of “Castilla-La Mancha” (SBPLY/17/180501/000404; http://www.educa.jccm.es/idiuniv/es). SA-M was sponsored by the Regional Ministry of Science and Technology of the Board of the Communities of “Castilla-La Mancha” (PREJCCM2016/28)

CPAMD8 loss-of-function underlies non-dominant congenital glaucoma with variable anterior segment dysgenesis and abnormal extracellular matrix

Abnormal development of the ocular anterior segment may lead to a spectrum of clinical phenotypes ranging from primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) to variable anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD). The main objective of this study was to identify the genetic alterations underlying recessive congenital glaucoma with ASD (CG-ASD). Next-generation DNA sequencing identified rare biallelic CPAMD8 variants in four patients with CG-ASD and in one case with PCG. CPAMD8 is a gene of unknown function and recently associated with ASD. Bioinformatic and in vitro functional evaluation of the variants using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and minigene analysis supported a loss-of-function pathogenic mechanism. Optical and electron microscopy of the trabeculectomy specimen from one of the CG-ASD cases revealed an abnormal anterior chamber angle, with altered extracellular matrix, and apoptotic trabecular meshwork cells. The CPAMD8 protein was immunodetected in adult human ocular fluids and anterior segment tissues involved in glaucoma and ASD (i.e., aqueous humor, non-pigmented ciliary epithelium, and iris muscles), as well as in periocular mesenchyme-like cells of zebrafish embryos. CRISPR/Cas9 disruption of this gene in F0 zebrafish embryos (96 hpf) resulted in varying degrees of gross developmental abnormalities, including microphthalmia, pharyngeal maldevelopment, and pericardial and periocular edemas. Optical and electron microscopy examination of these embryos showed iridocorneal angle hypoplasia (characterized by altered iris stroma cells, reduced anterior chamber, and collagen disorganized corneal stroma extracellular matrix), recapitulating some patients’ features. Our data support the notion that CPAMD8 loss-of-function underlies a spectrum of recessive CG-ASD phenotypes associated with extracellular matrix disorganization and provide new insights into the normal and disease roles of this gene

Foxf2: A Novel Locus for Anterior Segment Dysgenesis Adjacent to the Foxc1 Gene

Anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) is characterised by an abnormal migration of neural crest cells or an aberrant differentiation of the mesenchymal cells during the formation of the eye's anterior segment. These abnormalities result in multiple tissue defects affecting the iris, cornea and drainage structures of the iridocorneal angle including the ciliary body, trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal. In some cases, abnormal ASD development leads to glaucoma, which is usually associated with increased intraocular pressure. Haploinsufficiency through mutation or chromosomal deletion of the human FOXC1 transcription factor gene or duplications of the 6p25 region is associated with a spectrum of ocular abnormalities including ASD. However, mapping data and phenotype analysis of human deletions suggests that an additional locus for this condition may be present in the same chromosomal region as FOXC1. DHPLC screening of ENU mutagenised mouse archival tissue revealed five novel mouse Foxf2 mutations. Re-derivation of one of these (the Foxf2W174R mouse lineage) resulted in heterozygote mice that exhibited thinning of the iris stroma, hyperplasia of the trabecular meshwork, small or absent Schlemm's canal and a reduction in the iridocorneal angle. Homozygous E18.5 mice showed absence of ciliary body projections, demonstrating a critical role for Foxf2 in the developing eye. These data provide evidence that the Foxf2 gene, separated from Foxc1 by less than 70 kb of genomic sequence (250 kb in human DNA), may explain human abnormalities in some cases of ASD where FOXC1 has been excluded genetically