Caracterización celular y molecular de la proteina neuroendocrine long coiled-coil 2 (NECC2)

Como se mencionó en la introducción del presente trabajo, estudios previos en nuestro grupo de investigación permitieron la identificación de una nueva proteína long coiled-coil específica de vertebrados a partir de un análisis genómico diferencial sobre dos subtipos de células endocrinas, las células melanotropas, que muestran fenotipos opuestos de hipo e hipersecreción hormonal (Gonzalez de Aguilar et al., 1997; Peinado et al., 2002; Cruz-Garcia et al., 2007). Esta proteína fue denominada Neuroendocrine Long Coiled-Coil 1 (NECC1) sobre la base de sus características estructurales y su expresión preferencial en tejidos nerviosos y órganos endocrinos (Cruz-Garcia et al., 2007). El análisis in silico de la secuencia nucleotídica de NECC1 reveló que este gen pertenece a una familia conformada por dos miembros adicionales, un gen de función desconocida que denominamos NECC2, que comparte homología estructural y expresión preferencial en los mismos tejidos que NECC1, y el gen que codifica para la proteína Jakmip1/Marlin-1 (Couve et al., 2004; Steindler et al., 2004) (Cruz-Garcia et al., 2007). En este contexto, en el presente trabajo nos propusimos establecer las bases para determinar la caracterización bioquímica y molecular de la proteína NECC2. Del mismo modo, se ha llevado a cabo la caracterización celular de esta proteína mediante la determinación de su distribución intracelular y su posible función en la línea celular neuroendocrina PC12

Estudio de técnicas de planificación dinámica de planes de ocio

Este proyecto, 'Olétrip', es la continuación de una versión anterior cuyos autores fueron Raquel Álvarez Hernández, Qiang Sun y YanYan Cheng. Nuestro objetivo en el proyecto es mejorar las recomendaciones de un sistema de planes de ocio usando diferentes algoritmos para calcular las rutas más óptimas con la ayuda de un validador personalizado. Los algoritmos nuevos implementados en la aplicación son los siguientes: • Algoritmo aleatorio: se implementó para ayudarnos a familiarizarnos con el código heredado del proyecto anterior, y posteriormente resultó útil para la implementación del algoritmo genético. • Algoritmo de primero el mejor (BFS): se usa para la búsqueda de la ruta más corta después de que el usuario haya especificado todos los detalles del viaje. • Algoritmo genético: este algoritmo se realizó con la idea de construir un plan óptimo, a pesar de saber que requiere de bastante tiempo y consumo de recursos... pero finalmente se optó por ese algoritmo para los viajeros que saben a qué ciudad quieren ir pero que no saben qué visitar. Se explicará las ventajas y desventajas que nos supone optar por un algoritmo u otro, el cómo se ha implementado cada uno de ellos y los cambios que han sido necesarios abordar con respecto a la anterior versión del proyecto. Incorporaremos a Olétrip un validador de planes que se encargará en la parte del backend de considerar la eficiencia que tiene un plan partiendo de unos requisitos que hemos definido. Será de gran importancia esta nueva funcionalidad de validación ya que los algoritmos implementados manejan una cantidad importante de planes y de esta manera nos ayuda a evaluar qué planes son más eficientes. La interfaz utilizada será la misma que en su anterior versión, incorporando una interfaz nueva que sirve para el recomendar de planes a los usuarios indecisos. También hemos incorporado un simulador de planes para los usuarios Admin que ayuda a la hora de implementar alguna funcionalidad nueva en la aplicación. De esta manera realizaremos una serie de evaluaciones con el usuario realizando un estudio de los distintos algoritmos, analizando así los resultados obtenidos y la satisfacción del usuario

Present-day heat flow model of Mars

Until the acquisition of in-situ measurements, the study of the present-day heat flow of Mars must rely on indirect methods, mainly based on the relation between the thermal state of the lithosphere and its mechanical strength, or on theoretical models of internal evolution. Here, we present a first-order global model for the present-day surface heat flow for Mars, based on the radiogenic heat production of the crust and mantle, on scaling of heat flow variations arising from crustal thickness and topography variations, and on the heat flow derived from the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere beneath the North Polar Region. Our preferred model finds heat flows varying between 14 and 25 mW m−2, with an average value of 19 mW m−2. Similar results (although about ten percent higher) are obtained if we use heat flow based on the lithospheric strength of the South Polar Region. Moreover, expressing our results in terms of the Urey ratio (the ratio between total internal heat production and total heat loss through the surface), we estimate values close to 0.7–0.75, which indicates a moderate contribution of secular cooling to the heat flow of Mars (consistent with the low heat flow values deduced from lithosphere strength), unless heat-producing elements abundances for Mars are subchondritic

Comparative study of the combustion, pyrolysis and gasification processes of Leucaena leucocephala: Kinetics and gases obtained

Leucaena leucocephala is a fast-growing leguminous biomass with great energetical and valueadded chemical compounds potential (saccharides, biogas, bio-oil, etc.). Using the thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric curves, the different trends followed by L. leucocephala during pyrolysis, 0.25 equivalence ratio (ER) of gasification, 0.50 equivalence ratio of gasification and combustion were analyzed, and the activation energies were obtained by Distributed Activation Energy Model (DAEM) method. Gas samples were collected through adsorption tubes during the gasification at 0.25 ER and 0.50 ER to observe the distribution of the main chemical products in this process by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and were compared with pyrolysis products. It was found that small amounts of oxygen have changes in the kinetics of the process, leading to significant decreases in the activation energy at the beginning of the degradation of components such as cellulose (from 170 to 135 kJ mol-1 at 0.25 conversion at 0.50 ER gasification). The activation energy of lignin disintegration was also reduced (342 kJ mol-1), assimilating the beginnings of gasification processes such as the Boudouard reaction. 0.50 ER gasification is potentially an interesting process to obtain quality bio-oil, since a large amount of hexane is detected (44.96%), and value-added oxygenated intermediates such as alcohols and glycols. Gasification at 0.25 ER, on the other hand, is much more similar to pyrolysis, obtaining a wide variety of short-chain compounds resulting from the disintegration of the main lignocellulosic components, especially ketones such as 1-hydroxypropan-2-one (19.48%), and notable amount of furans and anhydrosugars like d-allose (5.50%).This study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain), as well as by the National Research Program Oriented to the Challenges of Society (Project PID2020-112875RB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI 10.13039/501100011033, t)he Ministry of Innovation, Science and Business of the Government of the Junta of Andalusia (Spain), the Operative Program is framed within FEDER Andalusia 2014–2020 with Project number UHU-125540, and the CEPSA Foundation Chair. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA

On the thermo-mechanical structure of the Martian lithosphere: the role of the crust

An adequate knowledge of thermal and rheological properties of crust and mantle is fundamental for deciphering and understanding the thermal state and interior evolution of a planetary body. Previously, indirect methods have been used to calculate heat flows for Mars. A commonly used indirect method is based on the relation between the thermal state of lithospheric rocks and their mechanical strength, usually related through the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere or from the depth to the brittle–ductile transition beneath large thrust faults. The so-obtained heat flows are valid for the time when the lithosphere was loaded or faulted, and therefore when deduced from regions deformed in different ages provides information on the thermal evolution of Mars

Ultrasound extraction optimization for bioactive molecules from Eucalyptus globulus leaves through antioxidant activity

Antioxidant products present a very high added value and are demanded in the market. The optimization of their extraction is a high-stakes matter for both economic and environmental points of view. Ultrasound extraction has been considered one of the most promising methods, so the relative importance of key parameters may have decisive economic significance. For this reason, different parameters that have influence on the extraction capacity such as ultrasound power, time, temperature, pH and % ethanol in water have been studied to know the relationships between the independent parameters and their influence on the extraction from Eucalyptus globulus leaves. An experimental Box-Behnken factorial design and subsequent analysis by neural networks have been used. The relative influence of each parameter varies according to the nature of the extracted compound. In this regard, the higher capacity of extraction of the selected antioxidant compounds by means of the variation of the operation conditions can be facilitated. For all the studied compounds, temperature has been the most important parameter for their extraction. The relative content (%) of bioactive compounds (terpenes) in the optimized Eucalyptus globulus extract has been performed by GC–MS analysis

A Model-driven and Tool-supported Proposal for Defining Automatic Clinical Practice Guidelines

Modern clinical practices for treating pathologies are underpinned by evidence-based clinical knowledge, which is usually defined and formalized in a textual format using clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). This textual formalization causes a certain level of ambiguity, subjective interpretation of the clinical recommendations to be suggested and actions to be performed, and variability in clinical practice by different healthcare professionals facing similar clinical circumstances. This paper presents an industrial experience (GIMO-PD project) that proposes to improve formalization and reduce the clinical variability that exists when CPGs are followed by healthcare professionals during their professional activity. Specifically, this paper proposes a domain specific language for modelling CPGs without ambiguity, as well as model-driven and tool-supported mechanisms for the development of Web applications from a CPG model. At present, our proposal is being developed and validated in a real scenario of patients with Parkinson\u27s disease

Optimization of bioactive compounds by ultrasound extraction and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry in fast-growing leaves

Fast-growing crops are of great economic importance in the production of paper pulp and energy. The commercialization of the bioactive components from underutilized parts could provide additional value to these crops. In the present study, chromatography gas coupled to mass spectrometry triple quadrupole (GC–MS/MS) and ultrasound extraction technique was used in the bioactive compounds determination in fast-growing crops leaves. Twenty-one terpenes and eight polyphenolic bioactive compounds were studied. Prior to GC–MS/MS, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) - stir bars preconcentration and trimethylsilane (TMS) derivatization steps were used for terpenes and polyphenolic compounds, respectively. Several parameters (pH, temperature, ethanol–water mixtures, ultrasound power, and ultrasound time) of the extraction step were optimized by central composite experimental design. Ethanol content, ultrasound power, and ultrasound time were the parameters that most influence the extraction efficiency of terpenes in biomass residues, while for polyphenolic compounds it was temperature and ultrasound time. The optimal ultrasound extraction conditions for terpenes were 60% ethanol, pH 4, 80 W, 40 ºC, and 15 min, whereas for polyphenolic compounds they were 60% ethanol, pH 4, 120 W, 50 ºC, and 15 min. The detection limits (LOD) were in the range of 0.200–3.02 µg kg−1 and 7.9–540 µg kg−1 for terpenes and polyphenolic compounds, respectively. The developed analytical method was applied to twelve fast-growing leaves (Leucaene (diversifolia and leucocephala), Eucalyptus (globulus and urograndis), Populus (I214 and AF2), Prosopis (alba and juliflora), Robinia, Tagasaste, Ulmus pumila, and Paulownia). Eucalyptol was the mayor terpene present in all the plants studied, while chlorogenic and quinic acid were the mayor phenolic compounds.This study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain), as well as by the National Research Program Oriented to the Challenges of Society (Project PID2020-112875RB-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033), and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Business of the Government of the Junta of Andalusia (Spain), the Operative Program is framed within FEDER Andalusia 2014–2020 (Project UHU-125540). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA