23 research outputs found

    La regulación de las subvenciones pesqueras (ODS 14.6): un acercamiento preliminar al proceso de adopción del Acuerdo sobre Subvenciones a la Pesca de la OMC de 17 de junio de 2022

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    Este trabajo busca exponer de forma introductoria un análisis del Acuerdo de Subvenciones a la Pesca aprobado por la OMC el 17 de julio de 2022, y de las distintas posiciones de los Estados participantes en las negociaciones. La cuestión de las subvenciones a la pesca se ha venido debatiendo desde los años 70, pero es especialmente tras el establecimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS), y en concreto, el 14.6, en el que se plantea la prohibición de las subvenciones a la pesca, que estas negociaciones han tenido mayores avances, entre los diferentes asuntos debatidos por los Estados, pudiéndose destacar las subvenciones al combustible o el trato diferencial a países en desarrollo y menos avanzados. La aprobación de este Acuerdo supone un gran avance en materia de sostenibilidad medioambiental, pero dadas las modificaciones que ha sufrido el Acuerdo Final frente a los Proyectos de texto previos, aún queda mucho por hacer para que este Acuerdo sea capaz de lograr los objetivos perseguidos inicialmente por la OMC.Este traballo pretende plantexar unha análise introdutoria do Acordo sobre Subvencións á Pesca aprobado pola OMC o 17 de xuño de 2022, e das diferentes posicións dos Estados participantes nas negociacións. O tema das subvencións á pesca debátese desde os anos 70, pero é sobre todo despois do establecemento dos Obxectivos de Desenvolvemento Sostible (ODS), e concretamente do 14.6, no que se plantexa a prohibición das subvencións á pesca, que estas negociacións fixeron maiores avances. Entre as distintas cuestións que debaten os Estados pódense destacar as subvencións aos combustibles ou o trato diferenciado dos países en desenvolvemento e menos avanzados. A aprobación deste Acordo supón un gran avance en materia de sustentabilidade ambiental, pero dadas as modificacións que sufriu o Acordo Definitivo respecto dos anteriores borradores de textos, aínda queda moito por facer para que este Acordo poida acadar os obxectivos inicialmente establecidos perseguido pola OMC.This paper seeks to make an introductory analysis of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies approved by the WTO on June 17, 2022, and of the different positions of the States participating in the negotiations. The issue of fisheries subsidies has been debated since the 1970s, but it is especially after the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and specifically, 14.6, in which the prohibition of subsidies is raised to fishing, that these negotiations have made greater progress, among the different issues debated by the States, being able to highlight fuel subsidies or the differential treatment of developing and less advanced countries. The approval of this Agreement represents a great advance in terms of environmental sustainability, but given the modifications that the Final Agreement has undergone compared to the previous draft texts, there is still much to be done for this Agreement to be able to achieve the objectives initially pursued by the WTO

    Pathogen sensing device based on 2D MoS2/graphene heterostructure

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    In this work we propose a new methodology for selective and sensitive pathogen detection based on a 2D layered heterostructured biosensing platform. As a proof of concept, we have chosen SARS-CoV-2 virus because the availability of new methods to detect this virus is still a great deal of interest. The prepared platform is based on the covalent immobilization of molybdenum disulphide functionalized with a diazonium salt (f-MoS2) onto graphene screen-printed electrodes (GPH SPE) by electrografting of the diazonium salt. This chemistry-based method generates an improved heterostructured biosensing platform for aptamer immobilization and aptasensor development. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is used to obtain the signal response of the device, proving the ability of the sensor platform to detect the virus. SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD recombinant protein (SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein) has been detected and quantified with a low detection limit of 2.10 fg/mL. The selectivity of the developed biosensor has been confirmed after detecting the S1 protein even in presence of other interfering proteins. Moreover, the ability of the device to detect SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein has been also tested in nasopharyngeal swab samplesThis work has been financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (PID2020-116728RB-I00, PID2020- 116661RB-I00, CTQ2015-71955-REDT (ELECTROBIONET)) and Community of Madrid (TRANSNANOAVANSENS, S2018/NMT-4349, and PhotoArt P2018/NMT-4367). E. Enebral thank the financial support of “Nanotecnología para detección del SARS-CoV-2 y sus variantes. NANOCOV” project. IMDEA Nanociencia receives support from the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (MINECO, Grant CEX2020-001039-S). We also thank the Spanish Ministry of Universities for supporting Laura Gutiérrez-Galvez with the Formación del Profesorado Universitario (FPU) grant (FPU19/06309

    Continuous flexibility analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike prefusion structures

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    Using a new consensus-based image-processing approach together with principal component analysis, the flexibility and conformational dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 spike in the prefusion state have been analysed. These studies revealed concerted motions involving the receptor-binding domain (RBD), N-terminal domain, and subdomains 1 and 2 around the previously characterized 1-RBD-up state, which have been modeled as elastic deformations. It is shown that in this data set there are not well defined, stable spike conformations, but virtually a continuum of states. An ensemble map was obtained with minimum bias, from which the extremes of the change along the direction of maximal variance were modeled by flexible fitting. The results provide a warning of the potential image-processing classification instability of these complicated data sets, which has a direct impact on the interpretability of the results.The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from CSIC (PIE/COVID-19 No. 202020E079), the Comunidad de Madrid through grant CAM (S2017/BMD-3817), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through projects SEV 2017-0712, FPU-2015/264 and PID2019-104757RB-I00/AEI/ FEDER, the Instituto de Salud Carlos III [PT17/0009/0010 (ISCIII-SGEFI/ERDF)], and the European Union and Horizon 2020 through grants INSTRUCT–ULTRA (INFRADEV-03-2016-2017, Proposal 731005), EOSC Life (INFRAEOSC-04-2018, Proposal 824087), HighResCells (ERC-2018-SyG, Proposal 810057), IMpaCT (WIDESPREAD- 03-2018, Proposal 857203), CORBEL (INFRADEV-1-2014-1, Proposal 654248) and EOSC–Synergy (EINFRA-EOSC-5, Proposal 857647). HDT and BF were supported by NIH grant GM125769 and JSM was supported by NIH grant R01-AI12752

    Methylene Blue functionalized carbon nanodots combined with different shape gold nanostructures for sensitive and selective SARS-CoV-2 sensing

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    The development of DNA-sensing platforms based on new synthetized Methylene Blue functionalized carbon nanodots combined with different shape gold nanostructures (AuNs), as a new pathway to develop a selective and sensitive methodology for SARS-CoV-2 detection is presented. A mixture of gold nanoparticles and gold nanotriangles have been synthetized to modify disposable electrodes that act as an enhanced nanostructured electrochemical surface for DNA probe immobilization. On the other hand, modified carbon nanodots prepared a la carte to contain Methylene Blue (MB-CDs) are used as electrochemical indicators of the hybridization event. These MB-CDs, due to their structure, are able to interact differently with double and single-stranded DNA molecules. Based on this strategy, target sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been detected in a straightforward way and rapidly with a detection limit of 2.00 aM. Moreover, this platform allows the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 sequence in the presence of other viruses, and also a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). The developed approach has been tested directly on RNA obtained from nasopharyngeal samples from COVID-19 patients, avoiding any amplification process. The results agree well with those obtained by RT-qPCR or reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique.We acknowledge the support from the Comunidad de Madrid (TRANSNANOAVANSENS-CM, S2018/NMT-4349, NANOCOV-CM, SI3/PJI/2021–00341) and Ministerio de economia y competitividad de España (PID2020–116728RB-100, CTQ2015–71955-REDT (ELECTROBIONET)). IMDEA Nanociencia acknowledges support from the Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D ‘Severo Ochoa’ (CEX2020–001039-S, MINECO). Authors also acknowledge REACT EU NANOCOV-CM project. RdC acknowledges support from Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, Banco Santander, UAM (convocatoria CRUE- SANTANDER-CSIC, reference 10.01.03.02.41).Peer reviewe

    Obstetric outcomes of sars-cov-2 infection in asymptomatic pregnant women

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    Altres ajuts: Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)Around two percent of asymptomatic women in labor test positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Spain. Families and care providers face childbirth with uncertainty. We determined if SARS-CoV-2 infection at delivery among asymptomatic mothers had different obstetric outcomes compared to negative patients. This was a multicenter prospective study based on universal antenatal screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 42 hospitals tested women admitted for delivery using polymerase chain reaction, from March to May 2020. We included positive mothers and a sample of negative mothers asymptomatic throughout the antenatal period, with 6-week postpartum follow-up. Association between SARS-CoV-2 and obstetric outcomes was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. In total, 174 asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnancies were compared with 430 asymptomatic negative pregnancies. No differences were observed between both groups in key maternal and neonatal outcomes at delivery and follow-up, with the exception of prelabor rupture of membranes at term (adjusted odds ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.11; p = 0.015). Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers have higher odds of prelabor rupture of membranes at term, without an increase in perinatal complications, compared to negative mothers. Pregnant women testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 at admission for delivery should be reassured by their healthcare workers in the absence of symptoms

    IL-6 serum levels predict severity and response to tocilizumab in COVID-19: An observational study

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    Background: Patients with coronavirus disaese 2019 (COVID-19) can develop a cytokine release syndrome that eventually leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Because IL-6 is a relevant cytokine in acute respiratory distress syndrome, the blockade of its receptor with tocilizumab (TCZ) could reduce mortality and/or morbidity in severe COVID-19. Objective: We sought to determine whether baseline IL-6 serum levels can predict the need for IMV and the response to TCZ. Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed in hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Clinical information and laboratory findings, including IL-6 levels, were collected approximately 3 and 9 days after admission to be matched with preadministration and postadministration of TCZ. Multivariable logistic and linear regressions and survival analysis were performed depending on outcomes: need for IMV, evolution of arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio, or mortality. Results: One hundred forty-six patients were studied, predominantly males (66%); median age was 63 years. Forty-four patients (30%) required IMV, and 58 patients (40%) received treatment with TCZ. IL-6 levels greater than 30 pg/mL was the best predictor for IMV (odds ratio, 7.1; P < .001). Early administration of TCZ was associated with improvement in oxygenation (arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio) in patients with high IL-6 (P = .048). Patients with high IL-6 not treated with TCZ showed high mortality (hazard ratio, 4.6; P = .003), as well as those with low IL-6 treated with TCZ (hazard ratio, 3.6; P = .016). No relevant serious adverse events were observed in TCZ-treated patients. Conclusions: Baseline IL-6 greater than 30 pg/mL predicts IMV requirement in patients with COVID-19 and contributes to establish an adequate indication for TCZ administrationThis study was funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant nos. RD16/0011/0012 and PI18/ 0371 to I.G.A., grant no. PI19/00549 to A.A., and grant no. SAF2017-82886-R to F.S.-M.) and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The study was also funded by ‘‘La Caixa Banking Foundation’’ (grant no. HR17-00016 to F.S.-M.) and ‘‘Fondos Supera COVID19’’ by Banco de Santander and CRUE. None of these sponsors have had any role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publicatio

    Doors are closing on early development in corals facing climate change

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    International audienceMarine invertebrates are particularly vulnerable to climatic anomalies in early life history stages because of the time spent in the water column. Studies have focused on the effect of seawater temperature on fertilization, development, and larval stages in corals; however, none of them show comparative results along an environmental gradient. In this study, we show that temperatures in the range of 15–336C have strong effects on fertilization rates and embryonic stages of two coral species, Acropora muricata in the subtropical environment and Acropora hyacinthus in subtropical and temperate environments. Deformations after the first cleavage stages were observed at low (156C) and high (336C) temperatures. Development was delayed by 6–7 h in the slightly non-optimal temperature of 206C. We found significant differences in fertilization rates and responses of embryos from different latitudes, with temperate corals being more sensitive to extremely hot temperatures and vice versa. We hypothesize that the coral development is restricted to a narrow temperature range and deviation outside this window could inhibit a species' continuance and ecological success. Thus, it would have significant negative effects on adult populations and communities, playing a role in future of coral reef survival

    Development of the lattice matched GaInP/GaInAs/Ge triple junction solar cell With an efficiency over 40%

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    This paper summarizes the state-of-the-art of the lattice matched GaInP/Ga(In)As/Ge triple-junction solar cell developed at the Solar Energy Institute of UPM (IES-UPM). Different research topics tackled over the last years about this structure are described. As result of this work, an efficiency of 40% at 415 is presented

    Electrochemiluminescent nanostructured DNA biosensor for SARS-CoV-2 detection

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    This work focuses on the development of an electrochemiluminescent nanostructured DNA biosensor for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Gold nanomaterials (AuNMs), specifically, a mixture of gold nanotriangles (AuNTs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), are used to modified disposable electrodes that serve as an improved nanostructured electrochemiluminescent platform for DNA detection. Carbon nanodots (CDs), prepared by green chemistry, are used as coreactants agents in the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and the hybridization is detected by changes in the ECL signal of [Ru(bpy)3]2+/CDs in combination with AuNMs nanostructures. The biosensor is shown to detect a DNA sequence corresponding to SARS-CoV-2 with a detection limit of 514 aM.This work has been financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (PID2020-116728RB-I00, CTQ2015-71955-REDT (ELECTROBIONET)) and Community of Madrid (TRANSNANOAVANSENS, S2018/NMT-4342). RdC gratefully thanks support from Fundación IMDEA, UAM and Banco Santander (fondo supera 2020, convocatoria CRUE–CSIC–SANTANDER, project with reference 10.01.03.02.41).Peer reviewe
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