Energía y productos de hidrólisis a partir de cultivos industriales y forestales

Se caracterizan química y energéticamente diversas especiesvegetales de elevada producción de biomasa (Eucalyptus globulus, tallos de girasol, Chamaecitysus proliferus, Paulownia fortunei, Leucaena diversifolia y Arundo donax) y se estudia el proceso de autohidrólisis en condiciones no isotermas en un marco general de evaluación de la valorización por fraccionamiento y aprovechamiento integral de las fracciones lignocelulósicas con posterior aprovechamiento energético de la fase sólida post-hidrólisis. Los procesos de autohidrólisis se han revelado particularmente interesantes en el caso de las especies madereras estudiadas frente a las especies herbáceas con variaciones en la extracción de la fracción de xilano a 180ºC entre el 19,7% de Eucalyptus globulus y el 36,8% de Leucaenadiversifolia y a 200ºC entre el 57,9% de Paulownia fortunei y el 79,1% de Chamaecytisus proliferus. Las especies madereras de corta rotación de cultivo ensayadas se manifiestan más susceptibles que la especie de referencia (Eucalyptus globulus) al proceso de autohidrólisis a bajas temperaturas. La explotación de las especies madereras de corta rotación ensayadas por combustión directa de la fracción sólida post-autohidrólisis a 200ºC aporta, además de la valorización inherente a los oligómeros y monosacáridos de la fracción líquida, un aumento del poder calorífico relativo de la fracción sólida post-autohidrólisis del 3,4% en Paulownia fortunei y 6,7% en Leucaena diversifolia

A longitudinal study of gene expression in first-episode schizophrenia; exploring relapse mechanisms by co-expression analysis in peripheral blood

Little is known about the pathophysiological mechanisms of relapse in first-episode schizophrenia, which limits the study of potential biomarkers. To explore relapse mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers for relapse prediction, we analyzed gene expression in peripheral blood in a cohort of first-episode schizophrenia patients with less than 5 years of evolution who had been evaluated over a 3-year follow-up period. A total of 91 participants of the 2EPs project formed the sample for baseline gene expression analysis. Of these, 67 provided biological samples at follow-up (36 after 3 years and 31 at relapse). Gene expression was assessed using the Clariom S Human Array. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to identify modules of co-expressed genes and to analyze their preservation after 3 years of follow-up or at relapse. Among the 25 modules identified, one module was semi-conserved at relapse (DarkTurquoise) and was enriched with risk genes for schizophrenia, showing a dysregulation of the TCF4 gene network in the module. Two modules were semi-conserved both at relapse and after 3 years of follow-up (DarkRed and DarkGrey) and were found to be biologically associated with protein modification and protein location processes. Higher expression of DarkRed genes was associated with higher risk of suffering a relapse and early appearance of relapse (p = 0.045). Our findings suggest that a dysregulation of the TCF4 network could be an important step in the biological process that leads to relapse and suggest that genes related to the ubiquitin proteosome system could be potential biomarkers of relapse. © 2021, The Author(s)

Mineral resources and geochemical exploration in PLANAGEO (Angola)

[EN] PLANAGEO is an international Project developed by the Spanish Geological Survey (IGME), Portugal Geological Survey (LNEG) and Asturian company (IMPULSO) for 8 years (2014-2022) in the south part of Angola (476.500 Km2). This project has four main activities: 1) Aerogeophysical surveys, 2) Geological mapping, 3) Geochemical exploration and 4) Specific studies (Mineral resources exploration, hydrogeological studies and ornamental rock and industrial mineral exploration).Peer reviewe