Relations between the relational self-construal, the choice of goals and psychological need satisfaction of University students

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar cómo ciertas características del autoconcepto pueden influir en la elección de unas u otras metas en estudiantes universitarios. Se utilizó una adaptación al castellano de la escala Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal ([RISC]; Cross, Bacon, & Morris, 2000) para medir el grado en el que los estudiantes incorporan sus relaciones interpersonales significativas en la construcción del autoconcepto. En una muestra de 389 universitarios españoles (rango de edad 16-47, M = 19.28; DE = 3.15) se efectuaron distintos contrastes que mostraron diferencias significativas asociadas al género (♀ = 59% y ♂ = 41% con tamaños de efecto d 0.25-0.55) y a las puntuaciones (altas frente a bajas, d 0.42-0.91) en la escala del RISC. Asimismo, esta variable de diferencias individuales apareció como predictora significativa en la elección de determinado tipo de metas y de la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas de autonomía, competencia y vinculación. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones en la elección de estudios y en lo que los estudiantes esperan encontrar en la universidad.The aim of this study was to explore the role of specific features of the selfconcept that could be associated with the choice of life goals. We developed an adaptation of the RISC (Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal; Cross, Bacon, & Morris 2000) to directly assess the degree to which individuals define themselves in terms of close relationships. The scale was translated into Spanish and its psychometric properties were analyzed with data from a sample of 389 university students (age range 16-47, M=19.28, ST=3.15). A set of contrast showed significant differences between men and women (♀=59% y ♂= 41% effect size d 0.25-0.55). Significant differences appeared also regarding extrinsic and intrinsic goals, interpersonal goals and needs satisfaction when students with a highly relational self-construal were compared with students with a low relational one (d 0.42-0.91). These results have implications for the choice of studies and what students expect in university life.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación del Gobierno de España PSI2008-00015/PSI

Efficient production of acetoin by fermentation using the newly isolated mutant strain Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis CML B4

With the aim of applying biotechnology to produce acetoin, a chemical that can be used as an aroma and as a building block for other compounds, several putative mutants with reduced lactic acid synthesis were obtained from a wild-type homolactic strain of L. lactis subjected to chemical mutagenesis. Among these mutants, a strain was isolated, CML B4, that showed reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and increased NADH oxidase (NOX) activities. Shaken flask cultures of this mutant strain mainly produced acetoin, increasing the levels produced compared to the wild-type strain by 15-fold. A point mutation detected in the ldh gene encoding LDH was probably the genetic defect responsible for this phenotype. In pH-controlled aerobic batch fermentation, the CML B4 strain produced more than 40 gL−1 acetoin, which was increased by up to 59 gL−1 in fed-batch fermentations, with yields close to 88 and 74%, respectively, and productivities exceeding 2 gL−1 h−1. These results indicate that this strain could be used industrially as a cell factory for the production of acetoin from bioresources.This work was supported by the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism of the Basque Government [grant number S-PE05LE03]

Monolithic stirrer reactors for the sustainable production of dihydroxybenzenes over 3D printed Fe/γ-Al2O3 monoliths: kinetic modeling and CFD simulation

The aim of this work is to evaluate the performance of the stirring 3D Fe/Al2O3 monolithic reactor in batch operation applied to the liquid-phase hydroxylation of phenol by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 ). An experimental and numerical investigation was carried out at the following operating conditions: CPHENOL,0 = 0.33 M, CH2O2,0 = 0.33 M, T = 75–95◦C, P = 1 atm, ω = 200–500 rpm and WCAT ~ 1.1 g. The kinetic model described the consumption of the H2O2 by a zero-order power-law equation, while the phenol hydroxylation and catechol and hydroquinone production by Eley–Rideal model; the rate determining step was the reaction between the adsorbed H2O2, phenol in solution with two active sites involved. The 3D CFD model, coupling the conservation of mass, momentum and species together with the reaction kinetic equations, was experimentally validated. It demonstrated a laminar flow characterized by the presence of an annular zone located inside and surrounding the monoliths (u = 40–80 mm s−1 ) and a central vortex with very low velocities (u = 3.5–8 mm s−1 ). The simulation study showed the increasing phenol selectivity to dihydroxybenzenes by the reaction temperature, while the initial H2O2 concentration mainly affects the phenol conversio

3D printing of cubic zirconia lattice supports for hydrogen production

The demand for hydrogen has extraordinarily grown during the last years, being one of the most attractive forms of fuels to produce green energy. Cubic zirconia ceramics are considered promising catalytic supports, and the additive manufacturing of porous 3D structures based on these ceramics could enhance their catalytic performance. Herein, lightweight highly porous (up to 88%) 3D patterned 8 mol% yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia (8YSZ) scaffolds are manufactured by robocasting from pseudoplastic aqueous-based inks to produce catalytic supports for the hydrogen (H2) production. These scaffolds are thermally treated at temperatures ranging between 1000 and 1400 ◦C and, hence, mechanically and electrically characterized. 3D 8YSZ structures sintered at 1200 ◦C, with an appropriate balance between high porosity (86%) and compressive strength (3.7 MPa), are impregnated with palladium (Pd) catalytic nanoparticles and employed in the catalytic dehydrogenation of renewable formic acid (FA) using a fixed-bed reactor. 3D Pd/8YSZ catalyst leads to the continuous production of CO-free H2 with a FA conversion of 32% at T =55 ◦CThis work was supported by the Spanish Government through RTI2018-095052-B-I00, PID2019-105079RB-I00 (MICINN/AEI/FEDER, UE), PID2021-125427OB-I00 (MICINN/AEI/FEDER, UE) and EIN2020- 112153 (MCINN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) projects, the latter also supported by the European Union through “NextGenerationEU/ PRTR”. M. Koller gratefully acknowledges funding within “Support for International Mobility of Researchers of the Institute of Thermomechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences, part II”, no. CZ.02.2.69/0.0/ 0.0/18_053/0017555 of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic funded from the European Structure and Investment Funds (ESIF). G. Vega acknowledges the Universidad Aut´onoma de Madrid for the Predoctoral contract. The authors thank J. Mejía for her permanent technical assistance in the catalytic experiment

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus impacts on gut microbiome in a strain virulence-dependent fashion

Altres ajuts: Science Foundation Ireland SFI/12/RC/2273 i Vistamilk SFI/16/RC/3835Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a viral disease defined by reproductive problems, respiratory distress and a negative impact on growth rate and general condition. Virulent PRRS virus (PRRSV) strains have emerged in the last years with evident knowledge gaps in their impact on the host immune response. Thus, the present study examines the impact of acute PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection, with two strains of different virulence, on selected immune parameters and on the gut microbiota composition of infected pigs using 16S rRNA compositional sequencing. Pigs were infected with a low virulent (PRRS_3249) or a virulent (Lena) PRRSV-1 strain and euthanized at 1, 3, 6, 8 or 13 days post-inoculation (dpi). Faeces were collected from each animal at the necropsy time-point. Alpha and beta diversity analyses demonstrated that infection, particularly with the Lena strain, impacted the microbiome composition from 6 dpi onwards. Taxonomic differences revealed that infected pigs had higher abundance of Treponema and Methanobrevibacter (FDR < 0.05). Differences were more considerable for Lena- than for PRRS_3249-infected pigs, showing the impact of strain virulence in the intestinal changes. Lena-infected pigs had reduced abundancies of anaerobic commensals such as Roseburia, Anaerostipes, Butyricicoccus and Prevotella (P < 0.05). The depletion of these desirable commensals was significantly correlated to infection severity measured by viraemia, clinical signs, lung lesions and immune parameters (IL-6, IFN-γ and Hp serum levels). Altogether, the results from this study demonstrate the indirect impact of PRRSV infection on gut microbiome composition in a strain virulence-dependent fashion and its association with selected immune markers. PRRSV, a porcine respiratory pathogen, indirectly impacts on gut microbiome composition in a strain virulence dependent fashion in association with selected immune markers

Development of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG and IgA antibodies in serum and milk with different SARS-COV-2 vaccines in lactating women

Background: Our main objective was to determine the evolution of IgG and IgA antibodies directed against SARS-CoV-2 protein S in the blood of lactating women and in breast milk. Methods: A cohort of 110 uninfected and vaccinated breastfeeding women was followed-up for 6 months at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Spain, in 2020. An additional group of 23 breastfeeding mothers who had no previously documented infection and had not been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 were included as a control group. The antibodies in blood and breast milk and their evolution at 6 months post-vaccination were analysed. Results: One hundred ten breastfeeding mothers were included; 70 women (63.6%) were vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2, 20 women (18.2%) received two doses of mRNA-1273, and 20 women (18.2%) received a single dose of ChAdOx1-S. No evidence of differences between concentrations of antibodies was found according to the type of vaccine, with the exception of serum IgA antibodies, which was higher in women vaccinated with mRNA-1273: mean [95%CI]: 0.05 AU/mL [0.03,0.06] with mRNA-1273, 0.02 AU/mL [0.01,0.03] with BNT162b2 and 0.01 AU/mL [0.00,0.03] with ChAdOx1-S, ANOVA p value = 0.03. The lack of difference between vaccines was also found when anti-S1 specific IgG in serum and breast milk were measured. Conclusions: In lactating women vaccinated against COVID-19, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can be detected in both serum and breastmilk 6 months after receiving the second dose, although their concentrations decreased when compared with concentrations reached immediately after vaccination.Project Nextval 2021/23 is funded by Fundación Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecill

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus impacts on gut microbiome in a strain virulence‐dependent fashion

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a viral disease defined by reproductive problems, respiratory distress and a negative impact on growth rate and general condition. Virulent PRRS virus (PRRSV) strains have emerged in the last years with evident knowledge gaps in their impact on the host immune response. Thus, the present study examines the impact of acute PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection, with two strains of different virulence, on selected immune parameters and on the gut microbiota composition of infected pigs using 16S rRNA compositional sequencing. Pigs were infected with a low virulent (PRRS_3249) or a virulent (Lena) PRRSV‐1 strain and euthanized at 1, 3, 6, 8 or 13 days post‐inoculation (dpi). Faeces were collected from each animal at the necropsy time‐point. Alpha and beta diversity analyses demonstrated that infection, particularly with the Lena strain, impacted the microbiome composition from 6 dpi onwards. Taxonomic differences revealed that infected pigs had higher abundance of Treponema and Methanobrevibacter (FDR < 0.05). Differences were more considerable for Lena‐ than for PRRS_3249‐infected pigs, showing the impact of strain virulence in the intestinal changes. Lena‐infected pigs had reduced abundancies of anaerobic commensals such as Roseburia, Anaerostipes, Butyricicoccus and Prevotella (P < 0.05). The depletion of these desirable commensals was significantly correlated to infection severity measured by viraemia, clinical signs, lung lesions and immune parameters (IL‐6, IFN‐γ and Hp serum levels). Altogether, the results from this study demonstrate the indirect impact of PRRSV infection on gut microbiome composition in a strain virulence‐dependent fashion and its association with selected immune markers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Do nutritional supplements have a role in age macular degeneration prevention?

Purpose. To review the proposed pathogenic mechanisms of age macular degeneration (AMD), as well as the role of antioxidants (AOX) and omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3) supplements in AMD prevention. Materials and Methods. Current knowledge on the cellular/molecular mechanisms of AMD and the epidemiologic/experimental studies on the effects of AOX and omega-3 were addressed all together with the scientific evidence and the personal opinion of professionals involved in the Retina Group of the OFTARED (Spain). Results. High dietary intakes of omega-3 and macular pigments lutein/zeaxanthin are associated with lower risk of prevalence and incidence in AMD. The Age-Related Eye Disease study (AREDS) showed a beneficial effect of high doses of vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, and zinc/copper in reducing the rate of progression to advanced AMD in patients with intermediate AMD or with one-sided late AMD. The AREDS-2 study has shown that lutein and zeaxanthin may substitute beta-carotene because of its potential relationship with increased lung cancer incidence. Conclusion. Research has proved that elder people with poor diets, especially with low AOX and omega-3 micronutrients intake and subsequently having low plasmatic levels, are more prone to developing AMD. Micronutrient supplementation enhances antioxidant defense and healthy eyes and might prevent/retard/modify AMD

Proyectos de emprendimiento para la empleabilidad de titulados en periodismo

Objetivo principal: poner a disposición de los alumnos de segundo ciclo del Grado de Periodismo un espacio de coworking en condiciones adecuadas así como docentes que les tutelen para que puedan afrontar sus ideas y proyectarlas hacia el mercado de la Comunicación, en el que puedan desarrollar sus proyectos periodísticos y lograr la creación de una micro-pyme informativa y/o de comunicación. Objetivos específicos: a) Diseñar un marco integral de conocimientos a partir de las competencias periodísticas aprendidos en la titulación de periodismo: la empresa informativa, la estructura, la tecnología, la dirección y gestión periodística y de medios, para acercar a los estudiantes al mundo empresarial. b) Facilitar la salida al mercado laboral, empresarial y en Comunicación a cuantas ideas de negocio se valoren como posibles y se puedan gestionar desde estos espacios de trabajo colaborativo, mediante la tutorización y la mentoría. En cuanto a la metodología aplicada, se trata de evaluar y proyectar ideas creativas previas a su lanzamiento al mercado, a partir de una personalidad jurídica concreta y presumible (viabilidad societaria), durante el cuatrimestre de trabajo (fase de recuperación de datos) a partir de dos grupos (muestra total de unos 132 alumnos) divididos en 18 equipos (17 presenciales y uno virtual) organizados a partir de un proyecto de innovación docente. Se les explica el contenido del proyecto y las razones de llevarlo a cabo, tras lo cual sólo 16 alumnos han decidido no participar, por lo que el total de alumnos participantes ha sido de 116. Los espacios de desarrollo metodológico se sitúan en el marco de las clases de 4º curso del Grado de Periodismo, asignatura de “Dirección y Gestión de Empresas Periodísticas”, grupos A y C, durante el 2ª Cuatrimestre del curso 2017-2018 (enero-mayo) y termina con una presentación de cada proyecto a la finalización del periodo lectivo. Destacar como resultados más notables que de los 18 equipos que todos son proyectos nativos digitales y que internet es la red por excelencia que les acoge y les permite distribuir sus productos a partir de contenidos periodísticos de información, bien generalista o de diferentes temáticas que a su vez se van especializando. Seis de estos proyectos se basan en la información general y otros cuatro establecen la información cultural como el valor fundamental sobre el que descansa su idea emprendedora. Ocho proyectos se distinguen por ser considerados temáticos con especializaciones muy diversas: el fútbol sala y la hípica (en el marco deportivo); la arquitectura; la información universitaria; videojuegos y tecnología; los productos lácteos (alimentación); sobre la tercera edad, y sobre el negocio de las “bodas… y divorcios”. Se observa una clara tendencia para su oportunidad de negocio y encuentran razones de mercado para un lanzamiento a corto – medio plazo. Uno de estos proyectos está residente en Tetuán Valley

Interaction between cardiovascular risk factors and body mass index and 10-year incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer death, and overall mortality

The effect of above-normal body mass index (BMI) on health outcomes is controversial because it is difficult to distinguish from the effect due to BMI-associated cardiovascular risk factors. The objective was to analyze the impact on 10-year incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer deaths and overall mortality of the interaction between cardiovascular risk factors and BMI. We conducted a pooled analysis of individual data from 12 Spanish population cohorts with 10-year follow-up. Participants had no previous history of cardiovascular diseases and were 35-79years old at basal examination. Body mass index was measured at baseline being the outcome measures ten-year cardiovascular disease, cancer and overall mortality. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for potential confounders, considering the significant interactions with cardiovascular risk factors. We included 54,446 individuals (46.5% with overweight and 27.8% with obesity). After considering the significant interactions, the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease was significantly increased in women with overweight and obesity [Hazard Ratio=2.34 (95% confidence interval: 1.19-4.61) and 5.65 (1.54-20.73), respectively]. Overweight and obesity significantly increased the risk of cancer death in women [3.98 (1.53-10.37) and 11.61 (1.93-69.72)]. Finally, obese men had an increased risk of cancer death and overall mortality [1.62 (1.03-2.54) and 1.34 (1.01-1.76), respectively]. In conclusion, overweight and obesity significantly increased the risk of cancer death and of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease in women; whereas obese men had a significantly higher risk of death for all causes and for cancer. Cardiovascular risk factors may act as effect modifiers in these associations