Detección de compuestos orgánicos mediante LIBS en rocas de interés en exploración planetaria. Aplicaciones en Astrobiología

La integración de instrumentos LIBS en misiones de exploración planetaria es una realidad desde hace ya unos años, siendo una tecnología conducente a la obtención de información multielemental en las distintas rocas y minerales existentes en la superficie de Marte. Su gran eficacia ha sido demostrada en muchos de los trabajos publicados hasta la fecha por los equipos de investigación participantes en la misión Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). Uno de los objetivos primordiales de dichas investigaciones radica en la detección de posibles bioindicadores [1], así como en la identificación y discriminación mediante LIBS de compuestos orgánicos, tarea que puede llegar a ser compleja ya que, entre otros aspectos, se trata de una técnica muy sensible a las condiciones ambientales (composición de la atmósfera y presión existente) [2] [3]. El presente trabajo ha buscado por un lado, evaluar el efecto de la atmósfera existente en el planeta rojo (rica en CO2 con 7mb de presión media) en la formación de plasmas inducidos por láser a partir de la ablación de muestras formadas por matrices inorgánicas dopadas con compuestos orgánicos seleccionados. Por otro lado, a partir de las diferentes huellas espectrales obtenidas en dichas condiciones y mediante la aplicación de técnicas quimiométricas adaptadas, se estudian las posibilidades de identificación de dichos referentes orgánicos.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Searching for Biosignatures in Mars by LIBS Molecular Signals Discernment

In the present study, LIBS analysis of a set of six selected molecules related to organic biosignatures -or their degradation compounds- have been carried out in both simulated Martian atmosphere and air in order to identify and discriminate them on the basis of their molecular emission features. This strategy can reveal insights into how different emission spectral modes react to changes in atmospheric conditions and therefore can help to detect those species which are more sensitive to changes in pressure and composition of the atmosphere. At high laser irradiance, atomization of organic compounds is essentially complete, although at sufficiently delayed integration times, the formation of new molecules by recombination processes can be noticed[1]. Molecular species characteristic of organic emissions such as C2, CN, NH, OH and CH were studied. Results can contribute to establish the optimal conditions for the observation of organic carbon species in laser-induced plasmas and the bases for the ensuing detection of organic biosignatures in analogous geological materials from Mars. Likewise, this research is aimed at providing a tool in the interpretation of LIBS data though the application of adapted data processing algorithms for the identification and discernment of suspected compounds of organic nature[2] [1] T. Delgado, L. García-Gómez, L. M. Cabalín, J. J. Laserna, Investigation on the origin of molecular emissions in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy under Mars-like atmospheric conditions of isotope-labeled compounds of interest in astrobiology, Spectrochim. Acta Part B (2021) 179-106114. [2] T. Delgado, L. García-Gómez, L. M. Cabalín, J. J. Laserna, Detectability and discrimination of biomarker organic precursors in a low pressure CO2 atmosphere by LIBS, J. Anal. At. Spectrom. (2020) 35:1947.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of cyanobacteria in carbonate matrices under simulated Martian environment

The finding on the Martian surface of hydrated salt minerals, like carbonates and sulphates, and their interpretation as deriving from the desiccation of old bodies of water, has provided an evidence of liquid water activity on the surface of Mars [1]. These evaporite environments and their saline deposits are now a chief goal for planetary missions devoted to the search for fossil Martian life. Such minerals have the possibility of trapping and preserving over geologic times a biological record made up of halophilic extremophiles [1]. The existence of species of cyanobacteria that inhabit rock substrates on Earth, capable of growing in environments considered extreme, makes them ideal organisms for studying biological responses in different environmental conditions [2]. One possible organism detection strategy consists in the study of the most relevant emission lines and molecular bands attributed to presence of life by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). However, the detection of these species can be complex as LIBS is sensitive to environmental conditions, such as the atmosphere composition and pressure, and could contribute to this signal [3]. In the present study, several species of cyanobacteria with dissimilar extremophilic characteristics [4] (tolerance to desiccation and salinity) were examined by LIBS. The identification and discrimination of cyanobacteria on carbonate substrates was based on organic signal emissions (C, C2, CN...) and the presence of other microelements (Fe, Si, Cu, K…). For this purpose, and to evaluate the influence of the surrounding atmosphere on the plasma composition and its contribution on LIBS signal, a set of samples including Arthrospira platensis (commercial), Microcystys aeruginosa (cultured) and Chroococcidiopsis sp. (natural samples) was analyzed under i) Mars-analogue atmosphere and ii) low air vacuum (7mbar)Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Bovine macrophages responses to the infection with virulent and attenuated Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis, caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Although cattle are usually the maintenance hosts of serovar Hardjo, Pomona is the most frequent serovar circulating in Argentina. The understanding of bovine innate immune response and the virulence of this serovar is important for future control measures. This work compares infection of bovine macrophages with the virulent L. interrogans sv Pomona strain AKRFB (P1) and its attenuated counterpart (P19). First, we confirmed attenuation in the hamster model. Mortality and lung hemorrhages occurred after P1 inoculation, while the survival rate was 100% in P19-infected animals. Cells infected with both strains showed statistically upregulated gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα. The level of expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was statistically different between strains. Increased expression of IL-10 was observed only in P1-infected cells. For the first time, we describe macrophages extracellular traps induced by infection of bovine macrophages (bMETs) with both, the virulent and attenuated Leptospira interrogans Pomona strains. P1 was found higher internalized when the phagocytosis was inhibited, suggesting a cell entrance of this strain also by an independent-phagocytosis pathway. Furthermore, P1 was higher colocalized with acidic and late endosomal compartments compared with P19. This data emphasizes the importance to deepen in Leptospira bovine macrophages particular invasion mechanisms and, furthermore, underline the value of studying the main hosts.Fil: Nagel, Ariel Gastón. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Vázquez, Cristina Lourdes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Etulain, Julia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Federico Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Gravisaco, Maria José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Gómez, Ricardo Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Caimi, Karina Cynthia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentin

Optical and electrochemical properties of spirobifluorene iridanaphthalene complexes

Three new spirobifluorene iridaaromatic compounds bearing electron-withdrawing or electron-donor substituents or another iridanaphthalene moiety have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Thorough experimental and theoretical evaluation revealed that these novel systems present a high thermal, air and electrochemical stability as well as low optical and electronic energy gap values with a significant redshift of the absorption maximum in the UV-Vis spectra and predicted remarkably higher first hyperpolarizabilities compared to their organic counterparts. Therefore, the combination of a metallaaromatic system with a spirobifluorene moiety leads to the design and development of new spirobifluorene derivatives. These new systems have shown interesting optical and electronic properties making them of interest for future applications in optoelectronics.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC2019/2

Desarrollo de un sistema de Realidad Virtual/Aumentada que permita la inmersión del alumno en la patología y problemas del paciente de baja visión

Depto. de Optometría y VisiónFac. de Óptica y OptometríaFALSEsubmitte

Reflexiones acerca de un grupo terapéutico con pacientes esquizofrénicos.

El artículo describe el uso en la esquizofrenia de la psicoterapia de grupo, coordinada con técnica analítico –operativa. Se concluye que es una herramienta de gran utilidad en esta enfermedad, y que su combinación con psicofármacos y sesiones grupales conjuntas de pacientes y familiares obtiene resultados favorables para su evolución

Reflexiones acerca de un grupo terapéutico con pacientes esquizofrénicos.

El artículo describe el uso en la esquizofrenia de la psicoterapia de grupo, coordinada con técnica analítico –operativa. Se concluye que es una herramienta de gran utilidad en esta enfermedad, y que su combinación con psicofármacos y sesiones grupales conjuntas de pacientes y familiares obtiene resultados favorables para su evolución

Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Assessment in Meso and Macro Tidal Areas. Application to the Cádiz Bay, Spain

ABSTRACT: Tsunami hazard can be analyzed from both deterministic and probabilistic points of view. The deterministic approach is based on a "credible" worst case tsunami, which is often selected from historical events in the region of study. Within the probabilistic approach (PTHA, Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Analysis), statistical analysis can be carried out in particular regions where historical records of tsunami heights and runup are available. In areas where these historical records are scarce, synthetic series of events are usually generated using Monte Carlo approaches. Commonly, the sea level variation and the currents forced by the tidal motion are either disregarded or considered and treated as aleatory uncertainties in the numerical models. However, in zones with a macro and meso tidal regime, the effect of the tides on the probability distribution of tsunami hazard can be highly important. In this work, we present a PTHA methodology based on the generation of synthetic seismic catalogs and the incorporation of the sea level variation into a Monte Carlo simulation. We applied this methodology to the Bay of Cádiz area in Spain, a zone that was greatly damaged by the 1755 earthquake and tsunami. We build a database of tsunami numerical simulations for different variables: faults, earthquake magnitudes, epicenter locations and sea levels. From this database we generate a set of scenarios from the synthetic seismic catalogs and tidal conditions based on the probabilistic distribution of the involved variables. These scenarios cover the entire range of possible tsunami events in the synthetic catalog (earthquakes and sea levels). Each tsunami scenario is propagated using the tsunami numerical model C3, from the source region to the target coast (Cádiz Bay). Finally, we map the maximum values for a given probability of the selected variables (tsunami intensity measures) producing a set of thematic hazard maps. 1000 different time series of combined tsunamigenic earthquakes and tidal levels were synthetically generated using the Monte Carlo technique. Each time series had a 10000-year duration. The tsunami characteristics were statistically analyzed to derive different thematic maps for the return periods of 500, 1000, 5000, and 10000 years, including the maximum wave elevation, the maximum current speed, the maximum Froude number, and the maximum total forces