General Criteria for Optimal Site Selection for the Installation of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Plants in the Mexican Pacific

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an assessment of the resource potential for ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) in the Mexican Pacific Ocean (MPO). Research methodology adopted in this study is a combination of geographic information system (GIS), to identify the most promising site in the MPO for OTEC deployment. Site selection criteria rely on conditions such as distance to cold water pumping, bathymetry, thermal difference (not less than 20°C), and social and environmental aspects. Finally we concluded that sites located in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca have the highest potential of the entire MPO, although there are other areas in the states of Baja California Sur, Nayarit, or Michoacan that might have some interest for OTEC technology

Diseño e Implementación de Kits para la Experimentación de Biotecnología en el Hogar (HomeLab)

[EN] With the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, professors had to accelerate their adaptation to the use of digital and remote media to continue with the education of students. Online teaching lab courses present great challenges, as many lab courses are designed to learn from hands-on and real-world exploration. Laboratory courses generally focus on deepening understanding of content and developing skills in experimental techniques. Added to this, the possibility of providing the experience of executing protocols and manipulating equipment, can hardly be achieved with a completely digital model. To promote better learning of laboratory subjects, kits were developed by professors to conduct laboratory practices at home. The students had the opportunity to execute biotechnology protocols following instructions and remote guidance from their professors. Conducting experiments at home,had a high acceptance rate as an efficient tool to learn various skills compared to digital tools.[ES] Con la situación de la pandemia COVID-19, la educación tuvo que acelerar su adaptación al uso de medios digitales y remotos para continuar con la educación de los estudiantes. Los cursos de laboratorio de enseñanza en línea presentan grandes desafíos, ya que están diseñados para aprender de la exploración práctica y del mundo real. Sumado a esto, la posibilidad de brindar la experiencia de ejecutar protocolos y manipular equipos, difícilmente se puede lograr con un modelo completamente digital. Para promover un mejor aprendizaje y asegurar la adquisición de competencias de desarrollo de habilidades en técnicas experimentales a distancia, los profesores desarrollaron kits para la realización de prácticas de laboratorio en casa. Los estudiantes tuvieron la oportunidad de ejecutar protocolos de biotecnología siguiendo instrucciones y guía a distancia por parte de sus profesores. La realización de experimentos en casa tuvo un alto porcentaje de aceptación como una herramienta eficiente para aprender diversas competencias en comparación con herramientas digitales.Antonio Pérez, A.; Torres Huerta, A.; Acata Gómez, R.; Delgado Duran, R.; Jaime Rodríguez, M.; García Díaz, C.; García Huante, Y.... (2021). Diseño e Implementación de Kits para la Experimentación de Biotecnología en el Hogar (HomeLab). En IN-RED 2021: VII Congreso de Innovación Edicativa y Docencia en Red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1605-1618. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2021.2021.13809OCS1605161

Host Antimicrobial Peptides: the promise of new treatment strategies against Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a devastating infectious disease and remerges as a global health emergency due to an alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance to its treatment. Despite of the serious effort that has been applied to develop effective antitubercular chemotherapies, the potential of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) remains underexploited. A large amount of literature is now accessible on the AMP mechanisms of action against a diversity of pathogens; nevertheless, research on their activity on mycobacteria is still scarce. In particular, there is an urgent need to integrate all available interdisciplinary strategies to eradicate extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. In this context, we should not underestimate our endogenous antimicrobial proteins and peptides as ancient players of the human host defense system. We are confident that novel antibiotics based on human AMPs displaying a rapid and multifaceted mechanism, with reduced toxicity, should significantly contribute to reverse the tide of antimycobacterial drug resistance. In this review, we have provided an up to date perspective of the current research on AMPs to be applied in the fight against TB. A better understanding on the mechanisms of action of human endogenous peptides should ensure the basis for the best guided design of novel antitubercular chemotherapeutics

Validation of Sea-Surface Temperature Data for Potential OTEC Deployment in the Mexican Pacific

As the operation of an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plant depends on the temperature gradient between the surface and deeper water (SST), a variation in SST can significantly modify the energy produced. The aim of this paper is to present a comparative analysis of three sea-surface temperature databases (World Ocean Atlas (WOA), Satellite Oceanic Monitoring System (SATMO), and in situ sensor measurements). Simple linear regression and graphic comparisons allow correlations to be made between the distribution patterns of the SST data. The results show that there is no statistically significant difference between the three databases. To determine general regions where OTEC implementation is possible, at the macroscale, the WOA database is recommended, as a smaller amount of data must be analyzed. For meso- and microscales, such as specific areas of the Mexican exclusive economic zone. It is better to use SATMO and in situ measurements as a higher spatial resolution is required

Determination of the Potential Thermal Gradient for the Mexican Pacific Ocean

The energy potential of the oceanic thermal gradients of the Mexican Pacific Ocean was valued theoretically, using seasonal oceanographic data on surface and 1000 m depth ocean temperatures from 1955 to 2013, taken from the World Ocean Database (WOD). The study was carried out to determine possible sites for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), assuming that the minimum usable gradient is 20 °C and the maximum profitable distance from the extraction site to the shore is 10 km. Geographic Information System tools were used to compute thermal gradients and distances to shore all along the Mexican coast. Then, the optimal sites were identified. The results show that the best sites for OTEC exploitation are found in the southern Pacific coast on the littoral of the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca

Peptide IDR-1002 Inhibits NF-kB Nuclear Translocation by Inhibition of IkBalpha Degradation, and Activates p38/ERK1/2-MSK1 Dependent CREB Phosphorylation in Macrophages Stimulated With Lipopolysaccharide

The inflammatory response is a critical molecular defense mechanism of the innate immune system that mediates the elimination of disease-causing bacteria. Repair of the damaged tissue, and the reestablishment of homeostasis, must be accomplished after elimination of the pathogen. The innate defense regulators (IDRs) are short cationic peptides that mimic natural host defense peptides and are effective in eliminating pathogens by enhancing the activity of the immune system while controlling the inflammatory response. Although the role of different IDRs as modulators of inflammation has been reported, there have been only limited studies of the signaling molecules regulated by this type of peptide. The present study investigated the effect of IDR-1002 on NF-kB and CREB transcription factors that are responsible for triggering and controlling inflammation, respectively, in macrophages. We found that TNF-alpha and COX-2 expression, IkBalpha phosphorylation, and NF-kB nuclear translocation were strongly inhibited in macrophages pre-incubated with IDR-1002 and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). IDR-1002 also increased CREB phosphorylation at Ser133 via activation of the p38/ERK1/2-MSK1/2 signaling pathways without detectable expression of the cytokines IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 involved is suppressing inflammation or alternative activation. Transcriptional activation of NF-kB and CREB is known to require interaction with the transcriptional co-activator CREB-binding protein (CBP). To test for CBP-NF-kB and CBP-CREB complex formation, we performed co-immunoprecipitation assays. These assays showed that IDR-1002 inhibited the interaction between CBP and NF-kB in macrophages stimulated with LPS, which might explain the inhibition of TNF-alpha and COX-2 expression. Furthermore, the complex between CBP and CREB in macrophages stimulated with IDR-1002 was also inhibited, which might explain why IDR-1002 did not lead to expression of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13, even though it induced an increase in phospho-CREB relative abundance. In conclusion, our results indicated that IDR-1002 has a dual effect. On one hand, it inhibited NF-kB nuclear translocation through a mechanism that involved inhibition of IkBalpha phosphorylation, and on the other it activated a protein kinase signaling cascade that phosphorylated CREB to selectively influence cytokine gene expression. Based on or results we think IDR-1002 could be a potential good biopharmaceutical candidate to control inflammation

Biomolecule-Based Optical Metamaterials: Design and Applications.

Peer reviewed: TrueMetamaterials are broadly defined as artificial, electromagnetically homogeneous structures that exhibit unusual physical properties that are not present in nature. They possess extraordinary capabilities to bend electromagnetic waves. Their size, shape and composition can be engineered to modify their characteristics, such as iridescence, color shift, absorbance at different wavelengths, etc., and harness them as biosensors. Metamaterial construction from biological sources such as carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids represents a low-cost alternative, rendering high quantities and yields. In addition, the malleability of these biomaterials makes it possible to fabricate an endless number of structured materials such as composited nanoparticles, biofilms, nanofibers, quantum dots, and many others, with very specific, invaluable and tremendously useful optical characteristics. The intrinsic characteristics observed in biomaterials make them suitable for biomedical applications. This review addresses the optical characteristics of metamaterials obtained from the major macromolecules found in nature: carbohydrates, proteins and DNA, highlighting their biosensor field use, and pointing out their physical properties and production paths

Prevalence of allergic diseases in children with secondary renal tubular acidosis attending a tertiary care pediatric center

Background: It has been suggested a high prevalence of allergic disease in children with RTA. Objectives: To describe the prevalence of allergic diseases in children with secondary RTA (renal tubular acidosis) in the nephrology department of the National Institute of Pediatrics (NIP), México. Methods: An observational, prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Children with secondary RTA < 18 years who attended the outpatient nephrology service in the NIP for 24 months, were included. ISAAC questionnaire and the EAACI guidelines were applied. To prove a suspected allergy, skin tests, total and specific IgE, patch testing and food challenge were performed. Using SPSS 19, frequency of allergic diseases was described. Results: 113 patients were included. Age 8 to 168 months. Male: 53.9 %. RTA types: Distal (64.6 %), proximal (26.5 %), mixed (1.8 %) and undetermined (7 %). Age of onset between 1 and 96 months. Serum bicarbonate 10.1 to 20 mEq/L. Allergic diseases were found in 24.8 %: allergic rhinitis (18.4 %), food allergy (9.7 %), atopic dermatitis (8 %), asthma (8 %) and allergic conjunctivitis (6.1 %). Total IgE was increased in 9 patients. Positive skin tests in 14.2 %. Positive chemiluminescence in 18 children; positive open food challenge in 11 children and patch tests in 4. Conclusions: Secondary RTA is common in children attending tertiary care hospitals. The prevalence of allergic disease in children with secondary ATR, is similar to that described in the general population

The Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3α and β Isoforms Differentially Regulates Interleukin-12p40 Expression in Endothelial Cells Stimulated with Peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a constitutively active regulatory enzyme that is important in cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric diseases. While GSK3α is usually important in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases GSK3β is fundamental in the inflammatory response caused by bacterial components. Peptidoglycan (PGN), one of the most abundant cell-wall structures of Gram-positive bacteria, is an important inducer of inflammation. To evaluate whether inhibition of GSK3α and GSK3β activity in bovine endothelial cells (BEC) regulates the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12p40, we treated BEC with SDS-purified PGN from Staphylococcus aureus. We found that PGN triggered a TLR2/PI3K/Akt-dependent phosphorylation of GSK3α at Ser21, GSK3β at Ser9, and NF-κB p65 subunit (p65) at Ser536, and the phosphorylation of GSK3α was consistently higher than that of GSK3β. The expression of IL-12p40 was inhibited in BEC stimulated with PGN and pre-treated with a specific neutralizing anti-TLR2 antibody that targets the extracellular domain of TLR2 or by the addition of Akt-i IV (an Akt inhibitor). Inhibition of GSK3α and GSK3β with LiCl or SB216763 induced an increase in IL-12p40 mRNA and protein. The effect of each isoform on IL-12p40 expression was evaluated by siRNA-gene expression silencing of GSK3α and GSK3β. GSK3α gene silencing resulted in a marked increase in IL-12p40 mRNA and protein while GSK3β gene silencing had the opposite effect on IL-12p40 expression. These results indicate that the TLR2/PI3K/Akt-dependent inhibition of GSK3α activity also plays an important role in the inflammatory response caused by stimulation of BEC with PGN from S. aureus