Development of a highly sensitive noncompetitive electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of atrazine by phage anti-immunocomplex assay

The development of immunosensors for the detection of small molecules is of great interest because of their simplicity, high sensitivity and extended analytical range. Due to their size, small compounds cannot be simultaneously recognized by two antibodies impeding their detection by noncompetitive two-site immunoassays, which are superior to competitive ones in terms of sensitivity, kinetics, and working range. In this work, we combine the advantages of magneto-electrochemical immunosensors with the improved sensitivity and direct proportional signal of noncompetitive immunoassays to develop a new Phage Anti-Immunocomplex Electrochemical Immunosensor (PhAIEI) for the detection of the herbicide atrazine. The noncompetitive assay is based on the use of recombinant M13 phage particles bearing a peptide that specifically recognizes the immunocomplex of atrazine with an anti-atrazine monoclonal antibody. The PhAIEI performed with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 pg mL−1, which is 200-fold better than the LOD obtained using the same antibody in an optimized conventional competitive ELISA, with a large increase in working range. The developed PhAIEI was successfully used to assay undiluted river water samples with no pretreatment and excellent recoveries. Apart from the first demonstration of the benefits of integrating phage anti-immunocomplex particles into electrochemical immunosensors, the extremely low and environmentally relevant detection limits of atrazine attained with the PhAIEIS may have direct applicability to fast and sensitive detection of this herbicide in the environment.Fil: González Techera, Andrés. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Zon, María Alicia. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química. Area Electroquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Molina, Patricia Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química. Area Electroquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Hector. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química. Area Electroquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: González Sapienza, Gualberto. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Arevalo, Fernando Javier. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química. Area Electroquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Does diversity in top management teams contribute to organizational performance? The response of IBEX 35 companies

This study contributes to the spread of theoretical and empirical knowledge regarding the Upper Echelons Theory, considering the training and demographic diversity in the Top Management Team (TMT) as a singular characteristic of each company, in our case those belonging to the IBEX35 index. Taking into account the skills of the members, a greater financial performance is expected. Once we obtained the statistical results, we concluded that the inclusion of women in the TMT increased Net Sales and EBITDA. Features such as age, training and nationality are also examined in this work.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Soil compaction and vegetation cover in a Scots pine stand at the Mediterranean rangelands

Right development of ROOT SYSTEMS is essential to ensure seedling survival in the initial stages of natural regeneration processes. Soil compaction determines this development both because of its influence on soil Tª & moisture dynamics and for its direct effect on soil mechanical impedance to root growth. All this effects can be assessed as a whole through soil penetration resistance (Soil Strength) measurements. SOIL STRENGTH has been usually evaluated in forest research in connection with severe disturbances derived from heavy machinery works during forest operations. Nevertheless, undisturbed soils are also expected to show different levels of compaction for root development. Organic matter modifies soil structure and so on porosity, compaction and resultant soil resistance to penetration. Its concentration in surface layers is rather related to vegetation cover composition and density. So within forest stands, a relationship is expected to be found between VEGETATION COVER density and compaction measured as resistance to penetration (soil strength

Dorsolateral periaqueductal grey matter and pontine A5 region connectivity: a neuropharmacologic and electrophysiological study

In this study, carried out in spontaneously breathing anesthetised rats, we have analysed the relevance of the interactions between the dorsolateral periaqueductal grey matter (dlPAG) and the A5 region, and how this sympathetic pontine region participates in modulating the cardiorespiratory response evoked from the dlPAG. Electrical stimulation of the dlPAG (1 ms pulses, 20-30 μA given at 100 Hz for 5s) was elicited, and the evoked cardiorespiratory changes were analysed before and after ipsilateral microinjections of muscimol (50 nl, 0.25 nmol, 5s) within the A5 region. DlPAG stimulation evoked the classical “defence response” characterized by tachipnoea, hypertension and tachycardia. Tachipnoea consisted of an inspiratory facilitatory response [increase in respiratory rate (p<0.001) due to a decrease in expiratory time (p<0.01)] and was accompanied by a pressor (p<0.001) and tachycardic (p<0.001) response. Microinjection of Muscimol within the A5 region reduced all, pressor (p<0.05), heart rate (p<0.001) and respiratory (p<0.001) responses evoked by electrical stimulation of dlPAG. Finally, extracellular recordings of putative A5 neurones were obtained during dlPAG electrical stimulation in order to assess functional interactions between A5 and dlPAG. Forty A5 cells were recorded, 16 of which were affected by dlPAG (40%). With these results, we can conclude that neurones of the A5 region possibly modulate the cardiorespiratory response evoked from the dlPAG.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Does the midbrain dorsolateral periaqueductal grey have direct connections with the pontine A5 region? A neuropharmacologic and electrophysiological study

This study has been performed in spontaneously breathing anesthetised rats. We have analysed the possible interactions between the midbrain dorsolateral periaqueductal grey matter (dlPAG) and the pontine A5 region. Electrical stimulations of the dlPAG (1 ms pulses, 20-30 μA given at 100 Hz for 5s) were elicited and the evoked cardiorespiratory changes were analysed before and after ipsilateral blockade of the neurotransmission within the A5 region by means of microinjections of muscimol (50 nl, 0.25 nmol, 5s). Electrical stimulations evoked the classical “defence response” characterized by tachipnoea, hypertension and tachycardia. Tachipnoea consisted of an inspiratory facilitatory response [increase in respiratory rate (p<0.001) due to a decrease in expiratory time (p<0.01)] and was accompanied by a pressor (p<0.001) and tachycardic (p<0.001) response. Muscimol microinjected within the A5 region reduced pressor (p<0.05), tachycardic (p<0.001) and tachypnoeic (p<0.001) responses evoked to dlPAG electrical stimulations. Finally, in order to assess functional interactions between A5 and dlPAG, extracellular recordings of 40 putative A5 cells during dlPAG electrical stimulation were recorded. 16 cells were affected by dlPAG stimulation (40%). 3 cells showed orthodromic activation (14.2 ± 1.7 ms). 5 cells were excited (10.1 ± 1.6 ms). 7 cells decreased spontaneous activity to dlPAG stimulation. 24 cells were not modified by dlPAG stimulation (2 presented a respiratory pattern and 1 presented a cardiovascular pattern). These results contribute with new data on the role of the A5 region neurones in the modulation of the cardiorespiratory response evoked on dlPAG stimulation.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Analysis and design of multiagent systems using MAS-CommonKADS

This article proposes an agent-oriented methodology called MAS-CommonKADS and develops a case study. This methodology extends the knowledge engineering methodology CommonKADSwith techniquesfrom objectoriented and protocol engineering methodologies. The methodology consists of the development of seven models: Agent Model, that describes the characteristics of each agent; Task Model, that describes the tasks that the agents carry out; Expertise Model, that describes the knowledge needed by the agents to achieve their goals; Organisation Model, that describes the structural relationships between agents (software agents and/or human agents); Coordination Model, that describes the dynamic relationships between software agents; Communication Model, that describes the dynamic relationships between human agents and their respective personal assistant software agents; and Design Model, that refines the previous models and determines the most suitable agent architecture for each agent, and the requirements of the agent network

Les externalitats de l'agricultura periurbana : el cas de l'Horta de Lleida

L'agricultura periurbana, a través de la funció econòmica, social i mediambiental que porta a terme, desenvolupa un nombre elevat d'externalitats positives i negatives. Atès que es tracta de falles del mercat, l'estudi s'ha centrat en l'àmbit de l'Horta de Lleida, on, a través de l'avaluació participativa d'un grup d'experts, s'han detectat trenta-una externalitats generades per aquest espai agrari periurbà. La funció mediambiental és la que genera el benefici social més gran entre la població de l'entorn, sense que aquest benefici suposi un retorn al titular de l'explotació agrària. D'altra banda, una de cada cinc externalitats de l'Horta lleidatana és negativa i genera costos socials que no internalitza el mercat.Through its economic, social and environmental functions, peri-urban agriculture results in a large number of positive and negative externalities. As these are market failures, this study focuses on the suburban agricultural area of Horta de Lleida where thirty-one externalities have been identified by means of a participatory assessment process with a group of experts. The environmental function produces the greatest social benefit to the surrounding population, although there is no benefit for landowners. Moreover, one in five externalities of Horta de Lleida is negative and results in social costs that are not internalised in the market.La agricultura periurbana, a través de la función económica, social y medioambiental que lleva a cabo, desarrolla un número elevado de externalidades positivas y negativas. Dado que se trata de fallos del mercado, el estudio se ha centrado en el ámbito de la Horta de Lleida, donde, a través de la evaluación participativa de un grupo de expertos, se han detectado treinta y una externalidades generadas por este espacio agrario periurbano. La función medioambiental es la que genera el mayor beneficio social entre la población del entorno, sin que este beneficio suponga un retorno al titular de la explotación agraria. Por otra parte, una de cada cinco externalidades de la Horta leridana es negativa y genera costes sociales que no internaliza el mercado.L'étude de recherche montre que l'agriculture périurbaine, grâce à ses fonctions économique, sociale et environnementale, développe un nombre élevé d'externalités positives et négatives. Compte tenu du fait qu'il s'agit de défaillances du marché, l'étude est principalement axée autour de la région de l'Horta de Lleida où, à partir de l'évaluation participative d'un groupe d'experts, ont été identifiées trente et une externalités générées par cet espace agraire périurbain. La fonction environnementale est celle qui génère le plus grand bénéfice social pour la population des alentours, sans que cet avantage implique un gain économique pour le propriétaire de l'exploitation agricole. En outre, une externalité sur cinq dans l'Horta de Lleida est négative et génère des coûts sociaux qui ne sont pas internalisés par le marché

High performance and small footprint spot size converters based on SWG metamaterial lenses

Spot size converters with high expansion ratio are required in a variety of situations. This is the case of non-focusing Silicon on Insulator (SOI) fiber-to-chip grating couplers, which typically require long adiabatic tapers (Ltaper >100μm) from the narrow single-mode waveguides (WSi-wire ~ 500nm) to the wide grating region (Wgrating ~ 15μm). Here, we explore the potential of subwavelength grating (SWG) dielectric metamaterials to implement integrated GRaded INdex (GRIN) lenses to expand the mode field. Our designs achieve the desired Beam Expansion (BE) with insertion losses below 1dB over a distance of only LBE ~ 17μm.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Programa Estatal de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad (cofinanciado FEDER), (TEC2016-80718-R); Universidad de Málaga. Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (MECD) (FPU16/06121); Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

High frequency pCO2 monitoring in the Mediterranean coastal waters

Monitoring the Air-Sea pCO2 variability in the coastal areas is a priority due to the effect of the biological and biogeochemistry process on this process. The Northwestern Mediterranean Sea is an oligotrophic area in a semi-closed basin, therefore the changes on the surface waters properties take place faster than in other seas. This work focuses in the establishment of a pCO2 monitor system and other related sensors at the OBSEA surface buoy.Peer Reviewe

Smooth non linear high gain observers for a class of dynamical systems

High-gain observers are powerful tools for estimating the state of nonlinear systems. However, their design poses several challenges due to the need of dealing with phenomena such as peaking and chattering. To address these issues, we propose a differentiator operator design based on a non linear second order high-gain observer, which is suited to a class of dynamical systems. Our method includes a procedure to determine high gains in order to avoid chattering in the case of noise-free models, and cut-off frequency based gain design in the case of noisy measurements. Complementary, we suggest performing observability analyses to ensure a priori the feasibility of the estimation. The main strengths of our approach are its simplicity and robustness. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed method by applying it to two processes (chemical and biological).Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431F 2021/003MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 | Ref. RYC-2019-027537-