Towards the design of universal immunosurfaces for SPR-based assays: A review

Surface biofunctionalization, including chemical activation and attachment of the bioreceptor, is an essential step to provide reliable detection of biomolecular binding events monitored by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), the most employed optical biosensor, and other biosensor techniques. Recent progress in the area of immobilization procedures are aimed at producing reproducible interfacial surfaces that enable the sensitive and specific recognition of the analyte. Antibodies are still the most employed bioreceptors for SPR assays. A wide range of strategies have been proposed to maximize the SPR immunosensor performance by controlling the stability and orientation of the immobilized antibody. This article reviews the most recent advancements in random and oriented antibody immobilization approaches for SPR biosensing applications, with a special focus on the research that have been done to find universal linkers, which can allow the use of the same functionalized surface for different applications.S

The use of geographic information systems for the optimal location of biomass power plants in the Madrid Community (Spain)

This article has been extracted from the results of a thesis entitled “Potential bioelectricity production of the Madrid Community Agricultural Regions based on rye and triticale biomass.” The aim was, first, to quantify the potential of rye (Secale Cereale L.) and triticale ( Triticosecale Aestivum L.) biomass in each of the Madrid Community agricultural regions, and second, to locate the most suitable areas for the installation of power plants using biomass. At least 17,339.9 t d.m. of rye and triticale would be required to satisfy the biomass needs of a 2.2 MW power plant, (considering an efficiency of 21.5%, 8,000 expected operating hours/year and a biomass LCP of 4,060 kcal/kg for both crops), and 2,577 ha would be used (which represent 2.79% of the Madrid Community fallow dry land surface). Biomass yields that could be achieved in Madrid Community using 50% of the fallow dry land surface (46,150 ha representing 5.75% of the Community area), based on rye and triticale crops, are estimated at 84,855, 74,906, 70,109, 50,791, 13,481, and 943 t annually for the Campiña, Vegas, Sur Occidental, Área Metropolitana, Lozoya-Somosierra, and Guadarrama regions. The latter represents a bioelectricity potential of 10.77, 9.5, 8.9, 6.44, 1.71, and 0.12 MW, respectively

Prophylactic incisional negative pressure wound therapy for gynaecologic malignancies

Wound complications are an important cause of postoperative morbidity among patients with gynaecologic malignancies. We evaluated whether the placement of closed-incisional negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) at the time of laparotomy for gynaecologic cancer surgery reduced wound complication rates. A retrospective cohort study with primary wound closure performed by a gynaecologic oncologist was carried out. We evaluated two cohorts of patients who underwent surgery in 2017 with standard closure and patients who underwent surgery in 2019 with the placement of prophylactic ciNPT. Postoperative outcomes were examined. A total of 143 patients were included, 85 (59.4%) vs 58 (40.6%) with standard closure and ciNPT, respectively. The total complication rate in our sample was 38.71%. The rate of surgical complications in patients treated with ciNPT was 6.9% compared with 31.8% (P = .000) in patients treated with standard closure. In the analysis of complications, a significant reduction in infections (17.1%), seromas (15.4%), and wound dehiscence (17.1%) were observed when ciNPT was applied. The median hospital stay was 8 vs 6 days in the standard closure vs ciNPT groups (P = .048). The use of the prophylactic ciNPT following a laparotomy may decrease wound complications and hospital stays in oncological patients. ciNPT could be considered as part of clinical practice in patients at high risk of wound complications, such as patients with gynaecological malignancies

Assessing Creativity In Engineering Students: A Comparative Between Degrees and Sudents In First And Last Year

An online open access test (CREAX self-assessment) has been used in this work so that students from degrees in engineering in the Universidad Polite¿cnica of Madrid (UPM) could self-assess their creative competence after several classroom activities. Different groups from the first year course have been statistically compared using data from their assessment. These first year students had different professors in the subject ?Technical Drawing? and belonged to several degrees in the UPM. They were as well compared regarding sex and a group of first year students was also compared to another last year group of the degree so as to observe possible differences in the achievement of this competence. Only one difference was detected concerning sex in one of the degrees. Among degrees, the higher marks obtained by students who had done specific exercises for the development of creativity in class is highlighted. Finally, a significantly high mark was observed in students during their last year of degree with respect to first year students. The tool CREAX has become very useful in the assessment of this competence in the UPM degrees in which it has been implemented

Nutrición, gastronomía y salud en la comunidad de Castilla y León

Introducción: la gastronomía y los hábitos alimentarios determinan el estado nutricional y de salud de una población. Las peculiaridades geográficas y climatológicas de Castilla y León (CyL) contribuyen al desarrollo de su riqueza cultural y gastronómica. Objetivos: analizar las características gastronómicas de CyL y evaluar las necesidades nutricionales y de salud de la población. Métodos: este estudio es una revisión narrativa. Resultados: en CyL existen más de 50 alimentos acogidos a distintas figuras de calidad, desde legumbres, embutidos, quesos, frutas y hortalizas hasta empanadas y dulces. Asimismo, CyL posee la ratio más elevada de establecimientos de restauración de España. El análisis del perfil calórico revela la tendencia hacia una dieta desequilibrada con exceso de ingesta de lípidos y proteínas en detrimento del consumo de hidratos de carbono complejos. La evaluación del consumo alimentario muestra valores superiores a la media nacional de todos los grupos de alimentos, con especial atención a la carne y derivados, leche y derivados, huevos, cereales y legumbres. En relación con el estilo de vida, se observan mejores valores en los indicadores de sedentarismo, actividad física y obesidad en comparación con el resto de España. Conclusiones: la comunidad de Castilla y Léon posee unas características geográficas y de identidad cultural propias que la convierten en una región de referencia a nivel nacional en relación con la producción y comercialización de productos autóctonos de calidad. Los hábitos alimentarios están asociados con la gastronomía y contribuyen a la promoción de un buen estado nutricional y de nivel de vida de la población.S

LA EDUCACIÓN AL AIRE LIBRE COMO HERRAMIENTA PARA MEJORAR EL APRENDIZAJE DEL ALUMNADO

Actualmente, en un contexto de cambio continuo por los nuevos conocimientos y tecnologías que se generan a diario, es destacable la labor que puede tener el “aprendizaje experiencial” en las necesidades formativas y del perfil profesional exigido al alumnado. Una de las competencias más demandada es la habilidad de aprender de forma autónoma. La capacidad de aprender a aprender exige la habilidad para aprovechar todos nuestros sentidos (vista, oído, olfato, tacto, gusto) y nuestra interacción con el medio. De este modo, se debe promover el aprendizaje experiencial para mejorarla capacidad de aprender a aprender, basándose en la llamada “Educación al Aire Libre” (EAL) (en inglés, Outdoor Learning). La EAL puede definirse como el aprendizaje por medio del cuerpo y los sentidos, en interacción con otros, con experiencias y reflexiones vividas en lugares concretos, en el lugar concreto de estudio. Es una metodología de aprendizaje que puede aplicarse no solo a todas aquellas disciplinas cuyo objeto de estudio se encuentra y se desarrolla en el espacio geográfico, el medio, el territorio, sino también a diferentes niveles educativos, desde la educación primaria y secundaria hasta la universidad, pasando por la formación continua de alumnos/as seniors. En el marco de la Geografía, esta herramienta es clave y cualquier materia de los grados de geografía puede ser objeto de aplicación de la misma. De hecho, combinada con la tradición de los itinerarios didácticos, tradicionales en geografía, pueden ponerse en práctica una serie de actividades ligadas a la EAL (encuestas, entrevistas, experiencias directas de los alumnos en actividades en primera persona, etc.) mediante las cuales mejorar su aprendizaje y experiencia vital. En este trabajo, se hace una introducción sobre la EAL y los itinerarios didácticos, así como un ejemplo de aplicación dirigado a varias materias y grados universitarios.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Potassium fertilisation and the thermal behaviour of Cynara cardunculus L.

Herbaceous biomass like Cynara is commonly high in potassium, chlorine and ash, which has been reported as a source of problems for combustion applications. An appropriate management of the potassium fertilisation is suggested as a way of improving the quality of the Cynara biomass for solid fuel applications. In this work a factorial experiment was designed involving two types of fertilisers, KCl and K2SO4, and two K rates, in order to study the effect of potassium fertilisation on the composition and thermal behaviour of Cynara biomass. The results proved that the potassium content of Cynara biomass increases with the potassium fertilisation. The thermogravimetric study showed that sintering phenomena can be expected at temperatures higher than 900 °C when the crop has been highly K-fertilised, irrespective of the type of fertiliser used, KCl or K2SO4. However, the SEM images taken of samples of the four K treatments of this experiment did not reveal signs of ash melting, although some particles with crystalline appearance appeared in the samples from highly K-fertilised treatments

Targeting L-type amino acid transporter 1 in innate and adaptive T cells efficiently controls skin inflammation

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a frequent inflammatory skin disease that is mainly mediated by IL-23, IL-1β, and IL-17 cytokines. Although psoriasis is a hyperproliferative skin disorder, the possible role of amino acid transporters has remained unexplored. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the role of the essential amino acid transporter L-type amino acid transporter (LAT) 1 (SLC7A5) in psoriasis. METHODS: LAT1 floxed mice were crossed to Cre-expressing mouse strains under the control of keratin 5, CD4, and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γ. We produced models of skin inflammation induced by imiquimod (IMQ) and IL-23 and tested the effect of inhibiting LAT1 (JPH203) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR [rapamycin]). RESULTS: LAT1 expression is increased in keratinocytes and skin-infiltrating lymphocytes of psoriatic lesions in human subjects and mice. LAT1 deletion in keratinocytes does not dampen the inflammatory response or their proliferation, which could be maintained by increased expression of the alternative amino acid transporters LAT2 and LAT3. Specific deletion of LAT1 in γδ and CD4 T cells controls the inflammatory response induced by IMQ. LAT1 deletion or inhibition blocks expansion of IL-17-secreting γ4+δ4+ and CD4 T cells and dampens the release of IL-1β, IL-17, and IL-22 in the IMQ-induced model. Moreover, inhibition of LAT1 blocks expansion of human γδ T cells and IL-17 secretion by human CD4 T cells. IL-23 and IL-1β stimulation upregulates LAT1 expression and induces mTOR activation in IL-17+ γδ and TH17 cells. Deletion or inhibition of LAT1 efficiently controls IL-23- and IL-1β-induced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mTOR activation independent of T-cell receptor signaling. CONCLUSION: Targeting LAT1-mediated amino acid uptake is a potentially useful immunosuppressive strategy to control skin inflammation mediated by the IL-23/IL-1β/IL-17 axis.Funding This manuscript has been funded by grants SAF 2017-82886-R (FS-M) and SAF 2013-42850-R (MF) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness; CAM (S2017/BMD-3671-INFLAMUNE-CM) from the Comunidad de Madrid (FS-M); CIBERCV, BIOIMID PIE13/041 from Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Fundación La Marató TV3 (20152330 31). The project leading to these results has also received funding from FUNDACIÓN BBVA A EQUIPOS DE INVESTIGACIÓN CIENTÍFICA 2018 and from “la Caixa” Banking Foundation under the project code HR17-00016 (FS-M), and from Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional PI17/01972 (E.D).S

Beneficial effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with acyl-CoA oxidase 2 (ACOX2) deficiency-associated hypertransaminasemia

Background and aims: A variant (p.Arg225Trp) of peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase 2 (ACOX2), involved in bile acid (BA) side-chain shortening, has been associated with unexplained persistent hypertransaminasemia and accumulation of C27-BAs, mainly 3?,7?,12?-trihydroxy-5?-cholestanoic acid (THCA). We aimed to investigate the prevalence of ACOX2 deficiency-associated hypertransaminasemia (ADAH), its response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), elucidate its pathophysiological mechanism and identify other inborn errors that could cause this alteration. Methods and results: Among 33 patients with unexplained hypertransaminasemia from 11 hospitals and 13 of their relatives, seven individuals with abnormally high C27-BA levels (>50% of total BAs) were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The p.Arg225Trp variant was found in homozygosity (exon amplification/sequencing) in two patients and three family members. Two additional nonrelated patients were heterozygous carriers of different alleles: c.673C>T (p.Arg225Trp) and c.456_459del (p.Thr154fs). In patients with ADAH, impaired liver expression of ACOX2, but not ACOX3, was found (immunohistochemistry). Treatment with UDCA normalized aminotransferase levels. Incubation of HuH-7 hepatoma cells with THCA, which was efficiently taken up, but not through BA transporters, increased reactive oxygen species production (flow cytometry), endoplasmic reticulum stress biomarkers (GRP78, CHOP, and XBP1-S/XBP1-U ratio), and BAX? expression (reverse transcription followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot), whereas cell viability was decreased (tetrazolium salt-based cell viability test). THCA-induced cell toxicity was higher than that of major C24-BAs and was not prevented by UDCA. Fourteen predicted ACOX2 variants were generated (site-directed mutagenesis) and expressed in HuH-7 cells. Functional tests to determine their ability to metabolize THCA identified six with the potential to cause ADAH. Conclusions: Dysfunctional ACOX2 has been found in several patients with unexplained hypertransaminasemia. This condition can be accurately identified by a noninvasive diagnostic strategy based on plasma BA profiling and ACOX2 sequencing. Moreover, UDCA treatment can efficiently attenuate liver damage in these patients.Funding information: This study was supported by the following grants: CIBERehd (EHD15PI05/2016); Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (PI19/00819 and PI20/00189), co-funded by European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund, “Investing in your future”; “Junta de Castilla y León” (SA074P20); Fundació Marato TV3 (201916–31); AECC Scientific Foundation (2017/2020), Spain; and “Centro Internacional sobre el Envejecimiento” (OLD-HEPAMARKER, 0348_CIE_6_E), Spain. We also acknowledge support from grants PID2019-111669RBI-100, PID2020-115055RB-I00 from Plan Nacional de I+D funded by the “Agencia Estatal de Investigación” (AEI) and the center grant P50AA011999 Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis funded by NIAAA/NIH, as well as support from AGAUR of the “Generalitat de Catalunya” SGR-2017-1112, European Cooperation in Science & Technology (COST) ACTION CA17112 Prospective European Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Marta Alonso-Peña was the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from “Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte” (BOE-A-2015-9456; FPU-14/00214) and a Mobility Grant for Short Stays from “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades” (EST17/00186). Ricardo Espinosa-Escudero is the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from “Junta de Castilla y León” and “Fondo Social Europeo” (EDU/574/2018). The funding sources were not involved in the research design or preparation of the article

The OTELO survey: A case study of [O III] lambda 4959,5007 emitters at z=0.83

Context. The OSIRIS Tunable Filter Emission Line Object (OTELO) survey is a very deep, blind exploration of a selected region of the Extended Groth Strip and is designed for finding emission-line sources (ELSs). The survey design, observations, data reduction, astrometry, and photometry, as well as the correlation with ancillary data used to obtain a final catalogue, including photo-z estimates and a preliminary selection of ELS, were described in a previous contribution. Aims. Here, we aim to determine the main properties and luminosity function (LF) of the [O III] ELS sample of OTELO as a scientific demonstration of its capabilities, advantages, and complementarity with respect to other surveys. Methods. The selection and analysis procedures of ELS candidates obtained using tunable filter pseudo-spectra are described. We performed simulations in the parameter space of the survey to obtain emission-line detection probabilities. Relevant characteristics of [O III] emitters and the LF ([O III]), including the main selection biases and uncertainties, are presented. Results. From 541 preliminary emission-line source candidates selected around z = 0.8, a total of 184 sources were confirmed as [O III] emitters. Consistent with simulations, the minimum detectable line flux and equivalent width in this ELS sample are ∼5 × 10−19 erg s−1 cm2 and ∼6 Å, respectively. We are able to constrain the faint-end slope (α = −1.03 ± 0.08) of the observed LF ([O III]) at a mean redshift of z = 0.83. This LF reaches values that are approximately ten times lower than those from other surveys. The vast majority (84%) of the morphologically classified [O III] ELSs are disc-like sources, and 87% of this sample is comprised of galaxies with stellar masses of M⋆ <  1010 M⊙