Píldoras Educativas para la Elaboración del Trabajo Final de Grado en Estudios Ingleses (Lengua y Lingüística).

Este proyecto plantea elaborar un módulo, estructurado en píldoras educativas (o mini-videos didácticos), para dar una visión general a los estudiantes del último curso de grado de cómo abordar la escritura del TFG

Differential responses of zooplankton assemblages to environmental variation in temporary and permanent ponds

Permanent and temporary wetlands in Mediterranean shrublands represent unique repositories of biodiversity, which are increasingly threatened by human-induced habitat loss. The zooplankton of a permanent (P1) and a temporary pond (T35) in the Natural Reserve of Castelporziano, a rare residual stretch of such a shrubland in Central Italy (Latium), was investigated to: (1) expand and deepen knowledge of these endangered freshwater habitats, which represent a crucial component of Mediterranean biodiversity; (2) identify environmental controls regulating the development of zooplankton communities of each environment; and (3) highlight differences in the adaptive responses of the zooplankton community in relation to the different ecological conditions experienced by permanent and temporary habitats. Despite summer desiccation in T35, the two ponds exhibited a relative homogeneity in hydrological and physico-chemical dynamics. Zooplankton assemblages contained 41 total taxa, of which 32 were found in P1 and 28 in T35. Out of the 41 taxa identified, 22 (> 50%) were exclusively present in one of the two ponds. On a yearly basis, the community dynamics of P1 seemed to be conditioned by physical and chemical factors and by hydrological cycle characteristics, while the community of T35 responded to algal blooms, food competition and predator/prey equilibria rather than correlating to abiotic factors. The main differences amongst zooplankton assemblages were observed over short time scales and occurred both within and between seasons, highlighting the role of some structural taxa that dominated the average composition of the community throughout the year, and the importance of "quick-response" taxa in determining the short-term composition and structure variation of pond zooplankton. A year-round cyclic community succession peculiar to each pond is described

Desarrollo de estrategias discursivas de posicionamiento en los trabajos científicos universitarios (TFGs, TFMs, TDs, y AC): Análisis de los géneros discursivos, propuestas para la formación y elaboración de píldoras educativas

El presente proyecto reúne a docentes e investigadoras de dos grupos de investigación UCM consolidados del Departamento de Estudios Ingleses, “Discurso y comunicación en lengua inglesa: estudios de lingüística cognitiva y funcional” (DISCOM-COGFUNC) (930160) y “Lingüística funcional (ingles-español) y sus aplicaciones (FUNCAP)”, que imparten asignaturas afines. Todas las integrantes del equipo han formado parte al menos de uno de los dos proyectos de innovación previos, Innova-2015-188 e Innova-2016-123, sobre Objetos de Aprendizaje Reutilizable (OARs), como son las píldoras educativas, dando así muestra de una continuidad del trabajo en la innovación educativa en el campo de la docencia de lengua y lingüística inglesas. Los objetivos generales propuestos en la solicitud del proyecto han sido la formación de estudiantes y profesores en el uso y desarrollo de estrategias discursivas de posicionamiento en: (a) los trabajos científicos universitarios (TFGs, TFMs, TDs), y (b) los artículos de investigación de los docentes. Se trataba de llevar a cabo el análisis de estos géneros discursivos, realizar propuestas para la formación en el uso de estrategias discursivas, y elaborar materiales y píldoras educativas adecuadas a cada contexto de aprendizaje

Effect of environmental and nutritional conditions on the formation of single and mixed-species biofilms and their efficiency in cadmium removal

Remediation of contaminated water and wastewater using biosorption methods has attracted significant attention in recent decades due to its efficiency, convenience and minimised environmental effects. Bacterial biosorbents are normally deployed as a non-living powder or suspension. Little is known about the mechanisms or rates of bacterial attachment to surfaces and effect of various conditions on the biofilm development, as well as efficiency of living biofilms in the removal of heavy metals. In the present study, the effect of environmental and nutritional conditions such as pH, temperature, concentrations of phosphate, glucose, amino acid, nitrate, calcium and magnesium, on planktonic and biofilm growth of single and mixed bacterial cultures, were measured. Actinomyces meyeri, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens strains were evaluated to determine the optimum biofilm growth conditions. The Cd(II) biosorption efficiencies of the mixed-species biofilm developed in the optimum growth condition, were investigated and modelled using Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubnin Radushkevich models. The biofilm quantification techniques revealed that the optimum concentration of phosphate, glucose, amino acid, nitrate, calcium and magnesium for the biofilm development were 25, 10, 1, 1.5, 5 and 0.5 g L−1, respectively. Further increases in the nutrient concentrations resulted in less biofilm growth. The optimum pH for the biofilm growth was 7 and alkaline or acidic conditions caused significant negative effects on the bacterial attachment and development. The optimum temperatures for the bacterial attachment to the surface were between 25 and 35 °C. The maximum Cd(II) biosorption efficiency (99%) and capacity (18.19 mg g−1) of the mixed-species biofilm, occurred on day 35 (Ci = 0.1 mg L−1) and 1 (Ci = 20 mg L−1) of biofilm growth, respectively. Modelling of the biosorption data revealed that Cd(II) removal by the living biofilm was a physical process by a monolayer of biofilm. The results of present study suggested that environmental and nutritional conditions had a significant effect on bacterial biofilm formation and its efficiency in Cd(II) removal