Efecto de la aplicación de ultrasonidos en la calidad del agua regenerada almacenada en embalses de riego

En el Sureste de la Península Ibérica, la Demarcación Hidrográfica del Segura presenta un déficit hídrico de más de 317 hm3 para el año 2015 (Pérez et al., 2014). Esta situación crónica de escasez de agua obliga a tomar iniciativas para realizar un uso sostenible del agua. Una solución es el uso de aguas regeneradas para regadío, aprovechando las características nutricionales que poseen. El embalsamiento de las aguas regeneradas para riego provoca un crecimiento de algas en los embalses debido a las condiciones climáticas y a las altas concentraciones de nutrientes que presentan. La proliferación de microalgas en los embalses de riego de aguas regeneradas provoca problemas en los sistemas de riego, mediante la obturación de éstos. Por lo tanto, es necesario controlar el crecimiento de microalgas para evitar los problemas técnicos que se producen y así aprovechar de manera eficiente las aguas regeneradas para riego. En las últimas décadas se han estudiado diferentes técnicas para evitar el crecimiento masivo de microalgas en los embalses (Kanz et Ansen, 2013). En este trabajo se estudia el efecto de ultrasonidos para el control en el crecimiento de microalgas y calidad del agua. En el estudio se pretende comparar la calidad del agua almacenada en tres embalses que contienen aguas regeneradas de características similares. En dos de los embalses se implantaron equipos de ultrasonidos, dejando al tercero sin tratamiento de ultrasonidos. Para determinar la eficacia de los equipos de ultrasonidos en los embalses se han realizado in situ sondeos en profundidad para la determinación de la calidad del agua, al igual que en laboratorio de parámetros tanto físico-químicos como microbiológicos. Tras el ensayo realizado, se puede afirmar que los ultrasonidos controlan el crecimiento de microalgas en los embalses, pudiendo convertirse en una buena opción para controlar el crecimiento de algas. Además comparándolo con la limpieza manual, el coste de inversión para su implantación quedaría amortizado en un año aproximadamente.Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería IndustrialUniversidad Politécnica de Cartagen

The Journalistic Professionalization in Ecuador: the Experience on the Streets or the Knowledge of the Classrooms?

El artículo analiza el estado actual del ejercicio periodístico en el Ecuador y las tendencias académicas predominantes dentro de las escuelas y facultades de Comunicación Social en el país, espacios en los cuales se consolida un perfil profesional cuyo rol ha sido puesto en duda. Concluye con un análisis sobre la capacitación, actualización y profesionalización del periodismo ecuatoriano, tomando como referencia una encuesta aplicada al personal con funciones directivas y periodísticas de 2.944 medios de comunicación del Ecuador, dentro de un proyecto de investigación nacional denominado: “Mapa de la comunicación de Ecuador”, desarrollado por la Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja.This article discusses the current state of journalism in Ecuador and the predominant academic trends within schools and faculties of Social Communication in the country, spaces in which consolidates a professional profile whose role has been questioned. Concludes with an analysis of the need for training, updating and professionalization of the Ecuadorian journalism, taking as reference a survey applied to personnel with directives and journalistic functions of 2,944 media of Ecuador, within a national research project called: “Map of the communication of Ecuador”, developed by the Technical University of Loja

Estandarización de una técnica de extracción de ADN en sementales porcinos para evaluar la frecuencia de los genes ESR y PRLR con PCR-RFLP

In order to standardize extraction technique and purification of DNA from hair in swine, samples of 35 sires of Yorkshire and Landrace maternal Lines were obtained and the frequency of the genes ESR and PRLR were valued using PCR-RFLP. As a result of this technique a high quantity and quality of DNA was extracted. Two genes related with high prolificidad were identified: Estrogen (ESR) and prolactina (PRLR) receiver. These genes were amplified using PCR and RFLP´s and the genotypes were identified. The enzyme Pvu II was used to identification of ESR and Alu I for PRLR. The results showed that the genotypes associated to the genes ESR and PRLR were not in Hardy-Weinberg balance (X2,

Role of the Transforming Growth Factor-β in regulating hepatocellular carcinoma oxidative metabolism.

Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β) induces tumor cell migration and invasion. However, its role in inducing metabolic reprogramming is poorly understood. Here we analyzed the metabolic profle of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells that show diferences in TGF-β expression. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular acidifcation rate (ECAR), metabolomics and transcriptomics were performed. Results indicated that the switch from an epithelial to a mesenchymal/migratory phenotype in HCC cells is characterized by reduced mitochondrial respiration, without signifcant diferences in glycolytic activity. Concomitantly, enhanced glutamine anaplerosis and biosynthetic use of TCA metabolites were proved through analysis of metabolite levels, as well as metabolic fuxes from U-13C6-Glucose and U-13C5-Glutamine. This correlated with increase in glutaminase 1 (GLS1) expression, whose inhibition reduced cell migration. Experiments where TGF-β function was activated with extracellular TGF-β1 or inhibited through TGF-β receptor I silencing showed that TGF-β induces a switch from oxidative metabolism, coincident with a decrease in OCR and the upregulation of glutamine transporter Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 5 (SLC7A5) and GLS1. TGF-β also regulated the expression of key genes involved in the fux of glycolytic intermediates and fatty acid metabolism. Together, these results indicate that autocrine activation of the TGF-β pathway regulates oxidative metabolism in HCC cells

Participación y diversidad. Avanzando en la participación de las personas inmigrantes en la sociedad civil de Andalucía. Libro del proyecto y transcripción de las sesiones

Hasta el momento actual, la Inmigración ha venido abordándose bajo un enfoque estrictamente laboral o administrativo, fundamentado en los flujos que el mercado de trabajo demandaba. En menor medida desde la perspectiva del ejercicio de la ciudadanía de las personas inmigrantes, que han venido a buscar una nueva vida en Andalucía, ni en la consideración de que, además, ello le supone ejercer derechos básicos y contribuir a enriquecer y dar nuevas perspectivas y valores a nuestra sociedad civil. Desde este enfoque, el capital social que supone la Inmigración resulta necesario e imprescindible en los procesos de participación y empoderamiento de la sociedad civil de nuestra democracia. Para determinar una estrategia y encontrar las herramientas más adecuadas que nos permitan avanzar en este sentido, es para lo que hemos impulsado el proyecto "Participación y Diversidad" y los dos foros de indagación y debate participativo, que se han celebrado en Sevilla y en Granada entre octubre y noviembre de 2013 y cuyos resultados tienen ustedes en este libro. Por lo general, las personas inmigrantes sólo son llamadas a participar de los asuntos públicos cuando éstos tienen que ver con el tema específico de la inmigración. Pero, en este caso, hemos querido ir más allá abordando la cuestión de la inmigración no en términos particulares sino en relación con su papel en el conjunto de nuestra sociedad, en el procomún; trabajando sobre ese capital social que aportan y sobre el papel ciudadano que desempeñan -o que queremos que aporten y desempeñen las personas inmigrantes. En definitiva, trabajar sobre la participación real y efectiva en nuestra sociedad civil, de las personas que vienen de otros países (de la UE, países desarrollados o en vías de desarrollo) y con otras visiones del mundo, a compartir espacio y vida con nosotros, en igualdad con los andaluces y las andaluzas de origen.Pp. (1-129

Dissecting the role of the NADPH oxidase NOX4 in TGF-beta signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

The NADPH oxidase NOX4 has been proposed as necessary for the apoptosis induced by the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-I3) in hepatocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. However, whether NOX4 is required for TGF-I3-induced canonical (SMADs) or non-canonical signals is not fully understood yet, neither its potential involvement in other parallel actions induced by TGF-I3. In this work we have used CRISPR Cas9 technology to stable attenuate NOX4 expression in HCC cells. Results have indicated that NOX4 is required for an efficient SMAD2/3 phosphorylation in response to TGF-I3, whereas non-canonical signals, such as the phos-phorylation of the Epidermal Growth Receptor or AKT, are higher in NOX4 silenced cells. TGF-I3-mediated in-hibition of cell proliferation and viability is attenuated in NOX4 silenced cells, correlating with decreased response in terms of apoptosis, and maintenance of high expression of MYC and CYCLIN D1. These results would indicate that NOX4 is required for all the tumor suppressor actions of TGF-I3 in HCC. However, analysis in human HCC tumors has revealed a worse prognosis for patients showing high expression of TGF-I31-related genes concomitant with high expression of NOX4. Deepening into other tumorigenic actions of TGF-I3 that may contribute to tumor progression, we found that NOX4 is also required for TGF-I3-induced migratory effects. The Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition (EMT) program does not appear to be affected by attenuation of NOX4 levels. However, TGF-I3-mediated regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics and focal adhesions require NOX4, which is necessary for TGF-I3-induced increase in the chaperone Hsp27 and correct subcellular localization of Hic-5 within focal adhesions, as well for upregulation of the metalloprotease MMP9. All these results together point to NOX4 as a key element in the whole TGF-I3 signaling in HCC cells, revealing an unknown role for NOX4 as tumor promoter in HCC patients presenting activation of the TGF-I3 pathway

School-Based Cardiovascular Health Promotion in Adolescents: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE School-based interventions offer an opportunity for health promotion in adolescence. OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of 2 multicomponent educational health promotion strategies of differing duration and intensity on adolescents' cardiovascular health (CVH). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The SI! Program for Secondary Schools is a 4-year cluster randomized clinical intervention trial conducted in 24 secondary schools from Barcelona and Madrid, Spain, from September 7, 2017, to July 31, 2021. Eligible participants were adolescents enrolled in the first grade of secondary school. INTERVENTIONS Schools and their participants were randomized to receive a health promotion intervention (SI! Program) over 4 school years (long-term intervention [LTI], 8 schools, 412 adolescents) or 2 school years (short-term intervention [STI], 8 schools, 504 adolescents) or to receive the standard curriculum (control, 8 schools, 441 adolescents). MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES The primary end point was the between-group difference at 2 and 4 years in the change from baseline of the overall CVH score, as defined by the American Heart Association (range, 0-14 points, with a higher score indicating a healthier CVH profile). Intervention effects were tested with multilevel mixed-effects models. A complete-case intention-to-treat analysis was performed as the primary analysis. RESULTS Of the randomized students, the study enrolled 1326 adolescents (684 [51.6%] boys, mean [SD] age, 12.5 [0.4] years at recruitment) with a study completion rate of 86.0%. Baseline overall CVH scores were 10.3 points in the LTI group, 10.6 points in the STI group, and 10.5 points in the control group. After 2 years, at halfway through the LTI and at the end of the STI, the difference in the CVH score change was 0.44 points (95% CI, 0.01-0.87; P = .04) between the LTI group and the control group and 0.18 points (95% CI, -0.25 to 0.61; P = .39) between the STI group and the control group. At 4 years, differences for the LTI and STI groups vs control were 0.12 points (LTI: 95% CI, -0.19 to 0.43; P = .42) and 0.13 points (STI: 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.44; P = .38). No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Overall, the tested school-based health promotion strategies in this randomized clinical trial had a neutral effect on the CVH of the adolescents. Although there was evidence of a marginal beneficial effect at a point halfway through implementation in the LTI group, such a benefit was not noted at 4 years. Further research is warranted into the efficacy of school-based health promotion programs. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03504059.This work was supported by the SHE Foundation-la Caixa Foundation (LCF/PR/CE16/ 10700001) and the Fundació la Marató de TV3 (369/C/2016). Dr Santos-Beneit is recipient of grant LCF/PR/MS19/12220001 funded by “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434). Dr Tresserra-Rimbau is a Serra Húnter Fellow. Dr Laveriano-Santos is supported by the FI-SDUR (EMC/503/2021) grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya. Mr Martínez-Gómez was a postgraduate fellow of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación at the Residencia de Estudiantes (2020-2022) and is a recipient of grant FPU21/04891 (Ayudas para la formación de profesorado universitario, FPU-2021) from the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte. Dr Álvarez-Benavides is a María Zambrano fellow. Dr Fernández-Jiménez is recipient of grants PI19/01704 and PI22/01560 funded by the ISCIII and cofunded by the European Union. Support was also provided by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (AEI/FEDER, UE, grant PID2020-114022RB-I00), and Generalitat de Catalunya. The Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety Research (INSA-UB) is a Unit of Excellence (María de Maeztu CEX2021-001234-M). The Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) is supported by the ISCIII, the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN) and the Pro CNIC Foundation, and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (grant CEX2020-001041-S funded by MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).S