Context-aware Assessment Using QR-codes

In this paper we present the implementation of a general mechanism to deliver tests based on mobile devices and matrix codes. The system is an extension of Siette, and has not been specifically developed for any subject matter. To evaluate the performance of the system and show some of its capabilities, we have developed a test for a second-year college course on Botany at the School of Forestry Engineering. Students were equipped with iPads and took an outdoor test on plant species identification. All students were able to take and complete the test in a reasonable time. Opinions expressed anonymously by the students in a survey about the usability of the system and the usefulness of the test were very favorable. We think that the application presented in this paper can broaden the applicability of automatic assessment techniques.The presentation of this work has been co-founded by the Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Saccharomyces exiguus Uses Kerosene as a Source of Carbon and Energy

Kerosene is a fuel derived from petroleum, a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, which eventually cause environmental pollution. In nature, there are genera and species of aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms, native to all environments, that have the potential capacity to degrade kerosene, such as some genera and species of yeast, to synthesize protein of unicellular origin or to bioaugment the negative environmental impact of kerosene. for the above. The objective of this work was to analyze the ability of Saccharomyces exiguus to use kerosene as a carbon and energy source. For this, S. exiguus was isolated from oil wells, it was grown in 5% kerosene with 1.2% NH4Cl and 50 ppm yeast extract. The growth of S. exiguus in kerosene was analyzed using the response variables: dry weight, protein quantification, and gas chromatography showed the use of kerosene components as a carbon and energy source. The results showed that S. exiguus can use the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons of kerosene as the only source of carbon and energy, this potential is applicable to synthesize unicellular protein or in the recovery of environments impacted by kerosene

Recuperación de un suelo contaminado por una mezcla de hidrocarburos

In Mexico, a soil poor in nitrogen (N) polluted by 100000 ppm of waste motor oil (WMO) is an environmental problem also because is drastically affecting soil´s proprieties related with mineralization of organic matter and lost its fertility since exceeding the maximum accepted limit of 4400 ppm of the Mexican environmental rule called NOM-138-SEMARNAT-2012 (NOM-138). An ecological alternative to solve it is to treat for eliminating WMO and to recover its fertility. Therefore, the aims of this research were: a) bioremediation of soil polluted by 100000 ppm of WMO b) phytoremediation by Sorghum vulgare with Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chryso-genum to decrease WMO´s concentration at lower value of 4400 ppm accepted by the NOM-138. In that sense the variable response to measure soil´s recovering was: a) WMO´s concentration with Soxhlet, after bioremedia-tion and phytoremediation b) while at phytoremediation the phenology and biomass at seedling stage of S. vulgare with A. niger and P. chrysogenum. All experimental data were validated by ANOVA/Tukey HSD P<0.05%. Results showed that bioremediation and phytoremediation decreased WMO until 3400 ppm, numerical value lower than the maximum established by NOM-138, both processing were efficient to recover for cropping aim. In 120 days regarding as a short period of time.En México, un suelo agrícola pobre en nitrógeno (N) contaminado por un derivado de hidrocarburos como el aceite residual automotriz (ARA), con una relativa alta concentración de 100000 ppm, es un problema ambiental, pero también porque afecta drásticamente las propiedades del suelo asociadas con la mineralización de la materia orgánica y la pérdida de fertilidad, ya que sobrepasa el límite máximo aceptado de 4400 ppm de la norma mexi-cana llamada, NOM-138-SEMARNAT-2012 (NOM-138). Una alternativa de solución es tratarlo con acciones ecológicas para eliminar el ARA y recuperar esa fertilidad. Por lo que los objetivos de esta investigación fueron: i) biorremediación de suelo contaminado por 100000 ppm de ARA ii) fitorremediación mediante Sorghum vulgare con Aspergillus niger y Penicillium chrysogenum para decrecer el ARA a un valor inferior a 4400 ppm de la NOM-138. Para ello la recuperación de suelo se realizó mediante la variable-respuesta: desaparición del ARA por Soxhlet al inicio y después de la biorremediación y al final de la fitorremediación con S. vulgare con la fenología y biomasa a plántula. Todos los datos experimentales se validaron por ANOVA/Tukey HSD P<0.05%. Los resultados indicaron que la biorremediación y la fitorremediación del suelo contaminado por 100000 ppm de ARA, la decrecieron hasta 3400 ppm, valor inferior al máximo establecido por la NOM-138, suficiente para la recuperación del suelo en la producción agrícola, en 120 días un periodo de tiempo relativamente corto

Impacto del aceite residual automotriz en un suelo: remediación por bioestimulación

Soil impacted by waste motor oil (WMO) inhibits microbial activity for recycling the basic elements of life an affecting negatively its fertility. Biostimulation is a way to recover soil by eliminating WMO at a value lower than 4400 ppm permitted by an environmental rule called NOM-138-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2012. The aim of this research was the biostimulation of soil polluted by WMO in different in depending ways with the mineral solu-tion (MS), or vermicompost (VC) with Phaseolus vulgaris o green manure (GM). Recovering soil was deter-mined by the production of CO2 from WMO´s oxidation, by measuring the WMO oxidizing bacterial population (WMOOB) and WMO´s concentration by Soxhlet; experimental data were analyzed with standard Tukey-error. The results showed that biostimulation of soil impacted by 17000 ppm of WMO with MS decreased it until 4386 ppm, but better biostimulation with VC which reducing WMO until 3766 ppm in 6 months, both values lower than the maximum accepted by the NOM 138, and statistically different compared to soil BIS by P. vulgaris or GM with 8596 ppm of WMO and the 17000 ppm of WMO from soil non-BIS or negative control. This con-cludes that biostimulation could be specific depending on hydrocarbon´s complex as WMO was eliminated by MS and VC according to NOM-138 for recovering soil´s fertilityLa contaminación del suelo por aceite residual automotriz (ARA) que es una mezcla de hidrocarburos (HC), que impide la actividad microbiana del reciclaje de elementos necesarios para la vida y afecta negativamente su fertilidad. La bioestimulación (BIS) es una estrategia para eliminar el ARA a un nivel que permite la recupera-ción de su fertilidad a un valor inferior al máximo de 4400 ppm de la NOM-138-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2012 (NOM-138). El objetivo de este trabajo fue la BIS un suelo impactado por 17000 ppm de ARA por enriqueci-miento independiente: con solución mineral (SM), lombricomposta (LC) y P. vulgaris o abono verde (AV). La recuperación del suelo se determinó mediante la: liberación de CO2 por oxidación del ARA, por la población bacteriana oxidante de ARA (BOARA) y la concentración de ARA por Soxhlet, los datos experimentales se analizaron con Tukey-error estándar. Los resultados revelaron que la BIS de suelo impactado por 17000 ppm de ARA con la SM lo decreció hasta 4386 ppm, en tanto que con la LC lo disminuyo a 3766 ppm en 6 meses, ambos valores numéricos inferiores al máximo aceptado por la NOM-13, estadísticamente diferentes con los 8596 ppm en suelo bioestimulado mediante P. vulgaris o AV y los 16000 ppm de ARA en el suelo sin bioesti-mular o control negativo. Se concluye que la BIS, es específica acorde a la complejidad de los HC como el ARA, que se eliminó con la SM y la LC según la NOM-138 para la recuperación de la fertilidad del suelo

Respuesta de Zea mays a Burkholderia spp endófita de Zea mays var mexicana (teocintle)

Zea mays var mexicana or teocinte is a grass, considered one of the main ancestors of Zea mays. Teocinte, like other grasses, is associated with genera of endophytic plant growth promoters (EPGPB) in the interior of plant tissues. Z. mays is a domestic grass normally cultivated under the intensive production system, with relatively high doses of nitrogen fertilizer (NIFE), a possible alternative solution to minimize this problem, is the inoculation of the seed of Z. mays with genera of EPGPB teocinte, which colonize the roots, stems, leaves and promote a healthy growth at a reduced dose up to 50% NIFE such as urea, which is equivalent to decrease from 280 kg/ha-1 to 140 kg/ha-1, of what is recommended for the region of northern Michoacán and southern Guanajuato, Mexico. The objectives of this work were: i) to determine the density of Burkholderia spp BEPCV of teocinte, ii) to analyze the effect of the inoculation of Burkholderia spp EPGPB on the growth of Z. mays, at reduced dose of NIFE in greenhouse, iii) identify Burkholderia spp BEPCV teocinte. The population density of Burkholderia spp EPGPB was determined in tissues (organs), seeds, stem-leaves and roots of teocinte by sowing them on Pseudomonas cepacia azelaic acid tryptamine (PCAT), after incubation. Burkholderia spp colonies were selected for abundance in: leaves, stem, roots and/or seeds. These isolates of Burkholderia spp, were coded with the keys T41 and T42 and inoculated in Z. mays sown in sterile sand, where as the only variable-response the total dry weight was determined compared to the Z. mays cultivated with the recommended NIFE dose, for that region, it was concluded with the biochemical characterization. The results show that in Burkholderia spp BEPCV of teocinte, a density of 3.4 Log CFU/g of fresh weight (GPF) was registered in the root, of 3.0 Log CFU/GPF in the seed and a similar value in the stem-leaves of teocinte The response of Z. mays to Burkholderia T41 caused an increase of 47% in the dry weight of the root to the tillering, and of 57% to the extension of the stem, compared with the Z. mays without inoculating with the maximum level of NIFE (urea) 280 kg/ha-1. The biochemical identification profile of Burkholderia spp supports a genetic relationship with B. vietnamiensis. It is concluded that teocinte is a source of EPGPB for sustainable production Z. mays at a reduced dose of NIFE.Zea mays var mexicana o teocintle es una gramínea, considerada como uno de los principales ancestros de Zea mays. El teocintle como otras gramíneas, se asocia con géneros de bacterias endófitas promotoras del crecimiento vegetal (BEPCV) en el interior de los tejidos vegetales. Z. mays es una gramínea doméstica cultivada normalmente bajo el sistema de producción intensiva, con relativa elevadas dosis de fertilizante nitrogenado (FENI), una posible alternativa de solución para minimizar este problema, es la inoculación de la semilla de Z. mays con géneros de BEPCV del teocintle, que colonizan las raíces, los tallos, las hojas y promueven un sano crecimiento a dosis reducida hasta en un 50% FENI como la urea, que equivale a disminuir de 280 kg/ha-1 a 140 kg/ha-1, de lo recomendado para la región del norte de Michoacán y sur de Guanajuato, México. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: i) determinar la densidad de Burkholderia spp BEPCV de teocintle, ii) analizar el efecto de la inoculación de Burkholderia spp de BEPCV en el crecimiento de Z. mays, a dosis reducida de FENI en invernadero, iii) identificar Burkholderia spp BEPCV de teocintle. Por principio se determinó la densidad de la población de Burkholderia spp BEPCV en tejidos (órganos), semillas, tallo-hojas y raíces del teocintle, mediante la siembra de estos, en agar Pseudomonas cepacia ácido azelaico triptamina (PCAT), posteriormente a la incubación, las colonias de Burkholderia spp se seleccionaron por la abundancia en: hojas, tallo, raíces y/o semillas, Estos aislados de Burkholderia spp, se codificaron con las claves T41 y T42 e inocularon en Z. mays sembrado en arena estéril, en donde como única variable-respuesta se determinó el peso seco total comparado el Z. mays cultivado con la dosis FENI recomendada, para esa región, se concluyó con la caracterizaron bioquímica. Los resultados muestran que en Burkholderia spp BEPCV de teocintle, se registró una densidad de 3.4 Log UFC/g de peso fresco (GPF) en la raíz, de 3.0 Log UFC/GPF en la semilla y un valor similar en el tallo-hojas de teocintle. La respuesta de Z. mays a Burkholderia  T41 causó un incremento de un 47% en el peso seco de la raíz al amacollamiento, y de un 57% a la extensión del tallo, comparados con el Z. mays sin inocular con el nivel máximo de FENI (urea) 280 kg/ha-1. El perfil de identificación bioquímica de Burkholderia spp apoya una relación genetica con B. vietnamiensis. Se concluye que el teocintle es una fuente de BEPCV para la producción sustentable Z. mays a dosis reducida de FENI

Suelo impactado por 90000 ppm de aceite residual automotriz: bioestimulación y fitorremediación

In México any soil polluted by 90000 ppm waste motor oil (WMO), this concentration is over the maximun acepted of 4400 ppm by regulation law called as a NOM-138-SEMARNAT / SSA1-2003 (NOM-138), 9000 ppm of WMO is causing soil`s fertility decreasing. An alternative solution is biostimulation (BIS) by detergent following by mineral solution then. Subsequently the BIS by H2O2 as a supplier of O2 and a crude fungi extract containing laccase able to hydrolyze aromatic of WMO, then by Phaseolus vulgaris as a green manure to reduce WMO; concluding by phytoremediation (PHYTO) with Cicer arietinum The objectives of this research were: i) BIS of soil contaminated by 90000 ppm of WMO ii) PHYTO by C. arietinum with Micromonospora echinospora and Penicillium chrysogenum to decrease WMO at lower concentration value than the maximum accepted by NOM-138. In sense at soil`s, variable-response of BIS was initial and final concentration of WMO by Soxhlet, at the PHYTO, phenology and biomass of C. arietinum were taken at seedling. The experimental data were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey HSD P <0.05%. Results showed that BIS and PHYTO of soil impacted by 90000 ppm of WMO decreased until 1200 ppm numerical value statistically different compared to 79000 ppm of soil polluted by WMO, without BIS and either PHYTO or negative control. Those results showed that BIS and PHYTO are an effective technique for recovering soil polluting by relative high level of WMO according to NOM-138.En México un suelo impactado por 90000 ppm de aceite residual automotriz (ARA), excede la máxima concentración permitida de 4400 ppm según la NOM-138-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2003 (NOM-138) y que le causa infertilidad. Una alternativa solución es la por bioestimulación (BIS) integral con un detergente, una solución mineral, con H2O2 fuente O2, un extracto fúngico crudo con una lacasa que hidroliza aromáticos del ARA, luego con Phaseolus vulgaris o abono verde. Estas acciones se concluyen por fitorremediación (FITO) mediante Cicer arietinum. Los objetivos de esta investigación fueron: i) BIS de un suelo impactado por 90000 ppm de ARA, ii) FITO mediante C. arietinum con Micromonospora echinospora y Penicillium chrysogenum para decrecer el ARA a valor inferior al máximo aceptado de la NOM-138. En suelo la variable-respuesta de la BIS fue la concentración inicial y final de ARA por Soxhlet, en la FITO se registró la fenología y biomasa de C. arietinum a plántula. Los datos experimentales se analizaron por ANOVA/Tukey HSD P<0.05%. Los resultados muestran que la BIS y FITO en suelo impactado por 90000 ppm de ARA, lo decrecieron hasta 1200 ppm, valor numérico estadísticamente distinto comparado con suelo con 79000 ppm de ARA sin BIS ni FITO o control negativo. Se concluye que en suelo impactado por una relativa alta concentración de ARA la BIS y FITO fue estrategia integral suficiente para recupera acorde con la NOM-138

Análisis de la dinámica de bioestimulación de un suelo contaminado por 75000 ppm de aceite residual automotriz

Soil polluting by 75000 ppm of waste motor oil (WMO) is a mixture of hydrocarbons (HICO) aliphatic and aromatics,is a concentration which according to NOM-138-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2012 (NOM-138), exceeds the maximum valuepermissible of 4400 ppm, this high WMO concentration is inhibin organic matter mineralization and causing soil`sfertility. An alternative solution is biostimulation (BIS) of soil polluted by 75000 ppm of WMO, with a detergent (DEGE) that emulsified the WMO, then a mineral solution (MISO), following Phaseolus vulgaris and Vicia sativa poweredby Micromonospora echinospora and Penicillium chrysogenum, after 25 days of growing both plants were incorporatedand degraded as green manure (GEMA) and vermicompost (VERMI) for an effective mineralization of WMO. Theobjective of this research was to analyze the dynamics of the BIS of soil polluted by 75000 ppm of WMO to lowervalue than the maximum allowed by the NOM-138. In that sense during the BIS, microbial population involved inWMO`oxidation, was counted and by gas chromatography WMO`s concentration at the beginning and end of the assaywas determined. Experimental data were analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey. The results indicated that the BIS of the soilimpacted by 75000 ppm of WMO decreased it to 1532 ppm, which supports that the biostimulation of the soil with aDEGE, the MISO, GEMA and VERMI enriched it with NH4+, NO3-, PO4-3 and K2O, to induce aerobic heterotrophicmicrobiota to oxidize the WMO, which was demonstrated by increasing soil`s microbial population, pH variation andgas chromatography by disappearance of some aliphatic and aromatics compound of WMO. It is concluded that BISwas worth processing to recover soil impacted by a relatively high concentration of WMO.En suelo 75000 ppm de aceite residual automotriz (ARA), que es una mezcla de hidrocarburos (HICO) que acorde conla NOM-138-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2012 (NOM-138), sobrepasa el límite máximo permisible de 4400 ppm, que impidela mineralización de la materia orgánica y le causa perdida de fertilidad. Una alternativa de solución para este problemaen suelo es la bioestimulación (BIS) con un detergente (DEGE) que emulsifique el ARA, en secuencia un soluciónmineral (SOMI) rica en nutrientes esenciales, seguida de Phaseolus vulgaris y Vicia sativa potenciados con Micromonospora echinospora y Penicillium chrysogenum como abono verde (AVE) y lombricomposta (LOCO) que asegura unaefectiva y continua mineralización del ARA. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar la BIS de un suelo contaminado por 75000 ppm de ARA hasta un valor inferior al máximo permisible por la NOM-138. En ese sentido a la par dela BIS se cuantificó la microbiota de la mineralización del ARA y por cromatografía de gases se determinó ARA laconcentración inicial y final en el suelo, los datos numéricos se analizaron por ANOVA/Tukey. Los resultados indicaron que la BIS del suelo impactado por 75000 ppm de ARA, lo disminuyó hasta 1532 ppm, lo que demostró que lacompleja de HICO del ARA fue necesario un DEGE, una SOMI, P. vulgaris y LOCO que con compuestos orgánicos einorgánicos de NH4+, NO3-, PO4-3 y K2O, que indujeron a la microbiota a oxidar el ARA, avalado por el incremento de lapoblación involucrada que causo cambios en el pH y la cromatografía de gases que probo la desaparición de los alifáticos y aromáticos a un valor de 1532 ppm, inferior al máximo aceptado por la NOM-138. Se concluye que la BIS fue útilpara remediar el suelo impactado por una relativa alta concentración de ARA

Safety and efficacy of ribociclib plus letrozole in patients with HR+, HER2– advanced breast cancer: Results from the Spanish sub-population of the phase 3b CompLEEment-1 trial

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Spanish women. Ribociclib in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) has shown superiority in prolonging survival in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC) vs. ET alone.Methods: CompLEEment-1 is a single-arm, open-label phase 3b trial evaluating ribociclib plus letrozole in a broad population of patients with HR+, HER2- ABC. The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Here we report data for Spanish patients enrolled in CompLEEment-1.Results: A total of 526 patients were evaluated (median follow-up: 26.97 months). Baseline characteristics showed a diverse population with a median age of 54 years. At study entry, 56.5% of patients had visceral metastases and 8.7% had received prior chemotherapy for advanced disease. Rates of all-grade and Grade >= 3 adverse events (AEs) were 99.0% and 76.2%, respectively; 21.3% of patients experienced a serious AE, and 15.8% of AEs led to treatment discontinuation. AEs of special interest of neutropenia, increased alanine aminotransferase, increased aspartate aminotransferase and QTcF prolongation occurred in 77.8%, 14.8%, 11.4% and 4.0% of patients, respectively. Patients aged >70 years experienced increased rates of all-grade and Grade >= 3 neutropenia and anemia. Efficacy results were consistent with the global study.Conclusions: Results from Spanish patients enrolled in CompLEEment-1 are consistent with global data showing efficacy and a manageable safety profile for ribociclib plus letrozole treatment in patients with HR+, HER2-ABC, including populations of interest (NCT02941926).Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0294192