Hacia la diversificación energética: Bioenergía

La apuesta por la sostenibilidad, el aumento de la producción interna, la exploración de otras fuentes de energía y, en la medida de lo posible, la conservación de recursos son una receta a tener en cuenta para reducir facotres como la contaminación y evitar además la excesiva dependencia externa

Isotopic study of the influence of oxygen interaction and surface species over different catalysts on the soot removal mechanism

In order to improve the catalytic formulations for soot removal in after-treatment emission control technologies for gasoline and diesel engine vehicle, an isotopic study was approached using transitory labeled oxygen response method over model catalysts that allows the unraveling of soot oxidation mechanism. Ce-based materials promote oxygen exchange associated with the high population of lattice oxygen species (O2-) denoted as OI type. The incorporation of praseodymium produces a Pr3+ enrichment that decrease the energy for oxygen release and increase oxygen mobility through surface and subsurface oxygen centers (OII type) depending on the synthesis procedure. For PtBaK catalyst, OIII species are responsible for oxygen exchange. Gas-solid reaction between soot and gas phase molecular oxygen is responsible for direct uncatalyzed soot oxidation. For ceria containing catalysts, low-temperature soot removal takes place through the intervention of lattice atomic species and superoxide species. For DPNR model catalyst, PtBaK/Al2O3, the soot elimination occurs with the intervention of OIII type centers. In the presence NO, the assisted and cooperative mechanism due to NO2 and the intervention of the adsorbed nitrate species on the trimetallic catalyst enhances soot removal capacity.MCR acknowledges the postdoctoral fellowship obtained from the University of Malaga. MCR, CH, MAL and LJA want to thank the financial support of CTQ 2017-87909R project. MCR also want to thank the University of Alicante for the financial support for the internship (INV19-07). JCMM and AGG gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2018/076 project) and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PID2019-105542RB-I00 project) and the UE-FEDER funding. JCMM also acknowledges Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for the financial support through a FPU grant (FPU17/00603)

iNGS: a prototype tool for genome interpretation and annotation

Currently, clinical interpretation of whole-genome NGS genetic findings are very low-throughput because of a lack of computational tools/software. The current bottleneck of whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing projects is in structured data management and sophisticated computational analysis of experimental data. In this work, we have started designing a platform for integrating, in a first step, existing analysis tools and adding annotations from public databases to the findings of these tools. This platform can be used to produce tools for different kind of users. As a first experiment with this platform, we have developed a Web tools for running multiple analysis tasks, completing the findings with public data and producing a simple report similar to blood test reports.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. The Project Grant (TIN2011-25840) (Spanish Ministry of Education and Science) and P11-TIC-7529 (Innovation, Science and Enterprise Ministry of the regional government of the Junta de Andalucía)

Coordinación de casos prácticos en asignaturas del área de conocimiento “Gestión de la Información” según modelo curricular de informática de la ACM/IEEE 2013

Este artículo presenta el estado de desarrollo y resultados preliminares del proyecto de innovación docente de la Universidad de Málaga (PIE15-183): Coor-dinación de casos prácticos en asignaturas del área de conocimiento “Gestión de la Información” según modelo curricular de informática de la ACM/IEEE 2013.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Elaboración de material docente virtual de apoyo a las prácticas de rocas del Grado de Biología

Una de las actividades prácticas de la asignatura de Geología del primer curso del Grado en Biología de la Universidad de Alicante son las prácticas de laboratorio. Estas prácticas se dedican básicamente al reconocimiento visual de rocas y fósiles. Tras varios años de experiencia en la impartición de esta asignatura, se ha comprobado que las principales debilidades de las prácticas de laboratorio se deben al escaso número de sesiones presenciales. A ello se le suma una cierta dificultad para poder realizar otras sesiones de repaso fuera del horario establecido. Ante esta situación el alumno tiene algunos problemas en el reconocimiento visual de los ejemplares, así como para poder preparar los controles y pruebas de evaluación. Con el objetivo de facilitar el autoaprendizaje en este campo, se ha diseñado una página web que incluye toda la colección de rocas de las sesiones prácticas, así como otros materiales complementarios, en la que se aporta la información básica de cada ejemplar. Inicialmente, la página se ha diseñado específicamente para las prácticas de reconocimiento de rocas, ya que son las que presentan menor duración presencial

Oxidación selectiva fotoasistida de metanol empleando un catalizador híbrido TiO2/C

En esta contribución se presenta el desarrollo de un catalizador fotoactivo y la evaluación de su comportamiento en la reacción de la oxidación heterogénea fotoasistida de metanol en fase gas como alternativa a la activación térmica y en el que también se aborda el estudio mecanístico in situ del proceso de fotoxidación de metanol.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Fatores prognósticos da infeção respiratória aguda baixa grave em crianças menores de 5 años na Colômbia

Introduction: Acute lower respiratory infection (alri: community acquired and/or bronchiolitis) is one of the main public health issues for children under five years of age. The main purpose of this research was to describe the epidemiological profile, associated factors, and prognosis of alri in two hospitals in Popayan, Colombia. Materials and Methods: This was a cohort study. We included children from 2 months to 5 years of age with diagnoses of severe alri. Sociodemographic profiles, clinical features, and prognostic factors were collected. The main outcomes under study were mortality, admission to icu, and length of stay. Multivariable analyses were performed to establish the independent contributions of prognostic factors. Results: 121 patients were included. Incidence of alri was 4% ci95% [3,3-4,7] during 6 months of follow-up. Mortality during follow-up was 0,8% (ci95% 0,l-4,4) (one patient). Thirty three percent of children required admission to icu. Median length of stay was 5 days and length of stay in icu was 4 days. Preterm birth was independently associated with icu admission (or=5,1 ci95% [l,3-20] p=0,0l9). Discussion: The incidence of severe alri was 4%. Mortality was low and length of stay was short. Factors related to the diagnosis of alri in this cohort are consistent with those reported in the national and international literature, and the only independent prognostic factor for admission to icu was preterm birth

Genetic Deletion of NOD1 Prevents Cardiac Ca2+ Mishandling Induced by Experimental Chronic Kidney Disease

© 2020 by the authors.Risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases considerably as renal function declines in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (NOD1) has emerged as a novel innate immune receptor involved in both CVD and CKD. Following activation, NOD1 undergoes a conformational change that allows the activation of the receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 2 (RIP2), promoting an inflammatory response. We evaluated whether the genetic deficiency of Nod1 or Rip2 in mice could prevent cardiac Ca2+ mishandling induced by sixth nephrectomy (Nx), a model of CKD. We examined intracellular Ca2+ dynamics in cardiomyocytes from Wild-type (Wt), Nod1−/− and Rip2−/− sham-operated or nephrectomized mice. Compared with Wt cardiomyocytes, Wt-Nx cells showed an impairment in the properties and kinetics of the intracellular Ca2+ transients, a reduction in both cell shortening and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ load, together with an increase in diastolic Ca2+ leak. Cardiomyocytes from Nod1−/−-Nx and Rip2−/−-Nx mice showed a significant amelioration in Ca2+ mishandling without modifying the kidney impairment induced by Nx. In conclusion, Nod1 and Rip2 deficiency prevents the intracellular Ca2+ mishandling induced by experimental CKD, unveiling new innate immune targets for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies to reduce cardiac complications in patients with CKD.This work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and European Regional Development Fund (SAF-2017-84777R), Institute of Health Carlos III (PI17/01093 and PI17/01344), Sociedad Española de Cardiología, Proyecto Traslacional 2019, Fundación Renal Íñigo Álvarez de Toledo (FRIAT), Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), FSE, and CIBER-CV, a network funded by ISCIII. M.F.-V. is Miguel Servet II researcher of ISCIII (MSII16/00047 Carlos III Health Institute). G.R.-H. is Miguel Servet I researcher of ISCIII (CP15/00129 Carlos III Health Institute). M.T. is a PhD student funded by the FPU program of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU17/06135). A.R. was supported by Fondo SEP-Cinvestav project #601410 FIDSC 2018/2; and Fondo SEP-Conacyt Ciencia Básica A1-S-9082

Red de investigación en docencia universitaria de la UA: “Universidad, Docencia, Género e Igualdad” (II)

La Red de investigación en docencia universitaria “Universidad, docencia, genero e igualdad” persigue avanzar en la calidad e innovación de las enseñanzas universitarias a partir de la inclusión de la perspectiva de género. Se busca dar cumplimiento a las directrices generales de los nuevos planes de estudio respecto del principio de igualdad de oportunidades entre hombres y mujeres en la formación universitaria (Real Decreto 1393/2007. BOE nº 260, 30 de octubre de 2007). En la tercera edición de la Red, y dada su composición multidisciplinar, se desarrollaron dos líneas de investigación: por un lado, se continuó trabajando en el mantenimiento del “Portal web con recursos docentes con perspectiva de género”, proyecto financiado por el Instituto de la Mujer (PACUI, 2012) e iniciado en el curso 2012-2013, incrementándose en un 36% la colección de recursos; y, por otro, se inició una nueva línea de investigación con la que se busca desarrollar una herramienta informática de ayuda para la redacción de textos con lenguaje inclusivo

Prevalence of submicroscopic malaria infection in immigrants living in Spain

BACKGROUND: The importance of submicroscopic malaria infections in high-transmission areas could contribute to maintain the parasite cycle. Regarding non-endemic areas, its importance remains barely understood because parasitaemia in these afebrile patients is usually below the detection limits for microscopy, hence molecular techniques are often needed for its diagnosis. In addition to this, the lack of standardized protocols for the screening of submicroscopic malaria in immigrants from endemic areas may underestimate the infection with Plasmodium spp. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of submicroscopic malaria in afebrile immigrants living in a non-endemic area. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicentre study was conducted. Afebrile immigrants were included, microscopic observation of Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood smears, and two different molecular techniques detecting Plasmodium spp. were performed. Patients with submicroscopic malaria were defined as patients with negative blood smears and detection of DNA of Plasmodium spp. with one or both molecular techniques. Demographic, clinical, analytical and microbiological features were recorded and univariate analysis by subgroups was carried out with STATA v15. RESULTS: A total of 244 afebrile immigrants were included in the study. Of them, 14 had a submicroscopic malaria infection, yielding a prevalence of 5.7% (95% confidence interval 3.45-9.40). In 71.4% of the positive PCR/negative microscopy cases, Plasmodium falciparum alone was the main detected species (10 out of the 14 patients) and in 4 cases (28.6%) Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium ovale were detected. One patient had a mixed infection including three different species. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of submicroscopic malaria in afebrile immigrants was similar to that previously described in Spain. Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale were detected in almost a third of the submicroscopic infections. Screening protocols for afebrile immigrants with molecular techniques could be useful for a proper management of these patients.This work was funded by projects PI14/01671, PI17/01791 and PI14CIII/00014, from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness) and cofounded by the European Regional Development Fund, and approved by the Ethics Committee of our Institution. There was no funding from the PCR manufacturers; they did not play any role in data analysis or in the reporting of the results.S