Morphometric and morphological studies of Red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) otoliths from the Strait of Gibraltar: Exploratory analysis of its application for ageing

In the last years, the otoliths have become a useful tool for the determination of ichthyic species, because these structures present a high morphologic specificity. Besides, its shape should change between the sampled ages. Thus, our study deals with several features of the otoliths (sagitta) related with the age of the individuals. 235 (Morphometry) and 53 (Morphology) otoliths from Red seabream samples, 2003 – 2008, of the Strait of Gibraltar were analyzed. The combined use of both features (morphometrics and morphological) resulted in a discriminant function which an ageing success higher than 70%.Versión del edito

Estilos de liderança, ambiente organizacional e riscos psicossociais nas entidades do sector da saúde: um estudo comparativo

Neste estudo se descreve o clima organizacional, os fatores de risco psicossocial e os estilos de liderança que percebe um grupo de 400 trabalhadores da área da saúde em quatro cidades da Colômbia, e procuram-se diferenças significativas nessas cidades. Aplicaram-se o ECO o PIC e o PAT. Segundo os resultados, os participantes apresentaram riscos psicossociais de vários tipos, dos quais os mais importantes foram os referidos às relações interpessoais. O ambiente organizacional, embora não ideal, não é negativo. Os dois estilos de liderança achados no estudo estiveram apenas presentes em Bogotá. Acharam-se diferenças significativas na maioria das variáveis estudadas, quiçá devido ao impacto de aspectos culturais. Nós discutimos estes resultados.The purpose of this study was to describe the organizational climate, psychosocial risk factors and leadership styles perceived by a group of 400 workers of the health sector in four Colombian cities and to observe whether there are significant differences between them. In order to achieve this objective, the instruments entitled ECO, CFP and PAT_were administered. According to the results, the participants showed psychosocial risks factors of diverse nature and the most relevant ones were those related to interpersonal relationships. Although the organizational climate found was not optimal, it was not adverse either. The two resulting leadership styles were evidenced only in Bogota. Significant differences were found in most variables studied which could be attributed to cultural aspects. These findings are discussed.El propósito de este estudio fue describir el clima organizacional; los factores de riesgo psicosocial y los estilos de liderazgo que perciben un grupo de 400 trabajadores del sector salud en cuatro ciudades colombianas; y observar si existen diferencias significativas entre ellas. Para ello se aplicó el ECO; el CFP y el PAT. De acuerdo con los resultados; los participantes presentaron riesgos psicosociales de diversa índole; siendo más relevantes los referidos a las relaciones interpersonales El clima organizacional; aunque no es óptimo; tampoco es adverso. Los dos estilos de liderazgo resultantes en el estudio fueron evidenciados solamente en Bogotá. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en la mayoría de las variables estudiadas; lo cual podría deberse al efecto de aspectos culturales. Se discuten estos hallazgos

Pharmaceuticals and environmental risk assessment in municipal wastewater treatment plants and rivers from Peru

This is the first study dealing with removal of the pharmaceutical substances in municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) from Peru and the impact of these compounds in surface waters receiving treated wastewater. To this aim, samples from MWWTP of Lima (Peruvian Coast), MWWTP of Cusco, Puno and Juliaca (Peruvian Highlands), as well surface water (confluence of Torococha and Coata rivers in Juliaca) were analyzed. A total of 38 target pharmaceuticals were included in this study and were determined by Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Around 60% and 75% of the target pharmaceuticals could be quantified in surface water and MWWTPs, respectively. Acetaminophen was the drug found at the highest concentration, and it was present in all the treated wastewater samples reaching average values above 100 μg/L in the department of Puno. The gabapentin anti-epileptic drug (up to 11.85 μg/L in MWWTP Lima) and the antibiotics clarithromycin, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin (1.86 to 4.47 μg/L in MWWTP Lima) were also found at moderate concentrations in the treated wastewater. In surface water, the highest concentration corresponded also to acetaminophen (28.70 μg/L) followed by sulfamethoxazole (4.36 μg/L). As regards the pharmaceuticals removal, data of this work showed that the MWWTP Cusco (aerobic biologic process by synthetic trickling filters as secondary treatment) was more efficient than the MWWTP Lima (a preliminary treatment that combines grilles, sand trap, degreaser-aerated and sieved of 1.0 mm). However, many pharmaceuticals (around 50% of the compounds investigated) presented concentrations in treated wastewater similar or even higher than in influent wastewater. The environmental ecological risk of pharmaceuticals was assessed based on calculated Risk Quotient (RQ) in the treated wastewater and surface water from the concentration data found in the samples. According to our data, three antibiotics (clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin) and the analgesic acetaminophen posed high environmental risk (RQ ≥ 1) on the aquatic environment. In the river, all antibiotics (except norfloxacin) as well as the analgesic-anti-inflammatory compounds acetaminophen, diclofenac posed a high environmental risk (RQ ≥ 1). Based on data reported in this work for the first time in water samples from Peru, it can be deduced that the treatment processes applied in important cities from Peru are not enough efficient to remove pharmaceuticals in wastewater. As a consequence, severe environmental risks associated to the presence of pharmaceuticals in treated wastewater and surface water are expected; so complementary treatment processes should be implemented in the MWWTPs for a more efficient elimination of these compounds

UrdA Controls Secondary Metabolite Production and the Balance between Asexual and Sexual Development in Aspergillus Nidulans

The genus Aspergillus includes important plant pathogens, opportunistic human pathogens and mycotoxigenic fungi. In these organisms, secondary metabolism and morphogenesis are subject to a complex genetic regulation. Here we functionally characterized urdA, a gene encoding a putative helix-loop-helix (HLH)-type regulator in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. urdA governs asexual and sexual development in strains with a wild-type veA background; absence of urdA resulted in severe morphological alterations, with a significant reduction of conidial production and an increase in cleistothecial formation, even in the presence of light, a repressor of sex. The positive effect of urdA on conidiation is mediated by the central developmental pathway (CDP). However, brlA overexpression was not sufficient to restore wild-type conidiation in the Delta urdA strain. Heterologous complementation of Delta urdA with the putative Aspergillus flavus urdA homolog also failed to rescue conidiation wild-type levels, indicating that both genes perform different functions, probably reflected by key sequence divergence. UrdA also represses sterigmatocystin (ST) toxin production in the presence of light by affecting the expression of aflR, the activator of the ST gene cluster. Furthermore, UrdA regulates the production of several unknown secondary metabolites, revealing a broader regulatory scope. Interestingly, UrdA affects the abundance and distribution of the VeA protein in hyphae, and our genetics studies indicated that veA appears epistatic to urdA regarding ST production. However, the distinct fluffy phenotype of the Delta urdA Delta veA double mutant suggests that both regulators conduct independent developmental roles. Overall, these results suggest that UrdA plays a pivotal role in the coordination of development and secondary metabolism in A. nidulans.This research and The APC was supported by the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University. The research at CIB-CSIC was funded by MINECO/FEDER/EU (grant BFU2015-66806-R). The research at UPV/EHU was funded by grant EHUA15/08

Evolution of substrate specificity in a retained enzyme driven by gene loss.

The connection between gene loss and the functional adaptation of retained proteins is still poorly understood. We apply phylogenomics and metabolic modeling to detect bacterial species that are evolving by gene loss, with the finding that Actinomycetaceae genomes from human cavities are undergoing sizable reductions, including loss of L-histidine and L-tryptophan biosynthesis. We observe that the dual-substrate phosphoribosyl isomerase A or priA gene, at which these pathways converge, appears to coevolve with the occurrence of trp and his genes. Characterization of a dozen PriA homologs shows that these enzymes adapt from bifunctionality in the largest genomes, to a monofunctional, yet not necessarily specialized, inefficient form in genomes undergoing reduction. These functional changes are accomplished via mutations, which result from relaxation of purifying selection, in residues structurally mapped after sequence and X-ray structural analyses. Our results show how gene loss can drive the evolution of substrate specificity from retained enzymes

TGA Analysis forn Thermal Characterization of Polymer Blends for Injection

[EN] TGA analysis (thermogravimetric analysis) allows obtaining thermal information from polymers’ blends that have been studied in this work. SEBS blends were made using two commercial grades of transparent SEBS with extreme hardness. The specific thermal property determined in the SEBS blends was the evaluation of the degradation process (TGA). It is important to highlight the good resistance to degradation by both commercial grades of virgin SEBS with extreme hardness, and the blends obtained with these materials.[ES] TGA analysis (thermogravimetric analysis) allows obtaining thermal information from polymers’ blends that have been studied in this work. SEBS blends were made using two commercial grades of transparent SEBS with extreme hardness. The specific thermal property determined in the SEBS blends was the evaluation of the degradation process (TGA). It is important to highlight the good resistance to degradation by both commercial grades of virgin SEBS with extreme hardness, and the blends obtained with these materials.Juárez Varón, D.; Ferrándiz Bou, S.; Peydro, MA.; Mengual Recuerda, A. (2014). Análisis TGA para la caracterización térmica de mezclas de polímeros para inyección. 3C Tecnología. 3(3):152-161. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/77690S1521613

Information and communication technologies applied to programming flexible manufacturing systems.

[EN] The quantitative analysis of flexible manufacturing systems can be obtained using different techniques from mathematical modeling. This way a reconfiguration of the cell is tried, cradle in the continuous improvement of the same one. These models can be divided in three categories: static and determinist models, queuing models and simulation by computer. The discreet simulation of events in flexible manufacturing systems allows reconstructing with great detail complex operations, incorporating characteristic as plant distribution, transports and planning of production, allowing the redesign and continuous improvement of the system, non possible with the static models or queuing models.[ES] El análisis cuantitativo de sistemas de fabricación flexible puede ser logrado utilizando diferentes técnicas de modelado matemático. De esta manera se pretende una reconfiguración de la célula, basada en la mejora continua de la misma. Estos modelos pueden ser divididos en tres categorías: modelos estáticos y deterministas, modelos de colas y simulación por ordenador. La simulación discreta de eventos en sistemas de fabricación flexible permite reconstruir con gran detalle operaciones complejas, incorporando características como distribución en planta, transportes y planificación de producción, permitiendo el rediseño y mejora continua del sistema, no posible con los modelos estáticos o de colas.Juárez Varón, D.; Peydro, MA.; Ferrándiz Bou, S.; Mengual Recuerda, A. (2012). Las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación aplicadas a la programación de sistemas de fabricación flexible. 3c Tic. (3):6-13. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/34373S613

A review of concurrent engineering

This paper attempts to explain and disaggregate different focuses of concurrent engineering, analyzing their application to product development and highlighting the improvements involved in their enforcement. Improvements can be observed in projects (quality), in scheduling (reducing the duration) and the cost of implementation (savings), basic achievements of concurrent engineering. Companies that already apply concurrent engineering are often multinationals, being the majority group in use. Its implementation in medium and small businesses is a very useful and achievable goal, in a field that has not developed the methodology. The entire organization (human group) is involved in the implementation of concurrent engineering, with an effort aimed at multifunctional integration and development of both product and process concurrently.Juárez Varón, D.; Peydro, MA.; Mengual Recuerda, A.; Ferrándiz Bou, S. (2015). A review of concurrent engineering. Annals of The University of Oradea. Fascicle of Management and Technological Engineering. (3):94-97. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/65944S9497

Industrial applications of phase change materials

[EN] This study identifies the different industrial applications of phase change materials, in order to identify those thar are potentially viable for addition with thermoplastic materials.[ES] El presente estudio pretende identificar las diferentes aplicaciones industriales de materiales con cambio de fase, para identificar aquellos que son potencialmente viables para su adición en materiales termoplásticos.Juárez Varón, D.; Ferrándiz Bou, S.; Peydro, MA.; Mengual Recuerda, A. (2015). Aplicaciones industriales de los materiales con cambio de fase. 3C Tecnología. 4(1):32-41. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/65311S32414

First report of Tomato torrado virus on weed hosts in Spain

Alfaro Fernández, AO.; Córdoba-Sellés, C.; Cebrián, M.; Herrera-Vásquez, J.; Sanchez Navarro, JA.; Juárez, M.; Espino, A.... (2088). First report of Tomato torrado virus on weed hosts in Spain. Plant Disease. 92(5):831-831. https://doi.org/10.1094/pdis-92-5-0831b83183192