Towards Sustainability: Photochemical and electrochemical processes applied for environmental protection

In the last century, public policy around the globe was mainly focused on economic growth leaving out of this perspective, social concerns and the environment detriment that this merely economic approach was causing. It was until the last quarter of the 20th century that people started to be aware of the growing poverty and of the jeopardy of the planet as a result of human being activities. In consequence, the concept of sustainable development emerged in the United Nations as a call to all countries to integrate economic growth with social needs and environmental protection, in such a way that our activities as earth inhabitants stopped compromising the quality of life and needs satisfaction of future generations

Clasificación de los municipios del país de acuerdo con el movimiento de carga por carretera utilizando modelos no supervisados de aprendizaje automático

El presente documento desarrolla un modelo de clasificación no supervisado para los municipios de Colombia en torno al movimiento de carga del servicio público de transporte de carga, a través, de la utilización de algoritmos de clasificación como los son los árboles de clasificación, k-medias, k-medioides y modelo de clasificación discreta. Estos algoritmos son utilizados en conjunto con los datos de movilización de carga del sistema del Registro nacional de Despachos de Carga – RNDC, del Ministerio de Transporte de Colombia, de modo tal que se realiza un proceso de recolección de datos, preparación de los mismos en torno al flujo de carga, desarrollo de los algoritmos mencionados y una evaluación de los diferentes modelos para seleccionar aquel modelo que en términos de homogeneidad intra grupal y heterogeneidad intergrupal sea el más adecuado. De acuerdo con lo mencionado, el modelo seleccionado es k-medioides, este modelo utiliza la mínima distancia de la mediana de los miembros de cada grupo, generando tres grupos cada uno con sus características particulares.This document develops a no supervised clustering models applied to the colombia’s cargo flow public service, using clustering models as decision trees, k-means, k-medioids and DBSCAN. This algoritms are used with the data of the National Registry of Cargo Dispatches (RNDC) of the Colombian Ministry of Transportation. The process starts with recollecting the data, preparing the data, develop the algoritms and evaluate them to select the model that best fits in intra-group homogeneity and intergroup heterogeneity. According to the mentioned, k-medioids is the selected model, this model uses the median minimum distance between members of each group, generating three groups, each one with its own features

Crystal structure dependence of the energy transfer from tb(III) to yb(III) in metal–organic frameworks based in bispyrazolylpyridines

Luminescent mixed lanthanide metal−organic framwork (MOF) materials have been prepared from two polyheterocyclic diacid ligands, 2,6-bis(3-carboxy-1-pyrazolyl)pyridine and 2,6- bis(4-carboxy-1-pyrazolyl)pyridine. The crystal structures of the two organic molecules are presented together with the structures for the MOFs obtained by hydrothermal synthesis either with Yb(III) or mixed Tb(III)/Yb(III) ions. Different coordination architectures result from each ligand, revealing also important differences between the lanthanides. The mixed lanthanide metal−organic frameworks also present diverse luminescent behavior; in the case of 2,6-bis(4-carboxy-1- pyrazolyl)pyridine, where no coordinated water is present in the metal environment, Tb(III) and Yb(III) characteristic emission is observed by excitation of the bispyrazolylpyridine chromophoreThe research leading to these results has received funding from ERCROS S.A. (Aranjuez, Spain

Vasotocin and isotocin regulate aquaporin 1 function in the sea bream

Aquaporins (AQPs) are specific transmembrane water channels with an important function in water homeostasis. In terrestrial vertebrates, AQP2 function is regulated by vasopressin (AVP) to accomplish key functions in osmoregulation. The endocrine control of aquaporin function in teleosts remains little studied. Therefore, in this study we investigated the regulatory role of vasotocin (AVTR) and isotocin (ITR) receptors in Aqp1 paralog gene function in the teleost gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). The complete coding regions of Aqp1a, Aqp1b, AVTR V1a2-type, AVTR V2-type and ITR from sea bream were isolated. A Xenopus oocyte-swelling assay was used to functionally characterize AQP1 function and regulation by AVT and IT through their cognate receptors. Microinjection of oocytes with Aqp1b mRNA revealed regulation of water transport via PKA (IBMX+forskolin sensitive), whereas Aqp1a mRNA injection had the same effect via PKC signaling (PDBU sensitive). In the absence of expressed receptors, AVT and IT (10(-8) mol l(-1)) were unable to modify AQP1 function. AVT regulated AQP1a and AQP1b function only when the AVTR V2-type was co-expressed. IT regulated AQP1a function, but not AQP1b, only when ITR was present. Considering that Aqp1a and Aqp1b gene expression in the sea bream intestine is highly salinity dependent in vivo, our results in ovo demonstrate a regulatory role for AVT and IT in AQP1 function in the sea bream in the processing of intestinal fluid to achieve osmoregulation.Ministry of Education (Spain) [FPU AP2008-01194]; Portuguese National Science Foundation [SFRH/BPD/66808/2009]; Ministry of Science and Education, Spain [AGL2010-14876]; National Science Foundation (FCT, Portugal) [PTDC/MAR-BIO/3811/2012

Un caso práctico para la gestión del desarrollo agropecuario en municipios rurales de México

Una de las múltiples formas en que se atiende la pobreza en México es a través de la definición y diseño de estrategias de desarrollo enfocadas a mejorar las condiciones de vida de la población rural de escasos recursos económicos y déficit de bienestar social, actuando desde el municipio como articulador del desarrollo.Un texto detonante de preguntas y respuestas sobre la gestión del desarrollo rural y agropecuario desde la esfera municipal, en un esquema de gobernanza sugerente y efectivo, que retoma la experiencia de organizaciones civiles en los años recientes bajo el concepto y caso práctico de Municipio Ganador.Alternativas para el Desarrollo Rura

Controllable direction of liquid jets generated by thermocavitation within a droplet.

A high-velocity fluid stream ejected from an orifice or nozzle is a common mechanism to produce liquid jets in inkjet printers or to produce sprays among other applications. In the present research, we show the generation of liquid jets of controllable direction produced within a sessile water droplet by thermocavitation. The jets are driven by an acoustic shock wave emitted by the collapse of a hemispherical vapor bubble at the liquid-solid/substrate interface. The generated shock wave is reflected at the liquid-air interface due to acoustic impedance mismatch generating multiple reflections inside the droplet. During each reflection, a force is exerted on the interface driving the jets. Depending on the position of the generation of the bubble within the droplet, the mechanical energy of the shock wave is focused on different regions at the liquid-air interface, ejecting cylindrical liquid jets at different angles. The ejected jet angle dependence is explained by a simple ray tracing model of the propagation of the acoustic shock wave inside the droplet

USO Y APROPIACIÓN DE LAS TECNOLOGÍAS DE LA INFORMACIÓN Y LA COMUNICACIÓN POR PARTE DE LOS DOCENTES EN LAS FACULTADES DE INGENIERÍA

Se presentan los resultados encontrados en la fase diagnóstica de la tesis doctoral: “Referentes pedagógicos para el uso y apropiación de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC) al interior de los procesos educativos planeados y desarrollados por los docentes de educación superior”. Esta investigación se realiza en las facultades de ingeniería de tres universidades de Bogotá D.C., partiendo de la intuición de que los temas pedagógicos y didácticos en estas facultades siempre se han considerado en un segundo plano. La metodología de esta fase partió del enfoque cuantitativo mediante el diseño y la aplicación de una encuesta; el instrumento perseguía analizar el nivel de uso y apropiación de las TIC al interior de los procesos educativos que orientan los docentes de educación superior en ingeniería. El estudio permite confirmar que los docentes utilizan las TIC, pero también pone de manifiesto la necesidad imperiosa de orientar a los docentes de estas facultades en el adecuado uso de dichas tecnologías desde el punto de vista pedagógico y didáctico.Use and Appropriation of Information and Communication Technologies by Teachers in the Faculties of EngineeringThis research presents the results of the diagnostic phase of the thesis “Pedagogical References for Use and Appropriation of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Educational Processes Planned and Developed by Teachers in Higher Education.” This research was conducted in the engineering schools of three universities in Bogotá (Colombia), based on the intuition that pedagogic and teaching concerns in these departments have not always been faced in a good way. The methodology designed for this phase began with the quantitative approach through design and implementation of a survey: the instrument sought to analyze the level of use and appropriation of ICT into educational processes that guide engineering teachers in higher education. The study confirms that teachers do use ICT, and it also highlights the urgent need for guidance for teachers in these areas on the proper use of technologies not only from the teaching and learning points of view.Keywords: educational resources, ICT, pedagogy

Elemental bioavailability in whey protein supplements

Whey protein (WP) as a dietary supplement for athletes and gym-users is characterized by a content of high-quality amino acids. The benefits of their consumption are well-known and mainly related to the improvements of strength and body composition. Nevertheless, there is a scarce information about the risk associated to their elemental composition. The aim was to evaluate the total content and bioavailability of twenty-five elements in twenty whey protein powder samples, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, and to evaluate the possible risk associated to the excessive daily intake of such products. Results showed that Na, K, Ca and Mg were the most predominant elements. After Hierarchical Cluster Analysis three different groups of whey protein supplements were observed. ANOVA analysis indicates that the concentration of the Na, K and Mg above mentioned elements is the key for the observed classification. The average elemental bioavailable fraction in the stomach is 45 % whereas in the intestine is 64 %. Most of the elements tested (nineteen) show gastric bioavailability higher than 60 %, being Al the lowest (37 %) and Co the highest one (76 %). According to our results, previously published data and recommendations of producers, WP samples can be considered save from the elemental composition point of view