27 research outputs found

    Development of an Analytical Procedure to Analyze Microplastics in Edible Macroalgae Using an Enzymatic-Oxidative Digestion

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    Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] Besides being food and a refuge to marine species, macroalgae are a powerful and renewable economic resource. However, they may introduce microplastics (MPs) in the trophic chain. We developed a reliable analytical method to characterize and quantify MPs in common and edible macroalgae. Several digestion methods and filters, along with various measurement options, were studied. A new enzymatic-oxidative protocol with a unique final filtration was selected and validated with a mixture of 5 commercial macroalgae (Undaria pinnatifida spp, Porphyra spp, Ulva spp, Laminaria ochroleuca and Himanthalia elongate). Further, it was shown that washing the macroalgae to release MPs is suboptimal and the potential adhesion of MPs to macroalgae was evaluated. A filter subsampling strategy that scans 33.64 % of its surface reduced the time required to characterize <70 μm particles and fibres directly on the 47 mm diameter filter using an IR microscope (1 sample/day).This work is a part of the projects MicroplastiX (Grant PCI2020-112145, JPI Oceans Project supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union “Next Generation EU/PRTR”) and LAnd-Based solutions for PLAStics in the Sea, LABPLAS, (Grant H2020-101003954 supported by the EU H2020 program). The Program “Consolidación e Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas” of the Galician Government (Xunta de Galicia) is also acknowledged (Grant ED431C 2021/56). Funding for open access charge: Universidade da Coruña/CISUGXunta de Galicia; ED431C 2021/5

    A Reliable Method for the Isolation and Characterization of Microplastics in Fish Gastrointestinal Tracts Using an Infrared Tunable Quantum Cascade Laser System

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    [Abstract] Societal and environmental concern due to frequent reports of microplastics in fish stomachs raised as they may accumulate along the trophic chain. The request for analysing microplastics in fish stresses two major analytical issues: sample treatment and final characterization. The, so far, workhorse for chemical characterization is infrared spectroscopy which is time-consuming. Here, a quantum cascade laser-based device is used to accelerate the characterization stage. Its novelty poses new challenges for sample processing and particle handling because the unknown particles must be transferred to a reflective slide. In this study, three sample digestion protocols (alkaline-oxidative with H2O2, and alkaline-oxidative with NaClO and enzymatic-oxidative) and three different procedures to transfer the filter cake to reflective slides are compared. A simplified enzymatic-oxidative digestion (validated through an interlaboratory exercise) combined with a Syncore® automatic evaporation system and a Laser Direct Infrared Imaging (LDIR) device is proposed first time as a reliable and relatively fast method to treat gastrointestinal tracts of fish. Analytical recoveries were studied using samples of Scomber scombrus and they were ca. 100% for big –i.e., >500 μm- and ca. 90% for medium –i.e., 200–300 μm- particles and ca. 75% for 10 μm thick fibres.This research was supported by the LAnd-Based Solutions for PLAstics in the Sea Project (LABPLAS Project), Grant Agreement No. 101003954, under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, and the Integrated approach on the fate of MicroPlastics (MPs) towards healthy marine ecosystems Project (MicroplastiX project), Grant PCI2020-112145, supported by the JPI_Oceans Program and by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union “Next Generation EU/PRTR”. The Program ‘Consolidación e Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas” of the Galician Government (Xunta de Galicia) is also acknowledged (Grant ED431C 2021/56)Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2021/5

    Development of a Fast and Efficient Method to Analyze Microplastics in Planktonic Samples

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    Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] Microplastics (MPs) affect plankton (a basis of the trophic chain) and planktivorous fish can ingest them through food confusion or by trophic transmission. Consensus to determine MPs in plankton is lacking and, so, three digestion treatments were evaluated: Alkaline (potassium hydroxide) and enzymatic (protease plus lipase) digestions, both combined with a hydrogen peroxide stage; and an oxidative method using a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) plus hydrogen peroxide. The alkaline method using potassium hydroxide was found to damage polystyrene. MPs were identified with a stereomicroscope and characterized by reflectance infrared microscopy in semi-automatic mode (using dedicated multi-well aluminium plates). Analytical recoveries for polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate were higher than 75%, 82% and 83% for the alkaline, enzymatic and oxidative treatments, respectively. The enzymatic method was successfully validated in a European interlaboratory exercise and the oxidative method was demonstrated to be a reliable, fast and cheaper alternative.The Spanish Government (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-Agencia Estatal de Investigación) and the JPI-Oceans European Program are acknowledged by the BASEMAN (PCIN-2015-170-C02-01, with FEDER/ERDF funds) and the MicroplastiX (PCIN-PCI2020-112145) projects. Thanks are given also to the Spanish Government by the CTM2016-77945-C3-3-R (ARPA-ACUA) Grant. The Galician Government (“Xunta de Galicia”) is acknowledged for its support to the QANAP group (Programa de Consolidación y Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitiva. Ref. ED431C 2017/28) partially financed by FEDER/ERDF fundsXunta de Galicia; ED431C 2017/2

    Bioactives Overproduction through Operational Strategies in the Ichthyotoxic Microalga Heterosigma akashiwo Culture

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    The red tide-forming microalga Heterosigma akashiwo has been associated with massive events of fish deaths, both wild and cultured. Culture conditions are responsible for the synthesis or accumulation of some metabolites with different interesting bioactivities. H. akashiwo LC269919 strain was grown in a 10 L bubble column photobioreactor artificially illuminated with multi-coloured LED lights. Growth and production of exopolysaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and carotenoids were evaluated under different culture modes (batch, fed-batch, semicontinuous, and continuous) at two irradiance levels (300 and 700 µE·s−1·m−2). Continuous mode at the dilution rate of 0.2·day−1 and 700 µE·s−1·m−2 provided the highest production of biomass, PUFAs (132.6 and 2.3 mg·L−1·day−1), and maximum fucoxanthin productivity (0.16 mg·L−1·day−1). The fed-batch mode accumulated exopolysaccharides in a concentration (1.02 g·L−1) 10-fold over the batch mode. An extraction process based on a sequential gradient partition with water and four water-immiscible organic solvents allowed the isolation of bioactive fucoxanthin from methanolic extracts of H. akashiwo. Metabolites present in H. akashiwo, fucoxanthin and polar lipids (i.e., eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)), or probably such as phytosterol (β-Sitosterol) from other microalgae, were responsible for the antitumor activity obtained.This research was funded by the General Secretariat of Universities, Research and Technology of the Andalusian Government (grant: P18-RT-2477) and the State Research Agency (grants PID2019-109476RB-C22) of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

    Isolation and Structural Elucidation of New Amphidinol Analogues from Amphidinium carterae Cultivated in a Pilot-Scale Photobioreactor

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    The demand for valuable products from dinoflagellate biotechnology has increased remarkably in recent years due to their many prospective applications. However, there remain many challenges that need to be addressed in order to make dinoflagellate bioactives a commercial reality. In this article, we describe the technical feasibility of producing and recovering amphidinol analogues (AMs) excreted into a culture broth of Amphidinium carterae ACRN03, successfully cultured in an LED-illuminated pilot-scale (80 L) bubble column photobioreactor operated in fed-batch mode with a pulse feeding strategy. We report on the isolation of new structurally related AMs, amphidinol 24 (1, AM24), amphidinol 25 (2, AM25) and amphidinol 26 (3, AM26), from a singular fraction resulting from the downstream processing. Their planar structures were elucidated by extensive NMR and HRMS analysis, whereas the relative configuration of the C-32®C-47 bis-tetrahydropyran core was confirmed to be antipodal in accord with the recently revised configuration of AM3. The hemolytic activities of the new metabolites and other related derivatives were evaluated, and structure–activity conclusions were established. Their isolation was based on a straightforward and high-performance bioprocess that could be suitable for the commercial development of AMs or other high-value compounds from shear sensitive dinoflagellates

    Prediction of Solubility and Miscibility Parameters of Bismuth-Arsenic Complex and Amorphous Mineral Compounds Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

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    Bismuth is one of the most difficult impurities to remove in mining concentrates and low concentrations generate problems in silver and copper refineries. Therefore, financial penalties are established when concentrations exceed 0.05%. Some researchers had used arsenic to remove bismuth with results of up to 52% of extraction. Unfortunately, this mechanism is not yet fully understood. The objective of this research was to obtain the solubility parameters of amorphous mineral compounds, including bismuth-based compounds, through computational simulation using molecular dynamics. The composition of the mineral sample was determined by X-ray diffraction and the crystalline species were obtained and modeled using Materials Studio software. The nanostructures were optimized by an energy minimization methodology using the Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno algorithm and were validated using the figure of merit equation and density. Simulations were performed using the Universal Force Field at constant pressure and temperature. The results of the minerals identified in the sample were compared with arsenic trioxide, indicating miscibility between As2O3 and Bi2O3, possible miscibility with 10 other minerals, and immiscibility with the rest. The results indicate that As2O3 can be successfully used for the removal of Bi2O3 without a negative effect on the recovery of other minerals of higher commercial value

    I Jornada de Aulas Abiertas: Encuentro de Docentes de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas

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    La Jornada de Aulas Abiertas quiere ser una oportunidad para que los docentes de la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas nos encontremos en un espacio de reflexión y revisión de nuestras prácticas, distendido, cálido y respetuoso, que nos permita compartir nuestras experiencias cotidianas en las aulas, tanto presenciales como virtuales. Es la posibilidad de conocernos, intercambiar, aprender y contagiarnos de las inquietudes y el entusiasmo que muchos docentes ponen en juego cotidianamente. En el marco de propuestas de enseñanza, se analizaron recursos multimediales, materiales de estudio, aulas virtuales, redes sociales, aplicaciones web, juegos y actividades de evaluación y coevaluación originales; también se abordaron problemáticas y propuestas para favorecer vinculaciones con la práctica profesional. Estas fueron algunas de las cuestiones abordadas y compartidas en las presentaciones de nuestros colegas. Distintas propuestas, pero siempre con el propósito de favorecer las oportunidades de aprendizaje de nuestros estudiantes. Esta publicación pretende ampliar el alcance de esta actividad. Es una invitación para que los y las docentes que participaron puedan revisar nuevamente aquellas actividades que les parecieron valiosas, o las que no pudieron presenciar. Y para aquellos/as que no tuvieron la posibilidad de estar presentes, puedan descubrir cuánto podemos hacer para que nuestros estudiantes aprendan más y mejor, y se animen a iniciar sus propios recorridos. Esperamos repetir este evento para seguir aprendiendo de las iniciativas de los/las docentes de nuestra Facultad, poder hablar de lo que nos preocupa y nos enorgullece, en particular de las propuestas que desarrollamos en el aula para favorecer la comprensión, promover el entusiasmo, abordar temas complejos y errores frecuentes de nuestros estudiantes. Desde el Área de Formación Docente y Producción Educativa queremos agradecer a las autoridades de nuestra Facultad por acompañarnos en este desafío y a los/las docentes que estuvieron presentes compartiendo sus experiencias.Fil: Sabulsky, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Margaría, Oscar A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Iturralde, Ivan. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Domenech, Roberto. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Torrico, Julieta. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Estigarribia, Lucrecia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Gohlke, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Rosenfeld, Valeria. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Montenjano, Franco. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Atienza, Bárbara. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Becerra, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Alonso, Micaela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Tomatis, Karina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Saunders, Shirley. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: David, María Laura. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Flores, Verónica Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Heckmann, Gerardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Vega, Juan José. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Trucchi, Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Ferro, Flavia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Díaz, Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Peretto, Claudia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Racagni, Josefina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Guardiola, Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: López, Sonia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Beltrán, Natacha. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Russo, Paulo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Sánchez, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Rocha Vargas, Marcelo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Flores, Norma. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Arévalo, Eliana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Pacheco, Verónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Delmonte, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Stanecka, Nancy. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Caminos, Ana Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Ahumada, María Inés. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Caro, Norma Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Bravino, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Giménez, Siria Miriam. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Perona, Eugenia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Cuttica, Mariela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: García, Gladys Susana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Cohen, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Tapia, Sebastián. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Erazu, Damián. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Torres, César. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Casini, Rosanna Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Rosales, Julio. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Infante, Roberto Adrián. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Ricci, María Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Römer, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Goyeneche, Noel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Marzo, Emanuel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Olmos, Mariano. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Bottino, Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Cacciagiú, Victor. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Scidá, María Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Guajardo Molina, Vanesa. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Batistella, Silvana del V. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Huanchicay, Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Jones, Carola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Cassutti, Marcela Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Sánchez, Juan Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Arónica, Sandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Ortega, Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Peretti, Florencia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Tagle, María Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Asís, Gloria Susana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Ortiz Figueroa, Ana María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Giménez, Miriam Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Magnano, Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina.Fil: Arias, Verónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas; Argentina

    Com o diabo no corpo: os terríveis papagaios do Brasil colônia

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    Desde a Antiguidade, papagaios, periquitos e afins (Psittacidae) fascinaram os europeus por seu vivo colorido e uma notável capacidade de interação com seres humanos. A descoberta do Novo Mundo nada faria além de acrescentar novos elementos ao tráfico de animais exóticos há muito estabelecido pelos europeus com a África e o Oriente. Sem possuir grandes mamíferos, a América tropical participaria desse comércio com o que tinha de mais atrativo, essencialmente felinos, primatas e aves - em particular os papagaios, os quais eram embarcados em bom número. Contudo, a julgar pelos documentos do Brasil colônia, esses voláteis podiam inspirar muito pouca simpatia, pois nenhum outro animal - exceto as formigas - foi tantas vezes mencionado como praga para a agricultura. Além disso, alguns psitácidas mostravam-se tão loquazes que inspiravam a séria desconfiança de serem animais demoníacos ou possessos, pois só três classes de entidades - anjos, homens e demônios - possuíam o dom da palavra. Nos dias de hoje, vários representantes dos Psittacidae ainda constituem uma ameaça para a agricultura, enquanto os indivíduos muito faladores continuam despertando a suspeita de estarem possuídos pelo demônio. Transcendendo a mera curiosidade, essa crença exemplifica o quão intrincadas podem ser as relações do homem com o chamado “mundo natural”, revelando um universo mais amplo e multifacetado do que se poderia supor a princípio. Nesse sentido, a existência de aves capazes de falar torna essa relação ainda mais complexa e evidencia que as dificuldades de estabelecer o limite entre o animal e o humano se estendem além dos primatas e envolvem as mais inusitadas espécies zoológicas.Since ancient times, parrots and their allies (Psittacidae) have fascinated Europeans by their striking colors and notable ability to interact with human beings. The discovery of the New World added new species to the international exotic animal trade, which for many centuries had brought beasts to Europe from Africa and the Orient. Lacking large mammals, tropical America participated in this trade with its most appealing species, essentially felines, primates and birds - especially parrots - which were shipped in large numbers. It should be noted, however, that at times these birds were not well liked. In fact, according to documents from colonial Brazil, only the ants rank higher than parrots as the animals most often mentioned as agricultural pests. On the other hand, some of these birds were so chatty that people suspected them to be demonic or possessed animals, since only three classes of beings - angels, men and demons - have the ability to speak. Nowadays, several Psittacidae still constitute a threat to agriculture, and the suspicion that extremely talkative birds were demon possessed has also survived. More than a joke or a mere curiosity, this belief exemplifies how intricate man’s relationships with the “natural world” may be. In this sense, the existence of birds that are able to speak adds a further twist to these relationships, demonstrating that the problem of establishing a boundary between the animal and the human does not only involve primates, but also includes some unusual zoological species

    Short Answer Detection for Open Questions: A Sequence Labeling Approach with Deep Learning Models

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    Evaluating the response to open questions is a complex process since it requires prior knowledge of a specific topic and language. The computational challenge is to analyze the text by learning from a set of correct examples to train a model and then predict unseen cases. Thus, we will be able to capture patterns that characterize answers to open questions. In this work, we used a sequence labeling and deep learning approach to detect if a text segment corresponds to the answer to an open question. We focused our efforts on analyzing the general objective of a thesis according to three methodological questions: Q1: What will be done? Q2: Why is it going to be done? Q3: How is it going to be done? First, we use the Beginning-Inside-Outside (BIO) format to label a corpus of targets with the help of two annotators. Subsequently, we adapted four state-of-the-art architectures to analyze the objective: Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT-BETO) for Spanish, Code Switching Embeddings from Language Model (CS-ELMo), Multitask Neural Network (MTNN), and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM). The results of the F-measure for detection of the answers to the three questions indicate that the BERT-BETO and CS-ELMo architecture obtained the best effectivity. The architecture that obtained the best results was BERT-BETO. BERT was the architecture that obtained more accurate results. The result of a detection analysis for Q1, Q2 and Q3 on a non-annotated corpus at the graduate and undergraduate levels is also reported. We found that for detecting the three questions, only the doctoral academic level reached 100%; that is, the doctoral objectives did contain the answer to the three questions

    Assessment of the marine microalga Chrysochromulina rotalis as bioactive feedstock cultured in an easy-to-deploy light-emitting-diode-based tubular photobioreactor

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    Marine microalgae have potential to be low-cost raw materials. This depends on the exploitation of different biomass fractions for high-value products, including unique compounds. Chrysochromulina rotalis, an under-explored haptophyte with promising properties, was the focus of this study. For the first time, C. rotalis was successfully cultivated in an 80 L tubular photobioreactor, illuminated by an easy-to-use light-emitting-diode-based system. C. rotalis grew without certain trace elements and showed adaptability to different phosphorus sources, allowing a significant reduction in the N:P ratio without compromising biomass yield and productivity. The design features of the photobioreactor provided a protective environment that ensured consistent biomass production from this shear-sensitive microalgae. Carotenoid analysis showed fucoxanthin and its derivatives as major components, with essential fatty acids making up a significant proportion of the total. The study emphasizes the tubular photobioreactor's role in sustainable biomass production for biorefineries, with C. rotalis as a valuable bioactive feedstoc
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