Perception of the Sustainable Development Goals among university students: A multidisciplinary perspective

This study explores the variations in perceptions and understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among university students, influenced by their field of study and gender. To this end, we introduced the 17 SDGs across various academic disciplines. Students participated in a concise educational initiative, with data being gathered to evaluate their baseline awareness and comprehension (before the initiative) as well as their ensuing empowerment (after participating in the initiative, which equipped them with essential knowledge pertaining to the various SDGs). Additionally, the satisfaction levels associated with the initiative was assessed. The findings unveil that, generally, Spanish university students possess a restricted grasp of the SDGs. However, students immersed in Social-Legal (S-L) sciences exhibit a significantly heightened acquaintance with these objectives compared to their counterparts. Students perceive the impact of the SDGs on their lives as moderate to high and anticipate that their individual contributions can facilitate moderate progress towards the realization of these goals, with S-L science students manifesting a greater sense of empowerment. Moreover, the study underscores a pronounced interest among university students in engaging with the SDGs. Gender appeared to have a minimal effect on the evaluated variables, with the exception of satisfaction levels concerning the educational initiative.This work has been partially funded by the Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (ICE) of the University of Alicante through their ’Programa de redes de investigación en docencia universitaria’ in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 editions

Copper-Doped Cobalt Spinel Electrocatalysts Supported on Activated Carbon for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The development of electrocatalysts based on the doping of copper over cobalt spinel supported on a microporous activated carbon has been studied. Both copper–cobalt and cobalt spinel nanoparticles were synthesized using a silica-template method. Hybrid materials consisting of an activated carbon (AC), cobalt oxide (Co3O4), and copper-doped cobalt oxide (CuCo2O4) nanoparticles, were obtained by dry mixing technique and evaluated as electrocatalysts in alkaline media for hydrogen evolution reaction. Physical mixtures containing 5, 10, and 20 wt.% of Co3O4 or CuCo2O4 with a highly microporous activated carbon were prepared and characterized by XRD, TEM, XPS, physical adsorption of gases, and electrochemical techniques. The electrochemical tests revealed that the electrodes containing copper as the dopant cation result in a lower overpotential and higher current density for the hydrogen evolution reaction.This research was funded by MINECO and FEDER (MAT2016-76595-R)

Time to Switch to Second-line Antiretroviral Therapy in Children With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Europe and Thailand.

Background: Data on durability of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are limited. We assessed time to switch to second-line therapy in 16 European countries and Thailand. Methods: Children aged <18 years initiating combination ART (≥2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs] plus nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NNRTI] or boosted protease inhibitor [PI]) were included. Switch to second-line was defined as (i) change across drug class (PI to NNRTI or vice versa) or within PI class plus change of ≥1 NRTI; (ii) change from single to dual PI; or (iii) addition of a new drug class. Cumulative incidence of switch was calculated with death and loss to follow-up as competing risks. Results: Of 3668 children included, median age at ART initiation was 6.1 (interquartile range (IQR), 1.7-10.5) years. Initial regimens were 32% PI based, 34% nevirapine (NVP) based, and 33% efavirenz based. Median duration of follow-up was 5.4 (IQR, 2.9-8.3) years. Cumulative incidence of switch at 5 years was 21% (95% confidence interval, 20%-23%), with significant regional variations. Median time to switch was 30 (IQR, 16-58) months; two-thirds of switches were related to treatment failure. In multivariable analysis, older age, severe immunosuppression and higher viral load (VL) at ART start, and NVP-based initial regimens were associated with increased risk of switch. Conclusions: One in 5 children switched to a second-line regimen by 5 years of ART, with two-thirds failure related. Advanced HIV, older age, and NVP-based regimens were associated with increased risk of switch

Los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible (ODS): investigación transdisciplinar sobre su percepción por parte del alumnado de la Universidad de Alicante

Se plantea un proyecto de investigación a llevar a cabo con el alumnado de la Universidad de Alicante, en relación con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS). Se aborda desde una perspectiva transdisciplinar, comparando datos de estudiantes de arquitectura, ingeniería, ciencias sociales y jurídicas y química, obtenidos mediante una metodología de Investigación Acción Participativa. La iniciativa surge de la necesidad de concienciar a la sociedad, y en nuestro caso concreto al estudiantado universitario como futuros profesionales, acerca de la importancia de hacer frente a los retos socioeconómicos y medioambientales, así como de incorporar la sostenibilidad a nuestras vidas. A raíz de la firma en 2015 de la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible por los países miembros de Naciones Unidas, los ODS se han convertido en un compromiso internacional de indiscutible relevancia al que las aulas no deben permanecer ajenas. Los datos se recogen mediante encuestas, personalizadas a cada disciplina, que han revelado un mayor conocimiento previo de los ODS en el ámbito de las ciencias sociales. El alumnado valora una mayor información sobre los ODS en los medios de comunicación y, en general, considera que los ODS forman parte de su vida cotidiana

ARMS/Kidins220 temporally coordinates neurotrophin-mediated differentiation and -regulated BDNF secretion

Resumen del trabajo presentado al XXXXVIII Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SEBBM), celebrado en Valencia del 7 al 10 de septiembre de 2015.During nervous system development secretion must be tightly controlled meanwhile neurons differentiate projecting axons and dendrites to their specific targets. Neurotrophins regulate, among other functions, differentiation and regulated secretion in the nervous system. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the temporal coordination of differentiation and secretion by neurotrophins are unknown. Here we describe the involvement of ARMS/Kidins220, a downstream protein of Trk neurotrophin receptors, acting through Synembryn-B and Trio in the regulated secretion mediated by neurotrophins. We observed that PC12 differentiation and regulated secretion are temporally controlled since non-differentiated or differentiated neurons display a poor or strong regulated secretion in response to neurotrophins, respectively. Interestingly, high levels of ARMS/Kidins220 and Synembryn-B are required for differentiation, when regulated secretion is minimal, whereas a strong downregulation of both proteins occurred once the cells are differentiated, when regulated secretion is maximal. Overexpression or downregulation of ARMS/Kidins220 and Synembryn-B levels in non-differentiated PC12 cells blocks or potentiates NGF-mediated secretion, respectively. Similarly, secretion of BDNF in cortical neurons in response to NT-3 or NT-4 augments with a concomitant downregulation of ARMS/Kidins220 and Synembryn-B protein levels. In addition, knockdown of ARMS/Kidins220 and Synembryn-B potentiated further BDNF evoked secretion. Finally, downregulation of ARMS/Kidins220 protein in vivo enhanced BDNF secretion from cortex in response to depolarization, NT-3 or NT-4 and a signifi cant accumulation of BDNF in the striatum coming from the cortex and hippocampus.Peer reviewe

Characteristics, complications and outcomes among 1549 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in a secondary hospital in Madrid, Spain: a retrospective case series study

Objectives To describe demographic, clinical, radiological and laboratory characteristics, as well as outcomes, of patients admitted for COVID-19 in a secondary hospital.Design and setting Retrospective case series of sequentially hospitalised patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2, at Infanta Leonor University Hospital (ILUH) in Madrid, Spain.Participants All patients attended at ILUH testing positive to reverse transcriptase-PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs and diagnosed with COVID-19 between 1 March 2020 and 28 May 2020.Results A total of 1549 COVID-19 cases were included (median age 69 years (IQR 55.0–81.0), 57.5% men). 78.2% had at least one underlying comorbidity, the most frequent was hypertension (55.8%). Most frequent symptoms at presentation were fever (75.3%), cough (65.7%) and dyspnoea (58.1%). 81 (5.8%) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (median age 62 years (IQR 51–71); 74.1% men; median length of stay 9 days (IQR 5–19)) 82.7% of them needed invasive ventilation support. 1393 patients had an outcome at the end of the study period (case fatality ratio: 21.2% (296/1393)). The independent factors associated with fatality (OR; 95% CI): age (1.07; 1.06 to 1.09), male sex (2.86; 1.85 to 4.50), neurological disease (1.93; 1.19 to 3.13), chronic kidney disease (2.83; 1.40 to 5.71) and neoplasia (4.29; 2.40 to 7.67). The percentage of hospital beds occupied with COVID-19 almost doubled (702/361), with the number of patients in ICU quadrupling its capacity (32/8). Median length of stay was 9 days (IQR 6–14).Conclusions This study provides clinical characteristics, complications and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 admitted to a European secondary hospital. Fatal outcomes were similar to those reported by hospitals with a higher level of complexity

Children living with HIV in Europe: do migrants have worse treatment outcomes?

International audienceTo assess the effect of migrant status on treatment outcomes among children living with HIV in Europe