A 802.11p prototype implementation

This paper presents an IEEE 802.11p full-stack prototype implementation to data exchange among vehicles and between vehicles and the roadway infrastructures. The prototype architecture is based on FPGAs for Intermediate Frequency (IF) and base band purposes, using 802.11a based transceivers for RF interfaces. Power amplifiers were also addressed, by using commercial and in-house solutions. This implementation aims to provide technical solutions for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) field, namely for tolling and traffic management related services, in order to promote safety, mobility and driving comfort through the dynamic and real-time cooperation among vehicles and/or between vehicles and infrastructures. The performance of the proposed scheme is tested under realistic urban and suburban driving conditions. Preliminary results are promising, since they comply with most of the 802.11p standard requirements

Looking for students' enthusiasm: flipped classroom

The “flipped classroom” is a pedagogical model that consists of putting certain learning processes outside the classroom so that the teacher can devote more class time to students’ acquisition of practical skills, for example. In this way, the teacher is not limited to the transmission of course content, but in addition assumes the role of a mediator in the cognitive process, allowing students to actively construct their own knowledge. In this role, the teacher’s main task is to encourage students to become independent learners. This paper describes the implementation and initial results of the application of the flipped classroom in higher education. This study is part of a larger research project to improve our students’ motivation through the use of the flipped learning. The sample consisted of about 3000 students taking 17 different subjects, in Management and Administration Business, Finance and Accounting, Marketing and Market Research, and Chemistry, at the University of Málaga, and in Accounting and Administration, Business Communication and Marketing at the Polytechnic of Porto. According to our results, students’ motivation and class attendance increased with the application of this model; a comparison of the final exam results from two years with traditional classes and from two years with flipped learning shows that the proportion of students failing the exam decreased, which confirms that the use of this pedagogic model improves student learning.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This project is financed by Educational Innovation Projects 2017-2019 from Malaga University

Gamificacion in education and active methodologies at Higher education

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in applying Gamification in Education, which can be defined as the application of game design elements to learning activities. Its purpose is to motivate students by creating an engaging learning experience that can keep students focused on the learning task and its application in the classroom, is still in its emergent stages. Gamification is a great challenge for education, particularly in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in such a traditional context, as is the case with courses like Management and Administration Business, Finance and Accounting, Marketing and Market Research, Chemistry, Accounting and Administration and Business Communication. This paper presents a study, applied in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic years, in which the teaching method focuses on a blended learning approach, through the implementation of a flipped classroom model and also through the introduction of online gamification activities such Kahoot! application. Kahoot is a game-based learning platform, used as educational technology that can easily be used for initial, formative and summative assessment of students’ knowledge using individual or collaborative team work mode, adding vitality, student engagement, and also meta-cognitive supports to higher education classrooms with limited instructor or student training required. The participants, in the study, were about 3 000 students of 17 different subjects from the aforementioned courses, of the Malaga University and Polytechnic of Porto. The results of this study suggest that this model improves student learning and are of relevance to researchers, educators and game-based learning designers.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Deep eutectic solvents for improved biomass pretreatment: current status and future prospective towards sustainable processes

Pretreatment processes - recognized as critical steps for efficient biomass refining - have received much attention over the last two decades. In this context, deep eutectic solvents (DES) have emerged as a novel alternative to conventional solvents representing a step forward in achieving more sustainable processes with both environmental and economic benefits. This paper presents an updated review of the state-of-the-art of DES-based applications in biorefinery schemes. Besides describing the fundamentals of DES composition, synthesis, and recycling, this study presents a comprehensive review of existing techno-economic and life cycle assessment studies. Challenges, barriers, and perspectives for the scale-up of DES-based processes are also discussed.publishe

Genetic Variation of Kallikrein-Kinin System and Related Genes in Patients With Hereditary Angioedema

Kallikrein-Kinin System; Genetic variation; Hereditary angioedemaSistema calicreina-cinina; Variació genètica; Angioedema hereditariSistema calicreina-cinina; Variación genética; Angioedema hereditarioHereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by C1-INH deficiency due to mutations in SERPING1 (C1-INH-HAE) in most of the cases, or by specific mutations in factor XII gene, F12 (F12-HAE). Identification of polymorphisms in the genes encoding proteins from key pathways driving HAE can help to understand how genetic diversity contributes to its phenotypic variability. Here, 15 genes related to the Kallikrein-Kinin System (KKS) were analyzed by next generation sequencing in 59 patients with C1-INH-HAE or F12-HAE from Brazil, Denmark and Spain, and 19 healthy relatives in a total of 31 families. We identified 211 variants, from which 23 occurred only in Danish subjects and 79 were found only in Brazilian individuals, resulting in 109/211 variations in common between European and Brazilian population in the HAE families analyzed. BDKRB2 and CPM presented a large number of variants in untranslated regions, 46/49 and 19/24, respectively; whereas ACE (n = 26), SERPING1 (n = 26), CPM (n = 24), and NOS3 (n = 16) genes presented the higher number of variants directly affecting amino acid sequence. Despite the large amount of variants identified, the lack of association between genotype and phenotype indicates that the modulation of HAE symptom requires a more complex regulation, probably involving pathways beyond the KKS, epigenetics and environmental factors. Considering the new HAE types recently described, molecules involved in the regulation of vasculature and in plasminogen activation become promising targets for future genetic studies

Agronomic performance and remote sensing assessment of organic and mineral fertilization in rice fields

Introduction: Rice heavily relies on nitrogen fertilizers, posing environmental, resource, and geopolitical challenges. This study explores sustainable alternatives like animal manure and remote sensing for resource-efficient rice cultivation. It aims to assess the long-term impact of organic fertilization and remote sensing monitoring on agronomic traits, yield, and nutrition. Methods: A six-year experiment in rice fields evaluated fertilization strategies, including pig slurry (PS) and chicken manure (CM) with mineral fertilizers (MIN), MIN-only, and zero-fertilization. Traits, yield, spectral responses, and nutrient content were measured. Sentinel-2 remote sensing tracked crop development. Results: Cost-effective organic fertilizers (PS and CM) caused a 13% and 15% yield reduction but still doubled zero-fertilization yield. PS reduced nitrogen leaching. Heavy metals in rice grains were present at safe amounts. Organic-fertilized crops showed nitrogen deficiency at the late vegetative stages, affecting yield. Sentinel-2 detected nutrient deficiencies through NDVI. Discussion: Organic fertilizers, especially PS, reduce nitrogen loss, benefiting the environment. However, they come with yield trade-offs and nutrient management challenges that can be managed and balanced with reduced additional mineral applications. Sentinel-2 remote sensing helps manage nutrient deficiencies. In summary, this research favors cost-effective organic fertilizers with improved nutrient management for sustainable rice production.This work was commissioned and funded by the Catalan Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, by the projects TED2021-131606B-C21 and PLEC2021-007786 of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and by the CROPDIVA (Climate Resilient Orphan croPs for increased DIVersity in Agriculture) project through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101000847. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Gamification in education and active methodologies at higher education

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in applying Gamification in Education, which can be defined as the application of game design elements to learning activities. Its purpose is to motivate students by creating an engaging learning experience that can keep students focused on the learning task and its application in the classroom, is still in its emergent stages. Gamification is a great challenge for education, particularly in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in such a traditional context, as is the case with courses like Management and Administration Business, Finance and Accounting, Marketing and Market Research, Chemistry, Accounting and Administration and Business Communication. This paper presents a study, applied in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic years, in which the teaching method focuses on a blended learning approach, through the implementation of a flipped classroom model and also through the introduction of online gamification activities such Kahoot! application. Kahoot is a game-based learning platform, used as educational technology that can easily be used for initial, formative and summative assessment of students’ knowledge using individual or collaborative team work mode, adding vitality, student engagement, and also meta-cognitive supports to higher education classrooms with limited instructor or student training required. The participants, in the study, were about 3 000 students of 17 different subjects from the aforementioned courses, of the Malaga University and Polytechnic of Porto. The results of this study suggest that this model improves student learning and are of relevance to researchers, educators and game-based learning designers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Looking for student's enthusiasm: flipped classroom

The “flipped classroom” is a pedagogical model that consists of putting certain learning processes outside the classroom so that the teacher can devote more class time to students’ acquisition of practical skills, for example. In this way, the teacher is not limited to the transmission of course content, but in addition assumes the role of a mediator in the cognitive process, allowing students to actively construct their own knowledge. In this role, the teacher’s main task is to encourage students to become independent learners. This paper describes the implementation and initial results of the application of the flipped classroom in higher education. This study is part of a larger research project to improve our students’ motivation through the use of the flipped learning. The sample consisted of about 3000 students taking 17 different subjects, in Management and Administration Business, Finance and Accounting, Marketing and Market Research, and Chemistry, at the University of Málaga, and in Accounting and Administration, Business Communication and Marketing at the Polytechnic of Porto. According to our results, students’ motivation and class attendance increased with the application of this model; a comparison of the final exam results from two years with traditional classes and from two years with flipped learning shows that the proportion of students failing the exam decreased, which confirms that the use of this pedagogic model improves student learning.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Semaphorin4A-Plexin D1 Axis Induces Th2 and Th17 While Represses Th1 Skewing in an Autocrine Manner

Semaphorin (Sema)4A is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is elevated in several autoimmune diseases such as systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Sema4A has a key role in the regulation of Thelper Th1 and Th2 differentiation and we recently demonstrated that CD4(+) T cell activation induces the expression of Sema4A. However, the autocrine role of Sema4A on Th cell differentiation remains unknown. Naive Th cells from healthy controls were cell sorted and differentiated into Th1, Th2 and Th17 in the presence or absence of a neutralizing antibody against the Sema4A receptor PlexinD1. Gene expression was determined by quantitative PCR and protein expression by ELISA and flow cytometry. We found that the expression of Sema4A is induced during Th1, Th2 and Th17 differentiation. PlexinD1 neutralization induced the differentiation of Th1 cells, while reduced the Th2 and Th17 skewing. These effects were associated with an upregulation of the transcription factor T-bet by Th1 cells, and to downregulation of GATA3 and RORgammat in Th2 cells and Th17 cells, respectively. Finally, PlexinD1 neutralization regulates the systemic sclerosis patients serum-induced cytokine production by CD4(+) T cells. Therefore, the autocrine Sema4A-PlexinD1 signaling acts as a negative regulator of Th1 skewing but is a key mediator on Th2 and Th17 differentiation, suggesting that dysregulation of this axis might be implicated in the pathogenesis of CD4(+) T cell-mediated diseases