El solmáforo. Dispositivo para la monitorización y divulgación del Índice Ultravioleta

En este trabajo se presentan los conceptos básicos de la interacción de la radiación ultravioleta con la atmosfera y la superficie de nuestro planeta, así como los efectos que tiene sobre la salud de las personas. De esta forma se justifica la necesidad de tomar medidas de prevención en la población, centrándose en la divulgación mediante el denominado Índice Ultravioleta (UVI). Se aprovecha el UVI para ofrecer una solución tecnológica, que se denominará ‘solmáforo’, un dispositivo desarrollado íntegramente como parte de este trabajo, y que monitoriza la radiación solar e informa del riesgo mediante el UVI. Se calibra el sensor de ultravioleta del dispositivo mediante la comparación con las medidas oficiales tomadas por la Agencia Estatal de Meteorología y se analizan los resultados. Se planifican y realizan acciones divulgativas y de prevención empleando el solmáforo desarrollado.This paper presents the basic concepts of the interaction of ultraviolet radiation with the atmosphere and the surface of our planet, as well as the effects it has on people’s health. In this way, the need to take preventive measures in the population is justified, focusing on divulgation through the so-called Ultraviolet Index (UVI). UVI is used to offer a technological solution, which will be called ‘solm´aforo’ (‘trafficsunlight’, in literal translation), a device developed entirely as part of this work, and which monitors solar radiation and reports the risk through the UVI. The ultraviolet sensor of the device is calibrated by comparing it with the official measurements taken by the ‘Agencia Estatal de Meteorolog ´ıa’ (State Meteorological Agency of Spain) and the results are analyzed. Divulgation and prevention actions are planned and carried out using the developed ‘solm´aforo’.Departamento de Física Teórica, Atómica y ÓpticaGrado en Físic

Antifungal activity of chitosan oligomers-amino acid conjugate complexes against Fusarium culmorum in spelt (Triticum spelta L.)

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a complex disease of cereals caused by Fusarium species, which causes severe damages in terms of yield quality and quantity worldwide, and which produces mycotoxin contamination, posing a serious threat to public health. In the study presented herein, the antifungal activity against Fusarium culmorum of chitosan oligomers (COS)–amino acid conjugate complexes was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The amino acids assayed were cysteine, glycine, proline and tyrosine. In vitro tests showed an enhancement of mycelial growth inhibition, with EC50 and EC90 effective concentration values ranging from 320 to 948 µg·mL−1 and from 1107 to 1407 µg·mL−1 respectively, for the conjugate complexes, as a result of the synergistic behavior between COS and the amino acids, tentatively ascribed to enhanced cell membrane damage originating from lipid peroxidation. Tests on colonies showed a maximum percentage reduction in the number of colonies at 1500 µg·mL−1 concentration, while grain tests were found to inhibit fungal growth, reducing deoxynivalenol content by 89%. The formulation that showed the best performance, i.e., the conjugate complex based on COS and tyrosine, was further investigated in a small-scale field trial with artificially inoculated spelt (Triticum spelta L.), and as a seed treatment to inhibit fungal growth in spelt seedlings. The field experiment showed that the chosen formulation induced a decrease in disease severity, with a control efficacy of 83.5%, while the seed tests showed that the treatment did not affect the percentage of germination and resulted in a lower incidence of root rot caused by the pathogen, albeit with a lower control efficacy (50%). Consequently, the reported conjugate complexes hold enough promise for crop protection applications to deserve further examination in larger field trials, with other Fusarium spp. pathogens and/or Triticum species

Training of University Lecturers in Information and Communication Technology at the University of Salamanca

En el presente artículo analizamos y presentamos los principales resultados de una revisión realizada sobre tres temáticas relacionadas con la formación del profesorado en Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC). La primera se centra en los planes de formación docente universitaria organizados por la Universidad de Salamanca (USAL), en torno a este tema. La segunda se orienta a conocer la importancia que se concede a las TIC en los Proyectos de Innovación diseñados y desarrollados por los profesores universitarios a lo largo de los últimos años en dicha universidad. Finalmente, presentamos los principales resultados extraídos de una investigación amplia, en la que se estudió, entre otras múltiples variables, la relacionada con la formación del profesorado universitario para la integración curricular de las tecnologías.This article shows the main results out of a documentary research study that analyzes three interrelated topics in the field of Teacher Education and ICT. The first analysis focuses on the University Teacher Training programs organized by the University of Salamanca (USAL). The second one examines the status and importance that is given to the use of ICT in Innovation Projects that have been designed and implemented by the university teaching staff during the last five years. Finally, and as part of a broader research project, the last study reports on University Lecturers’ training for ICT integration in the curriculum.peerReviewe

Furfural, 5-HMF, acid-soluble lignin and sugar contents in C. ladanifer and E. arborea lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates obtained from microwave-assisted treatments in different solvents

Cistus ladanifer L. and Erica arborea L. are the two most representative shrub species from the Iberian Peninsula. With a view to their valorization, their biomass hydrolysate components, obtained from microwave-assisted treatments with choline chloride/urea - HNO3 10%, N,N-dimethylacetamide/NaHCO3 and N,N-dimethylacetamide/CH3OK as solvents, have been measured using a spectrophotometric method. Concentrations of furfural and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF) in the filtrate have been determined after reduction with NaBH4. The production of total sugars, reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars has also been assessed. The obtained results support the choice of microwave-assisted choline chloride/urea deep eutectic solvent in acid media as the preferred method (over the polar aprotic solvent-based alternatives) for the extraction of lignin, furfural, 5-HMF and sugars from C. ladanifer and E. arborea biomass, attaining the best production yields for 60¿min exposure times. Another is the case if the aim of the treatments is to recovery sugars from both shrubs for subsequent enzymatic saccharification: the very low 5-HMF contents resulting from the dimetylacetamide systems (especially is association with CH3OK) make them highly advantageous as compared to the traditional method using NaOH

Crystallinity of cellulose microfibers derived from Cistus ladanifer and Erica arborea shrubs

The effectiveness of the use of cellulose fibers as particulates/composite reinforcers involves the assessment of the crystallinity of such fibers. The aim of the present work is to provide information on the degree of crystallinity of the cellulose microfibers obtained from the stems of Cistus ladanifer and Erica arborea shrubs through two different methods, namely an alkaline treatment and a microwave-assisted deep eutectic solvent (DES) method. The crystallinity indexes (CrI) obtained from X-ray powder diffraction patterns indicated that higher CrI were attained for cellulose obtained from the DES treatment. Complementary information on the degree of crystallinity was also retrieved from attenuated total reflection- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) vibrational spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, and accessibility data for the DES-treated celluloses from the two species. The crystallinity results for the fibers derived from these two Mediterranean shrubs were within the range of the results for those derived from wood pulp, opening the door to their valorization for cellulose-derived packing applications or for their use as reinforcers in composite materials in combination with other biopolymers

El Prácticum como enseñanza reflexiva: una propuesta de innovación didáctica realizada en la Escuela de Magisterio de la UAH

En este artículo presentamos una experiencia piloto de innovación referida al Prácticum, realizada en la E. de Magisterio de la UAH., durante los cursos 2006-07 y 2007-08. La experiencia, que parte de la premisa de formar un profesor crítico y con criterio, nos ha llevado a situarnos en el modelo del profesor refl exivo. Empezamos indicando el origen de la propuesta, y más tarde justifi camos las bases del modelo, explicamos la metodología que hemos empleado e indicamos las conclusiones que se derivan de la experiencia.This article presents a pilot and innovative experience dealing with the Teaching Practice that has been carried out at the Teacher Training School of the University of Alcalá during the academic years 2006/07 and 2007/08. This experience is based on the premise of educating a teacher so that s/he can become a person of sound judgement and constructive criticism and it has made us choose the refl exive teacher model. Our study begins by indicating the background of our proposal and continues by reasoning the basis of that model. Then we explain the methodology we have used and we finally point out the conclusions we have reached from this innovative experience

El Prácticum como enseñanza reflexiva: una propuesta de innovación didáctica realizada en la Escuela de Magisterio de la UAH

En este artículo presentamos una experiencia piloto de innovación referida al Prácticum, realizada en la E. de Magisterio de la UAH., durante los cursos 2006-07 y 2007-08. La experiencia, que parte de la premisa de formar un profesor crítico y con criterio, nos ha llevado a situarnos en el modelo del profesor refl exivo. Empezamos indicando el origen de la propuesta, y más tarde justifi camos las bases del modelo, explicamos la metodología que hemos empleado e indicamos las conclusiones que se derivan de la experiencia.This article presents a pilot and innovative experience dealing with the Teaching Practice that has been carried out at the Teacher Training School of the University of Alcalá during the academic years 2006/07 and 2007/08. This experience is based on the premise of educating a teacher so that s/he can become a person of sound judgement and constructive criticism and it has made us choose the refl exive teacher model. Our study begins by indicating the background of our proposal and continues by reasoning the basis of that model. Then we explain the methodology we have used and we finally point out the conclusions we have reached from this innovative experience

Evaluación de dos métodos de cálculo de ejecutivos cı́clicos para tiempo real duro sobre chips multinúcleo

Este Trabajo de Fin de Grado se centra en la implementación de los algoritmos de planificación estática descritos en el artículo Multi-core cyclic executives for safety-critical systems y en su comparación con el algoritmo CAlECS y el planificador de referencia RUN. El trabajo experimental se ha realizado sobre el entorno de simulación Tertimuss, al que se ha contribuido con nuevos componentes, mejorando también la estabilidad del mismo.<br /

Antifungal activity against Fusarium culmorum of stevioside, Silybum marianum seed extracts, and their conjugate complexes

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease that poses a major challenge in cereal production that has important food and feed safety implications due to trichothecene contamination. In this study, the effect of stevioside—a glycoside found in the leaves of candyleaf (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni)—was evaluated in vitro against Fusarium culmorum (W.G. Smith) Sacc., alone and in combination (in a 1:1 molar ratio) with polyphenols obtained from milk thistle seeds (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn). Different concentrations, ranging from 32 to 512 µg·mL−1, were assayed, finding EC50 and EC90 inhibitory concentrations of 156 and 221 µg·mL−1, respectively, for the treatment based only on stevioside, and EC50 and EC90 values of 123 and 160 µg·mL−1, respectively, for the treatment based on the stevioside–polyphenol conjugate complexes. Colony formation inhibition results were consistent, reaching full inhibition at 256 µg·mL−1. Given that synergistic behavior was observed for this latter formulation (SF = 1.43, according to Wadley’s method), it was further assessed for grain protection at storage, mostly directed against mycotoxin contamination caused by the aforementioned phytopathogen, confirming that it could inhibit fungal growth and avoid trichothecene contamination. Moreover, seed tests showed that the treatment did not affect the percentage of germination, and it resulted in a lower incidence of root rot caused by the pathogen in Kamut and winter wheat seedlings. Hence, the application of these stevioside–S. marianum seed extract conjugate complexes may be put forward as a promising and environmentally friendly treatment for the protection of cereal crops and stored grain against FHB

Assessment of RGB vegetation indices to estimate chlorophyll content in sugar beet leaves in the final cultivation stage

Estimation of chlorophyll content with portable meters is an easy way to quantify crop nitrogen status in sugar beet leaves. In this work, an alternative for chlorophyll content estimation using RGB-only vegetation indices has been explored. In a first step, pictures of spring-sown ‘Fernanda KWS’ variety sugar beet leaves taken with a commercial camera were used to calculate 25 RGB indices reported in the literature and to obtain 9 new indices through principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise linear regression (SLR) techniques. The performance of the 34 indices was examined in order to evaluate their ability to estimate chlorophyll content and chlorophyll degradation in the leaves under different natural light conditions along 4 days of the canopy senescence period. Two of the new proposed RGB indices were found to improve the already good performance of the indices reported in the literature, particularly for leaves featuring low chlorophyll contents. The 4 best indices were finally tested in field conditions, using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-taken photographs of a sugar beet plot, finding a reasonably good agreement with chlorophyll-meter data for all indices, in particular for I2 and (R−B)/(R+G+B). Consequently, the suggested RGB indices may hold promise for inexpensive chlorophyll estimation in sugar beet leaves during the harvest time, although a direct relationship with nitrogen status still needs to be validated