Asociación Aeroespacial Cosmos: educational impact and returns of a three-year-old student aerospace association

Cosmos Aerospace Association is a leading engineering students’ group, located in the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) in Madrid, Spain. Providing a one-of-a-kind opportunity to all varieties of students for both personal and engineering growth, it is one of the few active aerospace student associations in Spain. Within this work, we introduce the achievements, influence and lessons learned from our association in these years. We focus on its educational impact in the environment of the university: not only from the perspective of aerospace-related degrees but also in the promotion of STEM careers on students of all ages. Conceived by undergraduate aerospace students and supported by professors and university staff, Cosmos was born to provide a creative and learning environment in the promotion of our passion for space and science in general. Bringing together students with similar mindsets, it has become a symbiotic platform in which all university actors share their efforts and join forces to enhance the university experience both from a curricular and extracurricular perspective. The association is divided into three main areas: Administration and Legal, Construction, and Education. Each of these areas branch with Projects and smaller teams both transversal and vertically. Under the Construction branch, both aeromodelling, satellite and rocketry projects are found and developed. An autonomous VTOL vehicle and a solid combustion rocket are being designed with internal and external funding. Special mention goes to the design and construction of CosmoSat-1, our very first CubeSat mission, which is now starting to take off. The Education area involves the organization of cultural and educational activities, from coding seminars, hackathons to film forums or Women in STEM days, all of them transversal to the aerospace industry. In this regard, our most ambitious project to date has been SpaceCon URJC: a space-themed conference by and for university students, bringing together professionals from aerospace companies, space agencies, and research groups in a month-long virtual conference. Over a series of presentations and interviews, students can get a glimpse of a variety of possible careers in everything from satellite manufacturing, orbital mechanics, space debris, and everything in between. With an initial run in 2020, SpaceCon has been repeated in 2021 with great success. In short, COSMOS, while promoting a passionate interest for Space, has become a common meeting point for students and professors outside the fixed and fitted courses, where creativity can boom and grow

Detección molecular de coronavirus bovino asociado al complejo respiratorio bovino en ganado de engorda del valle de Mexicali, Baja California, México

The bovine respiratory complex (BRC) is the leading cause of disease and death in beef cattle worldwide. It is a multifactorial infectious syndrome caused by different viruses and bacteria that reduce the productive efficiency and cause economic losses. In Mexico, BRC has been reported in all regions where cattle are fattened; however, these reports lack information on the presence of bovine respiratory coronavirus (BCV). This makes it necessary to have reliable and accurate diagnostic tools for detecting the presence of BCV in beef cattle fattened in Mexico, in order to propose appropriate sanitary measures for their clinical management. In this work, a real-time-PCR molecular diagnostic platform (rt-PCR) was developed to amplify a fragment of the BCV S protein in nasal exudate samples. When applying the rt-PCR platform for BCV in seemingly healthy beef cattle with signs of respiratory disease associated to BRC, 19/50 (38 %) were found to be positive, confirming the presence of this virus in the cattle of the region. The results of this work constitute the first report on the presence of the BCV associated to the BRC in the cattle region of northwestern Mexico and establish the bases for future research about the role that this virus plays in the presentation of the pathology of the BRC in beef cattle exploitation systems in this region and across the country.El complejo respiratorio bovino (CRB) es la principal causa de enfermedad y muerte en el ganado de engorda en todo el mundo. Es un síndrome infeccioso multifactorial provocado por distintos virus y bacterias que disminuyen la eficiencia productiva y ocasionan pérdidas económicas. En México, el CRB se ha reportado en todas las regiones donde se engorda ganado; sin embargo, esos reportes carecen de información sobre la presencia del coronavirus respiratorio bovino (CVB), haciendo necesario contar con herramientas de diagnóstico confiables y precisas para detectar la presencia de CVB en el ganado que se engorda en México, para proponer las medidas sanitarias apropiadas para su manejo clínico. En este trabajo, se desarrolló una plataforma de diagnóstico molecular de PCR en tiempo real (rt-PCR) que amplifica un fragmento de la proteína S del CVB en muestras de exudado nasal. Al aplicar la plataforma rt-PCR para CVB en bovinos de engorda en aparente estado de salud y con signos de enfermedad respiratoria asociados a CRB se encontró que 19/50 (38 %) resultaron positivos, confirmando la presencia de ese virus en el ganado de la región. Los resultados de este trabajo significan el primer reporte sobre la presencia del CVB asociado al CRB en la región ganadera del noroeste de México y sienta las bases para futuras investigaciones sobre papel que juega este virus en la presentación de la patología del CRB en los sistemas de explotación de bovinos de engorda en nuestra región y el país

Effect of Fish Oil Parenteral Emulsion Supplementation on Inflammatory Parameters after Esophagectomy

(Background) Esophagectomy (EPG) presents high morbidity and mortality. Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3FA) are a pharmaconutrient with benefits for postoperative morbidity. Studies of omega-3FA administered parenterally after esophagectomy are scarce. This study proposes to investigate the effect of combining fish oil lipid emulsions (LE) administered parenterally with enteral nutrition support. (Methods) Randomization was 1:1:1 in three groups: Group A received a LE mixture of 0.4 g/kg/day of fish oil and 0.4 g/kg/day of LCT/MCT 50:50, Group B received 0.8 g/kg/day of fish oil LE, and Group C received 0.8 g/kg/day of LCT/MCT 50:50. Variables were measured at recruitment time and day +1, +3, and +5. Inflammatory variables studied were Interlukin-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumoral necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-10, IL-8 and CD25s. Safety, nutritional parameters and complications were analyzed. (Results) Administration of omega-3LE in the immediate postoperative period did not modulate the earlier inflammatory response. Statistically significant differences were found in IL-6 and CRP overall temporal evolution but were not found when studying the type of LE administered or in patients needing critical care. Administration of omega-3 resulted in safe and improved hypertriglyceridemia, depending on the dose. (Conclusions) omega-3FA has no impact on the early inflammatory postoperative response assessed for a short period but was safe. More studies for longer periods are needed

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Resposta de marcadors d'inflamació associada a l'exercici físic regular i agut

[spa]Es bien sabido en todo el ámbito deportivo y científico que el ejercicio agudo y de elevada intensidad genera inflamación en los músculos que ejerce contracciones tanto concéntricas como excéntricas. Pero recientes estudios están intentando demostrar como el ejercicio moderado y realizado de forma regular, disminuye este perfil pro-inflamatorio, facilitando la aparición de un ambiente antiinflamatorio que mejore la reparación tisular. Para este estudio se utilizaron muestras sanguíneas de futbolistas en 3 situaciones: al principio de la pre-temporada; tras 8 semanas de entrenamiento regular, antes de comenzar el entrenamiento; y tras 8 semanas de entrenamiento regular, después de realizar el entrenamiento. En esas muestras se determinaron los niveles circulantes de las interleucinas IL-6, IL-10 e IL-1ra y del malondialdehído (MDA) como marcador de peroxidación lipídica, así como los niveles de expresión génica de los genes que codifican para NF-κB, COX2, IL-1β y MnSOD en células mononucleares. Los niveles plasmáticos de IL-6 e IL-1ra, aumentaron de forma significativa tras el ejercicio agudo (tras 8 semanas de entrenamiento regular, después de realizar el entrenamiento), respecto a las otras dos situaciones, pero no los de IL-10. Esto fue favorecido por la expresión génica significativamente alta de NF-κB y MnSOD en la misma situación, pero solo respecto a la situación inicial (antes de la pre-temporada). Todo esto sumado a un aumento, pero no significativo, de MDA. Por lo tanto, se puede deducir que el ejercicio prolongado, promueve el aumento de citoquinas anti-inflamatorias así como la expresión génica de genes que codifican para enzimas que tienen ese mismo papel. Aunque sea inevitable que el perfil proinflamatorio siempre aumente un poco.[eng]It is well known, throughout the sports and scientific fields, that acute and non-continuous exercise generates inflammation in muscles, induced by both concentric and eccentric contractions. However, recent studies are trying to demonstrate how the moderate exercise regularly performed decreases the proinflammatory profile, facilitating the appearance of an anti-inflammatory environment that enhances tissue repair. In this study, blood samples from football players were extracted in 3 situations: at the beginning of the pre-season; after 8 weeks of regular training before beginning training; and after 8 weeks of regular training after completing training. In these samples, the circulating levels of interleukins IL-6, IL-10 and IL-1ra, and malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation, as well as gene expression levels of genes encoding NF-κB, COX2, IL-1β and MnSOD in mononuclear cells were determined. The plasmatic levels of IL-6 and IL-1ra significantly increased after acute exercise (following 8 weeks of regular training after completing training), compared to the other two situations, but not IL-10. This was favoured by the significantly higher gene expression of NF-κB and MnSOD in the same situation, but only compared to the initial situation. All this was combined with a nonsignificant increase of MDA. Therefore, it can be deduced that prolonged exercise promotes an increase in the antiinflammatory cytokines as well as in the expression of genes, which encodes enzymes having the same role. Nevertheless, a slight increase in pro-inflammatory mediators is inevitable

ELECTRIFICATION OF THE LAST MILE OF THE MESOAMERICAN DRY CORRIDOR. SOLUTION OF THE WATER-FOOD-ENERGY NEXUS

[EN] This article presents a strategy to solve the food energy water nexus according to the SDGs framework. The strategy intents to promote zero carbon rural communities in communities without access to electricity, a common situation in the Mesoamerican Dry Corridor. The strategy seeks to electrify the last mile tackling: (i) increase access to local resources of water and energy, (ii) improve the energy efficiency in all the steps of the value chain, (iii) exclusive use of local renewable energy sources, (iv) sustainable management of forests and (v) ensuring the food security. The strategy is applied to the rural community of El Santuario in Honduras. We propose a project of water management, food and biomass production and a renewable micro-grid. We study the viability and impact of replying this solutions to the rural communities in the Mesoamerican Dry Corridor and the impact of scaling this methodology to fulfill SDGs requirements[ES] En este artículo presentamos una estrategia para resolver el trilema alimentación, agua y energía según los ODS. La estrategia fomenta las Comunidades Rurales Bajas en Carbono, comunidades sin acceso a la red de Energía, situación habitual en el corredor seco mesoamericano. La estrategia va encaminada a la electrificación de la última milla, para ello se propone: (i) aumentar el acceso al agua y a la energía de forma local, (ii) mejorar la eficiencia energética en todas las etapas de la cadena de suministro; (iii) utilizar exclusivamente energías renovables endógenas; (iv) manejo sostenible de recursos forestales; y (v) garantizar la seguridad alimentaria. La estrategia se aplica a la comunidad de El Santuario en Honduras. Se propone un proyecto de gestión de agua, producción de alimentos y biocombustibles, y una red híbrida de energías renovables. Hemos estudiado la viabilidad y el impacto de replicar esta solución a las comunidades rurales del corredor seco mesoamericano. Los impactos de escalar esta metodología contribuirían significativamente a que se cumplan los ODS.Este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la financiación de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO), LoA: PO# 332412. La financiación de la Agencia Española para la Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), proyecto: 2019/ACDE/000842, y la financiación de la cátedra de Transición Energética Urbana UPVLas Naves de ValenciaRibó-Pérez, DG.; Herráiz-Cañete, Á.; Casamayor-Segarra, P.; Del Castillo Velázquez, K.; Gómez-Navarro, T.; Zelaya-Bonilla, S. (2021). ELECTRIFICACIÓN DE LA ÚLTIMA MILLA DEL CORREDOR SECO MESOAMERICANO. SOLUCIÓN DEL NEXO AGUA-ALIMENTACIÓN-ENERGÍA. ENERLAC. Revista de Energía de Latinoamérica y El Caribe (Online). 5(1):10-33. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/180864S10335

Tecnificació intel·ligent i rendible de les granges catalanes : el projecte "SMARTFARM"

El Servei de Nutrició i Benestar Animal de la UAB (SNiBA) lidera el projecte SMARTFARM per a la millora de l'eficiència de les granges catalanes. El projecte proposa la tecnificació dels processos productius, per a la identificació, monitorització i validació d'aquells paràmetres clau per a les necessitats actuals de la ramaderia, que ha de trobar un equilibri entre el cost de producció i la salut i el benestar animal.El Servicio de Nutrición y Bienestar Animal de la UAB (SNiBA) lidera el proyecto SMARTFARM para la mejora de la eficiencia de las granjas catalanas. El proyecto propone la tecnificación de los procesos productivos, para la identificación, monitorización y validación de aquellos parámetros clave para las necesidades actuales de la ganadería, que ha de hallar un equilibrio entre el coste de producción y la salud y el bienestar animal

<i>STAT4</i> Gene Variant <i>rs7574865</i> Is Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity and Anti-CCP Levels in the Western but Not in the Southern Population of Mexico

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease. Currently, several genes play an important role in the development of the disease. The objective was to evaluate the association of the STAT4 rs7574865 and rs897200 gene variants with RA susceptibility, DAS28, RF, and anti-CCP in Western and Southern Mexico populations. Genotyping was performed on 476 samples (cases = 240; controls = 236) using the Taqman® system and qPCR probes. Disease activity was assessed using DAS28 and HAQ DI. CRP, ESR, RF, and anti-CCP were determined for clinical assessment. Our study showed there is a statistically significant association with susceptibility to RA for the rs7574865 variant in the Western population for the GT and TT genotypes. The same genotypes also showed a moderate-to-high activity according to DAS28 and positive anti-CCP compared to the control group. This association was not found in the Southern population. This work confirms the association of the rs7574865 variant with RA, as well as a moderate-to-high activity and positive anti-CCP in the Western population but not in the Southern population. No association of the rs897200 variant was found in any of the studied populations