Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction, Followed by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry for the Simultaneous Quantification of Ethinyl Estradiol and Drospirenone in Contraceptive Formulations

[EN]Contraceptive tablets typically contain a combination of two synthetic versions of an estrogen and a progestogen, which work together to inhibit the ovulation process. An accurate and precise quantification of these components is essential for contraceptive producers. In this study, we have developed the first gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE) and drospirenone (DP) in contraceptive formulations. Under the final working conditions, analytes were extracted from the solid by ultrasound-assisted extraction (15 min) in methanol. The resulting suspension was diluted in ethyl acetate, subjected to centrifugation and, finally, the supernatant was directly injected into the GC–MS system. No derivatization reagents were utilized. To correct for instrumental variations, calibration was performed using the internal standard method, with cholesterol as the internal standard. A good linearity was achieved throughout the calibration range for both EE (3–12 µg mL−1) and DP (300–1200 µg mL−1), with R2 values exceeding 0.99. Trueness, assessed in terms of percentages of recovery, was also found to be satisfactory for both analytes, with recovery rates of 106 ± 8% for EE and 93 ± 9% for DP. Furthermore, intra-day and inter-day precision studies yielded relative standard deviation values below 6% for both analytes. In terms of sensitivity, the instrumental limits of detection were 0.25 µg mL−1 for EE and 6.6 µg mL−1 for DP, and the instrumental limits of quantification 0.82 µg mL−1 for EE and 22 µg mL−1 for DP. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of contraceptive tablets from three different pharmaceutical companies. No differences were observed between the measured and the declared amount of active principle per tablet, demonstrating the applicability of the procedure. In addition, a stability study conducted on both the standards and sample extracts demonstrated that they can be stored at room temperature for a minimum period of seven days.Junta de Castilla y Leó

Sigmoid: An auto-tuned load balancing algorithm for heterogeneous systems

A challenge that heterogeneous system programmers face is leveraging the performance of all the devices that integrate the system. This paper presents Sigmoid, a new load balancing algorithm that efficiently co-executes a single OpenCL data-parallel kernel on all the devices of heterogeneous systems. Sigmoid splits the workload proportionally to the capabilities of the devices, drastically reducing response time and energy consumption. It is designed around several features; it is dynamic, adaptive, guided and effortless, as it does not require the user to give any parameter, adapting to the behaviourof each kernel at runtime. To evaluate Sigmoid's performance, it has been implemented in Maat, a system abstraction library. Experimental results with different kernel types show that Sigmoid exhibits excellent performance, reaching a utilization of 90%, together with energy savings up to 20%, always reducing programming effort compared to OpenCL, and facilitating the portability to other heterogeneous machines.This work has been supported by the Spanish Science and Technology Commission under contract PID2019-105660RB-C22 and the European HiPEAC Network of Excellence

Uso de dispositivos móviles para el aprendizaje mediante la aplicación Kahoot: resolución de cuestionarios de opción múltiple en la asignatura Química Analítica I

Memoria ID-0180. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2017-2018

Layered Double Hydroxides with Intercalated Permanganate and Peroxydisulphate Anions for Oxidative Removal of Chlorinated Organic Solvents Contaminated Water

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)The contamination by chlorinated organic solvents is a worldwide problem as they can deeply penetrate aquifers, accumulating in the sub-surface as lenses of highly hazardous pollutants. In recent years, so called in situ oxidation processes have been developed to remediate chlorinated organic solvents from groundwater and soil by injecting solutions of oxidising agents such as permanganate or peroxydisulphate. We here present modified layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with intercalated oxidising agents that might serve as new reactants for these remediation strategies. LDHs might serve as support and stabiliser materials for selected oxidising agents during injection, as the uncontrolled reaction and consumption might be inhibited, and guarantee that the selected oxidants persist in the subsurface after injection. In this study, LDHs with hydrotalciteand hydrocalumite-like structures intercalated with permanganate and peroxydisulphate anions were synthesised and their efficiency was tested in batch experiments using trichloroethene or 1,1,2-trichloroethane as the target contaminants. All samples were characterised using powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis coupled with mass spectrometry to directly analyse evolving gases, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, particle size distribution measurements were carried out on the synthesised materials. Results of the batch experiments confirmed the hypothesis that oxidising agents keep their properties after intercalation. Permanganate intercalated LDHs proved to be most efficient at degrading trichloroethene while peroxydisulphate intercalated Ca,Al-LDHs were the most promising studied reactants degrading 1,1,2-trichloroethane. The detection of dichloroethene as well as the transformation of the studied reactants into new LDH phases confirmed the successful degradation of the target contaminant by oxidation processes generated from the intercalated oxidising agent.This study is part of the project Metal-Aid, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 675219. For more information, see http://metal-aid.eu/.Peer Reviewe

Auto-tuned OpenCL kernel co-execution in OmpSs for heterogeneous systems

The emergence of heterogeneous systems has been very notable recently. The nodes of the most powerful computers integrate several compute accelerators, like GPUs. Profiting from such node configurations is not a trivial endeavour. OmpSs is a framework for task based parallel applications, that allows the execution of OpenCl kernels on different compute devices. However, it does not support the co-execution of a single kernel on several devices. This paper presents an extension of OmpSs that rises to this challenge, and presents Auto-Tune, a load balancing algorithm that automatically adjusts its internal parameters to suit the hardware capabilities and application behavior. The extension allows programmers to take full advantage of the computing devices with negligible impact on the code. It takes care of two main issues. First, the automatic distribution of datasets and the management of device memory address spaces. Second, the implementation of a set of load balancing algorithms to adapt to the particularities of applications and systems. Experimental results reveal that the co-execution of single kernels on all the devices in the node is beneficial in terms of performance and energy consumption, and that Auto-Tune gives the best overall results.This work has been supported by the University of Cantabria with grant CVE-2014-18166, the Generalitat de Catalunya under grant 2014-SGR-1051, the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under contracts TIN2016-76635-C2-2-R (AEI/FEDER, UE) and TIN2015-65316-P. The Spanish Government through the Programa Severo Ochoa (SEV-2015-0493

Una contribución a la problemática del sexo bioantropológico mediante análisis proteómico del esmalte dental de restos humanos de la Prehistoria reciente de la submeseta norte ibérica

Sex estimation of archaeological human remains has traditionally relied on bioanthropological analysis, assuming the uncertainty that this entails and the impossibility of knowing this significant variable in the case of sub-adult individuals. The development of ancient DNA techniques allows this problem to be solved, but its requirements limit the generalization of its use. In this work, we evaluate the use of proteomic analysis, an alternative method based on the direct detection in dental enamel of dimorphic peptides of amelogenin using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, following a well-contrasted protocol. This first approximation is based on a collection of teeth, ten belonging to Cogotas I burials, and six ranging from the Chalcolithic to the Final Bronze Age, all of them from the Iberian Northern Subplateau. Proteomic analysis has allowed the sex determination of these individuals, including subadults (most of the sample). The results provide reliable information that enriches their cultural assessment and opens the way to a deeper understanding of gender and its implications. This essay has also taken into account the controversy, heated in many different disciplines, on the sex-gender relationship and the non-binary nature of both, issues that gravitate on osteological and archaeometric analyses ‒qualified even as performative acts‒, so, after assessing this debate, the decision to use this analysis technique is justified.La determinación sexual de restos humanos arqueológicos ha descansado tradicionalmente en los análisis bioantropológicos, asumiéndose la incertidumbre que ello suponía y la imposibilidad de conocer esta importante variable en el caso de los subadultos. Para mitigar tales inconvenientes, se cuenta hoy con las técnicas de ADN antiguo, pero sus requerimientos impiden su generalización. En este trabajo se ensaya una alternativa, el análisis proteómico, esto es, la detección directa en el esmalte dental de péptidos dimórficos de la amelogenina mediante cromatografía líquida acoplada a espectrometría de masas, con un protocolo bien consolidado. Esta primera aproximación se basa en una colección de dientes, diez de ellos de enterramientos de Cogotas I, y otros seis que van del Calcolítico al Bronce Final, todos ellos de la submeseta norte. El análisis proteómico ha permitido la determinación sexual de esos individuos, incluidos los subadultos ‒el grueso del lote‒, obteniéndose así una información fiable que enriquece su valoración cultural y abre el camino para profundizar en el género y sus implicaciones. Este ensayo también ha tenido en cuenta la controversia, candente en muy diversas disciplinas, sobre la relación sexo-género y el carácter no binario de ambos, problemas que gravitan sobre los análisis osteológicos y también arqueométricos ‒tildados incluso de actos performativos‒, por lo que, tras un acercamiento al debate, se justifica la decisión de utilizar la vía analítica.&nbsp

Modulation of vagal activity may help reduce neurodevelopmental damage in the offspring of mothers with pre-eclampsia

Maternal Immune Activation (MIA) has been linked to the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring, such as cognitive deficits, behavioral abnormalities, and mental disorders. Pre-eclampsia is associated with an activation of the immune system characterized by persistently elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as a decrease in immunoregulatory factors. The Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway (CAP) may play a relevant role in regulating the maternal inflammatory response during pre-eclampsia and protecting the developing fetus from inflammation-induced damage. Dysregulation in the CAP has been associated with the clinical evolution of pre-eclampsia. Some studies suggest that therapeutic stimulation of this pathway may improve maternal and fetal outcomes in preclinical models of pre-eclampsia. Modulation of vagal activity influences the CAP, improving maternal hemodynamics, limiting the inflammatory response, and promoting the growth of new neurons, which enhances synaptic plasticity and improves fetal neurodevelopment. Therefore, we postulate that modulation of vagal activity may improve maternal and fetal outcomes in pre-eclampsia by targeting underlying immune dysregulation and promoting better fetal neurodevelopment. In this perspective, we explore the clinical and experimental evidence of electrical, pharmacological, physical, and biological stimulation mechanisms capable of inducing therapeutical CAP, which may be applied in pre-eclampsia to improve the mother’s and offspring’s quality of life

Universidad inclusiva para la promoción de una sociedad inclusiva.

Nuestro proyecto pretende desarrollar recursos y estrategias innovadoras para la promoción de la inclusión de la diversidad en la comunidad universitaria orientados a la mejora social de los colectivos vulnerables en colaboración con otros agentes sociales.Depto. de Psicología Experimental, Procesos Cognitivos y LogopediaFac. de PsicologíaFALSEUniversidad Complutense de Madridsubmitte

The Absence of Caspase-8 in the Dopaminergic System Leads to Mild Autism-like Behavior

In the last decade, new non-apoptotic roles have been ascribed to apoptotic caspases. This family of proteins plays an important role in the sculpting of the brain in the early stages of development by eliminating excessive and nonfunctional synapses and extra cells. Consequently, impairments in this process can underlie many neurological and mental illnesses. This view is particularly relevant to dopamine because it plays a pleiotropic role in motor control, motivation, and reward processing. In this study, we analyze the effects of the elimination of caspase-8 (CASP8) on the development of catecholaminergic neurons using neurochemical, ultrastructural, and behavioral tests. To do this, we selectively delete the CASP8 gene in cells that express tyrosine hydroxylase with the help of recombination through the Cre-loxP system. Our results show that the number of dopaminergic neurons increases in the substantia nigra. In the striatum, the basal extracellular level of dopamine and potassium-evoked dopamine release decreased significantly in mice lacking CASP8, clearly showing the low dopamine functioning in tissues innervated by this neurotransmitter. This view is supported by electron microscopy analysis of striatal synapses. Interestingly, behavioral analysis demonstrates that mice lacking CASP8 show changes reminiscent of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Our research reactivates the possible role of dopamine transmission in the pathogenesis of ASD and provides a mild model of autism.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad RTI2018-098645-B-I00, PID2019-109569GB-I00, RTI2018-099778-B-I00Junta de Andalucía P18-RT-1372, US-1264806, PI-0080-2017, PI-0009-2017, PI-0134-2018, PEMP-0008-2020, P20_00958, CTS-510Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI18/01691Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz-INiBICA LI19/06IN-CO22, IN-C09European Union 95568

I.amAble: la ciencia (química) al alcance de toda la sociedad

En este proyecto de innovación, que nace con vocación de continuar en años sucesivos, se persigue mejorar la calidad de la formación de los estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (F. CC.QQ.) en el ámbito de la docencia teórico-práctica y de la divulgación científica. El trabajo ha consistido en la preparación de unos experimentos prácticos para llevarlos a cabo en centros educativos no universitarios en los que se ha tenido en cuenta la participación conjunta de personas con y sin diversidad funcional, desde una perspectiva inclusiva colaborativa. Estas actividades las han realizado los estudiantes bajo la supervisión de profesores (PDI) y personal de administración y servicios (PAS). Los experimentos se han recogido en fichas didácticas para facilitar su desarrollo y aplicación por parte de otros usuarios. En estas fichas se explica detalladamente cómo realizar las experiencias en formato de taller. Las fichas de los talleres realizados están disponibles en una página web vinculada a la Universidad Complutense bajo el título I.amAble (iamable.ucm.es). Está página ha sido construida por un estudiante de la Facultad de Informática , bajo la supervisión de profesionales, tanto de esa facultad como del Instituto de Tecnología del Conocimiento, y está abierta a contribuciones similares de otras facultades y otras instituciones. La página web está diseñada de manera que resulte lo más intuitiva y accesible posible para todo tipo de público. Entre todos los experimentos se han elegido cuatro para llevarlos a la práctica en centros educativos como actividades inclusivas en las que han participado conjuntamente personas con y sin discapacidad. Con este proyecto se pretende mejorar la calidad docente al ofrecer a los estudiantes la posibilidad de aprender enseñando mediante una actividad semipresencial. El desarrollo por parte de los estudiantes de competencias transversales en educación y en divulgación de la ciencia facilitarán algunas salidas profesionales en el ámbito educativo formal (centros de enseñanza) o informal (museos, animación sociocultural). Otro aspecto importante a resaltar es la potenciación de la colaboración entre todos los miembros de la institución universitaria. Este proyecto pretende contribuir a la mejora de la cultura científica, así como al establecimiento de puentes entre la UCM y la sociedad a la que debe servir. Finalmente, es importante subrayar que incidirá en la inclusión de las personas con discapacidad como parte de la sociedad, a través del acercamiento compartido a la ciencia (Dimensiones de inclusión social y derechos de Schalock; NAVAS MACHO, P. y otros, 2012. Derechos de las personas con discapacidad intelectual: implicaciones de la Convención de Naciones Unidas. Siglo Cero. 43 (243): 7-28.)