Viabilidad de la mejora en la eficiencia energética de una vivienda unifamiliar situada en Torrelles de Llobregat

El objetivo del trabajo es reducir la demanda energética y las emisiones de CO2 de la vivienda, manteniendo un ambiente confortable, sostenible y económicamente viable. Para conseguirlo se expondrán propuestas de mejora, tales como el uso de energías renovables (solar, biomasa, entre otras), equipos de microcogeneración u otras, demostrando su viabilidad económica, energética y medioambiental. Se emplearán los cálculos teóricos de cargas térmicas y herramientas de simulación energética oficiales (CE3X y/o HULC) y Open Studio para su certificación energética, posteriormente se realizará un análisis comparativo entre estos programas para observar en qué difieren los resultados. Además de la reducción de la demanda energética y emisiones de CO2 se determinará la maquinaria y el utillaje a utilizar y finalmente un estudio diferencial de costes y rentabilidad económica de las diferentes propuestas

Efectos sobre la composición faunística y características poblacionales de crustáceos decápodos posteriormente a la implementación de una zona cerrada a la pesca en el Mediterráneo noroccidental

The establishment of fisheries no-take areas is considered an effective method for the recovery of populations of exploited species and their habitats. Here we study the faunistic composition of decapod crustaceans after the implementation of a no-take area in the Gulf of Roses (NW Mediterranean) in 2014. We studied the occurrence (presence/absence) and density of all decapod crustaceans sampled by trawling inside and outside a no-take area from March 2015 to July 2018. Sizes were assessed for all common species. A total of 33 species of decapod crustaceans were recorded. Four species showed significantly higher occurrences in the no-take area and three in the open area, while significantly higher densities were found for four species in the no-take area and three in the open area. Multivariate analysis showed marked differences between the no-take area and the open area, while also showing that the two areas were undergoing a divergence. The comparison of sizes between the two zones showed species-specific patterns that in many cases showed that both the smallest and the largest individuals were present in the no-take area, suggesting that the closing of this area would be important for recruitment and juvenile development, as well as for protection of large-sized individuals. All evidence indicates that the establishment of the no-take area has led to an improvement in biodiversity and species population descriptors.La creación de áreas restringidas a la pesca se considera un método efectivo para la recuperación de las poblaciones de especies comerciales y sus hábitats. En el presente trabajo se estudia la composición faunística referente a los crustáceos decápodos después de la implementación de un área cerrada a la pesca en el golfo de Roses en 2014. Se han estudiado las pautas de presencia y abundancia de los crustáceos decápodos muestreados con arte de arrastre comercial en el interior y exterior del área cerrada a la pesca entre marzo 2015 y julio 2018. Se detectó un total de 33 especies de crustáceos decápodos. Tanto en las presencias como en las abundancias se detectaron diferencias significativas entre las dos zonas. Se determinó la talla individual de los individuos capturados o de una submuestra. Cuatro especies mostraron una presencia significativamente mayor en el área cerrada a la pesca, mientras que tres lo hicieron en el área abierta. Respecto a las densidades, cuatro especies mostraron valores significativamente mayores en el área protegida, mientras que tres lo hicieron en la abierta. Un análisis multivariante mostró claramente la existencia de diferencias significativas entre las dos zonas, mostrando también que las dos áreas se encuentran en proceso de divergencia. La comparación de tallas entre las dos zonas presentó pautas específicas para cada especie que mayoritariamente indicaron que tanto los individuos de menor talla como los de mayor talla se presentaban en el área cerrada a la pesca, sugiriendo que el cierre de esta zona sería relevante para el reclutamiento y desarrollo juvenil, así como para la protección de los ejemplares de mayor talla. Las evidencias indican que el establecimiento del área cerrada a la pesca está implicando un proceso de conservación de la biodiversidad y mejora del estado de las poblaciones presentes

Gut yeasts do not improve desiccation survival in Drosophila melanogaster

A healthy gut microbiota generally improves the performance of its insect host. Although the effects can be specific to the species composition of the microbial community, the role of gut microbiota in determining water balance has not been well explored. We used axenic and gnotobiotic (reared with a known microbiota) Drosophila melanogaster to test three hypotheses about the effects of gut yeasts on the water balance of adult flies: 1) that gut yeasts would improve desiccation survival in adult flies; 2) that larval yeasts would improve adult desiccation survival; 3) that the effects would be species-specific, such that yeasts closely associated with D. melanogaster in nature are more likely to be beneficial than those rarely found in association with D. melanogaster. We used Saccharomyces cerevisiae (often used in Drosophila cultures, but rarely associated with D. melanogaster in nature), Lachancea kluyveri (associated with some species of Drosophila, but not D. melanogaster), and Pichia kluyveri (associated with D. melanogaster in nature). Adult inoculation with yeasts had no effect on survival of desiccating conditions. Inoculation with P. kluyveri as larvae did not change desiccation survival in adults; however, rearing with L. kluyveri or S. cerevisiae reduced adult desiccation survival. We conclude that adult inoculation with gut yeasts has no impact on desiccation survival, but that rearing with yeasts can have either no or detrimental effect. The effects appear to be species-specific: P. kluyveri did not have a negative impact on desiccation tolerance, suggesting some level of co-adaptation with D. melanogaster. We note that S. cerevisiae may not be an appropriate species for studying the effects of gut yeasts on D. melanogaster

Acute dengue virus 2 infection in Gabonese patients is associated with an early innate immune response, including strong interferon alpha production

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dengue is now a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the tropics. We conducted the first <it>ex vivo </it>study of dengue fever (DF) in African patients infected during the first Gabonese dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) outbreak in 2007, in order to investigate cytokine production, including the antiviral cytokine IFN-α, reported to be a potent inhibitor of DENV replication <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Levels of 50 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were measured in plasma from 36 patients with DENV-2 infection, and in uninfected controls, using Luminex multiplex technology. The results were interpreted according to the day of sampling after symptom onset. PBMC from six patients were also studied for T lymphocyte cell surface marker expression by flow cytometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Acute DENV-2 infection elicited high levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-17), chemokines (MIF, RANTES, IP-10 and MCP-1) and growth factors (G-CSF, GM-CSF and VEGF-A). We also observed high levels of IFN-α for the first time in adult DF patients, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation at symptom onset.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Acute DENV-2 infection in African patients elicits a strong innate response involving IFN-α production, as well as an adaptive immune response.</p

The flowering of positive psychology in Foreign Language Teaching and Acquisition research

The present contribution offers an overview of a new area of research in the field of foreign language acquisition, which was triggered by the introduction of Positive Psychology (PP) (MacIntyre and Gregersen, 2012). For many years, a cognitive perspective had dominated research in applied linguistics. Around the turn of the millennium researchers became increasingly interested in the role of emotions in foreign language learning and teaching, beyond established concepts like foreign language anxiety and constructs like motivation and attitudes toward the foreign language. As a result, a more nuanced understanding of the role of positive and negative learner and teacher emotions emerged, underpinned by solid empirical research using a wide range of epistemological and methodological approaches. PP interventions have been carried out in schools and universities to strengthen learners and teachers’ experiences of flow, hope, courage, well-being, optimism, creativity, happiness, grit, resilience, strengths, and laughter with the aim of enhancing learners’ linguistic progress. This paper distinguishes the early period in the field that started with MacIntyre and Gregersen (2012), like a snowdrop after winter, and that was followed by a number of early studies in relatively peripheral journals. We argue that 2016 is the starting point of the current period, characterized by gradual recognition in applied linguistics, growing popularity of PP, and an exponential increase in publications in more mainstream journals. This second period could be compared to a luxuriant English garden in full bloom

Insuficiencia cardíaca de alto gasto por fístula arteriovenosa tras artrodesis lumbar

We present a a case of a 53-year-old female with a history of lumbar surgery who is admitted to the hospital several times for heart failure refractory to diuretic treatment. Different imaging techniques were able to help determine the type of heart failure and the etiology of it. In this case, the diagnosis of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) could be reached as a treatable cause of high-output heart failure.Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 53 años con antecedentes de cirugía lumbar que ingresa en varias ocasiones por insuficiencia cardíaca refractaria al tratamiento diurético. Las diferentes técnicas de imagen pudieron ayudar a determinar el tipo de insuficiencia cardíaca y la etiología de la misma. En este caso, se pudo llegar al diagnóstico de fístula arteriovenosa (FAV) como causa tratable de insuficiencia cardíaca de alto gasto

Seminal plasma modulates miRNA expression by sow genital tract lining explants

Research Areas: Biochemistry & Molecular BiologyThe seminal plasma (SP) modulates the female reproductive immune environment after mating, and microRNAs (miRNAs) could participate in the process. Considering that the boar ejaculate is built by fractions di ering in SP-composition, this study evaluated whether exposure of mucosal explants of the sow internal genital tract (uterus, utero-tubal junction and isthmus) to di erent SP-fractions changed the profile of explant-secreted miRNAs. Mucosal explants retrieved from oestrus sows (n = 3) were in vitro exposed to: Medium 199 (M199, Control) or M199 supplemented (1:40 v/v) with SP from the sperm-rich fraction (SRF), the post-SRF or the entire recomposed ejaculate, for 16 h. After, the explants were cultured in M199 for 24 h to finally collect the media for miRNA analyses using GeneChip miRNA 4.0 Array (A ymetrix). Fifteen di erentially expressed (False Discovery Rate (FDR) < 0.05 and Fold-change 2) miRNAs (11 down- versus 4 up-regulated) were identified (the most in the media of uterine explants incubated with SP from post-SRF). Bioinformatics analysis identified that predicted target genes of dysregulated miRNAs, mainly miR-34b, miR-205, miR-4776-3p and miR-574-5p, were involved in functions and pathways related to immune response. In conclusion, SP is able to elicit changes in the miRNAs profile secreted by female genital tract, ultimately depending SP-composition.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diving deeper into the underlying white shark behaviors at Guadalupe Island, Mexico

We thank grants and logistic support from Alianza WWF-Fundación Carlos Slim, Alianza WWF-Telcel, Annenberg Foundation, Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER), and Fundación Mundo Azul. HV, FGM, and RGA acknowledge support from SNI (CONACYT), and COFAA and EDI programs from Instituto Politécnico Nacional.Fine-scale movement patterns are driven by both biotic (hunting, physiological needs) and abiotic (environmental conditions) factors. The energy balance governs all movement-related strategic decisions. Marine environments can be better understood by considering the vertical component. From 24 acoustic trackings of 10 white sharks in Guadalupe Island, this study linked, for the first time, horizontal and vertical movement data and inferred six different behavioral states along with movement states, through the use of hidden Markov models, which allowed to draw a comprehensive picture of white shark behavior. Traveling was the most frequent state of behavior for white sharks, carried out mainly at night and twilight. In contrast, area-restricted searching was the least used, occurring primarily in daylight hours. Time of day, distance to shore, total shark length, and, to a lesser extent, tide phase affected behavioral states. Chumming activity reversed, in the short term and in a nonpermanent way, the behavioral pattern to a general diel vertical pattern.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

High Prevalence of Both Humoral and Cellular Immunity to Zaire ebolavirus among Rural Populations in Gabon

To better understand Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) circulation and transmission to humans, we conducted a large serological survey of rural populations in Gabon, a country characterized by both epidemic and non epidemic regions. The survey lasted three years and covered 4,349 individuals from 220 randomly selected villages, representing 10.7% of all villages in Gabon. Using a sensitive and specific ELISA method, we found a ZEBOV-specific IgG seroprevalence of 15.3% overall, the highest ever reported. The seroprevalence rate was significantly higher in forested areas (19.4%) than in other ecosystems, namely grassland (12.4%), savannah (10.5%), and lakeland (2.7%). No other risk factors for seropositivity were found. The specificity of anti-ZEBOV IgG was confirmed by Western blot in 138 individuals, and CD8 T cells from seven IgG+ individuals were shown to produce IFN-γ after ZEBOV stimulation. Together, these findings show that a large fraction of the human population living in forested areas of Gabon has both humoral and cellular immunity to ZEBOV. In the absence of identified risk factors, the high prevalence of “immune” persons suggests a common source of human exposure such as fruits contaminated by bat saliva. These findings provide significant new insights into ZEBOV circulation and human exposure, and raise important questions as to the human pathogenicity of ZEBOV and the existence of natural protective immunization

Linear approaches to intramolecular Förster Resonance Energy Transfer probe measurements for quantitative modeling

Numerous unimolecular, genetically-encoded Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) probes for monitoring biochemical activities in live cells have been developed over the past decade. As these probes allow for collection of high frequency, spatially resolved data on signaling events in live cells and tissues, they are an attractive technology for obtaining data to develop quantitative, mathematical models of spatiotemporal signaling dynamics. However, to be useful for such purposes the observed FRET from such probes should be related to a biological quantity of interest through a defined mathematical relationship, which is straightforward when this relationship is linear, and can be difficult otherwise. First, we show that only in rare circumstances is the observed FRET linearly proportional to a biochemical activity. Therefore in most cases FRET measurements should only be compared either to explicitly modeled probes or to concentrations of products of the biochemical activity, but not to activities themselves. Importantly, we find that FRET measured by standard intensity-based, ratiometric methods is inherently non-linear with respect to the fraction of probes undergoing FRET. Alternatively, we find that quantifying FRET either via (1) fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) or (2) ratiometric methods where the donor emission intensity is divided by the directly-excited acceptor emission intensity (denoted R&lt;sub&gt;alt&lt;/sub&gt;) is linear with respect to the fraction of probes undergoing FRET. This linearity property allows one to calculate the fraction of active probes based on the FRET measurement. Thus, our results suggest that either FLIM or ratiometric methods based on R&lt;sub&gt;alt&lt;/sub&gt; are the preferred techniques for obtaining quantitative data from FRET probe experiments for mathematical modeling purpose