γ-Al2O3 as acid catalyst for dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Currently, the search and development of sustainable feedstocks for chemicals derived from petrol have gained worldwide attraction because of the instability of the price of crude oil, the reduction of fossil oil reserves, and the environmental concerns associated to the greenhouse effect caused by CO2 emissions, being biomass one of the world’s most important renewable carbon sources. The major component of plant-derived biomass are carbohydrates, being of great importance to develop efficient and green approaches to their valorization by conversion into high value-added products. Thus, glucose can be transformed by dehydration into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which is a versatile and key intermediate for the production of a wide variety of biobased chemicals and it is attracting much attention in biofuels and chemical industry. Different catalytic systems have been evaluated for HMF production from C6 carbohydrates as glucose, mostly based on heterogeneous catalysis as alternative to the use of liquid mineral acids. On the other hand, the high surface area, large pore size and thermal and hydrothermal stabilities of some mesoporous solids make them suitable for many catalytic processes. In the present work, the dehydration of glucose to HMF has been evaluated by using different mesoporous γ-Al2O3 with acid, neutral or basic character, in a biphasic water–MIBK solvent system to avoid the HMF degradation and its possible reaction with the intermediates from glucose to give soluble polymers and humins or acetalization with glucose. Different experimental parameters, such as reaction temperature and time, as well as the addition of inorganic salts have been studied in order to reach the maximum HMF yield.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTQ2012-38204-C04-02 project), Junta de Andalucía (RNM-1565) and FEDER fund

The Role of ABA in Plant Immunity is Mediated through the PYR1 Receptor

[EN] ABA is involved in plant responses to a broad range of pathogens and exhibits complex antagonistic and synergistic relationships with salicylic acid (SA) and ethylene (ET) signaling pathways, respectively. However, the specific receptor of ABA that triggers the positive and negative responses of ABA during immune responses remains unknown. Through a reverse genetic analysis, we identified that PYR1, a member of the family of PYR/PYL/RCAR ABA receptors, is transcriptionally upregulated and specifically perceives ABA during biotic stress, initiating downstream signaling mediated by ABA-activated SnRK2 protein kinases. This exerts a damping effect on SA-mediated signaling, required for resistance to biotrophic pathogens, and simultaneously a positive control over the resistance to necrotrophic pathogens controlled by ET. We demonstrated that PYR1-mediated signaling exerted control on a priori established hormonal cross-talk between SA and ET, thereby redirecting defense outputs. Defects in ABA/PYR1 signaling activated SA biosynthesis and sensitized plants for immune priming by poising SA-responsive genes for enhanced expression. As a trade-off effect,pyr1-mediated activation of the SA pathway blunted ET perception, which is pivotal for the activation of resistance towards fungal necrotrophs. The specific perception of ABA by PYR1 represented a regulatory node, modulating different outcomes in disease resistance.This research was founded by the Spanish AEI agency by grant BIO2017-82503-R to P.L.R. and by grant RTI2018-098501-B-I00 to P.V.García-Andrade, J.; González, B.; Gonzalez-Guzman, M.; Rodríguez Egea, PL.; Vera Vera, P. (2020). The Role of ABA in Plant Immunity is Mediated through the PYR1 Receptor. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 21(16):1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21165852S1212116Malamy, J., Carr, J. P., Klessig, D. F., & Raskin, I. (1990). 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Mesoporous niobium oxide for dehydration of D-xylose into furfural

Se ha demostrado que el óxido de niobio mesoporoso es un catalizador eficaz para la deshidratación de D-xilosa a furfural, alcanzando una conversión del 92% y un rendimiento de furfural 49,3% a 170º C y 90 minutos. La lixiviación de Nb, determinada por ICP-MS, era inferior al 0,5% en peso de la concentración de Nb inicial, confirmando de este modo la estabilidad del catalizador ácido sólido.El furfural posee un gran potencial como molécula plataforma de origen renovable para la síntesis de una alta variedad de compuestos químicos. Se obtiene mediante la deshidratación de pentosas, principalmente a partir de D-xilosa, proceso catalizado por ácidos minerales en fase homogénea. Por tanto, dentro de la química verde y la búsqueda de sostenibilidad de los procesos catalíticos, es necesaria su sustitución por catalizadores sólidos ácidos que sean tolerantes al agua, ya que es el disolvente más utilizado para esta reacción. El óxido de niobio posee propiedades ácidas y es insoluble en agua, pero su superficie específica es muy baja. Por lo tanto, resulta muy interesante la síntesis de un óxido de niobio mesoporoso para emplearlo como catalizador en esta reacción. En este trabajo, se ha sintetizado un Nb2O5 mesoporoso y se ha evaluado su comportamiento catalítico en la obtención de furfural a partir de D-xilosa.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (ENE2009-12743-C04-03 project)Junta de Andalucía (P09-FQM-5070).Ministry of Science and Innovation for the financial support under the Program Ramón y Cajal (RYC-2008-03387)

Proyecto de orientación y mentorización al alumnado de nuevo ingreso en una escuela de ingeniería

En este trabajo se presenta un plan de orientación a alumnos noveles en la ETSI de Telecomunicación de la Universidad de Málaga. El programa, que ha pasado por diversas fases en tres años, utiliza la mentoría de alumnos ve-teranos. Pese a la reducida participación, ha posibilitado el desarrollo de diversas actividades formativas y socializantes (para mentores y mentoriza-dos), así como un mejor conocimiento de los problemas que afectan a los alumnos noveles.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Long-term carbapenems antimicrobial stewardship program

Abstract: Objective. To evaluate clinical and antibiotic resistance impact of carbapenems stewardship programs. Methods: descriptive study, pre-post-intervention, between January 2012 and December 2019; 350-bed teaching hospital. Prospective audit and feedback to prescribers was carried out between January 2015 and December 2019. We evaluate adequacy of carbapenems prescription to local guidelines and compare results between cases with accepted or rejected intervention. Analysis of antibiotic-consumption and hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant (MDR) bloodstream infections (BSIs) was performed. Results: 1432 patients were followed. Adequacy of carbapenems prescription improved from 49.7% in 2015 to 80.9% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Interventions on prescription were performed in 448 (31.3%) patients without carbapenem-justified treatment, in 371 intervention was accepted, in 77 it was not. Intervention acceptance was associated with shorter duration of all antibiotic treatment and inpatient days (p < 0.05), without differences in outcome. During the period 2015–2019, compared with 2012–2014, decreased meropenem consumption (Rate Ratio 0.58; 95%CI: 0.55–0.63), candidemia and hospital-acquired MDR BSIs rate (RR 0.62; 95%CI: 0.41–0.92, p = 0.02), and increased cefepime (RR 2; 95%CI: 1.77–2.26) and piperacillin-tazobactam consumption (RR 1.17; 95%CI: 1.11–1.24), p < 0.001. Conclusions: the decrease and better use of carbapenems achieved could have clinical and ecological impact over five years, reduce inpatient days, hospital-acquired MDR BSIs, and candidemia, despite the increase in other antibiotic-consumption

Parallel signal detection for generalized spatial modulation MIMO systems

[EN] Generalized Spatial Modulation is a recently developed technique that is designed to enhance the efficiency of transmissions in MIMO Systems. However, the procedure for correctly retrieving the sent signal at the receiving end is quite demanding. Specifically, the computation of the maximum likelihood solution is computationally very expensive. In this paper, we propose a parallel method for the computation of the maximum likelihood solution using the parallel computing library OpenMP. The proposed parallel algorithm computes the maximum likelihood solution faster than the sequential version, and substantially reduces the worst-case computing times.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and by the European Union through grant RTI2018- 098085-BC41 (MCUI/AEI/FEDER), by GVA through PROMETEO/2019/109, and by RED 2018-102668-T. Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.García Mollá, VM.; Simarro, MA.; Martínez Zaldívar, FJ.; Boratto, M.; Alonso-Jordá, P.; Gonzalez, A. (2022). Parallel signal detection for generalized spatial modulation MIMO systems. The Journal of Supercomputing. 78(5):7059-7077. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-021-04163-y7059707778

Combining SfM Photogrammetry and Terrestrial Laser Scanning to Assess Event-Scale Sediment Budgets along a Gravel-Bed Ephemeral Stream

[EN] Stream power represents the rate of energy expenditure along a stream reach and can be calculated using topographic data acquired via structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). This study sought to quantitatively relate morphological adjustments in the Azohia Rambla, a gravel-bed ephemeral stream in southeastern Spain, to stream power (omega), critical power (omega(c)), and energy gradients ( partial differential omega/ partial differential s), along different reference channel reaches of 200 to 300 m in length. High-resolution digital terrain models (HRDTMs), combined with ortophotographs and point clouds from 2018, 2019, and 2020, and ground-based surveys, were used to estimate the spatial variability of morphological sediment budgets and to assess channel bed mobility during the study period at different spatial scales: reference channel reaches (RCRs), pilot bed survey areas (PBSAs), and representative geomorphic units (RGUs). The optimized complementary role of the SfM technique and terrestrial laser scanning allowed the generation of accurate and reliable HRDTMs, upon which a 1-D hydrodynamic model was calibrated and sediment budgets calculated. The resulting high-resolution maps allowed a spatially explicit analysis of stream power and transport efficiency in relation to volumes of erosion and deposition in the RCR and PBSA. In addition, net incision or downcutting and vertical sedimentary accretion were monitored for each flood event in relation to bedforms and hydraulic variables. Sediment sources and sinks and bed armoring processes showed different trends according to the critical energy and stream power gradient, which were verified from field observations. During flows exceeding bankfull discharges (between 18 and 24 m(3) s(-1) according to channel reach), significant variations in partial differential omega/ partial differential s values and omega/omega(c) ratios (e.g., -15 2 for a peak discharge of 31 m(3) s(-1)) were associated with a large amount of bedload mobilized upstream and vertical accretion along the middle reach (average rise height of 0.20 to 0.35 m for the same event). By contrast, more moderate peak flows (<= 10 m(3) s(-1)) only produced minor changes resulting in surface washing, selective transport, and local bed scouring.This research was funded by ERDF/Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities-State Research Agency/Project CGL2017-84625-C2-1-R (CCAMICEM); State Program for Research, Development and Innovation Focused on the Challenges of Society, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and EU FEDER under Project TEC2017-85244-C2-1-P and by the University of Alicante (vigrob-157 and GRE18-05).Conesa-García, C.; Puig-Mengual, C.; Riquelme, A.; Tomás, R.; Martinez-Capel, F.; García-Lorenzo, R.; Pastor, JL.... (2020). Combining SfM Photogrammetry and Terrestrial Laser Scanning to Assess Event-Scale Sediment Budgets along a Gravel-Bed Ephemeral Stream. Remote Sensing. 12(21):1-27. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12213624S127122

IgG4-Related Disease Affecting Testicle and Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Just a Coincidence?

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is progressive immune-mediated fibrotic condition characterised by a tendency to form tumefactive lesions in different organs and by elevated IgG4 serum concentrations. Urological manifestations are rare and normally occur together with other systemic affections. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are hematopoietic stem cell neoplasms, with different subtypes based on the type of blood cells involved. MDS can be associated with other pathologies or medical treatments. We present an uncommon case of testicular manifestation associated with myelodysplastic syndrome here

Experiencia docente universitaria mediante el uso de metodologías activas para el aprendizaje como la evaluación formativa compartida y el trabajo de competencias transversales

[EN] This work shows an active methodology for university teaching through cooperative learning and learning assessment conducted through the collaborative formative assessment, all mediated by the transversal skills of teamwork and communicative of public speaking. The research methodology consisted of comparing the marks obtained in the same subject prior to implement the cooperative learning and collaborative formative assessment with the ones obtained after their use. The results show that the use of tools of cooperative learning and participatory and formative assessment originate better learning in students in relation to older and more traditional teaching-learning and assessment methods, also increases their involvement and learning, taken advantage of those to further enhance their skills of teamwork and public speaking communication.[ES] Este trabajo muestra una metodología activa para la enseñanza universitaria a través del aprendizaje cooperativo y la evaluación de los aprendizajes realizada a través de la evaluación formativa compartida, todo ello vehiculizado con las competencias transversales de trabajo en equipo y comunicativa de hablar en público.La metodología de investigación ha consistido en comparar las calificaciones obtenidas en la misma asignatura con anterioridad a implementar el aprendizaje cooperativo y la evaluación compartida formativa, con las obtenidas después de utilizarla. Los resultados demuestran que la utilización de herramientas de aprendizaje cooperativo y de evaluación participativa y formativa originan un mejor aprendizaje en el alumnado en relación a metodologías más antiguas y tradicionales de enseñanza-aprendizaje y evaluación, esta nueva metodología aumenta su implicación y aprendizaje, la cual se aprovecha para potenciar asimismo sus competencias de trabajo en equipo y comunicativa de hablar en público.Trigueros Preciados, S.; Perez Gonzalez, D.; Solana González, P.; García Ruiz, E. (2016). Experiencia docente universitaria mediante el uso de metodologías activas para el aprendizaje como la evaluación formativa compartida y el trabajo de competencias transversales. En In-Red 2016. II Congreso nacional de innovación educativa y docencia en red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2016.2016.4351OC

Influence of synthesis conditions in the catalytic performance of Nb-P catalysts

Glycerol is a natural byproduct of the manufacture of soaps from the hydrolysis of animal fats and vegetable oils. Due to the incessant increment of the worldwide production of biodiesel, the production of glycerol, a by-product of the biodiesel industry, has notably increased causing as consequence a drop in its price. In this way, glycerol has been turned into an interesting starting raw material for others chemical products, where the double dehydration of glycerol to acrolein is one of proposed routes for glycerol valorisation. Because of the crude glycerine is found diluted in water, the catalysts must be active and resistance to the presence of water avoiding a separation step of the glycerine from the water and therefore reducing the price of production of acrolein. Various solid acid catalysts have been tested in the dehydration of glycerol, including nio-bium oxide [1-3], phosphoric acid [4, 5] and zirconium niobium mixed oxides [6]. These catalysts reach the full conversion of glycerol and acrolein selectivities as high as 75mol% [3]. However, the main drawback of these cata-lysts is the deactivation with time on stream due to mainly to adsorption of high boiling point compounds. The characteristic features of the catalysts affecting to the catalytic activity are related to the amount of acid centers and the type of acid sites. The catalytic activity is related to Nb – OH groups and polymeric structures exposing Nb=O species [3, 6]. The main goal of this work is to evaluated how the preparation of the catalysts affect to the catalytic activity of supported niobia-phosporous on a mesoporous silica SBA-15 doped with zirconium. Doping with zirconium improves the acidity of the support and the stability of the catalysts as it has been shown previously [7]. 2 Experimental For the synthesis of mesoporous silica SBA-15 doped with zirconium (Si/Zr molar ratio of 5), 8 g of EO20-PO70-EO20 (Pluronic 123 from Aldrich) polymer was dissolved in 288 mL of a 1.7 M HCl aqueous solution and stirred at 313 K for 1 day. Then, 14.6 mL of tetraethoxysilane and 5.8 mL of zirconium n-propoxide were added, under vigorous stirring. The resulting solution was aged at room temperature for 3 days. The final product was fil-tered, washed with water and dried at 333 K. The solid was calcined at 823 K for 6 h. The support was labelled as SiZr This solid was impregnated with niobium oxalate to achieve a 8wt% of Nb2O5 by using the incipient wetness impregnation. The catalyst was dried and calcined at 673 K during 4h (heating rate 2 K/min) and labelled SiZr_8Nb2O5. The niobium-phosphorous catalysts were prepared following to two different strategies. In the first one, the support was impregnated with a solution of niobium oxalate (8wt%Nb2O5) and then dried over night at 333 K. Following, the phosphorous was added by using H3PO4 (85wt%) wiith Nb/P molar ratio of 0.2. Finally, the catalyst was dried and calcined at different temperatures (523, 673 and 973 K) during 4 hours. The catalysts were labelled 0.2NbP-x where x is the temperature of calcination. In the second strategy, the support was impregnated with a solution containing niobium oxale and phosphoric acid with the Nb/P molar ratio of 0.2. This catalyst was calcined at 673 K for 4 hours and labelled 0.2NbP-400-I. The support and catalysts were characterized by means of nitrogen adsorption, elemental analysis, XDR, XPS, TPD-NH3 and adsorption of pyridine coupled to FTIR. The dehydration of glycerol was performed, at atmospheric pressure, in a fixed-bed continuous-flow stainless steel reactor (9.1mm in diameter, and 230mm in length), operated in the down-flow mode Catalysts were pre-treated in situ at atmospheric pressure under a nitrogen flow of 30 mLmin−1 at 598 K for 30 min. The glycerol solu-tion (10 wt.% in water) was supplied by means of HPLC pump at 0.05 mLmin−1 feed rate in a N2 flow (30mLmin−1). The evolution of catalytic tests was studied by collecting liquid samples after 2, 5 and 8 h in a vial cooled in an isopropanol–liquid N2 trap. These vials were sealed for posterior analysis by gas chromatography. The products measured were acrolein, acetaldehyde, hydroxyacetone and allyl alcohol. 3 Results and discussion The support and catalysts were studied by XRD to confirm the presence of the mesoporous structure which was mantained after the impregnation and calcination of the active phases. Moreove, it was not detected neither niobium phase nor phosphate phaser at higher 2.The SiZr catalyst show a high glycerol conversion even higher than the SiZr_8Nb2O5 within the 8 hours of time on stream (TOS) although the selectivity of the SiZr_8Nb2O5 to-wards acrolein is higher (Table 1). This issue is related to higher Brönsted acid sites present in the SiZr_8Nb2O5 since the SiZr support only shows Lewis acid sites. When phosphorus is added to the SiZr_8Nb2O5 catalyst (Table 1), the catalytic performance is improved both in terms of glycerol conversion and acrolein selectivity. It is observed an increase of Brönsted acid sites, probably the presence of P – OH speccies and a decrease of Lewis acid sites compared to the SiZr_8Nb2O5 catalyst. This improvement is only shows when the catalyst is calcined at 673 K (Figure 1) higher and lower calcination temperatures had not beneficial effect on the catalytic activity. It was also compared the catalytic activity when the impregnation with phosphorous and niobium was carried out in one step (Figure 2). In this case, the catalytic performance is drastically improved since the acrolein yield is increased in a 20mol%. This fact point out the presence of an active phase, no detected by XRD analysis, formed by interaction of niobium and phosphorous. 4 Conclusions The catalytic performance of a Nb-P catalyst supported on a mesoporous silica SBA-15 doped with zirconium is ameliorated when the impregnation of the two active phases is carried out in one step reaching an acrolein yield of 46mol% and a glycerol conversion of 85mol%Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness CTQ2012-38204-C03-02 project), Junta de Andalucía RNM-1565) and FEDER funds