CO2 Derived Carbon Capture Using Microalgae in a PhotoBioCREC Unit

Microalgae has the potential to contribute to carbon dioxide capture, resulting in the production of alternative fuels and valuable chemical products. To accomplish this, high-efficiency photobioreactors must be conceptualized, designed, and established, in order to achieve high inorganic carbon conversion, superior light utilization, and unique fluid dynamics. In this PhD Dissertation, experiments with Chlorella vulgaris were carried out, in a 0.175L especially designed PhotoBioCREC unit, under controlled radiation and high mixing conditions. This unique design involves 1 mm-2 mm alumina particles, which keep photoreactor walls always clean, without compromising photon transmittance. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) was supplied as the inorganic carbon containing culture media. The NaHCO3 concentrations studied were in the 18 mM to 60 mM range. The NaHCO3 concentrations, the total organic carbon concentrations and absorbed radiation were measured every 24 hours. The pH was readjusted every day to the required 7.00 level, with the temperature being maintained at 24.3°C ± 0.5°C. Results showed 29.6% as the best carbon conversion achieved, with a total organic carbon (TOC) selectivity up to 33% ±2.0, by Chlorella vulgaris. It was found that quantum yield efficiencies, for Chlorella vulgaris culture, in a NaHCO3 solution media, were in the 1.9%-2.3% range. It was also proven that maximum reaction rates for organic carbon formation were achieved with a 28 mM NaHCO3 concentration, displaying a 1.18 ± 0.05 value. Based on the experimental data obtained, a kinetic model for inorganic carbon consumption and organic carbon formation was successfully developed and validated for concentrations of NaHCO3 in the 18 mM to 60 mM range. Thus, the findings of the present PhD Dissertation allowed one to establish best operational conditions, in the PhotoBioCREC unit, for Chlorella vulgaris growth, in sodium bicarbonate solutions, with high inorganic carbon and photon energy utilization. Furthermore, the rotating flow design, in the near transmission wall region of the PhotoBioCREC prototype, was also demonstrated in a 10.3 L PhotoBioCREC Swirl Reactor prototype. It was proven in this PhD Dissertation, that this scaled-up unit could also benefit from the flow rotational principles of the PhotoBioCREC. It is anticipated that future studies, which will include the developed microalgae growth kinetics, will allow one to demonstrate via numerical simulation and experimentation, the value of scaled PhotoBioCREC Swirl Reactor units, for CO2 derived carbon capture using Chlorella vulgaris culture

Influence of type of uniform and days of usage in microbiological contamination of nurses uniform in a university hospital

Presentación de un póster presentado al International Conference on Prevention & Infection Control (ICPIC 2011) Geneva, Switzerland. 29 June – 2 July 2011Nurse uniforms can act as a reservoir of infections, with the areas around the pockets, cuffs and aprons the most contaminated. The aim of this study is compare the contamination of Standard nurse’s uniform consisted of a dress, pinafore apron with the “scrub dress” type of uniform, as well as to measure the influence of the number of shifts as uniform was used in its contamination

Apalutamide for prostate cancer: multicentre and multidisciplinary real-world study of 227 patients

Apalutamide; Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer; Prostate cancerApalutamida; Cáncer de próstata metastásico sensible a hormonas; Cáncer de prostataApalutamida; Càncer de pròstata metastàtic sensible a les hormones; Càncer de pròstataObjective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of apalutamide prostate cancer compared to the pivotal trials patients and to identify the first subsequent therapy in a real-world setting. Methods: The study is prospective and observational based on real-world evidence, performed by different medical disciplines and eight academics centres around Barcelona, Spain. It included all patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and high-risk non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) treated with apalutamide from June 2018 to December 2022. Results: Of 227 patients treated with apalutamide, 10% had ECOG-PS 2, and 41% were diagnosed with new-generation imaging. In the mHSPC group (209 patients), 75 years was the median age, 53% had synchronous metastases, and 22% were M1a. In the nmCRPC (18 patients), 82 years was the median age, and 81% ≤6 months had PSA doubling time. Patients achieved PSA90 in 92% of mHSPC and 50% of nmCRPC and PSA ≤0.2 in 71% of mHSPC and 39% of nmCRPC. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 40.1% of mHSPC and 44.4% of nmCRPC. After discontinuation of apalutamide due to disease progression, 54.5% in mHSPC and 75% in nmCRPC started chemotherapy, while after discontinuation because of adverse events, 73.3% in mHSPC and 100% in nmCRPC continued with other hormonal-therapies.This study did not receive funding. Julián Córdoba and Meritxell Pérez have received sponsorship from Janssen for medical congresses and symposiums. Alejo Rodriguez- Vida, Jesús Muñoz Rodriguez, Antonio Alcaraz and Antoni Vilaseca have received honoraria from Janssen for advisory board meetings, symposiums and travel ex-penses. The other authors declare no conflict of interest. Approval of the research protocol by an Institutional Reviewer Board: HCB/2019/0919

Protection of Citrus Fruits from Postharvest Infection with Penicillium digitatum and Degradation of Patulin by Biocontrol Yeast Clavispora lusitaniae 146

Fungal rots are one of the main causes of large economic losses and deterioration in the quality and nutrient composition of fruits during the postharvest stage. The yeast Clavispora lusitaniae 146 has previously been shown to efficiently protect lemons from green mold caused by Penicillium digitatum. In this work, the effect of yeast concentration and exposure time on biocontrol efficiency was assessed; protection of various citrus fruits against P. digitatum by C. lusitaniae 146 was evaluated; the ability of the strain 146 to degrade mycotoxin patulin was tested; and the effect of the treatment on sensory properties of fruits was determined. An efficient protection of lemons was achieved after minimum exposure to relatively low yeast cell concentration. Apart from lemons, the yeast prevented green mold in grapefruits, mandarins, oranges, and tangerines, implying that it can be used as a broad-range biocontrol agent in citrus. The ability to degrade patulin indicated that strain 146 may be suitable for the control of further Penicillium species. Yeast treatment did not alter the sensory perception of the aroma of fruits. These results corroborate the potential of C. lusitaniae 146 for the control of postharvest diseases of citrus fruits and indicate its suitability for industrial-scale fruit processing.Fil: Diaz, Mariana Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Pereyra, Martina María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Soliz, Fabian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Perez, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Cordoba, Josefina María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Alhussein, Mohammad. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Karlovsky, Petr. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Dib, Julian Rafael. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentin

Tamberos familiares del oeste del conurbano bonaerense: sus lógicas de producción, reproducción y sus estrategias pluriactivas

In Argentina, family farm production has an important relevance, both for the number of farms that exist, as well as for the generation of employment, settling in a place and food for internal consumption. In the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA) there is a large number of "smalls dairies" - defined as their own, whose main activity is milk production, they have up to 100 cows per herd, the workforce is predominantly familiar and they can have some facility for milking-. The following study is framed in a Special ProHuerta Project (N° 989/2017), awarded to seven familiar dairy producers from La Matanza, Marcos Paz and Virrey del Pino. The aim of the project was to identify access to safe water for human and animal consumption, but it is also known as an input to deepen the study of the productive logics that familiar dairy producers in a complex territory such as the AMBA.According to the case-based method, the information was collected through semi-structured interviews andsecondary information. The information collected shows that the dairy farms have between 7 and 45 cows per herd, land holding is a conflicting factor, their resources for trackers are impaired and the insecurity anduncertainty condition of the continuity of the activity. Pluriactivity is highlighted -understood in terms of activities within the farm, as well as the combination of agricultural production with extrapredial income- as one of the strategies used for the sustainability of these productive systems.En Argentina, la producción agropecuaria familiar tiene una importante relevancia, tanto por el número deexplotaciones que existen, así como por la generación de empleo, arraigo y alimentos para consumo interno. En el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA) existe una gran cantidad de “tambos pequeños” -definidos como establecimientos cuya actividad principal es la producción lechera, tienen un rodeo de hasta 100 vacas totales (VT), la mano de obra es predominantemente familiar y pueden contar con alguna instalación para el ordeñe-. El siguiente estudio forma parte del trabajo realizado en el marco de un Proyecto Especial de ProHuerta (N° 989/2017), adjudicado a siete productores tamberos familiares de La Matanza, Marcos Paz y Virrey del Pino. El objetivo del proyecto era garantizar el acceso al agua segura para consumo humano y animal, pero también se utilizó como insumo para profundizar en el estudio de las lógicas productivas que llevan adelante tamberos familiares que producen en un territorio complejo como el AMBA. Se utilizó el método basado en casos, la información fue recolectada mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas e información secundaria. De la información recabada se observó que los tambos tienen entre 7 y 45 VT, la tenencia de la tierra es un factor conflictivo, sus recursos forrajeros se encuentran deteriorados y la inseguridad e incertidumbre condiciona la continuidad de la actividad. Se resalta la pluriactividad –entendida en términos de actividades dentro de la explotación, así como a la combinación de la producción agropecuaria con ingresos extraprediales- como una de las estrategias utilizadas para garantizar la sustentabilidad de estos sistemas productivos

Qué necesitan los estudiantes de Periodismo para su inserción laboral. Análisis de la demanda del mercado laboral de las empresas de comunicación.

PIMCD nº 176, realizado por el grupo Research and Learning of Media and Communications Management. Investigación y Enseñanza de la Gestión de los Medios y la Comunicación (MediaCom UCM) www.ccinf.es/mediacom/Primera fase de trabajo para fijar descriptores que identifiquen comportamientos formativos de entrada en el mercado laboral. En esta fase se han encontrado 442 oferentes de contratos en prácticas para estudiantes de Periodismo. Los datos obtenidos se articulan de acuerdo a dos subsecciones: sectores empresariales y empresas; a su vez, cada subsector, atendiendo al índice de recepción de alumnos y la descripción cualitativa de los puestos.Depto. de Periodismo y Comunicación GlobalFac. de Ciencias de la InformaciónFALSEsubmitte

A new genome allows the identification of genes associated with natural variation in aluminium tolerance in Brachiaria grasses

Toxic concentrations of aluminium cations and low phosphorus availability are the main yield-limiting factors in acidic soils, which represent half of the potentially available arable land. Brachiaria grasses, which are commonly sown as forage in the tropics because of their resilience and low demand for nutrients, show greater tolerance to high concentrations of aluminium cations (Al3+) than most other grass crops. In this work, we explored the natural variation in tolerance to Al3+ between high and low tolerant Brachiaria species and characterized their transcriptional differences during stress. We identified three QTLs (quantitative trait loci) associated with root vigour during Al3+ stress in their hybrid progeny. By integrating these results with a new Brachiaria reference genome, we identified 30 genes putatively responsible for Al3+ tolerance in Brachiaria. We observed differential expression during stress of genes involved in RNA translation, response signalling, cell wall composition, and vesicle location homologous to aluminiuminduced proteins involved in limiting uptake or localizing the toxin. However, there was limited regulation of malate transporters in Brachiaria, which suggests that exudation of organic acids and other external tolerance mechanisms, common in other grasses, might not be relevant in Brachiaria. The contrasting regulation of RNA translation and response signalling suggests that response timing is critical in high Al3+-tolerant Brachiaria

Informe sobre la producción científica de Costa Rica en revistas iberoamericanas de acceso abierto en redalyc.org, 2005-2011

Objetivo: Proporcionar información sobre el Perfil de Producción Científica de Costa Rica en revistas del acervo redalyc.org para el periodo 2005-2011, a fin de conocer cuáles son tanto las tendencias como el comportamiento de las estrategias de comunicación y de colaboración que registran los artículos producidos por los investigadores nacionales.Método: Se estudia la producción científica de 800 revistas iberoamericanas de acceso abierto durante 2005-2011, a partir de un modelo de análisis centrado en entidades de producción y comunicación, las cuales permiten generar un Perfil de Producción Científica según los indicadores de: Producción (P), Producción en Colaboración (PC) y Colaboración (C), aplicados a un núcleo de 145,515 artículos científicos que forman parte del acervo redalyc.org.Resultados: La producción de Costa Rica asciende a 2,201 artículos que corresponden a una aportación de 1.5% sobre el total analizado, de los cuales 16% fueron publicados en revistas del extranjero, Cabe destacar que poco más de la mitad de la Producción corresponde al área de ciencias sociales (53.5%), seguida de ciencias con 41.6%, así como de las artes y humanidades y del área multidisciplinaria con 4.7 y 0.2 por ciento respectivamente. En dicho contexto, las instituciones costarricenses con mayor aporte a la producción científica son la Universidad de Costa Rica, la Universidad Nacional y la Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social; mientras que 46.8% de los trabajos firmados por autores nacionales se han realizado en colaboración, principalmente interna de tipo institucional (58.7%), y donde la participación de autores extranjeros se vincula prioritariamente con Estados Unidos, México, España y Colombia, que en conjunto representan 62.3% de la producción de Costa Rica en colaboración con otros países

Metabolomics analysis of type 2 diabetes remission identifies 12 metabolites with predictive capacity: a CORDIOPREV clinical trial study.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most widely spread diseases, affecting around 90% of the patients with diabetes. Metabolomics has proven useful in diabetes research discovering new biomarkers to assist in therapeutical studies and elucidating pathways of interest. However, this technique has not yet been applied to a cohort of patients that have remitted from T2DM. All patients with a newly diagnosed T2DM at baseline (n = 190) were included. An untargeted metabolomics approach was employed to identify metabolic differences between individuals who remitted (RE), and those who did not (non-RE) from T2DM, during a 5-year study of dietary intervention. The biostatistical pipeline consisted of an orthogonal projection on the latent structure discriminant analysis (O-PLS DA), a generalized linear model (GLM), a receiver operating characteristic (ROC), a DeLong test, a Cox regression, and pathway analyses. The model identified a significant increase in 12 metabolites in the non-RE group compared to the RE group. Cox proportional hazard models, calculated using these 12 metabolites, showed that patients in the high-score tercile had significantly (p-value < 0.001) higher remission probabilities (Hazard Ratio, HR, high versus low = 2.70) than those in the lowest tercile. The predictive power of these metabolites was further studied using GLMs and ROCs. The area under the curve (AUC) of the clinical variables alone is 0.61, but this increases up to 0.72 if the 12 metabolites are considered. A DeLong test shows that this difference is statistically significant (p-value = 0.01). Our study identified 12 endogenous metabolites with the potential to predict T2DM remission following a dietary intervention. These metabolites, combined with clinical variables, can be used to provide, in clinical practice, a more precise therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00924937.The CORDIOPREV study is supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain, under the grants AGL2012/39615, PIE14/00005, and PIE14/00031 associated to J.L.-M.; AGL2015-67896-P to J.L.-M. and A.C.; CP14/00114 to A.C.; PI19/00299 to A.C.; DTS19/00007 to A.C.; FIS PI13/00023 to J.D.-L., PI16/01777 to F.P.-J. and P.P.-M.; Antonio Camargo is supported by an ISCIII research contract (Programa Miguel-Servet CPII19/00007); Marina Mora-Ortiz has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 847468; ‘Fundacion Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero’, Junta de Andalucía (Consejería de Salud, Consejeria de Agricultura y Pesca, Consejería de Innovacion, Ciencia y Empresa), ‘Diputaciones de Jaen y Cordoba’, ‘Centro de Excelencia en Investigación sobre Aceite de Oliva y Salud’ and ‘Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino’, Gobierno de España; ‘Consejeria de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Proyectos de Investigación de Excelencia’, Junta de Andalucía under the grant CVI-7450 obtaiend by J.L.-M.; and we would also like to thank the ‘Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)’.S