Application of a Doehlert experimental design for optimizing the dioxane organosolv extraction of lignin from hydrolyzed almond shells

The solubility of lignin from hydrolyzed almond (Prunusamygdalus) shells in 1,4-dioxane–water mixtures (dioxaneconcentration, 0-100% vol.) and different extraction conditions [extraction temperature (150-230oC) and cookingtime (10-40 min)] was studied using a three-factor Doehlertexperimental design. The most influenced variables in the organosolv process were the extraction temperatureand the dioxane concentration; in the case of the delignification degree reached and the selectivity of the ligninextraction, both variables had a similar influence, while extractability was most influenced by the extraction temperature. The influence of cooking time was small in all thecases. Moreover, a significant dependence was observed between the extraction temperature and the optimum dioxaneconcentration of the mixture leading to maximum delignification, which was explained by solubility parameter theory and taking into account changes in both the extent of the association between lignin and carbohydrates and the degradation of the lignin structure

Una experiencia innovadora en la formación de maestros en matemáticas: El cambio de rol del alumno y las competencias profesionales

[SPA] Presentamos el diseño y el desarrollo de una experiencia innovadora en una asignatura universitaria situada en el marco de la formación de profesores. Desde un contexto próximo a los modelos educativos basados en competencias profesionales, varias consideraciones han guiado nuestro trabajo, entre otras: la dimensión social de la actividad matemática, la importancia de generar escenarios de discusión en el aula, y la conveniencia de situar a los estudiantes en un rol más parecido al que habrán de asumir en el futuro ejercicio de su profesión, manejando la dialéctica entre su posición como docentes y a la vez como discentes. [ENG] We present the design and development of an innovative experience in a university subject placed as a part of the training of teachers. From a context near to competency-based education models, several considerations have guided our work: the social dimension of mathematical activity, the significance of generating discussion scenarios in the classroom, and the convenience of placing students in a role more similar which they have to assume in the future course of their job, managing the dialectic in his position as much as teachers or learners

(-)-Oleacein and (-)-oleocanthal, two phenolic compounds present in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, inhibit angiogenesis

Phenolic compounds in the Mediterranean diet contribute to many of the health-related benefits accounted in this dietary choice. (-)-Oleocanthal and the less studied (-)-oleacein, are two phenolic compounds present in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil that have shown anti-tumoural effects both in vitro and in vivo. Among their effects on cancer, they could inhibit tumour cell migration and invasion, key processes also in angiogenesis, the process by which de novo blood vessels are formed. Herein, we explored the anti-angiogenic potential of (-)-oleocanthal and (-)-oleacein in a comparative study in in vitro experiments on endothelial cells, and in two in vivo models. (-)-Oleocanthal and (-)-oleacein affected endothelial viability in the micromolar range, as well as the formation of tubule-like structures by these cells, and their migration. Interestingly, only oleacein inhibited cell migration and induced apoptosis significantly. Regarding cellular signalling, both compounds were able to reduce the activation of the AKT and ERK1/2 pathways, which are related to survival and proliferation, respectively. Finally, both compounds showed anti-angiogenic activity in a zebrafish model of regeneration and in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Altogether, these results support the anti-angiogenic potential of (-)-oleocanthal and (-)-oleacein, and suggest that (-)-oleacein exerts more potent effects on endothelial cell migration and induction of apoptosis. Thus, we propose these two phenolic compounds, with a special focus on (-)-oleacein, as new candidates for clinical use as anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic agents. [Grants: PID2019-105010RB-I00 and RTI2018-098560-BC22 (Spanish Government), UMA18-FEDERJA-220, and PY20_00257 (Andalusian Government and FEDER). Funds from BIO 267 (Andalusian Government). CIBERER, CIBERCV].Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Metabolites of the gut microbiota involved in the autism spectrum disorder

En los últimos años, ha habido un aumento de los estudios que buscan comprender la relación existente entre el microbiota intestinal (MI) con el trastorno del espectro autista (TEA), que debe producirse a través del eje microbiota-intestino-cerebro. A pesar de que los distintos autores señalan que los cambios encontrados en distintos filos, familias y géneros bacterianos están implicados en el TEA, no hay consenso científico a día de hoy. Algunos autores apuntan a la posible relación existente entre dichas poblaciones bacterianas con ciertos productos de excreción o metabolitos como el ácido propiónico ya que aparecen con frecuencia en niños con TEA. Aunque en los últimos años la MI comienza a acumular evidencia científica, en términos de neurociencia, el estudio de la metabolómica asociada a la misma y los mecanismos mediante los cuales estos metabolitos pueden influir en la aparición y desarrollo del TEA aún permanece en sus primeros estadios.In recent years, there has been an increase in studies that seek to understand the relationship between gut microbiota (GM) with the behavior of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which must occur through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Although the different authors point out that the changes found in different phyla, families and bacterial genera are involved in ASD, there is no scientific consensus to date. Some authors point to the possible relationship between these bacterial populations with certain products of excretion or metabolites such as propionic acid since they frequently appear in children with ASD. Although in recent years the GM has begun to accumulate scientific evidence, in terms of neuroscience, the study of the metabolomics associated with it and the mechanisms by which these metabolites can influence the appearance and development of ASD remains in its first stages

The Extra Virgin Olive Oil phenolic compounds () oleacein and () oleocanthal inhibit tumor cell autophagy

Es una comunicación a congreso internacional en formato póster.Our group has recently shown that the antitumor Extra Virgin Olive Oil phenolic compounds (—)oleocanthal and (—)oleacein also behave as antiangiogenic agents. Interestingly, it has been described that phenolic compounds found in the Mediterranean diet affect the autophagy pathway. Based on this background, we studied the modulatory effects of (—)oleocanthal and (—)oleacein on tumor cell autophagy. Methodologically, the tumor cell lines MDAMB231, MCF7 and HT1080 cell lines were used in in vitro cellular and molecular studies of the autophagy flux and key mediators of this process, and High Content Screening (HCS) System using Perkin Elmer Operetta for single-cell analysis was performed in these cells. Interestingly, (—)oleocanthal and (—)oleacein repressed the autophagy flux of MDAMB231 and MCF7 submitted to autophagy inducing conditions (severe starving) at doses in the low micromolar range. In addition, key autophagy mediators, like LC3 or WIPI2 proteins, were dramatically reduced in the same settings, as seen in immunohistochemical studies. Furthermore, preliminary results of HCS in tumor cells revealed depletory effects on autophagy by using specifics dyes for this process at the single-cell level. Altogether, our results point to a drastic inhibitory effect of (—)oleocanthal and (—)oleacein on tumor cell autophagy at low doses.[Grants: PID2022-138181OB-I00, PID2019-105010RB-I00 and RTI2018-098560-BC22 (Spanish Government), UMA18-FEDERJA-220, and PY20_00257 (Andalusian Government and FEDER). Funds from BIO 267 (Andalusian Government) M.B. is supported by “Juan de la Cierva – Incorporation Program” (IJC2018-037657-I), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain.]. Supported with a a help from the «II Plan Propio de Investigación, Transferencia y Divulgación Científica de la UMA», Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Estudio comparativo de la producción de biodiesel a partir de aceite de jatropha y karanja en metanol supercrítico

[ESP] El biodiesel es un combustible renovable que sirve de alternativa a los combustibles fósiles. Este trabajo ofrece un estudio comparativo de producción de biodiesel a partir de dos tipos de aceite no comestibles, jatropha y karanja, en un proceso en una sola etapa en metanol supercrítico y sin catalizador. Los resultados muestran que mientras es posible obtener un rendimiento a FAMEs superior al 99 % a 325 ºC a partir de aceite de jatropha, el rendimiento máximo a partir de karanja es inferior al 82 %, siendo estas diferencias atribuibles a la composición de ambos tipos de aceite. [ENG] Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that represents a real alternative to fossil fuels. The present work offers a comparative study of biodiesel production from two types of non-edible oil, jatropha and karanja, in a one-step batch process in supercritical methanol and in the absence of catalyst. The results show that a maximum FAME yield of over 99 % is achieved at 325 ºC when jatropha is used as oil source, while karanja oil poses some limitations with a maximum FAME yield of below 82 %. These differences can be explained by the composition of the oils used

Análisis del efecto de la temperatura en el biodiesel de segunda generación producido a partir de aceite de Jatropha curcas L.

[ESP] El agotamiento de los combustibles fósiles ha favorecido el desarrollo de nuevos métodos para la producción de energías renovables. En este trabajo se ha estudiado la descomposición térmica del biodiesel producido a partir de aceite no comestible de jatropha en metanol supercrítico. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la descomposición térmica apareció a 350 ºC y 15 min, siendo máxima (24.16 %) a 350 ºC y 90 min. Además, se observó que las cadenas de ácido graso afectadas por la temperatura fueron las de tipo oleico y linoleico. Finalmente, se realizó una regresión lineal que permitió obtener una ecuación para predecir el efecto de la temperatura en el biodiesel producido. [ENG] The depletion of fossil fuels has encouraged the development of new methods for the production of renewable energies. In this work, the thermal decomposition of the biodiesel produced from non-edible jatropha oil in supercritical methanol was investigated. The results obtained show that thermal decomposition appeared at operating conditions of 350 ºC and 15 min, being maximum (24.16 %) at 350 ºC and 90 min. Moreover, it was observed that the fatty acid chains affected by temperature were those of oleic and linoleic acid type. Finally, a linear regression analysis was made, leading to a model that predicts the effect of the temperature on the biodiesel produced.Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica (ETSIA), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial (ETSII), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura y Edificación (ETSAE), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales y Puertos y de Ingeniería de Minas (ETSICCPIM), Facultad de Ciencias de la Empresa (FCCE), Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo (PTFA), Vicerrectorado de Estudiantes y Extensión de la UPCT, Vicerrectorado de Investigación e Innovación de la UPCT, y Vicerrectorado de Internacionalización y Cooperación al Desarrollo de la UPCT

Tratamiento con ozono de residuos lignocelulósicos : aplicación a materiales obtenidos por fraccionamiento e identificación de productos de reacción / Joaquín Quesada Medina ; directores Manuel Rubio Torres, Demetrio Gómez Pérez.

Tesis-Universidad de Murcia.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. ARCHIVO UNIVERSITARIO. T.M.-1281.CRAI CIENCIAS. DEPOSITO. T.D. 258

Tratamiento con ozono de residuos lignocelulósicos [Microforma] : aplicación a materiales obtenidos por fraccionamiento e identificación de productos de reacción.

Tesis - Universidad de Murcia.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. MEDIATECA. MF-TD 1963.Consulte la tesis en: BCA. GENERAL. MEDIATECA. MF-TD 1964.NEBRIJA. MEDIATECA. MF 37 1470

Advances on kinetics and thermodynamics of non-catalytic supercritical methanol transesterification of some vegetable oils to biodiesel

© . This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Energy Conversion and Management. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.07.069.Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the non-catalytic supercritical methanol transesterification reaction of castor, jatropha, pongamia, tobacco, soybean and jojoba oils to biodiesel production were evaluated in the present study. The experiments were conducted in an 83 ml closed batch reactor at different temperatures (250–350 °C) and reaction times (15–90 min), and at optimal methanol-to-oil molar ratios (15:1 in the case of jojoba wax-oil and 43:1 for the rest of the oils). The pressure reached in the reactor ranged from 10 to 43 MPa. Integral method was used to determine appropriated reaction orders by an adjustment of experimental data to pseudo-zero, pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic equations using Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Pseudo-first-order kinetic equation was found to be the most appropriate to describe the supercritical transesterification reaction of the vegetable oils studied. Rate constants and Arrhenius parameters were calculated, the activation energy followed the sequence: castor oil < jatropha oil < tobacco oil < pongamia oil < soybean oil < jojoba wax-oil. It is difficult to explain the behavior of jojoba and castor oils in relation to that of the rest of vegetable oils because they have a very different structure and fatty acid composition, respectively. However, the aforementioned sequence observed for the rest of vegetable oils (jatropha, tobacco, pongamia and soybean oils), which have a similar structure and fatty acid composition, can be attributed to the content of linolenic acid in the oil: the higher the content of linolenic acid, the higher the activation energy and the lower the reaction rate. Finally, thermodynamic study showed that the non-catalytic supercritical methanol transesterification reaction is non-spontaneous (endergonic) and endothermic in nature