Bringing the circular economy closer to small and medium enterprises: improving water circularity without damaging plant productivity

From a shop-floor perspective, this piece of research addresses how lean practices (5S) simultaneously affect circular economy (CE) objectives and plant performance. Using the lens of the "Theory of Swift, Even Flow" and combining quasi-experiments with financial time series data, the case study proposed assesses the evolution of the Water Circularity Index and labor productivity in a lean environment. The paper highlights 5S practices that enable the creation of a proper working environment to simultaneously improve water efficiency and plant performance. In fact, the results obtained confirm that the join implementation of lean-CE initiatives can reduce water usage about 45% by improving the water circularity at the same time that labor productivity increases by 20%. These findings not only bring valuable lessons to managers, but also show policymakers a truly viable path in which firms (particularly small and medium-sized enterprises) may be more interested in the transition toward a more circular economy. There are also some side social implications to public budgets and their opportunity costs. The reduction in water withdrawal requirements will deliver additional savings regarding the reduction of daily operations and maintenance (i.e., monetary and environmental) and on future investments in public utilities (e.g., water and sewerage infrastructure).Ref. PREDOC 001/11/2018Xunta de Galicia | Ref. PREDOC 001/11/201

From efficiency‐driven to low‐carbon operations management: Implications for labor productivity

We use 9 years of dynamic panel data (4,090 observations) to explore how decarbonization moderates the association between a selection of efficiency-driven shop-floor initiatives and labor productivity. The results are mixed: the relationship between materials efficiency and labor productivity is positively moderated by decarbonization, but the relationship between increases in inventory turnover or the average firm wage as a multiple of average sector wages are negatively moderated by decarbonization. Overall, we find that decarbonization leads to an average drop in sales of 1.8% per worker. This evidence therefore suggests that climate change goals impacting industrial firms might be difficult to accomplish if managers expect to achieve decarbonization for free with current organizational best practices.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. ECO2016‐76625‐RXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2018/4

Monitoring the phenolic ripening of red grapes using a multisensor system based on metal-oxide nanoparticles

Producción CientíficaThe maturity of grapes is usually monitored by means of the sugar concentration. However, the assessment of other parameters such as the phenolic content is also important because the phenolic maturity has an important impact on the organoleptic characteristics of wines. In this work, voltammetric sensors able to detect phenols in red grapes have been developed. They are based on metal oxide nanoparticles (CeO2, NiO, and TiO2,) whose excellent electrocatalytic properties toward phenols allows obtaining sensors with detection limits in the range of 10−8 M and coefficients of variation lower than 7%. An electronic tongue constructed using a combination of the nanoparticle-based sensors is capable to monitor the phenolic maturity of red grapes from véraison to maturity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) can be successfully used to discriminate samples according to the ripeness. Regression models performed using Partial Least Squares (PLS-1) have established good correlations between voltammetric data obtained with the electrochemical sensors and the Total Polyphenolic Index, the Brix degree and the Total Acidity, with correlation coefficients close to 1 and low number of latent variables. An advantage of this system is that the electronic tongue can be used for the simultaneous assessment of these three parameters which are the main factors used to monitor the maturity of grapes. Thus the electronic tongue based on metal oxide nanoparticles can be a valuable tool to monitor ripeness. These results demonstrate the exciting possible applications of metal oxide nanoparticles in the field of electronic tongues.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project AGL2015-67482- R)Junta de Castilla y Leon - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project VA011U16)Junta de Castilla y León (grant BOCYL-D-24112015-9

Elicitor-dependent expression of the ribosome-inactivating protein beetin is developmentally regulated

Producción CientíficaBE27 and BE29 are two forms of beetin, a virus-inducible type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein isolated from leaves of Beta vulgaris L. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of beetin forms in adult plants but not in germ or young plants, indicating that the expression of these proteins is developmentally regulated. While beetins are expressed only in adult plants, their transcripts are present through all stages of development. In addition, the treatment of B. vulgaris leaves with mediators of plant-acquired resistance such as salicylic acid and hydrogen peroxide promoted the expression of beetin by induction of its transcript, but only in adult plants. The plant expresses three mRNAs which differ only in their 3′ untranslated region. All these observations suggest a dual regulation of beetin expression, i.e. at the post-transcriptional and transcriptional levels. Additionally, total RNA isolated from leaves treated with hydrogen peroxide, which express high levels of active beetin, is not de-adenylated by endogenous beetin, nor in vitro by the addition of BE27, thus suggesting that sugar beet ribosomes are resistant to beetin.Junta de Castilla y Leon (grant VA0150A7

Molecular characterization and systemic induction of single-chain ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) leaves

Producción CientíficaSugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaves contain virusinducible type 1 (single chain) ribosome-inactivating proteins that have been named beetins. The structural and functional characterization, the cellular location, and the potential role of beetins as antiviral agents are reported here. Beetins are formed of a single polypeptide chain with a varying degree of glycosylation and strongly inhibited in vitro protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates (IC5051.15 ng ml21 ) and a Vicia sativa L. cell-free system (IC50568 ng ml21 ) through the single depurination of the large rRNA. Beetins trigger the multidepurination of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) genomic RNA which underwent extensive degradation upon treatment with acid aniline. Beetins are extracellular proteins that were recovered from the apoplastic fluid. Induction of sugar beet RIPs with either H2O2 or artichoke mottled crinkle virus (AMCV) was observed in leaves distant from the site of application of such elicitors. The external application of purified beetin to sugar leaves prevented infection by AMCV which supports the preliminary hypothesis that beetins could be involved in plant systemic acquired resistance subjected to induction by phytopathogens.Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (grant BIO98-0727)Junta de Castilla y León - FIS (grant PI030258

Tinostamustine (EDO-S101), an alkylating deacetylase inhibitor, enhances the efficacy of daratumumab in multiple myeloma by upregulation of CD38 and NKG2D ligands

Multiple myeloma is a malignancy characterized by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells in bone marrow and the production of monoclonal immunoglobulin. A hallmark of cancer is the evasion of immune surveillance. Histone deacetylase inhibitors have been shown to promote the expression of silenced molecules and hold potential to increase the anti-MM efficacy of immunotherapy. The aim of the present work was to assess the potential effect of tinostamustine (EDO-S101), a first-in-class alkylating deacetylase inhibitor, in combination with daratumumab, an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (mAb), through different preclinical studies. Tinostamustine increases CD38 expression in myeloma cell lines, an effect that occurs in parallel with an increment in CD38 histone H3 acetylation levels. Also, the expression of MICA and MICB, ligands for the NK cell activating receptor NKG2D, augments after tinostamustine treatment in myeloma cell lines and primary myeloma cells. Pretreatment of myeloma cell lines with tinostamustine increased the sensitivity of these cells to daratumumab through its different cytotoxic mechanisms, and the combination of these two drugs showed a higher anti-myeloma effect than individual treatments in ex vivo cultures of myeloma patients' samples. In vivo data confirmed that tinostamustine pretreatment followed by daratumumab administration significantly delayed tumor growth and improved the survival of mice compared to individual treatments. In summary, our results suggest that tinostamustine could be a potential candidate to improve the efficacy of anti-CD38 mAbs

Enfrentando los riesgos socionaturales

El objetivo del libro es comprender la magnitud de los Riesgos Socionaturales en México y Latinoamérica, para comprender el peligro que existe por algún tipo de desastre, ya sea inundaciones, sismos, remoción en masa, entre otros, además conocer qué medidas preventivas, correctivas y de contingencias existen para estar atentos ante alguna señal que la naturaleza esté enviando y así evitar alguna catástrofe. El libro se enfoca en los aspectos básicos de análisis de los peligros, escenarios de riesgo, vulnerabilidad y resiliencia, importantes para la gestión prospectiva o preventiva

5to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

El V Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2019, realizado del 6 al 8 de febrero de 2019 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, ofreció a la comunidad académica nacional e internacional una plataforma de comunicación unificada, dirigida a cubrir los problemas teóricos y prácticos de mayor impacto en la sociedad moderna desde la ingeniería. En esta edición, dedicada a los 25 años de vida de la UPS, los ejes temáticos estuvieron relacionados con la aplicación de la ciencia, el desarrollo tecnológico y la innovación en cinco pilares fundamentales de nuestra sociedad: la industria, la movilidad, la sostenibilidad ambiental, la información y las telecomunicaciones. El comité científico estuvo conformado formado por 48 investigadores procedentes de diez países: España, Reino Unido, Italia, Bélgica, México, Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Estados Unidos y Ecuador. Fueron recibidas un centenar de contribuciones, de las cuales 39 fueron aprobadas en forma de ponencias y 15 en formato poster. Estas contribuciones fueron presentadas de forma oral ante toda la comunidad académica que se dio cita en el Congreso, quienes desde el aula magna, el auditorio y la sala de usos múltiples de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, cumplieron respetuosamente la responsabilidad de representar a toda la sociedad en la revisión, aceptación y validación del conocimiento nuevo que fue presentado en cada exposición por los investigadores. Paralelo a las sesiones técnicas, el Congreso contó con espacios de presentación de posters científicos y cinco workshops en temáticas de vanguardia que cautivaron la atención de nuestros docentes y estudiantes. También en el marco del evento se impartieron un total de ocho conferencias magistrales en temas tan actuales como la gestión del conocimiento en la universidad-ecosistema, los retos y oportunidades de la industria 4.0, los avances de la investigación básica y aplicada en mecatrónica para el estudio de robots de nueva generación, la optimización en ingeniería con técnicas multi-objetivo, el desarrollo de las redes avanzadas en Latinoamérica y los mundos, la contaminación del aire debido al tránsito vehicular, el radón y los riesgos que representa este gas radiactivo para la salud humana, entre otros

Registro fotográfico de tres especies de felinos (Carnivora: Felidae) simpátricos en el Parque Nacional Machalilla, costa del Ecuador

The Machalilla National Park (PNM) located in the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena hotspot in western Ecuador, contains high levels of biodiversity and endemism; however, it presents a constant loss and degradation of its habitat due to anthropogenic activity. In this work, the presence of wild cats within the protected area of the PNM was determined. 60 trap cameras were located within the 56,184 ha of the PNM land area, between the months of October 2018 and February 2019. During this period, the presence of three species of wild cats was detected: ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii) and yaguarundí (Herpailurus yagouaroundi). This note presents a particular case in which the presence of the three feline species was reported coinciding in one of the trap chambersEl Parque Nacional Machalilla (PNM) ubicado en el hotspot Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena al oeste de Ecuador, contiene altos niveles de biodiversidad y endemismo; sin embargo, presenta una constante pérdida y degradación de su hábitat debido a la actividad antrópica. En este trabajo se determinó la presencia de los felinos silvestres dentro del área protegida del PNM. Se ubicaron 60 cámaras trampa dentro de las 56. 184 ha de la zona terrestre del PNM, entre los meses de octubre 2018 y febrero de 2019. Durante este periodo se detectó la presencia de tres especies de felinos silvestres: ocelote (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii) y yaguarundí (Herpailurus yagouaroundi). En esta nota se presenta un caso en particular en el que se reportó la presencia de las tres especies de felinos coincidiendo en una de las cámaras tramp

Characterisation of plastic scintillator paddles and lightweight MWPCs for the MID subsystem of ALICE 3

The ALICE collaboration is proposing a completely new detector, ALICE 3, for operation during the LHC Runs 5 and 6. One of the ALICE~3 subsystems is the Muon IDentifier detector (MID), which has to be optimised to be efficient for the reconstruction of $J/\psi$ at rest (muons down to $p_{\rm T}\approx1.5$ GeV/$c$) for $|\eta|<1.3$. Given the modest particle flux expected in the MID of a few Hz/cm$^2$, technologies like plastic scintillator bars ($\approx1$ m length) equipped with wavelength-shifting fibers and silicon photomultiplier readout, and lightweight Multi-Wire Proportional Chambers (MWPCs) are under investigation. To this end, different plastic scintillator paddles and MWPCs were studied at the CERN T10 test beam facility. This paper reports on the performance of the scintillator prototypes tested at different beam momenta (from 0.5 GeV/$c$ up to 6 GeV/$c$) and positions (horizontal, vertical, and angular scans). The MWPCs were tested at different momenta (from 0.5 GeV/$c$ to 10 GeV/$c$) and beam intensities, their efficiency and position resolutions were verified beyond the particle rates expected with the MID in ALICE 3.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, to appear in JINS