Proyecto de mejora de la riera de Sant Andreu de Llavaneres en el tramo comprendido entre la avenida Catalunya y la playa de la barcas.

El objetivo de este proyecto es diseñar, describir y valorar las obras necesarias para mejorar la riera de “Sant Andreu de Llavaneres” en el tramo comprendido entre la avenida de Catalunya y la Playa de las barcas con el fin de reducir al máximo la situación de riesgo y vulnerabilidad respecto a los desbordamientos de la riera que existe actualmente. Para ello, se realizará un análisis de la cuenca de aportación con el fin de determinar los caudales de avenida que afectan a la riera asociados a un periodo de retorno de hasta 500 años y delimitar las secciones donde se producen los desbordamientos mediante el modelo numérico de HecRas. Una vez determinados los puntos críticos inundables a lo largo del tramo, se plantearán las soluciones apropiadas para cada uno de ellos partiendo de la altura de la lámina de agua y de la velocidad del caudal en cada tramo, factores que determinarán la altura de los taludes y la dimensión de la escoller

Optimizing Field Body Fat Percentage Assessment in Professional Soccer Players

Body composition is a determinant of performance in soccer. To estimate the body fat percentage (%BF), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is effective though this method is expensive and not readily accessible. This study examines the validity of widely used field methods based on anthropometric data and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Participants were 21 male Spanish First Division soccer players aged between 22 and 35 years. In each participant, body fat mass was determined by BIA and using 18 anthropometric equations including skinfold (SKF) measurements. DXA was used as reference. Correlation with DXA measurements was excellent for all equations and separate SKF measurements yet only moderate for BIA. However, only the equation recently developed for use in soccer players based on iliac crest and triceps SKFs showed no significant or standardized differences with DXA-derived %BF and these measurements also had the lowest bias. Our findings suggest that when DXA is not available, the best field method for %BF assessment in footballers is the equation based on iliac crest and triceps SKF. As another good option, we propose the sum of triceps, subscapular, supraspinal, and abdominal SKFs, as this combination also showed good correlation with DXA

Antioxidant vitamin supplementation on muscle adaptations to resistance training: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine whether antioxidant vitamin supplementation with vitamin C (VitC) and vitamin E (VitE) affects the hypertrophic and functional adaptations to resistance training in trained men. Methods This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial in which participants were supplemented daily with VitC and VitE ( n = 12) or placebo ( n = 11) while completing a 10-wk resistance training program accompanied by a dietary intervention (300 kcal surplus and adequate protein intake) designed to optimize hypertrophy. Body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), handgrip strength, and one-repetition maximum (1-RM), maximal force (F0), velocity (V0), and power (Pmax) were measured in bench press (BP) and squat (SQ) tests conducted before and after the intervention. To detect between-group differences, multiple-mixed analysis of variance, standardized differences, and qualitative differences were estimated. Relative changes within each group were assessed using a paired Student's t test. Results In both groups, similar improvements were produced in BP 1-RM , SQ 1-RM SQ, and BP F0 (P < 0.05) after the resistance training program. A small effect size was observed for BP 1-RM (d = 0.53), BP F0 (d = 0.48), and SQ 1-RM (d = –0.39), but not for SQ F0 (d = 0.03). Dominant handgrip strength was significantly increased only in the placebo group (P < 0.05). According to body composition data, a significant increase was produced in upper body fat-free mass soft tissue (FFMST; P < 0.05) in the placebo group, whereas neither total nor segmental FFMST was increased in the vitamin group. Small intervention effect sizes were observed for upper body FFSMT (d = 0.32), non-dominant and dominant leg FFMST (d = –0.39; d = –0.42). Although a significant increase in total body fat was observed in both groups (P < 0.05) only the placebo group showed an increase in visceral adipose tissue (P < 0.05), showing a substantial intervention effect (d = 0.85). Conclusions The data indicated that, although VitC/VitE supplementation seemed to blunt upper body strength and hypertrophy adaptations to resistance training, it could also mitigate gains in visceral adipose tissue elicited by an energy surplus.pre-print1,83 M

Electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to added-value chemicals in a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane reactor

We have developed a novel gas-phase electrocatalytic system for the conversion of CO2 into added-value chemicals. The system is based on a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane reactor containing a Cu cathodic catalyst supported on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and an H3PO4-doped polybenzimidazole polymer electrolyte membrane (PBI). The resulting Cu–CNFs/PBI/IrO2 membrane electrode assembly (MEA) allowed the utilization of higher temperatures (110 °C) than has been previously reported. The application of a low current density (− 0.8 mA/cm2) permitted the direct transformation of CO2 into various organic compounds in the C1–C3 range, acetaldehyde being the most common product (85% selectivity). The application of a higher current density (− 1.6 mA/cm2) increased the overall electrocatalytic activity of the system, producing lighter and more saturated compounds. The novel electrochemical cell proposed in this work allows the conversion of CO2 into valuable products under mild conditions (i.e., room pressure, 110 °C) with no requirement for H2 and using electrical energy that could potentially be obtained from renewable energy sources.Hemos desarrollado un novedoso sistema electrocatalítico en fase gas para la conversión de CO 2 en productos químicos de valor añadido. El sistema se basa en un reactor de membrana de intercambio de protones de alta temperatura que contiene un catalizador catódico de Cu soportado en nanofibras de carbono (CNF) y una membrana de electrolito de polímero de polibencimidazol dopado con H 3 PO 4 (PBI). El conjunto de electrodos de membrana (MEA) de Cu–CNFs/PBI/IrO 2 resultante permitió la utilización de temperaturas más altas (110 °C) de lo que se informó anteriormente. La aplicación de una baja densidad de corriente (− 0,8 mA/cm 2 ) permitió la transformación directa de CO 2 en varios compuestos orgánicos en el rango C 1 -C 3 , siendo el acetaldehído el producto más común (85% de selectividad). La aplicación de una mayor densidad de corriente ( −1,6 mA/cm 2 ) aumentó la actividad electrocatalítica global del sistema, produciendo compuestos más ligeros y saturados. La novedosa celda electroquímica propuesta en este trabajo permite la conversión de CO 2 en productos valiosos en condiciones moderadas (es decir, presión ambiental, 110 °C) sin necesidad de H 2 y utilizando energía eléctrica que podría obtenerse potencialmente de fuentes de energía renovables

The fate of Guadalquivir River discharges in the coastal strip of the Gulf of Cadiz. A study based on the linking of watershed catchment and hydrodynamic models.

A catchmentmodel for river basins and a hydrodynamicmodelwere combined in order to simulate the spreading of the turbidity plume produced by sediment discharges from the Guadalquivir River basin within the Gulf of Cádiz under different meteorological conditions. The current fields provided by the hydrodynamic model and a transport-diffusion scheme based on tracking virtual particles tracking released at the river mouth have enabled us to simulate turbidity plumes that show great similarity with the plumes observed in satellite images. The most relevant results of the study show that in the absence of winds, the plume tends to spread very slowly, gradually progressing northwards; this is because of the symmetry between the filling and draining flows at the mouth of the Guadalquivir and low intensity of the tidal currents beyond the mouth. In addition, the transport of the plume towards the Strait of Gibraltar requires wind conditions with a northerly, north-westerly or westerly component. Westwards transport, however, requires winds with an easterly, southerly, or south-easterly component. The periods of heaviest rainfall in the Guadalquivir River basin coincide with winds mainly from the west; therefore, the times ofmaximum discharge at the mouth of the river occurwhen there are wind conditions that favour the transport of the matter suspended in the plume, southwards along the coast, towards the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. Linking the watershed catchment and hydrodynamic models has proved its suitability to predict the evolution and reaching of the sediment plumes fromthe Guadalquivir River discharges and the experience encourages the use of that methodology to be applied in a future prediction systemfor the creation and evolution of those sediment plumes.We would like to thank the Regional Government of Andalusia ( P11-RNM-7722 project), the Spanish Government (TRUCO project RTI2018-100865-B-C22 ), the SUDOE INTERREG AGUAMOD and OCASO projects for supporting this work financially. We are also grateful to NASA for distributing the MODIS data used in this study, and to the AERONET project for the MODIS AQUA RGB True Color Images, especially those from the Malaga-San Jose and Huelva stations

Susceptibility of Domestic Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) to Experimental Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.351/Beta Variant

A wide range of animal species are susceptible to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Natural and/or experimental infections have been reported in pet, zoo, farmed and wild animals. Interestingly, some SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.1.7/Alpha, B.1.351/Beta, and B.1.1.529/Omicron, were demonstrated to infect some animal species not susceptible to classical viral variants. The present study aimed to elucidate if goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) are susceptible to the B.1.351/Beta variant. First, an in silico approach was used to predict the affinity between the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351/Beta variant and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 from goats. Moreover, we performed an experimental inoculation with this variant in domestic goat and showed evidence of infection. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in nasal swabs and tissues by RT-qPCR and/or immunohistochemistry, and seroneutralisation was confirmed via ELISA and live virus neutralisation assays. However, the viral amount and tissue distribution suggest a low susceptibility of goats to the B.1.351/Beta variant. Therefore, although monitoring livestock is advisable, it is unlikely that goats play a role as SARS-CoV-2 reservoir species, and they are not useful surrogates to study SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed animals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Susceptibility of Domestic Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) to Experimental Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.351/Beta Variant

A wide range of animal species are susceptible to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Natural and/or experimental infections have been reported in pet, zoo, farmed and wild animals. Interestingly, some SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.1.7/Alpha, B.1.351/Beta, and B.1.1.529/Omicron, were demonstrated to infect some animal species not susceptible to classical viral variants. The present study aimed to elucidate if goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) are susceptible to the B.1.351/Beta variant. First, an in silico approach was used to predict the affinity between the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351/Beta variant and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 from goats. Moreover, we performed an experimental inoculation with this variant in domestic goat and showed evidence of infection. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in nasal swabs and tissues by RT-qPCR and/or immunohistochemistry, and seroneutralisation was confirmed via ELISA and live virus neutralisation assays. However, the viral amount and tissue distribution suggest a low susceptibility of goats to the B.1.351/Beta variant. Therefore, although monitoring livestock is advisable, it is unlikely that goats play a role as SARS-CoV-2 reservoir species, and they are not useful surrogates to study SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed animals

Análisis de las actitudes de los estudiantes hacia el aprendizaje colaborativo y en línea

El presente proyecto aborda dos aspectos muy importantes y estrechamente ligados a la adquisición de competencias básicas de cualquier titulación de grado actual y altamente demandadas por los empleadores: la adquisición de habilidades para desarrollar trabajo colaborativo y la capacidad de desarrollar actividades de aprendizaje en línea. Estas últimas tienen una doble función. Por una parte, deben preparar a los estudiantes para ser capaces de gestionar su trabajo, de manera autónoma, con vistas al posible desarrollo de trabajo no presencial, cada vez más importante en muchos entornos laborales. Por otra parte, deber permitirles adquirir las habilidades necesarias para continuar se formación a lo largo de su vida (LLL, Long Life Learning) a través de entornos más informales, pero no por ello menos efectivos, como puede ser el caso de los Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC), ofertados cada vez por más instituciones, con cursos de calidad, impartidos por grandes expertos y con posibilidades de certificación del trabajo realizado

Desarrollo de herramientas para el aprendizaje interactivo y experimental del Electromagnetismo en el aula

Depto. de Física de MaterialesFac. de Ciencias FísicasFALSEsubmitte

Epidemiology of invasive candidiasis in a surgical intensive care unit: an observational study

Background: Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a frequent and life-threatening infection in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of IC and the antifungal susceptibility of etiological agents in patients admitted to our surgical intensive care unit (SICU) in Spain. Methods: We designed a prospective, observational, single center, population-based study in a SICU. We included all consecutive adult patients (≥18 years old) who had documented IC, either on admission or during their stay, between January 2012 and December 2013. Results: There were a total of 22 episodes of IC in the 1149 patients admitted during the 24-month study. The overall IC incidence was 19.1 cases per 1000 admissions. Thirteen cases of IC (59.1 %) were intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) and 9 (40.9 %) were candidemias. All cases of IAC were patients with secondary peritonitis and severe sepsis or septic shock. The overall crude mortality rate was 13.6 %; while, it was 33 % in patients with candidemia. All patients with IAC survived, including one patient with concomitant candidemia. The most common species causing IC was Candida albicans (13; 59.1 %) followed by Candida parapsilosis (5; 22.7 %), and Candida glabrata (2; 9.1 %). There was also one case each (4.5 %) of Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis. Thus, the ratio of non-C. albicans (9) to C. albicans (13) was 1:1.4. There was resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole in 13.6 % of cases. Resistance to other antifungals was uncommon. Conclusions: Candida parapsilosis was the second most common species after C. albicans, indicating the high prevalence of non-C. albicans species in the SICU. Resistance to azoles, particularly fluconazole, should be considered when starting an empirical treatment. Although IAC is a very frequent form of IC in critically ill surgical patients, prompt antifungal therapy and adequate source control appears to lead to a good outcome. However, our results are closely related to our ICU and any generalization must be taken with caution. Therefore, further investigations are needed. Keywords: Intensive care unit, Invasive candidiasis, Candidemia, Antifungal susceptibilit