Valorization of carbohydrates: dehydration of sorbitol to isosorbide in the presence of acidic zeolites

Currently, the growing interest in the use of biomass as a renewable and sustainable raw material for the production of energy, chemicals and biofuels is driving the development of new catalytic processes and technologies for its conversion. In this context, the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass can lead to a variety of platform chemicals, with a broad spectrum of applications. Sorbitol is one of the useful biomass-derived chemicals that is obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of glucose, which subsequent dehydration and intramolecular cyclization in acid medium gives rise to the formation of isosorbide. This is a high value-added chemical widely used as intermediate in the pharmaceutical industry, additive polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and production of biodegradable polymers. Mineral acids such as sulphuric and hydrochloric acids have efficient catalytic properties for dehydration of sorbitol. However, the well-known drawbacks associated to homogeneous catalysis have promoted the studies of heterogeneous catalytic processes. Thus, solid acid catalysts such as zeolites, tetravalent metal phosphates and sulfated copper oxide have been reported as alternative solid catalysts. Nevertheless, sometimes, drastic experimental conditions are required to reach a high catalytic activity. In the present work, different commercial zeolites, in their protonic form, have been evaluated as acid solid catalysts for sorbitol dehydration, and several experimental variables have been optimizedUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTQ2012-38204-C04-02 project), Junta de Andalucía (RNM-1565) y Fondos FEDER de la U

Enhanced average for event-related potential analysis using dynamic time warping

Electroencephalography (EEG) provides a way to understand, and evaluate neurotransmission. In this context, time-locked EEG activity or event-related potentials (ERPs) are often used to capture neural activity related to specific mental processes. Normally, they are considered on the basis of averages across a number of trials. However, there exist notable variability in latency jitter, jitter, and amplitude, across trials, and, also, across users; this causes the average ERP waveform to blur, and, furthermore, diminish the amplitude of underlying waves. For these reasons, a strategy is proposed for obtaining ERP waveforms based on dynamic time warping (DTW) to adapt, and adjust individual trials to the averaged ERP, previously calculated, to build an enhanced average by making use of these warped signals. At the sight of the experiments carried out on the behaviour of the proposed scheme using publicly available datasets, this strategy reduces the attenuation in amplitude of ERP components thanks to the reduction of the influence of variability of latency and jitter, and, thus, improves the averaged ERP waveforms.This publication is part of project PID2021-123207NB-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 / FEDER, UE. This work was partially funded by Junta de Andalucía, Proyectos de I+D+i, in the framework of Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación (PAIDI 2020), under Project No. PY20_00237. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga/CBUA. This work was done at Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucia Tech

Altered Synaptic Membrane Retrieval after Strong Stimulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons in Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase II (cGKII) Knockout Mice

The nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)/cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGK) signaling pathway regulates the clustering and the recruitment of proteins and vesicles to the synapse, thereby adjusting the exoendocytic cycle to the intensity of activity. Accordingly, this pathway can accelerate endocytosis following large-scale exocytosis, and pre-synaptic cGK type II (cGKII) plays a major role in this process, controlling the homeostatic balance of vesicle exocytosis and endocytosis. We have studied synaptic vesicle recycling in cerebellar granule cells from mice lacking cGKII under strong and sustained stimulation, combining imaging techniques and ultrastructural analyses. The ultrastructure of synapses in the adult mouse cerebellar cortex was also examined in these animals. The lack of cGKII provokes structural changes to synapses in cultured cells and in the cerebellar cortex. Moreover, endocytosis is slowed down in a subset of boutons in these cells when they are stimulated strongly. In addition, from the results obtained with the selective inhibitor of cGKs, KT5823, it can be concluded that cGKI also regulates some aspects of vesicle cycling. Overall, these results confirm the importance of the cGMP pathway in the regulation of vesicle cycling following strong stimulation of cerebellar granule cells

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Póster presentado en Kohaference 2019, tercer encuentro de la Comunidad Koha en España, organizado y presentado por la Universidad de Cádi

Self-Perceived Work Disability in a School of Children with Special Needs

Objetivo. Las elevadas exigencias psicosociales y físicas de los trabajadores de los Centros de Educación Especial (CEE), conllevan una alta implicación y pueden desencadenar situaciones de estrés y discapacidad laboral. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la discapacidad laboral auto-percibida y su relación con variables sociodemográficas, laborales y de salud, en una muestra de trabajadores de este colectivo. Métodos. Estudio transversal realizado con trabajadores (n=40) de un CEE de Murcia (España). Se utilizó la versión en castellano del WRFQ para medir la capacidad laboral auto-percibida, y un cuestionario ad hoc para variables sociodemográficas, laborales y de salud. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables estudiadas. Las diferencias entre grupos se estudiaron mediante las pruebas U de Mann-Whitney, T de Student y Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados. La edad media de los participantes fue 40,15 ± 10,53 años, el 82,5% fueron mujeres, el 60% usuarios de ordenador y el 92,50% realizaba atención directa a niños. Las subescalas de exigencias de la producción y exigencias físicas obtuvieron los peores resultados. Presentaron puntuaciones inferiores los trabajadores <40 años en las subescalas de gestión del tiempo (p=0,002) y exigencias de producción (p=0,01); los que empleaban ordenador en gestión del tiempo (p<0,001), exigencias de la producción (p<0,001) y exigencias psicológicas (p=0,005); así como la categoría laboral de directivo y sanitario. Conclusiones. El nivel de discapacidad laboral auto-percibida es bajo, siendo las subescalas exigencias de la producción y exigencias físicas las peor valoradas. Las condiciones de trabajo relacionadas con un mayor grado de discapacidad laboral auto-percibida son el uso de ordenador, la categoría laboral y el manejo de cargas.Aims. Increased psychosocial and physical demands of the Special Education Centers (SEC) workers can also lead to intense involvement, triggering stressful and to trigger stress situations and potentially work disability. The objective of this study was to assess the self-perceived occupational disability and its relation with socio-demographic, occupational and health variables with in a sample of this these workers. Methods. Cross-sectional study with of 40 SEC workers of in Murcia (Spain) (n = 40). The Spanish WRFQ version was used to measure self-perceived work ability. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for to collect sociodemographic, occupational, and health variables. A descriptive analysis of the studied variables was performed. Differences between groups were studied using the Mann-Whitney U test, Student’s T test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results. The mean age of the sample was 40.15 ± 10.53 years; 82.5% were women, 60% were computer users and 92.50% were directly attending children. The subscales of production requirements and physical demands had the worst results. Workers <40 years presented lower scores in for the time management subscales (p = 0.002) and production requirements (p = 0.01); Computer computer users in time management (p <0.001), production requirements (p <0.001) and psychological requirements (p = 0.005); as well as among those working as managers and healthcare employeesthe employment status of executive and sanitary. Conclusions. The level of self-perceived occupational disability is was low in this collective, with the subscales of production requirements and physical requirements being the worst evaluated. The working conditions related to a higher degree of self-perceived occupational disability are were the use of a computer, the employment status and the manual materials handling

First report and comparative genomics analysis of a blaoxa-244-haarboring escherichia coli isolate recovered in the American continent

The carbapenemase OXA-244 is a derivate of OXA-48, and its detection is very difficult in laboratories. Here, we report the identification and genomic analysis of an Escherichia coli isolate (28Eco12) harboring the blaOXA-244 gene identified in Colombia, South America. The 28Eco12 isolate was identified during a retrospective study, and it was recovered from a patient treated in Colombia. The complete nucleotide sequence was established using the PacBio platform. A comparative genomics analysis with other blaOXA-244–harboring Escherichia coli strains was performed. The 28Eco12 isolate belonged to sequence type (ST) 38, and its genome was composed of two molecules, a chromosome of 5,343,367 bp and a plasmid of 92,027 bp, which belonged to the incompatibility group IncY and did not harbor resistance genes. The blaOXA-244 gene was chromosomally encoded and mobilized by an ISR1-related Tn6237 composite transposon. Notably, this transposon was inserted and located within a new genomic island. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a blaOXA-244–harboring Escherichia coli isolate in America. Our results suggest that the introduction of the OXA-244-producing E. coli isolate was through clonal expansion of the ST38 pandemic clone. Other isolates producing OXA-244 could be circulating silently in America

Spanish cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) Overuse Injury Questionnaire in Handball Players.

Objectives: The aim of this study was the cultural adaptation, Spanish translation and validation of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) Overuse Injury Questionnaire in an adult population. Design: In this study, a cross-sectional design was used. Methods: This study was divided into two phases: (1) cross-cultural adaptation of the original version of the OSTRC to a Spanish version (OSTRC-Sp) and (2) analysis of the psychometric properties of the OSTRC-Sp. A total of 427 handball players of both sexes and over 18 years of age participated in the study. Results: The translated version of the questionnaire showed a very high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.954), while the subscales showed an internal consistency between 0.832 and 0.961, with the endmost values being for shoulder and low back pain, respectively. On the other hand, when analysing item responses, the OSTRC-Sp showed ICC values ranging from 0.844 to 0.956, the former being for the first back question (back_1), and the latter for the fourth shoulder question (shoulder_4), in line with most published versions. Conclusion: The Spanish version of the OSTRC is a reliable and valid tool that can be used by researchers and clinicians in a Spanish-speaking population with musculoskeletal disorders

Sleep disturbances and gestational diabetes prevalence on last trimester of pregnancy

Introducción: estudios recientes sugieren que las mujeres con diagnóstico de diabetes gestacional tienen más probabilidad de padecer trastornos del sueño en comparación con el resto de las mujeres embarazadas. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron analizar los factores de riesgo asociados a diabetes gestacional y verificar una asociación entre padecer o no diabetes gestacional y la calidad del sueño y/o somnolencia. Material y métodos: estudio observacional de casos y controles a partir de una muestra de 130 gestantes, 46 con diabetes gestacional y 84 controles. Se realizó una valoración antropométrica, evaluando peso, estatura, índice de masa corporal (IMC) y perímetro abdominal. Se realizó una valoración sociodemográfica, evaluando edad y situación familiar y laboral, así como un estudio ginecológico, evaluando número de partos simples y múltiples, número de abortos y patología ginecológica durante los últimos tres años. Para el diagnóstico de diabetes gestacional se realizó el test de O‘Sullivan. Se midió la calidad del sueño y la somnolencia diurna. Resultados: del total de gestantes estudiadas, 46 fueron diagnosticadas de diabetes gestacional. Existen diferencias significativas (p < 0,001) en las puntuaciones del IMC entre gestantes diabéticas y no diabéticas, siendo sus valores más elevados entre las diabéticas. Existe una asociación significativa (p = 0,002) entre la existencia de antecedentes familiares de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y padecer o no diabetes gestacional. Las gestantes diabéticas presentan un significativo empeoramiento (p < 0,001) de la calidad del sueño. Respecto a la somnolencia diurna, las gestantes diabéticas poseen una somnolencia diurna superior a la media poblacional. Conclusiones: en la población estudiada, puntuaciones elevadas en el IMC, así como antecedentes familiares de confordiabetes mellitus tipo 2 parecen ser factores asociados al riesgo de padecer diabetes gestacional. Las embarazadas con diabetes gestacional poseen una peor calidad del sueño y un grado de somnolencia diurna superior al de la media poblacional, reduciéndose con ello el bienestar de la madre y del feto.Introduction: recent studies suggest that women with gestational diabetes are more likely to suffer sleep disorders compared to pregnant women without diabetes. The objectives of this study were to analyze the risk factors associated with gestational diabetes and to verify if exist an association between the presence or abscense of gestational diabetes and the quality of the sleep and/or daytime sleepiness. Material and methods: case-controls study with a sample of 130 pregnant women, 46 of them with gestational diabetes and 84 controls. Anthropometric parameters such as weight, stature, body mass index (BMI) and abdominal perimeter were evaluated. Socio-demographic variables, including age and family situation were assessed, and a gynecological study was performed, evaluating the number of simple or multiple births, number of miscarriages and gynecological pathology during the past 3 years. The O’Sullivan test was conducted for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. The quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness were also measured. Results: 46 women were diagnosed of gestational diabetes. There are significant differences (p < 0.001) in BMI scores among women with gestational diabetes and controls, being the highest values in the diabetic group. There is a significant association (p = 0.002) between the existence of family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the presence or abscense of gestational diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes present a significant worse quality of sleep (p < 0.001), and values of daytime sleepiness higher than the general population. Conclusions: high values of BMI or family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus seems to be factors associated to the risk of suffer gestational diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes have a poorer quality of sleep and a higher degree of daytime sleepiness than the general population, reducing the well-being of the mother and the fetus

Investigar para educar en una conyuntura de crisis

Esta publicación pretende hacer visible el trabajo de los docentes investigadores de la Facultad de Educación (FED) de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, unidad académica que forma a formadores y que investiga para ofrecer respuestas a problemas educativos actuales. Es una recopilación de conocimientos evaluados por pares, quienes, de modo creativo y fundamentado, ofrecen al lector diversas respuestas que predisponen al diálogo, sin presentar sus posturas como verdades absolutas. La Facultad de Educación, como educadora de futuros profesores, acoge asignaturas y profesionales de múltiples áreas, desde la lingüística o la matemática hasta las ciencias naturales y sociales, pasando por muchas otras disciplinas, tales como: antropología, didáctica, pedagogía o ética; así, los docentes-investigadores de la FED realizan estudios muy diversos, lo cual se ve reflejado en los trabajos que se presentan