Síntesis y análisis de las propiedades antimicrobianas y antibiopelícula de materiales biopolimero-plata.

El desarrollo de antibióticos se ha enfocado en inhibir el crecimiento de bacterias a nivel individual, sin tomar en cuenta los mecanismos de resistencia emergentes a nivel de biopelículas. Aproximadamente el 80 % de las infecciones microbianas en humanos son causadas por biopelículas bacterianas, por lo cual es necesario identificar moléculas que sean capaces de inhibir el crecimiento bacteriano en forma plantónica como en forma de biopelícula. En el presente trabajo de investigación se realizó una caracterización parcial del exopolisacárido producido por la levadura Rhodotorula mucilaginosa UANL -001L así como la evaluación antimicrobiana del mismo. Específicamente, se analizó la actividad antibacteriana y antibiopelícula contra las cepas bacterianas E. coli ATCC 11229, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 y Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Una vez determinadas las concentraciones efectivas contra estos microorganismos, se prosiguió a funcionalizar el polímero con nanopartículas de plata. Una vez sintetizadas y caracterizadas las nanopartículas de plata se encontró que la actividad antimicrobiana del híbrido polímero/nanoparticulas de plata fue potenciada de forma significativa. Por último se puede concluir que los productos obtenidos en este trabajo de investigación presentan propiedades potenciales para desarrollar nuevos agentes antimicrobianos

Creación de cuestionarios avanzados usando la plataforma Moodle

Asumiendo el papel de orientador, el profesor debe además, evaluar el proceso de aprendizaje del estudiante, no para sancionar sus resultados meramente, sino para ayudarle a cumplir objetivos mediante un seguimiento continuo de su trabajo. Así, aunque puedan ser necesarios los exámenes finales, no serán los únicos métodos de evaluación existentes. Para grupos grandes, puede resultar engorroso el excesivo trabajo que conlleva la evaluación continua de un elevado número de estudiantes. Por ello, resulta de gran utilidad hacer uso del módulo cuestionario empleando la plataforma Moodle. En definitiva, si nuestro propósito es usar Moodle para evaluar las competencias adquiridas por un alumno a través de una prueba objetiva o examen, las preguntas denominadas de tipo calculada son muy útiles para generar cuestionarios en esta plataforma virtual. De esta manera, cada alumno tendrá diferentes preguntas, por lo que se puede evitar que se pasen las respuestas ya que deben conocer el procedimiento para obtener la solución a la pregunta. El objetivo principal es aprender no pasar exámenes.Taking on the role of adviser, the teacher must now assess the student ́s learning process, not merely to sanction his results but to help the student achieve his best results through a constant supervision of his work. In this way, even though there may be final exams, these won ́t be the only means of assessment. Sometimes the great amount of work that constant supervision implies may prove to be cumbersome. For this reason it is useful to employ questionnaires using Moodle. In short, if our purpose is to use Moodle to assess the student ́s competence acquired through an exam, calculated question types are very useful to generate questions in this virtual domain. Therefore each student will have different questions and we will avoid situations in which the students share the answers since they will have to know the procedure to arrive at the solution

Shrinkage studies and optimization of multiplexed holographic lenses with high diffractive efficiency and wide angular response

Today, the advancement of optical systems that can harness clean and renewable energy sources is a major focus for researchers and innovators worldwide. As we strive to create a sustainable future, this challenge has become increasingly critical to our success. Fresnel lenses are widely used as traditional concentrators, but they have a small acceptance angle, and the reflective elements need continuous maintenance of the surface reflectivity. Transmitting Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs) are an alternative to conventional lenses because they are more economical and versatile. Their material is usually a flexible photopolymer so that the optical element can be attached to different types of support, depending on whether one type of handling is required or another, and they tend to have low weight and volume, as well as a simple way of manufacturing. In addition, also provide an extended focusing area which helps to protect solar cells from heating damage. A theoretical and experimental study on the shrinkage of multiplexed holographic lenses (MHL) that were stored in a low-toxicity photopolymer was carried out. To accomplish the study, a K-space tool was used. Furthermore, an optimization analysis of the angular distance between peaks was performed. To determine efficiency, an evaluation of the short-circuit current under solar illumination with varying incident reconstruction angles was done.This research was funded by Universidad de Alicante (UAFPU20-23); Generalitat Valenciana (CIDEXG/2022/60, IDIFEDER/2021/014, PROMETEO/2021/006); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2019-106601RB-I00, PID2021-123124OB-I00)

Diffraction efficiency in reflection holograms stored in photopolymers doped with metallic nanoparticles

In the last few years, the interest in storing volume holograms in photopolymers has increased enormously due to their applications in industry, the medical field, security, or renewal energy among others. The production of environmentally compatible photopolymers is one of the main focuses of Holography research. In this work, we have studied how to increase the diffraction efficiency of reflection holograms stored in a low-toxicity PVA-based photopolymer called Biophotopol. The holographic material has been doped with different types of nanoparticles (NPs) to achieve an increase in the refractive index modulation during the recording stage. Metallic NPs, obtained by physical and electrochemical methods have been used. The results obtained with all of them have been compared as a function of the concentration used, the size of the NPs, and the stabilization method used for their synthesis. A considerable increase in diffraction efficiency has been achieved by using NPs in the low-toxicity material. By using high refractive index NPs, the average refractive index of the holographic material increases and consequently the diffraction efficiency.This research was funded by Generalitat Valenciana, Spain, under projects PROMETEO/2021/006, IDIFEDER/2021/014 (co-funded by European Union through the FEDER Program) and CIDEXG/2022/60; Universidad de Alicante, Spain, under project UAFPU20-23 and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain, under projects PID2019-106601RB-I00 and PID2021-123124OB-I00

Learning Physics with Wolfram Alpha

We believe we are at the beginning of a new Big Bang. This great explosion places us at the dawn of a new era in learning Physics, and we would like to participate in this fascinating process. Mobile devices are exponentially growing amongst our students, so we are convinced that they must be used to promote active learning. In this work, we will focus on several apps from Wolfram Research Company: Wolfram Alpha, Wolfram Alpha Viewer, Physics I and Physics II. All of them have many possibilities to achieve an autonomous and active learning. These apps allow users to select different options from a specific menu, enter values of the required parameters and the app calculates by itself the magnitude involved in the process. In addition, these apps also allow us to study the major laws of Physics, to look for the different units of the International System of Units or even to manage the most common physical constants. We are convinced that there is a necessity of developing more applications for smartphones that will empower a meaningful learning of Physics using apps for the operating systems iOS, Android, Windows Phone and those that arise in the future. This opportunity, which is provided to us by the new technologies, cannot be unexploited. We must strongly engage into this topic to achieve a meaningful learning.AB thanks the “Generalitat Valenciana” of Spain (project PROMETEOII/2015/015) and the "Vicerrectorado de Tecnologías de la Información" of the University of Alicante, Spain (project GITE-09006-UA)

The use of conceptual maps in solving Physics problems

The conceptual maps allow representing graphically the existing relationships between ideas, associations, and hierarchies. They have been used in recent years in learning all areas of knowledge and educational levels in academic and non-academic environments. Due to the fact that they facilitate reading, they favor memorization and metacognition; they also describe the aspects that compose a whole. In Physics’ learning, they have been used to identify previous knowledge, to evaluate the acquired learning, to summarize texts, but its use has been little exploited in the accompaniment to the solution of Physics problem. This work presents an educational strategy that allows guiding the student during the realization of problems through the use of conceptual maps and infographics, which can be applied in university students and other educational levels, using as a reference the Taxonomy of Introductory Physics Problems (TIPP)

Case-based learning in materials engineering: the ouija board of the devil

The training of the students of electrical mechanical engineering is based on the acquisition of disciplinary knowledge in the areas of thermodynamics, mechanical, electrical and electronic design, quality control, safety and hygiene and materials. Bringing the application of this knowledge to the solution of real problems requires higher-order cognitive skills such as the development of complex thinking among others. Case-based Learning (CBL) is a methodology that favors active learning and the construction of arguments, allowing students to see theory in the practice in a real-life context. In materials engineering, characterization techniques allow to evaluate the properties of the materials and thereby determine if the material is useful for a given application. Traditionally students learn this content from following procedures, but deciding which technique to use causes those difficulties, especially when it is necessary to define the variables to be measured. Within the course of materials engineering, a case-based educational strategy was applied to a group of 19 students of electrical mechanical Engineering at a public University of San Luis Potosi, Mexico with the purpose of evaluating the knowledge acquired in the subject. The solution of the case "the Ouija of the Devil: the Molecular detector GT200", allowed to identify the level of knowledge on characterization techniques, the variables involved, the limitations and necessary parameters to carry out the measurements, on the other Side, the importance of scientific knowledge was identified to solve problems and its impact on decision-making in public policies and resource management. As this is a case associated with the acquisition of equipment by the Mexican government, whose functions were totally false, it allowed exploring the attitudes of t students towards the corruption and the necessary values to practice the profession. The proposed methodology was that of CBL, the learning evidence was analyzed under a qualitative approach

Interferon-stimulated gene 15 pathway is a novel mediator of endothelial dysfunction and aneurysms development in angiotensin II infused mice through increased oxidative stress

AIMS: Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) encodes a ubiquitin-like protein that induces a reversible post-translational modification (ISGylation) and can also be secreted as a free form. ISG15 plays an essential role as host-defence response to microbial infection; however, its contribution to vascular damage associated with hypertension is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bioinformatics identified ISG15 as a mediator of hypertension-associated vascular damage. ISG15 expression positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickness in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Consistently, Isg15 expression was enhanced in aorta from hypertension models and in angiotensin II (AngII)-treated vascular cells and macrophages. Proteomics revealed differential expression of proteins implicated in cardiovascular function, extracellular matrix and remodelling, and vascular redox state in aorta from AngII-infused ISG15-/- mice. Moreover, ISG15-/- mice were protected against AngII-induced hypertension, vascular stiffness, elastin remodelling, endothelial dysfunction, and expression of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Conversely, mice with excessive ISGylation (USP18C61A) show enhanced AngII-induced hypertension, vascular fibrosis, inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation along with elastin breaks, aortic dilation, and rupture. Accordingly, human and murine abdominal aortic aneurysms showed augmented ISG15 expression. Mechanistically, ISG15 induces vascular ROS production, while antioxidant treatment prevented ISG15-induced endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling. CONCLUSION: ISG15 is a novel mediator of vascular damage in hypertension through oxidative stress and inflammation.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)/FSE (SAF2016-80305P; SAF2017-88089-R; SAF2016-79151-R; RTI2018-099246-B-I00), Ministerio de Innovación, Cultura y Deportes (PGC2018-097019-B-I00), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII; FIS PI18/0919); Comunidad de Madrid (CM) (AORTASANA B2017/BMD-3676) FEDER-a way to build Europe, Bayer AG (2019-09-2433), CM-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (SI1-PJI-2019-00321), and British Heart Foundation (CH/12/4/29762; RE//18/6/34217). M.G.-A. was supported by an FPI-UAM fellowship, R.R.-D. by a Juan de la Cierva contract (IJCI-2017-31399), and A.C.M. by a Walton Fellowship, University of Glasgow. The CNIC is supported by ISCIII, the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, and the Pro CNIC Foundation, and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (SEV-2015-0505)

Reconfigurable multiplexed point of Care System for monitoring type 1 diabetes patients

At the point of care (POC), on-side clinical testing allows fast biomarkers determination even in resource-limited environments. Current POC systems rely on tests selective to a single analyte or complex multiplexed systems with important portability and performance limitations. Hence, there is a need for handheld POC devices enabling the detection of multiple analytes with accuracy and simplicity. Here we present a reconfigurable smartphone-interfaced electrochemical Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC)with two working electrodes for dual analyte determination enabling biomarkers' selection in situ and on-demand. Biomarkers selection was achieved by the use of electrodepositable alginate hydrogels. Alginate membranes containing either glucose oxidase (GOx)or lactate oxidase (LOx)were selectively electrodeposited on the surface of each working electrode in around 4 min, completing sample measurement in less than 1 min. Glucose and lactate determination was performed simultaneously and without cross-talk in buffer, fetal bovine serum (FBS)and whole blood samples, the latter being possible by the size-exclusion filtration capacity of the hydrogels. At optimal conditions, glucose and lactate were determined in a wide linear range (0–12 mM and 0–5 mM, respectively)and with high sensitivities (0.24 and 0.54 μA cm −2 mM −1 , respectively), which allowed monitoring of Type-1 diabetic patients with a simple dual analysis system. After the measurement, membranes were removed by disaggregation with the calcium-chelator phosphate buffer. At this point, new membranes could be electrodeposited, this time being selective to the same or another analyte. This conferred the system with on-demand biomarkers’ selection capacity. The versatility and flexibility of the current architecture is expected to impact in POC analysis in applications ranging from homecare to sanitary emergencies.Peer reviewe