Hybrid materials with nanoscopic anion-binding pockets for the colorimetric sensing of phosphate in water using displacement assays

Mesoporous amino-functionalised solids containing certain dyes have been used as suitable anion hosts in displacement assays for the colorimetric signalling of phosphate in water.Amoros del Toro, Pedro Jose, [email protected]

Grado en Química: coordinación y seguimiento del curso 2014-15

En la red docente "Seguimiento del grado en Química", formada por los coordinadores de las comisiones de semestre de la Facultad de Ciencias y la coordinadora del grado en Química, se ha analizado la información extraída de las reuniones periódicas (al menos dos por semestre) de las ocho comisiones de semestre (correspondientes a los cuatro cursos del grado en Química). El objetivo es conseguir una coherencia tanto en la distribución de contenidos, como en las metodologías docentes y de evaluación de las materias que componen el plan de estudios del Grado en Química de la Universidad de Alicante. Los resultados de este trabajo están permitiendo identificar problemas y plantear propuestas de mejora en la organización docente de la titulación. El trabajo realizado por la red se está utilizando para elaborar el autoinforme para la reacreditación del grado en Química

A moderate protein diet does not cover the requirements of growing rabbits with high growth rate

[EN] Genetic selection for feed efficiency has increased the growth rate and requirements of growing rabbits, while the protein content of commercial feeds has been adjusted to avoid digestive disorders. The aim of this work was to evaluate how a diet with moderate levels of protein content [146 g crude protein (CP)/kg] could be affecting protein and amino acids acquisition depending on the growth rate of the animals. From 189 weaned rabbits (28 days old), only 41 animals were selected at 42 days, in order to ensure the greatest variability for growth rate during fattening. To achieve this goal, animals came from three genetic lines: H and LP (maternal lines selected by litter size) and R (paternal line selected for growth rate), characterised by normal, moderate and high growth rate during the fattening period, respectively. Apparent faecal digestibility of dry matter (DM), CP and gross energy (GE) of the diet from 49-53 days of age, as well as the ileal apparent digestibility of DM, CP and amino acids at 63 days of age, was determined in all the selected animals. Protein, energy and amino acids retained in the empty body during the fattening period were also determined by slaughtering 15 weaning rabbits at 28 days, and the 41 selected animals at 63 days of age. Animals from the R line showed higher feed intake than those from maternal lines, as well as lower feed conversion ratio, even below that expected from their growth rate. Apparent faecal digestibility of GE and apparent ileal digestibility of DM, CP and cystine of the diet were higher in LP than in H rabbits (P < 0.05), showing intermediate values in R rabbits. However, apparent ileal digestibility of glutamic acid and glycine was significantly higher in R than in H rabbits (P < 0.05), showing intermediate values in LP rabbits. As expected, both daily protein and energy retained in the empty body increased as growth increased. However, R growing rabbits seem to have lower protein retained and higher energy retained in the empty body than that expected from their growth. In fact, protein to energy retained ratio was clearly lower for R growing rabbits. These results seem to show the possible existence of some limiting amino acid when current moderate protein diets are used in growing rabbits with high growth rates, recommending a review of the amino acid requirements for the growing rabbits from paternal lines.This study was supported by the Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology (CICYT) from the Spanish Government (AGL2017-85162-C2-1-R). The grant for Pablo Marin from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (FPU-2014-01203) is also gratefully acknowledged.Marín-García, P.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Martinez-Paredes, E.; Cambra López, M.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2020). A moderate protein diet does not cover the requirements of growing rabbits with high growth rate. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 264:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114495S111264Alagón, G., Arce, O. N., Martínez-Paredes, E., Ródenas, L., Moya, V. J., Blas, E., … Pascual, J. J. (2016). Nutritive value of distillers dried grains with solubles from barley, corn and wheat for growing rabbits. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 222, 217-226. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2016.10.024Batey, I. L. (1982). Starch Analysis Using Thermostable alpha-Amylases. Starch - Stärke, 34(4), 125-128. doi:10.1002/star.19820340407Birolo, M., Trocino, A., Zuffellato, A., & Xiccato, G. (2016). Effect of feed restriction programs and slaughter age on digestive efficiency, growth performance and body composition of growing rabbits. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 222, 194-203. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2016.10.014Cartuche, L., Pascual, M., Gómez, E. A., & Blasco, A. (2014). Economic weights in rabbit meat production. World Rabbit Science, 22(3), 165. doi:10.4995/wrs.2014.1747Cifre, J., Baselga, M., García-Ximénez, F., & Vicente, J. S. (1998). Performance of a hyperprolific rabbit line I. Litter size traits. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 115(1-6), 131-138. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0388.1998.tb00336.xCosta, C., Baselga, M., Lobera, J., Cervera, C., & Pascual, J. J. (2004). Evaluating response to selection and nutritional needs in a three-way cross of rabbits. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 121(3), 186-196. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0388.2004.00450.xEstany, J., Camacho, J., Baselga, M., & Blasco, A. (1992). Selection response of growth rate in rabbits for meat production. Genetics Selection Evolution, 24(6), 527. doi:10.1186/1297-9686-24-6-527García-Quirós, A., Arnau-Bonachera, A., Penadés, M., Cervera, C., Martínez-Paredes, E., Ródenas, L., … Pascual, J. J. (2014). A robust rabbit line increases leucocyte counts at weaning and reduces mortality by digestive disorder during fattening. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 161(3-4), 123-131. doi:10.1016/j.vetimm.2014.07.005Gidenne, T., & Perez, J.-M. (2000). Replacement of digestible fibre by starch in the diet of the growing rabbit. I. Effects on digestion, rate of passage and retention of nutrients. Annales de Zootechnie, 49(4), 357-368. doi:10.1051/animres:2000127Lv, J.-M., Chen, M., Qian, L.-C., Ying, H.-Z., & Liu, J.-X. (2009). Requirement of crude protein for maintenance in a new strain of laboratory rabbit. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 151(3-4), 261-267. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2009.01.001Mínguez, C., Sanchez, J. P., EL Nagar, A. G., Ragab, M., & Baselga, M. (2015). Growth traits of four maternal lines of rabbits founded on different criteria: comparisons at foundation and at last periods after selection. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 133(4), 303-315. doi:10.1111/jbg.12197Partridge, G. G., Garthwaite, P. H., & Findlay, M. (1989). Protein and energy retention by growing rabbits offered diets with increasing proportions of fibre. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 112(2), 171-178. doi:10.1017/s0021859600085063Pascual, M., & Pla, M. (2007). Changes in carcass composition and meat quality when selecting rabbits for growth rate. Meat Science, 77(4), 474-481. doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2007.04.009Pascual, M., Pla, M., & Blasco, A. (2008). Effect of selection for growth rate on relative growth in rabbits1,2. Journal of Animal Science, 86(12), 3409-3417. doi:10.2527/jas.2008-0976Quevedo, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E., Baselga, M., & Pascual, J. J. (2006). Long-term effect of selection for litter size and feeding programme on the performance of reproductive rabbit does 2. Lactation and growing period. Animal Science, 82(5), 751-762. doi:10.1079/asc200688Sánchez, J. P., Theilgaard, P., Mínguez, C., & Baselga, M. (2008). Constitution and evaluation of a long-lived productive rabbit line1. Journal of Animal Science, 86(3), 515-525. doi:10.2527/jas.2007-0217Savietto, D., Blas, E., Cervera, C., Baselga, M., Friggens, N. C., Larsen, T., & Pascual, J. J. (2012). Digestive efficiency in rabbit does according to environment and genetic type. World Rabbit Science, 20(3). doi:10.4995/wrs.2012.1152Savietto, D., Cervera, C., Ródenas, L., Martínez-Paredes, E., Baselga, M., García-Diego, F. J., … Pascual, J. J. (2014). Different resource allocation strategies result from selection for litter size at weaning in rabbit does. Animal, 8(4), 618-628. doi:10.1017/s1751731113002437Trocino, A., García Alonso, J., Carabaño, R., & Xiccato, G. (2013). A meta-analysis on the role of soluble fibre in diets for growing rabbits. World Rabbit Science, 21(1). doi:10.4995/wrs.2013.1285Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B., & Lewis, B. A. (1991). Methods for Dietary Fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Nonstarch Polysaccharides in Relation to Animal Nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10), 3583-3597. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(91)78551-

Nanoscopic hybrid systems with a polarity-controlled gate-like scaffolding for the colorimetric signalling of long-chain carboxylates

Hybrid mesoporous systems containing a gate-like ensemble functionalised with imidazolium groups and a dye are used for the selective colorimetric sensing of long-chain carboxylates.Amoros del Toro, Pedro Jose, [email protected]

Seguimiento del Grado en Química

Con la implantación del 4º curso del grado en Química, que se ha realizado en el presente curso académico, se han completado los cuatro cursos del grado. En la Facultad de Ciencias se han constituido ocho comisiones de semestre, en las que participan profesores de todos los departamentos que imparten docencia en la titulación y la Comisión de Grado, formada por los coordinadores de las comisiones de semestre que, a su vez, forman parte de una red docente para el seguimiento del grado. Desde estas comisiones se está realizando un intenso trabajo cooperativo cuyo objetivo es alcanzar una coherencia tanto en la distribución de contenidos, como en las metodologías docentes y de evaluación de las materias que componen el plan de estudios del Grado en Química de la Universidad de Alicante. La coordinación horizontal entre semestres de un mismo curso y la coordinación vertical entre cursos forman parte de las tareas que se desarrollan. Los resultados de este trabajo permiten identificar las deficiencias en el proceso de implantación y plantear posibles propuestas de mejora en la organización docente de la titulación

Enzyme-responsive intracellular controlled release using nanometric silica mesoporous supports capped with "saccharides"

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in ACS Nano, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nn101499d.The synthesis of new capped silica mesoporous nanoparticles for on-command delivery applications is described. The gate-like functional hybrid systems consisted of nanoscopic MCM-41-based materials functionalized on the pore outlets with different “saccharide” derivatives and a dye contained in the mesopores. A series of hydrolyzed starch products as saccharides were selected. The mesoporous silica nanoparticles S1, S2, and S3 containing the grafted starch derivatives Glucidex 47, Gludicex 39, and Glucidex 29 were synthesized. Additionally, for comparative purposes solid S4 containing lactose was prepared. Delivery studies in pure water in the presence of pancreatin or -D-galactosidase were carried out for S1S3 and S4, respectively. S1, S2, and especially S3 showed very low release in the absence of enzyme, but displayed cargo delivery in the presence of the corresponding enzyme. Moreover, nanoparticles of S1 were used to study the controlled release of the dye in intracellular media. Cell viability assays using HeLa and LLC-PK1 cells indicated that S1 nanoparticles were devoid of unspecific cell toxicity. The endocytosis process for S1 nanoparticle internalization in HeLa cells was confirmed, and the anchored starch was degraded by the lysosomal enzymes. Furthermore, a new mesoporous silica nanoparticle functionalized with Glucidex 47 and loaded with a cytotoxic, S1-DOX, was developed. The cell viability with S1-DOX decreased due to the internalization of the nanoparticle, enzyme-dependent opening of the saccharide molecular gate and the consequent release of the cytotoxic agent. As far as the authors know, this is the first example of enzyme-induced in-cell delivery using capped silica mesoporous nanoparticles.The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Spanish Government (Projects MAT2009 14564 C04 01 MAT2009 14564 C04 04 and BIO2007 60066) and the Generalitat Valencia (Projects PROMETEO/2009/016 and PROMETEO/2010/005) for support A B is grateful to the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia for an FPI grant E A thanks the MICINN for a FPU contract We thank Roquette for the Glucidex samples We would like to thank the CIPF confocal microscopy service for technical supportBernardos Bau, A.; Mondragón Martínez, L.; Aznar, E.; Marcos Martínez, MD.; Martínez-Máñez, R.; Sancenón Galarza, F.; Soto Camino, J.... (2010). Enzyme-responsive intracellular controlled release using nanometric silica mesoporous supports capped with "saccharides". ACS Nano. 4(11):6353-6368. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn101499dS6353636841

Do Growing Rabbits with a High Growth Rate Require Diets with High Levels of Essential Amino Acids? A Choice-Feeding Trial

[EN] Two diets were designed to investigate the effect of the growth rate on amino acid requirements in growing rabbits: M diet (with medium levels of amino acids, following current nutritional recommendations for growing rabbits) and H diet (with high levels of lysine, sulphur amino acids and threonine compared with current nutritional recommendations). Performance, nutrient retention and digestibility (faecal and ileal) trials, as well as a choice-feeding test were conducted. We found no differences in animal performance, nutrient retention and digestibility parameters between diets, but the animals showed a preference for the M diet, expressed by a high intra-individual repeatability in preference. Our results provide useful information and nutrition tools to move towards precision protein nutrition in growing rabbits. As a consequence of the genetic selection process in growing rabbits, there are currently fast-growing animals exhibiting an average daily gain that may exceed 45 g/d. The protein requirements of these animals, namely amino acid requirements, may differ from animals with low growth rates. The objective of this work was to evaluate growth performance, the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD), the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids and nutrient retention of fast-growing rabbits when they had access to a diet with high levels of amino acids and/or a diet formulated with current nutritional recommendations in a choice-feeding trial. To this end, two diets were formulated: the M diet following current nutritional recommendations for growing rabbits (including 8.1, 5.8 and 6.9 g/kg dry matter (DM) of total lysine, sulphur amino acids and threonine, respectively) and the H diet with higher levels of total lysine, sulphur amino acids and threonine (9.4, 6.6 and 7.8 g/kg DM, respectively). A total of 220 weaned rabbits, from a paternal line selected for the growth rate, had free access to the M diet, the H diet or both (MH) diets from 28 to 63 days of age. The CTTAD of DM, crude protein and gross energy from 49 to 53 days of age as well as the AID of amino acids of the diets at 63 days of age were determined. Protein, amino acids and energy retained in the empty body from 28 to 63 days of age were also registered. No significant differences in growth performance, CTTAD, AID and nutrient retention between dietary treatments were observed. However, animals fed the H diet showed a higher AID of cysteine (p < 0.05) and higher threonine retention (p < 0.05) compared to the M diet. As regards the choice-feeding trial, MH animals showed a higher feed intake of the M diet compared to the H diet (+8.61%; p < 0.001), and furthermore, more than 50% of the animals preferred the M diet throughout the experimental period (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that animals with high growth rates do not show significantly higher productive traits when fed the H diet compared to the M diet. As regards choice feeding, MH animals were capable of choosing their preferred diet, showing high intra-individual repeatability in preference for the M diet. It would be interesting to continue studying this behaviour of choice based on amino acid levels.This research was funded by the Interministerial Commission for Science and Technology (CICYT; grant no. AGL2017-85162-C2-1-R).Marín-García, PJ.; López Luján, MDC.; Ródenas Martínez, L.; Martinez-Paredes, E.; Cambra López, M.; Blas Ferrer, E.; Pascual Amorós, JJ. (2021). Do Growing Rabbits with a High Growth Rate Require Diets with High Levels of Essential Amino Acids? A Choice-Feeding Trial. Animals. 11(3):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030824S11311

A new method for fluoride determination by using fluorophores and dyes anchored onto MCM-41

A new colourimetric and fluorimetric method for fluoride determination in aqueous samples based on the specific reaction between fluoride and silica has been developed and applied on real samples.Descalzo Lopez, Ana Belen, [email protected] ; El Haskouri, Jamal, [email protected] ; Beltran Porter, Daniel, [email protected] ; Amoros del Toro, Pedro Jose, [email protected]

Study the Effect of Relative Energy Deficiency on Physiological and Physical Variables in Professional Women Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Energy deficits are often observed in athletes, especially in female athletes, due to the high expenditure of sport and strict diets. Low energy availability can cause serious health problems and affect sport performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different personalized dietary plans on physiological and physical factors related to energy deficit syndrome in female professional handball players. Twenty-one professional female handball players, aged 22 ± 4 years, 172.0 ± 5.4 cm and 68.4 ± 6.7 kg, divided into three groups (FD: free diet; MD: Mediterranean diet; and AD: high antioxidant diet), participated in this 12-week randomized controlled trial. Energy expenditure through indirect calorimetry, energy availability, 7 day dietary intake analysis, blood pressure, cholesterol, menstrual function, body composition by both anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance, and strength performance were assessed. All participants showed low energy availability (< 30 kcal/lean mass per day); despite this, all had eumenorrhea. Significant improvements were found after the intervention in all components of body composition (p <0.05). In the remaining variables, despite slight improvements, none were significant neither over time nor between the different groups. Low energy availability has been observed in all professional female handball players, which may lead to serious consequences. A longer period of intervention is required to assess the differences between diets and improvements in other parameters.The author L.M-A. has received funding from the Ministry of Universities for University Teacher Training (FPU20/02136)

Red de seguimiento y coordinación del Máster en Ciencia de Materiales

El Máster en Ciencia de Materiales se imparte en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de Alicante, consta de 60 créditos ECTS que se cursan durante 1 año académico. El máster está implantado desde el curso 2010-2011 por lo que durante el actual curso 2014-2015 tendremos la quinta promoción de egresados. La red docente está formada por la comisión académica del Máster en Ciencia de Materiales. Esta comisión (profesorado, alumno y personal de administración y servicios) lleva realizando un seguimiento de la titulación durante los 4 cursos anteriores. Por tanto la red tiene como objetivo principal el seguimiento, coordinación, evaluación y mejora de la planificación realizada con las experiencias recogidas a lo largo de estos años. Además, se realizará un estudio de los diferentes indicadores de calidad que utilizan las agencias de acreditación puesto que este año el Máster se someterá a la renovación de la acreditación