The tidally disturbed luminous compact blue galaxy Mkn 1087 and its surroundings

We present new broad-band optical and near-infrared CCD imaging together with deep optical intermediate-resolution spectroscopy of Mkn 1087 and its surrounding objects. We analyze the morphology and colors of the stellar populations of the brightest objects, some of them star-formation areas, as well as the kinematics, physical conditions and chemical composition of the ionized gas associated with them. Mkn 1087 does not host an Active Galactic Nucleus, but it could be a Luminous Compact Blue Galaxy. Although it was classified as a suspected Wolf-Rayet galaxy, we do not detect the spectral features of these sort of massive stars. Mkn 1087 shows morphological and kinematical features that can be explained assuming that it is in interaction with two nearby galaxies: the bright KPG 103a and a dwarf ($M_B\sim-18$) star-forming companion. We argue that this dwarf companion is not a tidal object but an external galaxy because of its low metallicity [12+log(O/H) = 8.24] with respect to the one derived for Mkn 1087 [12+log(O/H) = 8.57] and its kinematics. Some of the non-stellar objects surrounding Mkn 1087 are connected by bridges of matter with the main body, host star-formation events and show similar abundances despite their different angular distances. These facts, together their kinematics, suggest that they are tidal dwarf galaxies formed from material stripped from Mkn 1087. A bright star-forming region at the south of Mkn 1087 (knot #7) does not show indications of being a tidal galaxy or the product of a merging process as suggested in previous works. We argue that Mkn 1087 and its surroundings should be considered a group of galaxies.Comment: Accepted by A&A, 21 pages, 13 figures, 8 table

Implementation of explosion safety regulations in design of a mobile robot for coal mines

The article focuses on specific challenges of the design of a reconnaissance mobile robotic system aimed for inspection in underground coal mine areas after a catastrophic event. Systems that are designated for these conditions must meet specific standards and regulations. In this paper is discussed primarily the main conception of meeting explosion safety regulations of European Union 2014/34/EU (also called ATEX-from French "Appareils destines a etre utilises en ATmospheres Explosives") for Group I (equipment intended for use in underground mines) and Category M1 (equipment designed for operation in the presence of an explosive atmosphere). An example of a practical solution is described on main subsystems of the mobile robot TeleRescuera teleoperated robot with autonomy functions, a sensory subsystem with multiple cameras, three-dimensional (3D) mapping and sensors for measurement of gas concentration, airflow, relative humidity, and temperatures. Explosion safety is ensured according to the Technical Report CLC/TR 60079-33 "s" by two main independent protections-mechanical protection (flameproof enclosure) and electrical protection (automatic methane detector that disconnects power when methane breaches the enclosure and gets inside the robot body).Web of Science811art. no. 230

The enzymatic determination of glucose in carbonated beverages: a useful tool for the undergraduate students to learn the basis of enzymatic analysis and the comparison of two analytical methods

The importance of enzymatic analysis in biochemistry, clinical chemistry and food chemistry is undoubted. The course "Applied Biochemistry" in our Faculty is aimed to undergraduate students of Chemistry and Biochemistry. In this subject, the principles and applications of enzymatic analysis are presented to the students, who receive a theoretical introductory lecture in the classroom before they carry out an experiment that should be feasible to be solved in a short laboratory period. The experimental protocol here presented, based on the enzymatic determination of glucose in carbonated beverages, has been implemented at the University of Málaga and it has been optimized according to the students’ results and commentaries along the last years. It aims to illustrate basic issues relating enzymatic analysis, including its potential application to food chemistry. Although there are several enzymatic methods that can be used for the determination of glucose, we selected the one based on the coupled reactions of glucose oxidase (GOD; EC 1.1.3.4.) and peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7.) because the kinetic constants of glucose oxidase allow the mentioned enzymatic reactions to be used in both, the end point and the kinetic enzymatic analysis methods. In this way, data for two different protocols for the determination of glucose concentration are obtained by the students from a single reaction mixture. Students construct a calibration curve for each method using a glucose standard solution, and use them to determine the glucose concentration in the problem solutions. The inclusion of replicate samples in the determination of the glucose concentration of an “ideal problem” (glucose in purified water) is used to illustrate the principles of statistics in the lab, and comparison with the “real value” allows an estimation of the accuracy of each method. The evaluation of glucose concentration in four carbonated beverages: coloured coke and uncoloured tonic sodas (regular or sugarless in both cases) makes student to recognise the appearance of interferences that should be either avoided or eliminated. Since all samples are analysed by means of end-point and kinetic methods, students can discuss the applicability of each method to these specific analytical problems. They are also encouraged to compare both analytical methods in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, and time consumed. Chemistry and Biochemistry undergraduate students having performed this experiment in our laboratories have found it formative, interesting and challenging.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A practice project to prevent the cookbook model as modus operandi for biochemistry laboratory learning

Laboratory learning is a crucial component of chemistry and biochemistry instruction and should be conceived as a way to develop students’ reasoning, technical or practical skills, introducing them into the scientific method principles. Nevertheless, the heavily criticized “expository instruction style”, characterized by a cookbook nature, is still the most widespread style of laboratory instruction in our universities. Alternative learning styles based in the inquiry, discovery and problem-based pedagogical approaches, have been reported to promote students’ problem solving skills, critical thought and self-confidence development. We are currently involved in the Educative Innovation Project PIE17-065, funded by University of Malaga, aimed to improve the teaching practice of Biochemistry laboratory to undergraduate students. Based on an enzymatic analysis of glucose in soft-drinks we have developed a laboratory protocol as a part of a full practice project where students must work before and after the lab session, in order to prevent the cookbook model as modus operandi, therefore preventing the situation where the students get a first glimpse of the experiment protocol whereas they put on their lab coat. The learning activities have been designed to move our students from the passive role that characterizes the step-by-step procedures, to an active and critical attitude that starts before and remains after their laboratory session, also minimizing time, space, and equipment resources. Our results have shown that this experiment has improved the learning of both, future biochemists and chemists, which showed a very positive perception of the whole practical project.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. PIE 17-06

Learning contract, co-operative and flipped learning as useful tools for studying metabolism

Es el Abstract de una comunicación a un congreso internacional sobre educaciónUndergraduate students in Biology identify Metabolic Biochemistry as a particularly difficult subject. This is due to the fact that students need to interconnect properly all the contents of its syllabus throughout their study of the subject in order to get a global insight of the complex regulatory features controlling metabolic pathways within the metabolic network under different physiologic and pathologic conditions, as well as metabolism as a whole. Due to these objective difficulties, a high percentage of our students face the study of this subject as a very hard task beyond their forces and capacities. This perception leads to high rates of premature dropout. In previous years, less than 40% of all the registered students attended the examinations of Metabolic Biochemistry (a subject in the second year of the Degree of Biology at our University). Even worse, less than 25% of our students passed the exams. From the academic year 2015/16 on, we are developing innovative teaching projects (PIE15-163 and PIE17-145, funded by University of Malaga) aimed to increase our student loyalty to the subject (and hence to increase their attendance to exams) and to help them to learn more effectively metabolism and its regulation. These innovative teaching projects are based on the use of several powerful tools: a learning contract and problem-based learning within the framework of group tasks promoting an actual collaborative learning in a flipped classroom. The present communication will show the implementation of the PIE15-163 and PIE17-145 projects and some results obtained from them.This work was supported by Malaga University funds granted to the educational innovation project PIE17-145. The attendance to the END2018 International Conference on Education and New Developments (June 2018, Budapest, Hungary) has received a grant from "I Plan Propio Integral de Docencia. Universidad de Málaga"]

Medida de glucosa en refrescos: una útil herramienta para ilustrar el aprendizaje de los fundamentos del análisis enzimático

Es indudable la relevancia que el análisis enzimático tiene en el ámbito de la Bioquímica, la Química Clínica y la Química de la Alimentación, entre otras. En la asignatura “Bioquímica Aplicada” de cuarto curso del grado en Química de nuestra Universidad, los alumnos aprenden los fundamentos teóricos del análisis enzimático, que luego ponen en práctica en el laboratorio, en un contexto cotidiano, mediante la determinación de glucosa en diferentes refrescos carbonatados. Aunque existen diversos métodos enzimáticos para la valoración de la concentración de glucosa, hemos elegido para la sesión práctica el que se basa en las reacciones acopladas de la glucosa oxidasa (EC 1.1.3.4.) y la peroxidasa (EC 1.11.1.7.) por ser especialmente ilustrativo a la hora de afianzar los conceptos teóricos desarrollados en clase, así como para despertar su espíritu crítico al enfrentarles a la resolución de problemas “del mundo real” y hacerles elegir qué método analítico puede ser mejor para un caso concreto. Los alumnos usan dos protocolos distintos (métodos cinético y a punto final) para determinar la concentración de glucosa, inicialmente en una muestra de glucosa en agua, familiarizándose con ambos métodos y permitiéndoles construir las rectas de calibrado, mediante las que deberán establecer el rango de aplicación para cada método. La medida de las variaciones de absorbancia con el tiempo, que en el método cinético son proporcionales a la concentración de glucosa, permite ilustrar aspectos metodológicos de la estimación de la velocidad inicial de una reacción enzimática. Posteriormente los alumnos se enfrentan al problema de la medida de la concentración de glucosa en una serie de bebidas que incluyen refrescos de cola y tónicas, con o sin azúcar (refrescos “cero”), encontrándose con nuevas dificultades como son la necesidad de diluir en varios órdenes de magnitud las muestras (lo que les familiariza con el uso de las diluciones seriadas), y la aparición de interferencias debidas al color de la muestra, decantándose por uno u otro método en función de la naturaleza del problema analítico planteado.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Numerical comparison and efficiency analysis of three vertical axis turbine of H-Darrieus type

Hydropower is an important source of energy in Latin America. Many countries in the region, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Chile, rely heavily on hydropower plants to meet their energy needs. However, there are also challenges related to the use of hydropower in the region, such as the construction of dams that can have negative impacts on ecosystems and local communities. A new alternative is the production of energy through hydrokinetic turbines because they are a clean and renewable energy source that does not emit greenhouse gases. In addition, its production is predictable and can be generated in a variety of environments, from coasts to rivers and canals. Within the hydrokinetic turbines are the H-Darrieus turbines although they are still under development, they are seen as an important opportunity to diversify the energy matrix and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The main purpose of this study is to determine and compare the efficiency of three Darrieus H-type vertical axis hydrokinetic turbines numerically. The turbines were configured with different solidities. The NACA 0018 profile was used for the turbine design. The study was carried out using the ANSYS® Fluent 2022R2 software, two-dimensional (2D) simulations set up constant operating conditions. Rotation speed variations have been set between 21 and 74 RPM with 10 rpm increments. Furthermore, the General Richardson extrapolation method is used for the analysis of mesh convergence, monitoring the turbine power coefficient as a convergence parameter. The numerical results show that the turbine H-Darrieus with a solidity of 1.0, a wider operating range, and lower power and torque coefficient. At low TRS, the largest solidity provided the best efficiency and the greatest self-starting capability, but it also had the smallest operating rang

Induction of auxin biosynthesis and WOX5 repression mediate changes in root development in Arabidopsis exposed to chitosan

[EN] Chitosan is a natural polymer with applications in agriculture, which causes plasma membrane permeabilisation and induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. Chitosan has been mostly applied in the phylloplane to control plant diseases and to enhance plant defences, but has also been considered for controlling root pests. However, the effect of chitosan on roots is virtually unknown. In this work, we show that chitosan interfered with auxin homeostasis in Arabidopsis roots, promoting a 2-3 fold accumulation of indole acetic acid (IAA). We observed chitosan dose-dependent alterations of auxin synthesis, transport and signalling in Arabidopsis roots. As a consequence, high doses of chitosan reduce WOX5 expression in the root apical meristem and arrest root growth. Chitosan also propitiates accumulation of salicylic (SA) and jasmonic (JA) acids in Arabidopsis roots by induction of genes involved in their biosynthesis and signalling. In addition, high-dose chitosan irrigation of tomato and barley plants also arrests root development. Tomato root apices treated with chitosan showed isodiametric cells respect to rectangular cells in the controls. We found that chitosan causes strong alterations in root cell morphology. Our results highlight the importance of considering chitosan dose during agronomical applications to the rhizosphere.This work was supported by AGL 2015 66833-R Grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Grant AGL 2015. We would like to thank Drs Isabel Lopez-Diaz and Esther Carrera for plant hormone quantitation (IBMCP, Valencia, Spain). Part of this work was filed for a patent (P201431399) by L. V. Lopez-Llorca, F. Lopez-Moya and N. Escudero as inventors. We would like to thank Dr Michael Kershaw (University of Exeter) for his English revision and critical comments of the manuscript. 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The role of a class III gibberellin 2-oxidase in tomato internode elongation

[EN] A network of environmental inputs and internal signaling controls plant growth, development and organ elongation. In particular, the growth-promoting hormone gibberellin (GA) has been shown to play a significant role in organ elongation. The use of tomato as a model organism to study elongation presents an opportunity to study the genetic control of internode-specific elongation in a eudicot species with a sympodial growth habit and substantial internodes that can and do respond to external stimuli. To investigate internode elongation, a mutant with an elongated hypocotyl and internodes but wild-type petioles was identified through a forward genetic screen. In addition to stem-specific elongation, this mutant, named tomato internode elongated -1 (tie-1) is more sensitive to the GA biosynthetic inhibitor paclobutrazol and has altered levels of intermediate and bioactive GAs compared with wild-type plants. The mutation responsible for the internode elongation phenotype was mapped to GA2oxidase 7, a class III GA 2-oxidase in the GA biosynthetic pathway, through a bulked segregant analysis and bioinformatic pipeline, and confirmed by transgenic complementation. Furthermore, bacterially expressed recombinant TIE protein was shown to have bona fide GA 2-oxidase activity. These results define a critical role for this gene in internode elongation and are significant because they further the understanding of the role of GA biosynthetic genes in organ-specific elongation.This work used the Vincent J. Coates Genomics Sequencing Laboratory at UC Berkeley, supported by NIH S10 Instrumentation Grants S10RR029668 and S10RR027303. We thank the Tomato Genetics Resource Center for providing seed of the M82 and Heinz cultivars. The material was developed by and/or obtained from the UC Davis/C M Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center and maintained by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. We thank Anthony Bolger, Alisdair Fernie and Bjorn Usadel for providing us with access to pre-publication genomic reads of the S. lycopersicum cultivar M82, and Cristina Urbez and Noel Blanco-Tourinan (IBMCP, Spain) for technical help with in vitro production of TIE1. This work was supported in part by the Elsie Taylor Stocking Memorial Fellowship awarded to ASL in 2013, by NSF grant IOS-0820854, by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture project CA-D-PLB-2465-H, by internal UC Davis funds, and by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness grant BFU2016-80621-P.Lavelle, A.; Gath, N.; Devisetty, U.; Carrera Bergua, E.; Lopez Diaz, I.; Blazquez Rodriguez, MA.; Maloof, J. (2018). The role of a class III gibberellin 2-oxidase in tomato internode elongation. 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