Novel multifunctional materials based on ionic liquids: on demand micro-valve actuation for lab-on-a-chip applications

We present the fabrication, characterization and performance as a micro-valve of four novel materials, ionogels, consisting in a polymeric structure with benzospiro-pyran units and phosphonium based ionic liquids. Each inonogel is photopolymerised in the channels of a poly(methyl methacrylate) microfluidic device generating four different micro-valves. The micro-valves are actuated by simply applying local white light irradiation and each of the micro-valves opens specifically at one particular time. Therefore, flows can be independently controlled by one single light source while the synthesis of ionogels with different ionic liquids enables distinct valve ac-tuation. Moreover, the microfluidic device can be reusable many times

Do business games foster skills? A cross-cultural study from learners’ views

Purpose: This study seeks to analyse students’ perception of the effectiveness of business games as an e-learning method in management training. This analysis of games’ effectiveness is centred in the generic and managerial skills acquired, through the comparison of students’ opinions in different cultural contexts within Europe. Design/methodology: The analysis focuses on 120 management students at postgraduate level who use the same business game at different universities in five European countries: Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Germany. Findings: The results indicate that students positively assessed the generic and specific managerial skills fostered by the business game. The generic skills most valued were information and decision-making, and leadership. Regarding the specific skills, the most valued were management skills and the least valued, skills related to planning and the acquisition of theoretical knowledge. However, significant differences were found between students in different cultural contexts and education systems in the case of certain specific managerial skills. Practical implications: This finding suggests that the students’ perception of how a business game helps them acquire specific managerial skills is influenced by cultural aspects and previous exposure to experiential learning, which determine that the teachers’ role and the teaching process should be adapted to the students’ learning model. Originality/value: With this study, a better knowledge about the students’ perception of this e-learning method is obtained, not just considering a specific educational environment, but comparing opinions of students from different cultural contexts, which adds value to the analyses developed.Peer Reviewe

Income and beyond: Multidimensional poverty in six Latin American countries

This paper presents empirical results of a wide range of multidimensional poverty measures for: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico and Uruguay, for the period 1992–2006. Six dimensions are analysed: income, child attendance at school, education of the household head, sanitation, water and shelter. Over the study period, El Salvador, Brazil, Mexico and Chile experienced significant reductions of multidimensional poverty. In contrast, in urban Uruguay there was a small reduction in multidimensional poverty, while in urban Argentina the estimates did not change significantly. El Salvador, Brazil and Mexico together with rural areas of Chile display significantly higher and more simultaneous deprivations than urban areas of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. In all countries, access to proper sanitation and education of the household head are the highest contributors to overall multidimensional poverty.Multidimensional poverty measurement, counting approach, Latin America, Unsatisfied Basic Needs, rural and urban areas.

Control Interno en la Cooperativa Multisectorial de Lácteos, NICACENTRO, R.L, del Municipio de Matiguás, Departamento de Matagalpa, en el I Semestre del año 2013

El tema en estudio comprende el Sistema Contable y Control Interno en las Cooperativas del Departamento de Matagalpa, dentro de las cuales se abordó el Control Interno en la Cooperativa Multisectorial de lácteos NICACENTRO, R.L en el Municipio de Matiguás Departamento de Matagalpa, en el I Semestre del año 2013. El propósito del estudio consistió en la evaluación del Control Interno en la Cooperativa Multisectorial NICACENTRO, R.L, permitiendo comprender el desarrollo de las políticas y procedimientos de Control Interno ejecutado, así como también su efecto en el Sistema Contable actual. El tema en estudio es de gran importancia ya que brinda una visión clara de las debilidades que surgen en el transcurso de las operaciones y actividades diarias, así como también los riesgos a que está expuesta, permitiendo desarrollar políticas y procedimientos de control interno que disminuyan los errores que puedan afectar los Estados Financieros. Como resultado de la investigación se obtuvo que la Cooperativa cuenta con un Sistema Contable computarizado y que los Controles Internos aplicados son eficientes para las mayorías de las áreas, sin embargo las áreas más vulnerables son los inventarios de activo fijo distribuidos en los diferentes Centros de Acopio y producción donde se da el acopio de leche. Po lo tanto se propone un Manual de Control Interno adaptado a las necesidades de NICACENTRO, R.L de acuerdo al modelo COSO, que permita mantener seguridad del funcionamiento del Sistema Contable que se utiliza en la Cooperativa, determinando los procedimientos a ejecutar en las áreas administrativas, contables y financiera

Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Networks in Polar Glaciers

Polar glaciers are inhabited by numerous microorganisms including representatives of bacteria, archaea, microeukaryotes, and viruses. Low temperature is a main factor when considering polar glaciers as extreme environments. However, desiccation, low nutrients availability, ultraviolet irradiation, and photoreactive chemistry do also significantly influence their challenging life. Glaciers are highly selective and confined habitats, which make them favorable environments for adaptation and speciation. Depending on the glacier area studied, microorganisms establish a vertical food chain, from the surface photosynthesizers in upper illuminated layers to chemoautotrophs and heterotrophs confined to the inner part. These regions are rich not only in biodiversity but also in new mechanisms of adaptation to the environment, since selection acts with a particular intensity. Glaciers are retreating in many areas of the world due to global warming. When glaciers have ultimately withdrawn, microorganisms play a main role, carrying out key processes in the development of soil and facilitating plant colonization. These features make them unique and interesting for the study and protection of the biological heritage. Metagenomics have allowed a deeper understanding of microbial ecology and function of polar glacier microbial communities. In this review, we present a complete analysis of the microbial diversity in these ecosystems and include a thorough overview of the metabolic potentials and biogeochemical cycles in polar glacier habitats

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

Examining the Use of Rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay in Optimizing Antimicrobial Usage in Respiratory Viral Infections

Abstract Category: Research Purpose: Historically, respiratory pathogen testing has included the use of cultures and antigen-testing. Introduction of rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has resulted in fast, effective identification of viral pathogens. However, studies show conflicting findings in the usefulness of PCR technology in the management of respiratory infections. The objective of this study is to examine the use of viral PCR assays in the management of respiratory viral infections in a community hospital. The study will describe viral PCR use in identifying viral pathogens, evaluating appropriate treatment, and de-escalating of antimicrobial therapy when indicated. Methods: Patients will be identified from daily molecular result reports provided to the pharmacy. Admitted patients 18 years of age or older who received viral respiratory PCR testing between July 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 will be randomly selected for study inclusion. Patients who do not meet the inclusion criteria or have a documented respiratory infection treatment within two weeks prior to the time of admission will be excluded. Data collected will include viral PCR results, diagnostic labs, time of PCR result, time of initial antimicrobial treatment, and time of therapy modification. Findings: Preliminary data demonstrates that 26.7% (16/60) of the patients who had PCR assay testing were determined to be positive for a respiratory viral infection. The most commonly reported virus in this group was rhinovirus/enterovirus (10/16, 62.5%). Additionally, data also reveals that in addition to the rapid PCR assays, approximately 1 in every 3 patients received an influenza A and B antigen test (18/60, 30%) and 61.7% (37/60) had a procalcitonin level. Furthermore, all of the patients who tested positive for a respiratory viral infection were managed appropriately taking into account any co-infection. The antimicrobial de-escalation time when antimicrobial therapy was not indicated was approximately 4 hours. Discussion: Research in progress Implications for Practice: This study will demonstrate the role of rapid polymerase chain reaction assays as a diagnostic tool for respiratory viral infections and their role in antimicrobial therapy management. The results of the study will highlight the importance of reducing unnecessary diagnostic testing in the setting of respiratory viral infections. Additionally, this study will evaluate the appropriateness of initial antimicrobial treatment as well as the time to therapy optimization upon PCR results

Multiscaling properties on sequences of turbulent plumes images

A multifractal analysis on a finite-range-scale of the plume concentration images at different experimental conditions (the height of the source Ho), where the measure is the grey value of the image (from 0 to 255), was applied to study its structure through time. The multifractal spectrum showed the characteristic inverse U-shape and a similar evolution in all Ho. The variation of the Hölder exponent (¿a) presented different amplitudes at different moments and increased with time. The symmetry of the spectrum (¿f) decreased with time achieving negative values (from left hand asymmetry evolving to right asymmetry). We show the different behaviour of axial velocity (W) with ¿a and ¿f. There is a linear relation of entrainment coefficient (ae) and the entropy dimension (a1). Therefore, the multifractal spectrum and the derived parameters can be used as markers of plume evolution as well as to study the effect of experimental conditions.Postprint (published version