EVALUACIÓN DEL IMPACTO AMBIENTAL DE PROPUESTA TECNOLÓGICA DE MOLDEO EN UNA FUNDICIÓN DE ACERO

Introducción: Las fundiciones de acero son sitios significativos de contaminación con procesos manuales de moldeo y desmoldeo, por lo que, la tecnología ha avanzado al moldeo utilizando resinas auto fragantes. En el presente trabajo se aplica la metodología de Análisis de ciclo de vida (ACV) para evaluar los impactos ambientales en un proceso de fundición sujeto a esta inversión tecnológica. Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto ambiental de una propuesta tecnológica de moldeo en una fundición de acero. Materiales y Métodos: Se evaluaron e inventariaron los flujos de entradas y salidas de las mezclas de arena, gases y residuos sólidos en los procesos de moldeo tradicional y moldeo químico para la producción de una tonelada de acero, como unidad funcional. Se utilizó el software SimaPro 8.0 para obtener los resultados del ACV. Resultados y Discusión: Los resultados demuestran la factibilidad económica y ambiental del moldeo químico. En el análisis se constató que la arena de retorno, es la materia prima de mayor beneficio a las categorías de impacto siendo las más favorecidas el cambio climático a la salud humana y la formación de partículas que inciden en la salud, los ecosistemas y los recursos naturales. Conclusiones: La metodología ACV cuantifica los impactos ambientales de la producción de acero y justifica la factibilidad económico-ambiental del moldeo químico verificando que la arena de retorno, es la materia prima con mayor aporte a las categorías de impacto y favorece, como producto evitado que se recicla, en la nueva tecnología las categorías ambientales y de daño

Hepatocyte Growth Factor Reduces Free Cholesterol-Mediated Lipotoxicity in Primary Hepatocytes by Countering Oxidative Stress

Cholesterol overload in the liver has shown toxic effects by inducing the aggravation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to steatohepatitis and sensitizing to damage. Although the mechanism of damage is complex, it has been demonstrated that oxidative stress plays a prominent role in the process. In addition, we have proved that hepatocyte growth factor induces an antioxidant response in hepatic cells; in the present work we aimed to figure out the protective effect of this growth factor in hepatocytes overloaded with free cholesterol. Hepatocytes from mice fed with a high-cholesterol diet were treated or not with HGF, reactive oxygen species present in cholesterol overloaded hepatocytes significantly decreased, and this effect was particularly associated with the increase in glutathione and related enzymes, such as γ-gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase, GSH peroxidase, and GSH-S-transferase. Our data clearly indicate that HGF displays an antioxidant response by inducing the glutathione-related protection system

Risk and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis

Background and purpose Limited information is available on incidence and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study investigated the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-related outcomes in patients with MS, and compared these with the general population. Methods A regional registry was created to collect data on incidence, hospitalization rates, intensive care unit admission, and death in patients with MS and COVID-19. National government outcomes and seroprevalence data were used for comparison. The study was conducted at 14 specialist MS treatment centers in Madrid, Spain, between February and May 2020. Results Two-hundred nineteen patients were included in the registry, 51 of whom were hospitalized with COVID-19. The mean age ± standard deviation was 45.3 ± 12.4 years, and the mean duration of MS was 11.9 ± 8.9 years. The infection incidence rate was lower in patients with MS than the general population (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70–0.80), but hospitalization rates were higher (relative risk = 5.03, 95% CI = 3.76–6.62). Disease severity was generally low, with only one admission to an intensive care unit and five deaths. Males with MS had higher incidence rates and risk of hospitalization than females. No association was found between the use of any disease-modifying treatment and hospitalization risk. Conclusions Patients with MS do not appear to have greater risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 outcomes compared with the general population. The decision to start or continue disease-modifying treatment should be based on a careful risk–benefit assessment.post-print996 K

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Multiple Sclerosis

To understand COVID-19 characteristics in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and identify high-risk individuals due to their immunocompromised state resulting from the use of disease-modifying treatments. Retrospective and multicenter registry in patients with MS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and available disease course (mild = ambulatory; severe = hospitalization; and critical = intensive care unit/death). Cases were analyzed for associations between MS characteristics and COVID-19 course and for identifying risk factors for a fatal outcome. Of the 326 patients analyzed, 120 were cases confirmed by real-time PCR, 34 by a serologic test, and 205 were suspected. Sixty-nine patients (21.3%) developed severe infection, 10 (3%) critical, and 7 (2.1%) died. Ambulatory patients were higher in relapsing MS forms, treated with injectables and oral first-line agents, whereas more severe cases were observed in patients on pulsed immunosuppressors and critical cases among patients with no therapy. Severe and critical infections were more likely to affect older males with comorbidities, with progressive MS forms, a longer disease course, and higher disability. Fifteen of 33 patients treated with rituximab were hospitalized. Four deceased patients have progressive MS, 5 were not receiving MS therapy, and 2 were treated (natalizumab and rituximab). Multivariate analysis showed age (OR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.04-1.17) as the only independent risk factor for a fatal outcome. This study has not demonstrated the presumed critical role of MS therapy in the course of COVID-19 but evidenced that people with MS with advanced age and disease, in progressive course, and those who are more disabled have a higher probability of severe and even fatal diseas

Aulas develadas 3: la práctica, con investigación, se cambia

Este tercer libro de la colección “Aulas develadas: La práctica, con investigación, se cambia”, producto de las investigaciones de aula adelantadas por docentes de la Universidad del Norte, con el apoyo del Centro para la Excelencia Docente (CEDU) en el programa Círculo de Escritura, lo componen seis capítulos que recopilan los resultados de trabajos realizados por docentes de las áreas Ciencia política y Relaciones internacionales, Matemáticas, Psicología e Ingeniería. Confiamos en que los hallazgos que aquí se presentan sean de interés para los lectores y puedan ser compartidos de manera amplia entre distintos públicos

Aulas develadas 3: La práctica, con investigación, se cambia

Este tercer libro de la colección “Aulas develadas: La práctica, con investigación, se cambia”, producto de las investigaciones de aula adelantadas por docentes de la Universidad del Norte, con el apoyo del Centro para la Excelencia Docente (CEDU) en el programa Círculo de Escritura, lo componen seis capítulos que recopilan los resultados de trabajos realizados por docentes de las áreas Ciencia política y Relaciones internacionales, Matemáticas, Psicología e Ingeniería. Confiamos en que los hallazgos que aquí se presentan sean de interés para los lectores y puedan ser compartidos de manera amplia entre distintos públicos

La La lectura mediada por las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación: reto del docente universitario

Today universities must temper the training of future professionals, meeting the current and future needs of a society increasingly dependent on technological advances. Young people live in a new world in which techno-scientific development affects and modifies the activities they carry out. The practice of reading, as a way of enjoying and acquiring knowledge, is not exempt from this influence, which is why reading, mediated by Information and Communication Technologies, constitutes a challenge for university professor in the conditions of scientific-technological development of society. The introduction of Information and Communication Technologies in the teaching-learning processes in educational institutions requires, with more urgency, the development of greater and better skills in students that allow them to select, reorganize, reelaborate and adequately use this wealth of information in permanent change. The teacher should prioritize how and raise the role of the student, so that cognitive independence and creativity are favored.Hoy las universidades deben atemperar la formación de los futuros profesionales, atendiendo las necesidades actuales y futuras de una sociedad cada vez más dependiente de los avances tecnológicos. Los jóvenes viven en un mundo nuevo en el que el desarrollo tecnocientífico incide y modifica las actividades que realizan. La práctica de la lectura, como vía de disfrute y de adquisición del conocimiento, no queda exenta de esta influencia, de ahí que la lectura, mediada por las Tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones, constituye un reto para el docente universitario en las condiciones de desarrollo científico-tecnológico de la sociedad. La introducción de las Tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones en los procesos de enseñanza- aprendizaje en las instituciones educativas requieren, con más urgencia, desarrollar mayores y mejores competencias en los estudiantes que les permitan la selección, reorganización, reelaboración y utilización adecuada de ese cúmulo de información en permanente cambio. Se debe priorizar el cómo y elevar el protagonismo del estudiante, de manera que se favorezca la independencia cognoscitiva y la creatividad

Introduction of SOFC Technology into Cuban Energy Sector: Technical and Sustainability Analysis

The feasibility of integrating a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology into the Cuban energy sector is analyzed. In this context, two scenarios for power generation are assessed: the first (existing) combines a bagasse cogeneration unit and diesel combustion engines and for the second (future), diesel engines are replaced by a SOFC feed with ethanol and integrated into the sugar factory. The environmental impact (greenhouse gases), exergy efficiency, and a renewability parameter are considered as indicators for the assessment of the studied scenarios through a multifunctional unit (9.86t/h sugar, 2.195t/h of hydrated ethanol (96% w/w) and 847kWh of electricity) approach. The SOFC scenario shows significant advantages from an environmental point of view, obtaining a reduction of 55% greenhouse emissions and 60% fossil fuel consumption. At the same time, the overall process efficiency (38%) and renewability index (0.93) are higher than for the existing scenario. Furthermore, health impacts and their corresponding external cost related to airborne emissions (primary and secondary pollutant) are estimated applying the Uniform World Model (UWM). In this sense, the results show that the use of a SOFC technology involves a reduction of health impacts in 25.76 YOLL yr-1 (12%) and external costs of 52175 US$ yr-1 (12%). The potentiality of SOFC technology implementation into Cuban energy sector is assessed using a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) approach. Nowadays, the main threat of implementation of this technology is associated to competitive energy market

Free fatty acids enhance the oxidative damage induced by ethanol metabolism in an in vitro model

In recent years, there has been a growing interest to explore the responsiveness to injury in steatotic hepatocyte. VL-17A cells, which express ADH and Cyp2E1 overloaded with free fatty acids (1mM of oleic and palmitic acid 2:1) showed an increased oxidative damaged after 24 h free fatty acids treatment when exposed to ethanol (100 mM) for 48 h as a second injury. An increment in reactive oxygen species, determined by DCFH-DA, protein oxidation, and apoptosis were observed although an increase in main antioxidant proteins such as superoxide dismutase 1 and glutathione peroxidase were observed, but failed in gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, suggesting a decreased capacity of synthesis of glutathione compared with cells treated only with free fatty acids or ethanol. The increased oxidative stress and toxicity in lipid overloaded VL-17A cells subjected to ethanol exposure were accompanied by increases in Cyp2E1 protein expression. Our data show that lipid loaded in an in vitro model, VL-17A cells, is more susceptible to cell damage and oxidative stress when treated with ethanol