Street and dwelling: relationship between public space and community life

The public space is basic and complementary to dwelling, because of the activities that are done there, so, this space is considered as a physical, functional and sociocultural extension of what occurs within houses. In order to understand this relationship, it is important to know the historical fact through their recent expression, because it is an opportunity to rethink the proper and consistency of our public spaces as well as their scales, fields and complementary relationships with the aim to create an external and holistic habitat of dwelling but at the same time interdependent with it, fundamental basis for defining its quality and livability. The methodology is mixed: observation of the buildings as well as inhabitant and user survey.El espacio público es fundamental como ámbito complementario a la vivienda debido a que en él ocurren las actividades que no tienen cabida en ésta. El espacio público es extensión física funcional y sociocultural de lo que ocurre al interior del hogar. Para comprender esta relación, es vital conocer desde una perspectiva histórica sus manifestaciones aún presentes como la oportunidad para repensar sobre lo oportuno y consistente que tienen nuestros espacios públicos, sus escalas, sus ámbitos y sus relaciones complementarias para conformar el todo del hábitat externo a la vivienda, pero interdependiente con ella, y base fundamental para definir la calidad de éste y su habitabilidad. La metodología es mixta de observación de lo construido e interrogación al habitante y usuario

Vaccinia virus replication is not affected by APOBEC3 family members

BACKGROUND: The APOBEC3G protein represents a novel innate defense mechanism against retroviral infection. It facilitates the deamination of the cytosine residues in the single stranded cDNA intermediate during early steps of retroviral infection. Most poxvirus genomes are relatively A/T-rich, which may indicate APOBEC3G-induced mutational pressure. In addition, poxviruses replicate exclusively in the cytoplasm where APOBEC3G is located. It was therefore tempting to analyze whether vaccinia virus replication is affected by APOBEC3G. RESULTS: The replication of vaccinia virus, a prototype poxvirus, was not, however, inhibited in APOBEC3G-expressing cells, nor did other members of the APOBEC3 family alter vaccinia virus replication. HIV counteracts APOBEC3G by inducing its degradation. However, Western blot analysis showed that the levels of APOBEC3G protein were not affected by vaccinia virus infection. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that APOBEC3G is not a restriction factor for vaccinia virus replication nor is vaccinia virus able to degrade APOBEC3G

Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia:A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

Treating sarcopenia in older individuals remains a challenge, and nutritional interventions present promising approaches in individuals that perform limited physical exercise. We assessed the efficacy of leucine administration to evaluate whether the regular intake of this essential amino acid can improve muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance and respiratory muscle function in institutionalized older individuals. The study was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind design in fifty participants aged 65 and over (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03831399). The participants were randomized to a parallel group intervention of 13 weeks' duration with a daily intake of leucine (6 g/day) or placebo (lactose, 6 g/day). The primary outcome was to study the effect on sarcopenia and respiratory muscle function. The secondary outcomes were changes in the geriatric evaluation scales, such as cognitive function, functional impairment and nutritional assessments. We also evaluated whether leucine administration alters blood analytical parameters and inflammatory markers. Administration of leucine was well-tolerated and significantly improves some criteria of sarcopenia in elderly individuals such as functional performance measured by walking time (p = 0.011), and improved lean mass index. For respiratory muscle function, the leucine-treated group improved significantly (p = 0.026) in maximum static expiratory force compared to the placebo. No significant effects on functional impairment, cognitive function or nutritional assessment, inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-alpha were observed after leucine administration compared to the placebo. The use of l-leucine supplementation can have some beneficial effects on sarcopenia and could be considered for the treatment of sarcopenia in older individuals

Immobilization of Aspergillus niger lipase on chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles using two covalent-binding methods

Aspergillus niger lipase immobilization by covalent binding on chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (CMNP), obtained by one-step co-precipitation, was studied. Hydroxyl and amino groups of support were activated using glycidol and glutaraldehyde, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed reaction of these coupling agents with the enzyme and achievement of a successful immobilization. The derivatives showed activities of 309.5 ± 2.0 and 266.2 ± 2.8 U (g support)(-1) for the CMNP treated with glutaraldehyde and with glycidol, respectively. Immobilization enhanced the enzyme stability against changes of pH and temperature, compared to free lipase. Furthermore, the kinetic parameters K m and V max were determined for the free and immobilized enzyme. K m value quantified for enzyme immobilized by means of glutaraldehyde was 1.7 times lowers than for free lipase. High storage stability during 50 days was observed in the immobilized derivatives. Finally, immobilized derivatives retained above 80% of their initial activity after 15 hydrolytic cycles. The immobilized enzyme can be applied in various biotechnological processes involving magnetic separation.Fil: Osuna, Yolanda. Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila; MéxicoFil: Sandoval, José. Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila; MéxicoFil: Saade, Hened. Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada; MéxicoFil: López, Raúl G.. Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada; MéxicoFil: Martinez, José L.. Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila; MéxicoFil: Colunga, Edith M.. Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila; MéxicoFil: de la Cruz, Gabriela. Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila; MéxicoFil: Segura, Elda P.. Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila; MéxicoFil: Arevalo, Fernando Javier. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Zon, María Alicia. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Hector. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ilyina, Anna. Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila; Méxic

Metagenomic analysis of viruses, bacteria and protozoa in irrigation water

[EN] Viruses (e.g., noroviruses and hepatitis A and E virus), bacteria (e.g., Salmonella spp. and pathogenic Escherichia coli) and protozoa (e.g., Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia intestinalis) are well-known contributors to food-borne illnesses linked to contaminated fresh produce. As agricultural irrigation increases the total amount of water used annually, reclaimed water is a good alternative to reduce dependency on conventional irrigation water sources. European guidelines have established acceptable concentrations of certain pathogens and/or indicators in irrigation water, depending on the irrigation system used and the irrigated crop. However, the incidences of food-borne infections are known to be underestimated and all the different pathogens contributing to these infections are not known. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) enables the determination of the viral, bacterial and protozoan populations present in a water sample, providing an opportunity to detect emerging pathogens and develop improved tools for monitoring the quality of irrigation water. This is a descriptive study of the virome, bacteriome and parasitome present in different irrigation water sources. We applied the same concentration method for all the studied samples and specific metagenomic approaches to characterize both DNA and RNA viruses, bacteria and protozoa. In general, most of the known viral species corresponded to plant viruses and bacteriophages. Viral diversity in river water varied over the year, with higher bacteriophage prevalences during the autumn and winter. Reservoir water contained Enterobacter cloacae, an opportunistic human pathogen and an indicator of fecal contamination, as well as Naegleria australiensis and Naegleria clarki. Hepatitis E virus and Naegleria fowleri, emerging human pathogens, were detected in groundwater. Reclaimed water produced in a constructed wetland system presented a virome and bacteriome that resembled those of freshwater samples (river and reservoir water). Viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens were occasionally detected in the different irrigation water sources included in this study, justifying the use of improved NGS techniques to get a comprehensive evaluation of microbial species and potential environmental health hazards associated to irrigation water.This work was supported through a grant funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) in the frame of the collaborative international consortium JPIW2013-095-C03-01, JPIW2013-095-C03-02 and JPIW2013-095-C03-03 of the Water Challenges for a Changing World Joint Programming Initiative (Water JPI) Pilot Call and partially by AGL2017-86797-C2-1-R. Silvia Bofill-Mas is a Serra-Hunter fellow at the University of Barcelona.Rusiñol, M.; Martinez-Puchol, S.; Timoneda, N.; Fernandez-Cassi, X.; Pérez-Cataluña, A.; Fernández-Bravo, A.; Moreno-Mesonero, L.... (2020). Metagenomic analysis of viruses, bacteria and protozoa in irrigation water. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.113440S22

Development of a web software prototype to support retirement planning

Objetivo desarrollar un prototipo de web software de apoyo a la planificación de la jubilación. Método se trata de una investigación metodológica, aplicada, pautada en los principios del modelo prototipado, que siguió las etapas de comunicación, planificación, creación del prototipo, pruebas de funcionamiento y consolidación de la versión 1 del web software . Resultados las funciones del prototipo del web software se definieron a partir de un diagrama de flujo y del ámbito. En la etapa de creación fueron proyectadas las pantallas que integraron el prototipo, compuesto por entrevista, completando el Inventario de Recursos para la Jubilación, pantalla de acceso a materiales de apoyo a la planificación, incluyendo conferencias, textos científicos y materiales técnicos; pantalla de noticias sobre la jubilación, pantalla de vivencias, las cuales permiten a los usuarios publicar expectativas en relación a la jubilación y comentar publicaciones de otros usuarios. Después de la realización de las pruebas de funcionamiento, el prototipo estuvo disponible en la dirección www.aposentarsecomsaude.com.br. Conclusión el prototipo del web software consiste en un ambiente interactivo, en el cual el usuario se siente activo en el proceso de reflexión sobre la jubilación a lo largo de las diferentes pantallas. Con lenguaje y expresiones claras, de fácil entendimiento al público distinto al que se destinan, se vuelve aplicable a los usuarios de diferentes perfiles profesionales.Objetivo desenvolver um protótipo de web software de apoio ao planejamento da aposentadoria. Método trata-se de uma pesquisa metodológica, aplicada, pautada nos princípios do modelo de prototipação, que seguiu as etapas de comunicação, planejamento, criação do protótipo, testes de funcionamento e consolidação da versão 1 do web software . Resultados as funções do protótipo do web software foram definidas a partir de um fluxograma e do escopo. Na etapa de criação foram projetadas as telas que integraram o protótipo, composto por entrevista, a partir do preenchimento do Inventário de Recursos para a Aposentadoria, tela de acesso aos materiais de apoio ao planejamento, incluindo palestras, textos científicos e materiais técnicos, tela de notícias sobre a aposentadoria, tela de vivências, as quais permitem aos usuários publicar expectativas em relação à aposentadoria e comentar publicações de outros usuários. Após a realização dos testes de funcionamento, o protótipo foi disponibilizado no endereço www.aposentarsecomsaude.com.br. Conclusão o protótipo do web software consiste em um ambiente interativo, no qual o usuário sente-se ativo no processo de reflexão sobre a aposentadoria ao longo das diferentes telas. Com linguagem e expressões claras, de fácil entendimento ao público distinto a que se destina, torna-se aplicável aos usuários de diferentes perfis profissionais.Objective To develop a web software prototype to support retirement planning. Method This is a methodological research, applied and based on the principles of prototyping model, which followed the steps of communication, planning, prototype creation, functional tests and consolidation of web software version 1. Results The functions of the web software prototype were defined from a flowchart and scope. In the creation stage, the screens that integrated the prototype, composed by interview, were projected from the filling of the Retirement Resources Inventory, screen of access to support planning materials, including lectures, scientific texts, and technical materials, retirement news screen, experiences screen, which allow users to post retirement expectations and comment on other users’ posts. After performing tests, the prototype was made available at www.aposentarsecomsaude.com.br . Conclusion the web software prototype consists of an interactive environment in which the user feels active in the reflection process about the retirement along the different screens. With clear language and expressions that are easily understood by the public, they are applicable to users of different professional profiles

A predominant involvement of the triple seropositive patients and others with rheumatoid factor in the association of smoking with rheumatoid arthritis

The major environmental risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is smoking, which according to a widely accepted model induces protein citrullination in the lungs, triggering the production of anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and RA development. Nevertheless, some research findings do not fit this model. Therefore, we obtained six independent cohorts with 2253 RA patients for a detailed analysis of the association between smoking and RA autoantibodies. Our results showed a predominant association of smoking with the concurrent presence of the three antibodies: rheumatoid factor (RF), ACPA and anti-carbamylated protein antibodies (ACarPA) (3 Ab vs. 0 Ab: OR = 1.99, p = 2.5 × 10?8). Meta-analysis with previous data (4491 patients) confirmed the predominant association with the concurrent presence of the three antibodies (3 Ab vs. 0 Ab: OR = 2.00, p = 4.4 ×10?16) and revealed that smoking was exclusively associated with the presence of RF in patients with one or two antibodies (RF+ 1+2 vs. RF? 0+1+2: OR = 1.32, p = 0.0002). In contrast, no specific association with ACPA or ACarPA was found. Therefore, these results showed the need to understand how smoking favors the concordance of RA specific antibodies and RF triggering, perhaps involving smoking-induced epitope spreading and other hypothesized mechanisms

Analysis of labour market needs for engineers with enhanced knowledge in renewable energy in some European and Latin-American Countries

One of the main challenges related to the renewable energy labour market is that of human capital and as a consequence the educational profile of future employees is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, the skill level gained at University does not always fit with the practical needs of industry thus reducing the benefit-cost ratio of new employees and slowing down the transition to a green economy. Within this context, ‘The Crux’ project co-funded by EU under the framework of the Erasmus + programme aims at improving the renewable energy engineering curriculum at different university levels in several Universities of Latin America and Europe. In order to better appreciate the potential impact of the project, a survey on the labour market need for specialists with enhanced knowledge and skills in renewable and sustainable energy technologies has been conducted in the related EU and Latin America countries. More precisely, 60 organizations have been interviewed and almost 70% of them are interested in employing engineers with enhanced knowledge on renewable energy in the next three years. The analysis has shown significant discrepancies between EU and Latin American organizations. In fact, while future employees in EU countries will be mainly related to solar energy and management, the former together with wind and biomass will represent the main renewable energy working sector in Latin American countries. Moreover, MSc level will be the most demanded in EU while bachelor education seems to satisfy the future industry requirements in Latin America. Despite each country having its own needs, the research carried out under this EU project confirms the potential of renewable energy education on the global labour market in the near future

Microbial Biomarker Transition in High-Altitude Sinter Mounds From El Tatio (Chile) Through Different Stages of Hydrothermal Activity

Geothermal springs support microbial communities at elevated temperatures in an ecosystem with high preservation potential that makes them interesting analogs for early evolution of the biogeosphere. The El Tatio geysers field in the Atacama Desert has astrobiological relevance due to the unique occurrence of geothermal features with steep hydrothermal gradients in an otherwise high altitude, hyper-arid environment. We present here results of our multidisciplinary field and molecular study of biogeochemical evidence for habitability and preservation in silica sinter at El Tatio. We sampled three morphologically similar geyser mounds characterized by differences in water activity (i.e., episodic liquid water, steam, and inactive geyser lacking hydrothermal activity). Multiple approaches were employed to determine (past and present) biological signatures and dominant metabolism. Lipid biomarkers indicated relative abundance of thermophiles (dicarboxylic acids) and sulfate reducing bacteria (branched carboxylic acids) in the sinter collected from the liquid water mound; photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria (alkanes and isoprenoids) in the steam sinter mound; and archaea (squalane and crocetane) as well as purple sulfur bacteria (cyclopropyl acids) in the dry sinter from the inactive geyser. The three sinter structures preserved biosignatures representative of primary (thermophilic) and secondary (including endoliths and environmental contaminants) microbial communities. Sequencing of environmental 16S rRNA genes and immuno-assays generally corroborated the lipid-based microbial identification. The multiplex immunoassays and the compound-specific isotopic analysis of carboxylic acids, alkanols, and alkanes indicated that the principal microbial pathway for carbon fixation in the three sinter mounds was through the Calvin cycle, with a relative larger contribution of the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway in the dry system. Other inferred metabolic traits varied from the liquid mound (iron and sulfur chemistry), to the steam mound (nitrogen cycle), to the dry mound (perchlorate reduction). The combined results revealed different stages of colonization that reflect differences in the lifetime of the mounds, where primary communities dominated the biosignatures preserved in sinters from the still active geysers (liquid and steam mounds), in contrast to the surviving metabolisms and microbial communities at the end of lifetime of the inactive geothermal mound

Experiencias positivas de aprendizaje autónomo en el ámbito de las ciencias experimentales

En este trabajo se presenta un conjunto de casos de estudio donde se han aplicado distintas metodologías que ayudan a la formación de conocimiento utilizando aprendizaje autónomo o semiautónomo. En todos los casos propuestos se ha podido percibir por ambas partes del proceso formativo el éxito en los resultados de aprendizaje. Entre los casos de estudio de éxito podemos mencionar: los trabajos cooperativos coordinados entre diversas asignaturas, el uso de “chuletas oficiales” en los exámenes o el aprendizaje por resolución de problemas. En cada caso se ha detallado el contexto de aplicación de la metodología docente, y en los casos que fuese necesario el equivalente en el grado de Biología y Ciencias del Mar. Además, se ha tenido en cuenta la perspectiva del alumnado, junto con la visión del profesorado, para dar mayor amplitud y proyección a la propuesta. Los resultados animan a continuar usando los casos de éxito y mejorar los mismos adaptando al contexto de la materia y mantenerse siempre abiertos a la incorporación de nuevas metodologías para un óptimo aprendizaje