Analysing the Impact of Smart City Networks in Telecommunications Regulation and Standardization: the Spanish Case

Since its establishment in 2011, the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI) has worked towards the ultimate objective of making Spanish cities an international reference within the global ‘smart' panorama. This network, originally empowered by the individual experience of many Spanish cities with presence in international smart city projects for over 10 years, has adopted a powerful governance structure, including its own particular network coordination and management mechanisms. Overall, this environment can be considered a fast track to learning in matters of smart cities governance and project implementation and a powerful tool for collaborating with the remaining stakeholders. The final objective of this work focuses on providing a full picture of the impact of RECI on the Spanish smart cities and its influence in policy-making and standardization. The conclusions of this study show the important role that RECI has played in the recent development of Spain as an international reference in the field of smart cities. It also shows a positive correlation between RECIs influence on government and normalisation bodies to guarantee the success of RECI´s participant strategies

Impact Analysis of Smart City Networks in Cities’ Local Government

Since its establishment in 2012, the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI) has worked towards the ultimate objective of making Spanish cities an international reference within the global ‘smart’ panorama. This network, originally empowered by the individual experience of many Spanish cities with presence in international smart city projects for over 10 years, has adopted a form of governance based on complex networks, including its own particular network coordination and management mechanisms. From this point of view, in first place this work tries to answer the question ‘can these coordination mechanisms contribute to the success of the governance network?’ To provide an answer network performance in the framework of cities is studied focusing on the existing network coordination mechanisms and the abilities of the network manager. From its original 25 funding members, RECI has progressively increased its number of members to 65 by the beginning of 2016. On the management and coordination side, RECI is formed by a president, three vice-presidents, one secretary, and one representative from each founding member. From the work point of view, RECI’S ecosystem is divided into five working groups addressing local concerns. This structure has favoured a sharing environment where all cities can learn from others’ experiences and adopt the best practices that better adapt to their local needs and strategic plans. The sharing-based environment is empowered by a Content Management System (CMS) which acts as a common document repository. Overall, this environment can be considered a fast track to learning in matters of smart cities governance and projects implementation. Ultimately, as a consequence of this environment, an important positive impact is produced in the smart governance of these cities. The final objective of this work focuses on providing a full picture of the overall impact of RECI on the Spanish smart cities based on a Political, Economic, Social and Technological (PEST) analysis. Apart from the information gathered in related literature, this analysis is supported by the answers provided by a sample group of RECI’s members to a consultation where a series of questions in relation to their opinion about RECI’s impact on their local governments were made. Lastly, the conclusions of the study show the important role that RECI has played in the recent development of Spain as an international reference in the field of smart cities, both at a network level, with RECI’s mentoring activities to other networks; and individually for Spanish cities

Verificación y Evaluación del Sistema de Gestión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo – SAGA

Para nosotros es de gran importancia en este ámbito educativo implementar un sistema de Seguridad y Salud en el trabajo en una de las empresas existentes a nivel nacional o internacional, SAGA de Colombia se trata de una compañía de elaboración y comercialización de Botas de Seguridad que es elegida por nuestro grupo para llevar a cabo un diagnóstico y una implementación en Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo teniendo en cuenta la legislación vigente como la 1072 que se trata de nuestro Decreto Único Reglamentario en Colombia y la Resolución 0312 que me va a indicar que requisitos y que estándares debo cumplir para llevar un buen sistema de Gestión por medio del ciclo PHVA ( Planear, Hacer, Verificar y Actuar) y así en el momento de aplicar una evaluación o auditoría interna o externas, obtengamos resultados favorables y así mismo me ayuden a llevar a cabo muchas más estrategias preventivas ,correctivas y de mejora para llegar a cumplir el objetivo general y los objetivos específicos establecidos en la compañía. Gracias a la implementación del SG – SST en las empresas podemos llegar a garantizar la Seguridad y la salud de los trabajadores, establecer acciones de mejora y preventivas, para nosotros llegar a conseguir todo lo que se ha planeado debemos someter al sistema por una evaluación para llegar a la toma de decisiones y establecer la mejora continua de manera cíclica y constante donde nos permitirá a llegar a obtener excelentes resultados y a la prevención de accidentes y enfermedades laborales en los trabajadores.For us, it is of great importance in this educational field to implement a Health and Safety system at work in one of the existing companies at a national or international level, SAGA de Colombia is a company that produces and markets Safety Boots that is chosen by our group to carry out a diagnosis and implementation in Occupational Health and Safety taking into account current legislation such as 1072, which is our Sole Regulatory Decree in Colombia and Resolution 0312 that will indicate what requirements and what standards must I meet to have a good Management system through the PDCA cycle (Plan, Do, Verify and Act) and thus at the time of applying an evaluation or internal or external audit, we obtain favorable results and likewise help me to carry out many more preventive, corrective and improvement strategies to reach the general objective and the specific objectives and established in the company. Thanks to the implementation of SG - SST in companies we can guarantee the safety and health of workers, establish improvement and preventive actions, for us to achieve everything that has been planned we must submit to the system for an evaluation to reach decision-making and establish continuous improvement in a cyclical and constant manner where it will allow us to achieve excellent results and the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases in workers

Púrpura trombocitopénica secundaria a COVID-19

Patient with purpuric lesions and severe platelet disease of 2.0 x 109/L. About respiratory symptoms he only referred dyspnea; on clinical ultrasound, we found B lines in several lung fields suggestive of bilateral pneumonic condensation, confirmed radiographically. SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was positive. The analytical results allowed us to conclude that it was immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) due to that virus.Treatment with hydroxychloroquine + lopinavir/ritonavir was initiated, also, methylprednisolone and immunoglobulin. The lesions remitted, the dyspnea disappeared and platelets increased. Subsequently, he required treatment with eltrombopag, which normalized platelet count.Paciente con lesiones purpúricas y plaquetopenia severa de 2,0 x 109/l. Como síntomas respiratorios sólo refería disnea. En la ecografía clínica presentaba líneas B en varios campos pulmonares sugestivas de condensación neumónica bilateral, corroborada radiográficamente. La PCR para SARS-CoV-2 fue positiva. Los resultados analíticos nos permitieron concluir que era una púrpura trombocitopénica inmunitaria (PTI) ocasionada por dicho virus. Se instauró tratamiento con hidroxicloroquina + lopinavir/ritonavir y, para la PTI, metilprednisolona e inmunoglobulina hasta que remitieron las lesiones, desapareció la disnea y aumentaron las plaquetas. Posteriormente precisó tratamiento con eltrombopag para normalizar las cifras plaquetarias

Nuevas estrategias terapéuticas basadas en el papel pro-aterogénico del LRP1

Trabajo presentado en el XXXIV Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis, celebrado en Madrid (España), del 8 al 10 de junio de 2022Background: The LRP1 (CR9) domain and, in particular, the sequence Gly1127-Cys1140 (P3) plays a critical role in the binding and internalization of aggregated LDL (agLDL). We aimed to evaluate whether immunization with P3 reduces high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerosis. Methods: Female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were immunized with a primary injection and four reminder doses (R1-R4) of IrP (irrelevant peptide) or P3 conjugated to the carrier. IrP and P3-immunized rabbits were randomly divided into a normal diet group and a HFD-fed group. Anti-P3 antibody levels were determined by ELISA. Lipoprotein profile, circulating and tissue lipids, and vascular pro-inflammatory mediators were determined using standardized methods while atherosclerosis was determined by confocal microscopy studies and non-invasive imaging (PET/CT and Doppler ultrasonography). Studies treating human macrophages (hM¿) and coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (hcVSMC) with rabbit serums were performed to ascertain the potential impact of anti-P3 Abs on the functionality of these crucial cells. Results: P3 immunization specifically induced the production of anti-P3 antibodies (Abs) and did not alter the lipoprotein profile. HFD strongly induced cholesteryl ester (CE) accumulation in the aorta of both the control and IrP groups, and their serum dose-dependently raised the intracellular CE of hM¿ and hcVSMC, promoting TNFR1 and phospho-NF-kB (p65) overexpression. These HFD pro-inflammatory effects were dramatically decreased in the aorta of P3-immunized rabbits and in hM¿ and hcVSMC exposed to the P3 rabbit serums. Microscopy studies revealed that P3 immunization reduced the percentage of lipids, macrophages, and SMCs in the arterial intima, as well as the atherosclerotic extent and lesion area in the aorta. PET/CT and Doppler ultrasonography studies showed that the average standardized uptake value (SUVmean) of the aorta and the arterial resistance index (ARI) of the carotids were more upregulated by HFD in the control and IrP groups than the P3 group. Conclusions: P3 immunization counteracts HFD-induced fatty streak formation in rabbits. The specific blockade of the LRP1 (CR9) domain with Anti-P3 Abs dramatically reduces HFD-induced intracellular CE loading and harmful coupling to pro-inflammatory signaling in the vasculature

Immunization with the Gly 1127 -Cys 1140 amino acid sequence of the LRP1 receptor reduces atherosclerosis in rabbits. Molecular, immunohistochemical and nuclear imaging studies

Altres ajuts: The main support to develop this project was received from Fundació MARATÓ TV3 Project 201521-10 (to VLl-C) and co-financed with ERDFs. Support was received from Fundació Marató TV3 (Project 201521-10) for post-doctoral funding to OB. DdG-C, VL-C and JCE-G are members of the Group of Vascular Biology of the Spanish Society of Atherosclerosis (SEA).Background : The LRP1 (CR9) domain and, in particular, the sequence Gly 1127 -Cys 1140 (P3) plays a critical role in the binding and internalization of aggregated LDL (agLDL). We aimed to evaluate whether immunization with P3 reduces high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerosis. Methods : Female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were immunized with a primary injection and four reminder doses (R1-R4) of IrP (irrelevant peptide) or P3 conjugated to the carrier. IrP and P3-immunized rabbits were randomly divided into a normal diet group and a HFD-fed group. Anti-P3 antibody levels were determined by ELISA. Lipoprotein profile, circulating and tissue lipids, and vascular pro-inflammatory mediators were determined using standardized methods while atherosclerosis was determined by confocal microscopy studies and non-invasive imaging (PET/CT and Doppler ultrasonography). Studies treating human macrophages (hMΦ) and coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (hcVSMC) with rabbit serums were performed to ascertain the potential impact of anti-P3 Abs on the functionality of these crucial cells. Results : P3 immunization specifically induced the production of anti-P3 antibodies (Abs) and did not alter the lipoprotein profile. HFD strongly induced cholesteryl ester (CE) accumulation in the aorta of both the control and IrP groups, and their serum dose-dependently raised the intracellular CE of hMΦ and hcVSMC, promoting TNFR1 and phospho-NF-kB (p65) overexpression. These HFD pro-inflammatory effects were dramatically decreased in the aorta of P3-immunized rabbits and in hMΦ and hcVSMC exposed to the P3 rabbit serums. Microscopy studies revealed that P3 immunization reduced the percentage of lipids, macrophages, and SMCs in the arterial intima, as well as the atherosclerotic extent and lesion area in the aorta. PET/CT and Doppler ultrasonography studies showed that the average standardized uptake value (SUV) of the aorta and the arterial resistance index (ARI) of the carotids were more upregulated by HFD in the control and IrP groups than the P3 group. Conclusions : P3 immunization counteracts HFD-induced fatty streak formation in rabbits. The specific blockade of the LRP1 (CR9) domain with Anti-P3 Abs dramatically reduces HFD-induced intracellular CE loading and harmful coupling to pro-inflammatory signaling in the vasculature

Prophylactic Effect of a Therapeutic Vaccine against TB Based on Fragments of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The prophylactic capacity of the RUTI® vaccine, based on fragmented cells of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has been evaluated in respect to aerosol challenge with virulent bacilli. Subcutaneous vaccination significantly reduced viable bacterial counts in both lungs and spleens of C57Bl mice, when challenged 4 weeks after vaccination. RUTI® protected the spleen less than BCG. Following a 9 month vaccination-challenge interval, protection was observed for the lungs, but not for the spleen. Survival of infected guinea pigs was prolonged by vaccination given 5 weeks before challenge. Inoculations of RUTI® shortly after infection significantly reduced the viable bacterial counts in the lungs, when compared with infected control mice. Thus, vaccination by RUTI® has potential for both the prophylaxis and immunotherapy of tuberculosis

Morphosedimentary characterization of the Capbreton submarine canyon system, Bay of Biscay (Cantabrian Sea)

Various studies have been carried out to the declaration of new marine protected areas for their importance for habitats, according to the Natura 2000 Network. One of these sites is a sector of the Capbreton Submarine Canyon System, located in front of the Basque Country coast, in the Bay of Biscay (North Atlantic). During the Intemares_CapBreton 0619 and 0620 surveys; bathymetric, backscatter, high-resolution parametric data and samples of sediments, rocks and benthic communities from the seabed were acquired. The study was completed by recording video transects with the underwater vehicle ROTV Politolana from the IEO. The processing and analysis of the geophysical information has allowed obtaining a detailed bathymetry grid of 10 × 10 m, from which the first morphosedimentary characterization of the system of tributary canyons to the E-W trending main canyon and its interfluves has been made. One of the main features of this canyon system is the presence of a large pockmark field on adjacent platforms between canyons, located between 500 and 1000 m water depth. Within this field, pockmarks are shown as circular to elliptical depressions, most likely related to gas rich-fluid emissions to the subsurface.Versión del edito

Microbial β-glucosidases from cow rumen metagenome enhance the saccharification of lignocellulose in combination with commercial cellulase cocktail

BACKGROUND: A complete saccharification of plant polymers is the critical step in the efficient production of bio-alcohols. Beta-glucosidases acting in the degradation of intermediate gluco-oligosaccharides produced by cellulases limit the yield of the final product. RESULTS: In the present work, we have identified and then successfully cloned, expressed, purified and characterised 4 highly active beta-glucosidases from fibre-adherent microbial community from the cow rumen. The enzymes were most active at temperatures 45–55°C and pH 4.0-7.0 and exhibited high affinity and activity towards synthetic substrates such as p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (pNPbetaG) and pNP-beta-cellobiose, as well as to natural cello-oligosaccharides ranging from cellobiose to cellopentaose. The apparent capability of the most active beta-glucosidase, herein named LAB25g2, was tested for its ability to improve, at low dosage (31.25 units g(-1) dry biomass, using pNPbetaG as substrate), the hydrolysis of pre-treated corn stover (dry matter content of 20%; 350 g glucan kg(-1) dry biomass) in combination with a beta-glucosidase-deficient commercial Trichoderma reseei cellulase cocktail (5 units g(-1) dry biomass in the basis of pNPbetaG). LAB25g2 increased the final hydrolysis yield by a factor of 20% (44.5 ± 1.7% vs. 34.5 ± 1.5% in control conditions) after 96–120 h as compared to control reactions in its absence or in the presence of other commercial beta-glucosidase preparations. The high stability (half-life higher than 5 days at 50°C and pH 5.2) and 2–38000 fold higher (as compared with reported beta-glucosidases) activity towards cello-oligosaccharides may account for its performance in supplementation assays. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that beta-glucosidases from yet uncultured bacteria from animal digestomes may be of a potential interest for biotechnological processes related to the effective bio-ethanol production in combination with low dosage of commercial cellulases

Diseño de materiales docentes accesibles para su utilización en prácticas de asignaturas de Química Inorgánica

En la Red GEQIA (Química Inorgánica verde y accesible) se plantea abordar, en varias etapas, la adaptación de materiales que se utilizan en la docencia de créditos prácticos de asignaturas de Química Inorgánica de acuerdo con el “Plan de Actuación para la Igualdad de Oportunidades para Estudiantes con Discapacidad” de la Universidad de Alicante (2012), dentro del marco de la Constitución Española (1978) en su art. 49 y de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) (2006) en la Convención Internacional sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad y su Protocolo Facultativo, que garantizan su inclusión en todas las etapas. Entre los objetivos globales se encuentran: i) la determinación y diseño de los ajustes razonables que se deben realizar en asignaturas que tienen créditos experimentales para hacerlas accesibles a personas con diversidad funcional, ii) aplicar los criterios de accesibilidad universal para la elaboración de los materiales de apoyo de las asignaturas así como de los instrumentos de evaluación, iii) adaptar el puesto de trabajo de laboratorio para su uso por personas con diversidad funcional. El proyecto de trabajo se realiza en diversas etapas. En una primera etapa, la accesibilidad de las prácticas de laboratorio actuales se ha mejorado mediante la adquisición de materiales, como buretas o tijeras, que puedan manejarse adecuadamente por personas zurdas sin tener que forzar su anatomía y, para el alumnado con impedimento de movilidad, se ha conseguido fácilmente la adaptación del puesto de trabajo en los laboratorios utilizando una silla que puede desplazarse en la vertical hasta alcanzar la distancia óptima de la persona respecto a la superficie de trabajo (perteneciente a la dotación del Centro de Apoyo al Estudiante, CAE). En una segunda etapa, se ensaya la adaptación de una práctica de estructuras de metales para que sea accesible al alumnado con diversidad funcional, modificando el documento explicativo de la práctica para adaptarlo al diseño universal. Así mismo, se adapta también la web de apoyo docente para hacerla accesible, siguiendo las Pautas de Accesibilidad para el Contenido Web (WCAG) 2.0 (2008) y, además, utilizable en dispositivos móviles (teléfonos y tabletas). La adaptación de la web actual de Química Inorgánica Estructural supone la descripción de todas las imágenes que contiene y de las imágenes interactivas que se obtienen en los diferentes applets para describir las estructuras de metales y de compuestos iónicos, así como de las operaciones de simetría. Dentro del conjunto de materiales que se utilizan en la práctica hay modelos 3D para su manipulación y montaje de estructuras, con el objetivo de entender las estructuras de sólidos cristalinos. Estos modelos se adaptan para su uso por parte de personas con pérdida parcial o total de la visión para que puedan seguir las explicaciones con el tacto, convirtiendo el código de colores, que se utiliza en los modelos actuales, en un código de rugosidad superficial. Dichos modelos se obtienen mediante impresión 3D, tomando como punto de partida los diseños de los modelos actuales para preparar el documento que se imprime en la impresora 3D. Los modelos en 3D se señalizan con etiquetas escritas en Braille y el documento de trabajo de la práctica se suministra al alumnado en un fichero con formato pdf accesible que puede leerse en una línea Braille desde un dispositivo móvil (teléfono o tableta). La comprobación de la utilidad de estos materiales se contrasta con usuarios y especialistas en apoyo a la diversidad funcional