Antibiotic Resistance in Seawater Samples from East Coast of Spain

[EN] Seawater has been proposed as a reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, thus representing a risk to public health. In this study, we evaluated the presence of antibiotic resistance determinants (bacteria and genes) in 77 seawater samples collected at different points along the coast of the Gulf of Valencia (Spain). Specifically, indicators of fecal contamination bacteria, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp., were isolated, and their antibiotic resistance profiles were analyzed through the use of the Sensititre® system, followed by the detection of the main antibiotic resistance genes (blaTEM, qnrS, tetW, sulI, and ermB). The highest frequencies of resistance in the E. coli isolates were detected for ampicillin (35.1%) and ciprofloxacin (17.5%), followed by sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (15.7%), while 23% of enterococci isolates showed resistance to a single antibiotic, 20% against tetracycline and 3% against daptomycin. Through PCR analysis, 93% of the E. coli strains showed the blaTEM and sulI resistance genes. Among the enterococci, the presence of the blaTEM gene was detected in 40% of the isolates, while the rest of the genes were present at very low rates. Among the water samples, 57% were positive for at least one of the tested genes, italic format with blaTEM being the most commonly found gene (47%), followed by the qnrS (33%) and sulI (23%) genes. These results show that seawater, in addition to being subjected to a high rate of fecal contamination, can contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance.This research was funded by CIAICO/2021/149. Generalitat Valenciana (Comunitat Valenciana, Spain).Dasí, D.; Camaró-Sala. Maria Luisa; González Pellicer, A.; García-Ferrús, M.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.; Castillo López, M. (2024). Antibiotic Resistance in Seawater Samples from East Coast of Spain. Applied Sciences. 14(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/app1405196514

Use of fluorescent in situ hybridization to evidence the presence of Helicobacter pylori in water

[EN] We have evaluated the use of a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in water (river and wastewater) samples. The assay was compared with PCR detection and isolation of cells on selective media. 16S rRNA and UreA+B sequence data were used as oligonucleotide probe and specific primers for FISH and PCR, respectively. Using FISH technique, H. pylori was detected in two river water and one wastewater samples, while PCR yielded only one positive result. H. pylori culture was not possible from any sample. According to these results, FISH technique has the potential to be used as a quick and sensitive method for detection of H. pylori in environmental samples.We thank E. Echevarrı́a from EMARSA company, which allowed us access and sampling Pinedo wastewater treatment plant.Moreno Trigos, MY.; Ferrús Pérez, MA.; Alonso Molina, JL.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.; Hernández Haba, J. (2003). Use of fluorescent in situ hybridization to evidence the presence of Helicobacter pylori in water. Water Research. 37:2251-2256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(02)00624-3225122563

Partially defatted olive cake in finishing pig diets: implications on performance, faecal microbiota, carcass quality, slurry composition and gas emission

[EN] One of the key factors to improve swine production sustainability is the use of agro-industrial by-products in feeds, such as olive by-products. However, it is necessary to assess its effects on the overall production process, including the animal and the environment. With this aim, an experiment was conducted to determine the effects of including a partially defatted olive cake (PDOC) in pig diets on growth performance, faecal microbiota, carcass quality and gas emission from the slurry. Two finishing diets were formulated, a control (C) diet and a diet with PDOC included at 120 g/kg. Eighty finishing male pigs Duroc-Danbred x (Landrace x Large White) of 60.4 +/- 7.00 kg BW were divided between these two treatments. During the finishing period (60 to 110 kg BW, 55 days) average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were recorded. Faecal samples from the rectum of 16 animals per treatment were incubated for bacteria enumeration. At the end of finishing period, backfat thickness and loin depth (LD) were measured. Animals were slaughtered to obtain carcass weight and carcass composition parameters, and subcutaneous fat was sampled to analyse the fatty acid (FA) profile. In addition greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions were measured during pig slurry storage using the methodology of dynamic flux chambers. An initial slurry characterisation and biochemical methane potential (B-0) were also determined. No significant differences between treatments were found in performance, carcass quality and microbial counts with the exception of LD, which was lower in PDOC compared with C animals (45.5 v. 47.5 mm, SEM: 0.62; P = 0.020). The FA profile of the subcutaneous fat did not differ between treatments, but the monounsaturated FA (MUFA) concentration was higher and the polyunsaturated FA was lower in the animals fed PDOC (50.9 v. 48.3, SEM: 0.48, P < 0.001; 17.6 v. 19.3, SEM: 0.30, P < 0.001 in mg/100 g of Total FA, for PDOC and C animals, respectively). The initial pig slurry characterisation only showed differences in ADF concentration that was higher (P < 0.05) in the slurry from PDOC treatment. Regarding gas emission, slurries from both treatments emitted similar amounts of ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as B-0 values. The results obtained suggest that PDOC may be included in balanced pig diets at rates of up to 120 g/kg without negative effects on performance, carcass quality, gut microflora and slurry gas emission, while improving the MUFA concentration of subcutaneous fat.This project was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AGL2014-56653). Preliminary results from this work have been published in an abstract form (Ferrer et al., 2017). Acknowledgements are also expressed to DCOOP for providing PDCO.Ferrer Riera, P.; Calvet, S.; García-Rebollar, P.; De Blas, C.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.; Hernández, P.; Piquer, O.... (2020). Partially defatted olive cake in finishing pig diets: implications on performance, faecal microbiota, carcass quality, slurry composition and gas emission. Animal. 14(2):426-434. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731119002040S426434142Abo Omar, J. M., Daya, R., & Ghaleb, A. (2012). Effects of different forms of olive cake on the performance and carcass quality of Awassi lambs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 171(2-4), 167-172. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2011.11.002Alburquerque, J. (2004). Agrochemical characterisation of «alperujo», a solid by-product of the two-phase centrifugation method for olive oil extraction. Bioresource Technology, 91(2), 195-200. doi:10.1016/s0960-8524(03)00177-9Bach Knudsen, K. E., & Hansen, I. (1991). Gastrointestinal implications in pigs of wheat and oat fractions. British Journal of Nutrition, 65(2), 217-232. doi:10.1079/bjn19910082Beccaccia, A., Calvet, S., Cerisuelo, A., Ferrer, P., García-Rebollar, P., & De Blas, C. (2015). Effects of nutrition on digestion efficiency and gaseous emissions from slurry in growing-finishing pigs. I. Influence of the inclusion of two levels of orange pulp and carob meal in isofibrous diets. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 208, 158-169. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.07.008Calvet, S., Hunt, J., & Misselbrook, T. H. (2017). Low frequency aeration of pig slurry affects slurry characteristics and emissions of greenhouse gases and ammonia. Biosystems Engineering, 159, 121-132. doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2017.04.011Cámara, L., Berrocoso, J. D., Coma, J., López-Bote, C. J., & Mateos, G. G. (2016). Growth performance and carcass quality of crossbreds pigs from two Pietrain sire lines fed isoproteic diets varying in energy concentration. Meat Science, 114, 69-74. doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.12.013Canh, T. T., Verstegen, M. W., Aarnink, A. J., & Schrama, J. W. (1997). Influence of dietary factors on nitrogen partitioning and composition of urine and feces of fattening pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 75(3), 700. doi:10.2527/1997.753700xCardona, F., Andrés-Lacueva, C., Tulipani, S., Tinahones, F. J., & Queipo-Ortuño, M. I. (2013). Benefits of polyphenols on gut microbiota and implications in human health. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 24(8), 1415-1422. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.05.001Cava, R., Ruiz, J., López-Bote, C., Martín, L., García, C., Ventanas, J., & Antequera, T. (1997). Influence of finishing diet on fatty acid profiles of intramuscular lipids, triglycerides and phospholipids in muscles of the Iberian pig. Meat Science, 45(2), 263-270. doi:10.1016/s0309-1740(96)00102-7Cerisuelo, A., Castelló, L., Moset, V., Martínez, M., Hernández, P., Piquer, O., … Lainez, M. (2010). The inclusion of ensiled citrus pulp in diets for growing pigs: Effects on voluntary intake, growth performance, gut microbiology and meat quality. Livestock Science, 134(1-3), 180-182. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2010.06.135Chamorro, S., Viveros, A., Alvarez, I., Vega, E., & Brenes, A. (2012). Changes in polyphenol and polysaccharide content of grape seed extract and grape pomace after enzymatic treatment. Food Chemistry, 133(2), 308-314. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.01.031De Blas, J. C., Rodriguez, C. A., Bacha, F., Fernandez, R., & Abad-Guamán, R. (2015). Nutritive value of co-products derived from olivecake in rabbit feeding. World Rabbit Science, 23(4), 255. doi:10.4995/wrs.2015.4036FAOSTAT, 2017. Production quantities by country, 2014. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved on 26 June 2018, from http://faostat3.fao.org/home/FEDNA 2010. Tablas FEDNA de composición y valor nutritivo de alimentos para la fabricación de piensos compuestos, 3ª edición. (ed. C de Blas, GG Mateos, P García-Rebollar), pp 310–311. Fundación Española para el Desarrollo de la Nutrición Animal, Madrid, Spain.Ferrer P, Calvet S, Piquer O, García-Rebollar P, de Blas C, Bonet J, Coma J and Cerisuelo A 2017. Olive cake in pigs feeding: effects on growth performance, carcass quality and gas emission from slurry. In Proceedings of the 2nd World Conference of Innovative Animal Nutrition and Feeding, 18–20 October 2017, Budapest, Hungary, pp. 63–64.Ferrer, P., García-Rebollar, P., Cerisuelo, A., Ibáñez, M. A., Rodríguez, C. A., Calvet, S., & De Blas, C. (2018). Nutritional value of crude and partially defatted olive cake in finishing pigs and effects on nitrogen balance and gaseous emissions. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 236, 131-140. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2017.12.014García-González, D. L., & Aparicio, R. (2010). Research in Olive Oil: Challenges for the Near Future. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58(24), 12569-12577. doi:10.1021/jf102735nGonzález, E., Hernández-Matamoros, A., & Tejeda, J. F. (2012). Two by-products of the olive oil extraction industry as oleic acid supplement source for Iberian pigs: effect on the meat’s chemical composition and induced lipoperoxidation. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 92(12), 2543-2551. doi:10.1002/jsfa.5669Jarrett, S., & Ashworth, C. J. (2018). The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 9(1). doi:10.1186/s40104-018-0270-0Joven, M., Pintos, E., Latorre, M. A., Suárez-Belloch, J., Guada, J. A., & Fondevila, M. (2014). Effect of replacing barley by increasing levels of olive cake in the diet of finishing pigs: Growth performances, digestibility, carcass, meat and fat quality. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 197, 185-193. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.08.007Leouifoudi, I., Harnafi, H., & Zyad, A. (2015). Olive Mill Waste Extracts: Polyphenols Content, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences, 2015, 1-11. doi:10.1155/2015/714138Licitra, G., Hernandez, T. M., & Van Soest, P. J. (1996). Standardization of procedures for nitrogen fractionation of ruminant feeds. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 57(4), 347-358. doi:10.1016/0377-8401(95)00837-3Marín, L., Miguélez, E. M., Villar, C. J., & Lombó, F. (2015). Bioavailability of Dietary Polyphenols and Gut Microbiota Metabolism: Antimicrobial Properties. BioMed Research International, 2015, 1-18. doi:10.1155/2015/905215Mas, G., Llavall, M., Coll, D., Roca, R., Diaz, I., Gispert, M., … Realini, C. E. (2010). Carcass and meat quality characteristics and fatty acid composition of tissues from Pietrain-crossed barrows and gilts fed an elevated monounsaturated fat diet. Meat Science, 85(4), 707-714. doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2010.03.028Molina-Alcaide, E., & Yáñez-Ruiz, D. R. (2008). Potential use of olive by-products in ruminant feeding: A review. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 147(1-3), 247-264. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2007.09.021Morazán, H., Alvarez-Rodriguez, J., Seradj, A. R., Balcells, J., & Babot, D. (2015). Trade-offs among growth performance, nutrient digestion and carcass traits when feeding low protein and/or high neutral-detergent fiber diets to growing-finishing pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 207, 168-180. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2015.06.003O’Fallon, J. V., Busboom, J. R., Nelson, M. L., & Gaskins, C. T. (2007). A direct method for fatty acid methyl ester synthesis: Application to wet meat tissues, oils, and feedstuffs. Journal of Animal Science, 85(6), 1511-1521. doi:10.2527/jas.2006-491Pieper, R., Vahjen, W., & Zentek, J. (2015). Dietary fibre and crude protein: impact on gastrointestinal microbial fermentation characteristics and host response. Animal Production Science, 55(12), 1367. doi:10.1071/an15278Rosenvold, K., & Andersen, H. J. (2003). Factors of significance for pork quality—a review. Meat Science, 64(3), 219-237. doi:10.1016/s0309-1740(02)00186-9Serra, A., Conte, G., Giovannetti, M., Casarosa, L., Agnolucci, M., Ciucci, F., … Mele, M. (2017). Olive Pomace in Diet Limits Lipid Peroxidation of Sausages from Cinta Senese Swine. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 120(1), 1700236. doi:10.1002/ejlt.201700236Torres-Pitarch, A., Moset, V., Ferrer, P., Cambra-López, M., Hernández, P., Coma, J., … Cerisuelo, A. (2014). The inclusion of rapeseed meal in fattening pig diets, as a partial replacer of soybean meal, alters nutrient digestion, faecal composition and biochemical methane potential from faeces. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 198, 215-223. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.09.017Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B., & Lewis, B. A. (1991). Methods for Dietary Fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Nonstarch Polysaccharides in Relation to Animal Nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10), 3583-3597. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(91)78551-2Yemm, E. W., & Willis, A. J. (1954). The estimation of carbohydrates in plant extracts by anthrone. Biochemical Journal, 57(3), 508-514. doi:10.1042/bj0570508Zhao, P. Y., Wang, J. P., & Kim, I. H. (2013). Evaluation of dietary fructan supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, fecal microbial flora, and fecal noxious gas emission in finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 91(11), 5280-5286. doi:10.2527/jas.2012-539

Sustainable Development Goals and General Skills integrated through gamification in Higher education: a case study

[EN] In Spain, Universities began to participate in International Cooperation for Development (ICD) in the '90s, mainly thanks to personal initiatives of university members. Nowadays ICD is a consolidated policy for higher education institutions. At this moment, Universities are committed with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations, which have constituted the core of the sustainable development agenda since 2015. SDG need to be considered from a multidisciplinary and integrated approach, especially in higher education. The accomplishment of the deal involves a change in the minds of lecturers and students, and innovative education strategies may help. Gamification is an important strategy to drive this change, due to the capabilities demonstrated to achieve deep learning and motivation improvement. The two-year innovation project applies gamification strategies to integrate SDG into the existing program with the aim of developing and evaluating General Skills (GS) in the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). The project is carried out by our innovation team GRIPAU (Interdisciplinary Group for University Learning). On the first year of the project, the pilot case study was carried out over 51 students of Biotechnology and Building MSC. The results showed the gamification as a powerful tool to integrate SDG and general skills in Higher Education. One time the pilot case study was concluded, the methodology was adjusted and the experience was extended to the other subjects within the project. The project second year plan includes applying the methodology to 255 students of 7 different subjects of Bachelor Degrees and MSC of Engineering, Architecture, Building Construction and Biotechnology, both in fall and spring terms. The methodology consists of planning different activities through the term. First, a motivation and awareness activity is carried out to introduce the SDG through a general questionnaire about the origin and limits using a gamification tool such as Kahoot. During the term, specific activities are developed with the aim of getting deeper knowledge about the SDG. The range of the activities is wide, from specific projects to debates. Finally, at the end of the term a final survey is conducted via gamification to get feedback on the level of awareness of the different issues addressed by the SDG and their guidelines. The results obtained with the first data collection activity, showed 69% of correct answers while in the final surveys were 62%. Similar results for the different scheduled data collection within the pilot case study with 76% and 60%, respectively, although the total number of students in the final surveys was only 135 because some subjects are developed on the spring semester. The results on the secondyear project are equivalent, with less correct answers for the final test than for the initial one. About the subjective impressions of the activities, only 20% of the students gave feedback. All of them reported that the activities were very fun, learning effective and they would recommend the tool.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Universitat Politècnica de València, Convocatoria Docencia + Aprendizaje 2018 (A+D) PROYECTO DE INNOVACIÓN Y MEJORA EDUCATIVA (PIME).Guillén Guillamón, IE.; Moreno-Ramón, H.; Cabedo Fabres, M.; Ferrando Bataller, M.; Calvet, S.; Ibañez Asensio, S.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI. (2020). Sustainable Development Goals and General Skills integrated through gamification in Higher education: a case study. IATED Academy. 7853-7859. https://doi.org/10.21125/edulearn.2020.1979S7853785

Comparative performance of three sampling techniques to detect airborne Salmonella species in poultry farms

Sampling techniques to detect airborne Salmonella species (spp.) in two pilot scale broiler houses were compared. Broilers were inoculated at seven days of age with a marked strain of Salmonella enteritidis. The rearing cycle lasted 42 days during the summer. Airborne Salmonella spp. were sampled weekly using impaction, gravitational settling, and impingement techniques. Additionally,Salmonella spp. were sampled on feeders, drinkers, walls, and in the litter. Environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity, and airborne particulate matter (PM) concentration) were monitored during the rearing cycle. The presence of Salmonella spp. was determined by culture-dependent and molecular methods. No cultivable Salmonella spp. were recovered from the poultry houses' surfaces, the litter, or the air before inoculation. After inoculation, cultivable Salmonella spp. were recovered from the surfaces and in the litter. Airborne cultivable Salmonella spp. were detected using impaction and gravitational settling one or two weeks after the detection of Salmonella spp. in the litter. No cultivable Salmonella spp. were recovered using impingement based on culture-dependent techniques. At low airborne concentrations, the use of impingement for the quantification or detection of cultivable airborne Salmonella spp. is not recommended. In these cases, a combination of culture-dependent and culture-independent methods is recommended. These data are valuable to improve current measures to control the transmission of pathogens in livestock environments and for optimising the sampling and detection of airborne Salmonella spp. in practical conditions.The research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project No. GASFARM-2 AGL2008-04125, Madrid). The authors express their thanks to the Centro de Tecnologia Animal (IVIA, Spain) and its staff for providing the broiler installations and collaborating during this study. We are also grateful to the Livestock Research Group of Wageningen UR, The Netherlands, for their equipment support. The authors also wish to thank the Campus de Excelencia Internacional of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain.Adell Sales, E.; Moset, V.; Zhao, Y.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.; Cerisuelo, A.; Cambra López, M. (2014). Comparative performance of three sampling techniques to detect airborne Salmonella species in poultry farms. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 21(1):15-24. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/64122S152421

Lessons as a tool to combine flip teaching and transversal skills at the UPV: A pilot experience in soil genesis subjects

[EN] The potential offered by technologies is a reality that must be addressed and used in the Higher Education environments. Professors must be able to integrate technologies into their sessions and facilitate the work of the skill acquisition. The main objectives of this work are: i) to take advantage of the Lessons tool (PoliformaT) to evaluate the acquisition of transversal competences and, ii) to compare if the use of flip teaching improves its acquisition. In the subject of "Geology, Soil science and Climatology" (Degrees in Agri-Food Engineering and Forestry Engineering), an experience was developed during two academic courses in a population of 169 students on average each year. Through Lessons, a template was designed for the student to work, sequentially and based on their knowledge, a specific activity of soil science. In the activity, the student had to face a practical assumption with 4 options to consider as a response. According to its response the specific skills and critical thinking skill would be evaluated. The first year the students had to carry out the activity autonomously in PoliformaT, but in the second year, flip teaching was applied in the same activity. In that occasion; students had to watch online material and subsequently work on the specific concepts in class. Finally, they had to solve independently the practical case in Lessons, where they were evaluated and feedback was provided. The combination of "skill assessment and flip teaching" promoted that in the second year, 66% of the students acquired an adequate level of critical thinking skill. However, although the first year, 65% of the students also acquired it, it has been detected that in the second year there was an increase of 7% of students that passed from good to excellent acquisition level.Moreno Ramón, H.; Ibañez Asensio, S.; Martínez García, A.; Guillén Guillamón, IE.; Cabedo Fabrés, M.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.; Calvet Sanz, S.... (2019). Lessons as a tool to combine flip teaching and transversal skills at the UPV: A pilot experience in soil genesis subjects. En INNODOCT/18. International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Education. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 89-964. https://doi.org/10.4995/INN2018.2018.8816OCS8996

Antilisterial effect of citrus essential oils and their performance in edible film formulations

[EN] The antimicrobial activity of eight essential oils (EOs) extracted from the fruit peel of Citrus genotypes (orange, mandarin and lemon) was evaluated against 76 strains of Listeria monocytogenes, previously isolated from different food matrices. EOs showing the most (EO L2 and EO L8) and least (EO O3 and EO M7) effective inhibition activities were chemically characterized by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to compare their composition. EO L2 and EO L8 were chosen to determine the MIC and to evaluate the cell viability of the most sensitive strains (L. monocytogenes LM35 and LM69) after 1, 2, 4 and 6 h of exposure. The effectiveness of chitosan (CH) and methylcellulose (MC) edible films, alone and in combination with EO L2 and EO L8, was determined against LM35 and LM69 at 37 C for 0, 8 and 24 h and at 8 C for 0, 1, 3 and 7 days. In addition, the analysis of the microstructure of the films were performed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to evidence the interactions between the polymers and EOs. Thirty-five and twenty-nine strains were clearly inhibited by EO L2 and EO L8, respectively, while the other Citrus EOs showed poor (EO M1, O4, O5, O6) or minimal (EO O3 and M7) antimicrobial activity. A total of 36 chemical volatile substances was identified by GC/MS to detect the compounds that might play an important role in the characterization of the EOs. The chemical characterization points to oxygenated monoterpenes as relevant compounds in inhibiting Listeria strains, since they have been detected in lemon EOs in concentrations four/five folds higher than orange EOs. Generally, CH- and MCbased films containing EO L2 and EO L8 showed antilisterial activities, even though, the best performances were observed in case of CH-films at 8 C, with a major reduction up to 3 log (CFU/cm2) in case of EO L2 incorporation. The microstructures observed by SEM suggested a better incorporation of the EOs in CH matrix, where a higher amount of oil droplets was distinguished. Therefore, lemon EOs incorporated into chitosan films could be an efficient tool to control Listeria monocytogenes, especially in refrigerated applied conditions.WR was supported by the "Student Mobility for Placement - SMP" grant of the EU Life Learning Program. The authors thank the "Azienda Sperimentale Palazzelli C.R.A. - Centro di ricerca per l'agrumicoltura e le colture mediterranee Contrada Palazzelli Scordia" (CT, Italy) for providing some of the fruits used for EOs extractions.Randazzo, W.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.; Settanni, L.; Perdones Montero, A.; Moschetti, M.; Palazzolo, E.; Guarrasi, V.... (2016). Antilisterial effect of citrus essential oils and their performance in edible film formulations. Food Control. 59:750-758. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.06.057S7507585

High prevalence of Salmonella spp. in wastewater reused for irrigation assessed by molecular methods

[EN] Salmonella spp. is one of the most important causal agents of food-borne illness in developed countries and its presence in irrigation water poses a risk to public health. Its detection in environmental samples is not easy when culture methods are used, and molecular techniques such as PCR or ribosomal rRNA probe hybridization (Fluorescent zn situ Hybridization, FISH) are outstanding alternatives. The aim of this work was to determine the environmental risk due to the presence of Salmonella spp. in wastewater by culture, PCR and FISH. A new specific rDNA probe for Salmonella was designed and its efficiency was compared with the rest of methods Serotype and antibiotic resistance of isolated strains were determined. Forty-five wastewater samples (collected from two secondary wastewater treatment plants) were analysed. Salmonella strains were isolated in 24 wastewater samples (53%), two of them after disinfection treatment. Twenty-three Salmonella strains exhibited resistance to one or more antimicrobial agent. Analysis of wastewater samples yielded PCR positive results for Salmonella in 28 out of the 45 wastewater samples (62%). FISH analysis allowed for the detection of Salmonella in 27 (60%) samples. By using molecular methods, Salmonella was detected in four samples after disinfection treatment. These results show the prevalence of Salmonella in reclaimed wastewater even after U.V. disinfection, what is a matter of public health concern, the high rates of resistance to antibiotics and the adequacy of molecular methods for its rapid detection. FISH method, with SA23 probe developed and assayed in this work provides a tool for detecting Salmonella in water within few hours, with a high rate of effectiveness.Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Project: AGL2008-05275-C03-02).Santiago Cuellar, P.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.; García Hernández, J.; Montes Estellés, RM.; Hernández Pérez, M.; Castillo López, MÁ.; Ferrús Pérez, MA.... (2018). High prevalence of Salmonella spp. in wastewater reused for irrigation assessed by molecular methods. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 221(1):95-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.10.007S95101221

Estrategias emocionales para promover la excelencia del alumnado

[ES] Esta comunicación describe el trabajo desarrollado en el último año por el Equipo de Innovación y Calidad Educativa (EICE) GRIPAU en la UPV. Este es un equipo multidisciplinar de profesores tiene como uno de sus principales objetivos desarrollar estrategias que favorezcan la motivación del alumnado como herramienta para que estos alcancen un aprendizaje significativo, y en última instancia, la excelencia en su aprendizaje. Esta excelencia se define no solo considerando el aprendizaje de contenidos teóricos, sino también mediante el desarrollo de competencias y habilidades, sensibilización con el entorno, y desarrollo del pensamiento crítico. En primer lugar, se han definido una serie de estrategias que potencialmente pueden permitir este aprendizaje significativo, estableciendo unas líneas comunes de actuación. Estas estrategias han sido aplicadas en ocho asignaturas de áreas de conocimiento muy dispares, y evaluadas mediante una metodología común que consiste en el seguimiento de resultados objetivos y el análisis encuestas pasadas a los alumnos al principio y al final de la asignatura. En general, las metodologías utilizadas han sido valoradas positivamente por parte de los alumnos y se ha observado una tendencia a mejorar el desarrollo de determinadas competencias transversales en función de las metodologías empleadas. Puede concluirse que favorecer la reflexión del alumno acerca de su propio aprendizaje es una estrategia de motivación que favorece un aprendizaje profundo[Otros] This paper describes the work developed during the last year by the Team in Education Innovation and Quality GRIPAU in the UPV. To this multidisciplinary team of professors, developing strategies to enhance student¿s motivation is one of the main goals. These strategies may allow students a significant learning, and thus the excellence in their learning. An excellent learning may be defined not only considering theoretical contents, but also the development of certain capabilities, sensitization with their environment or development of critical thinking. To this aim, a series of strategies potentially enhancing this learning have been defined. These strategies have been applied in eight subjects belonging to very different areas of knowledge and evaluated using a common methodology consisting in surveys to students at the beginning and at the end of the course. In general, the methodologies used in this study were positively rated by students and a tendency to improve the development of certain cross competences was detected. It can be concluded that enhancing student¿s reflection on his own learning is an effective strategy to motivate students and promote an excellent learning.Rodríguez León, A.; Martínez García, A.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.; Moreno-Ramón, H.; Guillén Guillamón, IE.; Cabedo Fabres, M.; Calvet, S.... (2014). Estrategias emocionales para promover la excelencia del alumnado. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1012-1025. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/168755S1012102

Evaluación de Competencias Transversales en un entorno 3.0: Lessons (Sakai)

[EN] Transversal skills have led to restructuring subjects, methodology and materials in Higher Education. The Universitat Politècnica of Valencia (UPV) has begun to apply and assess these skills in their degrees where the students are the center of the learning process. Faced with these problems, the following study aims to facilitate and test the assessment of tranversal skills in the UPV through an advanced tool (Lessons) that has been developed by Sakai, and it is available to the entire university community within the PoliformaT platform. This tool allows not only the evaluation of skills in a traditional way (student-teacher), but also establishes an environment based on the philosophy of web 3.0 where 3 types of learning interactions are produced (student-teacher, teacher-student and Studentstudent). In addition, it allows to redirect the students according to theis knowledge and allows self-evaluation before the activity development. The experience was carried out on 730 students who belong to 11 subjetcs in different degrees/master/doctorate courses. Outcomes registered in Lessons expressed that more than 80% of them believe that they should be selfassessed at the beginning. In this sense, more than 70% of the students express that they have achieved the transversal skill, although this outcomes contrast with the teachers' evaluation, which reduce the level of skill achievement.[ES] Las competencias transversales han provocado una reestructuración de materias, metodologías y materiales en la Educación Superior. La Universitat Politècnica de Valencia (UPV) ha comenzado a aplicar y evaluar estas competencias en sus grados, donde los alumnos son el centro del proceso de aprendizaje. Frente a esta situación, el presente estudio tiene como objetivo facilitar y probar la evaluación de competencias transversales en la UPV a través de una herramienta avanzada (Lessons) que ha sido desarrollada por Sakai, y está disponible para toda la comunidad universitaria dentro de la plataforma PoliformaT. Esta herramienta permite no sólo la evaluación de competencias de manera tradicional (estudiante-profesor), sino que también establece un entorno basado en la filosofía de la web 3.0, donde se producen 3 tipos de interacciones de aprendizaje (estudiante-profesor, profesor- estudiante y estudiante-estudiante). Además, permite reorientar a los estudiantes según su conocimiento además de la autoevaluación antes del desarrollo de la actividad. La experiencia se llevó a cabo en 730 estudiantes que pertenecen a 11 asignaturas en diferentes grados / master y doctorado. Los resultados registrados en Lessons reflejaron que más del 80% de los alumnos vieron idóneamente el uso de Lessons para la autoevaluación inicial. En este sentido, más del 70% de los estudiantes creían tener adquirida la competencia transversal, aunque estos resultados contrastaron con la evaluación de los profesores, que indicaron que no todos los alumnos tenían un nivel de adquisición de la competencia tan elevado como ellos creían.Moreno Ramón, H.; Ibañez Asensio, S.; Guillén Guillamón, IE.; Ferrando Bataller, M.; Calvet Sanz, S.; Cabedo Fabrés, M.; Jiménez Belenguer, AI.... (2017). Evaluación de Competencias Transversales en un entorno 3.0: Lessons (Sakai). En In-Red 2017. III Congreso Nacional de innovación educativa y de docencia en red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 976-986. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2017.2017.6834OCS97698