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PKCϵ-mediated phosphorylation of TRPC3 channel at S712 is essential for its inactivation during inflammatory signaling
No full textProducción CientíficaThe transient receptor potential canonical 3 (TRPC3) channel plays a pivotal role in macrophage-mediated inflammatory signaling by regulating intracellular calcium dynamics. This study identifies phosphorylation at serine 712 (S712) by protein kinase C ϵ (PKCϵ) as a critical mechanism for TRPC3 inactivation. Using HEK-TLR4 cells and THP-1 human macrophages, we demonstrate that the S712A-TRPC3 mutant, which cannot be phosphorylated, exhibits altered subcellular localization, promoting persistent calcium influx, and enhanced expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and inflammatory mediator enzyme COX2 during LPS cellular activation. Live-cell imaging and FRET assays reveal that PKCϵ, but not other PKC isoforms, translocates to endomembranes upon LPS stimulation and interacts directly with TRPC3. Pharmacological inhibition and gene silencing of PKCϵ mimic the effects of the S712A mutation, confirming its role in terminating TRPC3-mediated calcium signaling. These findings establish PKCϵ-mediated phosphorylation of TRPC3 at S712 as a key regulatory mechanism for resolving inflammatory calcium signaling in macrophages
Efficient synthesis and growth mechanisms of CuO nanowires via self-resistive heating
No full textIn this study, we present a fast and facile self-resistive heating method to fabricate copper oxide (CuO) nanowires (NWs) using copper wire substrates. The effect of growth temperature and time were investigated through both experiment and simulations. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the successful formation of highly crystalline CuO phase. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated that the NWs were uniform in size and at high density, indicating an efficient synthesis process. Additional analyses were conducted to further elucidate a thermodynamic mechanism of the growth of CuO NWs. Our extensive experimental and simulation data on synthesis parameters provide a detailed view on the growth of the NWs and explain the efficient growth of aligned CuO NWs synthesized by the resistive heating method
Application of Deep Neural Networks for Leakage Airflow Rate Estimation From Three‐Dimensional Thermal Patterns
No full textProducción CientíficaThe employment of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) signifies a substantial progression in the domain of image analysis. The application of this method is particularly suitable when the image set represents a spatial structure and predictive analysis can only be performed using Gaussian processes, which are computationally complex. The uncontrolled airflow of air into buildings, known as infiltration, poses a significant challenge in terms of characterisation and quantification. The irregular contours of gaps and cracks through the enclosure create a virtually endless variety of cases, making a generalizable scientific interpretation that can be applied to existing buildings very difficult. This circumstance is always clearly manifested by an irregular, three-dimensional incoming airflow. This study presents an innovative methodology for estimating airflow rates based on three-dimensional thermal patterns captured through infrared thermography. The experimental setup employs a 3D-printed matrix of spheres, facilitating the characterisation of the spatial temperature distribution within the airflow. The resulting thermal images are processed using a CNNs, which integrates the spatial information contained in the thermograms with a scalar input representing the inlet air temperature. The model′s performance was assessed under a range of conditions, including reduced image resolutions, varying experimental configurations (involving different flow apertures) and a comparison between full thermographic inputs and thermal difference-based features. The results indicate that the model can accurately infer airflow rates within the same aperture (medium absolute error [MAE] < 2%). While generalisation to new apertures presents a greater challenge, the experiments demonstrate that a sufficiently diverse training dataset can enhance the model′s predictive capacity for configurations not included in the training phase. These findings underscore the potential of deep learning as a nonintrusive and efficient tool for estimating airflow in systems where conventional measurement techniques are either difficult to apply or impractical.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (10.13039/100014440) (PID2022-142104OB-I00
Empoder(hadas): heroínas y villanas en el imaginario digital Milennial y Z
No full textProducción CientíficaEl trabajo se inscribe en las líneas de investigación sobre cultura digital, feminismo transmedia
y educación literaria en entornos virtuales e invita a reflexionar sobre la vigencia de los relatos de tradición
oral y su capacidad de adaptación a los formatos digitales contemporáneos. Asimismo, se plantea cómo
estas prácticas pueden contribuir a una alfabetización crítica en cultura visual y digital, sensibilizar en torno
a los discursos de género implícitos en estos relatos y fomentar lecturas feministas en clave digital.
Empoder(hadas) reivindica el potencial educativo y transformador de la cultura popular en red y subraya la
importancia de integrar estas narrativas resignificadas en los debates académicos sobre igualdad, cultura
digital y educación literaria en la sociedad hipermedia.PID Ellas. Vicerrectorado de Innovación Docente y Transformación Digital de la UV
An environmental and economic sustainability assessment of novel rhamnogalacturonan-I pectin production from agricultural residues
No full textProducción CientíficaThis study presents for the first time an environmental and economic assessment of large-scale process configurations employing novel technologies for rhamnogalacturonan-I pectin production from sugar beet pulp (SBP) and discarded red beetroot (DRB). Three alternatives to conventional acidic extraction (CE) were compared. Alternatives 1 and 2 focused on pectin derived from SBP, combining acid-free microwave assisted extraction (MAE) or hydrothermal extraction (HE), respectively, whilst Alternative 3 considered pectin extraction from DRB using MAE. All alternatives shared a membrane filtration and freeze drying downstream processing. Prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) were performed using scaled-up data from own experimental extraction and purification results using process simulation. The assessment was from cradle-to-gate for the “production of 1 kg of pectin”, considering eight environmental impacts and six economic indicators including climate change (CC) and minimum selling price (MSP). The CC impacts were reduced by 89.3 – 94.4 % in the alternatives compared to the Reference case because of introducing solvent-free downstream processing. The MSP ranged from 16.2 to 56.0 €/kg, with the alternative processes showing better economic feasibility, which can be further increased through the co-production of DRB juice based on the findings from a sensitivity analysis. The processes were ranked based on overall eco-efficiency scores as follows: A3 (0.91) > A1 (0.73) > A2 (0.62) > > Reference case (0.05), highlighting the environmental and economic advantage of MAE and valorization of DRB, emphasizing the promise of emerging technologies and alternative feedstocks for developing more sustainable and competitive pectin production processes.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN) / Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI): PID 2020-115110RB-I00 (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU) / Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI): PID2023-147967OB-I00 (MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 / FEDER, EU)Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León: CLU-2025-2-06 y UIC 320Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León: contrato predoctoral de Esther del Amo-Mateos (EDU/875/2021
Mixotrophic co-cultures fermentation of C1-gases and carrot discard hydrolysate by C. carboxidivorans and C. beijerinckii in stirred tank bioreactor and gas-lift bioreactor
No full textProducción CientíficaThe current study represents the bioconversion of C1 gases (CO and CO2) using co-cultures of Clostridium car-
boxidivorans and Clostridium beijerinckii, with hydrolysates from carrot discard as a co-substrate and supplemental
Fe0. The performance of two distinct bioreactor configurations, a stirred-tank bioreactor (STB) and a gas-lift
bioreactor (GLB) was compared under various gas flow rates. The GLB technology, operating at a gas flow of
50 mL/min, proved more efficient, yielding up to 12.0 g/L of butanol, 2.7 g/L of acetic acid, and 7.4 g/L of
butyric acid within a 47 h fermentation period. This process achieved complete consumption of sugars and CO,
alongside a maximum CO2 uptake of 82.4 % at t = 33 h. Consequently, the gas-lift bioreactor represents a
promising strategy for the co-fermentation of C1 gases and carrot discard hydrolysate by C. carboxidivorans and
C. beijerinckii, offering low energy requirements, cost-effectiveness, and simplicity in design and operation.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (proyecto TED2021-129826 A-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)Junta de Castilla y León (UIC 320
Desarrollo y validación de un e-simulador de interacción clínica en lentes de contacto para apoyar la enseñanza de la contactología
No full textThis Doctoral Thesis addresses the development and validation of a clinical interaction e-simulator for contact lenses (eSICLC), conceived as an innovative pedagogical tool to support teaching and learning in contactology. The work arises from the need to strengthen clinical training in contact lenses (CL), an essential area of optometry that faces structural limitations such as reduced access to patients, a lack of diverse clinical cases during training, and the absence of interactive digital resources that enable more dynamic and safe practice.
As a methodological framework, the ADDIE model was adopted, widely recognized for its systematic approach to the development of educational solutions. This model, consisting of the phases of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation, made it possible to align clinical competencies, active methodologies, and technological elements within a coherent pedagogical architecture. In this context, the Thesis is structured into two main stages: an initial analytical and exploratory phase aimed at identifying training needs, trends, and gaps in CL education; and a central phase dedicated to the design, development, and validation of an innovative educational resource.
In its initial phase, the research conducted a detailed analysis of optometry training programs from various regions worldwide, identifying trends and deficiencies in CL education. This diagnosis revealed limited and uneven curricular coverage, with a predominance of theoretical content over practical training in several regions. Additionally, digital environments and existing learning objects in contactology were explored, revealing a prevalence of traditional informational materials and a lack of interactive clinical simulators. These findings underscored the need for innovative educational proposals that integrate advanced technologies and active pedagogical approaches.
On this basis, the eSICLC, named SILVIA (Simulator for Interactive Learning in Visual Assistance), was developed. Its design articulated content, activities, and functionalities aimed at fostering learning and the development of clinical reasoning. SILVIA combines flexible navigation, personalized interaction, and automated feedback, enabling users to simulate clinical consultations in a virtual environment, perform anamnesis through a chatbot, request examinations, and make clinical decisions—all within a safe space that facilitates the acquisition and consolidation of practical skills.
The design of the eSICLC incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to generate synthetic clinical cases and provide automated recommendations based on user performance. This approach created an adaptive and dynamic resource capable of replicating real clinical situations without compromising patient safety. Gamification elements, such as achievement systems and scoring, were also integrated to enhance student motivation and active participation.
The preliminary validation of SILVIA was carried out through a proof-of-concept study involving students, professionals, and educators in contactology. The collected feedback highlighted the tool’s usability, its relevance for clinical teaching, and its potential as a complement to traditional methodologies. Areas for improvement were also identified for future versions, including the refinement of the feedback system, expansion of the clinical database, and incorporation of natural language processing technologies.
The Thesis concludes that the integration of AI-based digital simulators represents a significant advancement in the training of visual health professionals. The eSICLC emerges as an innovative solution that democratizes access to preclinical experiences, improves the efficiency of the training process, and enables students to acquire essential competencies in an interactive and safe manner. Furthermore, it opens future avenues for expansion into other areas of optometry and visual health, positioning itself as a reference in educational innovation.La presente Tesis Doctoral aborda el desarrollo y validación de un e-simulador de interacción clínica en lentes de contacto (eSICLC), concebido como una herramienta pedagógica innovadora para apoyar la enseñanza y el aprendizaje en contactología. El trabajo surge de la necesidad de fortalecer la formación clínica en lentes de contacto (LC), un área esencial de la optometría que enfrenta limitaciones estructurales, como el acceso reducido a pacientes, la escasez de casos clínicos diversos durante la formación y la ausencia de recursos digitales interactivos que permitan prácticas más dinámicas y seguras.
Como marco metodológico se adoptó el modelo ADDIE, ampliamente reconocido por su enfoque sistemático en el desarrollo de soluciones educativas. Este modelo, compuesto por las fases de Análisis, Diseño, Desarrollo, Implementación y Evaluación, permitió alinear competencias clínicas, metodologías activas y elementos tecnológicos dentro de una arquitectura pedagógica coherente. En este contexto, la Tesis articula dos etapas principales: una fase inicial de carácter analítico y exploratorio, orientada a identificar necesidades formativas, tendencias y vacíos en la enseñanza de LC; y una fase central dedicada al diseño, desarrollo y validación de un recurso educativo innovador.
En su fase inicial, la investigación realizó un análisis detallado de programas formativos en optometría de diversas regiones del mundo, identificando tendencias y carencias en la enseñanza de LC. Este diagnóstico reveló una cobertura curricular limitada y desigual, con predominio de contenidos teóricos sobre prácticos en varias regiones. Asimismo, se exploraron los entornos digitales de apoyo a la enseñanza y los objetos de aprendizaje existentes en contactología, constatando la prevalencia de materiales informativos tradicionales y la ausencia de simuladores clínicos interactivos. Estos hallazgos evidenciaron la necesidad de propuestas educativas innovadoras que integren tecnologías avanzadas y enfoques pedagógicos activos.
Sobre esta base, se desarrolló el eSICLC, denominado SILVIA (Simulator for Interactive Learning in Visual Assistance). Su diseño articuló contenidos, actividades y funcionalidades orientadas a favorecer el aprendizaje y el desarrollo del razonamiento clínico. SILVIA combina navegación flexible, interacción personalizada y retroalimentación automatizada, permitiendo a los usuarios simular consultas clínicas en un entorno virtual, realizar anamnesis mediante un chatbot, solicitar pruebas y tomar decisiones, todo en un espacio seguro que facilita la adquisición y consolidación de habilidades prácticas.
El diseño del eSICLC incorporó técnicas de inteligencia artificial (IA) para generar casos clínicos sintéticos y proporcionar recomendaciones automatizadas basadas en el desempeño del usuario. Este enfoque permitió crear un recurso adaptativo y dinámico, capaz de reproducir situaciones clínicas reales sin comprometer la seguridad de los pacientes. Además, se integraron elementos de gamificación, como sistemas de logros y puntuaciones, con el objetivo de aumentar la motivación y la participación activa de los estudiantes.
La validación preliminar de SILVIA se llevó a cabo mediante una prueba de concepto con la participación de estudiantes, profesionales y docentes de contactología. Las percepciones recogidas destacaron la usabilidad de la herramienta, su relevancia para la enseñanza clínica y su potencial como complemento a las metodologías tradicionales. También se identificaron áreas de mejora para futuras versiones, como el perfeccionamiento del sistema de retroalimentación, ampliación de la base de datos y la incorporación de tecnologías de procesamiento de lenguaje natural.
La Tesis concluye que la integración de simuladores digitales basados en IA representa un avance significativo en la formación de profesionales en salud visual. El eSICLC se presenta como una solución innovadora que democratizará el acceso a experiencias preclínicas, mejora la eficiencia del proceso formativo y permite a los estudiantes adquirir competencias esenciales de forma interactiva y segura. Además, abre líneas futuras para su expansión a otras áreas de la optometría y la salud visual, consolidándose como un referente en innovación educativa.Escuela de DoctoradoDoctorado en Ciencias de la Visió
Resting-state gamma activity as a discriminative marker for cognitive subtypes in psychosis
No full textProducción CientíficaBackground and hypothesis: Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders exhibit significant clinical and cognitive
heterogeneity, challenging diagnosis and treatment. Given indications of widespread cortical hyperactivity and
dysregulation of neural oscillations in schizophrenia, investigating resting-state activity is highly relevant. This
study examined resting-state EEG alterations across previously defined cognitive subtypes within the psychosis
spectrum.
Study design: We analyzed resting-state EEG data from 141 psychosis patients (64 chronic schizophrenia, 40 first-
episode schizophrenia, 37 bipolar disorder) and 80 healthy controls. Patients were a priori classified into two
distinct cognitive subgroups: Cluster 1 (severe impairment, n = 47) and Cluster 2 (moderate impairment, n =
94).
Study results: Both patient clusters exhibited increased spectral power across most frequency bands compared to
healthy controls. Notably, the more severely impaired Cluster 1 showed significantly higher power in the
gamma-1 band (30–45 Hz) compared to Cluster 2. Furthermore, in Cluster 1, a significant positive correlation
was found between resting-state gamma-1 power and positive symptom scores.
Conclusions: These results support our hypothesis of distinctive basal hyperactivation linked to the cognitive
profile, suggesting that altered intrinsic brain activity, particularly gamma-1 hyperactivation, may underlie
cognitive heterogeneity in psychosis. This also suggests that gamma-1 band hyperactivation at rest serves as a
distinct neurophysiological marker differentiating both subgroups. Our findings highlight the importance of
subdivision approaches to identify more homogeneous patient subgroups and emphasize the potential of resting-
state gamma activity as a precise biomarker for specific symptom dimensions and personalized treatment
strategies.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ID PI22/00465)Junta de Castilla y León - Gerencia Regional de Salud de Castilla y León (GRS-2487/A/22 y GRS-2685/A1/2023)Fundación La Marató (ID 571/C/2022)Junta de Castilla y León (Consejería de Educación) y el Fondo Social Europeo (ID VA-229-23 a la EOI)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación - Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PRE2022–104038
Casas, rocas y senderos. El proyecto arquitectónico de Alberto Ponis en el paisaje sardo
No full textThe relationship between domestic architecture and its surroundings, or in other words, the link between the space inhabited by human beings and the adjoining nature, continues to enjoy a wide audience today, as this type of construction has proliferated in recent years, maintaining and even increasing the demand for residences in locations far from urban centres. In an attempt to offer an alternative to the sometimes destructive actions carried out on ecosystems in different parts of the world, this research offers a sensitive look at the relationship between architecture and the natural elements that surround it through an analysis of the work of Italian architect Alberto Ponis (1933-2024). His summer houses, located mainly on the north coast of Sardinia, represent a paradigmatic example of intervention in an environment of natural value characterised by rugged granite topography and vegetation that, like many coastlines today, suffered the destructive consequences of the tourist pressure of the ‘60s. Based on the analysis of a selection of case studies contained in his architectural repertoire, the fundamental values that distinguish Alberto Ponis' architecture and that have ensured the integration, symbiosis and practically the visual disappearance of these residences into their surroundings are deeply explored. Each of these houses is complemented by other unique examples in which their designers offered a singular vision of the integration of the domestic scale into the natural environment of the Mediterranean coast. Through the analysis of these architectures, embedded in a silent and largely unknown “avant-grade”, I have sought to highlight a way of understanding architectural design distinguished by its respect for vernacular architecture and landscape memory of the places where they sit.La relación entre la arquitectura de pequeña escala y su entorno, es decir, del vínculo entre el espacio que habita el ser humano con la naturaleza circundante sigue gozando en la actualidad de una amplia audiencia puesto que este tipo de construcciones han proliferado en los últimos años, mantenido e incluso aumentado la demanda de residencias en lugares apartados de las urbes. En un intento por ofrecer una alternativa a las actuaciones en ocasiones destructivas con los ecosistemas llevadas a cabo en diferentes partes del mundo, la presente investigación ofrece una mirada sensible a la relación entre la arquitectura y los elementos naturales que la rodean a través del análisis de la obra del arquitecto italiano Alberto Ponis (1933-2024). Sus casas de vacaciones, ubicadas mayoritariamente en la costa norte de la isla de Cerdeña suponen un ejemplo paradigmático de actuación en medio de un ambiente con un valor natural caracterizado por una topografía granítica abrupta y una vegetación que sufrió en los años 60, al igual que muchas costas en la actualidad, las consecuencias destructivas de la presión turística de la época. A partir del análisis de una selección de casos de estudio contenidos en su repertorio arquitectónico se profundiza en los valores fundamentales que singularizan la arquitectura de Albero Ponis y que han garantizado la integración, la simbiosis y prácticamente la desaparición de estas residencias en su entorno. Cada una de estas casas se encuentra acompañada de otros ejemplos singulares en los que sus autores ofrecieron una mirada singular de la integración de la escala doméstica en el medio natural de las costas del Mediterráneas. Mediante el análisis de estas arquitecturas integradas en una corriente silenciosa y en gran medida desconocida he querido sacar a la luz una manera de comprender el proyecto arquitectónico que destaca por su respeto a la arquitectónica vernácula y la memoria paisajística de los lugares en los que se ubican.Escuela de DoctoradoDoctorado en Arquitectur
Membrane dialysis for partial dealcoholization of wine. Comparison between white and red wines
No full textProducción CientíficaBACKGROUND: Membrane dialysis is a suitable technique for the partial dealcoholization of wines that preserves most of the
aromas of the original wine. In this study this technique has been used to compare white and red wines of the same vintage.
The results of partial dealcoholization have been checked in terms of chemical and sensory properties. In addition, gas chromatography
was carried out to determine whether the aromas are appreciably diminished in their final composition for filtered
wines.
RESULTS: Membrane dialysis resulted in wines with a lower alcoholic strength than the starting one, 11.0 g/kg alcohol reduction
was obtained for white wines and 13.4 g/kg for red wines after dialysis, and with acceptable chemical and sensory characteristics
but with a lower concentration of some aromatic compounds.
CONCLUSION: This partial dealcoholization technique is slightly more effective for the treated red wines. However, the dialyzed
red wines are less acceptable by consumers than the corresponding white wines.PID2023-149594OB-C21 founded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER, UECLU-2025-2-06, supported by the Department of Education of the Regional Government of Castilla y LeónPID2023-150725NB-I00 funded by MICIU/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033