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Proposed spatial decision support system for delineating ecological corridors in green infrastructure planning constrained by lack of data: a case study in Galicia, Spain
Get PDFIn response to the constant loss of biodiversity in European ecosystems, which is partly due to the impacts of climate change, the European Commission urges member states to include Green Infrastructure (GI) in their land-use plans. However, although the European Commission establishes the fundamental principles to be applied, the ambiguity of some terms generates a certain degree of complexity regarding the delineation of GI elements, especially Ecological Corridors (ECs). Thus, a straightforward methodology for delineating GI elements is required. Here, we propose a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) that could help non-expert planners identify areas with a high potential to function as ECs and that could thus facilitate the inclusion of these areas in regional GI plans. Probability distribution maps were constructed by fitting a maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to publicly available data on selected focal species. The maps were combined with other variables that negatively affect species mobility and later inserted in a graph theory tool to determine the least-cost path that would serve as the basis for delineating ECs. The method was applied to the design of an EC network in Galicia (NW Spain), and use of the system as a tool to help spatial decision-making was evaluated. Despite some limitations, the method yielded promising results that could help non-expert planners to establish the basis for delineating EC networks and other GI elementsOpen Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer NatureS
Role of surface functionalization and biomolecule structure on protein corona adsorption and conformation onto anisotropic metallic nanoparticles
Get PDFIn the biological milieu, nanoparticles (NPs) interact with different biomolecules, particularly proteins, leading to the formation of an interfacial corona, which gives rise to a new biological identity affecting NP biodistribution, cytotoxicity and biological fate. The surface coating of NPs plays a key role in regulating such biocorona formation and composition. We here investigated the interactions between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine fibrinogen (FIB) with gold nanorods (Au NRs) bearing different surface coatings (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, and carboxylic acid and amine-terminated polyethylene glycols (PEGs). It was revealed that CTAB-coated NPs interact with both proteins with high affinity (ca. 108-109 M−1) whereas for PEG ones the extent of protein binding decreases thanks to the stealth properties of PEG, but a protein corona is still formed, with binding affinities between 104-106 M−1. In addition, present results indicated that thicknesses of protein coronas and the aggregation behavior of AuNPs were closely related to their surface properties and protein structure. We also found that BSA and FIB underwent different conformational changes upon adsorption depending on the surface-modified Au NRs. Hence, these findings offered important insights into the essence of the interactions between NPs and proteins toward the development of safe and effective nanomaterialsAuthors thank Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) by project PID2019-109517RB-I00 and Xunta de Galicia for financial support through action ED431C 2022/18. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are also acknowledgedS
Uso de la biopsia líquida para la selección de tratamientos en oncología
Get PDFLa terapia dirigida y la inmunoterapia han revolucionado el
tratamiento de los pacientes oncológicos en los últimos años.
En tumores como el cáncer de pulmón y cáncer de colon cobra
especial importancia el estudio molecular para adaptar el
tratamiento en el marco de la Oncología de Precisión. La
biopsia líquida se ha posicionado como una herramienta útil
para el diagnóstico de alteraciones moleculares de una forma
no invasiva, dinámica, rápida y fiable. Esta tesis investiga
el valor de los biomarcadores en sangre para ofrecer a los
pacientes tratamientos personalizados en situaciones clínicas
complejas, con una mejor caracterización molecular y así
mejorar su supervivencia y calidad de vida
The Lithbea Domain
Get PDFThe tree of life is the evolutionary metaphor for the past and present connections of all cellular organisms. Today, to speak of biodiversity is not only to speak of archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes, but they should also consider the “new biodiversity” that includes viruses and synthetic organisms, which represent the new forms of life created in laboratories. There is even a third group of artificial entities that, although not living systems, pretend to imitate the living. To embrace and organize all this new biodiversity, I propose the creation of a new domain, with the name Lithbea (from life-on-the-border entites) The criteria for inclusion as members of Lithbea are: i) the acellular nature of the living system, ii) its origin in laboratory manipulation, iii) showing new biological traits, iv) the presence of exogenous genetic elements, v) artificial or inorganic nature. Within Lithbea there are two subdomains: Virworld (from virus world) which includes all viruses, regarded as lifeless living systems, and classified according to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), and ii) Humade (from human-made) which includes all synthetic organisms and artificial entities. The relationships of Lithbea members to the three classical woesian domains and their implications are briefly discussed.S
Power-series solution of the L-fractional logistic equation
Get PDFWe consider the L-fractional derivative, which has been proposed in the literature to study fractional differentials in geometry and processes in mechanics. Our context is population growth and epidemiology, for which the use of L-derivatives is motivated by transitions. Using power series, we solve the logistic differential equation model under this fractional derivative. Several conclusions on the method, the derivative, and the singularity of the associated kernel are reached. Fractional Euler numbers, related to the logistic map and the famous Riemann zeta function, are also introducedThe research of J.J. Nieto was supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) of Spain Grant PID2020-113275GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”, by the “European Union” and Xunta de Galicia , grant ED431C 2023/12 for Competitive Reference Research Groups (2023–2026)S
Desarrollo de películas compuestas respetuosas con el medio ambiente a base de quitosano
Get PDFEl quitosano es un biopolímero con interesantes propiedades
como material biodegradable utilizable en el envasado de
alimentos. En esta tesis doctoral se han desarrollado películas a
base de quitosano con extracto naturales antioxidantes
(ortiga Urtica dioica L. y alga parda Saccharina latissima) y
aceite esencial de sándalo Santalum album, estudiando sus
propiedades y aplicaciones como envase activo antioxidante de
alimentos. Se ha optimizado la extracción del extracto de
ortiga y se han obtenido modelos matemáticos para predecir
sus propiedades. Se ha estudiado la aplicación de las
películas desarrolladas para el envasado de mantequilla o como
láminas separadores de queso. Se ha observado una
disminución de la oxidación lipídica de las matrices
alimentarias (mantequilla y queso), mostrando un efecto
antioxidante
Transient mathematical modelling of a gas rotary furnace for melting slag
Get PDFA 2D transient mathematical model is proposed to analyse a gas rotary furnace intended for melting a CaO-SiO2 slag, a crucial component to be used in the aluminothermic reduction for silicon production. The research, conducted in the framework of the EU SisAl Pilot project, aims to assess the feasibility of the industrial process of these furnaces and to recommend potential scale-up strategies. The mathematical model addresses two distinct but related issues. First, one problem is dedicated to the evaluation of the gas combustion characteristics, including the simulation of the natural gas flame as well as the heat transfer by convection and radiation. Secondly, the temperature data computed on the inner wall of the rotary kiln is used as a boundary condition to solve the problem of melting the solid material, thus determining the required melting time. The model is validated against experimental data for the melting of iron, the material currently used in the plantThis work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N°869268. Also, it was partially supported by MCIN/AEI / 10.13039/5011 00011033/FEDER, UE through grant PID2021-122625OB-I00 and by Xunta de Galicia funds under grant GRC GI-1563 - ED431C 2021/15. The authors are particularly grateful to Fundiciones Rey, with special appreciation for Luis Rey and Susana Rey, and to Javier Bullón for providing the experimental data used in this work and for all the fruitful discussionsS
El crecimiento y la supervivencia de las spin-off universitarias en España: análisis del efecto de las ventas iniciales y la forma de financiación
Get PDFA la creación de spin-off universitarias (USO) se ha destinado un elevado volumen de recursos humanos y financieros, a pesar de que su rendimiento empresarial ha sido cuestionado. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar el efecto de las ventas iniciales y la forma de financiación sobre el crecimiento y supervivencia de las USO. Usando una base de datos original con 1.121 USO creadas por las universidades españolas hasta 2018, se comprueba que las ventas iniciales afectan positivamente al tamaño de las USO y negativamente a las tasas anuales de crecimiento en ingresos. Asimismo, la autofinanciación ejerce un efecto positivo en la supervivencia de las compañías, mientras que el capital riesgo y un exceso de liquidez tendrían el efecto contrario. A partir de los resultados obtenidos, se proponen recomendaciones
Operationalizing TLS in Forest Inventories: The R Package FORTLS
Get PDFTerrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) offers rapid, automatic, and detailed 3D surface representations using a user-friendly scanner. This technology holds significant promise for Forest Inventories (FIs). However, its operational application is hindered by the absence of well-established algorithms for processing TLS data. To address this, we introduce FORTLS, an R package specifically designed to automate TLS point cloud data processing for forestry applications. The FORTLS package enables: (i) Detection of trees and estimation of their diameter at breast height (dbh), (ii) Estimation of various stand variables (e.g., density, basal area, mean, and dominant height), (iii) Calculation of metrics related to key tree attributes estimated in FIs at the stand level, and (iv) Optimization of plot design to integrate TLS data with field measurements. FORTLS works effectively with single-scan TLS data, enhancing data acquisition efficiency, reducing processing time, and increasing sample sizes cost-effectively. The package also includes features to correct occlusion issues, leading to improved estimates of stand variables. These capabilities facilitate the operational use of TLS in FIs, complemented by inference techniques from model-based and model-assisted approaches.S